MSM Summer

Derek Cooper, Classical Composition

Derek Cooper’s music has been performed worldwide by groups including Contemporaneous, Sonic Apricity, the Indiana University of Pennsylvania wind ensemble, Jenny Lin, Yarn/Wire, Ekmeles, the Iridium Saxophone Quartet, and Blueshift Ensemble. His piece, Kill James, was recently awarded an honorable mention for the New York Composers Circle’s 2019 John Eaton Memorial Composition Competition. In 2016, Derek joined the ICEBERG collective, a select and diverse group of emerging New York composers.

Derek currently teaches music theory at Ramapo College of New Jersey’s School of Contemporary Arts as well as teaching composition and musicianship courses at the Hoff-Barthelson Music School where he also directs the Compose Yourself Festival in collaboration with The Copland House. He also teaches composition, theory, and ear training at Manhattan School of Music and during the summer, he oversees the composition program for MSM Summer.

www.DerekCooperComposer.com

Sean Richey, Electric Guitar

Sean Richey is a performance artist, composer, arranger, & music educator currently living in Brooklyn, NY. Sean completed his BM in Jazz Arts from Manhattan School of Music under the tutelage of guitarist Chris Rosenberg & drummer Justin DiCioccio. Sean has received awards from the New York Foundation for the Arts, Downbeat Magazine, the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Gerald Wilson Big Band Composition Award, and the 2012 Manhattan School of Music Outreach Award.

In 2013, Sean became a founding member of the True School of Music, in Mumbai, India, where he served as a Program Director and guitar instructor until 2015. While in Mumbai, he had the opportunity to perform alongside notable figures such as Ranjit Barot, Louis Banks, & Loy Mendoza.

Sean has performed alongside notable figures including John Hodgeman, Jean Grey, Joshua Henry, Leo Pelligrino, Norman Edwards Jr., Patrick Bartley, Alison Shearer, Angelo Di Loreto, Linda Oh, Sam Harris, Christian Sands, Pawan Benjamin, Javier Santiago, Conun Pappas, Adam Neely, & Bailen at venues including Carnegie Hall, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Symphony Space, & Central Park Summerstage.

Sean has taught music for the Spence School, the Diller-Quaile School of Music, Brooklyn Music Factory, Larchmont Music Academy, and Camp Encore/CODA.

Rocco Dapice, Jazz Piano

Rocco Dapice is a pianist, teacher, writer, recent graduate of the Manhattan School of Music (M.M., Jazz Arts), and a YAMAHA Performing Artist. He is on the faculty of the Manhattan School’s summer program (MSM Summer) and New Visions Charter High School for Advanced Math & Science. Rocco is a teaching artist for MSM’s Distance Learning center, and teaches privately. He has performed in over 375 cities – in 45 of the 50 states, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Rocco has studied privately with GRAMMY-winning pianist and composer Taylor Eigsti; with vibraphonist and percussionist Mark Sherman; at The Juilliard School for six semesters with pianists Reuben Allen and Dave Meder; and at the Manhattan School with jazz master, Phil Markowitz.

While a student at the Crane School of Music, Disney Entertainment selected Rocco to spend the summer performing daily in front of the iconic castle with the All-American College Show Band. The eight-piece ensemble also worked weekly with guest musicians Bob Mintzer, Jim Snidero, Matt Harris, Jiggs Whigham, and Allen Vizzutti, among others; and attended exclusive Epcot master classes led by Billy Taylor, Diane Schuur, Mercer Ellington, Maynard Ferguson, Rosemary Clooney, and others.

In recent years Rocco has recorded numerous backing tracks for vocalists; served as band leader and keyboardist at People’s Church; performed “Peanuts Christmas” shows at Westchester County libraries; taught multiple times on the topic of jazz history at the Greenburgh Library; played keyboards in a Billy Joel tribute band; and played background roles in a few blockbuster movies.

www.roccodapice.com

 

Norman Paul Edwards Jr., Jazz Percussion, Jazz Band Conductor

Originally from Queens, New York, Norman received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in jazz performance from Manhattan School of Music.  Norman is a two-time Grammy nominated artist with Manhattan School of Music’s Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra (Kenya Revisited: Live and Tito Puente Masterworks: Live). Norman is an educator with Jazz @ Lincoln Center and Arts Connection in New York. SpinKick, his original band, showcases his composition skills and blends dance, funk, hip hop and jazz into feel-good melodies and slamming grooves. His other band, Fighting In The Streets(co-led with saxophonist Alex Lopez) is a video game remix band breaking new ground with nostalgia and feel-good grooves. Norman has shared the stage with George Benson, John Scofield, Joe Lovano, John Faddis, Candido Romero, Stefon Harris, Rudy Linka, Stevie Wonder, Pharoah Monche and Bobby Sanabria. Norman Edwards Jr. plays Vic Firth Sticks, Zildjian Cymbals, and Gon Bops Percussion.

www.normanedwardsjr.com

 

Kris Monson, Jazz Double Bass

Kris Monson is a bassist and composer based in New York City. Kris has had the honor of performing in ensembles led by many of the top musicians in the international jazz and contemporary music scenes, including Marc Cary, Vince Mendoza, Lalah Hathaway, Jim McNeely, Tyshawn Sorey and Ari Hoenig, and at venues including Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Smalls Jazz Club, and Blues Alley.

