administration 
 

Dr. Donald Pirone
Director

Dr. Pirone is a member of the performance faculty at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. The recipient of many awards and prizes, Professor Pirone received his Bachelor of Music degree from Queens College and later won a scholarship to the Juilliard School, where he received his Master's in Music. He later earned his Ph.D. at New York University. Among the eminent artists with whom he studied were Leon Pommers, Joseph Raieff and Seymour Lipkin.

Professor Pirone enjoys a distinguished career as soloist, chamber musician and concerto performer. Since his successful and widely acclaimed New York debut at Carnegie Recital Hall, he was appeared throughout the country and in several major New York concert halls, including Town Hall, Merkin Hall, the 92nd Street Y and Alice Tully Hall. Recordings of the performances have been aired as part of several radio broadcasts, including WQXR's "Listening Room" and "Young Artists Showcase" and on WNYC and BBC in Europe.

Professor Pirone has also contributed significantly to the annals of 20th century music by exploring and reviving works by lesser known composers. He is world renowned for his research on and performance of music by the Polish composer, Karol Rathaus. His internationally acclaimed performance of the "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra" with the London Symphony Orchestra, JoAnn Falletta, conductor, was recorded by Koch International and has spurred a revival of Rathaus's music by bringing it to the attention of many recording artists since its release in 1998.

Jonathan Weber
Chamber Music Coordinator

Jonathan Weber maintains a versatile musical career as a violinist, violist, conductor and composer. Formally trained in the classical arts and a graduate of the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College (CUNY) as student of violinist Daniel Phillips, Mr. Weber went on to collaborate and perform professionally with artists such as Daniel Phillips and Timothy Eddy of the Orion String Quartet, Tara O'Connor of Windscape, oboe sensations Ronald Roseman and Randall Wolfgang, and the renowned Bach Aria Group. He has also made numerous solo and ensemble appearances with symphony orchestras throughout the United States and abroad.

Branching into alternate musical genres such as jazz, rock, hip hop and country, Mr. Weber has shared the stages of concert halls, arenas and stadiums with artists including Billy Joel, Jay-Z, Beyonce Knowles, Roger Daltrey, Peter Gabriel, Josh Groban, Taylor Swift, Barry Manilow, Tony Bennett, Herbie Hancock, Savion Glover, the Trans Siberian Orchestra, the Mahavishnu Project, and fusion band: DBR & The Mission (Opus 3 Artists) for which he has received critical acclaim. CD credits include Billy Joel: Live at Shea Stadium, Jay-Z: Kingdom Come and Albert Hammond Jr.'s "Como Te Llama", in addition to numerous film score projects with various composers including Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Journeying into the cinematic medium, Mr. Weber can be seen as an on screen musician in films such as Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus (2006), Sex and the City 2 (2010), Billy Joel: The Last Play at Shea (2010), and the HBO Miniseries: Mildred Pierce (2011). He has also made network television appearances on programs such as The Late Show with David Letterman, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Live with Regis and Kelly, The Rachel Ray Show, The View, Christmas Live at Rockefeller Center, and PBS programs: Great Performances and Soundstage.

Mr. Weber has been a faculty member at the Lawrence Eisman Center for Preparatory Studies in Music at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College (CUNY) since the year 2000 where he serves as conductor of the pre-college orchestras, coordinator of the chamber music department and summer chamber music festivals, and is also a member of the violin and viola faculty. In addition to conducting at CPSM, Mr. Weber has also appeared as guest conductor for the NMEA All County Music Festival in performance at the Tilles Center at C.W. Post, LI University.

  

Dr. Lawrence Eisman
Director Emeritus

Dr. Eisman is a professor of music at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. His teaching responsibilites include teacher training at the secondary school level and conducting and directing the 160-voice Queens College Choral Society, an organization which he has led since 1977.

Dr. Eisman is an author of music text designed for the middle and junior high school level, including the sixth-eighth grade levels of Making Music Your Own, The World of Music, and Music Connection, all published by Silver Burdett Ginn. He has served on the editorial board of the Music Educators National Conference, as curriculum chair of the New York State School Music Association, and as a guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States and abroad.

