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ART
MIRIAM ALOUF, born in Israel, is a board certified teacher graduate
from WIZO teacher’s seminar and the London School of Arts where she
studied Ceramics and Sculpture. Her work was shown in Jerusalem, Tel
Aviv and New York. She taught soldiers Arts and Crafts while she
served in the Israeli army. In addition, Miriam was the founder of
the Ceramic Center in Great Neck where she held art classes and
parties for 25 years.
KAREN HUBELA has her Permanent Certification in Art Education. She
has extensive experience teaching art to nursery through high school
students, portfolio development to Adult Ed watercolor painting. She
has also developed art programs for disabled adults and seniors. Her
students have won NYS Scholastic Art Scholarships. She is a John
Lidstone Award recipient and a Brooklyn Museum Summer Teaching
Fellow. Karen loves connecting students to art and nature. Her own
artwork ranges from drawing, painting, illustration, mixed-media
collage, murals to woodworking.
BARBARA LEIVENT has her Permanent Certification in Kindergarten
through 6th Grade. She has extensive teaching experience at the
Preschool through Middle School, both in public and private schools.
She is has taught art at Sid Jacobson , Roslyn School of Painting
and is a teaching artist with the Great Neck Arts Center Outreach
Program.
REBECCA MONTOYA has her B.F.A. from The Cooper Union, NYC and her
Master’s in Art Education from Queens College, Certification K-12.
Her paintings and drawings have been exhibited most recently in “Antagonista”,
New York City. She has designed and produced hand painted fabrics.
She has been a colorist, stylist, merchandiser, fabric researcher
and coordinator in the fashion industry.
MARILYN MOSKOWITZ is a visual artist who has studied with some of
the great artists of our time (Milton Glaser, Fairfield Porter, Jack
Levine and Elisabeth Osborn). She is imbued with a deep respect for
the figurative tradition and the endless challenges for artists
working within the broad spectrum of the tradition. Her work has won
numerous awards and is included in many corporate and private
collections. B.F.A., University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania
Academy of Fine Arts.
CAROL ROSENTHAL has been a loving and enthusiastic art instructor
for over 25 years. Her teaching experience includes: Lincoln Center
Institute, C.W. Post College and public schools across Long Island.
Her art specialties include: jewelry design; hand-painting clothing;
children's book writing; illustration; creating unusual books; and
giving workshops to teachers on how to enhance their academic
curriculum through the visual arts. Carol currently sits on the GNAC
Arts Advisory Committee
CASEY SCHWARTZ is a design wiz. He is a member of the Design
Conspiracy, Hampshire College, Amherst. His design projects have
included Mechanical Iris Shade; “Lights Out” helper; Automatic
Thaumatrope, a combination of the Victorian era “persistence of
vision” toy with a simple motor; and Electric Firefly Jar, a Mason
jar with blinking LEDs controlled by a microprocessor. Casey is also
a Scenic designer and prop builder.
GEORGIA VAHUE is a Fulbright Fellow, Certified Teacher of K – 12,
Art Education with 12 years of teaching in Florida, London and New
York. She has significant experience in the arts: working with
curators and artists; published arts articles and arts education
curricula; curated and contributed to copious art exhibitions as an
artist and a guest juror.
ASHLEY YOUNG is an artist and teacher who recently moved from
Pennsylvania where she taught multiple art programs at The Baum
School of Art and the Banana Factory. She graduated with her
Bachelors in Fine Arts at Albright College and continued her
education there taking additional classes in art education. She has
volunteered and taught lessons at the Reading Art Museum and
Freedman Gallery, working with a variety of different youth
programs, which included at risk programs, mural projects and
introduction classes to media. Ashley has been heavily involved
within her art community where she has participated in various art
festivals, auctions and exhibitions supporting and promoting what
she loves the most.
CERAMICS
MIRIAM ALOUF: Please see bio under “ART“.
CARLY AMSEL is a dedicated and accomplished classroom instructor
specializing in the visual arts. She has been an art instructor and
an assistant instructor in Ceramic Arts since 2007. She is currently
an assistant Ceramic Arts instructor for the Great Neck Arts
Center’s Outreach partnership with the New York City Public Schools.
JUDE AMSEL, a photographer, ceramist, and glass artist, exhibits her
works in galleries nationwide. Her work is represented in museums,
public spaces, and is in many celebrity collections. Jude was
selected by the State of New York to create a commemorative work of
the fallen firefighters of September 11, 2001 at the New York City
Fire Museum. In 2003 she was presented the GNAC Artist of
Distinction award, bestowed to an individual artist or art activist
whose work in the field has been outstanding and deserving of
recognition. Visit
www.clayscreen.com.
CHESS
JOEL SALMAN is a Professional Chess Master and one of LI’s top ten
players who teaches chess full time in several Nassau County School
districts. He defeated a Grand Master in 1998 at the US Masters,
received the international title of FIDE Master in 1994, and was
awarded the Life Master (1993) and the National Master (1992) titles
from the United Chess Federation. His experience as a tournament
arbiter and organizer includes competitions for Inter-national
Grandmasters. BA in Mathematics, Johns Hopkins University.