​As a composer, Kris has premiered works at the Banff International Workshop in Jazz & Creative Music, the Sewanee Summer Music Festival, the 2021 International Conference on the Blues (hosted by Delta State University), as well as various jazz clubs and live music venues around the country. As a researcher he has presented at the 2022 Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conference in Dallas, TX and the College Music Society (CMS) International Conference in Bogotá Colmbia.

A passionate music educator, Kris has taught at the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Division, Rutgers University Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and has given guest lessons and lectures at schools and universities around the country. Kris maintains an active studio of private students in bass, piano, composition, music theory, and improvisation.

Kris completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia with a double major in systems engineering and music, and in 2019 earned a Master’s in Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music.

www.krismonson.com

 

Willie Morris, Jazz Saxophone

St. Louis native and New York-based saxophonist and composer Willie Morris emerges as a fresh and exciting force on the jazz scene. With a deep-rooted appreciation for the Black-American art forms that have flourished in his city, he brings a dynamic and unique perspective to his craft.

In this early stage of his career, Willie has already been blessed with remarkable opportunities that have allowed him to perform and record alongside a distinguished lineup of artists. Collaborating with esteemed musicians such as Randy Brecker, John Clayton, John Swana, Byron Landham, Jason Marsalis, Montez Coleman, Josh Lawrence, Donald Edwards, Boris Kozlov, Rudy Royston, and Jon Davis, among others, Willie has had the privilege of immersing himself in diverse musical settings that have expanded his artistic horizons.

A testament to his extraordinary talent, Willie’s debut album, Conversation Starter (Posi-Tone 2023), served as a platform for showcasing his exceptional abilities. Teaming up with an exceptional band consisting of Patrick Cornelius, Jon Davis, Adi Meyerson, and EJ Strickland, the album embodied the depth and range of Willie’s musical prowess. Through his soulful saxophone melodies and innovative compositions, Willie delivered a captivating listening experience that resonated with audiences on a profound level.

Willie continues carving his path with the release of his sophomore album Attentive Listening (Posi-Tone 2024), embarking on an immersive sonic journey and exploring the concepts of “Attentive Listening” with his own unmatched blend of virtuosity and emotion. From the thoughtful balance of lively and spirited tunes juxtaposed against the contemplative, soul-stirring pieces, the entire program of “Attentive Listening” is an ingenuous testament to Morris’s sincere dedication to his own pursuit of maturity and musical mastery. Collaborating with the stellar rhythm section of pianist Jon Davis, bassist Boris Kozlov and drummer Rudy Royston, Morris effortlessly crafts an auditory landscape that captivates, inspires, and leaves an indelible mark on the listener which lingers in the heart and mind long after the last note fades away.

 

Sean Richey, R & B Ensemble, Jazz Guitar

Sean Richey is a performance artist, composer, arranger, & music educator currently living in Brooklyn, NY. Sean completed his BM in Jazz Arts from Manhattan School of Music under the tutelage of guitarist Chris Rosenberg & drummer Justin DiCioccio. Sean has received awards from the New York Foundation for the Arts, Downbeat Magazine, the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Gerald Wilson Big Band Composition Award, and the 2012 Manhattan School of Music Outreach Award.

In 2013, Sean became a founding member of the True School of Music, in Mumbai, India, where he served as a Program Director and guitar instructor until 2015. While in Mumbai, he had the opportunity to perform alongside notable figures such as Ranjit Barot, Louis Banks, & Loy Mendoza.
Sean has performed alongside notable figures including John Hodgeman, Jean Grey, Joshua Henry, Leo Pelligrino, Norman Edwards Jr., Patrick Bartley, Alison Shearer, Angelo Di Loreto, Linda Oh, Sam Harris, Christian Sands, Pawan Benjamin, Javier Santiago, Conun Pappas, Adam Neely, & Bailen at venues including Carnegie Hall, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Symphony Space, & Central Park Summerstage.

Sean has taught music for the Spence School, the Diller-Quaile School of Music, Brooklyn Music Factory, Larchmont Music Academy, and Camp Encore/CODA.

