The Newtown School of Music
Our Instructors
Sonny Facenda
Owner - Drums, Trumpet, Saxaphone
Sonny has over 40 years of teaching experience and has spent time directing concert, jazz, and drumline bands. Sonny is the band director at the St. Katharine Drexel Catholic School and Villa Joseph Marie High School.
Steven Kaplan
Piano, Saxophonist, woodwinds, Trumpet, Brass
Steve is a music director at Summer Swing Orchestra and Big Band Express MA in Education and Performance.
Kyle Perella
Guitar, Ukulele
Kyle is the lead guitarist for the band Levee Drivers, based in Philadelphia. The band released its first full-length album, Motel City Honey, in September 2017.
Beth Vilismeir
Woodwind
Beth is an expert with the clarinet and was the band director for over 30 years for Holy Ghost Prep. She plays with four different symphonies.
Paulinho Pereira
Guitar, Bass
Paulinho is a master musician with over 30 years of experience in performance, composition, and musical education. He has taught at top music school in São Paulo and Poços de Caldas, and even leads his own band, “Like It”.
Lauren Rudat
Violin, Viola
Lauren holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Duquesne University and a Masters in Education from Indiana Wesleyan University. She has taught in the Council Rock School District for over 20 years and is an active member of the Bucks County Music Educator’s Association.
Roger Prieto
Trumpet
Roger has taught for over three decades at the Lawrenceville School and at a number of studios over the years. He has played from churches to casinos, to cruise ships and jazz festivals, to concerts and clubs. He has even been privileged enough to studied with principals in major orchestras and iconic jazz artists.
Frank A. Walter Jr.
Flute, Clarinets, Saxophones, Recorder
Frank has a Bachelor of Music in Education from Catholic University of America. He has over 30 years in private and group instrumental lessons. He has performed in pit orchestras for over 60 musical productions as well as conducted over a dozen high school and community theater productions.