MSM Summer

James Sheppard, Composer

James Sheppard is a versatile musician who wears many hats. He is a composer, performer and teaching artist living in Yorkville, Manhattan. His musical career lies in a colorful mix of nightlife theater, classical music and indie rock.

James has composed for Sasha Velour’s shows Nightgowns, Smoke and Mirrors, One Dollar Drags and her cover of Weill and Brecht’s “Pirate Jenny” from The Threepenny Opera. Recently, he toured his original music with drag queen violinist Thorgy Thor in Thorgy Does Christmas! through the City Winery circuit in 2024. He has music directed her shows Queen of the Night on WQXR, the Thorcestra at Gramercy Theatre and Live at the Art House Provincetown. James’ arrangements for the NYC rock group Matt Krenz & The Divine were released on their most recent album, Fat Boy Ingénue in October 2024. His collaborations with chanteuse Daphne Always resulted in a year long residency at Club Cumming, several shows at Joe’s Pub and a Brooklyn Nightlife Award in 2018. The duo also held a residency at the Laurie Beechman Theater for their original show, By A Thread, in 2022. They have since showcased their energetic cabaret on the JoCo Cruise in March 2024 & 2025. In the Summer of 2018, James was the composer-in-residence at the Hill and Hollow Music retreat, writing music for The Emerald Trio. James’ own songwriter pandemic pop project Casseo released two tracks in May 2021, Doldrums and Manipulator.

As an educator, James is on faculty at the Diller-Quaile School of Music for their early childhood and instrumental vocal departments. Additionally, he has composed for the Living Arts Collaborative, where his original children’s concerts Help Us Compose a Song!, The Story of Babar the Elephant and Old MacDonald Had a Band have traveled to over fifty school districts in the Adirondacks. Lastly, James is a Baritenor vocalist for the Schola Cantorum under the direction of James Wetzel at the Church of Saint Vincent-Ferrer.

James received his BM and MM degrees in Classical Composition from the Manhattan School of Music under the Jay Rubinton Scholarship.

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.

Nicola Caminiti, Jazz Saxophone

Latin-Grammy nominated, recipient of the 2024 Jazz Gallery Commission Residency and winner of the 2023 Herb Alpert ASCAP Jazz Composer Competition and of the 2018 North American Saxophone Alliance Jazz Competition, Nicola Caminiti is a New York based Italian Saxophonist, Composer, Arranger and Educator. Praised as “one to watch” by JazzWise UK, Nicola is considered one of the leading musical figures among his generation for his intensely creative modern concepts based on interplay and rhythmic mastery, still embracing a sense of musical tradition.

He has performed in various international jazz festivals and clubs such as Blue Note, Birdland, The Jazz Gallery, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Lincoln Center, Black Cat in San Francisco, Bunkamura Orchard Hall in Shibuya (Tokyo), Japan, Club Evans in South Korea, as well as in Italy, Spain, Greece, Austria, Malta, Belgium, Germany etc. He shared the stage and/or recorded with worldly famed artists such as Pedrito Martinez (Acertijos – 2021 Latin Grammy Nominated in 2021), Knower (Louis Cole & Genevieve Artadi), Arturo O’Farrill & AfroLatin Jazz Orchestra, Makoto Ozone, Dayna Stephens, Rotem Sivan, Chris Tordini, Harish Raghavan, Charles Altura, Gilad Hekselman, Shai Maestro and many others. His debut album “Vivid Tales of a Blurry Self-Portrait”, which features Lex Korten, Ben Tiberio and Miguel Russell, has been chosen as Editor’s pick for the month of June on Downbeat (4* review) as well as featured on JazzWise in England, NPR, Culture Jazz in France and Jazz Weekly just to name a few. Nicola has earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s in Jazz Saxophone from the Manhattan School of Music as well as a Master’s degree in Classical Saxophone from the Arcangelo Corelli Conservatory in Messina, Italy. Nicola is also proud to be a Borgani Saxophones and D’Addario Woodwinds artist and he partners with TT Mouthpieces and NS Ligatures.

 

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

 

Austin Ford, Jazz Trumpet

Austin Ford is a jazz trumpet player originally from Portland, Oregon. He holds a bachelor’s degree of music in jazz studies from the University of North Texas as well as a master’s degree of jazz trumpet from Manhattan School of Music. Austin is a recipient of many accolades, most notably, he is the most recent winner of the prestigious ITG Carmine Caruso Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition. As a student of many legendary trumpeters including Jon Faddis, Ingrid Jensen, Scott Wendholt, and Philip Dizack, Austin has a passion for passing the musical torch on the next generation. In addition to teaching in his private studio, he also has been the jazz trumpet instructor at the MSM Summer program for the past 2 years.