Juan Diego Villalobos, Percussion

Latin Grammy Award-winner Juan Diego Villalobos; is a versatile vibraphone/
percussion player and producer, who has excelled in different styles of music like jazz, classical and Afro-Venezuelan music; making him one of the most sought-after musicians in New York.

His musical journey started at a young age, performing with his family in different festivals around Mexico and Venezuela, which initiated him in the Afro-Venezuelan culture. Later on, he studied at the Simon Bolivar Music Conservatory in Caracas and became part of “El Sistema” by joining the Teresa Carreño Youth Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela; where he performed across Europe, Asia and the US as a classical percussionist, sharing the stage with Christian Vazquez, Makoto Ozone and the acclaimed conductor Gustavo Dudamel.

During 2014, Villalobos got selected among fourteen Venezuelan musicians to
participate at “Lang Lang & Friends,” a concert held at the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan, in celebration of the 69th anniversary of its founding with special guests such as Sting, Alec Baldwin and Lang Lang himself. In addition to his classical training, Villalobos developed a passion for jazz, which allowed him to present his compositions and perform with several jazz artists from and across Venezuela and the United States.

Villalobos continued his jazz studies under the tutelage of Stefon Harris and Joe Locke, obtaining a full scholarship to study jazz vibraphone at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music (2018 – 2022). During this time, he appeared at distinguished venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Harlem Stage, Smalls Jazz Club and Birdland; as a bandleader and sideman, performing alongside Paquito D’Rivera, Ben Wendel, Arturo O’Farrill, Dayna Stephens, Jeremy Pelt, Peter Erskine, Jon Faddis, Andy Narell, John Beasley, among others.

Villalobos has also been recognized for his contributions to the music industry
by winning a Latin Grammy for his participation on the album “Identidad” by
Venezuelan cuatro player Miguel Siso. Also, his album “Perspectiva” (2017) showcases his unique new sonority, reimagining jazz and Afro-Venezuelan music to create a sound based on their common roots.

Mina Kusumoto, Piano

Mina Kusumoto has performed as a soloist and collaborative pianist in many world-renowned venues such as The Kennedy Center (under conductor Leonard Slatkin), Lincoln Center, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center, Steinway Hall, DiMenna Center, Yamaha Salon in NY, Tokyo Metropolitan Arts Hall, Minatomirai Hall in Japan, Oxford Town Hall, and Jacqueline De Prez Memorial Hall in the United Kingdom. In 2007, Mina gave a NY debut recital at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall as a winner of the Artist International Competition. She was also a prize winner in the International Arts Federation Competition and the All Japan Soloists Competition. She is a founder and artistic director of International Music Organization New York which gives opportunities to perform for young musicians. Currently, Mina is a piano faculty at Horace Mann School and Riverdale Country School. A native of Japan, Mina earned her Bachelor of Music Degree at Musashino Academia Musicae in Tokyo. She received her Master of Music Degree from Manhattan School of Music.

Pianist Diana Lin believes that everyone has the gift of music. She strives to help students discover the music within them, increase their love for music, and cultivate their unique, individual voices as artists. Ms. Lin’s students are annual winners of the NJMTA Spring Recital Auditions, Golden Key Festival, Crescendo International Competition, and the Little Mozarts Competition. Her students perform annually at the Baruch Performing Arts Center, The German Society of Pennsylvania, Weill Recital Hall and Zankel Hall of Carnegie Hall, as well as the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center.

 

David Ji, Piano
More information coming soon! 

 

Tereza Lee, Piano

Tereza Lee has taught at the Manhattan School of Music since 2011, at the College Undergraduate and Graduate levels (2011-18) and in the Precollege division (2018-current). As a performer, she has appeared as a soloist at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall, Barge Music, Lincoln Center, and the Ravinia Festival in Chicago. She has premiered works by Aaron Jay Kernis, Augusta Read Thomas, Ned Rorem, Josephine Lee, and Kenneth Frazelle. At 16, she became the first student from an inner-city school to win first prize in the CSO Youth Concerto Competition, and performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Tereza Lee’s role in helping to inspire Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois to introduce the DREAM Act has been documented in WQXR, The New York Times, PBS, NPR, USA Today, The Economist, NY1, and WNYC. Tereza Lee’s story was recently featured in the PBS documentary Asian Americans, as well as the children’s book 100 Immigrant Women Who Changed the World (Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls).

Tereza Lee’s former teachers include Edna Koren, Adam Smyla, Dr. Sylvia Wang, Mme. Nina Svetlanova, and Dr. Marc Silverman. Tereza Lee received her Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the Manhattan School of Music in 2020.

