Welcome to steeple street music academy!
Building community through art
About Us
Demetrius Becrelis
Owner, CEO
Offers instruction in:
Mandolin, Ukulele, Singing-Songwriting, Artist Development
Demetrius Becrelis is a diverse musician in styles that range from pop and rock, to classical, jazz, celtic and bluegrass. He co-founded West Bend Music in Dennis Port, MA. In his tenure at West Bend Music, he launched several new teaching programs, including private ukulele lessons, songwriting groups, and student rock bands, to name a few. He also opened Cape Cod’s first of its kind, “Ukehead” ukulele shop. He also services on the Board of Directors for the Mashpee Chamber of Commerce.
Before moving back to Cape Cod, Demetrius was involved in the Nashville music scene as a singer songwriter, recording artist, producer, and session player. Demetrius has studied voice under the direction of Renee Grant Williams, who taught Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Keith Urban.
Demetrius co-founded a musical group by the name of Tripping Lily, an all original pop folk group. With Tripping Lily, he managed to make his way onto the big stage. He was chosen to score out an entire symphony where he, along with Tripping Lily, performed his original holiday composition with The Cape Cod Symphony. His music also hit the big screen when his original composition, “Alone,” appeared on the Showtime original series, “The Big C.”
Demetrius teaches mandolin, ukulele, guitar, voice, and songwriting – and feels it is never too late or early to pick up an instrument.
Katherine bECRELIS
owner, COO, ART CURATOR, preschool site coordinator
Offers instruction in:
Piano, Drawing, Poetry, Marketing, Website Development
Katherine Becrelis worked in the education field for nearly 15 years and taught various subjects at all grade levels in Maine, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. She studied piano for 11 years under three different instructors, and went on to teach piano privately. She has accompanied choral groups as well as individual performers and provided the piano instrumentation for a variety of settings – including parties, museum events, and theater performances. She was also in a number of choral groups in school, performing as an alto.
Before beginning a career in education, Katherine, or “Kate,” received her undergraduate degree as well as her master’s degree from the University of Maine in Orono. She was nominated and awarded a position in the honors society, All Maine Women, representing the top 1% of graduating women on campus. She served as a Resident Director while earning her Masters in Education, managing a staff of Resident Assistants and caring for the well-being of students living in a residence hall.
Kate manages the daily functions at the school. She also teaches piano and is available for tutoring in poetry, drawing, reading, writing, and history. She is additionally ready for hire as a website developer or as a consultant on marketing strategy. All inquiries are welcome!
Passionate about life-long learning and creative expression, she’s always ready to discover something new.
Why Steeple Street Music Academy?
Programs & Services
PROGRAMS
At SSMA, we are passionate about what we do! Whether you want to come in for a private one-on-one lesson or participate in a rock group, we want to provide those learning opportunities for you. Check out some of the ways you can get involved…
pRIVATE Lessons
Set up one-on-one, weekly 1/2 hour or hour-long music lessons with one of our instructors! This is our optimal learning format for significant learning and growth.
Semi-Private Lessons
Wish to take music or art lessons with a friend or family member? Inquire about our semi-private lessons – and the discounted rates associated with this format!
Classes
Want to learn more about vlogging? Dive into Berklee-style music theory? Enroll your older child or teen in an artist development course? Inquire about our class options currently available!
Preschool
Are you looking for a daycare service with a music and art theme? Is your child 3-5 years old? Consider our upcoming childcare program, First Verse Preschool!
BANDS
Always wanted to be in a rock band? Country? Folk? Funk? Dan Felix is building bands for real life gigs! Inquire to learn more.
summer camps
Need something musical or artistic to do this summer? Crave being around like-minded people? Inquire about our summer programs.
Book Studio Time
For just $20 per hour, you can rent one of our studios!
We have a variety of acoustic pianos available for public use in spaces that have sinks to wash hands, cleaning products to wipe down surfaces, and plenty of space to social distance safely. What better environment is there for a musician to practice?
