Ringwood School of Music Teaching Staff
Michael Nosal
Professional Pianist and Piano Teacher, Manhattan School of Music & The Julliard School
Michael Nosal was born in Queens, New York City, and began playing the piano at the age of 5. While attending the High School of Music and Art he performed Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” with orchestra. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Manhattan School of Music and The Juilliard School, studying with Constance Keene, Marc Silverman, Martin Canin, and Joseph Kalichstein; master classes in Europe with Vitaly Margulis and Justus Frantz. Mr. Nosal gave annual faculty recitals at The Third Street Music School in New York City where he taught piano for nearly ten years in addition to performing chamber music at festivals in Maine, Ohio, and New York. He is a recipient of the Margaret Baiz Memorial award from the National Arts Club and has taught at the Ringwood School of Music since 2004, emphasizing creative musicality as well as solid, reliable technical facility at the piano. Mr. Nosal currently performs locally in the NY-NJ area.
Elisabeth Nosal
Professional Pianist and Piano Teacher, Manhattan School of Music & The Julliard School
Elisabeth Nosal, née Keil, was born in Teaneck, NJ and has been a resident of Ringwood all her life. She attended the Ringwood schools including St. Catherine of Bologna and began her piano studies at the age of 3 and a half. Mrs. Nosal attended the Juilliard Pre-College Division and received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music. She took part in several international seminars in the cities of Weimar, Fontainbleau, and Salzburg. Mrs. Nosal founded the Ringwood School of Music in 2003 and enjoys performing as both soloist and duo-pianist with her husband in the NY-NJ area.
Fabiola Leon-Catalano
Professional Pianist and Piano Teacher, Manhattan School of Music & The Julliard School
Fabiola Leon-Catalano grew up in North Bergen, NJ, in Hudson County, starting lessons at the age of 7. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Manhattan School of Music with further studies at The Juilliard School under Jacob Lateiner. More recently she performed as Music Director on Broadway for the show “Three Mo Tenors”, touring the US and Canada with that show. Formerly, she was Adjunct Faculty at Montclair State University and has been teaching piano in Ringwood since 1991. She served as Music Director for most of the shows at St. Catherine of Bologna, most recently “Into the Woods”. As a teacher, she uses a multi-sensory approach to learning which incorporates into the piano lesson: ear training, theory, movement, and improvisation. Her students learn while having fun in the process!