 

WeiWei Zhai, Piano

Pianist Weiwei Zhai has performed throughout Asia, North America, and Europe as a soloist and chamber musician. Critics have praised her “enthusiasm and grace” and described her performance as “absolutely gorgeous throughout as to sonority and especially style” (New York Concert Review). Weiwei has played concerts at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, the Harvard Club of New York City, Steinway Hall, Trinity Church Wall Street, Yamaha Artist Service, Klavierhaus, and the Beijing National Library Performing Arts Center. As the first-prize winner of the Concerto Competition at Manhattan School of Music (MSM), she performed the Scriabin Piano Concerto with conductor Philippe Entremont. In addition, she has played with celebrated conductor Christian Vásquez in Italy. Dr. Zhai won top prizes in the Kazakhstan International Piano Competition, and the Five Towns Young Musicians Competition in New York.

An avid chamber musician, Weiwei has collaborated with members of the Grammy winning quintet, Imani Winds. She has appeared at the Bowdoin International Music Festival, the PianoTexas International Festival and Academy, and the InterHarmony International Music Festival. She has also premiered works by Latin Grammy winning composer, Carlos Franzetti. Dr. Zhai has received invitation to perform and deliver presentations at renowned institutions, including 92NY, Rutgers University, and John Jay College.

Weiwei began to take piano lessons at an early age. She won top prizes in major national competitions and graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. She moved to New York to study at Manhattan School of Music, where she received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree, studying with Dr. Solomon Mikowsky and Dr. Inesa Sinkevych. Dr. Zhai is a member of the piano faculty at Bloomingdale School of Music.

 

Eileen Buck, Piano

Pianist EILEEN BUCK has performed as a recitalist, chamber musician, and concerto soloist in North America and Europe. She has won several competitions, including taking First Prize at the Josef Hofmann Piano Competition in 1996. She has appeared as soloist with the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, Etherridge Chamber Orchestra, Collegium Westchester Orchestra, and the Mannes Orchestra. Ms. Buck is a frequent chamber music collaborator with other instrumentalists, including cellist Wendy Warner, with whom she recorded Paul Hindemith’s complete works for cello and piano for Bridge Records and Popper and Piatigorsky’s works for
cello and piano for Cedille Records, to universally high critical acclaim. She released her latest album: Steal Away: Hymn Arrangements for Cello and Piano with cellist Soo Bae. She has also
performed with members from the Guarneri, Brentano and Borromeo Quartets, the New York Philharmonic, MET Orchestra, and Philadelphia Orchestra, among others. Ms. Buck received her
Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music and the Mannes College of Music, where her teachers were Eleanor and Vladimir Sokoloff and Edward Aldwell, respectively. She also studied with Carl Schachter at the City University of New York Graduate Center, Adolph Baller and Maria Curcio. She studied chamber music with Felix Galimir, Karen Tuttle, Julius Levine and Robert McDonald. Ms. Buck has taught piano at Vassar College and
chamber music at Queens College. Currently, she serves on the faculty at the Mannes School of Music Preparatory Division, and coaches chamber music for the New York Youth Symphony Chamber Music Program. She is the artistic director for the Summer Chamber Music Intensive in New York City, faculty at the Interharmony International Music Festival in Acqui Terme, Italy, and teaches at the Mannes Summer Chamber Intensive.

 

Luba Poliak, Piano

Pianist Luba Poliak made her professional debut at the age of eleven with the Novosibirsk Philharmonic Orchestra. Since then, she has appeared on four continents as a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. Luba has performed recitals in prestigious venues and series including 92nd Street Y in New York, Jordan Hall in Boston, Dame Myra Hess Series in Chicago, Dudley Hall in Houston and the Embassy Series in Washington, D.C. Her performances have been broadcast worldwide, on stations including Chicago’s WFMT, ABC Classical FM in Australia and Kol Hamusica, the national classical music station in Israel.

As a chamber musician, Luba has performed with acclaimed musicians from the Metropolitan Orchestra, New York City Opera and A Far Cry. Festival appearances include Aspen Music Festival, Bowdoin Summer Music Festival, Long Island Chamber Music Society, Stony Brook Contemporary Chamber Players and the Houston Piano Institute.

Luba began her studies at the age of six in Novosibirsk, Russia. After immigrating to Israel, she continued her studies and graduated magna cum laude from the Rubin Academy in Tel-Aviv under the tutelage of Michael Boguslavsky. After additional studies at the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles and the Verbier Academy, she received her Masters Degree with Honors from the New England Conservatory, where she studied with Patricia Zander and Gabriel Chodos. Luba then earned her Doctorate at Stony Brook University with Gilbert Kalish. In recent years, Luba served as a sabbatical replacement at the University of Houston, TX and at the Lawrence University, WI. She also taught at Bard College Conservatory of Music and the Bard’s summer camp. Luba currently resides in New York City, where she teaches at 92nd Street Y, coaches chamber music groups with the New York Youth Symphony Chamber Music Program and performs around the city and its vicinity.

