STAFF
Executive Director
Deputy Director
Director of Communications
Communications Associate
Office Manager
Registrars
Lenaé Harris
Joseph Howard
Jeanine Reynolds
Geoffrey Williams
Director of Music Partners Program
Assistant Director of Music Partners Program
Director of Music Therapy Program
Director of Classical Division
Director of Jazz Division
Director of Music Adventures
BRASS
CECIL BRIDGEWATER (Trumpet)
Studied at the University of Illinois in Music Education, Performances and Recordings with Horace Silver, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Max Roach, Bridgewater Brothers, to name a few. Arrangements for Dede Bridgewater, Vanessa Rubin, Grover Mitchell Big Band. Commissioned works: Cannonball Adele Suite for Soloists and Big Band, New Dawn for Symphony Orchestra.
GREGORY ERICKSON, (Brass)
Director of Classical Division
B.M. from the University of Minnesota, MA from Hunter College, PhD from the City University of New York. On the Faculty of New York University, Mannes College of Music. Member of the Third Rail Brass Quintet, Goliard Ensemble, United Brass. Recorded solo trombone works for Albany records.
DUANE EUBANKS (Trumpet)
B.S. University of Maryland Eastern Shore; Temple University- Jazz Studies; Private Instruction- Johnny Coles, Professor William Fielder. Performances and Recordings with Dave Holland Big Band, Frank Foster Big Band, Kevin Eubanks, Robin Eubanks, Mulgrew Miller, Elvin Jones and others.
JERRY GEWISS (Trumpet/Brass)
B.S. Juilliard School. Graduate studies CUNY. Studied with Murray Karpilovsky, William Vacchiano, Edward F. Treutel, Carmine Caruso. Advanced studies in embouchure and the physiology of wind instrument performance at the Stevens-Costello Embouchure Clinic with Roy Stevens. Peroformances with symphonic, chamber and popular ensembles at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fischer Hall, Tully Hall, Town Hall and on television and radio.
EARL MCINTYRE (Bass Trombone/Euphonium)
Director of Jazz Division
Trombone studies with John Clark, Jack Jeffers, Alan Raph, Benny Powell, Slide Hampton and Bob Brookmeyer. Performances with Gil Evans, Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, Taj Mahal, Lester Bowie, McCoy Tyner, Carla Bley, George Russell, the Count Basie Orchestra, the Ellington Orchestra, the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra, Slide Hampton, and Mingus Big Band.
FLUTE, SAXOPHONE, & CLARINET
TONY CIMINO (Flute)
D.M.A. University of Washington in Flute Performance. B.A. and M.A. in Flute Performance. Performances throughout the United States and Europe as a soloist and chamber musician. Featured soloist with the Hunter Symphony, NY Symphonic Art Ensemble, Symphony at SUNY Purchase and The Guillford Friends of Music. Studies with Sandra Miller, Linda Chesis, Philip Dunagan, Lise Mann and Felix Skowronek.
JERRY GEWISS (Saxophone/Clarinet)
B.S. Juilliard School. Graduate studies CUNY. Studied with Murray Karpilovsky, William Vacchiano, Edward F. Treutel, Carmine Caruso. Advanced studies in embouchure and the physiology of wind instrument performance at the Stevens-Costello Embouchure Clinic with Roy Stevens. Peroformances with symphonic, chamber and popular ensembles at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fischer Hall, Tully Hall, Town Hall and on television and radio.
CLEAVE GUYTON, JR . (Flute/Saxophones/Clarinet)
B.M.; Berklee College of Music. Cleave has been fortunate to have worked with artists such as: Joe Henderson, Stanley Terrentine, Nat Adderley, Abby Lincoln, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Jon Hendricks, The Ray Charles Orchestra, Lionel Hampton, The Count Basie Orchestra, The Cab Calloway Orchestra, Spike Lee, Joe Williams, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Ronny Jordan, The Mingus Big Band, Cleo Laine, Chaka Chan, The Boys Choir of Harlem and many more.
JONATHON HAFFNER (Flute/Saxophone/Clarinet)
B.M.; Rutgers University. Performances with Kenny Wollesen, Elliott Sharp, Butch Morris, and David Binney.
