The Right Teacher
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Finding the right teacher is one of the most crucial decisions in a student's musical journey. Just like in an academic setting, a teacher has the potential to help a student grow. This is why it is so important for the student to click with their teacher and build a relationship.
At Elisa Girlando Studios, the teachers are dedicated to connecting with their student and inspiring a passion for learning and creating music.
Elisa Girlando
Studio Owner, Teacher
Growing up with a father that was in the music business, Elisa was introduced to the world of music at a very young age. She began taking vocal lessons at age seven to refine her sound and learn the proper techniques, and since then, she has dedicated her life to perfecting her craft and sharing it with her students.
Elisa’s singing career began at the age of twelve, when she signed a deal to record multiple children and holiday albums. By the time she reached college, she had her own band and quickly got picked up with a distribution deal with SONY RED (Sony Music). So far, she released two albums under SONY RED. Additionally, Elisa’s voice has been featured on numerous national TV commercials, including the Claritin commercial singing the classic song, "I Can See Clearly Now."
But Elisa’s love for singing doesn’t stop there, she is also extremely passionate about teaching. She founded EGS in 2005, and since then, has helped countless students fulfill their potential as a musician. What sets Elisa apart from other vocal coaches is her incorporation of the recording studio as a learning tool, which is proven to be immensely beneficial to a student’s growth. Additionally, studio members get countless opportunities to participate in live performances because Elisa understands the importance of stage presence to a musician’s growth and confidence.
Eric Waldman
Vocal, Piano, Guitar & Song Writing
Eric has been a professional musician for over 25 years. Since childhood, he always had a passion for music. His instruments include violin, piano, guitar and vocal.
Eric toured nationally with his band Natural Breakdown opening for bands like Rusted Root, Parliament Funkadelic, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Railroad Earth and many others. He played internationally in France, Switzerland, Italy, and Israel.
As a children's music artist he developed the character, “Bobby Beetcut". So far, he has written and recorded two albums under Bobby Beetcut. Both albums were picked up by HitPlay Records and distributed nationally and internationally by Sony Music.
Eric has been teaching music to children and adults for many years and makes learning music fun! He has a way of connecting to a student to make sure they know the material and have the confidence to let it out.
Megan Gorrell
Piano & Voice
Meet Meg, a passionate musician whose life has been deeply influenced by the power of music from a very young age. Throughout her education, she actively participated in numerous music programs, immersing herself in choirs, orchestras, musicals, and talent shows, among other endeavors.
Having pursued her passion for music, Meg graduated as a former Music Performance Major from CCM (County College of Morris). With 15 years of dedicated practice, she has honed her skills in both piano playing and singing, becoming a seasoned and accomplished musician.
Meg's musical journey started as one of Elisa's very first students in 2006. Over the course of six years, she not only developed her talent but also showcased her abilities in competitions such as Mid Atlantic Idol, earning recognition for her exceptional performances.
Beyond her personal achievements, Meg finds immense joy in working with children and young adults, guiding them to discover and express their true voices and musical talents. Her nurturing and encouraging approach fosters a supportive learning environment, inspiring her students to embrace their love for music and grow as musicians.
Today, Meg is thrilled to be a part of E.G.S, where she can continue her mission of sharing the joy of music and inspiring others on their musical journeys. Her vast experience and dedication make her an invaluable teacher, mentor, and musical guide for all aspiring artists.
Tessa Gori
Voice & Acting
As soon as Tessa first set foot in Elisa Girlando Studios at age 11, music has been a huge part of her life. She is so happy to be back at the studio she grew up in, but this time as a teacher .She has been performing live for nearly 10 years, and now plays various venues as the lead singer of her band, Radio Zoo. She also has a passion for musical theater, and growing up, played roles such as Violet in Willy Wonka, Wendy in Peter Pan, and Mrs. Corry in Mary Poppins. Now, she is earning a degree in both Vocal Performance and Acting and hopes to help students find and improve their voices, become confident in their acting, and have fun! Tessa is ecstatic to share her love of all things music with E.G.S.
