and Arts
302 Broadway and 98 Broadway. Hillsdale, NJ
music lessons for all ages, styles and levels...
Meet Our Team...
Dan McLoughlin
Linda Kuharetz Stark
Leonardo Soares
Rachel Silverstein
Madeleine Skye Ackley
(Maddie)
Rob Eastlund
Anthony Cepalia
Mia Yankovich
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ViVi Aeillo
Who We Are...
Co-Founder Dan McLoughlin (guitar, bass, piano, ukulele) brings 25+ years of musical experience to Hillsdale Music and Arts. Dan started playing piano at the age of 5 by ear and soon went on to take piano lessons, followed by guitar. He graduated Cum Laude from SUNY Fredonia with dual degrees in Music and Sound Engineering. For
over a decade, Dan toured nationally and worldwide with his Boston based band "The Push Stars", who signed with Capital Records. As a producer, musician and engineer, Dan has recorded many major label albums (including Weezer, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Dinosaur Jr.) and has earned several Platinum and Gold Records as a recording engineer. He has composed for film and television, as well has written two original musicals. Dan has always had a passion for music, sharing his talents and knowledge with musicians of all ages.
Co-Founder Linda Stark (piano) also began her musical journey early on, thanks to her Grandmother who started her with piano lessons at the young age of 5. Coming from a family of musicians, Linda eagerly took on learning as many instruments as she could throughout her school aged years in New Milford
including flute, trumpet, guitar and handbells. She was selected as a finalist in the NJ Teen Arts Festival as well as for the NJ Governor's School in Trenton. She went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude with degrees in Music and Early Childhood Education from Montclair State University as well as an MBA in Finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Linda is an alumnus of the Westshoremen Senior Drum and Bugle Corp (two-valve soprano horn) and current "charter member" of the Pilgrim Ringers (English handbell choir). For the past 20 years, Linda has resided in Hillsdale and brings her love of music and children to every lesson she teaches here at Hillsdale Music and Arts.
Praised for the clarity and warmth of her “fine voice” (Ithaca Times) as well as her compelling stage presence, Rachel Silverstein's performances are always memorable. She earned her Bachelor's in Music at Ithaca College (Cum Laude, 2017) and her Masters in Opera from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers (Recipient of the Michael Fardink Memorial Award
for Outstanding Vocalist, 2022). Rachel is a member of the Jersey City chapter of Opera on Tap and is a known performer with other opera companies in New Jersey.
Trained in stage acting and vocal pedagogy, Rachel is thrilled to work with singers of every age to tell stories through music. She believes that the classical singing approach to body awareness and text study is applicable to all sung music; Broadway to Jazz to Pop! Rachel is also skilled piano teacher, focusing on musical literacy and musicianship to help best express each piece’s dynamic sound.
Leonardo Soares is a seasoned music educator and professional pianist with almost 20 years of experience dedicated to fostering a deep appreciation for music and nurturing the artistic talents of students across diverse age groups. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Music Education and Performance from the University of Rio de Janeiro in 2006 and has since performed with orchestras and chamber music ensembles throughout South America.For the past five years, he has been based in Brasília, the capital of Brazil, where he has played a key role in music education for international students at prestigious international schools and arts centers. His commitment to excellence in teaching and performance continues to inspire and shape the next generation of musicians.
Rob Eastlund (drums) has an extensive background in teaching drum performance at schools across Bergen County. He studied drums under the direction of Joe Morello and Sonny Igoe. His love for music and drums has led him to his life’s work of being both a performer and instructor. Over the years he has participated the Ramapo College Jazz and Drummer's Collective Fusion
Workshops. He also placed 3rd in the Louie Bellson/Slingerland National Drum Contest. Rob has inspired hundreds of his students over the years by combining the fundamentals of drum instruction with his creative artistry and natural acumen for teaching. Students of all ages seek his training and technique in a wide variety of music genres including jazz, rock, pop, blues, country and the classic standards.
Anthony Cepalia (Guitar, Bass, Ukulele) for the better part of a decade has been helping aspiring musicians work toward and accomplish their goals in the world of music. At the age of two, his father introduced Anthony to rock and roll with bands such as Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Heart, Metallica, Blue Oyster Cult, and many more. He has since
fallen in love with the sound and the idea that with training and practice, an individual can express themselves in a way like no other. So it was no surprise that a few years after starting to sing at the age of 10 and picking up guitar after his brother had taught him the basics at the age of 11, Anthony found himself wanting to teach others.
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Anthony formally trained in the Bergen Community College music program, taking courses including Music Theory, Music business, Studio Recording, sound for Visual Media. Anthony specializes in Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Mandolin, Ukulele, and singing... as well as singing and playing guitar at the same time.
There are 3 things that are most important to Anthony when teaching a student: #1 is to have a clear understanding of the students goals. Some students want to learn beginner guitar chords, others wish to learn advanced rock and metal solos and everything in between. Understanding students goals, no matter how big or small they may be, will help in working together to get the student where they want to be as efficiently as possible. #2 is that the student learns something new at every lesson so that they have something new to practice on a consistent basis. And finally, #3 is that students have fun during lessons and while practicing on their own. Music should be fun, and practicing should not feel like a chore, which is why Anthony implements fun and exciting exercises into every lesson. If a student learns a scale it will always be followed up by teaching them a way they can use it in an exercise or in their own music.
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Madeleine Skye Ackley (or Maddy, if you prefer) is a composer, pianist, orchestrator, singer, and music teacher from Los Angeles, CA. She has been writing and performing music since the age of seven, and has released two original EPs and several singles as part of her solo project, Madeleine Skye. Maddy studied Film Scoring at Berklee College of Music and recently got her Master’s in Creative Media and Technology with a focus in Writing and Design for Musical Theater from Berklee NYC. Maddy loves pop, rock, jazz, and film and theater music, and is passionate about orchestration and music production, aiming to one day write a musical that makes it to Broadway. Through teaching, Maddy hopes to help foster the same enthusiasm and passion in her students that her music teachers instilled in her growing up. She is passionate about meeting students where they are in their learning journeys, while encouraging them to rise to new heights by meeting new challenges.
Mia Yankovich is a dedicated singer, actor, pianist, and songwriter with extensive experience in both music and theater, bringing a unique blend of skills to her teaching. With her experience in teaching piano, voice, and acting, she creates a supportive, growth-oriented environment for students of all ages. An skilled pianist, Mia encourages her students to find joy and expression in both vocal and instrumental music. Her theater background includes performing, directing, producing, stage managing, and costuming, which enriches her teaching approach and helps students explore every aspect of their craft. She performs whenever she gets the chance, from school assemblies to community events, sharing her passion for singing and music. She has also shared music with veterans in music therapy sessions, deepening her belief in music’s power to connect and uplift. Committed to helping her students grow as artists and individuals, Mia strives to inspire a lifelong love for the arts in every student she teaches.
ViVi Aiello studied theatre at Bergen County Academies and graduated from Fordham University with a major in Theatre and has been performing in shows since elementary school. She has studied Voice, Guitar and Musical Theatre throughout her life, since she was a child. ViVi has worked with children for many years as both a camp counselor and youth theatre director. She is also a singer and songwriter who has released music on Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming platformsunder the name “ViVi”. She is thrilled to be joining our talented staff at Hillsdale Music and Arts!
