Music Instructors

Brass

Clynt Yerkes (Trumpet)

Performances: All over the US, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, Germany, Estonia, Finland, Virgin Islands and the Caribbean, including Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center, Echo Awards, The Museum of Modern Art, New York Film Festival, Birdland, The Blue Note, New York Comedy Festival, Brooklyn Comedy Festival, Winter Jazz Fest, 55 Bar, Celebrate Brooklyn, Tallin Music Week, Pan American Games, Summit at Sea Tulum, Sunfest, Los Dells, Sleep No More, Artists: Charles Bradley, The Heavy, Quantic, Lukas Graham, Club Casa Chamber Orchestra, Jesse Fischer, MK Groove Orchestra, Clynt Yerkes Quartet, New York Master Chorale, Reggie Watts, Rag N Bone Man, Akoya Afrobeat, Elise Testone, Ron Pope, IGBO, Rob Lewis, Tangerine Dream, Fred Thomas, One O’Clock Lab Band (Jazz Grammy nominee 2009), Bill Whited Big Band, Cecilia Coleman Big Band, Broadcasts/Film: NPR, VH1, Echo Awards (Germany), Red Bull Radio, TV Land, KNTU, Live Stream Radio City, NBC, Younger, New York Film Festival, The Last Rhumba, The Oversimplification of Her Beauty, Education: Master of Music: University of North Texas, B.M. University of North Texas Former Faculty Positions/Teaching: Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Lewisville High School, Casper Jazz Fest, North Texas Jazz Camp, Lone Star Jazz Camp, Current positions: Prep Center since 2019

Conducting

Leonardo Lebas

Performances: Buenos Aires Teatro Colón, Claudio Arrau Hall (Santiago, Chile), CMMAS (Morelia, Mexico), Conservatory of the Roses (Morelia, Mexico), Museo del Barrio (New York), Lied Center for Performing Arts Collaborations: UNESCO-Aschberg, Peninsula Women’s Chorus, GCC, GCC Publications, Harmony Program, InDiCCEx, Michoacán Symphony Orchestra Education: Doctor of Musical Arts: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Master of Music: The Pennsylvania State University, B.M. Catholic University of Argentina, Former faculty positions: Harmony Program, Graceland University, Wayne State College Current positions: Prep Center since 2019

Early Childhood

Marjorie Belcher (Music and Movement)

Education: B.M. Violin Performance, Spring Arbor University; Suzuki association violin teacher training Blue lake Fine Arts, Royal Oak Suzuki academy, Philadelphia Suzuki association; Suzuki early childhood education, Brooklyn Conservatory of music; Kids yoga teacher training, Karma Kids NYC; Dalcroze method, Lucy Moses school. Former faculty positions: Elementary music teacher, Center School Abington, PA; Suzuki teacher, Evan Thomas Institute, Columbia college community music school Chicago, Chicago Suzuki-Orff school of music, private studio 40+ Suzuki violin, viola, piano students. Current faculty positions: Suzuki Violin teacher, Lucy Moses school of music; Early childhood music, Brooklyn Conservatory of music and Silver Music. Prep Center since 2017.

Guitar

Arath Corral

Performances: All across the United States, France, England, Mexico, and Canada. Education: B.M., the University of Texas, M.M., William Paterson University; Studied with Gene Bertoncini, Steve LaSpina, Rich Perry, and Mulgrew Miller. Faculty positions: La Guitarra Studio, El Paso Conservatory of Music, the University of Texas at El Paso, Phil Ramone Orchestra for Children, School of Rock (Hoboken branch), Brooklyn Prep Center.

Sean Satin

Performances: Alice Tully Hall (Lincoln Center); Manhattan School of Music; Columbia University; New York University; Kingsborough Community College (CUNY); Harrison Public Library; Knitting Factory. Education: Ed.M., Teachers College, Columbia University (in progress); M.A., Teachers College, Columbia University; B.M., Manhattan School of Music; guitar studies with Jorge Morel, Oren Fader, and Mark Delpriora; master classes with Eliot Fisk, Eduardo Fernandez, David Starobin, and Patrick O'Brien. Faculty positions: Creative Arts Lab, Teachers College, Columbia University; guitar faculty, Turtle Bay Music School; head of music program, Maine Teen Camp; teaching artist for Midori & Friends. Prep Center faculty since 2007. Read an interview with Sean Satin.