Rafael Betancourt, Violin

Rafael Betancourt is a frequent guest on concert stages around the world. Born in Venezuela, he earned his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees with full scholarships at Florida International University (with Robert Davidovici) and Lynn University (with Elmar Oliveira and Stephen Majeske) respectively. In Germany he worked intensely with Professor Ida Bieler (Robert Schumann Hochschule Duesseldorf). He has performed in orchestras such as the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival Orchestra, the New World Symphony, and Florida Grand Opera among others. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with artists from the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Frankfurt Opera and Museum Orchestra, and other major ensembles. He has given master classes in Europe and North and South America, and his students have won prizes in numerous competitions.

www.betancourtviolin.com/rafael/

 

Elad Kabilio, Cello

Praised by The New York Times for his playing “vibrantly”, “full of texture and nuance”, and with “marvelous imagination”, Israeli cellist Elad Kabilio is an active soloist, chamber musician and teaching artist. Among his recent performances are Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the Morgan Library and the Joyce Theater in New York City. He has also performed at the Aspen Music Festival, Young Artist Festival in Bayreuth – Germany and was featured on WQXR Radio. Mr. Kabilio collaborates frequently with dancers from top ballet companies such as New York City Ballet and the American Ballet Theater, and served as the music director of Ballet Next (2011-2014). Mr. Kabilio is committed to bringing music to new audiences and is the founder of MusicTalks, a chamber music series devoted to breaking down the barriers between musicians and audience.

www.eladkabilio.com

 

E.J. Lee, Violin

E.J. Lee began playing the violin in Seoul, Korea at the age of four and made her solo debut three years later playing the Vivaldi Violin Concerto with full orchestra. As a teenager she won a national violin competition in Korea and performed with the Seoul Symphony. In 2004, E.J. earned her master’s degree from Manhattan School of Music. She has performed in various prestigious concert venues including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.  She has toured with Clay Aiken, performed at the Kenzo x H&M fashion show, and is regularly featured in “Mozart in the Jungle,” an Amazon Original Series.For over twenty years she has taught both privately and in schools. Currently, she teaches at Convent of the Sacred Heart, Geneva Conservatory of Music, and Riverdale Country School. E.J. is committed to service, which she demonstrates through her role as a board member at The Chelsea Symphony. As an advocate for musical outreach, she actively seeks to address a larger philanthropic goal of bringing music to audiences for whom access to music and concerts is challenging.

Sara Dudley, Viola

Sara Dudley is a violist and violinist originally from Nashville, TN now residing in New
York. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Aaron Copland School
of Music, Queens College, and a Master of Music in Viola Performance from Manhattan
School of Music.

She has garnered an impressive array of performing credits, including the Nashville Early
Music Ensemble, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, New England Symphonic Ensemble,
Palisades Sinfonietta, Bronx Opera, New Amsterdam Opera, and the Chelsea Symphony.
She has performed at major music festivals Bonnaroo, and SXSW. In 2022, Sara was a
resident violist for Lincoln Center Stage, an exclusive partnership between Lincoln
Center and Holland America Line. She has also made three television appearances
including CMT’s Artist of the Year Award, the hit show Nashville, and the Amazon
Original Series Mozart in the Jungle.

As an educator with over fifteen years of teaching experience, Sara is a viola/violin
faculty member at Convent of the Sacred Heart, Bloomingdale School of Music, and
maintains a private studio.

Blair Cagney, Voice

Metropolitan Opera National Council Encouragement Award winner, Blair Cagney, is a young soprano on the rise. This season, Ms. Cagney is thrilled to have her role and company debut singing Nedda in Pagliacci with New Rochelle Opera. Last season, Blair sang Rapunzel and covered Cinderella with Tulsa Opera in Into the Woods. Described as having a “nice full well-centered tone [and] superb coloratura”, she is equally at home in the classical and contemporary repertoire. She recently sang the titular role in Emmeline and Susanna in I Due Figaro with Manhattan School of Music, Micaëla in Carmen with Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, and covered Leïla in Les Pêcheurs de Perles with Manhattan School of Music. Prior to
the pandemic, Blair was scheduled to sing in the Douglass Moore Songbook concert produced by The National Opera Association, The Douglass Moore Foundation for American Opera, and Opera Index. Ms. Cagney has worked with illustrious maestri such as George Manahan, Brad Moore, Stefano Sarzani, and Ubaldo Fabbri, and has performed internationally in France, Italy, Germany, and the US.