GERRY TOWNS is ranked in the 93rd percentile of
tournament players. He was ranked as a top 100 player for his age
groups when he was 15, 16, 17, and 18 years of age. He has
participated in 135 rated tournaments. He has extensive experience
teaching in after-school programs, camps, and giving private
lessons. Currently Gerry is a student at Nassau Community College.
DANCE
EVELYN BALASSANIAN started dancing at age 8. By age 12 she was
training in Russia and at 14 she was performing as a soloist with
major European dancers, teachers and choreographers: George
Balanchine in Serenade; John Butler in Scheherazade; Morris Bejar;
Robert DuWarren; Robert; and Inga Urazgildier. In the U.S. she
joined the Dance Theatre of Long Island with artistic director and
international choreographer, Ali Pourfarrokh. For 15 years she
taught and choreographed ballet at the Long Island School of Dance
and Berest School of Dance. She continues to teach and dance with
the American Theatre Dance and Eglevsky Ballet.
DONNA BILLINGS is a dancer, actress and singer. She has danced with
the Trocodaro Ballet Company and the Lincoln Center Carmen Beaucheau
Company. She has performed and danced in numerous films and theatre
productions including Bye Bye Birdie and Gypsy. Donna
studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, NYC, CW Post
University, Theatre & Dance, Ballet Arts of Carnegie Hall, NYC and
with well known choreographers: Phil Black; Charles Kelly; and
Alfredo Gustar who danced with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Donna
has taught dance in both public and private schools.
MEGAN CLANCY who began dancing and performing at age 3, comes from a
professional performing family. She attended the Professional
Performing Arts High School, Manhattan and studied Dance, Theatre
Arts at City College of New York; Musical Theatre, Dance and Vocal
at the Professional Performing Arts School; Vocal and Dance at the
Harlem School of the Arts; Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet and Musical Theatre
at the Broadway Dance Center. Megan has worked with The Harlem
Repertory Theatre and has taught Ballet, Jazz and Modern Dance at
the 92nd street Y; Harkness Dance Center; and the Israel Center for
Conservative Judaism. She is the Co-Choreographer for The City
College of New York productions. In addition to bringing joy and
confidence to her dance students at GNAC’s School for the Arts, she
is also a teaching artist working with its Out Reach/Art Reach
program, teaching Musical Theatre.
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DANCE (continued)
NICHOLE PIACENZA is a Dancer, Choreographer, Teacher, Singer who
graduated from Long Island University with a BFA in Dance and a
Minor in Theater. She is working on her Masters, MAT program at
Queens College. Nichole performs regularly with Dance Visions,
a modern and contemporary Ballet Company. She has danced solo
and in ensembles with Georgette & Co.; Moves and Motions; the Long
Island Fringe Festival; Isadora Duncan and the American
Jewish Experience. As a singer she has performed in A Grand
Piano, 5 Woman & Song.
JUDITH RIVERA is a Dancer, Singer
and Actress who has trained with Alvin Ailey American Dance Center,
and has performed on Broadway, at the Gateway Playhouse,
Theater-By-The-Sea and for television.
LANCELOT THEOBALD Jr. a former professional football player with the
Italian Football League has performed on Broadway in Indigo dancers
and at the Metropolitan Opera, Sampson et Delilah. He has trained
with George Faison, Frank Hatchett, Geoffrey Holder and Ted Levy.
Lance’s choreography has been seen at Madison Square Garden, Radio
City Music Hall, CBS, NBC, Mary Tyler Moore’s walkathon for diabetes
research, and more. He has choreographed for the New York Knick City
Dancers and choreographed and assistant directed the promotional
tour and video for the hip-hop artist REYN and Motown’s R&B artist
Lateaf’s music video.
DRAMA and MUSICAL THEATER
MEGAN CLANCY:
Please see
bio under “DANCE“.
DANIEL PITT STOLLER is an actor, director, and playwright. He holds
an MFA in Musical Theatre Writing from NYU’s Tisch School of the
Arts. His musical, Benjamin Starling was produced in 2004 at the
Spirit of Broadway Theatre in Connecticut. Danny has previously
taught creative workshops for the Wingspan Arts Center, Making Books
Sing, and Junior Levels. He has also contributed musical theatre
study materials for Camp Broadway in New York City.
RYAN TORINO holds a degree in Vocal Performance from the Jacobs
School of Music, Indiana University. He has performance in numerous
operas both in the U.S. and abroad. Ryan has directed Chamber Chorus
and performed with Vocal Jazz Ensemble Select Chorus as well as with
Rising Stars Singers.
FENCING
BERNIE GENZER worked for 30 years in New York City as a Speech Arts
and Drama teacher. He has 15 years coaching experience for the
Richmond Hill High School fencing team in New York and 15 years
experience coaching the Great Neck Public Schools fencing teams. Mr.
Genzer presently referees for Nassau County High Schools.