John Henry Sheridan

Performances: In New York; Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts, Fringe Festival NYC, Looking Glass Theatre, Brooklyn Borough Hall. Various other performance spaces from the tri-state area to Norway, India, Brazil, and Japan. Albums: Best of Brooklyn Folk, Cornucopia, Awakenings, Fun Winter Songs, B-Sides…Why Not? [JayFive Demo Sessions 2001], Nearly Forgotten, Hodge Podge Singles/EP’s: 15+ releases Published Books with Play-Along Track Albums: Single String Songs Vol.1, Single String Halloween Songs, Single String Exercise-Songs - Curious Creatures E-Books: Music for Health Broadcasts and Film: Dog the Bounty Hunter; John Henry Sheridan Music (YouTube Channel); John Henry Guitar Lessons (YouTube Channel) Education: BM in composition, Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music; Advanced Certificate in Music Education (1 year completed) at Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music Former faculty positions: Brooklyn Music House, Thomas Jefferson High School, Camp Ballibay, Grace Music Center, Rock Asylum, Current positions: David Z. Modern Music Program, Prep Center, since 2019

Piano

Matthew Cameron

Performances: Solo performances at Carnegie Hall (USA), Salle Erard (Paris), Teatro Del Sale (Florence), Great Romantics Festival (Canada), Koskiusco Foundation, Ukranian Cultural Center, Polish Embassy, etc. Broadcasts: WNYC "Mid-day Music", WQXR "Reflections from the Keyboard" Awards: Winner Franz Liszt International Piano Competition (Los Angeles) Recordings: Chopin: 24 Etudes (Arabesque Records), Music of Liszt (Cala Records), Schubert, Chopin and Liszt (Arabesque Records), Romantic Favorites (Arabesque Records), Matthew Cameron, Pianist (Arabesque Records) Publications: Solo piano transcriptions of the Adagio from Khachaturian's Spartacus (G.Schirmer), Liszt's Les Preludes (International Music Co.), Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (International Music Co.) Faculty: Prep Center since 2016, Summit Music Festival since 2016.

Victoria Freyberg

Chamber music performances in Russia and New York. Chamber music recitals at Brooklyn College Preparatory Center. M.A., Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music; Graduate, Music College, Kishinev, Moldova. Piano studies with Augustin Anievas. Former Conservatory faculty, Kishinev, Moldavia. Member, Brooklyn Music Teachers Guild; New York State Music Teachers Association. Faculty, Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music. Prep Center faculty since 1978.

Arianna Goldina

Performances: recital performances of the Goldina-Loumbrozo Piano Duo throughout North America, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Russia, and the Baltic states; concerto appearances with the Detroit Symphony, Pacific Symphony, New World Symphony, Symphony of the Americas, Philharmonic Orchestra of Florida, and Latvian National Symphonic Orchestra. Lecture-Recitals: throughout the United States. Broadcasts: Radio France, BBC, Television Polynesie, WVIA – Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, KUSC-Los Angeles, KSJN-Minnesota Public Radio. Recordings: Aaron Copland's complete works for one piano, four hands, and two pianos; American Music for Two Pianos: John Corigliano and Ned Rorem; French Music for Two Pianos; Arianna Goldina and Remy Loumbrozo Play Liszt. Awards: winner of five international duo-piano competitions, including First Prize, Second Dranoff International 2 Piano Competition, and First Prize, Seventh Valentino Bucchi Two Piano International Competition. Adjudicator: American Liszt Society, International Concert Alliance, the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, and the Seventh Dranoff International 2 -Piano Competition. Education: Ph.D., piano performance, New York University; M.M., The Juilliard School of Music; diploma in performance, summa cum laude, Latvian State Conservatory; piano studies with Herbert Stessin and Martin Canin. Former faculty positions: French-American Conservatory of Music, Roosa School of Music, New York University, The Juilliard School of Music. Current faculty positions: adjunct-lecturer, Moravian College, since 1999; Prep Center since 2008. Read an interview with Arianna Goldina.

