Camp Instructors & Staff

All of our instructors at Takoma Groove Camp are passionate about music. They gig, teach, write, record, dance, engineer live shows and repair instruments, among other artistic endeavors. Most of all, they have a love for imparting their knowledge and positive spirit on the campers to be creative, original, unique and overall better musicians.
All of our regular, full-time counselors and instructors are CPR/1st Aid Certified by the American Heart Association.
Current Instructors...
Brian Weber, Camp Director & InstructorBrian Weber, Camp Director & Instructor
Brian Weber is a local musician who has been teaching professionally since 1996. He teaches guitar, bass, trumpet, piano, ukulele, drums and other brass instruments to all ages and skill levels. He studied Jazz and Classical music, as well as composition and theory at Montgomery College. He has also studied privately with some of the world's foremost players and teachers. Brian's pursuit of music began at age 5. He is an accomplished and seasoned live multi-instrumentalist and who has been performing for 25 years up and down the east coast. He is also the Drum Repairman for House of Musical Traditions. Brian has been involved with Takoma Groove Camp since 2006, co-directing until 2012, when he took over sole directorship of camp. Brian is right at home instructing and running a music camp for budding musicians. He loves helping young, talented musicians and artists to realize their potential, and to assist them in honing their craft to the best of their ability. For updates and news on Brian's gig schedule, please email: [email protected] Brian Weber is a local musician who has been teaching professionally since 1996. He teaches guitar, bass, trumpet, piano, ukulele, drums and other brass instruments to all ages and skill levels. He studied Jazz and Classical music, as well as composition and theory a...
Julie Stoessel, InstructorJulie Stoessel, Instructor
Julie Stoessel is a violinist, singer, and breakdancer from Charlottesville, Virginia with a Bachelor of Music from James Madison University. Her musical endeavors include playing violin for the Arlington Philharmonic, Ashlawn Opera Company, and Perfect Harmony String Quartet, writing and releasing her own EP, Breathe on iTunes, and playing shows with various local Rock/Hip hop/Pop artists. Julie has also interned at recording studios Crystalphonic in Virginia, and Quad Studios in New York City, where she learned the basics of sound engineering and producing. Previous to her move to the DC area, Julie worked for 4 years at the Music Resource Center in Charlottesville, where she mentored middle school and high school students in songwriting, recording, vocals, violin, engineering, beat making, and breakdancing. Her love of funky beats lead her to the art of breakdance, which she has been pursuing alongside her musical career since age 18. Julie now works at the Washington Waldorf School in Bethesda, Maryland, where she teaches middle school strings, and private violin lessons. She also co-owns a breakdance studio, The Lab, in Takoma, DC. Julie Stoessel is a violinist, singer, and breakdancer from Charlottesville, Virginia with a Bachelor of Music from James Madison University. Her musical endeavors include playing violin for the Arlington Philharmonic, Ashlawn Opera Company, and Perfect Harmony Strin...
Chris Colvin, InstructorChris Colvin, Instructor
Chris Colvin is a local musician/producer with more than 25 years of experience. He is a multi-instrumentalist who combines various styles of music to create unique sounds, and encourages all musicians to challenge themselves. He teaches how to increase lung power through martial arts breathing techniques, which helps create a smooth powerful sound on wind instruments. Chris works well with kids and adults (even ones who claim they're not musically inclined)."Your breath is your life -- make it strong," he says. Chris Colvin is a local musician/producer with more than 25 years of experience. He is a multi-instrumentalist who combines various styles of music to create unique sounds, and encourages all musicians to challenge themselves. He teaches how to increase lung power th...
Brendan Casey, InstructorBrendan Casey, Instructor
Brendan Casey is a guitar player, songwriter, producer and former groove camp student. Although originally from Silver Spring, he is currently working on finishing his Bachelor of Arts in Songwriting, with a Minor in Music at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Brendan garnered a lot of playing and writing experience through Groove Camp as a teenager, and is grateful to be able to come back as an instructor. Growing up he played shows around DC area, but since going to college, he has been able to tour parts of the south and northeast. Most recently, Brendan interned at Cue Recording Studios in Falls Church, VA to expand his producing/sound engineering knowledge and abilities. Brendan Casey is a guitar player, songwriter, producer and former groove camp student. Although originally from Silver Spring, he is currently working on finishing his Bachelor of Arts in Songwriting, with a Minor in Music at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennesse...
Noah GitlisNoah Gitlis
Noah studied guitar at the Berklee College of Music. He’s toured nationally and currently performs in a number of DC’s favorite venues. Noah is also an active session player, with special expertise in composition and improvising. He brings his genuine passion for theory and ear training and a wide range of genres into the classroom.Noah studied guitar at the Berklee College of Music. He’s toured nationally and currently performs in a number of DC’s favorite venues. Noah is also an active session player, with special expertise in composition and improvising. He brings his genuine passion for the...
Past instructors at camp have included...
- Rob Nicholson
- Sarah Fridrich
- Robert Lighthouse
- Paul Foreman
- Michael Woods
Clinicians that have come to work with campers and hold workshops in various musical fields have included...
Victor Wooten (Grammy winning bassist, educator & author)
Joseph Wooten (Grammy nominated keyboard player, author, speaker & philanthropist)
- Dave Welsch (bassist, educator, film score composer & producer)
- Anthony Wellington (world-renowned bassist & instructor)
- Trevor Higgins (wood crafter, sound engineer & electronics guru)
- Seth Hurwitz (owner of 930Club & I.M.P. Productions)
- Eric Fuller (artist, website designer & musician)
- BJ Cantlupe & David Irving (professional musicians & college graduates as music majors)
Almost every year we have former Groove Campers, who are very dedicated and passionate about music, come back as junior counselors to lend a hand with daily activities and to try their hand at instructing and leading a group. It's always a fantastic experience for both the junior counselor and their bands and a great way for them to see if they like teaching and band leading. Some of these past campers have even gone on become teachers and instructors themselves! Some of our past campers who have returned as junior counselors have included...
- Sam Dembling
- Brendan Casey
- Calvin Bankert
- Yitzy Holton-Hinshaw
- Grayson Flood
- Joe Ciccarello
- Noah Maruyama