JENNY HILL (Flute/Saxophone/Clarinet)
Diploma in Jazz Performance from Berklee College of Music (1983), classical flute studies with James Pellerite, Indiana University (1978/79). Awarded a NEA Jazz Studies Grant with Joe Lovano (1985). Band leader and composer/arranger of Liquid Horn; performances at the Blue Note, Joe's Pub, and The Whitney Museum.
JEFF REEVES (Saxophone)
B.A. in Music University of Delaware. Classical Guitar Studies with Marcia Englar, Christian Taggart. Jazz/Woodwind studies with Cecil Bridgewater and James Spaulding.
DAVID WECHSLER (Flute)
Principal Flute and the Personnel Manager of the Connecticut Grand Opera, Second Flutist of the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Third Flute/Piccolo of the Dance Theater of Harlem Orchestra. Principal Flutist in the most recent Broadway production of Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby and active in recording field as well, playing sessions for film and TV. Faculty of the CUNY College of Staten Island, and the Poly Prep Country Day School.
GUITAR & BASS
CHRIS JENTSCH (Guitar)
B.A., Gettysburg College; B.M., New England Conservatory; M.M., Eastman School of Music; D.M.A., University of Miami. Composer and leader of Jentsch Group. Grants from Meet the Composer, American Music Center, and American Composers Forum. Published by the University of Northern Colorado Press, Advance Music, and Fleur de Son Records.
THOMAS MILLIOTO (Guitar)
D.M.A. Doctoral Candidate in Classical Guitar Performance, S.U.N.Y. Stony Brook; M.M. S.U.N.Y. Stony Brook: B.M. S.U.N.Y. Fredonia; Period Instrumentalist, Studio Musician and Recording Engineer; The Brooklyn Conservatory featured him on its 2002 – 2003 Faculty Showcase series, where he performed an all Giuliani recital on a period instrument.
SEBASTIAN NOELLE (Guitar)
M.M. New England Conservatory of Music, BA. Hocschule für Musik, Mannheim, Germany. Performed with John Abercrombie, Maria Schneider, Bob Masaes, Chris Check, Donny McCastin, Ingrid Jensen.
JIM PONZI (Guitar)
Graduate of St. Francis College. Studies with Chuck Wayne and Larry Coryell. Recordings with numerous artists including Donna Summer, Brook Benton and Venus Dodson.
JEFF REEVES (Guitar)
B.A. in Music University of Delaware. Classical Guitar Studies with Marcia Englar, Christian Taggart. Jazz/Woodwind studies with Cecil Bridgewater and James Spaulding.
RICK STONE (Guitar)
M.A. Aaron Copeland School of Music at Queens College. B.M. Berklee College of Music. Played and recorded with Kenny Barron, Eric Alexander, Matt Wilson, Tardo Hammer, Dave Leibman, Hal Galper and Billy Hart, and led his group in performances at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, Smithsonian Institute, Blue Note and Birdland.
MICHELE TEMPLE (Guitar & Bass)
B.M., Ashland University; M.M., Cleveland State University. Member of avant-garde rock band Pere Ubu; Producer/Composer, Urban Iguana Music Productions; published musicological author on medieval music.
MUSIC ADVENTURES
NORDA DIENSTAG
B.A.: Marymount Manhattan College, Mannes Conservatory of Music; Juilliard School of Music, Turtle Bay Music School; graduate studies, New York University; trained in Music, Art, Drama and Movement Therapy, Theatre in Education (specialization in Musical Theatre), Drama in Education (specialization Creative Drama and Drama Therapy. Performances with City University of New York Choir, Ross Carnegie's Vibrations (band), Harry T. Burleigh Choir.
RIC FRANK, Director of Music Adventures
Orff training at New England Conservatory, Suzuki flute training at East Tennessee State University, The American Suzuki Institute and the Talent Education Institute in Matsamoto, Japan. Dalcroze training with Dora Dubsky. Recipient of "Meet the Composer" and Van Horne Foundation for Excellence in Teaching grants, as well as an ASCAP Plus Award. Recordings with Ritmo Aridente, Jazz Samaritans, Michael Packer Blues Band, "Tuff" Jaff Salen and Jambalaya Brass Band.