 

Jack Kotze, Jazz Trombone

Jack Kotze is a trombonist, pianist, and composer based in New York City. He has performed and recorded in numerous big bands, jazz small groups, theater pits, wedding bands, chamber ensembles, and symphony orchestras. Jack has performed in groups led by Jon Batiste, Arturo O’Farrill, Miguel Zenon, Ryan Keberle, and Manuel Valera, among others. In addition to performing, Jack loves to teach! During the school year he is a faculty member at Larchmont Music Academy and teaches private trombone lessons at The Dalton School. At MSM Summer he teaches jazz theory, history, and improvisation classes for jazz and classical majors! Originally from Chicago, Jack moved to New York in 2016 and received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Manhattan School of Music. 

 

Kris Monson, Jazz Double Bass

Kris Monson is a versatile musician and double bassist in New York City. Kris has had the honor of working with many of the top musicians in the international jazz and contemporary music scenes, including Marc Cary, Tyshawn Sorey, Vince Mendoza, Veronica Swift, Charles Owens, and Ari Hoenig, and on stages including the Panama Jazz Festival, Providencia Jazz Festival in Santiago Chile, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Smalls Jazz Club, and Blues Alley. Recent projects as a bandleader and composer include his quartet album, “Option to Extend,” and his “Suite for Charlottesville,” a sonic reflection on the city’s August 2017 “Unite the Right” rally.

A passionate music educator, Kris teaches jazz, composition, and music theory courses at MSM Summer, music fundamentals at George Mason University, and has served as a graduate teaching fellow at New England Conservatory for various courses in the jazz and music theory departments. Kris has also given master classes at schools around the country and maintains a select studio of private students. As a researcher, Kris has presented at national and international conferences for the Jazz Education Network, the International Society of Bassists, and the College Music Society.

Kris has earned degrees from New England Conservatory (DMA), Manhattan School of Music (MM), and the University of Virginia (BS Systems Engineering & Music). Major teachers include Buster Williams, Don Palma, and John D’earth.

www.krismonson.com

 

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.

 

Sam Towse, Jazz Piano

Sam Towse is a New York City–based jazz pianist and composer. He began studying music at
the age of two and has since developed his craft under some of the city’s most respected
musicians and educators. A two-time graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, Sam studied
with Phil Markowitz, Marc Cary, John Riley, and Ingrid Jensen. Throughout his career, he has
been recognized by regional, state, and national programs, including YoungArts, NAMM,
ASCAP, and The GRAMMY Foundation. Sam has performed at leading jazz festivals and venues across the country, sharing the stage with some of today’s most accomplished musicians while also leading his own ensembles in performances nationwide.

His fusion project, human music, draws inspiration from the exploratory spirit of late 1960s and
1970s fusion groups. Rooted in the idea of exploration through simplicity, the ensemble
emphasizes collective improvisation and immersive soundscapes. Described as “genre-defying,”
human music blends ambient, electronic, and experimental influences to create expansive sonic
environments that push beyond traditional compositional boundaries.

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.

Jennifer Ahn, Violin

Jennifer Ahn is an Omaha-raised, NYC-based violinist whose dynamic career has taken her across North
America, Europe, and Asia. With a passion for performance, she has appeared at international venues
including Carnegie Hall, Suntory Hall, the Holland Performing Arts Center, and the Athens Conservatoire. She made her solo debut with the Omaha Symphony at age 11 and has since performed with all major orchestras in Nebraska, as well as the Ottawa Chamber Symphony, Malibu Coast Chamber Orchestra, and the Manhattan School of Music (MSM) Chamber Orchestra. Most recently, she appeared with the New York Youth Symphony (NYYS) on their summer tour to Greece. An engaging and enthusiastic artist, Ms. Ahn has been featured in MSM’s Centennial Celebration Concert Series and has performed with the Chamber Music Society at Lincoln Center, the Seven Hills Chamber Music Festival, and the Annapolis Chamber Music Festival. She has also participated in the Brian Lewis Young Artist Program, the Heifetz Institute, the Pacific Music Festival, and the Music Academy of the West, where she was named winner of the inaugural Duo Competition. Her 2025–2026 performance season includes appearances with New York Classical Players, Princeton Symphony, and Frisson Ensemble, among others.

Ms. Ahn’s passion for music began at the Omaha Conservatory of Music (OCoM), where she studied with
Ruth Meints. She earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from MSM under the tutelage of Pinchas Zukerman and Patinka Kopec, while also serving as a studio assistant and cultivating her interest in teaching. Her commitment to education is reflected in her work as a Teaching Artist with the New York Pops’ PopsEd program, as a mentor for NYYS, and through her private studio. She has also served as a guest artist faculty member at OCoM and has helped students gain admission to various music programs across the country.

 

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/

Letian Cheng, Violin

New York-based violinist and scholar Letian Cheng has developed a reputation as a compelling and thoughtful young voice in his work as a performer and classroom teacher.

