FACULTY AND STAFF

Leslie Jones - Executive Director

Leslie holds a DMA from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and an MM from the University of North Texas. She has served on the faculties of Ithaca College and Montana State University. A versatile musician, she enjoys playing chamber music and performs as a jazz pianist. She has been instrumental in developing an accessible music technology program within the Music School while expanding community outreach and visibility by establishing collaborations/partnerships with The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 92NY School of Music and Harkness Dance Center, and the National Dance Institute, among others. Leslie has served on the New York and Montana State Arts Councils, and has been appointed to the Advisory Board of the Performing Arts Division at Rowan University.

Dalia Sakas - Director of Music Studies

Piano, Chorus, Comprehensive Music Program for Young People (CMPYP)

Dalia received her BM from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, MM from the Manhattan School of Music and DMA from the University of South Carolina. She is the founder of our Comprehensive Music Program for young People. Dr. Sakas has served on the faculty of William Paterson University in New Jersey. She also maintains a piano studio of fifteen students.   

Richard Thai - Program Assistant

Woodwinds, Accessible Music Technology Large Print Specialist, CMPYP

Richard holds a MM degree in Jazz Performance from the Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College (CUNY) and a BM degree in Jazz Performance from the New Zealand School of Music, Victoria University of Wellington. A professional jazz saxophonist and educator, Richard was promoted from being a General Music Intern with the Music School to becoming its second Filomen M. D’Agostino Greenberg Technology Fellow in 2017. He began his role as Program Assistant in July 2021.

Pablo Rodriguez - Music Education, Special Projects, Media Manager

Music Technology, Music Theory, Ensemble, CMPYP

Pablo is a composer and special music educator from Santiago, Chile. He received his BA degree in Music Composition from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, a Master Degree in Music and Music Education from New York University, where he specialized in Education for people with disabilities, and a Doctoral degree in Music and Music Education at Teachers College, Columbia University where he specialized in Research in Music Education and Social Justice. Pablo is co-founder of Fundación Chile, Música y Braille, and Program Coordinator at UpBeat NYC.

Donna Grajauskas - Operations Manager

Donna received her BA from the University of Toronto, and has worn a number of different hats for both commercial businesses and non-profit organizations, in the US, Canada and Lithuania. Her professional work has included human resources, development, business systems and community organizing, always motivated by a mission which enhances people’s lives.

Jennifer Apsel

Piano, CMPYP

Jennifer received both her BM and MM degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, where she was a scholarship student. She has earned prizes in several competitions at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. Jennifer is a dedicated teacher for students of all levels. She has helped prepare many students for auditions, master classes, recitals, and concerto performances. Jennifer has been teaching with the Music School since 2010.

Svetlana Avezbakiyeva

Braille Music, Piano, CMPYP

Svetlana received her BA degree in music education from The Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College (CUNY) and a BA degree in choir directing and solfege at Kursk College of Music. She is a graduate of the FMDG Music School, where she currently enjoys working with both children and adults.

Nora Bartosik

Piano, CMPYP

Nora has performed as a soloist, collaborative artist and chamber musician in the United States, Europe and Asia. She holds degrees from Harvard University, the Mozarteum University in Salzburg and the University of Music in Leipzig, Germany, and was on the artist roster of Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now. She is currently on the faculty of the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University, Opus One Music, and the Point CounterPoint summer chamber music festival for teen students in Vermont. More information can be found at norabartosik.com

Katharine Flanders

Flute, Recorder

Katharine holds a BA from Harvard. There she studied performance practice with Leon Kirchner and Frans Brüggen. Her principal flute teachers were Samuel Baron and James Pappoutsakis. As a fellowship recipient, she studied in Paris with Michel Debost and Nadia Boulanger. She is also a pianist and choral singer. Ms. Flanders has been principal flutist of the Riverside Orchestra since 1977. She has recorded on the Mode and CRI labels.

Daniel Gillen

Accessible Music Technology Specialist

Daniel holds degrees in Physics and Music from Haverford College. A Braille music specialist in the Music School’s transcription department, Daniel assists in the production of Braille music to be used for in-house instruction as well as outside contracts for K-12, higher education, and professional settings. He is currently certified in Literary Braille Transcribing and Proofreading from the National Library Service (NLS), Library of Congress

Juan Pablo Horcasitas

Piano

Juan Pablo holds both BM and MM degrees in Piano Performance from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Nina Svetlanova. Recent performances include presentations in Berlin, Bogota and Washington. Since his Carnegie Hall debut in 2009, he has been working actively as collaborative pianist, chamber musician, conductor and educator. Juan Pablo also teaches at the Diller-Quaile School of Music in New York and is on the piano faculty at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. More information can be found at horcasitasjp.com

Konrad Kamm

Accessible Music Technology Specialist

Konrad holds a BM degree in music education from Brooklyn College (CUNY). A double bassist, he has performed in the Brooklyn College Conservatory Orchestra and has played and recorded bass guitar and drums in bands “Cloud” and others. Konrad is based in eastern Long Island, NY and has performed/composed for electronic instruments. He currently works on music transcriptions producing braille music scores. 