Ms. Dorothy Shorter
String Coordinator

Dorothy Shorter graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo. Ms. Shorter studied violin with world-renowned violinist Elmar Oliveira and with Regis Iandiorio, first violinist of the Hampton String Quartet. In addition, Ms. Shorter received her certification in Suzuki Violin pedagogy at the School for Strings in New York City, under the tutelage of Louise Behrend. Ms. Shorter has taught violin in the C.W. Post Suzuki program and was director of the elementary string program at Friends Academy in Locust Valley, NY. In addition to her work as string coordinator at LECPSM, Ms. Shorter teaches violin and viola at Kellenberg Memorial High School and at the Music Institute of Long Island. Ms. Shorter performs in various chamber groups and orchestras on Long Island.

Mary Kay McGarvey
Vocal Coordinator

Mary Kay McGarvey, DMA, Manhattan School of Music, BME, MM Voice, Norrthwestern University is a native of South Dakota. She has performed extensively throughout the U.S. and on tour in Italy. Recently, Ms. McGarvey performed in various programs such as "Women in Love", the Queen of Hearts and the White Queen in a new musical ALICE IN ANALYSIS and Lulu in a mixed media production INNOCENT DEPRAVITY. The soprano performed the title role in the premieres of Murray Boren's operas EMMA and Aunt Julia/Mrs. Malins in THE DEAD in NYC. Other roles include Micaela, Baby Doe, Despina, Susanna, Gilda, Musetta, Sophie, Adele, Violetta, Mabel, and Laetitia in addition to many oratorio roles, which she has performed in Dallas, Ft. Worth, Aspen, Chicago, Connecticut, Washington, New York and Rome, Italy. She made her Lincoln Center debut singing Mozart concert arias and was a finalist in the Long Island Opera Competition, NATS American Composer's competitions and won the Queens Oratorio Competition. She has performed and studied Latin American /Spanish art songs in the US and Barcelona, Spain.

Dr. McGarvey has served on the faculties of Texas Christian University, UT Arlington, Westminster Choir College, Concordia College, Brooklyn/Queens Conservatory of Music. She is currently the voice coordinator of LECPSM at Queens College and BQCM Professional Studies Program in Park Slope.

Dr. McGarvey is the Northeast Regional Governor of the National Opera Association, and has served on the board of Governors of the American Guild of Musical Artists. She is a member of National Association of Teachers of Singing, Actors Equity Association, and Professional Women Singers Association.

Mr. Christopher Liccardo
Suzuki Piano Coordinator

Mr. Liccardo holds a B.M and M.M in piano performance from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. He has studied piano with Nadia Reisenberg and Morey Ritt and completed Suzuki studies with Shila Ketas and Mary Craig Powell. He has twice been the recipient of scholarship awards from the Suzuki Association. As a performer, Mr. Liccardo has appeared at Alice Tully Hall and in radio broadcasts over WNYC radio.

Mr. Liccardo is the founder and coordinator of the Suzuki piano program at CPSM. In demand as a clinician and lecturer, he has taught, performed and lectured at institutes and workshops throughout the United States, as well as in Canada and Bermuda. He has participated as a presenter at the Suzuki Association of the Americas National Conference and has contributed to the book Teaching Suzuki Piano. Mr. Liccardo is also a former president of the Associated Music Teachers League.

 
    faculty
 

Marta Abraham-Nagyi (piano/accompanist)

Jennifer Ahn (violin)

B.Mus, University of Toronto; M.Mus, Yale University; Artist Dipoloma, Yale University; Orchestral Studies Diploma, Roosevelt University. Faculty member: Praxis Youth Orchestra, Bloomingdale School of Music, Diller Quaile School of Music, and Brooklyn Philharmonic Teaching Artist. Former member of the Chicago Civic Orchestra, and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. Bronze Medal at National Music Festival of Canada 2002, Lorand Fenyves Scholarship at University of Toronto, full scholarship recipient at Yale University. Recordings on the SONY and Naxos labels.

David Ambrosio (bass/jazz)

Heather Arzberger (musicianship)

B.A. in Music Education (Summa Cum Laude) Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College; M.S. in Music Education, Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College; Band and Choir Director, Christ the King Regional High School. Member: NYSSMA. CPSM faculty since 2007.

