Crescendo Fine Arts Academy is located in Longmont, Colorado. We offer lessons and classes for a wide variety of instruments for students of all ages. CFAA began in 2018 as the result of merging The Crescendo Project with several local music studios. As part of the Hopelight family of services, CFAA exists to provide music and performance education for all students, especially those who might otherwise lack access due to financial constraints.
We look forward to meeting you!
The Crescendo Project exists to provide music and performance classes of the highest caliber to all students, especially those who lack access to private lessons outside the classroom. Our expert instructors provide instruction in an environment that is fun and welcoming to students of a variety of ages and backgrounds.
Come join us and Grow in Creativity!
Crescendo Fine Arts Academy began in 2018. Our roots go back two years earlier, with local community music and arts classes known as The Crescendo Project. Crescendo is a branch of Hopelight, a non-profit organization based in Longmont, Colorado. The Hopelight family of services began in 2013 with Hopelight Medical Clinic, serving uninsured patients with primary medical care (www.hopelightclinic.org). Our community health programs have grown to include include Hopelight Behavioral health (www.hopelightbh.org), Hopelight Fitness (www.hopelightfitness.org), Longmont CPR (www.longmontcpr.org), and Hopelight Recovery support groups. Hopelight also offers English as a Second Language classes and the Longmont Tutoring Center (www.longmonttc.org). All Hopelight services and programs are located on the campus of Longmont Church of Christ (www.longmontcoc.org). Crescendo Fine Arts Academy is an exciting opportunity for kids in our community to learn, grow, and be creative.
Advancing students who demonstrate a commitment to the program can enter into a mentorship agreement to receive individual lessons at no charge, in exchange for assisting with supervised beginning-level classes. For more information, please click here to contact us.
CFAA partners with many individual donors, volunteers, and organizations in our mission to bring music education to our community. We are grateful for your support!
If you would like to assist CFAA in any way, please contact our office.
Come learn with us!
Devon is an active performer, collaborative pianist, and teacher. He also enjoys hiking, reading, and expanding his Spanish language skills. www.devonnewburn.com
Noelani loves piano! In addition to co-directing CFAA with her husband, Devon, she is co-director of the Longmont Community Chorus.
Michelle followed her love of culture and ideas to Milan, Italy, where she studied piano for several years, lived in the famous Casa Verdi, and met her husband – a fellow musician and fellow Colorado native! She has a bachelor’s in piano from the University of Colorado at Denver, and has taught at Minot State University. Making music with other people is her favorite pastime in the world, and is looking forward to sharing that with her classes.
Craig was inspired by heavy metal virtuosos like Marty Friedman and Kirk Hammett. Craig believes his three greatest teachers have been his favorite albums, his guitar buddies, and bandmates. Craig's guitar classes focus on playing our favorite songs as a gorup, and having fun while learning music theory and guitar technique.
Alexandra is a 3rd generation protégé of Debussy, a master of French technique, and has a Bachelor's in Piano Performance from Southern Illinois University. She helps students focus on their interests, but also teaches the theory and technique needed to grow. Alexandra's greatest goal is to instill a love of music in each and every student
Zo Manfredi has enjoyed much success as a performer and teacher in Canada and across the United States. She is formerly Teaching Artist of Violin and Viola at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa and Assistant Music Associate of Violin at Grinnell College. In August 2015 she received her Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas under the direction of renowned pedagogue, Julia Bushkova, where she was awarded both a Teaching Fellowship and Teaching Assistantship.
Jack teaches our World Percussion class, and also teaches private drumset lessons. Student enrolled in his classes can expect to rock 'n roll!
Timothy Cuffman is an active performer and teacher currently based out of Boulder, Colorado.As a performer, Cuffman currently serves as Assistant Concertmaster of the Cheyenne Symphony. He is also a member of the Fort Collins Symphony. Previously, Timothy has been Concertmaster of the Longmont Symphony and Principal Second Violin of the Mansfield Symphony. Dr. Cuffman earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Violin Performance and Pedagogy with a Secondary Area in Viola from the University of Iowa in 2016. He also holds a Master of Music degrees from Ohio University in Violin Performance and Upper String Pedagogy and a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from the University of Akron.
Valerie Vampola is a vocalist and music journalist based out of Northern Colorado. Originally from Southern California, Valerie has performed as both a soloist and an ensemble member throughout California and Colorado, specializing in jazz, contemporary, and popular music. She graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies, where she was an ensemble member of Downbeat award-winning vocal jazz ensemble Northern Colorado Voices, under the direction of Kerry Marsh. She performs as a lead singer for up and coming Funk and R&B group Mojo Audio and as a jazz soloist.
Born in Port Jefferson, New York, and raised in Stony Brook, violinist and violist Ryan Foley has played the gamut of musical styles in a professional setting. He began his professional orchestra career playing viola with the New York Youth Symphony before contributing his talents to Bucknell University, SUNY-Purchase College, Florida International University, University of Colorado Boulder, and Colorado State University. While working on a second masters degree in music at Colorado State University, Ryan won full-season contracts with the Fort Collins and Cheyenne Symphonies, with whom he currently plays violin. Ryan is always looking for opportunities in music performance, leadership, and teaching.
Bill was born and raised in Starkville, Mississippi, home of the Mississippi State Bulldogs. At MSU Bill received Bachelor’s degrees in Computer Engineering and Music. He finished his Master’s in Music from Louisiana State University and then proceeded to study Music Therapy at Colorado State University. He has since stayed in Fort Collins while working on his doctorate in piano performance at the University of Northern Colorado. In 2016 he enjoyed traveling across Europe between music festivals in Italy and France, where he received lessons at the Pablo Casals Festival from Olivier Gardon of the Schola Cantorum de Paris. In 2017 Bill presented “An Assessment of Technical Exercises for Piano Majors” at the World Piano Conference in Serbia. He spent the summer of 2019 playing keyboards for musicals at the Bigfork Summer Playhouse in Montana. Since 2012 he has served as a volunteer for Hospice care and his church’s praise band.
Crescendo Fine Arts Academy began in 2018. Our roots go back to 2016 with The Crescendo Project, an after-school music and art program of Hopelight Education Services. Hopelight is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization. Click here to learn more about the Hopelight family of services.
Maria Cristina Mena