Pricing & Policies
Pay While You Play
Perfect for students just starting music lessons or families on a monthly budget.
$40/lesson
- Private 1/2-hour lessons
- Paid one month in advance
- 3-5 lessons
Pay by Semester
OUR BEST VALUE!
Perfect for students seeking to commit to musical growth or families interested in getting a discount on lessons.
$38/lesson
- Private 1/2-hour lessons
- Paid one semester in advance
- 20-22 lessons
Pay by Summer
Perfect for students interested in maintaining and building upon skills learned from a public school music class or families on cape for the summer months.
$39/lesson
- Private 1/2-hour lessons
- Paid one summer in advance
- 8-9 lessons (July-August)
POLICIES
Rates vary, depending on teaching format and instructor. See above for approximate rates and payment plans for private lessons.
There is a one-time fee upon registering for lessons or a class. In addition, for any materials bought through the school, payment is due at the time of purchase.
Withdrawals for the next month must be made via email by the 15th of the current month to info@steeplestreetmusic.com. If you withdraw after the 15th of the month, you will be responsible for the next month’s fees in full. Any financial obligations still outstanding will be made with auto-pay. (See registration paperwork for details.)
Attendance to all lessons on time is crucial for success. Students who are late for a lesson cannot be guaranteed their full lesson time. Our instructors are not obligated to provide make-up lessons or classes, unless an instructor is unable to attend the assigned time. If an instructor is unable to schedule a make-up lesson, a credit will be issued by the school to the student’s account.
Tuition does not cover the cost of instrument, music, or materials. For students beginning mid-month, the tuition will be pro-rated, and the monthly tuition will start on the 1st of the following month; for students beginning mid-semester, the tuition will also be pro-rated and discounted accordingly. Late payments will result in a $30 late fee. SSMA reserves the right to suspend lessons/classes for non-payment of tuition.
The Crew
Matt Scinto
Instructor
Classical Piano, Viola, Violin
**Not accepting new students**
Dr. Matthew Scinto is an emerging conductor based in Cape Cod, where he currently serves as Founder and Conductor of the Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra and the Music Director for the Civic Orchestra of New Haven (CT). He has twice studied conducting at the prestigious Tanglewood Music Center, and was recently finalist for the Assistant Conductor of the San Antonio Symphony. He received his Doctor of Musical Art’s degree from Boston University, where he was a student of Stefan Asbury and David Hoose and twice received the Conducting Department Award for Excellence in Conducting. He also holds degrees in Viola (BM) and Conducting (MM) from Syracuse University.
Dr. Scinto has worked with such orchestras as the San Antonio Symphony, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Symphoria, the New Haven Civic Orchestra, the Brandeis-Wellesley Orchestra, the Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras, the Miami Music Festival Orchestra, the Syracuse University Symphony, and the Boston University Symphony, Chamber, and Opera Orchestras. He also serves as an active cover conductor for the Portland (ME) Symphony.
Matthew currently resides in West Yarmouth with his wife Cara and two kitties and baby Sophia. He’s happy to be on the Steeple Street team!
Sarah Fachada
Instructor
Piano & Voice (all levels), Music Theory, Composition, Beginner Guitar
Sarah Fachada, a native of southeastern Ohio, teaches piano, voice, and music theory at
Steeple Street Music Academy. A performer and teacher with many years of experience, Sarah
received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Mount Union University in Alliance, Ohio, and her Master of Music Degree in Voice Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Sarah has performed extensively as a vocal soloist, opera singer, musical theater performer and director, and choral singer and conductor in the Midwest and New England with
various groups such as Cleveland Opera Theater, Boston Lyric Opera, Masterworks Chorale (Lexington, MA), New England Conservatory Opera Workshop, American Choral Directors Association Choir at Smith College, New Hampshire Symphony, Savoyard Light Opera Company, City Streets Dinner Theater, Nashua (NH) Choral Society, Prescott Park Summer Theater (Portsmouth, NH), and Opera New England of Cape Cod, among others. She has been
a member of music and educational organizations such as the National Association for Music Education, and the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, as well as attending conferences with organizations such as Learning and the Brain, and the Gifted and Talented Association.
