September 3, 2024

Meet the 2024 MSM Orientation Leaders!

Orientation Leaders — known more familiarly as OLs — play an important role in acclimating new incoming students to campus and getting them ready for a new academic year.

Each year, the MSM Student Engagement team appoints one Orientation Assistant and up to fifteen Orientation Leaders to assist with orientation. The Orientation Assistant works closely with the Director of Student Engagement to complete all aspects of the planning, promotion, and implementation of Orientation.

The Orientation Assistant and Orientation Leaders are responsible for helping students move into Andersen Hall, leading new and returning students on outings around the city, answering questions, and overall helping students adjust to MSM and feel welcome. These student leaders are overseen overseen by Director of Student Engagement, Jesse Goldberg, and Student Engagement Coordinator, Ha Young Synn.

MSM students can apply to become an OL at the end of their freshman year.

Learn more about this year’s OLs!

  • Kayla Thomas (BM '25)

    Orientation Assistant
    she/her
    Hometown: Rockaway, New Jersey
    Major: Vocal Arts
    Get to know Kayla!
    “Although I may not have lived far from NYC before school, moving here felt like a whole new world. I am so excited to be the Orientation Assistant this year, as I loved working as an Orientation Leader last year! We have such a great group this year, and I am so excited to work with those of you I already know, and those of you who I will soon meet.”

  • Ava Bartel (BM '27)

    she/her
    Hometown: Woodbury, Minnesota
    Major: Musical Theatre
    Get to know Ava!
    “I absolutely love NYC and can’t wait to be back to explore and see as many Broadway shows as possible!”

  • Val Choi (BM '25)

    she/her
    Hometown: Vaughan, Canada
    Major: Classical Violin
    Get to know Val!
    This is my second year as an orientation leader and I’m so excited to see y’all! It was lovely to get to know new students last summer. Be excited!

  • Jacob Eddy (BM '27)

    he/him
    Hometown: Helotes, Texas
    Major: Classical Composition
    Get to know Jacob!
    “I love exploring the city and can’t wait to share this wonderful place with all of you! I can show you all of the good shopping and eating spots.”

  • Astrid Krallisch (BM '26)

    she/her
    Hometown: Toronto, Canada
    Major: Jazz Piano
    Get to know Astrid!
    “I grew up in Toronto, Canada and had never been to NYC until I got here for move-in day. I love jazz of course but I’m into a lot of different kinds of music like old school R&B, old school hip hop, soul and reggae.”

  • Sun Lee (MM '25)

    she/her
    Hometown: Yangcheon-Gu, South Korea
    Major: Classical Composition
    Get to know Sun!
    “I love listening to Bartok and Bach, drinking coffee, dancing, swimming, and eating watermelons.”

  • Zosia Los Leznicka (BM '26)

    she/her
    Hometown: Warsaw, Poland
    Major: Classical Flute
    Get to know Zosia !
    “I was welcomed so warmly during my first days at MSM, and I want to help new arrivals to have fun they’ll forget they came here for school!”

  • Luke Magee (BM '26)

    he/him
    Hometown: La Grange, Illinois
    Major: Classical Piano
    Get to know Luke!
    “Fun Fact about me: I used to play percussion (for eight years), and I regularly create new transcriptions for the piano”

  • Ashley Manocchi (BM '27)

    she/her
    Hometown: Schenectady, New York
    Major: Vocal Arts
    Get to know Ashley!
    “One fun fact about me is I am a huge Brittany Broski fan and I love trying new foods and experiences with friends!”

  • Holly Marescot (BM '26)

    she/her
    Hometown: Elmont, New York
    Major: Voca lArts
    Get to know Holly!
    “I love to spend my time doing fun things with my friends, exploring new places, enjoying nature, thrifting, trying yummy food, and running. A fun fact about me is that I was a competitive gymnast for almost 10 years before I quit in order to dedicate more time to studying music!”

  • Mary Margaret McNeil (BM '27)

    she/her
    Hometown: Saint Marys, Georgia
    Major: Vocal Arts
    Get to know Mary Margaret! “My favorite places in New York City are Lincoln Center and Pier 17!”

  • Matthew Pichler (BM '27)

    he/him
    Hometown: Palm Springs, California
    Major: Musical Theatre
    Get to know Matthew!
    “Some of my favorite singers are Frank Sinatra, Billie Eilish, and Lady Gaga!”

  • Sarah Rathbun (PPD '26)

    she/her
    Hometown: Wellington, New Zealand
    Major: Classical Trombone
    Get to know Sarah!
    “I love living and studying in New York and I’m sure you all will too. Can’t wait to show you all around MSM and NYC!”

  • Scott Robert (BM '26)

    he/him
    Hometown: Danbury, Connecticut
    Major: Jazz Piano
    Get to know Scott!
    “I love to read (particularly Agatha Christie and Terry Pratchett), cook, play video games, and write outside of music.”

  • Sam Sosa (MM '25)

    she/her
    Hometown: Kissimmee, Florida
    Major: Vocal Arts
    Get to know Sam!
    “A fun fact about me is that I am originally from Venezuela and Spanish is my first language.”

  • Owne Xayboury (BM '26)

    he/him
    Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    Major: Classical Viola
    Get to know Owne!
    “I enjoy playing a spirited game of volleyball, a trip of sightseeing, and I am the 8th child of 10!”

PHOTO: Director of Student Engagement, Jesse Goldberg, with the Orientation Assistant, Kayla Thomas, and Student Engagement Coordinator, Ha Young Synn

Want to know what our OL’s are listening to this summer?

Listen to the offical MSM Orientation Playlist here:

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