Suzuki

Violin

NORA FRIEDMAN

Name:  Nora Friedman

From:  New York City, NY

How many years have you been teaching music?  15 years

How many years have you been teaching at the Conservatory?  Six years

Who’s your inspiration, musical or otherwise?  Classical musicians like Maxim Vengerov, Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Hillary Hahn, Bruce Molsky, bands like The Dixie Chicks, The Indigo Girls, Jazz musicians like Stephane Grappelli, Regina Carter, and blues musicians like Diane Monroe. Teachers like Dorothy Roffman, Amelia Gold, Roberta Guaspari, Ed Sprunger, Ed Kreitman and Allen Lieb.

Few people know that I…  Lived in Venezuela for six months or that I always thought I would be a writer, not a musician.

Education:  Wesleyan University, BA in Latin American Studies, Post-Baccalaureate at Cali School of Music at Montclair State University and Graduate Degree from The Conservatory of Music of Brooklyn College,

Instrument(s) you play and teach:  Violin

Tell us about any ensembles you perform with or other artistic/musical endeavors that you’re a part of:  No time at the moment, sadly!

Links:  joyful-violin.com

Violin

ALI KANG

Name:  Ali Kang

From:  New York, NY

How many years have you been teaching music?  7

How many years have you been teaching at the Conservatory?  3

Who’s your inspiration, musical or otherwise?  J.S. Bach,  my daughter MJ, Suzuki teacher Allen Lieb

Few people know that I…  …study the Feldenkrais Method and love to sing.

Education:  University of Michigan, B.M. – Violin Performance, The Juilliard School, graduate studies,

Instrument(s) you play and teach:  Violin

Tell us about any ensembles you perform with or other artistic/musical endeavors that you’re a part of:  Jackson Heights Orchestra

Violin

RUTH KLUKOFF

Violin, Piano

MARTHE MILLER

Name:  Marthé Miller

From:  Pittsburgh, PA

How many years have you been teaching music?  52 plus years

How many years have you been teaching at the Conservatory?  12 years

Who’s your inspiration, musical or otherwise?  My dad, James “Jimmy” Miller, singer/pianist who performed as a soloist and accompanist for televangelists and their celebrity guests;  and my mom, Isabelle Miller, pianist and the first U.S. female band leader

Few people know that I…  was a child model, did nail commercials, performed weekly as a singer with a long list of various celebrities (such as Mahalia Jackson, The “Queen of Gospel” and Ethel Waters, the second African-American to be nominated for an Academy Award.

Education:  Oral Roberts University, B.M. Performance Degree; Dana Graduate School of Music, Youngstown State University, M.M. Performance Degree; Teachers College, Columbia University, Doctoral of College Teaching Degree.

Instrument(s) you play and teach:  Perform: Voice, Violin, Viola; Teach: Suzuki Voice, Violin, Viola, Piano

Tell us about any ensembles you perform with or other artistic/musical endeavors that you’re a part of:  As a violist, I most notably performed in a quartet with Scott Joplin renditions arranged and conducted by Gunther Schuller.  I hold the most Suzuki certifications in the world (21 and counting).

Violin

AARON VAN HEYNINGEN

Name:  Aaron Van Heyningen

From:  Issaquah, Washington

How many years have you been teaching music?  20

How many years have you been teaching at the Conservatory?  4

Who’s your inspiration, musical or otherwise?  Dr. Suzuki. He lives through turbulent times, and still managed to work tirelessly to create a more beautiful world through education, compassion, and music.

Few people know that I…  Enjoy high-tech cooking, and dream of turning my brown thumb into a green one.

Education:  New York University, Bachelors in Music, Violin Performance, University of Akron, Masters in Music, violin performance.,

Instrument(s) you play and teach:  Violin

Links:  Aaronvanheyningen.com

Cello

JENNIFER GIRONE-VIRGILIO

Name:  Jenna Girone-Virgilio

From:  East Islip, NY

How many years have you been teaching music?  13 years

How many years have you been teaching at the Conservatory?  7 years

Who’s your inspiration, musical or otherwise?  My students inspire me to be a better teacher every day! 🙂

Few people know that I…  am learning to speak Bulgarian.

