Lessons - Woodwinds

Al Elefante (Woodwinds) –

Al attended Newark and New Providence public schools before graduating from New Providence High School. He went on to receive a B.A. from Kings College and study music performance at Manhattan School of Music. He studied clarinet with Charles Passhaus, Charles Russo, and Leon Russionolf. After a stint in the U.S. Army Band, he attended Dorn & Kirschner's repair school and worked as a musical instrument repair technician there until 1992.

After D. & K. closed in 1992, Al continued to repair instruments and teach private woodwind lessons on his own until opening Elefante Music in 1996.

Joe Elefante (Woodwinds/Piano) –

Joe grew up in New Providence, attended New Providence public schools, New York University, and New Jersey City University. He has traveled 4 continents as a jazz pianist, saxophonist, vocalist, composer, arranger, and bandleader. Joe has musically directed, conducted, or played countless musical theater productions, including several at the Paper Mill Playhouse and Jersey Boys on Broadway. For a year, Joe was the associate conductor for the Jersey Boys national tour and still sometimes conducts the show on Broadway.

Joe founded, led, and was the principal composer for the Joe Elefante Big Band for five years. This band was the house band at Cecil's Jazz Club for three years, and was featured on ABC's Nightline and in an article by Nat Hentoff for the Wall Street Journal. Currently, Joe works at Elefante Music, subs on Jersey Boys, is a freelance composer/arranger/ performer, and is very active as a clinician in the area schools.

Laura George (Flute) –

The versatile career of flautist Laura George includes many appearances at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, and on Broadway.

Ms. George has performed with many orchestras, including the St. Louis Symphony, New Philharmonic of New Jersey, Papermill Playhouse, New Jersey Pops, and New Jersey Choral Society. Her ensembles have also performed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the French Embassy, Sony Plaza, and on Channel Thirteen. She has toured nationally for Columbia Artists and with the Gilbert and Sullivan Players.

Laura George was a student of Julius Baker, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Gerardo Levy, Gerald Carey, Jacob Berg, and Janet Scott. She holds a Certificat de Stage from L'Universite d'Ete in Nice, France. She holds an MA in Music from Western Illinois University and a BA in Music from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She has been awarded recognition in Outstanding Young Women of America.

Ms. George is an extremely dedicated teacher who has many students go to All State bands on both flute and piccolo.

Steve Ujfalussy (Woodwinds/Piano) –

Steve is from a musically talented family in Ridgefield Park, NJ. While attending high school there he began his musical studies with saxophonist Frank Elmo (Joe Cocker, Julian Lennon) and was one of 55 NJ students selected for the NJPAC Jazz for Teens program, run by jazz legend Rufus Reid. Steve then attended New Jersey City University, double majoring in Jazz & Classical Saxophone. During this time he studied with many renowned saxophonists: Tim Ries (Rolling Stones, Maria Schneider Orch) Walt Weiskopf (Frank Sinatra, Steely Dan), Jim Snidero, Jane Ira Bloom, Dan Willis, Roger Rosenberg, and Allen Won. Steve has been teaching and performing throughtout the metro area since 2000. He taught woodwinds & piano at Ackerman's School of Music in Midland Park, NJ for 5 years. Steve joined Elefante Music in January of 2007.

Currently he is a member of New Arts NYC (www.newartsnyc.com) a group of artists & musicians hosting concerts in Central Park. Steve is also a member of NOLA Preservation Society, a non-profit charity organization dedicated to the cultural preservation and revitalization of the Gulf Coast region. Steve contributes time to their local programs as well as in New Orleans through musical performance, music therapy, and instruction.

Steve is a versatile musician who can perform and instruct a variety of instruments, including: all saxophones, Bb & Bass clarinets, flute, and piano. Steve has performed with: The Village Vanguard Orch, Paquito D'Rivera, Benny Golson, the New York Voices, Charles McPhearson, Byron Stripling, and Conrad Herwig.