Meet Your Mentors
We pride ourselves on offering the very best in professional and qualified education for our students. Our teachers at VMH are among some of the most experienced musicians in the state, dedicated to the encouragement and instruction of our students.
Our Faculty
George Lesiw
GUITAR, BASS, UKULELE, PIANO, STRINGS & MUSIC THEORY
Founder | Performer | Music Educator
George Lesiw is a professional guitarist, educator, and founder of Valley Music Hub LLC. With over 25 years of teaching and performance experience, George brings a wealth of musical knowledge and a passion for helping students develop their individual musical voices.
A graduate of Berklee College of Music, George holds a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from SUNY Purchase and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Sacred Heart University, where he has served as an adjunct guitar instructor since 2018.
An active performer throughout Connecticut and the surrounding region, George specializes in jazz, blues, rock, improvisation, music theory, and contemporary guitar styles.
His teaching philosophy emphasizes creativity, strong musical fundamentals, and personalized instruction tailored to each student's interests and goals.
Through Valley Music Hub, George's vision is to create a welcoming community where students, teachers, and musicians can learn, collaborate, and grow together.
Natalie Hamilton
Piano & vioce
Natalie Hamilton is a patient, kind and dedicated musician and educator with a positive attitude and cheerful disposition. She has been teaching piano and vocal instruction to children and adults of all levels for over 15 years. Her instruction includes the fundamental principles of music and musicianship skills, and instilling a desire to learn and persist. She has experience and works well with children struggling with learning, developmental and emotional difficulties. She enjoys working with students of all ages and backgrounds.
Hamilton began performing professionally at the age of 18 while living in Boston, MA where she studied at Berklee College of Music and The Boston Conservatory, before moving to NYC to pursue her music career further. She then went on to receive a full music scholarship to Edison State College in Fort Myers, FL. At Edison, she furthered her understanding of jazz harmonics and theory under the tutelage of Dr. Dennis Roy Hill, where she also became the school's music librarian-cataloguing an extensive collection of original Big Band and Orchestral Scores. While at Edison, she had the privilege of being the pianist in Dr. Hill's 20 piece Jazz Orchestra.
Hamilton then returned to NYC where she continued performing, recording and furthering her higher education. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Marketing from the City University of New York – Brooklyn College, in June 2011
On a professional level, Hamilton's voice - spanning four octaves - and melodic jazz/pop piano playing, have won accolades from top music industry professionals. She has been praised as “Evocative” with a “Stunning Voice” by INK 19 Magazine and “Marvelous, Feminine and Tough” by music journalist Thom Jurek (Rolling Stone and SPIN Magazine contributor.) In July 2021, her song “Show You My Love” was included in The Essential Western New England Songbook as “one of the best songs ever written by an artist from the New England area.”
In September 2022, she produced the show “Back In Time: 100 Years Of Women In Music”
and performed it for two nights at The Legacy Theatre in Connecticut.
In 2025, Hamilton began recording a new album of all original music, set for 2027 release.
Darren Stec
SAXOPHONE, FLUTE, CLARINET, PIANO, BEGINNER GUITAR
With over 23 years of experience teaching in the Stamford Public Schools, Darren J. Stec brings a wealth of pedagogical expertise to every lesson. Darren holds a B.A. in Music Management and an M.A.T. in Music Education from Manhattanville University, as well as a second M.A. in Learning and Thinking from The Graduate Institute. An accomplished performer, he has played with numerous area bands and performed as a soloist across a diverse range of venues. Darren offers specialized instruction in alto and tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet, piano, and beginner-to-intermediate guitar.
Joe Sanchez
Electric bass
Joe Sanchez was born in Manati, Puerto Rico and relocated with his family
to the United States when he was 3 years old. Joe's love for music began
at an early age when he experienced Elvis Presley for the first time. He
started playing the electric bass guitar at the age of 15. Over the years he
has played and recorded across many genres of music, including Jazz,
Contemporary Jazz, Rock, Top 40, Afro-Cuban and Latin Jazz. Joe has
been a freelance musician for 30+ years performing at National Festivals,
Theaters, Club Circuits, Private Events, Session Work, and clinics. In
addition he is also featured on 5 time Grammy winner Victor Wooten’s
Groove Workshop DVD. True to his belief that learning should be an
ongoing endeavor, Joe has studied with Matthew Garrison, John Patitucci
and Lincoln Goines.
Joe endorses Fodera Basses and
Fodera X DR Strings Strings,
Trickfish Amplification &
Rattlesnake cables.
Richard "Patch" Patchkofsky
Guitar
Rich is a self-taught guitarist with deep roots in American folk music, blues, and fingerstyle guitar. Influenced by Piedmont blues and fingerstyle masters such as Mississippi John Hurt and Reverend Gary Davis, Rich has spent more than 40 years studying American roots music and its influence on modern guitar playing.
Throughout his musical journey, Rich has studied informally with respected guitarists including Ernie Hawkins, Roy Book Binder, Eric Schoenberg, and Jorma Kaukonen. He also recorded an album of cover songs with the band CornBread, featuring music by artists and songwriters including Elizabeth Cotten, J.J. Cale, and Duane Allman.
Rich’s guitar lessons combine practical music theory, a working knowledge of the fretboard, and the fundamentals of blues, folk, and fingerstyle playing. His goal is to give students the musical tools and understanding they need to develop confidence, explore their own musical interests, and continue growing independently.
Steve Husted
Upright & Electric Bass | Jazz Improvisation | Composition
Steven Husted is an accomplished bassist, composer, bandleader, and educator whose distinguished musical career spans decades of professional performance, recording, and teaching.
Steven's musical journey began at the age of six, developing an early passion for music through school ensembles, private instruction, and live performances. At fifteen, he relocated from Connecticut to San Francisco, where he immersed himself in the vibrant Bay Area jazz scene and began developing his distinctive musical voice.
By his early twenties, Steven had established himself as one of the San Francisco Bay Area's most sought-after jazz bassists. Throughout his career, he has had the privilege of performing alongside some of jazz's most celebrated musicians, including legendary guitarist Kenny Burrell, renowned drummer Billy Higgins, and acclaimed saxophonist Vince Wallace.
Steven's dedication to music education is equally impressive. He spent six years teaching at the prestigious Stanford Jazz Workshop, mentoring aspiring musicians and sharing the knowledge gained from years of professional performance. His educational achievements also include receiving a Gluck Fellowship while attending UCLA.
As a recording artist, composer, and bandleader, Steven has released several albums under his own name, including Views From The Event Horizon (2012), Standards and Then Some (2023), and Two Nights—Live (2026). His recordings showcase his deep understanding of the jazz tradition, creative improvisational approach, and commitment to musical exploration.
Having returned to his Connecticut roots, Steven currently resides in Newington, where he continues to perform, compose, and share his musical expertise with the next generation of musicians.
As an instructor at Valley Music Hub, Steven brings a wealth of professional experience and a genuine passion for music education. His teaching emphasizes strong technical foundations, improvisation, music theory, rhythmic development, and the art of playing within an ensemble. Whether working with beginners discovering the bass for the first time or advanced musicians refining their jazz vocabulary, Steven is dedicated to helping students develop their individual musical voices and reach their fullest potential.
