Dr. Michael Berthelot
Dr. Michael Berthelot 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 and on the mission to bring the new culture to the westside area. Dr. Berthelot has developed a model Music School, where all orchestra instruments can be learned. The Rock School branch were students from 10yrs-up beside their private lessons create different bands, and perform regularly during year for different events. With unmatched curriculum and unique system were Music meets Science, Rockin Mozart has many talented students all over WBR meeting regularly at Plaquemine Church Street, or Port Allen Court Street.
Beside the high skills in Entrepreneurship, Dr. Berthelot’s endeavors include his successful music program at MSA Academy. Since their first 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/ hold music degrees or minor in music.
His portfolio of skills and goal to create and expand the culture across town benefiting our future generation and evolving the education through music.
Dr. Berthelot holds Master Degree from Louisiana State University and Ph.D in Music Composition from Louisiana State University (2008). He has completed alternative teacher education program from SouthEastern Louisiana University in 2011 and currently holds Level 3 teaching certificate.
Dorela Berthelot
Early Years
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 honored with a Solo-Performance Diploma. Furthermore, in 2006, she received a Master’s degree in 2006 from Louisiana State University (LSU).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 as a soloist Dvorak cello concerto with the TOB orchestra of Tirana. Praised for “rich tone, elegant phrasing and absolute pitch ” Prof.Christoph Henkel(Freiburg 2001).
Abroad
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 eum 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 sum, 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 of BRSO.
Today
Dorela is sub cellist with LA Philharmonic in New Orleans, Former Sinfonietta's Principal cellist and co Principal cellist in the BRSO. She is an active concert musician performing multi 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 plays piano and 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.
Mark Dupont (Plaquemine)
Mark had a passion for music since early age. He began performing live at the age of 12. He is a graduate of St. John High School (2008) and lead the school drump corps for a total of ten years, three of those years while still in high school. He continued his education at Southern University and BRCC after high school and to expand his mind while also expanding his performance skills. Mark played in the worship rock band of First United Methodist, Plaquemine alongside Dr. Michael Berthelot and Terry Granier locally.
Since 2002, Mark has performed all around the Baton Rouge metropolitan area, New Orleans, Lafayette, New Iberia, Lake Charles, Texas, Mississippi, and Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee. Mark has performed with many bands and has been invited to perform with some great local artists, such as Purple Sidewalk, Short Round, The Patsies, Heath Ransonnet, Jason Martin, Jude Dupont, Luis Mariani, The Anteeks, The Helldörados, and Hitchhiker. Notably, he has opened shows for Black Star Riders (former members of Thin Lizzy), famous actor Michael Shannon, and Jimmy DeGrasso.
Mark has volunteered at St John High for the past 10 years to lead the school drum corps. Mark is an remarkable instructor of Rockin Mozart and is the leader of the Rock School. He works with students on Guitar, Bass, Vocals, or his specialty, Drums, and creates bands of different experience levels with students performing for recitals, concerts, or other local events.
Seth Weesner (Port Allen, Plaquemine, Donaldsonville)
Mr.W is a native of Mississippi State. He worked as Band Director for White Castle school and currently is teaching at Crecsent in Plaquemine. He holds a Master in Music Theory and has multiple instruments knowledge in his portofolio.
Angela Lamar(Port Allen and Plaquemine)
Mrs Lamar is a passionate educator inspiring all ages and levels at our RMA family. She is a classical trained opera singer fluent in piano performance as well. She is a recipient of many prizes which include: 1st Prize Colorado and Wyoming NATS competition; 1st prize "Singer of the year Colorado State University and more. She has appeared in many productions as a soloist: L'enfant at les sortileges; The Gondoliers: Madama Butterfly; Serse; Die Fledrmaus; Orfeo ed Euridice; Le Nozze di Figaro; Dido and Aeneas; Don Giovanni to name a few.
Michael Blount (Port Allen and Plaquemine)
Mr. Mike is a Multi -Genre musician. He holds a BM degree from LSU in Classical Guitar Performance. He is very patient, encouraging and guides our students in Guitar and rock bands !