Diane Kirkpatrick

Recitals: throughout the United States and Europe, including, in New York, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, St. Peter’s Church, Riverside Church, the Museum of the City of New York, the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Library, and, in Italy, La Rocca di Stellata, Villa Spisani, Teatro Versi, and Pallazzo Benincasa. Televised performance: WKRC Cincinnati. Soloist: with the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra, Dayton Symphony, Springfield Symphony, and the Bowling Green Symphony Orchestra. Top prizes: National Federation of Music Club Young Artists Awards; American Music Scholarships Association Competition, University of Cincinnati. Publication: Brahms' Poetic Character Pieces: Eight Clavierstucke, Opus 76. Education: M.M., B.M. piano performance with assistantship, Bowling Green State University College of Musical Arts; teaching assistant to Jerome Rose; piano studies with Mary Lou Krosnick, Audley Wasson, Robert Wynne, Elizabeth Cobb, Vincent Corrigan (harpsichord), and Jerome Rose. Full scholarship: Royal Academy of Music (London). Master classes: with Samuel Sanders, The Juilliard School; Lorin Hollander, Leon Fleischer, and Menahem Pressler. Former faculty positions: International Keyboard Institute and Festival, Mannes College of Music, College of New Rochelle, Bergen Community College, College of Musical Arts at BGSU, Brooklyn Music School, Roosa School of Music. Current faculty position: Prep Center since 1997. Read an interview with Diane Kirkpatrick.

Vilija Naujokaitis

Chamber music performances: in Lithuania, Russia, Czech Republic, Switzerland, New York, and Washington, D.C. Accompanist: at M.K. Ciurlionis Art Gymnasium, Lithuanian Music Academy, and Vilnius Philharmonic Society, all in Lithuania, and Special Music School and Lucy Moses School, in New York. Organist, choir director and piano coach for piano studio: St. Augustine Episcopal Church, Brooklyn, New York. Education: piano studies at Vilnius Conservatoire and Lithuanian Music Academy (Vilnius). Former faculty position: Vilnius Conservatoire. Current faculty position: Prep Center since 2009. Read an interview with Vilija Naujokaitis.

Emily White

Recital and concerto appearances: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, and Romania. Broadcasts: WQXR, NPR, WBAI, WFLN-Philadelphia, and RAI-Italy. Awards and prizes: London Symphony Orchestra Foundation Grant, Queen's Commendation for Excellence, Broadwood Trust Scholarship, International Young Concert Artists Competition of Royal Tunbridge (Wells, United Kingdom), International Mozart Competition (Salzburg, Austria), New York Chopin Foundation Competition, Bergen Philharmonic Competition, Manhattan School of Music Concerto Competition, National Federation of Music Clubs Young Artists Awards. Adjudicator: Hong Kong HKSMSA Festival; special music school juries; LaGuardia High School Concerto Competition; Juilliard Pre-College Concerto Competiton; New York Music Competition; Associated Music Teachers League Auditions. Education: D.M.A., Manhattan School of Music; Dip. R.A.M., Royal Academy of Music, London; M.M., The Juilliard School; B.M., summa cum laude, University of Maryland; piano studies with Sascha Gorodnitzki, Christopher Elton, Solomon Mikowsky, Donn-Alexandre Feder, and Nelita True. Master classes: SMU, UTSA, New World School of the Arts, Colchester Institute (United Kingdom), Gheorghe Dima Academy (Romania). Fellowships: Hodgson and Meaker Fellowships, RAM (London) and Teaching and Opera Coaching Fellowships, The Juilliard School. Former faculty positions: Manhattan School of Music, Interlochen Arts Camp. Current faculty positions: The Juilliard School Evening Division, Prep Center since 1985. Read an interview with Emily White.

Violetta Zabbi

A native of Odessa, Ukraine, Violetta Zabbi is an accomplished pianist, educator, conductor and coach. For the 16 years she has been living in New York, Zabbi has been involved in hundreds of opera projects with various companies. She is currently on the music faculties of Adelphi University and Brooklyn College. Zabbi is also currently the music director and conductor of Vocal Production NYC, New York Opera Studio, Delaware Valley Opera and the NYOS Opera Advantage Training Program. She often appears as a pianist and coach with Regina Opera, Hofstra University and Opera Manhattan Repertoire. For the past two seasons she has performed with DCINY International at various stages, including Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall. Prep Center since 2018.

Strings

Marjorie Belcher (Violin and Suzuki Violin)

Seyoon Eom (Violin and Suzuki Violin)

Performances: concertmaster with the Chonbuk National University Orchestra, Moores School Symphony Orchestra, Queens College Symphony Orchestra; violinist with the One World Symphony Orchestra. Concerto competition winner: Queens College Symphony. Master classes: with Pamela Frank, Brentano Quartet, Juilliard String Quartet, and Lucie Robert. Scholarship: full scholarship and String Quartet Fellowship, University of Houston. Education: professional studies diploma, Aaron Copland School of Music (CUNY); M.M., University of Houston; B.M., Chonbuk National University; Suzuki teacher training, School for Strings; studied with Daniel Phillips and Andrej Grabiec. Former faculty position: Slope Music School. Current faculty positions: Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Lucy Moses School, Prep Center since 2015. Read an interview with Seyoon Eom.

