Meet the Teachers
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DRUMS/PERCUSSION
Native northern Virginian Ben Tufts has been a drumset and percussion educator in the region for over 25 years. During that time, he has steadily made a name for himself as a first-call performer, recording artist, and in-demand instructor. Although his forte is drumset, he is passionate about all things percussion, and his teaching experience bears that out--he has been on faculty at the Franklin Band and Orchestra Camp every year for over 15 years, served as percussion coordinator for several high school marching bands in the region, hosted the Honors Middle School Percussion Ensemble at George Mason University, and judged many Solo & Ensemble Festivals and District Band competitions. His performance schedule each year typically includes between 75 and 150 performances annually, with a wide variety of artists, and has brought him to nearly every state in the U.S. He has appeared on over 100 recordings by local and regional artists. Ben grew up in Loudoun County, has a Bachelor’s of Music Education from Longwood University and a Master’s in Jazz Studies from University of Maryland. His teaching philosophy includes a curriculum custom tailored for each student, while still making sure there is always a strong fundamental skill set, and keeping things FUN.
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TRUMPET
Dave Detwiler’s name has been synonymous with the best in trumpet performance and education since he made his home in the DC area in the 1970s. His professional resume on both sides of the horn--classical and jazz--is pages long and too much to list here. Suffice to say, a guy who has toured the world with the Army Blues, played with the NSO under Slatkin, performed for six different presidents, etc. knows what he's doing. With decades of playing accolades, he still says education is his life's work and passion. We are honored to have Dave teaching under our roof at Vanguard.
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DRUMS/PERCUSSION
Chris Hoffman grew up in Centreville, VA and took lessons with Ben Tufts for 10 years before attending JMU and graduating in 2021 with a BA in Jazz Studies. During his time in Harrisonburg, he played live music almost every week at local jazz jam sessions or with colleagues in bands. For several years he played in a trio with the talented pianist Bob Hallahan, a former JMU Jazz Faculty member. Chris has had the honor of sharing the stage with other notable musicians, such as the legendary John D’earth and the wonderful saxophonist Steve Wilson. He is inspired by many great drummers; Harvey Mason and Art Blakey, to Neal Peart and John Bonham. While his degree is in jazz music, Chris is also deeply influenced by funk, fusion, disco, soul, and rock.
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GUITAR
A veteran touring and recording rock musician, Aaron Mason has been teaching guitar privately in the DC metro region for over twenty years. A southern Maryland native, his own musical journey started when he picked up his dad’s guitar at age nine. After touring the U.S. and beyond in various bands in his teens and twenties, he settled in the northern Virginia area to start a family and his career as a recording engineer. Aaron brings a patience and a sense of humor to his teaching that creates a comfortable learning environment for his students. In addition to teaching guitar, he coaches rock camps and teaches sound engineering.
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PIANO
With over 30 years experience as a pianist, Eugene Iosilevich embraces a wide variety of techniques and styles in both his performance and teaching practices. He was trained in two highly disciplined classical piano methods (Russian and German) from a very young age by renowned piano professors. In his teens, Eugene won regional awards for classical piano while diving head-first into rock and jazz. He studied jazz at Berklee College of Music and later, classical piano performance and composition at Syracuse University.
Eugene’s primary teaching methods focus on a classical technical foundation, a basic knowledge of jazz theory, arranging and improvisation techniques, as well as a familiarization with all popular styles; including the exploration of composition and song-writing as a means of realizing the student’s full potential. He maintains a busy performance schedule throughout the area. Eugene’s playing and teaching are full of joy, insight and expertise born of a profound, life-long passion for the musical art-form.