ALEXANDRA VASALLLO, Dance Educator
MA in Dance and Dance Education from Teachers College, Columbia University BA in Psychology/Dance from City University of NY at Queens College. Teaching artist for New York City Ballet Choreographer and performer.
MUSIC THERAPY
LORI BAUR
B.A., psychology and music, Southwestern University; M.A., music therapy, New York University. Board certified music therapist.
MELANIE NEVIS
Director of Music Therapy Program
M.A. New York University - Music Therapy; B.A. Beacon College- Special Education and Music Percussion studies and performance in New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Havana, Cuba. Specialist in percussion-based Music Therapy for children, adolescents and adults.
PERCUSSION
MARK JOHNSON
Jazz and classical studies at Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. Recipient of grant from the National Endowment of the Arts to study with jazz drummer Arthur Taylor. Tabla studies with Ustad Allahraka.
GREG JOSEPH
B.M. University of Miami; performances with Ira Sullivan, Red Rodney, Kevin Hayes, Paul Anka, Kermit Driscoll, Steve Bernstein, and Art Garfunkel. Broadway credits include Gypsy and Avenue Q.
PIANO
TOM ALDRICH
Jazz Performance and Classical Composition studies at NYU; member of The Four Bags; performances at Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival, BAMcafe Next Next Performance Series, WNYC "Soundcheck" with John Schaeffer, Symphony Space Thalia Theater.
EUGENIA BETMAN
B.A. Piano Performance & Pedagogy, Conservatory Music School for Gifted Children; M.F.A. Piano Performance, Accompaniment & Pedagogy, Georgian State Conservatory of Music. Performances with Georgian State Philharmonic Orchestra.
KRISTIN BOURLAS
Preparatory studies at the Lausanne Conservatory in Lausanne, Switzerland under Achilles Classis; B.M., Oberlin Conservatory; Pedagogy studies, Eastern Michigan University; M.A.; Hunter College under Edna Golansky; Summer studies at Tanglewood, the Truman Institute at Amherst College and Williams College, and the Golansky Institute at Princeton University. Recitals in the United States and Europe.
TONY CIMINO
D.M.A. University of Washington in Flute Performance. B.A. and M.A. in Flute Performance. Performances throughout the United States and Europe as a soloist and chamber musician. Featured soloist with the Hunter Symphony, NY Symphonic Art Ensemble, Symphony at SUNY Purchase and The Guillford Friends of Music. Studies with Sandra Miller, Linda Chesis, Philip Dunagan, Lise Mann and Felix Skowronek.
TERENCE CONLEY
Pianist for the Count Basie Orchestra, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Art Blakey, Dee Bridgewater, George Benson, Irene Reid and Tito Puente. 1999 Grammy Award winner for "Count Plays Duke."
RENÉ DENNIS
M.M. New York University, B.M. North Carolina School of the Arts. Performances in various ensembles in New York, Virginia, North Carolina and Japan.
NORDA DIENSTAG
B.A. Marymount Manhattan College, Mannes Conservatory of Music; Juilliard School of Music, Turtle Bay Music School; graduate studies, New York University; trained in Music, Art, Drama and Movement Therapy, Theatre in Education (specialization in Musical Theatre), Drama in Education (specialization Creative Drama and Drama Therapy). Performances with City University of New York Choir, Ross Carnegie's Vibrations (band), Harry T. Burleigh Choir.
LUCY GALLIHER
Performs regularly throughout New York at various venues, including Kavehaz, the Duplex and The Montauk Club.
NOAH HAIDU
B.F.A.; New School University, New York City. Performances with Valery Ponomarev, Winard Harper, Billy Hart, Curtis Lundy, Harvie Schwartz, Essiet Essiet and Jeannie Bryson. Played at numerous Manhattan jazz clubs, including the Blue Note, Sweet Basil, Birdland, Iridium, the Jazz Standard and many venues across the country and overseas.
MARGARITA KAGAN
M.M. and M.E. from Belorussian State Conservatory in Minsk, Belarus in 1980. Taught at Music College in Brest, Belarus.
YOKO KIMURA-YATES
Doctorate studies and teaching assistantship, Teachers College, Columbia University. M.A. Lesley University. BA Berklee College of Music and Hokkaido University of Education. Trained in classical and jazz styles, including voice. Teaching experience in various public school systems and private music schools. Performances at private events, clubs and festivals.
