Mike Caroto, Director
Guitar, Bass
Mike Caroto has been with Harcum Music School since 2005 and was promoted to Director in 2021. His future with Harcum began in the late 90’s as a student of the program. Since coming on board as a teacher, Mike helped to create the Harcum College Music Program as well as grow the public music school. Mike performs regularly throughout the region with his own band, as well as a hired player for other musicians.
Joe Veltri
Piano, Drums
Joe Veltri is a teacher and multi-instrumentalist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Splitting his time between vibraphone, drum set, other percussion instruments, and piano/keyboards, Joe teaches drum and piano lessons at Harcum College and Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, and regularly performs throughout the northeastern United States. He received a B.M. in music education with jazz emphasis from Temple University, and has previously taught percussion and/or piano at The Lawrenceville School, The Pennington School, Perelman Jewish Day School, Lumberton School of Music, and Neshaminy High School. Joe has performed in a wide variety of settings and genres including classical, musical theater, jazz, bossa nova, salsa, latin jazz, rock, folk, R&B, hip-hop, gospel, and pop bands and ensembles. Currently, Joe can be heard performing on keyboards with pop cover band The Benderz, and on vibraphone with latin jazz group La Maña Brava, as well as with master percussionist and grammy award winner Pablo Batista’s quintet.
Greg Wright
Guitar, Bass, Uke, Mandolin, Banjo, Voice
Greg Wright coordinates all credited, elective music courses at Harcum College, and teaches Guitar, Bass & Vocal classes. He also teaches an online Music Appreciation course that is listed under Humanities credit.
Greg Wright is the guitar instructor at Drexel University, he also directs the Rock Ensemble, which performs at Drexel and also coordinates recording with music industry classes. Greg’s undergraduate degree is from Combs College. Greg also teaches jazz guitar at Swarthmore College, and previously at Widener University.
When he is not teaching, Greg performs on guitar, plectrum banjo, electric bass, mandolin & ukulele.
Greg was the director and co-creator of Summer Music Programs, Inc., which develops skills of young musicians in professional recording, performance and rehearsal disciplines. This program received “Best of Philly” 2008 Philadelphia Magazine for best summer camp and 2007 Coolest Camps on the Main Line, Main Line Magazine.
Greg was a bandleader for SWING SHIFT, a versatile, small Big Band that performed events and concerts throughout the tri-state area from 1988 until 2008. Greg’s interest in banjo and the music of New Orleans & traditional jazz started in the 1990’s as he led the Bid Easy Dixieland Band. He also currently performs Hot Jazz with Drew Nugent & The Midnight Society and is a member of the Wild Bohemians, a thirty-year Philadelphia tradition of NOLA street music.
In addition, you will find Greg strolling vintage train excursions, singing and playing banjo in West Chester and New Hope, performing holiday music. Vintage rock band, traditional/modern celtic music, solo acoustic guitar gigs, jazz trios are all current activities that still fill his schedule.
Patrick Crowling
Guitar, Bass, Piano, Drums
Patrick Crowling began playing the guitar at the age of 10. He joined his first band at the age of 13 and has never looked back. After attending Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA, Patrick began teaching professionally in 1999. He has been a full time musician and teacher ever since, has toured the United States and Canada, and has been featured on numerous recordings by Philadelphia area artists. Patrick joined the staff at Harcum in November of 2021 and is thrilled to be a part of the school!
Richard Orr
Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute
Richard has performed with many different groups–jazz, classical, Blues, rock, salsa, reggae and klezmer for decades. He has taught privately for over 30 years and has also directed band programs at several different schools. While he is still performing he has in recent years focused on teaching.