Sarah has taught in public and private school settings, as well as
community music schools and at the college level, having taught in Wilmington (MA) Public Schools, the Cleveland Music School Settlement, Belmont (MA) Day School, Sandwich
Community School, Cape Cod Conservatory, and Plymouth (NH) State College.
For the last twenty-five years, Sarah was the general music teacher, musical theater director, choral
conductor and private music instructor at Cape Cod Academy. During her tenure at CCA, Sarah
composed, produced and directed children’s musicals based on children’s literature such as
Puss in Boots, and Strega Nona. She also produced and directed full length musical theater productions for students in grades 1-12 such as The Little Mermaid, My Fair Lady, Grease, The Pirates of Penzance and many others. Her students consistently achieved high scores and participation in local and regional music auditions and festivals, including the All-Cape and Islands Music Festival, the Southeastern District Music Festival, the Massachusetts All-StateMusic Festival, and the All-Eastern Honors Festival Chorus, in which top-level high school choral students from New England, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and
Maryland were chosen to participate.
Sarah is now very excited to begin a new musical chapter in her life and be part of the team at Steeple Street Music School!
Dan Felix
Instructor
Saxophone, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone, Flute, Guitar, Percussion, Piano
**Not accepting new students**
Dan is a touring saxophonist who has been teaching privately since receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Ithaca College. As well as being classically trained, he also found his passion for jazz music at IC and held the lead saxophone chair in the IC Jazz Ensemble for 3 years. Since, Dan has enjoyed playing saxophone across the country with various jazz, rock, funk, reggae, jam, and wedding bands, including folk/funk/jam band “SixFoxWhiskey,” who he has been lucky enough to see the country with and record an album with.
As an educator, Dan is a MA-State certified teacher (K-12 Music) and has been teaching private lessons to musicians of all ages for 8 years. Since 2017 he has been director of the “Joy of Music” band program in Kingston MA, where he taught group lessons to over 75 students in grades 3-6 on instruments including Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Percussion, and Piano. Dan truly enjoys sharing his passion for music and is very excited to be a part of the SSMA crew!
Erin Deneen
Instructor
Guitar, Singing-Songwriting, Music Production, Artist Development, Mandolin, Drums
After experiencing life and the world of songwriting down in Nashville, Erin has returned to her home of Cape Cod where she continues to play and do what she can to bring music to life. After years of listening to artists such as Whitney Houston, Cher, and more pop driven singers, during her time at Wheaton College, Erin began to fall in love with the country music world. Very quickly names such as Hunter Hayes and Lori McKenna were becoming musical influences.
As someone majoring in Film and New media, she started to look at her screenplay writing and see if that same story could somehow be applied during the moments she had with her guitar. At that time, she didn’t even realize what she was doing was songwriting. It was just a fun puzzle that would later become a passion.
She grew up with a love for music, learning all her instruments by ear and at a young age. But it wasn’t until those college years that she started playing and singing in public. And in those moments she realized that songwriting was the direction and the dream.
When not making music, Erin spends her time teaching at Barnstable High School in the special education department. But her years down in Nashville introduced her to many amazing musicians, artists, and names in the industry. She continues to make frequent trips down to Music City and each time it leads to another great experience and lesson learned. Lessons and stories she can’t wait to share with the Steeple Street Community.
brian engles
Instructor
Singing-Songwriting, Guitar, Music Production
Shane Fitzgerald
Instructor
Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums, Beginner Piano, Music Theory, Recording
Shane is a very dedicated musician, who prides himself in his studies of all styles of music including jazz, funk, rock, country, blues and dance music.
With a 7 year background of studying with music teacher Louis Locicero, and a 2 year background studying with drum teacher Dick Dicenso, Shane has garnered an appreciation for the process of learning and the process of teaching.