Born in Nanjing, China, Letian started playing the violin at 4. Five years later, he made his solo concerto debut with Jiangsu Symphony Orchestra. Letian has recently premiered a string quartet, DreamS, and a string sextet, Silver Bells & Golden Sand, at the AAPI Montclair Lantern Festival and Morris Museum. Both programs feature underrepresented living composers while exploring inclusiveness. In addition to teaching at the Manhattan School of Music Precollege, Letian has led classes on species counterpoint and post-tonal theory at the New England Conservatory, where he also tutors at the Music Theory Learning Center.

A graduate of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s Chamber Music Mentorship Program, Letian firmly believes that classical music should not be confined to concert halls and has given presentations at New York City public schools. Letian performs regularly with members of professional orchestras, such as the New York Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Letian has also performed with Princeton Symphony Orchestra, Apex Ensemble, and Washington Heights Chamber Orchestra. Having led orchestras at schools and festivals as a concertmaster, Letian has performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall under George Manahan, David Chan, Peter Oundjian, and Xian Zhang’s batons.

Letian moved to the United States in 2015 and obtained degrees from The Juilliard School and the Mannes School of Music with scholarships and honors. Letian is pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree with a minor in musicology at the New England Conservatory under the guidance of Nicholas Kitchen. He was also influenced by Mark Steinberg, Joel Smirnoff, Paul Biss, Todd Phillips, and Aaron Rosand.

 

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.

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

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 William Paterson University and Manhattan School of Music. 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. Other NYC work has included cabarets at 54 Below, The Duplex, Triad, and Alchemical Theater on 14th Street. She has also played synthesizer for shows at MPAC and Plays in the Park in NJ. Nancy holds an M.M. in Piano 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.

 

Josi Petersen Brown, Voice

Josi Petersen Brown is a NYC-based Soprano from Portland, Oregon. Her New York City debut was as Mariuccia in I due timidi, the first operatic production in the restored Neidorff-Karpati Hall at Manhattan School of Music. She lead in MSM’s collaboration with American Opera Project in Pamela Stein Lynde and Laura Barati’s Interaction Effect (Mikaela). Additional MSM credits include: Opera Scenes Cendrillon (Noémie), Discover Opera! Mary Poppera (Pamela Travers), Interaction Effect revisited*, Martha* (Betsy Witt/Chorus) (*cancelled due to COVID-19). As an Opera Ithaca Apprentice Artist, Josi performed in Song from the Uproar (Soprano 2), and the outreach productions Carmencita (Micaëla) and Cinderella Jr (Fairy Godmother). Other credits include the premiere of Kristin Hevner’s Il sogno (Ragnatela), L’étoile (Asphodèle), and Little Women (Louisa May/Voice 3). Josi won the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition Oregon District in January 2022. Alongside her performing career, Josi is a dedicated voice teacher, instructing voice for over 10 years with students ranging from elementary to retirement age. In addition to her private studio, she served on the Artistic Staff of Young People’s Theatre Project in Portland, Oregon. Josi holds a Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College and a Master of Music from Manhattan School of Music.

 

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.

Rachel Ahn, Oboe

Oboist Rachel Ahn holds Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from The Juilliard School studying under Elaine Douvas, as well as a Master’s degree from the Yale School of Music. Some of her orchestral highlights include subbing at the New York City Ballet, the Metropolitan Opera, the San Francisco Opera, the Seattle Symphony, Principal Oboist of Des Moines Metro Opera’s 2023 season, and second oboist of the North Carolina Symphony for their 2023-2024 season. She has attended prestigious summer festivals, including Aspen Summer Music Festival and School, Summer Music Institute at Kennedy Center, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and Verbier Junior Festival. From the age of 15 she attended Juilliard Pre-College under Richard Dallessio and Yousun Chung. Coming full circle as a professional, she has been a substitute teacher at the Juilliard Precollege, the Mannes Precollege, and Manhattan School of Music Precollege.

 

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.

 

 

Julie Lee, Flute

Flutist Julie Lee is a dynamic performer actively engaged in solo, chamber, and orchestral music across the United States and Asia. As her playing encompasses a wide range of musical styles and settings, she has appeared with renowned ensembles including the New York Philharmonic and Albany Symphony. Lee has been recognized in several competitions, including New York Flute Club Competition, American Protégé International Competition, and Camerata Artists International Competition. She won the Eisenberg Fried Concerto Competition, where she performed Nielsen’s Flute Concerto with the Manhattan School of Music Chamber Sinfonia under Maestra Jane Glover. An avid chamber musician, Lee is a member of Uptown Winds, a woodwind Quintet dedicated to bringing exuberant performances to communities across New York City. Lee is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Flute Performance at the Manhattan School of Music, where she also earned her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees.

