Performing Arts

Sharon Byrne joined the LA School in 2009 after teaching at Millburn Middle and High School and Centennial School District. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Westminster Choir College and Master of Music Education degree from Shenandoah Conservatory. Mrs. Byrne directs six middle school and upper school choirs and teaches AP Music Theory in additi on to being the Performing Arts Chairperson. She facilitates the theatrical performances including preparing the singers and directing the spring musical pit band. She performs widely in the tri-state area as a mezzo-soprano soloist and choral singer. She has had the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center many times, has performed on stage with The Rolling Stones and can be heard on several professional recordings, three of which have received Grammy nominations. One of those nominations was The Crossing Choir and New York Philharmonic’s performance of "Fire in My Mouth" by Pulitzer Prize winning composer, Julia Wolfe. Mrs. Byrne's goal for the LA music students is to develop a life-long love of music, encouraging musical enjoyment and participation long after the students leave the school.

Julian Jenson joined LA in 2021 as a staff pianist, accompanying the Upper, Middle, and Lower School choirs, and supplying other pianistic needs for the school. Hailing from a musical family in Southern California, Mr. Jenson has performed around the world in concert halls, schools, hospitals, churches, and other venues. He has toured in Chile, Italy, Iceland, Japan, and throughout the United States. In addition to live performance, Mr. Jenson has also played piano on the radio, TV, and other media. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with choirs, orchestras, small groups, and given numerous solo recitals and lectures. His interest in education began while earning his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from La Sierra University in Riverside, CA, where he worked as a teaching assistant. Since then, he has furthered his education with two master degrees—in music theory (Florida State University '20), then in Piano Performance (The New School, '22)—so he could empower the next generation of piano students. Mr. Jenson teaches private lessons through a studio he runs with his wife, Susana Leiva. Together they both believe in the philosophy of teaching students to cultivate their own "voice" in their musical pursuits, and to develop a well-rounded musicianship.

Rick Fontaine joined the LA School in 2012 after teaching Elementary and Middle School Band at Franklin Township. Mr. Fontaine began performing saxophone professionally in high school and earned his Bachelor of Music degree at New Jersey City University where, as a member of the top jazz ensemble, performed with visiting jazz artists including Bob Mintzer, Conrad Herwig and Charles McPherson. During his tenure as a freelance musician in the New York Metropolitan area Mr. Fontaine had the pleasure of performing at world renowned jazz venues including the Blue Note and Birdland and sharing the stage with several New York area jazz musicians including Joris Teepe, Mike Karn, Josh Evans, Julius Tolentino and jazz master trumpeter Donald Byrd.  Mr. Fontaine teaches grades 4-5 woodwind lessons and directs grades 6-12 Concert Bands and Jazz Bands in addition to being the coordinator of the Private Music Lesson Program offered on the LA Campus. As an educator, Mr. Fontaine's main focus is to instill in his students the same love and appreciation of music that his past music instructors instilled in him.   

Alex Nappi joined LA in 2023 as Sound Designer for the Upper School's spring production of Into the Woods and is now the current Performing Arts Center Manager. In this role, he leads the strategic planning, operations, and maintenance of the Berry Performing Arts Center. He also trains our student technical theatre team in lighting and sound design. Alex is the resident sound mixer for Middlesex County's Plays-in-the-Park. Prior to LA, Alex enjoyed the privilege of working as an audio engineer at the legendary Magic Shop recording studio in NYC, before its closing. He is certainly no stranger to the theatre as he has experience both on and off the stage as a performer and technical theatre designer throughout the Tri-state area.

Shannon Sari joined the LA faculty as a Lower School Music Teacher in 2011. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and has experience teaching in grades PreK through 8th grade. During her teaching career, she has continued learning and developing as a teacher by completing training in the Kodaly and Orff methodologies (the former being vocal-based and the latter instrumental). In addition, Mrs. Sari is certified in John Feierabend’s  First Steps in Music Education and Conversational Solfege curriculums. While at LA, Mrs. Sari created a Lower School ukulele curriculum for grades 4 and 5, and runs a summer Dungeons and Dragons camp for Lower and Middle School students.