Daniel Hyman (Violin and Suzuki Violin)

Performances: 50 years of string chamber music, including at 15 colleges across the U.S., libraries across the tri-state region, recitals at NYC Bar Association, and concerts with harmonica virtuoso Jia-Yi He. Concertos at Cincinnati Congress of Strings and Indiana University. Solo vocalist at Tenri Cultural Center, Tilles Center, LeFrak Hall, and Bennington College. Conductor at LaGuardia HS and National Choral Festival. Alt-folk fiddling with The Moon And You at N.C. Stage in Asheville, all-Beethoven recital with Scott Faigen at Atikva Tsentr, Kiev. Contemporary music projects with composer/pianist Leonard Lehrman, live and on YouTube. Televised: WQED, WNYE Publications: “For a Well-Stocked Studio, Look Within…”, MEANYC Crescendo Education: BM with high honors in Violin, Indiana University/Bloomington, MFA in Chamber Music (violin, viola, and voice) Sarah Lawrence College, MS Ed in K-12 Instrumental Music Education, Queens College/CUNY, Suzuki Violin 2-year Teacher Training, School for Strings Awards: National Merit Scholarship, CUNY Academic Excellence Award Adjudication: NYSSMA, All-State Orchestra, Queens College CPSM Former faculty positions: 51st Avenue Academy (Q877), Queens College Center for Preparatory Studies in Music, British International School, Kiev Current positions: Calderone School of Music, Scarsdale Strings, Touro College (Education and Fine Arts),Prep Center since 2019

Kalin Ivanov (Cello)

Soloist, recitalist, chamber musician and recording artist in Bulgaria, Russia, Greece, Austria, Switzerland, France, England, United States. Performances: Sofia Philharmonic; Varna Philharmonic; Plovdiv Philharmonic; Moscow Chamber Orchestra; Cantus Firmus; Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra; Manhattan Virtuosi Orchestra. Finalist: C.W. Post Chamber Music Festival Concerto Competition. Ensembles: The Forte String Quartet; New York Empire Trio. Awards: Chancellor's Award, Cultural Achievement Award, grant, Artist Fund of the New York Foundation for the Arts. Recordings: Gega New and MSR Classics. Education: M.Mus., Brooklyn College; M.M., State Music Academy, Bulgaria; B.M., Academy of Music and Dance Arts, Bulgaria. Former faculty positions: Adelphi University; SUNY, Long Island Conservatory; Brooklyn College Conservatory. Current positions: Prep Center faculty since 1997.

Krasimira Ivanov (Violin and Viola)

Performances: in Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Spain, and the United States; violinist: Plovdiv State Philharmonic and Opera Theater, Stara Zagora State Opera, AMDA Chamber Orchestra, Brooklyn College Orchestra, Manhattan Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble du Monde, Forte String Quartet, Bulgarian Piano Quartet, Trio "BG." Broadcasts: Bulgarian National Television and Radio, Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, WNYC-New York. Education: M.Mus., Brooklyn College; M.M., B.M., Academy of Music and Dance Art (Bulgaria); violin studies with Masao Kawasaki. Former faculty positions: Rondo Music Festival (Vermont), Brooklyn College String Project, P.S. 58 String Program. Current faculty position: Prep Center since 2006. Read an interview with Krasimira Ivanov.

Edmundo Ramirez (Viola, Violin, and Suzuki Violin)

Performances: Fine Arts Quartet, String Quintets, Ensemble Intercontemporaine, Meininger Hopkapelle (Germany), New York Symphonic Ensemble. Education: M. M., Mannes College of Music; Master's Program in Applied Music and Music Teaching (anticipated), Lehman College (CUNY); B. M., The Juilliard School of Music; suzuki pedagogical training, School for Strings; Violin Method Certificate, Mark O'Connor; violin studies with Rafael Druian and Ida Haendel; viola studies with Yuri Bashmet and Heidi Castleman; chamber music studies with Felix Galimir and the Juilliard Quartet. Faculty positions: violin teacher, Third Street Music Settlement Miles Program; Harmony Program CUNY; Long Island University; Manheim Hochshule (Germany); Prep Center since 2011. Read an interview with Edmundo Ramirez.

