News & Happenings

Thank you to all the mentors, near and far, who are working to mentor the next generation. Our mentors represent a diverse array of occupations, associations, and experiences with ESYO. The roster includes professors, artists, musicians, teachers, engineers, and many former ESYO musicians.

• Brian Sacawa*- Senior Musician & Media Relations Director for The U.S. Army Field Band | Pikesville, MD
• Zaheer Ali*- Financial Analyst at Northeastern University | Boston, MA
• Colleen Bernstein*- Freelance Musician, Founder and Artistic Director of Strength & Sensitivity Concerts | New York, NY
• Joseph Giordano*- Freelance Muscian and Educator | New York, NY
• Joana Genova- Co-Artistic Director at Taconic Music, Asst. Professor of Violin at the University of Indianapolis | Manchester, VT
• Alessandra Shellard*- Freelance Clarinet Teacher, Band Director at Ichabod Crane Central School | Niskayuna, NY
• Natalya Scimeca*- Attorney-Advisor, Office of the Legal Advisor at the U.S. Department of State | Washington, DC
• Heather Chan* Freelance Violinist and Violist, Engineer at GE Global Research | Niskayuna, NY
• Everett McNair*- Sales Engineer at Lutron Electronics | Bethlehem, PA
• Jean Leonard- Professional Soprano, Chief of Staff at Proctors Theatre | Delmar, NY
• Rob Aronstein- Freelance Performer Audio Engineer, Band Director at Oneida Middle School | Schenectady, NY
• Dr. Edward Marschilok- Freelance Musician, Interim Dean of School of Music at SUNY Schenectady | Troy, NY
• Ellen Madison- Violin Instructor and Performer | Ridgefield, CT
• Gaelen McCormick*- Private Instructor, Arranger and Composer, Program Manager at Eastman School of Music | Rochester, NY
• Sean Jones*- Violin/Viola Instructor, Freelance Film-Scorer, Marketing Coordinator at Caramoor Center for the Arts | New York, NY
• Phillip Ducreay*- Musicologist, Teacher, Doctoral Candidate in Violin Performance at the University of Maryland | College Park, MD
• Michael Dee- Freelance Clarinet Instructor and Performer, Founding Member of Quintocracy | Round Lake, NY
• Sophie Moss*- Development Director at the Albany Symphony Orchestra | Albany, NY
• June Criscione*- Community Musician, 4th Year medical student at Yale University | New Haven, CT
• Ann-Marie Schwartz- Founder and Director of the Musicians of Ma’alwyck | Scotia, NY
• Aden Brooks*- Music Theory Professor, Freelance Artist, Doctoral Student at the Frost School of Music | Miami, FL
• Nicole Cherubini- Artist, Professor at the Rhode Island School of Design | Hudson, NY
• Kathryn Sloat*- Freelance Harpist, Harp Teacher | New York, NY
• Chris Shiley- Senior Director of Artistic Planning for the Saratoga Performing Arts Center | Saratoga Springs, NY
• Carlos Agreda- Musician, Conductor, Music Director at the Empire State Youth Orchestra | Albany, NYWe are grateful for the time each mentor will spend with our musicians and cannot wait to see how both the mentor and their mentee will grow through this experience.

*Alumni member of the Empire State Youth Orchestra