Education:  University of Hartford- The Hart School: Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance, The New School- Mannes College of Music: Master of Music in Cello Performance, n/a

Instrument(s) you play and teach:  Cello

Tell us about any ensembles you perform with or other artistic/musical endeavors that you’re a part of:  I am a member of the Red Door Chamber Players where we have different instrumentation combinations for each concert which include, violin, viola, cello, flute, oboe, guitar, piano, and voice. Every concert series is unique, so check us out at www.reddoorchamberplayers.com. I also perform with Rhymes with Opera, a contemporary opera company which was featured on the cover of Opera News magazine! We perform pieces that are commissioned for our small cast of singers and unique ensemble of violin, viola, cello, saxophone, percussion, and piano. Topics have included a sci-fi opera and an opera about four Dolly Parton super fans waiting to meet Dolly! For more information, go to: www.rhymeswithopera.org.

Links:  www.reddoorchamberplayers.com and www.rhymeswithopera.org, www.facebook.com/reddoorchamberplayers and www.facebook.com/rhymeswithopera

Cello

ERICH SCHOEN-RENÉ

Name:  Erich Schoen-Rene

From:  Brooklyn

How many years have you been teaching music?  19

How many years have you been teaching at the Conservatory?  3

Who’s your inspiration, musical or otherwise?  Life

Few people know that I…  Am an Adirondack 46er

Education:  Bard College, double degree in Music Performance and German, Manhattan School of Music, Cello Performance,

Instrument(s) you play and teach:  Cello

Tell us about any ensembles you perform with or other artistic/musical endeavors that you’re a part of:  Chelsea Symphony, Distinguished Concerts International Orchestra, a long history of NYC freelance performance.

Cello

KAREN POLESHUCK

Name:  Karen Poleshuck

From:  New Jersey

How many years have you been teaching music?  12

How many years have you been teaching at the Conservatory?  4

Who’s your inspiration, musical or otherwise?  Jacqueline Dupre was one of my earliest inspirations.

Few people know that I…  Played the tuba in middle school.

Education:  Cleveland Institute of Music, SUNY Purchase and Teacher’s College, Columbia,

Instrument(s) you play and teach:  Cello

Tell us about any ensembles you perform with or other artistic/musical endeavors that you’re a part of: I freelance with many different groups, but love to put together special programs with my friends and since they are often one-time performances we don’t have names or websites.

Bass, Piano, Piano Friends

SHAYNA DULBERGER

Name:  Shayna Dulberger

From:  Mahopac, NY

How many years have you been teaching music?  12 Years

How many years have you been teaching at the Conservatory?  1 year

Who’s your inspiration, musical or otherwise?  Shinichi Suzuki, Virginia Dixon, Linda McKnight, Gary Karr, Ralph Bowen, Dave Liebman,

Few people know that I…  Lived on a Glacier for 2 months when I was 18.

Education:  Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University BM,

Instrument(s) you play and teach:  Upright Bass, Electric Bass, Piano

Tell us about any ensembles you perform with or other artistic/musical endeavors that you’re a part of:  I play Jazz Standards and Old Timey, Rock, Classical, Noise and Experimental Music.

Links: https://www.facebook.com/shayna.dulberger

Bass

JAMES ILGENFRITZ

Name:  James Ilgenfritz

From:  Michigan

How many years have you been teaching music?  10

How many years have you been teaching at the Conservatory?  8

Who’s your inspiration, musical or otherwise?  My father, who played piano, and even though he never really learned to play a single song well, he still played every day, because he loved it.

Few people know that I…  once wanted to be a photographer

Education:  University of Michigan, BA in Music, University of California San Diego,

Instrument(s) you play and teach:  Acoustic Bass

Tell us about any ensembles you perform with or other artistic/musical endeavors that you’re a part of:  I perform internationally as a solo contrabassist specializing in improvised music and contemporary classical repertoire. I perform in and compose for The Anagram Ensemble, Hypercolor, The Ghost Ensemble, Mind Games, and SEM Ensemble, and many other groups.

Links: @jamesilgenfritz

Theory, Guitar Friends

TY CITERMAN

Name:  Ty Citerman

From:  (born/raised) St. Louis, MO

How many years have you been teaching music?  20

How many years have you been teaching at the Conservatory?  2

Who’s your inspiration, musical or otherwise?  Ancient nameless music-makers; artists with names, from Meredith Monk to Duke Ellington; Olivier Messiaen to Julia Wolfe; Deerhoof to the Art Ensemble of Chicago; Charlie Christian to Sister Rosetta Tharpe; Hildegard Von Bingen to Fred Frith; Avrom Reyzen to Leslie Marmon Silko; J.S. Bach to John Zorn and Arnold Schoenberg; radical political organizers and thinkers like Angela Davis and Anne Braden; my teachers Chris Rosenberg and Paul Caputo; the night sky, a canoe, my daughters and so so much more…how to stop?

