Meet the
Current Studio
Feel free to contact the studio members directly by clicking the little envelopes next to their names. To contact any alumni, please view the alumni page.
Hannah Hickman
DMA Saxophone Performance, 1st year
Hannah Hickman is a saxophonist and music educator based in Hartford, Connecticut. She has presented and performed for organizations across the country including the Music for All Summer Symposium, North American Saxophone Alliance, and the Iowa Bandmasters Association. In 2017, she was named a Yamaha Young Performing Artist. Hannah is passionate about commissioning new music and increasing accessibility to music education. Hannah has worked with students of all ages in public schools and private lesson settings. In 2020 she founded KeySpark (keysparkmusic.com), an online platform that provides curated classes and learning resources for 7th-12th grade saxophonists. Hannah holds degrees in music education and saxophone performance from the Univ. of Minnesota, Univ. of Michigan, and Univ. of Missouri-Kansas City. She is currently a doctoral student at The Hartt School, where she studies with Carrie Koffman. Her previous teachers are Zach Shemon, Timothy McAllister, Preston Duncan, and Eugene Rousseau.
BM Music Production & Technology
David Kuhn is studying Music Production Technology at the University of Hartford. He went to Lyme-Old Lyme high school where he discovered a love for the art of recording. David has been playing sax for 6 years and began playing guitar 4 years ago. He was previously in the Audio Engineering Technology program for 1 year at the University of Hartford. David has recorded multiple songs and can play 4 different instruments as well as knowledge using recording software and equipment.
David Kuhn
BS Acoustics and Music, 4th year
Aidan Lueth is a senior in the Acoustical Engineering and Music program at the University of Hartford. This unique program weaves music and science together as students develop skills in engineering and acoustics at the College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture, and also participate in conservatory-level music making at the Hartt School. Throughout her university career, she has participated in numerous masterclasses and performances both inside and outside of Hartt. Primary teachers are Carrie Koffman and Zach Shemon.
aidan lueth
BM Music Production & Technology
Ryan Newell is a saxophonist from Sussex County, New Jersey. He has played the saxophone since the 7th grade and, in entering high school, knew that it was his dream to perform. He has performed with Grammy Award Winning B. J. Thomas, performed in the New Jersey all state band, and played for his county’s youth orchestra. Ryan hopes to continue his studies on the saxophone to become the best musician he can be!
Ryan Newell
BM Saxophone Performance
Jason discovered a love for music at an early age and wants to be able to reciprocate the for others. As a native of East Islip, Long Island, NY he was in Nassau-Suffolk wind ensemble in 11th grade under conductor Joel Levy and played in NY Allstate wind ensemble senior year. Jason started playing the saxophone in 3rd grade. He studied with Ed Centanni grades 4-9 and with Justin Marks grades 9-12. In addition to music, he loves sports, nature, philosophy and helping people however he can in order to broaden his own and others' perspectives
Jason Novellano
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BM Saxophone Performance, 4th year
Max Votolato is an eccentric, enthusiastic and expressive performer currently studying classical saxophone at The Hartt School. He aims to breathe new life into standard saxophone repertoire, commission new and exciting works for saxophone and above all else connect with diverse audiences from different ethnic, sociological, monetary and social backgrounds. Max hopes to bring accessibility, energy and sensitivity to the world of classical music.
Hailing from Smithfield, Rhode Island, Max competed in several solo and ensemble, Allstate, and other festivals and honor bands around New England. Max is now a senior at The Hartt School and is one of the winners of the 2022-2023 Paranov Concerto Competition. He has played in several chamber groups including but not limited to the toaSt Quartet, Refraction Quartet and is a founding member of the ATLAS Quartet for which he currently is the Alto Saxophonist.
Max Values community and education, and consistently takes part in social media challenges like the “100 days of practice.” He also posts cover videos on YouTube and TikTok and has amassed a considerable online following. In his free time Max can be found practicing the saxophone, watching anime and exercising. Max is currently a senior at The Hartt School studying with Professor Carrie Koffman, and Professor Steven Banks.
Max votolato
MM Saxophone Performance, 1st year
Jessica recently graduated in Spring 2022 with a Bachelor of Music degree in music performance and music education at Central Washington University (CWU) where she studied with Dr. Adam Pelandini, Dr. Ashley Kelly, and Dr. Kendra Wheeler. She was heavily involved in several areas of the department both as a leader and performer. In her undergrad, Jessica served as the secretary and president of the CWU saxophone club, where she helped organize the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) Region one conference hosted at CWU in April 2019 and performed the Glazunov Concerto with the CWU chamber orchestra after placing in the school’s concerto competition. In her first semester, Jessica is the baritone saxophonist in the Atlas Saxophone Quartet. Atlas is currently preparing music for performing at the Navy Band Symposium 2023, NASA Biennial Conference 2023, their Atlas Saxophone Quartet recital, and recording for various other chamber music competitions.
Jessica Mccready
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MM Saxophone Performance, 1st year
Growing up in North Texas, versatile saxophonist Rob Brown gained an appreciation for music from a young age. Armed with his passion for music, Rob aims to realize not only his musical dreams, but also the dreams of his peers and students.
As a professional saxophonist, Robert has been involved largely in the creation of new music from living composers. In 2022, Rob worked with both CNSNC and The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center on The Ocean’s Cry, a series of pieces written for piano, percussion, and saxophone that focus on ocean preservation.
Over the course of his career, Robert has studied primarily with Gary Louie and Donald J. Fabian, and he currently attends graduate school at The Hartt School under the instruction of Professor Carrie Koffman.
Robert Brown