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BASS GUITAR, GUITAR
Bill Flexsenhar is a guitarist and bass guitarist based in Northern Virginia. He started playing the guitar at the age of fourteen inspired by seeing The Beatles perform at the Palais de Sports in Paris. At fifteen he was asked to join a rock band in Stuttgart Germany playing teen clubs, high school dances and private parties. Arriving in the US in 1968 he played in bands in Colorado and then in the Washington DC area. He continued to play in rock, country, Top 40, wedding and jazz groups up to the present day. He earned his BA from GMU and MA from The University of the Americas(UDLA) in 1980. He studied classical guitar with Maestro Juan Gaspar while at UDLA. He has been teaching guitar and bass guitar since 1978 in Northern Virginia. Many of Bill’s former students have gone on to play professionally. Some students have gone on to study formally at university. Two former students have played the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. His approach to teaching is a practical and pragmatic one designed to bring out a student’s natural musical ability. Musical literacy and theory are encouraged but not mandatory. To become a good guitarist or bass guitarist should be the goal of lessons.
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GUITAR
Guitarist Dan Leonard started his music career at 16, playing in local clubs and teaching many of his fellow aspiring guitarists. He went on to study classical guitar, music composition and jazz at university. A teacher for decades now, he has passed his insights on to many successful players over the years. Dan is also an in demand studio musician and producer, with credits that include The Learning Channel and episodes of America’s Most Wanted. He is currently a member of the Deanna Bogart Band, the Eric Scott Trio, the Mary Ann Redmond Band, the Scott Ambush Band and a busy freelance musician. Dan’s teaching approach focuses on improvising, theory, technique, composition and overall fretboard mastery.
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PIANO, GUITAR, SONGWRITING
Guy Bouchie comes from a family of music lovers, and has been playing in bands for 10 years as a result. As a songwriter, Guy understands the importance of a personal connection to music, and tailors each lesson to the student. A lifelong love of rock and blues music means he enjoys incorporating improvisation along with other fundamental skills during lessons. Most importantly, he tries to make sure every student has fun.
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SAXOPHONE
Bobby Muncy is a versatile and an in-demand saxophonist, recording artist, composer, arranger, educator, bandleader, and mouthpiece refacer in the Washington, DC metro area. He studied music at Florida State University (BA) and University of Maryland, College Park (MM).
For over 25 years he has led his own large and small ensembles, and in 2008 he released his first album as a leader “On the Outside Looking In”. Bobby released his most recent record, Bad Reception, which was written mostly during the pandemic and contemplates our collective feelings of loss, anger and ultimate rebirth through compositions addressing politics, technology, media, and generational divides.
As an educator, Bobby held the position of Professor and Applied Music Coordinator at Prince George’s Community College teaching advanced music theory, ear training, applied woodwinds and brass, digital audio, music appreciation, and was director of the PGCC Jazz Ensemble. He has conducted masterclasses in improvisation at American University, The Detroit Jazz Workshop, Washtenaw Community College, Prince George’s Community College, and various high schools in Miami, FL and the greater Washington, DC area.
Bobby is known for his eclectic style and musical energy he brings to bandstand. He continues to present performances and collaborations in the Washington DC area, Baltimore, New York City and the entire eastern seaboard.
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VOICE
Angelina Rubi Cisneros is a classically trained and competitive singer, and a student at George Mason University, where she is majoring in Music Computer Technology and double minoring in Business and Music for Well-Being. She is comfortable working with young students and folks with special needs.
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GUITAR (Online Only)
Matthew Mills is one of the top names in the world in neoclassical guitar performance and instruction. He is a highly sought after instructor on the instrument, endorsing Ibanez and Schecter Guitars, and Revv and ZT Amplifiers. He was voted one of the fifty fastest guitarists of all time, in the July 2008 issue of Guitar World magazine. He has released seven albums of original music, with guest appearances from Berklee College of Music faculty member Joe Stump, George Bellas of UFO, David Shankle and Rhino of Manowar, David Fefolt of Masi, Rhino from Manowar and Reynold Carlson of Jag Panzer. Matthew has also recorded and released acoustic guitar music showcasing flamenco and jazz influences, and has performed and written for The American Guitar Trio with acclaimed jazz fusion guitarist Ney Mello. Many of his students are in touring bands, have released albums and won guitar competitions. Matthew’s advanced and intermediate curriculums can include the repertoire by Bach, Paganini and Mozart, techniques like sweep picking, string skipping, alternate economy picking, and tapping; how to improvise over classical and jazz chord progressions; and in-depth music theory instruction. Matthew is currently only available for online lessons.