Few people know that I…  …make my own sauerkraut

Education:  Columbia University, BA in psychology, Brooklyn college, MM in music composition, N/A

Instrument(s) you play and teach:  Guitar, ukulele

Tell us about any ensembles you perform with or other artistic/musical endeavors that you’re a part of:  I co-lead the 19 year-old irreverent chamber jazz group Gutbucket, which has released 6 CDs/LPs on Cuneiform Records, Cantaloupe Music, Enja, NRW, Knitting Factory Works and our own imprint Gut Records; the group has toured in more than 20 countries and 30+ of the US states. I lead the avant-Jewish, Tzadik Records recording quartet Bop Kabbalah, with a debut CD out in 2014. I also play guitar in Dana Lyn’s Mother Octopus, versions of James Ilgenfritz’s Anagram Ensemble, Jon Madof’s improvising quintet and am a frequent guitarist and composer with Anti-Social Music (ASM). I am an accompanist and song leader in several NYC-area synagogues, including Kolot Chayeinu and CBST, where I work with wonderful cantors and sometimes play with jazz luminaries like Marty Ehrlich and Shoko Nagai, who moonlight in that world.

Links:  www.tyciterman.com, www.gutweb.com, www.facebook.com/tyciterman, www.facebook.com/gutbucketnyc, @tyciterman, @tyciterman

Guitar

MADELEINE DAVIDSON

Guitar

MICHELE HORNER

Guitar

BILL KOSSLER

Guitar

KATTY MAYORGA

Name:  Katty Anna Mayorga

From:  Nicaragua and Florida

How many years have you been teaching music?  13 years

How many years have you been teaching at the Conservatory?  3

Who’s your inspiration, musical or otherwise?  Björk, Ida Presti, Brasil Guitar Duo, Frederic Hand and many more…

Few people know that I…  Love animals of all kinds (or maybe everyone knows)

Education:  SUNY Purchase Performance classical guitar Magna Cum Laede, SUNY Purchase Performance Classical guitar,

Instrument(s) you play and teach:  Classical Guitar, All types of guitar, mandolin, ukulele, banjo

Tell us about any ensembles you perform with or other artistic/musical endeavors that you’re a part of:  JKLM Duo, I play with 2 other guitarists and have a metal band in the works!

Links:  www.kattymayorga.com

Flute

FRANCES BRODEUR

Name:  Frances Brodeur

From:  Massachusetts

How many years have you been teaching music?  39 years

How many years have you been teaching at the Conservatory?  15 years

Who’s your inspiration, musical or otherwise?  My Father

Few people know that I…  have 2 grown children and love yoga.

Education:  The Boston Conservatory of Music: Diploma, Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music: BM, Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College: MA,

Instrument(s) you play and teach:  Flute and piccolo

Tell us about any ensembles you perform with or other artistic/musical endeavors that you’re a part of:  String Orchestra of Booklyn

Flute

TI CHUNG

Name:  Ti Chung

From:  Taiwan

How many years have you been teaching music?  7

How many years have you been teaching at the Conservatory?  1

Who’s your inspiration, musical or otherwise?  Kaori Fujii

Few people know that I…  I like math

Education:  Stony Brook University, Purchase College, Texas Tech University

Instrument(s) you play and teach:  flute, SECE

Tell us about any ensembles you perform with or other artistic/musical endeavors that you’re a part of:  Queens Borough Symphony Orchestra, Hilltop Music Collective.

Piano

SARAI BUCHANAN

Name:  Sarai Buchanan

From:  Chicago, Ill.

How many years have you been teaching music?  12 years

How many years have you been teaching at the Conservatory?  1 year

Who’s your inspiration, musical or otherwise?  My sister, my piano teacher/mentor

Few people know that I…  Like to dance, especially Latin dance forms

Education:  Bachelor of Musical Arts, Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University, The City College of New York, Piano Performance,

Instrument(s) you play and teach:  Piano, Suzuki piano

Tell us about any ensembles you perform with or other artistic/musical endeavors that you’re a part of:  Duo Raiz, various piano duos

Links:  https://www.youtube.com/user/saraibful

Piano

LYUBA DUBOV

Name:  Lyuba Dubov

From:  Minsk, Belarus

How many years have you been teaching music?  15

How many years have you been teaching at the Conservatory?  11

Who’s your inspiration, musical or otherwise?  My family

Few people know that I…  Like cross country skiing

Education:  Queens College, Aaron Copland School of Music, BM, Teachers College, Columbia University, MA  Music Education,