Sam Atlas, Trumpet

Trumpet player Sam Atlas is a freelance musician and teacher in NYC. She performs regularly with orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra, New World Symphony, and Pegasus the Orchestra. In addition to orchestral performances, Sam is one of the founding members of Mahogany Brass, a touring brass quintet performing guest recitals and giving masterclasses at institutions such as the University of Massachusetts.

As an avid educator, Sam has created and maintained a small trumpet studio since 2017, taught general music in Connecticut public schools, and served as a section leader of the University of Miami’s Frost Band of the Hour. She has also taught at the Community Music School in Oberlin, Ohio and served on faculty for Virtu Academy in NYC. Most recently, she taught local community members while attending the Aspen Music Festival. As a teacher, Sam firmly believes that each individual learns and grows in different ways, and she strives to communicate her knowledge in a variety of forms in order to ensure that each student can maximize their learning and find their own voice through the trumpet.

Sam earned her Master of Music in Orchestral Performance at the Manhattan School of Music, studying with Ethan Bensdorf. She completed her Bachelor of Music at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Roy Poper.

 

Spencer Reese, Clarinet

Robert Kahn, Full Symphony Conductor

Dutch-American conductor and recipient of the Solti Career Assistance Award, Robert Kahn is currently serving as the Assistant Conductor at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. In 2022, he concluded the Conducting Fellowship at the Curtis Institute of Music, where he was mentored by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Conversant with both symphonic and operatic repertoire, Robert has served as cover conductor with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, and the New York Philharmonic, and joined the latter orchestra on tour to Vail and Asia in the summer of 2024. He was also recently invited to assist Yannick Nézet-Séguin with the Rotterdam Philharmonic on tour, featuring Wagner’s Die Walküre.

In the 24-25 season, Robert conducted Così fan Tutte with the Academy of Vocal Arts and returned to The Mannes School of Music to conduct a contemporary opera. As a Music Director finalist, Robert made his subscription debut with the Marin Symphony in California. He also served as cover conductor for Opera Philadelphia’s production of Don Giovanni, and returned to cover conduct several programs with the New York Philharmonic.

Passionate about new music, Robert collaborated with David Hertzberg to conduct the studio recording of his new opera, The Rose Elf, which received wide acclaim including Critic’s Pick by Opera News magazine. In 2021, Robert conducted the same work for a digital co-production of LA Opera / Opera Omaha in collaboration with the ICE ensemble.

Robert received his Master’s Degree and Professional Studies Degree in Orchestral Conducting at the Mannes School of Music, studying with David Hayes. He holds a Double Bachelor’s Degree in Physics and Clarinet from The Johns Hopkins University and Peabody Conservatory.

 

Sue On, String Orchestra Conductor

Sue On (she/her) is a dynamic conductor, accomplished violinist, and dedicated educator with extensive experience in music education and arts administration. She is currently serving as the Artistic Director of the Lakeland Youth Symphony and conductor of its Symphony Orchestra, in addition to being the Orchestra Conductor at Riverdale Country School in NYC. Sue previously served as the Artistic Director and conductor of the Rowan Youth Orchestra and the Rowan Youth String Orchestra at Rowan University’s Community Music School.

Sue is the conductor of the Repertory Orchestra with the New Jersey Symphony Youth Orchestra (NJSYO), an El Sistema program, where she has the privilege of working with coaches who are members of the esteemed New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. In 2024, Sue made history by being the first woman of Asian descent to conduct at Mechanics Hall alongside the Worcester Youth Orchestras during their Four Orchestras Festival in Worcester, Mass.

Having studied conducting under the tutelage of the late Maestro Vincent La Selva, founder of the New York Grand Opera and esteemed professor at Juilliard, Sue brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her conducting endeavors. Sue is frequently sought after as a guest conductor and clinician which includes engagements conducting the Philadelphia Civic Symphony, North and South Jersey Region and All-State Orchestras, and providing professional development seminars for music educators.

Sue’s international experience includes work in the Middle East, where she partnered with NGOs in Amman, Jordan to bring music education to displaced children in refugee camps. Her collaborations include initiatives with Action for Hope, Haya Cultural Center, Jordan’s National Conservatory of Music, JM Jordan Youth Orchestra, Yarmouk University, and Jordan University. She also served as a guest teaching artist at the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Jerusalem and the West Bank, where she conducted the Palestinian Youth Orchestra. Whether in underserved schools, refugee camps, or international conservatories, Sue is committed to creating meaningful, high-quality musical opportunities for children of all backgrounds.

Committed to the advancement of music education and the orchestral community, Sue actively participates in various professional organizations. She serves as a board member of the NJ Chapter of the American String Teachers Association and recently joined the advisory board for the Denville Arts Council. Additionally, Sue is affiliated with esteemed organizations such as the League of American Orchestras, NAfME, NJMEA, Suzuki Association of America, International Society for Music Education (ISME), and is a member of Sphinx.