Sound Recording & Technology Faculty  |  Media Studies & Production Faculty

Sound Recording & Technology Faculty

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David Ivory
Director of Sound Recording and Music Technology
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David Ivory, a Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum engineer and producer, has significantly impacted the music industry by developing some of Philadelphia’s most notable artists and selling millions of albums. His career began at Sigma Sound-Philadelphia, where he recorded The Roots’ first four albums, earning a Grammy nomination for “Things Fall Apart.” Ivory founded Dylanava Studios in 2001, nurturing bands like Silvertide and Halestorm. A Recording Academy member since 1992, he has held various leadership roles, including Philadelphia chapter president and national trustee. Ivory has also contributed to music education, co-developing Drexel University’s music industry program and designing MCCC’s state-of-the-art recording studio. He continues to produce music and serves as Director of Sound Recording and Music Technology at Montco.

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Michael Kelly
Sound Recording and Music Technology Coordinator
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Michael Kelly, Professor of Music and Sound Recording and Music Technology Program Coordinator, began his musical career in 1985 in New York City, where he spent 25 years writing, recording, performing, and touring across North America and Europe. He joined the music software company Voyetra-Turtle Beach Technologies, contributing to music software testing, support and development and became the Marketing Communications Manager. In 2003, he joined Arts Marketing Company DCM as an Account Executive, managing the campaigns of the New York Philharmonic, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Long Wharf Theater and Pacific Symphony Orchestra, with revenue projections totaling $3.5 Million dollars. Joining the Community College of Philadelphia in 2006, he was hired as chair of the Music Department and in 2008 joined Montco and co-authored the SRT Degree Program. Kelly still tours extensively throughout North American with “THE FEMMES OF ROCK,”: a state of the art live music and video experience opening for Cheap Trick, Bad Company, Night Ranger, Lita Ford, Ted Nugent, and Kansas. The band will perform with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in 2025 in Kelly’s hometown of Buffalo, NY.

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Howie Gordon
Sound Recording & Music Technology Assistant Professor
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Howie Gordon has been a vibrant force in the Philadelphia music scene for over 35 years, recognized as a seasoned studio musician at prestigious recording studios like Sigma Sound and Philadelphia International Records. Since 2011, he has been a faculty member at Montgomery County Community College, teaching audio production, digital music technology, synthesis and sound design, and music theory, while also leading the college’s jazz ensemble. With over 30 years of teaching experience, including a stint at Rowan University, Howie holds a Master’s Degree in Jazz Piano Performance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, specializing in composition and music technology. His achievements include the Steinway Award for Outstanding Pianistic Ability and the National Academy of the Recording Arts and Sciences Award for Excellence. Additionally, he performs regularly with his original funk band, Package.

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Louis Rieger
Sound Recording & Music Technology Regular Lecturer
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Louis Rieger, founder of The High Street Music Company, has over 30 years of experience in music education and audio production. He has collaborated with artists like Eric Bazilian and DJ Jazzy Jeff and has worked in various educational roles, including as an adjunct professor at The Hill School and MCCC. Rieger holds degrees from Albright College and Immaculata University and has produced for Rabbit Publishing and served as a talent scout for Sony Music. He also hosted the radio show Speakeasy on WBZH, showcasing his commitment to fostering musical talent.

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Michael Lightkep
Sound Recording & Music Technology Probationary Lecturer
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Since the early 1970s, Michael Lightkep has been involved in playing bass guitar and brass instruments. His fascination with live sound equipment led him to become an audio ‘tech geek.’ By the early 80s, he began working part-time as a live audio technician, transitioning to full-time by the late 80s. Lightkep’s extensive experience includes audio mixing, lighting design, stage and tour production, rigging, audio systems design, venue management, artist management, pro audio sales, video and film production, and performing in bands and stage acting. He has worked on national tours with renowned artists and in venues ranging from 100 to 10,000 capacity over nearly 50 years in the live sound production business.