 

Nancy Chamberlain, Assistant Music Director

Nancy Chamberlain is a collaborative pianist at Manhattan School of Music, William Paterson University, and Caldwell University. She won the Premier Prix in Piano from the Conservatoire National in Nice, France, where she studied as a Rotary Foundation Scholar. While in Europe, Nancy performed with the Aspremont Quartet, winning First Prize in the International Chamber Music Competition in Tradate, Italy. She has taught K-12 vocal/choral/theatrical music in New York City and New Jersey and has worked as a Broadway audition pianist for Telsey and Co. Other work has included Musical Director at The Duplex Sessions cabaret in Greenwich Village, The Actor’s Project NYC at the Triad, and Barefoot Shakespeare at Alchemical Theater on 14th Street. Nancy holds an M.M. in Piano Performance from Manhattan School of Music.

 

Sarah Childers, Voice Faculty, Chorus

Sarah Childers (mezzo-soprano) is a New York City based opera singer and music educator. Some of Sarah’s performance credits include Rusalka, The Mikado with the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra, Pirates of Penzance, and Die Zauberflöte with Festival South.  As an educator, Sarah worked closely with Mississippi Opera and The University of Southern Mississippi’s Linkup programs. She is an associate conductor and voice technician with the National Children’s Chorus (Manhattan division). Sarah received her BM in vocal performance from The University of Southern Mississippi and Masters of Music in vocal performance from Manhattan School of Music.

 

James Noble, Musical Theatre Director

James Noble is a singer, voice teacher, and conductor in New York City. Engagements include Alice Tully Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Carnegie Stern Auditorium, Weill Recital Hall, Zankel Hall, and the Kennedy Center.

Directing projects include Così fan tutte, The Barber of Seville, Die Fledermaus, Die Lustige Witwe, Le Nozze di Figaro, The Pirates of Penzance, The Sound of Music, Oklahoma!, Fiddler on the Roof, Guys and Dolls, Into the Woods, Les Misérables, The Most Happy Fella, The Music Man, Little Women, 42nd Street, Little Shop of Horrors, Aida, Godspell, Nine, Beauty and the Beast, Honk, Once on This Island, Seussical, The Little Mermaid, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and The Wiz.

Dr. Noble is the conductor of Senior Select Chorus, a mixed-voice ensemble that performs a varied repertoire of early madrigals, oratorio, standard works, modern compositions, folk arrangements, spirituals, and jazz.

His voice students have received numerous awards and gone on to perform on stage and in concerts throughout the United States. Former students have been accepted to programs in vocal performance and musical theater at excellent schools including University of Michigan, New York University, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, The Peabody Institute, The Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Indiana University, New England Conservatory, Curtis Institute of Music, Carnegie Mellon University, Boston Conservatory, Oklahoma City University, Elon University, Rice University, Mannes College of Music, Oberlin College and Conservatory, and Yale University.

As a singer of stage and concert works, Dr. Noble has been praised for his “beautiful tone” and “remarkable versatility.” Some of his favorite roles include the title character in Candide, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Ferrando in Così fan tutte, Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods, Marius in Les Misérables, Archibald in The Secret Garden, Anthony in Sweeney Todd, Tony in West Side Story, Anatoly in Chess, Mingo in Crazy for You, Willard in Footloose, and John in Miss Saigon.

 

Noel Patterson Jr, Musical Theatre Assistant

Noel Patterson Jr is currently a teaching assistant and residential intern at Saint Thomas Choir School after graduating in 2013. During those nine years after Saint Thomas, he continued his education at Saint James Highschool (MD) and Saint Olaf College (MN). Noel sang in numerous choirs at Saint Olaf college from Viking Chorus, Cantorei, and the Saint Olaf Choir directed by Dr. Anton Armstrong. He graduated from Saint Olaf in the spring of 2021 with a B.M Vocal Performance degree. Noel Patterson is a proud first-generation graduate and is so grateful for everyone who guided him along the way.

 

Giuseppe Spoletini, Musical Theatre Director

Canadian baritone Giuseppe Spoletini, has performed widely throughout Canada and the United States. Some of his previous roles include the title role in Gianni Schicchi, Il Conte in Le nozze di Figaro, Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Guglielmo in Così fan tutte, Escamillo in Carmen, Sulpice in The Daughter of the Regiment, and Papageno in The Magic Flute, to name a few. Mr. Spoletini is equally at home on the oratorio stage, where he has been the soloist in such works as Elijah, Messiah, The Creation, and Brahms’s Requiem.

A member of the Manhattan School of Music Precollege vocal faculty, Mr. Spoletini is also co-director of the musical theatre ensembles of both the Precollege division and MSM Summer. Mr. Spoletini’s private students have gone on to study in such prestigious conservatories and summer programs as the Manhattan School of Music College division, New England Conservatory, Mannes, Eastman, Oberlin, NYU, Tanglewood Institute, and WNO Opera Institute. He is also the vocal instructor at the Saint Thomas Choir School, whose students sing in the services and world-renowned concerts at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in New York City.

