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The ESYO Team

The ESYO family is a network of talented conductors, educators, dedicated administrators, and devoted board members. Together we support our young musicians and help model the excellence that is central to the ESYO experience.

Artistic Team

Meet Etienne Abelin

ESYO's Music Director

Swiss conductor Etienne Abelin has been described as a "post-classical pioneer" in the BBC Music Magazine and an "icon of new ways in classical music" by the Musica Viva Magazine Brazil.

Abelin won the exceptional accolade of being a musical collaborator for 18 years of a classical music legend, the late Claudio Abbado, who has been described as one of the three all-time greatest conductors by BBC Music. As such, he was handpicked by Mr. Abbado to be a founding member of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra and the Orchestra Mozart Bologna where he was the Principal Second Violin for seven years. With these orchestras, he performed in the world's post prestigious concert halls and recorded for labels such as Deutsche Grammophon or Harmonia Mundi.

Dr. Robert S. Hansbrough

Wind Orchestra

Mark Foster

Co-Conductor, Youth Percussion Orchestra

Genoveffa Vitale

Repertory Percussion Ensemble Conductor

Joseph Gumpper

String Orchestra

Michael Lister

Melodies of Christmas Chorale Director

David Beck

Repertory Orchestra

Leo Milman

Concertino Strings

Scott Hopkins

Concertino Brass Choir

Julie Taylor

Concertino Wind Choir

Dr. Peter Bellino

Youth Jazz Orchestra

Rob Sanderl

Co-Conductor Youth Percussion Ensemble

Jim Iacketta

Chamber Percussion Ensemble

Alyssa Falk Verheyn

Repertory Jazz Orchestra

Jackie Wright

Flute Choir Conductor

Alex Atchley

Concertino Percussion Conductor

Administrative Staff

Rebecca Calos

Executive Director

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Lisa Stulmaker

Finance Director

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Sue Lascoe

Director of Operations & Repertory Orchestra Manager

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Dr. David Bebe

Associate Music Director of CHIME & Chamber Music

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Heather-Liz Meglino

Director of Development

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Andrea Restrepo

Operations Manager & Symphony Orchestra Manager | Music Librarian

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Zoë Auerbach

CHIME & Young Leaders Director

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Mary Rose Petrozola

Membership & Communications Coordinator

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Leah DeLira

Director of Marketing

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Griffin Bengraff

Web Designer / Creative Contractor

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ESYO Chime Team

Through free daily music instruction and mentorship, the ESYO CHIME Program provides young musicians comprehensive support at both the elementary and middle school levels. CHIME places children on the path to musical excellence and cultivates skills needed to succeed in all areas of life, including collaboration, creativity and critical thinking. To learn more about CHIME contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dr. David Bebe

Associate Music Director of CHIME & Chamber Music

Zoë Auerbach

CHIME Director

Matthew Johnson

Teaching Artist (Strings)

Amy Shake Ortiz

Site Manager - Proctors

Cathy Gatta

Lead Teaching Artist - Yates

Teresa Gatta Norton

Teaching Artist (Strings)

Jim Iacketta

Lead Teaching Artist

Nick Dwarika

Teaching Artist (Bass)

Nikola Tomic

Lead Teaching Artist - Van Corlaer

Laura Van Voris

CHIME Teaching Artist

Alex Atchley

CHIME Teaching Artist

Melanie Chirignan

CHIME Teaching Artist (flute)

Cathryn Jones

CHIME Teaching Artist

Thom Avella

CHIME Teaching Artist

Laura Matthews

CHIME Teaching Artist

Lia Bourque-Mooney

Teaching Artist (Strings)

Ye Hu

Teaching Artist (Winds, Brass & Percussion)

Rachel Mitchell

Site Manager - Yates

Sarah Corbett

CHIME Operations Manager

Awan Rashad

CHIME Teaching Artist

Board of Directors and Luminaries

All aspects of organizational success are supported and driven by an active Board of Directors, which includes a broad spectrum of community leaders ranging from finance, to the law, to school classrooms. The Board of Directors meets bi-monthly. The Executive Committee, consisting of all Board Officers and Committee Chairs, meets in the alternating months. All Board Committees and Task Forces meet regularly, often monthly. Collectively the ESYO Board of Directors shares a love for music, an understanding of the principles of governance, management and finance, a commitment to raising funds, a position of influence and involvement in the community, and the ability and willingness to contribute time and expertise to the organization.