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Colin Foley
Sound Recording & Music Technology Probationary Lecturer
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Colin Foley is an adjunct professor and department tutor in the Sound Recording and Music Technology program at Montco. A proud graduate of the SRT program, he holds a bachelor’s degree from Berklee College of Music and is pursuing a master’s degree. Foley is deeply involved in the music industry as a sound engineer, producer, recording artist, and educator, collaborating with artists across various genres and producing his own music. He works as a sound engineer at Ivory Productions and in live sound for several companies. Foley also has experience as a legal aide specializing in artist management and entertainment law. Outside of his professional life, he is an avid surfer and animal enthusiast who enjoys wearing tropical shirts.

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Ron DiSilvestro 
Sound Recording & Music Technology Probationary Lecturer
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Ron DiSilvestro is a Billboard charting, award-winning producer, engineer, clinician and session musician with over 1000 studio releases, placements on national radio, MTV, movies and television. Since 2002, he has worked full time as a producer and engineer with regional artists as well as Grammy and Platinum award-winning artists in every genre of music. He was awarded “best producer” two years in a row in 2018 and 2019 from the top radio stations in Delaware; 93.7 WSTW.

Ron served as the lead engineer and producer at Forge Recording, the Philadelphia area’s premier source for audio and video production, podcasts, audio engineering and lessons from 2008 to 2020. He now has a permanent residency at the legendary Studio 4 Recording based out of Conshohocken, PA.In 2016, Ron launched RDS Music and Media, a music production and recording program designed to give enthusiasts and students the tools and business background needed to be sustainable in the industry. Due to overwhelming demand, Ron opened a second location of RDS Music and Media in August of 2020. He has also designed, taught and lectured courses for high schools, colleges and clinics and is currently an adjunct Professor at Montgomery Community College, and Cab Calloway School of the Arts.

Additionally, Ron is one of the hosts of the Musicians Guide to the Music Industry Podcast, discussing all topics related to the industry for aspiring and working music professionals. The podcast was named one of the top 52 music industry podcasts by https://olitunes.com. Ron is also an in demand drummer, touring nationally and internationally with acts Superunknown, a Chris Cornell tribute (signed to Blue Raven Artist Management). He has played on hundreds of credited sessions, and currently gigs with top working bands in the Philadelphia area. He has been endorsed by www.kitplugins.com TAMA Drums and Bucks County Drums.

Media Studies & Production Faculty

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Yaniv Aronson
Mass Media & Sound Production Coordinator
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Yaniv Aronson, a Montgomery County local from Blue Bell and Wissahickon High School graduate, holds a BA in Film and Video from Penn State, an MFA in Film from Boston University, a Doctorate in Education from Immaculata University, and is a Stanford University Hollyhock Fellow. He has Pennsylvania teaching certificates in Career and Technical Education, Media Communications Technology, and English Language Arts. An award-winning documentary filmmaker, Aronson won Best Director at the American International Film Festival for “The Drowned Hogs” and has worked on shows for Sundance Channel, Travel Channel, Spike TV, and Discovery Channel. Since 2008, he has taught at Montgomery County Community College and is the Coordinator of the Mass Media Studies and Production program. Serving as Mayor of Conshohocken Borough since 2018, he was named Pennsylvania Mayor of the Year in 2023 and received the PA Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence in Community Engagement in 2022.

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Chera Watson
Mass Media & Sound Production Assistant Professor
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Chera Watson, Assistant Professor of Mass Media Studies and Production, joined the college in 2018 as a Faculty Diversity Fellow in Communication and became a Mass Media Studies and Production Instructor in August 2019. She primarily teaches courses such as Mass Media in Society, Mass Media Industries, Ethics, Intro to Video Production, Capstone, and MSP electives, along with Public Speaking courses at Montco. Chera holds a B.A. from Marist College and an M.A. from West Chester University and is currently pursuing a PhD in Media and Communication Studies. With a background in Video Production and Mass Media, she has worked as a content editor for ESPN Networks and Comcast/NBC Universal and has experience in Technology with Facebook and Instagram’s content platforms. Chera is passionate about education, advocating for safe spaces for students, and enjoys spending time with family, attending live music concerts, bowling, and traveling the world.

