Adams Music Conservatory

Our Teachers

Izabela Adams - Piano, Voice, Keyboard, Theory, Kindermusik®, and Recording. Member of MUSIC TEACHERS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

Izabela Adams Izabela Adams was born and raised in Poland. Her music education began when she was 7 years old, when she attended her first year of elementary musical school. That was the beginning of what became years of study in piano and music theory. In musical high school Izabela took four years of classical voice training (her major) as she pursued her musical education and career.

Earning the title, "Musician-Vocalist", she began her professional experience. First stop was teaching general music in a Polish public school. Izabela also conducted large vocal-dance groups, ages five to sixteen years old, which were nationally recognized in Poland. She also managed to conduct a children's choir, keyboard classes, and private piano & voice lessons.

Her band experience took her to other countries where she played original music, as well as, cover tunes! In the States she increased her musical education and began teaching private: piano, classical voice and theory classes. Today she is the proud owner and operator of Adams Music Conservatory LLC and making her dreams come true!


Tom Adams - School of Rock, Drums
Tom Adams Tom has been playing drums and singing for over 25 years in a variety of different bands: Rock, Standards, Original Rock & Progressive, Light Jazz, Blues, Elvis, Rockabilly, and virtually every Pop Music style from the last fifty years.

With over ten years experience as an instructor, Tom teaches everything from CPR to Drumming for Health, including an entire curriculum for Therapeutic Massage. "I have a passionate and motivating approach to teaching which I can tune to accommodate any style of learner." My role in the Conservatory is to show students the fun they can have playing their instruments as a group. Any musician can find a level of playing which will suit their style. I teach musicians to find their comfort zone and then challenge them to improve in a rewarding environment that prepares them for stage performance. From there the desire to excel becomes natural. This is where the students really learn to play!


Donald Stevens - Electric Bass Guitar
Donald Stevens Donald Stevens started playing bass in bands at the age of 13. Since then he has played on several gospel recordings with The Edwin Hawkins Tri State Mass Choir, Teddy Johnson, Gabriel Hardeman Delegation, Randall Cunningham and C.A.U.S.E., and recently Michelle Bonilla. He also played bass on "Who Is Jill Scott". That's him groovin' the bass line on" Long Walk" and "Show Me". He also played bass on "Fanatic" from Vivian Green's "Love Story" CD. He got to play and sing on Miles Jaye's CD "Odyssey".

Donald is a founding member and bassist for Philly and Jersey's own jazz quintet "D-For". In 1995 this group of seasoned musicians got together to jam and toss around some musical ideas. Within a few months they realized that they had come upon something special and began to develop a sound that was uniquely their own. As individuals, the members of D-FOR have played or recorded with a veritable who's who of the music industry. This list of artists includes Gerald Veasley, Jill Scott, Floetry, The Roots, Yolanda Adams, BeBe Winans, Mary J. Blige, Kirk Franklin, The Winans, Vivian Green, Hezehiah Walker, Michael Brecker, Pieces of a Dream, Randy Brecker, The Gabriel Hardeman Delegation, Miles Jaye and a host of others.

Check D-FOR out today at: www.dformusic.com

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Tom Cavanagh - Guitar
Tom Cavanagh Tom Cavanagh earned his BA from Michigan State University. He studied classical and jazz guitar at Joe Fava Studio in Detroit and jazz guitar with Dennis Sandole in Philadelphia. He has over 20 years experience teaching classical, blues, jazz and all styles of rock guitar. Tom has over 25 years experience performing as a jazz, blues, rock and R & B guitarist in both his hometown of Detroit, MI as well as in Philadelphia and South Jersey, where he has lived since 1991.

Vince Cappello ____________________________________________________________________

James Schneider - Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin
James Schneider James Schneider began studying guitar with private teachers in 1962. Later he studied guitar, theory, harmony, arranging and composition with Albert Maene, a 25-year student and associate of Dennis Sandole, the well-known jazz theorist and teacher. In the 1980's James studied advanced guitar techniques with Joseph Sgro, a prominent Philadelphia guitar virtuoso.