After over 2 years of his teaching under his belt, he has shown the confidence and desire to push students to excel and step out of their comfort zone, while being able to function in any musical situation they may find themselves in.
madison mayer
Instructor
Voice
Guitar, Ukulele, Piano, Music Theory
Intro to Music Classes
skip king
Instructor
Banjo, Music Theory
Skip grew up in a musical family. He began playing guitar at the age of eight and was performing in musical theater and rock bands by the time he was 11 years old.
While in college, he became a part-time singer-songwriter, playing at Boston venues including the Nameless Coffeehouse and Club Passim. He continued performing intermittently in Vermont until 1987, when a career opportunity seized control of nearly all of his time, and his instruments began gathering dust.
Skip acquired his first banjo in 1989, but, by then he was living in northern Maine during pre-internet days and found no teachers. His instruments began to gather dust again.
Around 2003, he moved to the Portland area and found a banjo teacher with the idea that, if it stuck, he’d keep at it — and if it didn’t, he would get rid of the banjo.
It stuck.
Five years later, Skip had replaced his former instructor as a banjo teacher. He had also joined with jam friends to form ‘Cumberland Crossing,’ a bluegrass band that still performs regularly in Maine.
Skip’s teaching centers on beginner and intermediate level Scruggs and melodic-style banjo and has a highly student-focused approach to skills progression that uses classic Scruggs-style repertoire as the foundation for everything else. His goal is to instill solid right and left hand technique and basic knowledge of music theory, all with an aim towards getting students jamming with others as quickly as possible.
erickson cerqueira
Instructor
Piano, Guitar, Voice
Erickson was born in Brazil and has had a passion for music since he was very young.
At the age of nine, he started studying piano, and he played at church ever since. After a few years, he started learning guitar and became a worship leader at the age of 17. This was also when he started teaching music at church.
While studying production engineering, he played in many bands of different rhythms in Brazil like rock, funk, pop and also bands of Brazilian rhythms like samba, forró and sertanejo. He was also in a reggae band for three years.
He then moved to the United States in 2020, where he started attending Cape Cod Church and became part of the worship band as a singer, guitar and keyboard player. He also played in a few rock bands around the area.
He’s very excited to begin teaching at Steeple Street and help his students have great experiences with music.
Susanna Creel
Instructor
Voice
Growing up on Cape Cod, Susanna is grateful to have had wonderful opportunities in music and theater with three (3) years of private vocal training and eight (8) years in Cape Cod community theater playing a number of different roles. Some favorite roles include Margot in ‘Legally Blonde,’ Phoebe D’Ysquith in ‘A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,’ Wednesday Addams in ‘The Addams Family,’ and Luisa in ‘The Fantasticks.’
Susanna has had a passion for singing and theater since she was a little girl. She grew up singing in church and joined school choir in second grade and never missed an opportunity to be in school choirs, including All Cape Choir, South East Choir and All Cape Jazz Choir. She’s even had the incredible opportunity to take master classes with classic-pop vocalist, John Stevens, and opera singer, Maria Ferrante. Susanna is always enthusiastic to rehearse and learn more about music and performance.
Currently, Susanna is a part of the worship team at Brewster Baptist church and part of a local group, The Cape Cod Carolers. Along with vocals, she plays the clarinet and saxophone.
Music is a powerful form of art that drives emotions home and gives a great deal of confidence. She’s eager to pass on the joy and emotional release that singing can bring to each individual in a lighthearted and unique way.
Michael Dunford
Instructor
Drums, Percussion
Michael began his professional music career in his teen years playing timpani and percussion with the Cape Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Jerome Cohen and Royston Nash, and the Chatham Chorale, directed by founder Marjorie Bennett Morley. While in high school Michael studied with legendary Broadway drummer Dick Koff and later Boston timpanist John Grimes and Hartt School of Music Dean, Al LePak.
At the Berklee College of Music, Michael studied with Gil Graham, John Ramsey and Percussion Chair Dean Anderson. After graduating from Berklee, Michael performed with many notable Boston-area classical, jazz, blues and rock musicians, recording and touring throughout the U.S.
