ABOUT US

Riverdale Music Studio offers quality private music instruction in piano, guitar, voice, violin and viola. Our lessons are designed to nurture the individual creativity of each student, with the emphasis on technique as well as engaging repertoire in a friendly environment.

Our dedicated and experienced instructors consists of internationally accomplished, award-winning performing and recording artists with a degrees from prestigious music conservatories such as Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, Berklee College of Music, etc.

MEET OUR FOUNDERS

Alma Micic
Alma MicicCo-Founder, Music Director, Voice Instructor
Alma Micic was born and raised in Belgrade, Serbia. At the age of 16 she became a featured vocalist with the Radio Belgrade Big Band and began touring and appearing at many local jazz festivals as well as television and radio broadcasts. In 1995, she received a scholarship to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Alma graduated in 1999 with a BM in Jazz Performance.

As a recording artist, Alma’s work has been praised by renowned international publications such as Downbeat, JazzTimes, Jazzwise, All About Jazz, Boston Globe etc. Alma has appeared at prominent venues such as the Jazz Standard, Scullers, Iridium Jazz Club, Cecil’s Jazz Club as well as various international festivals and concert halls. Her first album “Introducing Alma”, hailed as “a striking debut” by Jazz Review, received radio airplay throughout the US, including Voice of America, XM Satellite Radio and international radio stations in South America, Japan and Europe. Alma Micic was also featured in a one hour NPR/WGBH Radio special “The Jazz Songbook”.

She has received numerous awards such as the Cleo Laine Award for Outstanding Musicianship and BRIO Award from the NY Arts Council. Alma has been a faculty member at the Westchester Conservatory since 2006, has worked as a Music Consultant for the Archdiocese of NY as well as Gan Miriam in Riverdale and is regularly featured as a teaching artist at various vocal workshops in the US and Europe.

Alma Micic website

Rale Micic
Rale MicicCo-Founder, Guitar Instructor
Born and raised in Belgrade, Serbia, guitarist and composer Rale Micic graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has studied with notable professors such as George Garzone, Hal Crook and Bob Brookmeyer, as well as the legendary guitarist Mick Goodrick.

In addition to being a dedicated educator, Rale is a CTA Records recording artist and has been featured in numerous publications including “DownBeat,” “JazzTimes,” “LA Times,” “San Diego Tribune” and the “Boston Globe.” He has performed at prominent jazz clubs and music festivals in the U.S. and Europe including Catalina Jazz Club, Blues Alley, Scullers Jazz Club, Dizzy’s, the San Jose Jazz Festival and the Hartford International Jazz Festival.

His debut album “Bridges,” a mix of jazz and haunting melodies from the Balkans, was released on CTA Records in 2003. On his second release entitled Serbia, (CTA Records), he was joined by renowned Grammy-nominated trumpet player Tom Harrell and received high critical acclaim. Rale’s latest guitar trio album titled “3” is currently featured on airwaves throughout the world.

Rale Micic recently signed an endorsement deal with D’Addario strings, joining the likes of guitarists Pat Metheny, John Scofield and Lenny Kravitz.

Rale Micic website