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Infinity Visual And Performing Arts Welcomes New Instructors

Infinity Visual and Performing Arts welcomes two new instructors.

Adam McKillip, mandolin instructor, is a 26-year-old Jamestown native who has over 14 years of music-related experience. His first string instrument, at age 11, was the mandolin. He studied under Bill Eckstrom until college.

His interests in mandolin led him to learn banjo, bass, guitar and ukulele. McKillip attended the Jamestown Community College Fine Arts Music program for three years where he studied mandolin, guitar, piano and alto saxophone. McKillip has had the privilege of performing with many different bands throughout the Chautauqua region, with local musicians, with the Little Theatre production “Cash,” and pit orchestras for school musicals.

McKillip is also a former student of the Infinity program, where he studied under the direction of Bill Ward and was a part of the Infinity Bluegrass Project. He has been teaching for six years as a mandolin and guitar instructor. McKillip is excited to be a part of the Infinity team and looks forward to sharing his passion for music with his students.

Ryan Lindfors, drum instructor, was born and raised in Jamestown. He attended JCC and SUNY Fredonia each for one year as a percussion performance major. Having started his musical endeavors at age 4 with guitar lessons and joining vocal choirs, he found his true passion as a drum player when his first kit was purchased for him by his parents for Christmas 2007.

He worked with local musicians and took private lessons all the way through high school until graduation. During his time in high school, he participated in concert band, marching band, A Cappella, Madrigals, full orchestra, NYSSMA, All County, All State and more. During the last half of 2015, Lindfors was touring all of North America with the California-based, internationally renowned metal act, Bermuda. Lindfors also teaches at the Warren County Summer Music School as a drum instructor.

For more information about Infinity, or to schedule lessons, visit infinityperformingarts.org

Infinity is a music and arts education and performing arts center that offers private lessons and group experiences within five pillars of the arts: music, art, dance, theater and literature. New-student orientations take place once a month at 301 E. Second St., Lynn Building, Suite 101, Jamestown. For more information, call 664-0991.

Infinity Visual And Performing Arts Welcomes New Instructors

Infinity Visual and Performing Arts welcomes two new instructors.

Mandolin instructor Sara Rafaloski has been playing things with strings all of her life. When she turned 4 years old her mother asked her what instrument she would like to play and she chose the violin. She began lessons soon after. Her father always played guitar in the house so eventually she began playing that too.

In seventh grade her mother let her pick another instrument to play and her love for bass guitar started. In high school Rafaloski joined the group of students in putting together a Renaissance dinner. She wanted to be the strolling minstrel and went in search of a lute. The closest Medieval-looking instrument Rafaloski could find was the mandolin.

Rafaloski’s love for music and performing continued throughout her adult years. Currently, Rafaloski is the mandolin, fiddle and stand up bass player for The Tongue Cluckers, and the mandolin, guitar and bass player for Will and Sara. She also plays bass and cello for many local theaters for musical productions in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.

Ron Packard, piano instructor, began piano lessons at age 9 with Mrs. Lincoln of Kennedy. Packard also studied with George Johnson of Warren, Pa., Mrs. Eddy of Jamestown and Helga Hulse of Jamestown. He studied applied music at Fredonia State.

In 1980, Packard began teaching piano lessons to a small number of students, and he also began to work as a DJ in the Jamestown area. In 1996 Packard recorded a mini LP of classical dance music with famous ’70s producer, Boris Midney, in Burbank, Calif. Most recently, Packard performed at the Sheldon House in Jamestown under the direction of Valeria Nunn. He teaches all levels and ages, and for anyone who has a desire to play the piano. Packard looks forward to sharing his passion for music with students at Infinity.

For more information about Infinity, or to schedule lessons, visit infinityperformingarts.org.

Starting at $3.50/week.

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