Celebrating Gifts of Music

An evening of music, celebration and delicious treats featuring Erin Bellucci and John Mastroianni with the Gifts of Music Band.

Erin Belucci
A West Hartford native, Erin Bellucci is a proud alum of Hall High School (Class of 2016), where she sang in the Hall High Choraliers under the fabulous direction of Lori Cetto and loved every minute of performing in Pops 'n Jazz. She earned
her degree in Music Education from the University of Delaware, where shewas the featured vocalist for the premier jazz band and President of the University Singers.

Now based in Manhattan, Erin teaches music in Brooklyn and performs throughout New York City. Her repertoire includes work debuted at the Museum of Modern Art with saxophonist Eric Wyatt. Her students have performed at venues such as The Palace Theater and The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

Erin is grateful to the music educators of West Hartford who encouraged her and helped shape her path. Haig and Leeny’s impact as educators and champions of the arts has reached generations of students,including herself, and inspired them to become lifelong musicians.

WHPS Music Faculty
Andrew Mayo, Department Supervisor of Performing Arts
Emmett Drake, Orchestra, Solisti
Phil Giampietro, Director of Bands, Hall
Michael Wyatt, Director of Bands, Conard
Elizabeth Keller Orchestra/Suzuki Teacher, Charter Oak International Academy

John Mastroianni
John Mastroianni earned a B.S. in Music Education and a B.M. in Jazz Studies from the University of Bridgeport, and an M.A. in Jazz Performance/Composition from New York University. He has studied saxophone with Phil Woods, Dick Oatts, Joe Lovano, and Gary Klein, and composition with Jim McNeely, Bill Finegan, Tom Boras, Neil Slater, and Mike Carubia.

John has performed with artists such as Mel Lewis, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Smokey Robinson, Charli Persip and Supersound, Harvie S, Jim McNeely, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra Jr., Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and many others. He is one of the primary composers for the New England Jazz Ensemble and he also performs with the Hartford and Waterbury Symphonies, and at the Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, Bushnell, and Shubert theaters. John also played in the Broadway (NYC) production of “Three Penny Opera.”

Currently, he is an Assistant Professor in Residence of Jazz Studies and Associate Department Head for Undergraduate Studies at the University of Connecticut, and the founder and music director of the Summer Jazz Workshop. In December 2002, John was named by SBO Magazine as one of 50 directors in the United States that “make a difference,” and in March 2004, John was chosen by CMEA as the Secondary School Teacher of the Year. John is a three-time Music Educator GRAMMY Award nominee and winner of two Golden Globe Music Awards with the New England Jazz Ensemble and with Alex Nakhimovsky and June Bisantz. John is the 2014 Connecticut Teacher of the Year and the 2021 UConn Undergraduate Faculty Mentor of the Year.

Gifts of Music Band
Isadore Palacpac (piano) - Isadore graduated from UConn in May 2025 with a B.S. degree in Psychology. He was a member and featured soloist with the UConn Jazz Ensemble and jazz combos. Isadore was a member of various Jazz at Lincoln Center Ensembles, performed at Carnegie Hall and Dizzy’s, and has shared the stage with many jazz luminaries. His plans include attending medical school.

Giana DiNatale (bass) - Giana graduated from UConn in 2020 with a B.A. degree in Music and two minors in Entrepreneurship and HDFS. She was a member and featured soloist with the UConn Jazz ensemble and jazz combos. Giana has performed in the Broadway pit for Phantom of the Opera, at Radio City Music Hall with Barry Manilow, and she performed with Barbie, Live in Concert at the Hollywood Bowl.

Ohm Soni (drums) - Ohm is currently a junior at UConn pursuing a B.M. in Jazz Studies and a B.S. in Marketing. He is a member of the UConn Jazz Ensemble and jazz combos and a student of Jonathan Barber. Ohm performed with Jerry Weldon, Matt Dwonzyk, Godwin Louis, and Aaron Goldberg, and in many CT venues such as Black Eyed Sally’s.