Dee Adkins

Certified Allergy & Asthma Consultants, Director of Financial Operations

Rajesh Ahuja

Amy Anderson

Business Banking Relationship Manager, M&T Bank

Brian Axford

Pianist/Freelance Musician

Robert Bengraff

Owner and Director of Video & Motion, BENGRAFF.com

Vic Bernstein

Edward Jones Financial Advisor

Heather Chan

Board Secretary, Senior Systems Engineer, GE Global Research

Randall Ellis

Oboist, Windscape Woodwind Quintet, Artists in residence, Manhattan School of Music Principal oboe, Little Orchestra Society, Eastern Music Festival Solo English Horn, NY Pops Orchestra, Teacher of oboe at Skidmore College

Rob Hamilton

Stefon Harris

Assistant Professor of Music, Rutgers University

Katherine Hart Crain

Partner/Attorney, Couch White, LLP

Andrew LaCoppola

Johnstown School District

Peter Lauricella

Regional Managing Partner, Wilson Elser

Jon Lepel

Manager of Credit and Risk, Broadview Federal Credit Union

Barry Richman

ESYO Co-Founder, Owner of Pearl Grant Richmans

Melissa Nigro

Director, Summit Senior Living

Brian Quiara

Senior Advisor, Statewide Public Affairs. Brian currently works as a lobbyist at State Policy Inc.

Brian Sacawa

Master Sergeant & Saxophone Section Leader, US Army Band

Christopher Shiley

Senior Director of Artistic Planning, Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Dan Weinheimer

Site Acquisitiion Manager, Tectonic Engineering

Omar Williams

Music Teacher, North Colonie School District

ESYO Luminary Award

The Board of Directors grants the ESYO Luminary Award from time to time,  to honor an individual for his or her distinguished service to Empire State Youth Orchestra. Honorees are selected based on their extraordinary service to the organization and/or as a member of the Board of Directors for a period of at least 20 years. They demonstrate deep devotion to the vision, values, and mission of the organization and exhibit strong leadership within the organization. The Luminary Award is one of the highest honors the ESYO Board of Directors can bestow and is granted only to individuals who truly embody the spirit of ESYO.

Beth Antonio
Luminary Award Recipient 2018
Beth Antonio currently serves as ESYO’s percussion coordinator and as the organizer of ESYO's annual Frost Valley retreat. A parent of two ESYO percussion alums, Beth has been an active member of the ESYO community for more than two decades. During this time, Beth produced and acted in Young People’s Concerts, coordinated three international tours, organized countless Frost Valley retreats and provided crucial managerial support for our percussion program. As a member of the Board of Directors, Beth helped oversee ESYO’s continued success and growth, and as part of the Artistic Committee, she helped guide the launch of ESYO’s CHIME program. In addition to being an integral member of the ESYO family, Beth is an avid community volunteer and proud grandmother.

Gareth Griffiths
Luminary Award Recipient 2016

Gareth “Gary” Griffiths joined Empire State Youth Orchestra as a general manager, and was instrumental in helping to establish and grow the organization. Gary served on the Board of Directors for more than two decades, during which time she was the Chairperson of the Artistic Committee and helped lead the Music Director search that resulted in the hiring of Helen Cha-Pyo. Gary continues to lend her time and talent to organize the annual Lois Lyman Concerto Competition and serves as Community Chairperson for the annual Melodies of Christmas performances. Gary is a respected music director and artistic leader in the community, and is a dedicated parent to an ESYO alumnus.

 

Dr. Edward S. Marschilok
Luminary Award Recipient 2016

Dr. Edward S. Marschilok joined the Empire State Youth Orchestra’s Board of Directors in 1996. During his two decades of service, he was the Chairperson of the Artistic Committee and also served on the Finance Committee where he helped preserve both the artistic and fiscal integrity of the organization for generations of young musicians. In addition to participating in governance, Ed has contributed his exceptional personal expertise as a skilled coach and as a guest musician. He has accompanied the orchestra as a performer on several international tours, and frequently offers his formidable skill on the contrabassoon to round out our performances.