BENNY LACKNER
B.F.A. - California Institute of the Arts; studied at Hochschule der Kuenste, Berlin, Germany; Internationally Touring Jazz Pianist, Composer. http://bennylackner.com.
BETH LEVIN
Curtis Institute of Music with Rudolf Serkin; graduate studies, Boston University School of Fine Arts with Leonard Shure. Concerto soloist with the Boston Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Seattle Symphony and community and chamber orchestras around the US. Solo recitals at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Dame Myra Hess series, Eastman Summer Festival, Merkin Hall, Weill Hall, WGBH, WNYC and WNYE radio.
SHARP RADWAY
Performances with Nat Reeves, Jimmy Greene, Phil Bowler, Abraham Burton and other top recording jazz artists. Performances at jazz venues thoroughout New York City.
THERESA ROSAS
M.M. CUNY, Brooklyn College in Piano Performance. B.A. Wesleyan University. Performances at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Greenwich House Music School, Queens College, Brooklyn College, Christ & St. Stephen's Church and the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts.
MICHAEL ROSE
B.A. and B.M. Oberlin College and Conservatory; further study with Seymour Bernstein, John Eaton, Peter Susser, and at The Juilliard School. Performances at Weill Hall, Steinway Hall, Trinity Church, Queens College, Bard College, and more. Compositions performed by American Opera Projects, eighth blackbird, OMNI Ensemble, and others; awards from Meet the Composer, National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, Society of Composers, San Francisco Song Festival. Organizer of the Brooklyn Conservatory New Music Collective, a concert series presenting contemporary music.
DONALD SMITH
Studies at University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Has performed in Japan, Russia, Europe and the U.S. Has worked with Gloria Lynne, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Art Blakey and his brother Lonnie Liston Smith, among others. He can be heard on numerous recordings.
ZINOVY WEINSTEIN
B.M. from Orel State College; M.M. from Ufa Institute of Art with Honors in piano performance, pedagogy and chamber ensemble. M.A. from St. Petersburg Institute of Theatre, Music and Cinematography with Honors; sol and ensemble performances throughout former USSR, Europe and USA. Over 30 years teaching experience.
STRINGS
JANA ANDEVSKA (Violin)
B.A. Academy of Music, Bratislava, Slovakia; M.M. Violin Performance, Brooklyn College. Performances with New England Symphonic Ensemble, Camerata New York, Manhattan Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Newton Symphony Orchestra, Connecticut Grand Opera Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Mark's, and Brooklyn College Orchestra.
LEANNE DARLING (Viola)
B.A. Eastman School of Music, M.M. Cleveland Institute of Music. Work with Florida West Coast Symphony, Missouri Chamber Orchestra, and Sultana Ensemble.
ANGELA HARRIS (Violin)
B.A. Williams College. Performances with Berkshire Symphony, Greenwich Village Orchestra, and Forecast Music. Founding member of Trio Lucente. Recordings with The Candy Butchers and Lauryn Hill.
JAMES DAVID JACOBS (Cello)
Studied cello with Mildred Rosner and Colin Hampton, early music studies at U.C. Berkeley, performances w/Paul Dresher Ensemble, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Berkeley Symphony, Klezmorim, Stephen Merritt, Saturday Night Live, off-Broadway and touring shows, composed scores for HBO, PBS, Living Theatre, radio producer/host on WNYE 91.5 FM.
MASHA LANKOVSKY (Violin)
B.S.O.F. and M.M. Indiana University; D.M.A. candidate at the Graduate Center, CUNY. Member of Manhattan Virtuosi and Ensemble Du Monde; performs with the S.E.M. Ensemble and A.R.Y.O. Chamber Players. Recent participation in the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (Germany) and the Montepulciano Festival (Italy).
HENSY PEREZ (Bass)
ADRIATIK SEFA (Violin/Viola)
M.A., Music Education, New York University, M. M., Eastman School of Music. B.A., The Academy of Arts, Tirane (Albania). Performances at Carnegie Hall, Isaac Stern Auditorium, Kilbourn Hall at Eastman, featured on Albanian National Television. Awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts for exceptional talent artist in Eastern Europe. First Prize in ProArchi competition in Nyiregyhaza, Hungary. Studies with Uto Ughi, Boris Belkin, Oleh Krysa, Zvi Zeitlin, Theo Olof, Zhani Ciko, Roland Xhoxhi, Bujar Sykja. Composer of many pieces written for violin.