James began his teaching career in 1969. He taught for a number of music schools and stores in the Philadelphia and New Jersey areas. His contribution to guitar literature was "An Introduction to the Quartertone Guitar" which he wrote in 1978. The book was reviewed in guitar periodicals in the U.S., Canada, France and Japan.

James has played in many jazz and pop bands over the years. Since the early 90's he has restricted himself almost exclusively to solo performance of classical and jazz guitar. In recent years he has performed at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia, The Mansion in Voorhees, the Medford Lakes Country Club and the Medford Village Country Club.

Currently, James teaches at several music schools including Bucks and Burlington County Colleges where he is an adjunct faculty member teaching classical and jazz guitar courses. You can also see James performing weekly at the Green Apple Bistro in Moorestown, N.J. We proudly welcome James to the Adams Music Conservatory!

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Christopher Stevens - Trumpet, Brass and Woodwind Ensemble
Christopher Stevens Christopher Michael Stevens, is a native of Camden, New Jersey. He is the younger of two sons born into a family of well-known musicians and singers. At the age of eight years old, Chris started out playing the trumpet with a passion. His playing makes you laugh, cry, scream and holler! Chris attended the Berklee College Of Music in Boston, MA and has studied with great trumpeters such as Tiger Okoshi, Lin Biviano and Darren Barrett. However, when he plays, he has a sound of his own and a command of the atmosphere that can’t be learned in a classroom.

Chris arranges horns for various Christian artists and groups. He has become a renowned trumpeter, horn arranger, and songwriter. Chris has also traveled extensively throughout the United States and abroad as the horn section leader for the world-renowned artist, Tye Tribbett. In addition to playing for Tye Tribbett, Chris has recorded and shared the stage with great artist such as: Kim Burrell, Mary Mary, Byron Cage, Joy Enriguez, Micah Stampley, John P. Kee, Judith Christie McAllister, Jonathan DuBose, Jr., CeCe Winans, Hillsong, Kirk Whalum, Israel & New Breed, Rodney Jerkins, The Crabb Family, Mo’ Horns, J Moss, Toby Mac, Steven Curtis Chapman, Kirk Franklin, and Fred Hammond.

Chris Stevens has also played at prestigious events and venues such as: The Stellar Awards, Mega Fest, the 2007 Super Bowl Gospel Celebration, Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, and the Grand Ole Opry just to name a few. Television appearances include BET and TBN.

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Dr. Daoud A. Balewa - Saxophone, Flute, Percussion
Dr. Daoud A. Balewa Dr. Balewa began his musical studies at the age of 14. The Manhattan School of Music in New York exposed him to talented and gifted maestros, the likes of Altieri and Burnogorio who challenged and molded their students, consistently impressing the rudimentary principles and fundamentals of music theory, harmony and classical performance.

After his studies in the Manhattan School of Music, Dr. Balewa was accepted to begin advanced level composer musical studies: transposition, composition and orchestration at the Applied Music School of Tampa under the personal instruction and tutor/mentor-ship of renowned percussionist Ron Delp. During this period, his saxophone technique and performance studies were being sharpened by the likes of jazz saxophonists; Frank Mitchell (tenor), Phil Woods (alto) and David Gross (soprano).

Since 1978, Dr. Daoud Balewa was involved in recording and producing 7 LP’s, 2 singles and 1 broadcast television video. He also co-wrote and co-produced 2 film scores. He has performed and recorded with Gary Bartz, S. Wright, Hiroshima and Robin Kenyatta, just to name few. Dr. Daoud received a Grammy nomination for “Best New Artist” in 1983, 1985 and 1986!

Today, the synthesis and diversity of Dr. Daoud’s musical background, education and training heritage has made him a student-friendly, caring, devoted and committed professional educator.

The Adams Music Conservatory is proud to have such a luminary musician, composer, producer and teacher within their staff.