Yo Kano

Piano, Jazz Improvisation, Trumpet, Accessible Music Technology, CMPYP

Yo Kano got his start in New York City at the Lighthouse Music School where he studied with the renowned Lance Hayward. Along with  going to Japan each year for concerts and tours, his career has also taken him to Thailand, Mongolia, Indonesia, Singapore, Morocco, and Turkey. He has also released four CD’s: Yo!, Mother, Sukiyaki, and Now is the Time. Besides performing, he is currently working as a composer/arranger as well. Since 2006 Yo Kano has been on the faculty of The Filomen M. D’Agostino Greenberg Music School teaching piano, jazz theory, arranging, composition, and accessible technology. His work can be found at yokano.com.

Pei-Wen Liao

Violin, CMPYP

Pei-Wen is a graduate of the Yale School of Music and The Juilliard School. Already boasting sold-out Carnegie Hall recitals, and selected as an honoree in the 2018 Mandarin Leader Magazine, Pei-Wen Liao, has performed as a soloist with more than twenty orchestras in twelve countries across three continents. Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Ms. Liao is currently a Doctoral Candidate at the Manhattan School of Music. More information can be found at peiwenliaoviolin.com

Joey Mele

Chorus, CMPYP

Joey holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from LIU Post. Continuing his studies at LIU Post, he became the Choral Conducting Graduate Assistant from 2015-2017, serving as the Assistant Conductor for the University Chorus and Chamber Singers. Joey has also served as a substitute conductor for Brooklyn Youth Chorus, and as Music Director for the Newman Catholic Community at LIU Post. Joey works for the NYC Department of Education and currently teaches vocal music full time at M.S. 244 – The New School for Leadership and the Arts.

Julian Pardo

Drums, Drum Circle

Julian holds a BA (Professional Music) from the Berklee College of Music. Drummer and producer from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. Has performed with a wide array of musicians from Ralph Peterson jr., Jason Palmer, Donald Harrison jr. to Toto la Momposina and Alexander Acha among others.

Chris Petz

Guitar, Theory, Contemporary Ensemble

Chris studied at the University of Vermont and the Mannes School of Music. He has performed and/or studied with jazz greats Phil Markowitz, Ritchie Bierach and Ed Maceachen. More information can be found at chrispetz.com.

Jonathan Price

Guitar, Bass

Jonathan has taught at the FMDG music school for 5 years. He has performed and recorded in New York City with hundreds of bands and solo artists and worked on Broadway productions. Highlight endeavors include touring with Sony artist Sara Bareilles, performing on iHeart Radio with Brendon Urie, and accompanying Stevie Wonder at the United Nations NYC headquarters in 2016.

John Sanfilippo

Accessible Music Technology Specialist

John holds a BA in music education from Adelphi University. He has performed with the Music School Vocal Ensemble, The Lance Hayward Singers, and in several solo and ensemble concerts. John is the acting Minister of Music of The Queens Reformed Church in Queens Village, NY.

Charlotte Surkin

Voice

Charlotte earned degrees from Temple University and New York University. She is an adjunct instructor of voice at Marymount Manhattan. Ms. Surkin is on the Board of Directors of New York Singing Teachers Association (NYSTA) and the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). She recently lectured for the College Music Society (CMS) in Sydney, Australia and published the article “Teaching Singing to Students with Vision Loss” for the Journal of Singing through NATS. On April 26th, 2020, Charlotte and Dalia presented a webinar through NYSTA. More information can be found at charlottesurkin.com

Michelle Trovato

Voice, CMPYP

Michelle has sparked praise in Opera News, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other publications for her “lush” voice and dynamic characterizations. Having won prizes in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, Ms. Trovato has maintained an active private vocal studio, affectionately called the “Studio Bel Trovato”, since 2010. Students have gone on to win vocal competition prizes in their own right, and attend such schools as Manhattan School of Music, Juilliard, Temple, Harvard, and NYU.

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The Filomen M. D’Agostino Greenberg Music School
315-842-4489
music@fmdgmusicschool.org

On-site programs: 92NY, 1395 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10128
Mailing address: 2130 Broadway, Suite 1904, New York, NY, 10023

The Filomen M. D’Agostino Greenberg Music School is a registered 501(c)(3).

EIN #83-2582279

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