ANTONIO SERRADA (violin)
M.A. Music Performance, Brooklyn College CUNY, under two-year Fulbright Scholarship. Studies with Masao Kawasaki and Tania Leon. B.A. Violin Performance & Chamber Music, Royal Conservatory of Madrid. Recipient of 2005 Brooklyn College Orchestra Award. Solo performances with Brooklyn Philharmonic, One World Symphony & Chamartin Symphony Orchestra.
EMMA WEINSTEIN (Violin)
B.M. from Magnitogorsk State College; M.M. from Ufa Institute of Art in violin performance, pedagogy and chamber ensemble. Ensemble performances throughout former USSR, Europe and USA. Member of Chamber Orchestra of the French-American Conservatory of Music. Over 30 years teaching experience.
VOICE & CHORAL
JESSICA CORBIN (Classical, Bella Voce Singers)
BM from Duquesne University, MM from Indiana University. Founding Director of Bella Voce Singers.
SEUNG-HEE HAN (Jazz)
M.M. New England Conservatory of Music, Jazz Studies, Berklee College of Music, Experienced in Acappella music, she composes jazz infused with own authentic style. She performs with jazz groups around the town.
DONNA HENRY (Jazz)
Studied formally at Herbert H. Lehman College. Has performed in Africa, Brazil, Europe, Russia and the US. Has worked with the Kronos Quartet, Hannibal Lokumbe, Diedre Murray and the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra. Currently performs in numerous venues with her own trio and several other bands.
JAMES DAVID JACOBS (Classical Choir)
Studied cello with Mildred Rosner and Colin Hampton, early music studies at U.C. Berkeley, performances w/Paul Dresher Ensemble, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Berkeley Symphony, Klezmorim, Stephen Merritt, Saturday Night Live, off-Broadway and touring shows, composed scores for HBO, PBS, Living Theatre, radio producer/host on WNYE 91.5 FM.
PEGGY MACNEIL (Classical)
RENEÉ MANNING (Jazz, Jazz & Gospel Choirs)
Vocal coaching from Elliot Ames, Joe LoCass and Carmine Caruso. Performances and recordings with Dizzy Gillespie, Leonard Bernstein, Thad Jones David “Fathead” Newman, Nat Adderley, Johnny Copeland and others. Featured vocalist with Mel Lewis Orchestra , Chico O’Farrill Afro-Cuban Orchestra, George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band, Mingus Orchestra and many others. She has appeared with Carmen McCrae, Joe Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, Don Cherry, Roland Hanna, Sheila Jordan, Mark Murphy, Nat Adderley, Lester Bowie, Pharoah Sanders, McCoy Tyner and many other great musicians.
CHRISTINE MOORE (Classical)
B.M. Manhattan School of Music. Studies at University of California, Davis. Performances with Leipzig Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Central City Opera, Chautauqua, Aldeburgh Festival (UK), Sacramento Opera, Amato Opera, Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, American Composers Alliance, Paxton Festival & Edinburgh Fringe Festivals (UK); Regional Finalist at Metropolitan Opera Auditions; Training/Master classes: Martin Katz, Joan Dornemann, Renata Scotto, Mignon Dunn, Diana Soviero, Dalton Baldwin, Christa Ludwig, and others.
KARIN OKADA (Jazz)
M.A., Queens College; B.A. Berklee College of Music. 2002 BMI Jazz Composer's Workshop full scholarship recipient. 2001 participant in Betty Carter Jazz Ahead. 2001 recipient of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Certificate of Achivements award.
SANNI ORASMAA (Jazz)
M.A.; University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, Austria; Student of Sheila Jordan and Mark Murphy; Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead Grantee 2000; numerous festival and club appearances throughout Europe, China and USA including the Kennedy Center, the Rainbow Room and the Knitting Factory in NYC; Performances with Charlie Hunter, Bobby Previte and Kirk Nurock among others.