Rebecca Shavzin (Cello and Suzuki Cello)

Performances: cello and Suzuki cello in the United States, Italy, Germany, Ukraine, and China. Education: B.Mus., M.Mus., Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College; studied with Vladimir Panteleyev; Suzuki Certification at the School for Strings with Pamela Devenport. Faculty positions: Lucy Moses School; Prep Center since 2014. Read an interview with Rebecca Shavzin.

Larisa Vollis (Violin)

Performances: with Vladimir Philharmonic, Gubernatorski Symphony Orchestra, Adelphi University Symphony Orchestra, Mannes College Symphony Orchestra, Bronx Symphony Orchestra, and Moscow Symphony Orchestra. Education: M.M., Gorky Conservatory; Professional Instrument Diploma, Vladimir College of Music; violin studies with Lazar Gantman and Polina Brill. Former faculty positions: Vladimir College of Music, Taneev Music School, Island of Music School, Shostakovich School of Music, LISMA Long Island Conservatory. Current faculty positions: Hamilton-Madison House, Jewish Community Center, Prep Center since 2012. Read an interview with Larisa Vollis.

Voice

Charlene Marcinko

Performances: at Yankee Stadium for Pope Benedict, the White House for President Bush, Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Kennedy Center, Boston Lyric Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Opera Iowa, Pittsburgh Opera, Utah Opera Festival, Aspen Opera, Virginia Opera, Opera Northeast, Mendelssohn Glee Choir, Catskills Glee Choir, Boston Lyric Opera, Aspen Opera, Boston University Opera Institute, Des Moines Metro Opera, Pittsburgh Opera Center, Opera Iowa, Alea III, Opera Orchestra of New York, Opera Northeast, Manhattan Opera, Virginia Opera, and Utah Festival Opera, as well as for the president and minister of culture of Costa Rica and in South Korea. Finalist: Metropolitan Opera. Education: M.M., Boston University; B.A., Peabody Conservatory; recipient, Lammont Belin Scholarship. Former faculty positions: Henry Street Settlement, La Guardia Community College (CUNY), Berkshire Choral Festival, Choir Academy of Harlem, Arts Alive Summer Gifted Program, Lucy Moses School of Music. Current faculty positions: Pennsylvania Counsel for the Arts, National Council Senior Center, Kathryn Brickell Music School, Prep Center since 2012. Read an interview with Charlene Marcinko.

Winds

Daniel Kelley (Clarinet and Saxophone)

Performances: chamber music at Stern Auditorium and Weill Hall, Carnegie Hall; Metropolitan Museum of Art; Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts; Smithsonian Institution; Atlanta Arts Festival; Oklahoma Mozart Festival; Chautauqua Institution; concerts in 46 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Virgin Islands; concerto soloist with El Paso Symphony Orchestra; former member of the U.S. Air Force Band, Washington, D.C.; Broadcasts: Today Show, A Prairie Home Companion, Voice of America, WQXR, WNYC, and WETA. Recordings: Three on BMG and one on BMG-Japan with Richard Stoltzman. Education: B.M., Sam Houston State University; clarinet studies with Kalmen Opperman, Leon Russianoff, and Richard Picker. Current faculty position: Prep Center since 2000. Read an interview with Daniel Kelley.

Laura Thompson (Flute and Suzuki Flute)

Performances: orchestral performances with the Garden State Philharmonic, NJCU Orchestra, Green Mountain Opera Festival, New York Chamber Players, Strathmere Chamber Orchestra, Transfiguration Chamber Orchestra, Amherst Early Music Festival Opera Orchestra, the Grand Tour Orchestra, Longy Festival Orchestra, Lyric Opera of New York, Amato Opera, Tafelmusik Festival Orchestra, Greenwich Village Symphony Orchestra, Opera Ozarks, and Di Capo Opera; chamber music performances with the Harlem Creates Festival, Zephyr Trio, Bacchanalia Baroque Ensemble, Trinity Bach Soloists, and New York Continuo Collective. Education: M.A. and B.M., Queens College (CUNY); flute studies with Jed Wentz, Keith Underwood, and Samuel Baron. Former faculty positions: Manchester Music Festival, Thurnauer School of Music, Amati Conservatory, Rhoda Graundman School of Music, Rockland Summer Institute. Current faculty positions: Thessalonia Academy, Prep Center since 2012. Read an interview with Laura Thompson.