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Dr. Michael Berthelot, founder and president of Rockin Mozart Music School, established Rockin’ Mozart Academy formerly, Westside Music Academy in 2005 first in Brusly on East Main Street. He is passionate about music, with a rich background in the field. Dr. Berthelot is on a mission to bring rich music culture to all that he encounters. Dr. Berthelot has developed a model Music School, where all orchestra instruments and Rock n' Roll instruments can be learned all in one place. In the Classical side of the school, all students can learn from top qualified instructors on almost any instrument and compete or play for fun. The Rock School branch exposes students of all ages to the world of Rock n' Roll. These students can join rock bands and study rock music in their private lessons. The student-lead rock bands perform regularly during the year for different community and local events. With unmatched curriculum and unique systems where Music meets Science, Rockin' Mozart has many talented students all over Louisiana performing and educating others. Dr. Berthelot currently owns 4 locations in Louisiana. (Zachary, Donaldsonville, Port Allen, and Plaquemine)
Besides the high skills in Entrepreneurship, Dr. Berthelot’s endeavors include his successful music program at MSA West Academy. Since the school's opening in 2008, the program has been awarded with gold trophies in prestigious music competitions throughout the country. His role as a leadership figure for generations of students is unsurpassed. Many of which continue to pursue music degrees or minor in music.
Through his portfolio of skills, he is working on creating and expanding music culture across as many communities as possible. This goal has benefited many generations of musicians already and will continue for many years to come. He is constantly evolving his education through music.
Dr. Berthelot holds a Master's Degree from Louisiana State University and a PhD in Music Composition from Louisiana State University (2008). He has completed an alternative teacher education program from Southeastern University in 2011 and currently holds a Level 3 teaching certificate.
Dorela Hyka-Berthelot’s passion for music began at an early age. She embarked upon her cello studies at the age of five, taught by her father and encouraged by her schoolteachers until the age of twenty. Once Dorela graduated from the college “Academy of Arts” in Tirana, Albania, she continued to invest in her education in cello performance at the Musikhochschule in Freiburg, Germany. She was honored with a Solo-Performance Diploma. Furthermore, in 2006, she received a Master’s degree in 2006 from Louisiana State University (LSU). She was a recipient of the First Prize in the “Young Instrumentalist” competition in Tirana at the age of fourteen. Also, at the young age of twenty, she was awarded the honor to perform the Dvorak cello concerto as a soloist with the TOB orchestra of Tirana. Praised for her “rich tone, elegant phrasing and absolute pitch” Prof. Christoph Henkel (Freiburg 2001).
Dorela has served as a member of the chamber orchestra “Virtuosi of Tirana” – a well-known and respected orchestra within Europe. In this capacity, she was the recipient of many prizes and recordings, not limited to: the First Prize Pro Archi Hungary (1996); First Prize in the European festival in Belgium “Summa cum Laude” (1997); First Prize in the festival “Youth and Music” in Vienna, Austria; and the Big First Prize of the Commune of Vienna (2000). During her years in Germany, Dorela was an active orchestra musician and soloist in Bayreuth’s “Young Orchestra” (1999-2001). Within this role, she was selected to perform and record in a chamber quintet with the great violinist Professor Konrad Ellegiers (Essen) and Violist Prof. Ferenc Gabor (Berlin). In summary, Dorela has performed in many orchestras throughout the world. These positions include: an understudy for the Opera of Tirana; part-time in the Freiburg Philharmonic; principal cellist of the Opera of Musikhochschule Freiburg, music director Ulrich Furrer; Principal cellist of the part-time chamber orchestra of Freiburg, conductor Michael Vollhardt; Principal Cellist of Chautauqua New York; Principal cellist of Louisiana Sinfonietta; sub-cellist at Louisiana Philharmonic; and co-principal at the BRSO.
Dorela is a sub-cellist with the LA Philharmonic in New Orleans, Former Sinfonietta's Principal cellist, and Co-Principal cellist at the BRSO. She is an active concert musician performing multiple genres from classical, pops, jazz, and worship music. Applauded by a local LA art critic in one of her solo performances: "The most moving performance of the concert was Dorela Hyka Berthelot's cello solo in Gabriel Faure's "After a Dream". To label her solo lyrical would be an understatement. She wasn't merely performing a solo -- she was telling Faure's musical story, its moournful tones filled with overwhelming emotion......" The Advocate Jan 25 2011-R.Miller. She works with our Rockin’ Mozart Family using her extensive experience and knowledge to broaden the local minds of aspiring musicians. She and Dr. Michael Berthelot have two children, aspiring musicians like their parents! Dea sings and plays piano. She started learning cello at the age of 6. Dorian plays the trumpet and the piano. Their family has touched many lives around the world, and together they are making history in our local southern home.
Ms. Laurie holds a Master of Science in Accounting from Louisiana State University, earned in December 2000. Prior to that, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting in December 1999, graduating magna cum laude. Ms. Laurie then embarked on and completed a 20-year career as a sponsored research accounting manager at LSU. This involved financial oversight and reimbursement for thousands of grants, contracts, and sponsored agreements encompassing millions of dollars of funded research. As part of these responsibilities, Ms. Laurie obtained certification as a Certified Research Administrator (CRA) in 2008. Ms. Laurie is also a local graduate of Plaquemine High School, where she was the salutatorian graduate in 1996.
As a young lady, Ms. Laurie was partially self-taught and partially taught by her mother to play piano. As she began her accounting career, her love of music never ceased. She enrolled as an adult piano student at RMA in 2013. Upon her early retirement from LSU, Dr. Berthelot asked Ms. Laurie to come teach piano at RMA. Ms. Laurie serves as RMA’s Regional Manager, and she is also RMA’s accountant. She splits her time between the Donaldsonville studio on Monday nights and the Plaquemine studio on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights.
Jessee Altazan is a long time musician and artist and Manager of the Rockin' Mozart Zachary Location. As a proud mom and Zachary native, she thrives in our studios as one of our creative leaders and teachers. She spent 5 years at Southeastern Louisiana University studying Instrumental Performance with a Concentration in Guitar with a Minor in Dance. She also plays electric guitar with her husband at The Rock Church and World Ministries. With her own colorful flair, she currently manages our Zachary Rockin' Mozart location!
(More info coming soon!)
BJ Davidson has been a professional musician for 12 years. He plays multiple instruments including guitar, bass guitar, drums, Percussion, and Ukulele. BJ has been a professional drummer for the last decade with experiences all around the country with live performances, recording sessions, private instruction, touring and major festival performances. He has been a part of many different bands over the years; Ventruss currently and formerly Bayou Bullets. BJ also spent time in Seattle, WA as part of the Blue Thunder Drumline family. They are the official drumline for the Seattle Seahawks football team. This was his first professional drummer job and since then his career has blossomed. He has taught private lessons for 3 years now and looks forward to continuing his path in music education. "Music changed my life. It helped me discover myself and grow as a person. I hope to pass this knowledge and experience on to others who may share similar experiences. Together we can change lives through music"
Rockin Mozart Music School
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