Now residing in Sandwich, Michael regularly performs in clubs, theaters and concert halls from Boston throughout the South Coast and is a sought-after drum instructor.
Andrew Hellwig
Instructor
Woodwinds, Beginner Brass
Andrew Hellwig is a modern day saxophonist, educator, and composer. Born and raised on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Andrew studied music under the direction of Andy Troyanos as well as Berke McKelvey. Andrew began playing gigs professionally at the age of 15 with the big band, Stage Door Canteen. Andrew followed his passion and received a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance at the University of Rhode Island. At URI, he studied jazz and classical saxophone with Dr. Jared Sims, Bill Jones, Dr. Jon Amon, Dave Zinno, and Emmett Goods. Andrew’s playing is heavily influenced by a variety of jazz and classical artists including Chris Potter, John Coltrane, Sonny Stitt, Sonny Rollins, Kenny Garrett, Michael Brecker, Donald Sinta, Claude Delangle, John Sampen, and Nobuya Sugawa.
Andrew has had the incredible opportunity to perform with many distinguished and Grammy award winning musicians and groups including Mike Tomaro, Josh Evans, Steve Ahern, Geoff Vidal, Doug Woolverton, Bill Thompson, Jeff Galindo, Garrett Savluk, James Montgomery, David Hull, Marty Richards, Michael “Tunes” Antunes, Larry Brown Swinglane Orchestra, Stage Door Canteen, The Sultans, James Montgomery Blues Band and Gumption and Glory. Andrew has performed at the Newport Jazz Festival, Navy Band Saxophone Symposium, Umass Saxophone Symposium, Truly Cape Cod Jazz Festival, The Met, Pumphouse Music Works, Courthouse Center for the Arts, Cotuit Center for the Arts, Cape Cod Conservatory, The Kowloon as well as many other venues. Andrew has also taken part in masterclasses with John Sampen, Dino Govoni, Adam Larson, and Greg Abate. He currently studies with New York saxophonist Geoff Vidal.
Aside from performing, Andrew has taught privately for 9 years currently operating his own studio in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. His students placed top 5 in the 2020 RIMEA All-State in both jazz and concert band. Andrew is also a faculty member at “More than Music” in Wickford, RI. He has given clinics all across New England and was the saxophone mentor for the Paul Elfman Honors Band.
Lydia Broderick
Art Instructor
Lydia is a self-taught, Cape Cod-based, mixed media painter.
Born into a family of artists, Lydia was encouraged to channel her creativity through various art forms, including theater, music, and visual art.
From an early age, Lydia showed an aptitude for drawing using whatever tool she could get her hands on. By her teenage years, charcoal became her tool of choice.
Her love of drawing portraits was born from a desire to capture an emotion by focusing in on the eyes; a signature trait she would later bring to the canvas. For many years, Lydia refused to paint, feeling there were too many painters in the family. Eventually, she gave in and fell in love with it.
Lydia paints a mixture of portraits with some realism and abstraction, using color and texture to convey the complex emotions of the human condition. A few of her works are pictured here.
Some artists who have inspired and influenced her are Salvador Dali, Thomas Hart Benton, Misti Pavlov, John and Elli Milan, and Henry Ascensio.
Donate
“From the Ground Up” Fundraising Campaign!
If you feel called to help us, there are a variety of ways you can provide support… and, as a thank you for generous one-time donations or to our patrons, we’d like to offer recognition on our site and at the school.
Donate
For simple, one-time donations online with a credit card or PayPal balance, click the “Donate” button below and make a donation via PayPal.
become a patron
For monthly donations online with a credit card or PayPal balance, click the “Patron” button below and set up a recurring donation via PayPal.
RAISING THE BAR
For those wishing to donate funds directly to student tuition, our “Raising the Bar” program offers a platform in order to do so! Click the button to make a donation.
Patrons
Sam Knight
Logo design
Co-Founder, jACK kNIFE bOARD cO.