Lauren Murphy
Vocal, Piano, Guitar & Song Writing
Lauren is a singer songwriter recording artist.After learning piano and studying voice at Elisa Girlando Studios at age 14, she began writing her own songs and performing them at local open mics and talent shows. She then graduated from Berkeley College of Music where she studied both music therapy and songwriting. While studying there she learned guitar and worked with a variety of music therapy clients in children's hospitals, retirement homes, and elementary schools for children with developmental disabilities. Lauren went on the write music for artists from Berkeley and moved to LA while she worked as a music therapy intern at Children's Hospital of Orange County. While in LA, Lauren also taught piano, songwriting, guitar, ukulele, and voice. Over the recent years, Lauren recorded a EP of her original music and is currently releasing those song over the summer of 2023.
Riley Burke
Vocal, Piano, Guitar & Music Composition
Meet Riley, a lifelong enthusiast of music whose journey began at the age of 12 under the mentorship of Eric Waldman at EGS. Inspired by his early experiences, Riley has embarked on a career in music composition. With proficiency in piano at a concert level and ongoing studies in voice, he is dedicated to honing his craft. Riley is thrilled to return to the studio. He looks forward to sharing his love of music with his students.
Steve Viegas
Studio Music Producer & Guitar
Steve Viegas is a music producer and engineer. He majored in Music Technology at Susquehanna University. Immediately after college he took an internship at Barber Shop Studios that ultimately turned into a position as an audio engineer. He also worked at Warner Music and privately produced in his own studio. Throughout his engineering career, Steve worked with hundreds of artists with a variety of genres ranging from Pop, EDM, Hip-Hop, Country, Heavy Metal, Rap, and Alternate Rock. He has accumulated over 5,000,000 plays on music platforms from projects he has production/engineering credits on. Steve built the Isak Anderson Memorial Recording Studio at Sparta High School, where he currently teaches classes on Audio Engineering and Music Production.
Paige Lucas
Studio Manager
Paige, our esteemed Musical Theatre Teacher and Studio Manager, has harbored a passion for musical theatre since her early childhood. From grade school onwards, Paige has actively participated in various musical theatre and performance programs, showcasing her versatile talents on stage.
Her impressive roles include portraying Mae Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie, embodying the iconic Miss Hannigan in Annie, and taking on the character of Logan Schwartzandgrubenierre in Putnam County Spelling Bee. Paige's extensive background in dance has further enriched her artistic abilities.
For the past decade, Paige has played a pivotal role in choreographing the Sparta High School Musical, contributing to its success and leaving a lasting impact. Additionally, for the past six years, she has co-directed and choreographed the Middle School Musical alongside Elisa.
In her capacity at Elisa Girlando Studios, Paige has not only curated her own Musical Theatre Program but has also provided invaluable guidance to numerous students, assisting them in honing their skills and preparing for auditions with confidence. Paige's dedication to the art of musical theatre and her commitment to nurturing talent make her an invaluable asset to our studio.
Tricia Johnson
Dance, Acting, Film
Tricia brings over 16 years of teaching experience to Elisa Girlando Studios, after serving as an instructor for numerous dance companies, studios and gyms throughout the NY/NJ area.
At the age of 18, the start of her professional career took off with featured roles in music videos such as Chris Brown’s "Run It", David Archuleta’s "Crush" and Samantha Jade’s "Step Up" for the blockbuster movie “Step Up”.
Her love for the arts and entertainment always played a major role in her career. In 2009, Tricia graduated cum laude from Emerson College with a bachelor's degree in TV & Video.
After graduating, she worked in both music and television with employment at RED Music (Sony music) and MTV (Series Production).
Her professionalism, experience and love for teaching will be a great addition to the Elisa Girlando Studios. Students will find her energy infectious and fun, as they learn to create, move and perform.