Mr. Spoletini was a founding member of the acclaimed classical crossover ensemble O Sole Trio, which performed sold-out concerts at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Redlands Bowl, and Ronnie Scott’s in London, in addition to numerous tour venues across the United States and Canada. He is also a frequently sought-after clinician for vocal master classes and choral workshops when he is not teaching in NYC.

 

 

Corinn Springer, Voice

Corinn Springer is a NYC/NJ-based mezzo-soprano who has been teaching and performing for almost two decades. Since 2018 she has been the lead singer for The Silver Starlite Orchestra, a NJ-based big band. She has also performed in numerous operas and recitals throughout the US, Europe and Asia. Her roles include Dorabella from Così fan tutte, Ivanovna Saburova from The Tsar’s Bride (the Brooklyn premiere), Larina from Eugene Onegin, Mercédès from Carmen, L’étudiant in Leçons de Français aux étudiants Américains (the premiere by Isabelle Aboulker), Perichole in La Perichole, Zenobia in Radamisto, L’Opinion Publique from Orphée aux enfers, La Zelatrice from Suor Angelica, La Ciesca from Gianni Schicchi, Third Lady and Papagena both from Die Zauberflöte, as well as her favored role, Cherubino, from Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro.

Some of Corinn’s most notable accomplishments include multiple solo appearances at Carnegie Hall and David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center, the Miller Outdoor Theater, Walt Whitman Theater and the historic Loew’s Jersey Theatre, amongst others. In addition to singing, Corinn has experience acting in both commercials as well as two independent films: Cardio with Ian Todary Productions (NYC), which premiered on Amazon Prime in 2021, and Balls with Parallaxe Films (London, UK; Zurich, SUI). Balls, a film loosely based on Corinn’s experiences as teacher/performer, uses the power of music to help a man struggling with Tourette’s Syndrome. It was met with great acclaim at the Geneva International Film Festival in 2019 as well as winning Best Romance for the New York International Film Awards in 2020.

Corinn holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from The College of NJ as well as a Master of Music in Music Performance from Brooklyn College Conservatory. She maintains a studio in Jersey City, NJ, where her students have gone on to study singing at Berklee College of Music, Wellesley College, LaGuardia High School, Interlochen Arts Camp, Queens Summer Vocal Institute as well as many other prestigious institutes.

Nik Hooks, Bassoon

Bassoonist Nik Hooks enjoys a varied career as a chamber, orchestra, and solo performer. As an orchestral bassoonist, Mr. Hooks has performed around the world with such ensembles as Fort Worth Symphony, American Symphony Orchestra, The Knights and the Princeton Symphony. Comfortable performing a wide range of genres, he has been proud to share the stage with artists such as Sandeep Das, Anthony Roth Constanza, Steven Banks, and The Afield.

Mr. Hooks has had opportunities to train with esteemed pedagogues at major orchestras, most recently Gina Cuffari, Principal Bassoonist of Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. He holds a performer’s certificate from the Colburn School and a bachelor’s degree from the New England Conservatory where his teachers included Richards Beene, Ranti, and Svoboda. Additional training from Tom Novak, Ashley Heintzen, and Randy Doo.

 

Ser Konvalin, French Horn

Ser Konvalin is most passionate about exploring distinctive, quirky pieces written for horn in a chamber, orchestral, and teaching setting. In 2020, they commissioned and performed the solo work Seeking Every Resolution by Nikea Randolph at Opus 40 in Saugerties, NY. They currently play in The Orchestra Now program at Bard College, under the baton of Leon Botstein. As a member of Metropolitan Horn Authority, he was added to the Chamber Music of America’s Ensemble Forward program to receive coaching and guidance from Jeff Scott. Ser has played with such orchestras as the Montclair Orchestra and the Brooklyn Symphony. They earned their Master of Music in Orchestral Performance in May of 2019 from Manhattan School of Music where they studied with the phenomenal Michelle Baker. They received their undergrad at the University of North Texas, where they first discovered their love for recording new music with the UNT Wind Ensemble under Eugene Corporon. At UNT, Ser was a recipient of the Clyde Miller Horn Solo Scholarship Competition. During his time with the Manhattan Five Wind Quintet, Ser was a winner of the Lillian Fuchs Chamber Competition. When he was a member of subtle cheetah brass, he was added to the Chamber Music Mentorship Program with Orchestra of St. Luke’s. They had the opportunity to perform the obbligato horn part to Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 with the MSM Chamber Sinfonia under George Manahan. In 2018 they played at the Imani Winds Chamber Festival, and in 2019 he played at the Round Top Festival Institute. Ser’s other interests include sewing, running, yoga, and drag performance. They have a cat named Punchy.

