At More than Music, we have a warm, friendly & fun group of teachers who educate and challenge their students while sharing their love of music in a relaxed and supportive environment.

Elizabeth Maddock: Owner of More Than Music (voice, piano) – Elizabeth Maddock holds a bachelor degree in Music in Music Education from the University of Rhode Island and a Masters degree in Special Education from Chaminade University of Honolulu, Hawaii. Liz has enjoyed singing and performing for most of her life. She had performed with Hawai`i Opera Theatre and was a member of the Mae Orvis Opera Studio, located in Hawai`i. She had also been a featured soloist for the Hitbox Ensemble, performing video game music selections, as well as performing as the lead vocalist for her husband’s band, Rock Opera Theater.

She has spent the past 22 years in Hawai`i teaching elementary general music, drama, choir and rhythm ensembles in both private and public schools in Hawai`i. She has also taught in the special education classroom, both in inclusion and self-contained classroom environments. She has been able to help support student learning and growth through the use of music and movement in the special education classroom. There is nothing more beautiful or more rewarding than witnessing a child being able to communicate themselves through music and movement. Prior to moving to Hawai`i in 2001, Liz had worked at More Than Music as a private voice and piano teacher. More Than Music had been a very special place then, and continues to be a very special place now with instructors who work hard and with great passion to pass on their love of music to students of all ages. Liz hopes to continue to carry out Nancy Shanahan’s legacy that she so beautifully created 35 years ago!

Andy Maddock: Owner of More Than Music (guitar, voice, piano) – Andy Maddock holds a bachelor and masters degree in Classical Guitar Performance. He has written music education software available on the Apple Store under www.Musicated.com He was a member of the Hawaii Opera Theatre and a member of the Mae Orvis Opera Studio. He has performed with the Opera Express touring show and also performed in shows with the Oahu Arts Center. Andy has played in rock bands and classical ensembles since the 80’s.

Gia Antolini (violin, viola, piano) Bachelor of Arts in Music studying both violin and piano. Gia is an accomplished, Suzuki trained classical pianist and violinist. She is a multi-faceted orchestral, solo and chamber musician and served as the Concertmaster of the URI Symphony Orchestra. Gia played in other large ensembles on a variety of instrument including French Horn and trombone as well as in String Quartet on both violin and viola. Gia is excited to teach and share her love for classical music with her students at More than Music.

Joanne Arnold: (voice – classical, music theater), soprano earned a B.A. in Drama from Franklin Pierce College (University), a G.P.D. in Vocal Performance from the Longy School of Music (of Bard College), and NeuroVocal Method™ Teacher Certificate for Popular Styles. Joanne’s eclectic performing credits range from opera, operetta, musical theatre, art song concerts to choral and church music. Favorite appearances include, 'Ladies from the Edge' with the Knickerbocker All Stars at the 2019 Rhythm and Roots Festival, Haydn The Creation (parts 1 and 2), Mozart Coronation Mass, Mozart Requiem, Schubert Mass in G and Verdi Te Deum, Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors), Old Woman (Candide) and Beggar Woman (Sweeney Todd). She is soprano section leader at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, Old Lyme CT. Joanne’s students can be seen in local and regional theater productions. They have received accolades including top placements in RIMEA’s All-State Festival, RIMEA Honor’s Recital and Ocean State Star Award nominations. She enjoys working with students of all ages, exploring and developing their unique voice and style with patience, confidence and humor.

Joel Beauchemin: (violin, viola, cello, ukelele, acoustic guitar, piano) – a North Kingstown-based musician, teacher, and songwriter. With over 20 years of experience teaching in various private schools and music studios throughout Rhode Island. He is widely sought after as a violin instructor and multi-instrumentalist, specializing in children’s folk music and jazz/rock improvisation for teens and adults. Since 2016, “Mister Joel” has been facilitating preschool and family music workshops with his program Fiddle N’ Fun. When he isn’t teaching or gigging, he enjoys spending time with his wife, twin daughters, and two crazy hound dogs.

Angela Cardarelli (piano, guitar) – Angie holds a BA in Music Composition from the University of Rhode Island. She has been playing the piano since the age of eight adding electric and acoustic guitar at age 13. Angela began composing at age 11 and won a scholarship for her first piano solo, "Into the Night". She explored jazz and blues piano with More Than Music's own, Dennis Hughes. Angela has participated in many jazz, blues, and rock ensembles. She plays locally in Rhode Island and southern CT, and has been known to host a few open mic nights. She is happy to be teaching and sharing her love of music for students of all ages - working with students ages 5 through adult. She especially enjoys teaching young beginners on both piano and guitar to help them start their musical journeys!