Jack Knife Board Co. handcrafts custom longboards with unique artwork by Sam Knight. Their signature clothing line can be found at exclusive locations in Harwich Port, or online at: www.jackknifeboardco.com
Sam collaborated with the owners of SSMA to create the school logo and slogan.
Colleen Demarce
Piano donation
Originally from South Dakota, Colleen is a Medical Technologist at Cape Cod Hospital, music lover, and dear friend of the owners.
Her Young Chang piano was enjoyed and played by one of her sons, who is now grown with a family of his own. Colleen wanted to make sure her piano went to a good home – and is certain SSMA is the right place!
The Browne Family
Piano Donation
Our friends on the cape with a great appreciation for music, Doug and Mary Browne had a beautiful Kohler & Campbell piano that they wanted to donate to the school.
We are so glad that they did! This piano is now featured in our multi-purpose space in front of the school. Come check it out!
Mitch Summey
Signage
Mitch created ALL of the signs on the physical school building – the two in front and the big, beautiful one on the side facing the commons.
Because he did such a tremendous job and donated so much of his time without much thought about compensation, we consider him one of our most important patrons and dearest friends.
Dolores Deslauriers Fell c/o Cori Woodworth
Piano Donation
Dolores Deslauriers, now Dolores Fell, is from Spencer, Massachusetts and went to Anna Maria College. She taught school for over 30 years and gave private voice and piano lessons from home. Dolores also played the organ and ran church choir at St. Teresa’s Church in Tiverton, RI. When she heard about Steeple Street Music Academy, she reached out to offer her incomparable Mason & Hamlin piano to us.
The above picture is a picture of Dolores from November 1965, thoughtfully provided to us by her daughter, Cori Woodworth.
BETSY SIGGINS
MUSIC ENTHUSIAST & SUPPORT
Over the years, Betsy Siggins has been a constant champion for musicians all across Cape Cod and beyond. Her enthusiasm, promotion, and assistance in helping us open SSMA has been a tremendous asset.
Betsy was the founding member of Club 47, now known as Club Passim, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This legendary venue was the folk music launching pad for musicians such as Joan Baez, Jim Kweskin, and Eric von Schmidt. Betsy witnessed firsthand the infamous evening concert at Newport 1965, where her friend, Bob Dylan, “went electric.” Now, a founder of the New England Folk Music Archives/Folk New England, she turns her energies to establishing a permanent home for the legacy of the folk music community of New England.
Nile Morin
Truck & Trailer Transportation
Nile Morin, a classmate of Demetrius’ from all the way back in fifth grade, graciously – and without hesitation! – offered the use of his beautiful truck and trailer to transport the benches now lining the interior walls of our multi-purpose space.
Nile is owner and partner at Oceanside Realty Group and M&M Realty.
Learn more about Nile at: https://soldcapecod.com/agent/nile-morin-6065
Mark & Mary Hickman
Truck & Trailer Operation
Longtime friends, music enthusiasts, and world travelers, Mark and Mary Hickman were all too happy to operate Nile Morin’s truck and trailer to pick up the benches for the school’s multi-purpose room. Their expertise in governing an Airstream trailer during their travels made them an obvious choice to help us out.
Special thanks to Mark for helping Demetrius with the heavy lifting of loading and unloading the benches!
…with heartfelt thanks to all of our donors:
“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.”
-Oscar Wilde
- Betsy Siggins
- Scotti Adams
- Kelly Pentzakis
- Steve Morgan
- Jared Streeter
- Cathy Carlisle
- Kristen Gibb
- George M. Dratelis
- Judith Saum
- Angela Hahn
- Mark Wirzburger
- Angela O’Keefe
- Cape Cod Church
- Nora Ashley
- Carson Atteberry
- Chris Campbell
- Brosnan Joan
- Julie Strother & James Haggar
- Mark & Jackie Ruggieri
- Paul & Donna Ruggieri
- Sarah Barsamian Richards
- Joanne Makredes Salogiannis
- Cal Makredes Finocchiaro
- Deborah McDevitt Hays
- Mary Jane Baker
- Erin Cox
- Allie Ann Hammond
- John Mondick
- George Scharr
- Anne & Chris Dorsch
- Viktor Solorzano
- Mashpee Commons
Testimonials
Your presentation is beyond fantastic. The aesthetic appeal of your building, and the cultural vibe inside is admirable. We are honored to promote such an amazing business model.
