THE PEOPLE BEHIND DEA MUSIC & ART
Meet the people.
Find your inspiration.
Musicians. Artists. Educators. People who know the joy of learning something new—and love helping someone else discover it.
Get to know our faculty, explore their teaching subjects, and find a starting point for your own creative journey.
A CREATIVE COMMUNITY SINCE 2003
Founded by Magi Dizdari Kapllani, DEA brings music and arts education to students across our campus community.
Meet our founderDIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS. SHARED CURIOSITY.
Find a familiar interest.
Meet a new perspective.
Explore the team by subject. Open a biography for more about a teacher’s background, then ask DEA about their current classes and campus availability.
Teachers may appear under more than one subject. Campus and lesson availability vary.
Founder & Director
Magi Dizdari Kapllani
- M.M. Piano Performance, University of Illinois (Urbana–Champaign)
- Founded DEA Music & Art in 2003; multi-location & franchise leader
About Magi Dizdari Kapllani
Magi founded DEA Music & Art in Staten Island in 2003, drawing inspiration from her family’s musical legacy in Albania. After studying piano performance in the United States, she developed DEA into a network of locations and a franchise program centered on music and arts education.
Piano Instructor
Adriana Dizdari
- M.M. Piano Performance, University of Arts, Tirana
- Founder, Songs of the Earth International Competition
About Adriana Dizdari
Adriana is a pianist and educator whose students have gone on to share their music internationally. She founded the Songs of the Earth International Competition and has organized more than twenty editions, bringing extensive teaching and performance experience to her work with piano students.
FiDi Branch Manager
Ania Kapllani
- Voice & Piano Instructor
- Founder, Sunset Music
- B.M., Music Industry
About Ania Kapllani
Ania’s work brings together voice, piano, and music industry study. Her background includes founding Sunset Music and serving in branch management at DEA’s Financial District location.
Voice, Piano & Theory Instructor
Julia Freitor
- Singer, Pianist & Actress
- M.A. Art and Music Education, Brooklyn College Conservatory
About Julia Freitor
Julia’s background spans singing, piano, acting, and music education. She teaches voice, piano, and theory, drawing on her graduate studies in art and music education at the Brooklyn College Conservatory.
Art Instructor
Sophia Di Meglio
- BFA, Fashion Institute of Technology
- MA, SUNY New Paltz
About Sophia Di Meglio
Sophia combines fine-arts training with graduate study in art education. She holds a BFA from the Fashion Institute of Technology and an MA from SUNY New Paltz, and has published an illustrated children’s book.
Piano & Voice Instructor
Philip Henry Garcia
- M.A. Music Composition, Hunter College
- Performer, Visions NYC
About Philip Henry Garcia
Philip teaches piano and voice and holds a master’s degree in music composition from Hunter College. His work includes performing with Visions NYC around Staten Island. He enjoys bringing contemporary songs into lessons and making musical learning engaging across ages and experience levels.
Voice Instructor – Musical Theatre & Pop
Noa Miranda
- B.A. Vocal Performance, CSI
- Certified, New York Vocal Coaching
About Noa Miranda
Noa specializes in musical theatre and pop vocal technique. She holds a degree in vocal performance from the College of Staten Island and a Voice Teacher Training certification from New York Vocal Coaching.
Violin Instructor & Performer
Gvantsa Butskhrikidze
- Award-Winning Violinist
- Founder, MAMMA International Competition
About Gvantsa Butskhrikidze
Gvantsa is a Georgian violinist, educator, and music competition founder. Her awards include first prizes at the Chicago International, American International, and New York International Music Competitions. Her performance background includes Carnegie Hall and Orchestra Manhattan, alongside violin teaching at the Long Island Conservatory.
Guitar Instructor
Ronnie Angell
- Professional Guitarist & Singer-Songwriter
- Trained under Peter Prisco
About Ronnie Angell
Ronnie is a guitarist and singer-songwriter with decades of experience in performance, recording, and teaching. He trained with jazz and classical guitarist Peter Prisco and brings an interest in music history and rock music to his work with developing guitarists.
Vocal & Piano Instructor
Kay Ashley
- B.A. Brown University
- Trained in Classical, Contemporary & World Vocal Styles
About Kay Ashley
Kay is a singer-songwriter, pianist, and guitarist. She studied piano with Judith Lynn Stillman at Brown University and continued music theory and composition studies at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. Her vocal background includes Hindustani classical, contemporary, and Bulgarian music.
Piano, Theory & History Instructor
Elona Migirov
- MA, Queens College (CUNY)
- Organist & Performer
About Elona Migirov
Elona holds an MA from Queens College, CUNY. Her teaching background includes piano, music theory, and music history at the College of Staten Island and the JCC of Staten Island. She also performs as an organist.