JOHN WILHELM is a member of the United States Fencing Association (USFA)
and the United States Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA). He
received his foil fencing coach and wheelchair fencing coach certification
from the USFA at the Olympic Training Camp in Colorado Springs. His
teaching credits include Yeshiva University NCAA Fencing Team Coach,
Stony Brook Fencing Club for 10 years and Youth Fencing at New York
City Parks Department. Mr. Wilhelm coordinated Stony Brook’s Fencing
Open, one of the largest USFA fencing competitions on Long Island.
Since 2004 he has instructed individual and team fencing at the GNAC.
MUSIC
DAVID DODDS Dave found his true calling in the percussion section.
Years of classical training built a strong technical and musical
foundation for him while real-world experience with a number of
different jazz, rock, and fusion bands helped him develop. His focus
lies on timbre, musicality, dynamics and taste. His style of
classically grounded, jazzy beats can be heard with a number of
NY/New England artists including his favorite project, the
independent jam band Blake & The Family Dog.
ASIYA KALENDAR is from Tashkent, Uzbekistan where she received her
Master’s Degree from the Tashkent Conservatory. In 1972, she joined
the faculty of Tashkent’s Music School No. 21 as the principal
choral conductor and senior instructor in music history, theory and
Solfeggio. As a skilled piano teacher, Mrs. Kalendar has brought her
students at the GNAC to a high level of accomplishment; many going
on to study at the Manhattan School of Music and other distinguished
music schools. Her students consistently achieve top scores at the
NYSSMA competition each year.
EDWARD KALENDAR was born in the former Soviet Republic of
Tajikistan. He studied classical composition with Aram Khachaturian.
His music was played on the radio and television throughout the
Soviet Union and Europe. He studied conducting with legendary Pierre
Boulez; and by 1975, Mr. Kalendar was a famous songwriter and
composer of over twenty-five film scores. Among major prizes in
musical composition, he was awarded the prestigious title of
“Honored Artist of the Republic” in Russia in 1988. In 1994 he
joined the faculty at GNAC. A concert at Alice Tully Hall in 2006
marks his most recent appearance.
GLENN MANION has been playing the guitar since 1969. In 1983, he and
his musical partner and wife, Suzanne Smithline, formed “Squeaky
Clean”, which specializes in presenting classic rock and roll in
schools, theaters, and the like. The group made regular appearances
on Nickelodeon’s “Eureka’s Castle” for several years. As a
songwriter, he has received awards from ASCAP and the SKC/ New York
Music Awards, BA New York University.
KRISTIN SAWYER NIKAJ is a violinist who has performed throughout New
York's premiere concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, Steinway
Hall and Lincoln Center. She has performed with numerous orchestras,
both in the US and abroad. Ms. Nikaj holds a Master’s Degree in
Performance from Mannes College where she served as principal
violist of the Mannes Orchestra. Primarily performing music of the
classical genre, she occasionally collaborates with popular artists,
including Adele, Kid Cudi and Ryan Leslie. Television appearances
include The View; The Late Show with David Letterman;
BET's Rising Icons; The Monique Show. Ms. Nikaj is a
Suzuki certified instructor and has been on faculty of the GNAC for
six years.
LESLEY STOLLER, a NYS Licensed Music Teacher with an MA in
Psychology. He has been teaching Music for the NYC Department of
Education at Queens Children’s Psychiatric Center for nineteen
years. Mr. Stoller is a permanent Member of the BMI Lehman Engel
Advanced Musical Theater Workshop where he developed his new
Musical, The Talking Cure. He is an ongoing contributor to The Night
Kitchen Radio Theater, and recently conducted his original score for
their production of The Emperor’s New Clothes at The Kennedy
Center’s Family Theater. Mr. Stoller is excited to be part of the
GNAC staff.
VOICE
ANNIE PASQUA, a singer, pianist, and composer whose performance
credits include Carnegie Hall, Nassau Coliseum as well as an
appearance on Good Morning America with Kenny G. Annie received her
B.S. in Music Education from New York University and Masters in
Composition from Queens College. Annie has been a composer/lyricist
in the BMI Lehman Engel Music Theater Writing Workshop in Manhattan
and has musical directed works premiered at New World Stages and the
York Theater. Annie is currently workshopping her new musical, Tess
(based on Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles) with her sister
Jenna in Manhattan.
KATE STEINBERG, a singer, songwriter and pianist is a graduate of
Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA. She is a composer and music
supervisor for ads, films and other multimedia. Kate has scored
indie short and feature films. She has worked with Engine Music
Studios, Thrill Jockey Records and Victory Records in Chicago.
RYAN TORINO holds a degree in Vocal Performance from the Jacobs
School of Music, Indiana University. He has performance in numerous
operas both in the U.S. and abroad. Ryan has directed Chamber Chorus
and performed with Vocal Jazz Ensemble Select Chorus as well as with
Rising Stars Singers.
MUSIC TOGETHER
JUDY LEFF is the Director/Owner of While They’re Little, a company
she started after her second child was born. She and her teachers
have all been trained to teach Music Together by the Center for
Music and Young Children in Princeton, NJ. In addition to the Mixed
Age Music Together classes, While They’re Little also offers Babies
Only classes as well as Music Together in a Pre-school setting.
Additional information about Music Together classes can be found at
www.whiletheyrelittle.com.
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