Music and Art is an ingredient for success.
Cape Cod Entertainment Review,
upon awarding SSMA with the ‘Hidden Gem’ Award
What our Community Says
“Chase was beaming when we attended the open house for Steeple Street Music Academy on Saturday. We thought we would just pop in as we were already in Mashpee Commons. We soon found that we were among friends – music and art does that. Chase was in his glory when he picked up his artwork that he created with his peers that will hang at Cape Space in Hyannis…We all can rise to the level of our ability when supported and encouraged.”
Marie Younger Blackburn, Mom of chase, student at SSMA
“Thank you Katherine and Demetrius and everyone at Steeple Street Music Academy for the most AMAZING music and art jamboree! The children and adults we support here at (KDC) Kennedy-Donovan Center were thrilled with the entire program.
The greatest reward was seeing the joy on everyone’s face and hearing all of the clapping and laughing! We will be back!”
Juliane Dillon, Outreach-Family Support Coordinator at Kennedy-Donovan Center
“I’m having so much fun playing the piano! Check this place out!”
Pamela Tremarche, retired physical education teacher who always wanted to learn piano
Announcements
“First Verse Preschool To Open At Mashpee Commons”
MASHPEE ENTERPRISE | Sept. 23, 2022
Karen B. Hunter, Enterprise News
A large sunny room with books, toys, play areas, freshly painted walls and small desks and chairs perfectly sized for young children is ready for the opening of First Verse Preschool at the end of this month.
The school is to be located at the Steeple Street Music Academy on Steeple Street in Mashpee Commons, where the founders of the academy, Katherine Becrelis and Demetrius N. Becrelis, have turned half of the building into the preschool area.
While sitting on those little chairs—with their 4-year-old son, Michael, playing with toys nearby—the couple talked about how the preschool started.
“It is a large space,” Mr. Becrelis said of the building, which previously housed Emerald Physicians. “When we started from scratch to make the music academy in 2019, we had the idea that the space could be half music school and half preschool, but we put the preschool idea on the back burner.”
That was until they had a meeting with Mashpee Commons administrators after COVID-19, who told the couple that they were seeing many parents who could not find child care for their children and that there was an obvious need.
“They approached us to ask if we would take on a preschool, which caused us to get serious about our original idea,” Ms. Becrelis said. “It is also personal to us because our 4-year-old son will be a part of the school.”
The school’s name, First Verse, is explained in the school brochure: “In the same way that the first verse in a song sets the tone for the rest of the tune, the first schooling experiences set the tone for the rest of a student’s education—and ultimately their lives.”
Because there is a music school on the other side of the building—connected by a walk-through shared kitchen—and because the school is located in Mashpee Commons, Mr. Becrelis said it will be “unlike any other school.”
“There can be crossover with families and teachers from the music academy with the potential for show-and-tell and sing-alongs,” Ms. Bercrelis said. “ And we will have endless opportunities for field trips at the Commons and right nearby. We can take students to the post office, the library, the pet store, the bookshop, the fire department and the police department. Maybe we can visit chefs at some of the restaurants or visit the jewelry-making shop. There are so many opportunities for community involvement.”
“It will be a ‘Mr. Rogers’ type of experience,” Mr. Becrelis said.
Location
We have teamed up with the Mashpee Commons to bring you music lessons, classes, and other art programs in Cape Cod at Steeple Street Music Academy. We’re located at 40 Steeple Street in Mashpee, Massachusetts in the stand-alone, white building with Greek columns (appropriate!?), across from the outdoor stage. Come check us out!