Tyler Barbier(Plaquemine and Donaldsonville)
Tyler is a caring instructor of our Plaquemine studio. Beside his rock band performances he has a love for teaching. Inspired and taught by Dr. Berthelot since his early years has a knowledge of multi-instruments in his portfolio.
Allison Alexander (Plaquemine)
Allyson began studying music at a very young age. In the fifth grade she started on the recorder as her first wind instrument and piano as her first percussion instrument. From there, she advanced to the drums and clarinet. She is a alumni of Rockin Mozart early years. Throughout middle school and high school, she played in the Math, Science, and Arts Academy's orchestra as First Chair Clarinet. She has competed in many award winning musical festivals across the country. From there, her musical journey became her first job when she began teaching at RMA. In the later years of her musical journey, she picked up singing. She guides young minds in clarinet, piano, and vocal performance. Allyson is currently studying Accounting at LSU with the goal to finish her undergraduate degree in 2020. She is flexible, intuitive and patient with young children.
Taylisse Boissonneault (Port Allen)
Ms.Taylisse is a native of Ontario, Canada. She she has lived in Houston, Texas since the age of 3. At 9, she began taking piano lessons; soon after, she attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts for Classical Piano Studies.
During her time in high school, Taylisse won first place in the HTMA ensemble competition and won the monetary All State Music Festival award in piano solo for the highest division 2 years in a row. She also taught fellow classmates in different art areas the fundamentals of piano in her Piano Pedagogy class.
Additionally, Taylisse was the choir’s accompanist at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church in Missouri City her senior year of high school. She also has found a love for piano collaboration, accompanying vocalists and other ensembles in multiple recitals throughout high school. Taylisse also loves writing her own music, singing, and casually playing the guitar. Performing popular music and classical piano is something she aspires to do.
Currently, Taylisse is getting her B.M. in Piano Performance at LSU, studying under Professor Willis Delony and is excited to pursue a career in music.
James Scott (Port Allen)
Mr. James has been playing live in various rock and heavy metal bands across South Louisiana and Texas for the past 20 years. He's opened and shared the stage with several world renowned bands and has professionally played bass, guitar, drums and performed vocals in his groups.
His passion for teaching began once he started studying guitar and taught several friends and family members how to play. Aside from rock and metal, he is also well versed in other genres of popular music including country, gothic and cajun music.
Apart from music, James has worked with the Rockin' Mozart Family to create many of our graphics that can be found on our social media sites and posted throughout our studios. James believes that teaching an instrument is one of the greatest gifts you can give, and is honored to be apart of the Rockin' Mozart Family.
Anton Zholondz (Plaquemine and Donaldsonville)
Mr. Anton is a multi-genre violinist. Highly classically educated holds a master in Jazz performance as well. Serving as First violinist of South Louisiana Virtuosi for almost a decade, a cover string quartet founded by Dorela Berthelot has touched our community with his mazing talents and love for teaching. SLV performs regularly educational concerts and other events and is a String Quartet in residence for RMA summer camps.
Nicole Fassold (Port Allen)
Nicole holds a doctoral degree from LSU and is our violin and viola instructor in Port Allen. She is passionate about music and wants to guide our local youth to the wonders of string instruments. Mrs. Nikki also performs piano occasionally for her family and friends.
Jeremy Connor(Plaquemine)
Mr. Connor currently works at Iberville Elementary"a Montessori Program" since 2019-2020 academic year and is our Plaquemine studio brass instructor in the afternoons. He is a caring instructor and very passionate about music. His students in Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone enjoy their lessons and develop skills quicker in a private lesson setting or brass ensemble.
Khai LeJeune (Plaquemine)
Khai is a MSA Graduate and a long time student of Dr. Berthelot in piano and violin. At MSA she was a major part of the orchestra's success! She served as Concertmaster for 3 years. Khai has been assistant teacher at RMA for over 2 years. She is very organized, patient and works exceptionally well with beginner level students. She have received many awards in academics during HS and was awarded Valedictorian among her classmates. During her school years at MSA Khai has traveled in many national competitions with MSA orchestra; Branson, St Louis, Chicago, St Antonio, Orlando to name a few and was awarded with superior ratings. Her goal is to become a medical doctor and is currently attending LSU, she loves to teach music at RMA and play the violin. Khai has also taken lessons in cello with Dorela Berthelot.