 

Julie Lee, Flute

Flutist Julie Lee is actively sharing her music throughout the United States and Asia. Lee is interested in different cultures and styles of music. As her playing encompasses a wide range of musical styles and settings, her recent performances include solo, chamber, and orchestral performances, ranging from early periods to contemporary music. Lee has won competitions including New York Flute Club, American Protégé competition, Camerata Artists International Competition, the grand prize for wind instruments at Universal Music Competition, and was the winner at Eisenberg Fried Woodwind Concerto Competition which she performed Nielsen Flute Concerto with MSM Chamber Sinfonia with Maestra Jane Glover. Being enthusiastic about music making, she is committed to delivering exuberant performances to audiences. Lee is pursuing a doctorate degree in Flute performance at Manhattan School of Music, studying with Robert Langevin, where she also received her Masters of Music and Bachelor of Music degree.

 

Alejandro López-Samamé, Trumpet

Alejandro López-Samamé is a Peruvian classical trumpet player based in New York City. He has performed with numerous ensembles around the world including the New York City Ballet, the New York Philharmonic, the New World Symphony, the Virginia Symphony, and the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra, and has appeared as a soloist with the Peru National Symphony Orchestra. He has performed under the baton of Christoph Eschenbach, Iván Fischer, Jaap van Zweden, Gustavo Dudamel, Krzysztof Penderecki, John Adams, and Kurt Masur, and has played in some of the world’s most prestigious concert venues including Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall, Konzerthaus Berlin, Sala São Paulo and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Also a dedicated educator, he was the primary trumpet professor at the Peru National University of Music and is an honorary professor at the Peruvian Trumpet Academy, in addition to being a sought-after master class artist in Latin America. Mr. López-Samamé holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, as well as a Master of Music degree and a Professional Studies certificate in orchestral performance from the Manhattan School of Music. His former teachers include James Thompson and Thomas Smith.

 

Logan Reid, Trombone/Bass Trombone

Logan Reid is a freelance bass trombonist based in New York City. He received his Master of Music from Northwestern University and graduated with his Bachelor of Music from the Manhattan School of Music. Logan has performed with various ensembles such as Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra, The Bronx Opera, Gateway Classical Music Society Orchestra, Space Coast Symphony Orchestra, Miami Classical Music Festival, and Eastern Music Festival Orchestra. He currently serves as the Manhattan School of Music Summer Program trombone instructor in addition to maintaining an active private teaching studio. Logan’s primary teachers include George Curran, Michael Mulcahy, Randall Hawes, Timothy Higgins, Douglas Wright, and Christopher Davis. His notable accolades include winning the American Trombone Workshop National Quartet Competition in 2022 and being named a prizewinner in the Lillian Fuchs Chamber Music Competition in 2019 and 2020.

 

 

Mark Sophia, Oboe

Performing artist and music educator Mark Sophia was born and raised in upstate New York in the Southern Finger Lakes area. In his early years of studying music, Mark was inspired and driven by attending summer music festivals at the Brevard Music Center, Brevard NC, and various private lessons and classes at Ithaca College, Ithaca NY.

Mark has earned a B.M. from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, an M.M. from Manhattan School of Music, and an Ed.M. From Columbia University. After his studies, he carved out a space for himself in New York City performing with over fifteen groups, including the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, the Phantom of the Opera pit orchestra, The Harlem Chamber Players, as well as independent reed trio and woodwind quintet projects. Working in New York City has Mark performing at many legendary spaces including Carnegie hall, Lincoln Center, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral to name a few. His playing can be heard on recording projects including the children’s book “Welcome to the Symphony”, TV commercials, and various video recording projects. As an active music teacher, he directs a private studio and works as a teaching artist with organizations including the Interschool Youth Orchestras, The Little Orchestra Society, and Midori and Friends.

Traveling has always been an integral aspect of Mark’s performing career. He has performed abroad in the Rome Festival Orchestra on a tour of Italy, The National Arts Center program in Ottawa, Canada, and the Britten-Pears Festival Orchestra in England. In 2018, He embarked on a two year national Broadway tour performing oboe and English horn in the Broadway musical Miss Saigon. On the tour, he performed over 350 shows in 35 cities and 25 states.

In addition to teaching and performing, his passion for orchestrating and arranging music has led him to work on projects for educational outreach programs as well as chamber ensemble projects for his reed trio. His career goals continue to include performing in chamber groups and symphony orchestras around the world, teaching many students young and old privately and in the public schools, and doing everything he can to be a music advocate and keep the music community healthy and vibrant.

More information coming soon!