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Jeff Asch
Mass Media & Sound Production Senior Lecturer
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Jeff Asch, Mass Media and Sound Production Lecturer, has been in Philadelphia media for 45 years, serving as a Sports Anchor, Sports Reporter, and News Anchor for 24 years at KYW Newsradio Philadelphia. He has also worked at WCAU-TV as a Sports Producer, Sports Anchor, and Sports Reporter, and at WCAU-AM as a Sports Talk Show Host and Sports Producer. Asch co-hosted one of the country’s first nationally syndicated sports talk shows and is currently the Internal Public Address Announcer for the Philadelphia Eagles and does Public Address work for Villanova University. He has been a Senior Adjunct Instructor at Montgomery County Community College since 2000, advising the school’s radio and TV stations, Executive Producing the “Montco News,” and was an Adjunct Professor at LaSalle University for 21 years. Among his honors, he was inducted into the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2022, won the Philadelphia Sportswriters Association’s 2006 “Good Guy of the Year” award, and earned JCC Sportsters’ “2000 Man of the Year.”

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Stan Finegold
Mass Media & Sound Production Senior Lecturer
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Stan Finegold, Mass Media and Sound Production Lecturer, brings over three decades of experience in the media production industry. For more than 25 years, he was president and owner of a video and television production company, serving as creator and Executive Producer of the PBS Foodways series, The Presidential Palate. He produced commercial video products for major food brands, Western US ski resorts, international healthcare publishers, and national construction companies. Stan authored the book, Flowers, White House Style, for Simon & Schuster, and professional texts for various industry organizations. He launched and managed a government and educational cable station in Montgomery County, WTV, for 10 years, producing over 350 digital programs. Stan holds a Master’s Degree in Communications from the S.I. Newhouse School of Syracuse University.

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Lindsay Levin
Mass Media & Sound Production Regular Lecturer
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Lindsay Levin has been an instructor at the College since 2014. She teaches numerous classes and workshops and enjoys every minute. Levin is a co-advisor for the school’s radio station, “Montco Radio.” Before becoming a professor at the College, Levin worked at Yellowbook in King of Prussia as an Interactive Marketing Manager. There she managed social media, email marketing, customer acquisition, customer retention and loyalty programs as well as guided search engine marketing programs, partnerships and affiliate campaigns to increase traffic and user loyalty. Prior to moving to Pennsylvania, Levin worked in NYC for 6 years for People Magazine, AOL and Fox Sports Network in numerous roles. She created and oversaw concepts, strategies and executions for custom, buzz-worthy digital solutions for Fortune 500 companies including idea generation, pitch development, approvals and post-sale overview including print, digital, event, retail and more to maximize advertising partnerships. Levin currently lives in Lower Gwynedd with her husband and three children.

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Cherry Kivumbi
Communication Studies Probationary Lecturer
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Cherry Kivumbi is a West Chester University graduate and multifaceted producer with years of experience in radio and news broadcasting, podcast production, video production, journalism, social media management and music production. While working at multiple companies including WRAL News, 1490 WBCB radio and The Inspirational Life Productions, Kivumbi has cultivated her passion for storytelling, effective strategic planning and has demonstrated a keen eye for creating strong brand awareness within each company she has been associated with. Subsequently, Kivumbi has led sustainable expansion for 14 new and established media companies and school organizations. As a firm believer in educating and mentoring, Kivumbi has overseen 12 different production teams and school organizations which fostered exponential growth in members and associates, in addition to efficient media production and collaboration. As her new chapter begins at Montgomery County Community College, Kivumbi is eager to expand her knowledge and experience while also sharing her experience, as well.

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Jeff Vernitsky
Communication Studies Probationary Lecturer
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Jeff, an alumnus of Montgomery County Community College, holds a bachelor’s degree in Digital Journalism from Penn State University. Throughout Jeff's 24-year career, he has freelanced as a camera and Steadicam operator with Comcast CN8, PHL-17, and various independent filmmakers in the Tri-state market. Currently, at Upper Merion Township, Jeff serves as the Producer/Director for UMGA-TV, facilitating the daily operations, producing PSAs and promotional videos for township events, and producing the programs “Community Connections” and “Senior Insight.”

 

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