About our team
Ferrwood instructors are caring and dedicated professionals, committed to meeting your child’s needs. Our instructors will challenge your child to grow as a musician and a person. Our instructors will look at the whole child and treat them with respect and dignity as they watch them grow. All the instructors are degreed professionals or professionals working toward a degree in music. As parents, you can rest knowing that we are student-focused and dedicated to providing each camper with a positive and memorable experience. All Ferrwood staff have submitted a copy of their PA Criminal History and PA Child Abuse clearances. Clearances are on file with the music director.
Phil Latella - Camp Director
Phil is a lifelong educator with 37 years of experience in public education. Phil holds a BM in Music Education, a master's equivalency, an elementary education certificate, a master's in school counseling, a principal’s certification, and a degree in instructional technology. In June of 2024 Phil retired from the Hazleton Area School District. During his tenure in the district he has served as a music teacher, guidance counselor, instructional technology specialist, assistant principal, and principal. Phil lives in Hazleton with his wife Lydia, and two dogs.
Under Latella’s direction, the camp administration will take on the role of servant leaders. To lead effectively is to serve. We will do whatever it takes to ensure that each child is viewed as an individual with strengths and weaknesses. Both weeks of camp will be dedicated to community building and respect. We look forward to providing your child with an amazing experience that will be both fun and educational. Our ultimate goal is to provide a unique camping experience where children will leave being a little better person than they were when they came. Parents are welcome and encouraged to stop by at any time, we have a 100% open-door policy. We look forward to working with you.
John (JT) Hoffman - Music Director
John (JT) Hofmann is from Langhorne Pennsylvania and has a degree in music education from The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State). He has studied saxophone under the direction of Dr. David Stambler, Tim Powell, and Dan Yoder. He has also received a Professional Performance Certificate in jazz saxophone from Penn State. John has been involved in several organizations, the Wilkes University Civic Band, the Adams County Community Band, and is a member of the Gettysburg Brass Band Festival steering committee. John is a band director at Gettysburg Area School District. His position includes 7th-8th grade band, high school band, jazz band, and marching band. John is excited for his ninth year as part of the Ferrwood staff.
Sarah Koviack - Flute Instructor
Sarah Koviack is a recent graduate of Kutztown University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music education. During her undergraduate career, Sarah studied flute with Janet Axelrod and Susanna Loewy and has played in a plethora of ensembles including the Kutztown Wind Ensemble and Orchestra, where she served as principal flautist, the Kutztown University Marching Band- where she served as a section leader- and various chamber ensemble settings. Sarah has also had the opportunity to perform in masterclasses with Carol Wincenc and Andrea Loewy. Additionally while in attendance at Kutztown, Sarah served as a student course assistant for Kutztown’s woodwind technique course, specifically tutoring students on flute and bassoon, and was a student conductor for Kutztown University’s Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, and flute choir.
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Currently, Sarah is pursuing a masters degree in wind band conducting at the University of Delaware where she also serves as a graduate assistant with the bands. Outside of music, Sarah enjoys reading, baking, exploring nature trails, and spending time with her cat, Chico. Originally from Hazleton, Sarah was a camper for many years at Ferrwood and is looking forward to the s’mores, baked potatoes, and many laughs this summer at camp.
Jocelyn Frye - Trumpet Instructor
Jocelyn Frye is a graduate of West Chester University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education. Jocelyn has traveled to Paris, France to perform and study at Conservatoire de Musique de Rueil-Malmaison. She was featured with the WCU Trumpet Ensemble at the 39th International Trumpet Guild Conference in 2014 and volunteered at the 41st International Trumpet Guild Conference in 2016. She also participated in Nuevo Mundo Festival and Academy in 2015 and 2017. Jocelyn is currently a 7th and 8th Grade Music teacher in Hazleton Area School District.
Andrew Carson - Trumpet Instructor
Andrew Carson is a Philadelphia-based trumpet player, bassist, singer, and educator. He studied at Temple University and, under the direction of figureheads Terell Stafford and Rollo Dilworth, earned a Bachelors in Jazz Trumpet Performance and a Masters in Music Education. Andrew has studied trumpet with Stafford, John Swana, Joe Magnarelli, and studied abroad in Amsterdam with the Metropole Orkest's Ruud Breuls. He performs with many local jazz musicians in Philadelphia, and has played and recorded with a variety of artists ranging from Army Blues drummer Steve Fidyk to EDM producer Louis Futon. He currently teaches privately, mixes in his home recording studio, and is learning how to build guitars!
Stephanie Bohanan - French Horn Instructor
Stephanie Bohanan is a graduate of Bloomsburg University, with a degree in music education. As of July 2023, she will be fully certified in the Orff Schulwerk Approach from Kent State University. Stephanie has been teaching music for the past 6 years, beginning her career in the Hazleton Area School District. While in Hazleton, she taught 7th and 8th grade general music and was the brass tech for the Hazleton Area High School Marching Band. Stephanie moved to Pittsburgh in 2019 where she spent the next 3 years teaching Kindergarten-5th grade music, chorus, and drumming at two schools in the Pittsburgh Public School District.
She is currently a teacher at Falk Laboratory School, affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh. At Falk, Stephanie teaches middle school band, jazz band, trumpet ensemble, intermediate band, private brass lessons, and 3rd-8th grade general music. She has been involved with Ferrwood from the age of 11, and looks forward to it every year.
Caleb Bohanan - Low Brass
Caleb Bohanan, referred to as Bo, received his undergraduate degree in Music Education from Penn State and a master's degree in Music Education from the University of Florida. He has worked for Pittsburgh Public Schools for 7 years serving in roles such as high school chorus director, K-8 general music teacher, and for the past 5 years, 4th-8th grade instrumental music specialist. In his role as an instrumental music specialist, he serves all instrumental learning at 4 schools within the district. Bo has worked at Ferrwood for 7 years as a low brass instructor, and he looks forward to Phil's cooking every year.
