Special Music School Administration & Faculty

Special Music School (M. 859) is a public/private partnership between Kaufman Music Center and New York City Public Schools.

Administration – Kaufman Music Center

Kate Sheeran, Executive Director, Kaufman Music Center
Igal Kesselman, Special Music School Music Director
Sean Hartley, Chair of Admissions
Kate White, Dean of Music, K-8
Andrew Copper, High School Dean of Music
Maya Fortune, K-8 Music Program Coordinator
Kristian de Leon, High School Music Program Coordinator
Eleonore Oppenheim, High School Ensembles Manager

Administration – NYC Public Schools

Katherine Banucci-Smith, Principal
Kristen Palmieri, Assistant Principal
MaryLynn Gulino, Secretary
Lisa Stump, Parent Coordinator
Patricia Skelly, College Counselor
Liza Dupler, Guidance Counselor
Sarah Rosario, School Aide
Xavier Brown, Paraprofessional
Ross Kennedy, Paraprofessional

Academic Faculty

NYC Public Schools

Elementary School

Kindergarten - Susan Moore
Grade 1 - Nicole Honrado
Grade 2 - Stephanie Cherubin
Grade 3 - Susan Myung
Grade 4 - Abby Rapoport
Grade 5 - Lindsay Anderson

Middle School
Humanities - Shannon Potts
Science - John Moore
Mathematics - Kerese Blake-Goss
History - Charles Linares

High School
English - Noah Gordon
English -  Leah Rosenzweig
Science - Pheona Hunt
Science - Keith Simpson
Math - Elli Simonen
Math - Rewan Selim
Social Studies - Ben Cutler
Social Studies - Marium Rivzi

Specialists
Physical Education (K-8) - Sam Fox
Physical Education (9-12) - Woodrow Withers
Visual Arts - Deb Schrier
Spanish Language - Rebecca Marcos
Music - Will Roslak

Staff Developers
Math (K-5) - Liz Irwin
Math (6-12) - Simone Bingham
Literacy - Jessica Boisun

Learning Specialists
ENL - Sarah Anderson
Occupational Therapist (K-12) - Kinjal Desai
Speech (Middle School) - Marisa Cohen
Speech (High School) - Lindsey McNamee
(K-8)  -  Catherine Dignan
(High School) - Sarah Kuhner
(High School) - Marisa Bolson
(High School) - Kelly Diaz

SBST
Social Worker (K-8) - Maya Chayout
Social Worker (High School) - Phil Steinberg
Psychologist (K-8) - Alison Weitz
Psychologist (9-12) - Kelly Lope

Music Program Faculty, K-8

Kaufman Music Center

Viktor Basis, Violin & Viola
Eugenia Betman, Piano
Yari Bond, Cello
Alex Croxton, Cello
Anna Elashvili, Violin
Heidi Garson, Horn
Sean Hartley, Theater Wing
Leonard Hindell, Bassoon
Valerie Holmes, Flute
Nicole Johnson, Cello
Igal Kesselman, Piano
Min Sun Kim, Violin
Yukiko Konishi, Theory
Julie Kurtzman, Violin
Santiago Lomelin, Piano
Natela Mchedlishvili, Piano
Irina Morozova, Piano
Irina Nuzova, Piano
Phillip Rashkin, Oboe
Matthew Reichert, Violin
Matthew Ricketts, Music History
Will Roslak, Chorus
Eganam Segbefia, Trumpet
Irina Shestakovich, Theory
Brad Siroky, Trumpet
Lynelle Smith, Violin
Troy Stuart, Cello
Diane Taublieb, Flute
Andrew Trombley, Bass
Ian Tyson, Clarinet
Matt Walley, Trombone
Jude Ziliak, Violin

Music Program Faculty, High School

Kaufman Music Center

Classroom Faculty

Sonya Belaya, Entrepreneurship in the Arts
Bradley Colten, Music History, 11th and 12th Grade Music Electives: Music of J.S. Bach & Music of W.A. Mozart
Andrew Copper, Entrepreneurship in the Arts
Kristian de Leon, Advanced Projects in Music Technology I
Deandre Desir, Music Theory
Elizabeth Gartman, Music Theory, Analysis & Transcription
Max Grafe, Music Theory, Composers Forum 11 & 12, Composition for Non -Composers
Howie Kenty, Music Technology, Advanced Projects in Music Technology II & III, Composers Forum 9 & 10
Phil Rashkin, Music Theory/Ear Training
Will Roslak, Music Theory, Keyboard Skills for Singers

Chamber Music Faculty
Avner Arad, Piano
Sarah Goldfeather, Violin
Leonard Hindell, Bassoon
Alexander Kiladze, Piano
Julie Kurtzman, Violin
Lucia Li, Piano
Santiago Lomelin, Piano
Kobi Malkin, Violin
Nuné Melik, Violin
Irina Nuzova, Piano
Dr. Eleonore Oppenheim, Double Bass
Nurit Pacht, Violin
Nick Revel, Viola
Priscilla Rinehart, French Horn
Peter Schultz, Flute
Diane Taublieb, Flute
Andrew Trombley, Double Bass
Mary Watt, Flute

Ensemble Faculty
Sonya Belaya, Improvisation Ensemble
Bradley Colten, Classical Guitar Ensemble
Lucia Li, Piano Repertoire: Piano Etudes
Simon Lipskar, Orchestra
Christopher Nazarian, Concert Choir Asst. Diction & IPA, 9 & 10
Mary Nessinger, Vocal Chamber Music
Riley Palmer, Percussion Ensemble
Cameron Pieper, Piano Skills for Singers, Choir Accompanist
Phil Rashkin, Wind Ensemble
Will Roslak, Director of Choirs
Perry Smith, Jazz Guitar Ensemble
Lisa Tamagini, Musical Theater, Opera Scenes
Adam Tendler, Contemporary Piano Music
Mike Webster, Advanced Jazz Ensemble, Big Band
Yuri Yamashita, Percussion Ensemble
Jude Ziliak, Baroque Ensemble

Private Lesson Faculty
Avner Arad, Piano
Viktor Basis, Violin & Viola
Keith Bonner, Flute
Bradley Colten, Classical Guitar
Anna Elashvili, Violin
Heidi Garson, French Horn
Elizabeth Gartman, Composition
Max Grafe, Composition
Leonard Hindell, Bassoon
Howie Kenty, Composition
Julie Kurtzman, Violin
Santiago Lomelin, Piano
Natela Mchedlishvili, Piano
Irina Morozova, Piano
Rosemary Nelis, Viola
Mary Nessinger, Voice
Irina Nuzova, Piano
Nurit Pacht, Violin
Riley Palmer, Percussion
Phil Rashkin, Oboe
Perry Smith, Jazz Guitar
Lynelle Smith, Violin
Troy Stuart, Cello
Lisa Tamagini, Voice
Diane Taublieb, Flute
Ian Tyson, Clarinet
Matthew Walley, Low Brass
Mike Webster, Saxophones
Yuri Yamashita, Percussion

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