Matthew Hommez, Piano, Voice
I am excited to share my love of music with you! I am a pianist, vocalist, conductor, school music teacher, and piano and voice teacher with almost thirty years of music teaching experience.
My own music education began as youngster singing in children’s choirs, and studying piano and the trumpet. I later went on to receive my bachelor’s degree in music education from The University of Northern Iowa and a master’s degree in music from Teachers College, Columbia University. I have Kodaly training from The Hartt School at The University of Hartford and Orff training from the School of the Arts in Philadelphia.
I have been involved in musical theater productions as an actor/singer, music director and producer. I have prepared choirs and presented performances at the elementary, middle and high school levels. I also serve as the director of the children’s choirs at The Riverside Church in the City of New York.
I am proud to have been nominated by my students to receive the Barnes and Noble “My Favorite Teacher” Award, as well as the “Teacher of the Year” Award from my school’s PTA.
I am a longtime member of NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association), NAfME (National Association for Music Education), ACDA (American Choral Director’s Association) and the Rockland County (NY) Music Teacher’s Guild. I have represented the Northeast region on the National Association for Music Education Society for General Music.
When I’m not teaching, I enjoy swimming, hiking, traveling, and spending time with my family. Of course, I’m always eager to create music whenever and wherever I can. It’s amazing how music brings people of all walks of life together.
I love to work with people of all ages who seek to enrich their lives with music. I have lived my life in music. Music has been a constant in my life from my earliest years and I can’t wait to share my love of music with you.
If you’re just beginning your own musical journey, or if you would like to continue to build upon previous musical knowledge and experience, please inquire about lessons today. I look forward to creating a plan for your musical future!
Jennifer Hommez, Voice
Jennifer grew up in Winter Park, FL where she attended Rollins College. While working on her Bachelor of Arts in Music, she performed with the Winter Park Bach Festival Choir as a choir member and soprano soloist. She gave numerous recitals in and around the Winter Park area.
In 1997, Jennifer moved to New York City to attend The Manhattan School of Music where she received her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance in 2000. Jennifer’s Master of Music recital was a program of music by women composers. She has performed professionally as a soloist and choir member at The Riverside Church in New York City since 1997.
While at Riverside, Jennifer was The Riverside Church Children’s Choir Director for four years. In this role, she organized and performed in concerts and composed and directed the annual Christmas pageant. Jennifer completed a three year certificate in the Kodály teaching methodology at The Hartt School, University of Hartford in 2005 and completed her Level 3 Orff Schulwerk Certificate through University of the Arts at Villanova in 2017.
Jennifer has spent several years performing with the women’s a cappella vocal ensemble, Siréne in New York and New Jersey. Throughout her performing endeavors Jennifer has remained a dedicated elementary general music teacher and choral director at Ridgeway Elementary School in White Plains, New York.
At Ridgeway, she teaches music to kindergarten through fifth grade students and directs a volunteer, fourth and fifth grade children’s choir of over one hundred voices. Jennifer lives with her husband, Matthew in Suffern, New York and her daughters, Elise and Audrey.