Piano Instructor
Refika Elibay
- B.M. & M.M. Piano Performance, Manhattan School of Music
- Performer at the United Nations
About Refika Elibay
Refika began her musical studies at the Istanbul Conservatory and continued at The Juilliard School in New York. Her faculty profile lists bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music. Her experience includes decades of teaching and performance, including a performance at the United Nations.
Violin Instructor
Larissa D. Vollis
- M.A. Violin Performance, Glinka Conservatory
- Certified Suzuki Teacher
About Larissa D. Vollis
Larissa holds a master’s degree in violin performance and studied at the Nizhny Novgorod Glinka State Conservatory in Russia. She brings more than 30 years of performance and teaching experience and is a certified Suzuki violin instructor for levels 1–8.
Instructor & HR Professional
Pubudika Shavanthi Navarathn
- B.A. Human Resource Management
- CIPM Certified
About Pubudika Shavanthi Navarathn
Pubudika’s background combines instruction and human resources. She holds a BA in Human Resource Management and CIPM certification, contributing to DEA’s general-studies and administrative team.
Jazz Vocalist & Pianist
Evan Harden
- Music Director, Bay Ridge Catholic Academy
- B.A. Jazz Performance, SUNY New Paltz
About Evan Harden
Evan is a jazz vocalist and pianist with a BA in Jazz Performance from SUNY New Paltz. His musical work also includes serving as music director at Bay Ridge Catholic Academy.
Drum & Percussion Instructor
Mauro Corona
- B.A. Music, College of Staten Island
- Specializes in Classical & Latin Styles
About Mauro Corona
Mauro teaches drums and percussion, with a focus on classical and Latin styles. He holds a BA in Music from the College of Staten Island.
Vocal & Instrument Instructor
Nicole Javorsky
- B.A., Barnard College (Columbia University)
- Singer-Songwriter & Visual Artist
About Nicole Javorsky
Nicole is a singer-songwriter and visual artist whose instruction spans voice, piano, guitar, and ukulele. She holds a BA from Barnard College, Columbia University.
Guitar Instructor
Matthew O’Malley
- B.A., Music, Williams College
- M.M., Guitar Performance, San Francisco Conservatory of Music
About Matthew O’Malley
Matthew teaches guitar and holds a BA in Music from Williams College and an MM in Guitar Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Branch Manager, FiDi
Emily Park
- Piano & Violin Instructor
- Graduate, LaGuardia High School (Music)
- Finance Student, Baruch College
About Emily Park
Emily’s background includes piano and violin instruction and branch management in DEA’s Financial District location. She graduated from LaGuardia High School’s music program and is listed as a finance student at Baruch College.
Visual Arts Instructor
Bianca Akotia
- Artist & Creative Educator
- M.A., City College of New York
- B.A., John Jay College of Criminal Justice
About Bianca Akotia
Bianca is an artist and creative educator who teaches visual arts. She holds an MA from the City College of New York and a BA from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
Fine Art & Mixed Media Instructor
Abigail Zhuk
- Graphic & Experience Designer
- B.F.A., Graphic Design
- St. John’s University
About Abigail Zhuk
Abigail teaches fine art and mixed media and works in graphic and experience design. She holds a BFA in Graphic Design from St. John’s University.
Violin Instructor
Sue Nishida
- Manhattan School of Music
- Carnegie Hall Performer
- Concertmaster & Ensemble Musician
About Sue Nishida
Sue is a violin instructor with a background at the Manhattan School of Music. Her performance experience includes Carnegie Hall, concertmaster work, and ensemble playing.
THE RIGHT STARTING POINT IS PERSONAL
A good match starts
with a conversation.
The subject matters. So do the student’s age, experience, interests, and schedule. Share a little about the learner, and our team will help you explore the options.
Help me find a teacher- 01
Tell us what sparks your curiosity.
An instrument, a style, a creative project, or a goal you want to work toward.
- 02
Share your starting point.
Let us know the student’s age, previous experience, and preferred campus or online format.
- 03
Explore a first step together.
Ask about a teacher, current availability, lesson format, and a trial where available.
BEFORE YOU SAY HELLO
A few good questions.
Start with the details that matter to you.
Can I request a particular teacher?
Yes. Share the teacher’s name and the subject you are interested in when you contact DEA. The team can confirm current availability, campus, lesson format, and suitability for the student.
Does every teacher work at every DEA location?
No. Teaching schedules and campus assignments vary. Some profiles include a branch role, but you should confirm where and when a teacher currently teaches before booking.
Can you help us choose a teacher for a beginner?
Tell us the learner’s age, interests, and any previous experience. DEA can help you explore an appropriate subject, teacher, and starting point.
Are online lessons available with these teachers?
DEA offers online learning options. Ask which subjects and teachers are currently available online and what setup the student will need.
Where can I learn more about the classes?
Explore the linked subjects on the faculty cards or visit the Classes directory for program details, age guidance, and the next steps to inquire.
YOUR NEXT CREATIVE CHAPTER