Our Teachers

Rudy Bzdyk teaches violin/fiddle, piano, accordion, drum set/percussion, mandolin, banjo, trumpet, trombone, baritone, horn, tuba, harmonica, recorder, composition/theory, and production. From a very early age, Rudy reacted to music. He began piano lessons at age four, and ever since has been learning and sharing it any way he can. Whether or not it was because he started on piano (it was) , he found himself able to learn other instruments with a degree of ease. A typical jazz or rock rhythm section (bass, drums, guitar) and the brass family (trumpet, trombone, baritone, tuba) entered his world at around age 12. He started playing loud, repetitive music with his friends, and by the end of high school was arranging three part harmonies and achieving commercial success in a folk band with some of the same friends, while maintaining a studio of piano students. He received a scholarship from Shepherd University to study tuba and music education, and upon graduation was hired by Loudoun County Public Schools as an elementary music teacher. While he enjoyed his time with LCPS, he has since transitioned to freelance and lives and works in Richmond, VA as a fiddler, and teaches people to play the piano, the string family (orchestral, electric, folk), the brass family, drums, accordion, harmonica, and others. For Rudy, teaching music is not entirely selfless, because it allows him to pursue a deeper understanding of its most fundamental elements. He is on a constant search for new steps along what he calls “the great staircase,” and often spends time wondering where this staircase really begins or ends. He feels overwhelming gratitude to have the opportunity each and every day to share and demystify this beautiful art form.

Benjamin DaCosta-Kaufman teaches voice lessons at Mosley Music. He is a tenor hailing from Richmond, Virginia, and is excited to be able to share his art with the community that bore him! He has given private instruction during his time at Northwestern in pursuit of a master's degree and is no stranger to the professional stage. He has appeared as a young artist at Sarasota Opera (2020), Central City Opera (2018-2019), Des Moines Metro Opera (2017), as well as Charlottesville Opera (2016). Past professional roles include Corydon in Acis and Galatea, and Second Priest in Die Zauberflöte, both at Central City Opera. He is a recent graduate from Northwestern University, where he performed as Satyavan in Gustav Holst’s Savitri, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Septimius in Handel’s Theodora, the eponymous Tom Rakewell in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress, as well as Benedict in Berlioz’s Beatrice et Benedict. In his undergraduate studies at Shenandoah Conservatory, he performed such roles as Eisenstein in (Die Fledermaus), Tamino (Die Zauberflöte), and the titular role in Benjamin Britten’s Albert Herring. Benjamin is currently in the studio of W. Stephen Smith.  

Eric Godsey teaches percussion, guitar, ukulele, electric bass, piano/keyboard, as well as sound production and music theory. He has been teaching private lessons for nearly 15 years! Eric teaches K-5 general music at Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts. He has 5 years of public teaching experience. He holds a B.M. in Music Education from Virginia Commonwealth University and a B.S. in Music Production/Business from Old Dominion University. Eric uses his silly sense of humor and child-like nature to make learning fun! He can also be seen playing drums and singing background vocals in the quirky rock n' soul group The Wimps!

Fitzhugh Ralph Mason III was born and raised in Hanover County, VA in 1989. He graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor's in Music Education with a concentration in percussion, and currently teaches Music at Elmont Elementary School. He specializes in performing and teaching drum set, guitar, bass and ukulele. His love for music and teaching knows no bounds!

Emily is the owner of Mosley Music. In addition to running the studio, she teaches piano lessons and most of our classes. Emily began piano lessons at the age of 6. She studied with Grace Chase, Virginia Carroll and Dr. Martha Fickett. She studied voice with Kathy Ahearn at Mary Washington and James Taylor at VCU. Emily has over 18 years of experience teaching private piano lessons, in addition to teaching chorus and general music at every level from preschool to high school in both public and independent school settings. Emily has conducted and accompanied adult and senior adult choirs and welcomes students of all ages. Emily holds a BA in Music from Mary Washington College and a Master of Music with a focus in Music Education from VCU.

Kacey O’Kelly teaches guitar, ukulele and violin at Mosley Music. She was born and raised in Hanover County and is currently studying Music Business at Berklee College of Music. Kacey has participated in events with the Richmond Symphony through VCU Come & Play and occasionally volunteers at Autumn Care where she plays guitar for the residents. Throughout her Berklee journey she has completed both courses in Pro Tools (a professional level DAW for producing music). She has been studying music for 13 years and has much experience with music theory. Kacey has also completed two Music Therapy courses through Berklee to gain a better understanding of the effect music has on mental and physical health.

Melissa Reynold is the Conductor of Moseley Music's new children's choir, The Hanover Youth Singers. Melissa has served as the Director of Music at Mechanicsville Presbyterian Church since 2009, where she leads the adult choir, children's choir, handbell choir and praise band. Melissa also teaches preschool music at several area preschools - New Hanover Christian School, First Baptist Church of Richmond Preschool, and Canterbury Community Nursery School. Melissa loves working with children of all ages, and is excited to share her love of choral music and choral technique with the members of the Hanover Youth Singers. Melissa has a BS in Spanish from Penn State University and a MA in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University, and she taught middle and high school Spanish for several years before pursuing a career in music. Melissa lives with her husband, Mike, and her three children in Mechanicsville.

Mara Smith teaches guitar and ukulele at Mosley Music and will host Making Music through STEAM and Storytelling with Ms. Smith this summer. She is a passionate musician and dedicated educator in the Richmond, VA area. She has been a elementary music teacher in Hanover County, VA since 2014. She holds a B.A. in Music and French from the College of William and Mary, and B.M. of Music Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. From 2012-2018 she served as a elementary choral director with City Singers Youth Choirs in Richmond, Virginia. She is a creative artist, composer and multi-instrumentalist who collaborates in the Funk/R&B project PPL MAG The Band, which premiered at the Broadberry, Richmond in January 2020 and continues its emergence on the Richmond music scene.