Coaches and Accompanists
JP Dewey
Accompanist / Vocal Coach
Hailing from the Southerntier region of upstate New York, JP Dewey is a versatile producer, keyboardist, composer, and songwriter; with music spanning across a wide variety of genres and work experience within many facets of the music industry.
Dewey studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, graduating summa cum laude with a B.M. in Contemporary Writing and Production and a minor in Writing for Television and New Media.
Since graduating in 2022, Dewey relocated to Los Angeles where he has worked as a producer, composer, songwriter, and gigging keyboardist. Performance credits include Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras (touring), Zevia, Ben Mallare Events & Entertainment, Mackenzie Day, Trinity Reyes, Sam Marke, Lorena LaTorre, and many more.
Currently, Dewey continues to perform, write, and produce, as well as teach piano, songwriting, and production.
Dr. Cassie Nichols-Gonzalez
Accompanist / Coach
An LA native, Dr. Cassie Nichols-Gonzalez has become a sought-after accompanist, musical director, performer, teacher, and coach, winning such accolades as Most Outstanding Graduate from the Thornton School at USC after completing her Bachelor, Master and Doctoral degrees in Piano Performance, and being Ovation-nominated for her musical direction of Memphis at Cabrillo Music Theatre. Her performances have taken her to New York and London and range from solo classical recitals to rock concerts to conducting pit orchestras for musical theatre. She has also been the accompanist for the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles since 2015 and continues to love every minute of her versatile musical career! Credits: Musical Director: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Five Star Theatricals); Evita (Cabrillo); Children of Eden (Cabrillo); Damn Yankees (Cabrillo), In the Heights (Candlelight Pavilion); Company (Cabrillo); Memphis (Cabrillo); Assistant Musical Director: The Little Mermaid (Cabrillo); In the Heights (Cabrillo), Next to Normal (La Mirada).
Yeko Ladzekpo-Cole
Choreography Coach
Yeko Ladzekpo-Cole has been dancing since the age of 3. Born into a family of drummers, dancers, and composers from the country of Ghana, West Africa, she has continued to carry on the tradition of performing and teaching the various styles of West African Music and Dance. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Dance from California Institute of the Arts and has pursued her love for dance through many different avenues. She has had the opportunity to teach and perform throughout the states and in such places as Hawaii, Indonesia, Taiwan, Germany. She has worked under the direction of Debbie Allen, Lula Washington and other well known choreographers in the dance world. Some of Yeko’s career highlights are: performing with Fleetwood Mac during a Superbowl concert, The president of Ghana with Michael Jackson in attendance, the 60th anniversary celebration concert for the Grammy Music Awards, the opening gala party celebrating “The Lion King'' II movie. Yeko had the pleasure of working with Dreamworks studio’s and their animators, on the dance sequences in the movie Madagascar II, Escape to Africa. She also danced in Shakira’s video for the 2010 World Cup Anthem “Waka Waka”. Yeko continues to teach throughout the community and abroad while also working on independent dance projects.
Ashley Moniz
Vocal Coach
Ashley Moniz is an actress/singer/voice-over artist who recently moved back to her hometown: Santa Clarita! As a musical theatre performer, Ashley has toured with multiple Broadway National Tours: KINKY BOOTS, SISTER ACT (Sister Mary Robert), 9 TO 5, LEGALLY BLONDE, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL. She’s performed at the Hollywood Bowl, Red Rock Amphitheatre, Tuacahn Amphitheatre, La Mirada Theatre, Disneyland and more. TV: “South Park 25th Anniversary Concert,” “Beadies.” Favorite roles: Benet’s wife and Everly’s mommy.
www.ashleymoniz.com | @ashleymonizb Coaching: @ab.coachings
Phil Vicar
Choreography Coach
Phil Vicars’ journey into dance began at just seven years old, fueled by the promise of a twenty-dollar bill and several trips to McDonald’s. That first dance class ignited a lifelong passion, one he’s pursued relentlessly ever since. A graduate of the University of California, Irvine, Phil earned his BFA in Dance and spent three transformative years as a member of Donald McKayle’s Etude Ensemble.
For the past 20 years, Phil has danced and taught across the globe. Most recently, he served as a Dance Project Supervisor with Princess Cruises, overseeing the installation and direction of shows featuring performers from around the world in a variety of dance styles. Prior to that, he worked as a Maintenance Choreographer for Disney, ensuring show quality and training performers throughout the Disneyland parks.
Phil’s performing credits span the entertainment industry, including work with The Radio City Rockettes, Donny & Marie Osmond, Marvel Studios’ Infinity Saga at the Hollywood Bowl, Frozen: Live at the Hyperion, Derek Hough’s Kairos, TapWorx, and the Royal Saudi Arabia Diriyah Inauguration Ceremony, among others.
Now based in Los Angeles, Phil is represented by McDonald Selznick Associates and continues to share his expertise through teaching and collaborating with performers across the industry.