Drucilla Engle

Drucilla Engle, native Orlandean, began her piano studies at the age of two with her mother, Iris Daniel Engel, who recently passed away. Many Central Floridian came through the doors of the Engel School of Music over the years, and began their love and appreciation of music through her. Iris was a member of the Steinway Society in the 1950's and daughter Drucilla is pleased to continue that relationship. Ms. Engel graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts with a Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance and from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, with a Master of Music in Piano Performance. She has enjoyed performing throughout the Southeast, both in solo recitals as well as in Chamber Ensembles, 4-Hand piano literature, and accompanying capacities. She is actively engaged in maintaining a large and successful private piano studio, where her students have won numerous awards and competitions, including sizable college scholarships each year.

Ms. Engel is also on the faculty at Valencia Community College, which is working to become an all Steinway School.

Heather Friedman

Heather Friedman began performing at an early age with Seaside Music Theater and completed ten years of summer stock with SMT by the time she was 20. Music and theater got under her skin and she has been performing in many different facets ever since. An alumni of University of Central Florida, Heather received her Bachelors of Arts in Classical Voice. Influential voice teachers include Priscilla Bagly and Louis Roney. Grace Masters and Dr. Steve McCoy are also notable teachers in Heather's ten years of private piano lessons and in New York City, she enjoys acting master classes from Broadway composer and lyricist, Craig Carnelia. Heather joins us after a five month run in the Off-Broadway show Toxic Audio at Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas. New York credits include Counting Squares Theater's production of Boy's Life at the Kraine Theater and Broadway Sings the Phonebook at Studio 54 in November 2007. She has performed in various jazz and Italian ensembles at hotels in Orlando and at SeaWorld. Heather is currently a singer for Penguin Entertainment and also writes and records original music. About ten years ago, she started teaching private voice and piano lessons and found another niche she liked just as much as performing. Heather specializes in jazz pop, musical theater, and traditional Italian music. She loves to teach students with a passion for music and theater.

Rachel Groff

Rachel is a native Texax, born and raised in Houston. She has been playing piano and singing from a very young age. She has taken piano lessons since she was seven and has been singing ever since she can remember. Rachel has had the opportunity to participate in piano guilds, forums, and competitions through the years. She has also been the accompanist for her high school choirs, as well as her church pianist. Rachel started taking voice lessons at age 14 and participated in the EMEA all state choir competitions. She placed 3rd place her junior year in the Region Choir and was a Pre-Area alternate to the All State Choir her senior year. Rachel attended houston Baptist University and received her Bachelor in Music degree in vocal performance and piano. While a student at HBU, Rachel had the opportunity to perform lead roles in many operas. Her roles include Cherubino in Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Mariage of Figaro) by Mozart in 2004, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel by Humperdink in 2005, The Old Maid in Old Maid and The Thief by Menotti in 2006 as well as many others roles in opera scenes. Every year in college, Rachel participated in the annual NATS Texoma Rgion Auditions, and was a semifinalist her senior year. Her last two years at HBU, she was a member of Focus and Refuge, a contemporary Christian auditioned group of thre to six people who travel around the state performing and ministering to schools and churches compensated by scholarships. Rachel has a love for church music as well and has sung/played worship in many church services and youth groups, including Bethel Church and Katy Bible Church in Houston. Rachel has been teaching piano since she was 17 and has been teaching voice since she was a junior in college. She has a love and passion for music and hopes that she can pass her passion along to her students.