Instrument(s) you play and teach:  Piano

Tell us about any ensembles you perform with or other artistic/musical endeavors that you’re a part of:  Freelance accompanist

Piano

YULIYA HIGGINBOTHAM

Name:  Yuliya Higginbotham

From:  Ukraine

How many years have you been teaching music?  14

How many years have you been teaching at the Conservatory?  3

Who’s your inspiration, musical or otherwise?  S.Suzuki

Few people know that I…  Know 3 languages

Education:  M. Lysenko Lviv National Music Academy, ,

Instrument(s) you play and teach:  Piano

Tell us about any ensembles you perform with or other artistic/musical endeavors that you’re a part of:  Choir and chamber ensamble

Violin, Piano

MARTHE MILLER

Name:  Marthé Miller

From:  Pittsburgh, PA

How many years have you been teaching music?  52 plus years

How many years have you been teaching at the Conservatory?  12 years

Who’s your inspiration, musical or otherwise?  My dad, James “Jimmy” Miller, singer/pianist who performed as a soloist and accompanist for televangelists and their celebrity guests;  and my mom, Isabelle Miller, pianist and the first U.S. female band leader

Few people know that I…  was a child model, did nail commercials, performed weekly as a singer with a long list of various celebrities (such as Mahalia Jackson, The “Queen of Gospel” and Ethel Waters, the second African-American to be nominated for an Academy Award.

Education:  Oral Roberts University, B.M. Performance Degree; Dana Graduate School of Music, Youngstown State University, M.M. Performance Degree; Teachers College, Columbia University, Doctoral of College Teaching Degree.

Instrument(s) you play and teach:  Perform: Voice, Violin, Viola; Teach: Suzuki Voice, Violin, Viola, Piano

Tell us about any ensembles you perform with or other artistic/musical endeavors that you’re a part of:  As a violist, I most notably performed in a quartet with Scott Joplin renditions arranged and conducted by Gunther Schuller.  I hold the most Suzuki certifications in the world (21 and counting).

Piano

GRACE LIN

Name:  Grace Lin

From:  Taiwan

How many years have you been teaching music?  11 years

How many years have you been teaching at the Conservatory?  10 years

Who’s your inspiration, musical or otherwise?  My inspiration is my piano teacher Shirley Cohen. She said “Great teachers are humble and respectful. Great teaches teaching with beautiful heart” .

Few people know that I…  Love to bake. My dream is to open a bakery

Education:  Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, ,

Instrument(s) you play and teach:  Piano and Oboe

Piano

JUNKO NAGAI

Name:  Junko Nagai

From:  Japan

How many years have you been teaching music?  15 years or so

How many years have you been teaching at the Conservatory?  8 years

Who’s your inspiration, musical or otherwise?  Everyone around me is an inspiration to me especially if he/she has a very strong philosophy of his/her own and knows where he wants to go…..

Few people know that I…  Am a strong believer in passion/creativity….and I actually listen to a lot of pop music….perhaps a little more than classical music…

Education:  Manhattan School of Music, Manhattan School of Music,

Instrument(s) you play and teach:  Piano

Tell us about any ensembles you perform with or other artistic/musical endeavors that you’re a part of:  I do not have a “set” group but I do /have performed in various ensemble groups and I believe that playing ensemble is one of the best part of being a musician.

Piano

JEONG-HWA PARK

Name:  Jeong-Hwa Park

From:  South Korea

How many years have you been teaching music?  21 years Since 1996

How many years have you been teaching at the Conservatory?  Five Years

Who’s your inspiration, musical or otherwise?  Beethoven, Sheila Keats (My Suzuki Piano Trainer), Dr. Donald Pirone, Dr. Susan Sobolewski

Few people know that I…  have attended several seminars on Autism.

Education:  Sungshin Women’s University, South Korea, Bachelor of Music, Arizona State University, Master of Music, Arizona State University, Doctor of Musical Arts

Instrument(s) you play and teach:  Piano

Tell us about any ensembles you perform with or other artistic/musical endeavors that you’re a part of:  Wind Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra at Arizona State University. Presentation/performance at the CMS (College Music Society) International Conference. Concerts on the Slope in Brooklyn, NY. Old First Concert Series in San Francisco. Piano solo recital st Carnegie Hall (2003). Piano solo recital at Daejon Arts and Cultural Center. A pianist for Nassau Concert Choir for The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York

Links:  www.nypianolessons.net