Jeff Deegan: (bass, piano, guitar) – holds a BA in Music from Berklee College of Music. He served 27 years as a musician with the US Navy Band & the Navy’s premier 18-piece jazz ensemble. Jeff performed and was the leader & musical director for several groups performing before the nation’s highest-ranking military and civilian leaders. He produced and performed on 11 nationally distributed recording projects, and thousands of concerts nationwide and abroad. After retiring from the Navy Band Jeff became Director of the School of Music for a K-12 private school in Waldorf, MD. More than Music has been very fortunate for many years to have Jeff sharing his knowledge and love of music with hundreds of students and sending talented new musicians out into our community.

Raffi Donoian: (guitar, piano) – holds a MM in Classical Guitar Performance from the University of Rhode Island. Raffi has taught at the Wheeler School where he assumed various roles including directing guitar and handbell ensembles, teaching general music to first grade students, and was even recognized as one of the distinguished teachers of the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program in 2017. Check out Raffi's website for more information: www.raffidonoianmusic.com

Bill Hagist: (percussion and piano) – is an energetic music educator who began his own study of percussion at More Than Music in 2002. Playing in various school ensembles and community bands, he went on to study music education at the University of Rhode Island. Upon graduation Bill began teaching private percussion lessons at More Than Music as well as teaching general music at The Compass School. He eventually moved on to directing middle school band and high school drum line in Tiverton, RI. He is currently teaching general music at Nuestro Mundo, a K-8 charter school in Providence, RI.

Dennis Hughes: (piano, keyboard) – earned his BA in Jazz Composition and Arranging from Berklee College of Music. He is the leader and keyboard player of the popular local band, Brass Force. He works as a freelance keyboardist all over New England. Dennis was the very first teacher to be hired at More than Music back in 1988 and he has been teaching all styles of piano and keyboard to members of our community ever since. Many of his students have continued their education in music and gone on to become very talented musicians themselves. Amongst these students, several have achieved the piano seat in Rhode Island’s All State Jazz band.

Jude LaRoche: (saxophone) - Jude is a New England-based jazz saxophonist. Jude is a performer, composer, and teaching artist who has performed at the Newport Jazz Festival and with notable artists such as trombonist Dr. Emmett Goods and drummer Jocelyn Pleasant. Jude was also the recipient of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award (2021). Although primarily interested in playing from the jazz tradition, Jude has performed and draws inspiration from other styles such as Metal, Punk, Emo, and Hip Hop. Recent releases across streaming platforms include work with the band The Mind Cemetery. Jude LaRoche is currently pursuing a degree in Jazz Performance at the University of Rhode Island (ant. 2025) where he performs with several ensembles including combos and as the section leader for the URI Big Band.

Armando Mirabal: (piano, flute) - Armando is a senior at the University of Rhode Island pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. He is a classical pianist and flutist with additional experience in jazz, video game music, and film scores. Armando studies classical piano with Dr. Manabu Takasawa, piano accompaniment with Dr. David Gilliland, and jazz piano with Professor Emeritus Joseph Parillo. He currently serves as a pianist for the Central Falls High School Choir and the URI Symphony Orchestra, and has previously performed as a flutist with the URI Concert Band.

Andrew Oswinkle: (guitar, piano, ukulele) - Classical guitarist Andrew Oswinkle, a Baltimore native, graduated from the Conservatory of the Peabody Institute in 2020 with a master’s degree in Classical Guitar Performance and Pedagogy and has recently accepted a teaching assistantship at the University of Rhode Island to pursue a second master's in Classical guitar performance with the renowned guitarist Adam Levine. He has also received top prizes at both the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Competition and the Southern Guitar Competition. Andrew began his musical journey at a young age as a singer, singing in his church choir before joining the Maryland State Boychoir, where he had the opportunity to perform across the United States, Canada, and Europe. At 16, he discovered the classical guitar after attending a solo concert presented by his high school’s guitar class. Inspired, he began taking lessons at his local community college after graduating. Since then, Andrew has performed throughout the eastern Mid-Atlantic region while also continuing to dedicate himself to mastering the instrument through graduate studies, participation in classical guitar festivals and competitions, and private lessons with renowned guitarists and pedagogues such as Adam Levine, Adam Holzman, and Rene Izquierdo. He is also passionate about expanding the guitar repertoire, arranging music from a variety of genres, including baroque, classical, jazz, folk, and small ensemble works.