Liam Shugrue

B.A. in Music

Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn & Baritone Horn

Liam Shugrue is a professional trumpet player with experience performing in orchestras, wind ensembles, brass quintets, trumpet ensembles, big bands, musical theater pits, rock bands, jazz combos, marching bands, pep bands, church ensembles, and performing solo.

A proud lifelong citizen of Middletown, CT, he offers both a unique perspective and approach to teaching with a focus on independence and fluency. Using a 4-lesson cycle featuring scales with variations, classical etudes, and jazz repertoire, students develop the physical skills as well as the musical competence to be able to perform at the highest level.

Liam has played with professional ensembles such as the Nutmeg Symphony Orchestra and the Constitution Brass Quintet, and holds a Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from The Hartt School as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Central Connecticut State University.

In addition to teaching at Middlesex Music Academy and performing professionally, Liam teaches violin for the Elizabeth Swaim Strings Program of Middletown Public Schools, and is the brass technician for the Middletown High School Marching Band.

Nancy Tozzo

M.A. in Music Education

Trumpet & Trombone

Nancy Tozzo (known as “Ms. Toz” by her students) is a retired music teacher from RSD#17, Haddam-Killingworth, where she taught for 35 years. During her senior year in high school, she earned a spot in the CMEA All-State Music Festival Band on trumpet. At Western CT State University she graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in music education. Ms. Tozearned her master’s degree from Wesleyan University’s GLSP program. As a member of Bugles Across America, Nancy currently volunteers to perform “Taps” at military funerals throughout the state when no military bugler is available. During her 35 years of teaching in RSD #17, she encouraged and prepared hundreds of students to audition for the regional music festivals in our state and hosted these festivals four times at Haddam-Killingworth Middle School. Many of her students have gone on to teach music and/or perform professionally. Nancy makes learning the music fundamentals enjoyable in order for students to succeed and she works to find the best motivation for each individual performer. Her motto is, "If you can say it, you can play it!"