Sandra Babb (choir/voice)

Bachelors in Music Education, Masters in Music Education, and PhD in Choral Music Education from Florida State University. Faculty, Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College; member: NYSSMA, MENC, American Choral Directors Association, and College Music Society

Judith Barnes (voice)

Barbara Berg (violin)

B.Mus, MMus (violin performance) Eastman School of Music; M.A.T. Lehman College, CUNY. Suzuki Certification, School for Strings. Violin, chamber music, Suzuki string coordinator at Hoff

Lilia Bigun (Suzuki piano)

Julia Bruskin (cello/chamber music)

B.A. magna cum laude Columbia University; M.M. The Juilliard School; pedagogical studies with Pamela Devenport at the School for Strings. Faculty at Brooklyn College's Preparatory Center for Music, Theater and Dance, Lucy Moses School. Concerto performances with the Boston Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Virginia Symphony, Utah Symphony, Pacific Symphony and the Juilliard Symphony. Founding member of the Claremont Trio, with performances at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, and The Kennedy Center.

Kris Davis (piano/jazz)

Kirsten DelGaudio (violin)

BMus in Violin Performance, Manhattan School of Music; MA in Performance at Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College; Faculty at Kellengberg Memorial High School, and also is active freelance musician and teacher in the NY Metro area.

Patricia Fernandez-Swartz (piano)

Jennifer Forese (musicianship/flute)

BA in Music/English, Queens College; currently enrolled in MA in Music History program, Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College; performances with the One World Symphony, Eastern Symphony Chamber Orchestra, the Inter

Patricia Giannattasio (musicianship/composition)

BA in Music (Magna Cum Laude), Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College; currently enrolled as MA in Composition student, Aaron Copland School of Music. Awards include: Gabriel Fontrier Award, Presser Foundation Award, Karol Rathaus Memorial Award.

Ejona Gjermeni (piano)

Margret Hjaltested (violin/viola)

Diploma in Viola Performance and Pedagogy Degree, Reykjavik College of Music; BMus the Juilliard School; MMus Mannes College; Suzuki Teacher Certification, School for Strings; active freelance performer, including with Westchester Philharmonic, The American Classical Orchestra and Key West Symphony; member of the chamber ensemble, Resonant Spectra; on faculty at SummerKeys in Lubec, Maine.

Sing Ing Ho (piano)

BMus, and MA in Performance, Aaron Copland School of Music; Professional Studies Degree, Mannes College of Music. Currently a piano instructor at Suzuki on the Island in Manhasset, and Music Director at Calvary Lutheran Church in East Meadow. CPSM faculty since 1990.

Mimi Hsu (Dalcroze Eurhythmics)

BA in Vocal Performance, Chinese Cultural University, Taiwan; Dalcroze Eurhythmics Certification, New York Dalcroze School; Dalcroze License Studies, Longy School of Music; Faculty, Greenwich House Music School, Hoff

Daniel Hyman (violin)

BMus in Performance with High Distinction, Indiana University; MFA in Chamber Music, Sarah Lawrence College; MS in Music Education, Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College; Suzuki Certification from School for Strings; NYSSMA adjudicator certification, National Merit Scholar and member of the Golden Key Honour Society.

Jonathan Irving (piano/chamber music)

Michele Jordan (piano)

BA in Music, Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College; Suzuki teacher training, School for Strings; Member: Suzuki Association of the Americas; maintains large private teaching studio in Port Washington, NY; CPSM faculty since 1990.

Faina Khodos (accompanist)

Mikhail Kofman (accompanist)

Bachelor of Music in Performance, Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College; currently enrolled in MA in Performance degree program at Aaron Copland School of Music.

Se Beng Koh (piano/accompanist)

Biana Kovic (cello)

B.A. in Cello Performance, University of Musical Arts; M. S. in Educational Psychology and Methodology, SUNY Albany; Suzuki Certification from the Hartt and Chicago Suzuki Institutes. Faculty member: Lucy Moses School and It's Never 2 Late Inc. Performances at Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall, Cami Hall, Zankel Hall, The Open Center, The Tibetan House, and Avery Fisher Hall. Solo performance of the National Anthem at at Shea Stadium and Citi Field from 2006

Tony Kunin (piano)

BA in Piano Performance, SUNY, New Paltz; MA in Jazz Performance, Aaron Copland School of Music; music teacher at PS 150M, Music Director North Shore Community Church

 

Chris Liccardo (piano/Suzuki Piano Coordinator)

for bio, please see Administration section

Joseph Liccardo (piano)

BMus Eastman School of Music; currently enrolled in Masters degree program at the Juilliard School. Faculty member at CPSM since 2006, and also maintains a private piano studio.