Emily Elinsky - Trombone Instructor
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Emily Elinsky started her education at The Pennsylvania State University. While in State College, Emily completed Bachelor’s Degrees in both Economics and Trombone Performance. She then moved down to North Carolina to complete her Trombone and Music Education studies. Emily holds a Master’s degree in Trombone Performance and is currently completing a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. Emily is currently finishing that degree with her student teaching at both a middle and high school. Upon completion of her student teaching, Emily plans on moving back up North to teach middle school band. Emily’s former teachers include Bruce Lazier, Mark Lusk, and Stephan Ivany.
Throughout her time in academics, Emily has accomplished a lot. As a graduate student, she was a Teaching Assistant for the trombone and euphonium studio, music education department, and admissions department. She has been principal trombone in ECU’s Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, and Trombone Choir. She has also performed with the Jazz Band and a Tuba Euphonium Quartet. Emily has also been an active teacher. She has taught low brass workshops and private lessons. Additionally, she has been a judge for many honors bands. Before coming to Ferrwood, Emily was a brass instructor at the Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Orchestra summer camp for five years. Emily is excited to return for her seventh year of teaching at Ferrwood Music camp. When Emily isn’t doing music, she loves to play with her two dogs: Binx and Donny.
Adam Price - Woodwinds Instructor and Boys Counselor
Adam Price is a full-time professional clarinetist and saxophonist. He has toured internationally with various groups, worked in the house orchestras on Crystal and Princess cruise lines, and shared the stage with artists such as Judy Carmichael, Gordon Goodwin, Dave Stahl, Chris Vadala, and many others. In October, 2018 he released his debut jazz album ”House Ghosts” to critical acclaim. Adam holds a Bachelors of Music in Clarinet Performance from New York University, and has taught both privately and at various music camps for many years. When he is not on tour or in the recording studio, Adam enjoys walking in the woods and eating pumpkin pies, not usually at the same time, but occasionally. To learn more about Adam, his projects, and his music, visit www.adampricemusic.com.
Alex Mann - Saxophone Instructor and Boys Counselor
Originally from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Alex Mann now lives and teaches in Montgomery County, Maryland, and is the Instrumental Music teacher at Paint Branch High School. While teaching, Alex has continued to be an active musician. Some performance highlights have been backing up rock star Rod Stewart and performing under the direction of musicians like Maria Schneider, Dafnis Prieto, and John Daversa as part of the Frost Concert Jazz Band. In 2018, Alex was honored to participate in the Santiago de Cuba International Jazz Festival. Most recently, he performed at the 2023 Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival as part of the MCPS Faculty Big Band. Alex graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Music Education in 2018 and graduated from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami in 2021 with a Master of Music in Jazz Performance. He has studied saxophone with Gary Keller, Troy Roberts, Tim Warfield, David Stambler, Dan Yoder, and others. Alex is excited to be back for his fourth year as part of the Ferrwood staff!
Shelby Pocono - Clarinet Instructor
Shelby Pocono is from Dallas, PA and was a Ferrwood camper through her late middle school and high school years. She is currently pursuing a double major in Music Education and Clarinet Performance at Westminster College (New Wilmington, PA). She has studied under Thomas Basset and currently under Daniel Heasley. At college, she is a part of the symphonic orchestra, wind ensemble, and symphonic band, where she sits principal chair. Additionally, she is a part of the marching band, woodwind quintet, and two choirs. For two years in a row, she has been selected to be in the PA Intercollegiate band and most recently successfully auditioned for assistant concertmaster. Shelby is so excited to return to camp after the long break and to share her love for Ferrwood with the campers.
Eric Martinez - Clarinet Instructor
Eric Martinez received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. While at Kutztown University, Eric served as a Student Conductor for the Kutztown University Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, and Clarinet Choir. Eric also served as the Vice-President of the Kutztown University Collegiate Chapter of the NAfME and Clarinet Section Leader of the Kutztown University Marching Unit. Eric has studied Clarinet under Dr. Soo Goh, and Dr. Aileen Razey, and is currently studying with Dr. Christopher Nichols at the University of Delaware. Eric is currently a Wind Conducting Graduate Student at the University of Delaware and serves as a Graduate Assistant for the University of Delaware Bands. As a Ferrwood Alumni, Eric is beyond excited to give back to the community that made him fall in love with music.
Ruth Clark - Percussion Instructor
Ruth is a music teacher who has experience teaching concert, marching, and small group ensembles as well as instrumental lessons at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from West Chester University, studying under Ralph Sorrentino and David Nelson. While at WCU she performed as a percussionist in many ensembles including the Concert Band, Wind Symphony, Marching Band, Percussion Ensemble, and Steel Drum Ensemble. She spent her last three years at WCU also playing tuba, first in their Marching Band and joining Concert Band the following semester. In the summer after high school, Ruth joined as a percussionist with the Greater Harrisburg Concert Band, and has played with other community bands and church ensembles since. She also began teaching marching band the summer after high school, teaching drumline for two years and front ensemble for four. In her most recent position as a LTS High School Band Director, she taught Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Band, played the percussion book for their spring musical, as well as tuba for the orchestra’s two concerts. As a 1st-5th grade General Music LTS, she was able to attend the Responsive Classroom Workshop for Special Area Teachers twice, giving her many classroom management tools and strategies that she has been able to find success with in all grade levels she has taught. This will be her first year at Ferrwood Music Camp, and she is super excited to play some music and have some fun!