Pam Liccardo (Musicianship Coordinator/piano)

Irina Markovich (piano)

B.A. (Summa Cum Laude) Dagestan Music College, USSR; M.A. Rachmaninoff Conservatory of Music, USSR; Suzuki Training at Hartford University and the School for Strings. Faculty, Mannes College of Music Preparatory Division. Member MTNA, The Suzuki Association of America, The National Guild of Piano Teachers.

Lisa Maron (Associate Director/flute)

for bio, please see Administration section

Mary Kay McGarvey (Voice Coordinator)

for bio, please see Administration section

Lyudmila Melerud (piano)

Kristin Mozeiko (French horn)

BMus in Education, Ithaca College; MM in Performance, Hartt School of Music; DMA candidate, Boston University.

Michelle Nestor (guitar)

BA. in Media Studies and Music, Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College; M.A. in Jazz Performance and Composition, Aaron Copland School of Music. Performed at several jazz festivals, including the Heineken Jazz Festival in the Dominican Republic, the Lucca Jazz Festival in Tuscany, Italy, and also performed for the Ibero Arts Organization. Founded MM Productions.

Anthony Newton (piano)

Sokol Nikaj (cello)

Bachelors in Cello Pedagogy and Orchestra Playing at Johannes Gutenberg University (Mainz/Germany), M.A. in Cello Performance, Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College. Faculty: Eastern School of Music, Manhasset Music School and Suzuki on the Island. Founding member of Bellearti Music; performances at Steinway Hall, Flushing Town Hall and WMP Concert Hall. Toured tri

Jeong Hwa Park (piano)

MA in Piano Performance, DMA in Piano Performance, Arizona State University.

Inalvys Paris-Cabello (violin/viola)

Paulina Piedzia (musicianship)

BA in Music Education, Queens College, currently enrolled in MA in Musicology program, Queens College. Adjunct faculty, Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College.

Donald Pirone (Director/piano)

for bio, please see Administration section

Naomi Podber (musicianship)

BMus, Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College. Faculty member of the Bronx Art Ensemble's Arts

Dan Pratt (saxophone)

BMus, Berklee College of Music (Cum Laude); Thelonious Monk Institute at Aspen, CO; member local 802, AFM and BMI. Performances with Jimmy Smith, the Village Vanguard Orchestra, Brian Blade, and others.

Nate Radley (guitar/jazz)

Jiliane Russo (cello/orchestra conductor)

BMus, Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College; currently MA in Cello Performance candidate at Aaron Copland School of Music; performs both classical and contemporary music, including with such artists as Ryan Leslie, Courtney Love, and Ringo Starr.

JC Sanford (trombone/jazz)

M.Mus, and DMA from New England Conservatory. Adjunct faculty at Long Island University. CPSM faculty since 2006

Charles Schmid (percussion)

Audrey Selph (musicianship)

BMus in Music Therapy and Viola Performance at Florida State University, where she was a Presser Scholar; MM in Viola Performance at Stony Brook University; Music Therapist with the Music Therapy Project, Inc.

Dorothy Shorter (Suzuki violin coordinator/violin)

for bio, please see Administration section

Brandon Silaco (percussion)

Vinny Sperrazza (percussion/jazz)

Irene Stitt (chamber music)

Valerie Sulzinski (oboe)

BMus, Hartt College of Music; MA in Performance, Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College, CUNY. Current faculty positions include: Professor of Oboe at CW Post College, and Professor of oboe and clarinet at Five Towns College. Faculty Usdan Center of the Creative and Performing Arts.

Jonathan Weber (violin, viola, orchestra, chamber music coordinator)

for bio, please see Administration section

Akari Yamamoto (clarinet)

BMus, Tokyo; MMus, SUNY Purchase. Active freelance soloist and chamber musician. CPSM faculty since 2008.

Maiko Yasuda (piano)

Marcelline Yellin (piano)

  
 

For more information about CPSM, please call (718) 997-3888

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