2023 Graduating Seniors
Did you feel that your classical music experience was a significant part of your college application?
Very much so, and not just for college. You know that old adage –“when words fail, music speaks.” And that adage perfectly suited me ever since I was young; music was how I expressed myself, and it was how I channeled my emotions.
Did you prepare a video/recording of your repertoire to submit when you applied to college?
Of course – I professionally recorded with Alexey a lot for my college portfolio, but I ended up picking only a few of those pieces for it because of different college requirements.
On average, how much time did you practice each day during high school?
I used to practice about an hour each day during my freshman and sophomore year, but to be honest, I started skipping practice days during my junior and senior years as I was busier during those years, and I would make them up by practicing at school during my free periods. I usually step up on practicing whenever there’s a recital or competition coming up, and that’s when I focus more on piano.
What is one piece of advice about music practice that you would like to share?
I actually have two pieces of advice. My first is: don’t procrastinate! I know, you’ve heard this so many times from so many people, but it’s really important not to delay your practice until the day of your lesson or a performance. Just like with schoolwork and cramming before a test, you won’t get your piece firmly in your hands if you practice like that and you’ll probably forget it soon after. It takes consistent practice to get pieces firmly in your hands. I’ve learned this the hard way, mind you. My second piece of advice is not to obsess over a tiny mistake during a performance. When you’re practicing, definitely make sure that every part of the piece is firmly in your hands and neatly polished. But on stage, when you mess up, just keep playing onwards — don’t stop and try to “correct” the mistake you made. Everybody gets nervous on stage, and when we’re nervous, we won’t perform at the level we can during practice. Of course, practicing builds up your confidence on stage and your mastery of the piece, but don’t expect to be perfect on stage. Just perform the best you can. Believe me – the audience will love your performance.
Did you compete in music competitions? What did you learn from the process, and what motivated you to keep competing?
Of course! I participated in over thirty different competitions! I think the reason why I can participate in so many is that most of the competitions I’ve been to are online, and it was just a matter of recording one good take and sending it to those competitions. And I was surprised at the awards I got – I did not imagine getting so many prizes, let alone being invited to Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw, among many different places because of the results in those competitions, and I actually thought some of them were way too easy. I applied to some more difficult competitions as well, such as Radda Rise and YMIC, where I sometimes didn’t get prizes. Regardless of whether I got first place or no prize at all, I still practice and perform to the best of my ability, seeking excellence in my performances, and I usually think of prizes as an afterthought. And that would be my advice to share — don’t practice for first place; practice for excellence. The prizes will come later.
What other extracurriculars did you participate in during high school?
Quite a lot – in addition to piano, I am also a percussionist in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, and I played the drum set in my school’s honors jazz band. I’m also very involved with computer science, and I’m a part of my school’s robotics team which very nearly made it to VEX Worlds last year. In addition to robotics, I’m a part of my school’s refurbishing club where we tune up old computers and send them to communities in need, and I recently founded a student tech support program where students can help troubleshoot problems on people’s devices. On top of that, I manage the websites for three different nonprofits, and was involved in them in more than just web management; I wrote the curriculums for one nonprofit that taught English to ESL (English as a second language) students, and I participated in discussions about racism and discrimination in another. And on top of that, I wrote for my school’s newspaper and became the opinions editor for it, of which many of my articles were about issues affecting my community, such as racism.
How did you balance your music studies, your academics, and your other extracurriculars? What mindset helped you the most during this time?
To be honest, this was quite a struggle for me, especially during my junior year. I put too many things on my plate and naively thought that I could handle them all — schoolwork, piano, percussion, extracurriculars, a part-time job, and so on. I lost sleep studying for all my tests, of which there was at least one or two every week, and my extracurricular commitments took a toll on me as well. This might have been because I moved during COVID to a new school and lost a lot of opportunities then, but still, it was very stressful having to deal with it all. Everyone says that “junior year is your most important year,” but don’t sacrifice your sleep and well-being! It’s still important to stay healthy, physically and mentally during these times. Looking back, I wouldn’t have naively gotten myself involved in so many extracurriculars, and instead focusing on just one or two at a time, while making sure I got my schoolwork done. That way, I wouldn’t need to sacrifice my well-being and also balance my time more.
How did your music studies impact your high school experience?
As I said in question 1, music is a major part of my life. Music is not only an avenue to channel my emotions, but is also a way to lighten myself during the day. For example, whenever I did homework or any other tedious task, I would often listen to music to make the task enjoyable. But it also fits into my positivity, even when I’m overwhelmed — some songs I listen to put a smile on my face which makes me feel optimistic and confident during the day. Even when I practice piano, I still get the same feelings of confidence, calm, or optimism.
What do you plan to major in in college? Will you be double majoring in music and another subject, or minoring in music?
I’m majoring in computer science, actually! But I might end up being a part of a band, orchestra, or some musical ensemble in college, and I’ll still find time to practice piano during then. I am applying to Princeton and Yale as music majors with an emphasis on piano performance, though.
Did you feel that your classical music experience was a significant part of your college application?
Yes, I wrote my common application essay on music and how it has shaped my life. Many of my extracurricular activities were music related and helped strengthen my application.
Did you prepare a video/recording of your repertoire to submit when you applied to college?
I have a decent collection of chamber and solo recordings which I was able to submit along with my applications despite not applying for music specifically.
On average, how much time did you practice each day during high school?
I didn’t practice everyday, mostly due to sports taking up a large chunk of my time. On the days I practiced, I would typically practice around an hour to 1.5 hours. If I had a lot of free time I might practice for two or three hours.
What is one piece of advice about music practice that you would like to share?
It’s very helpful to break up a practice session into smaller chunks, taking short breaks in between. You can switch between homework and practicing if you’re short on time.
Did you compete in music competitions? What did you learn from the process, and what motivated you to keep competing?
I have done a few competitions. They have helped me be more comfortable performing because there is an added level of pressure from the judges. They also give me motivation to practice more in the weeks leading up to the competition.
What other extracurriculars did you participate in during high school?
I fence competitively, often traveling out of state for tournaments.
How did you balance your music studies, your academics, and your other extracurriculars? What mindset helped you the most during this time?
To balance multiple extracurriculars with school, I often had to sacrifice one activity for another. If I had a fencing tournament coming up, I would just have to practice less and vice versa. I kept academics a priority so I never really sacrificed school work for my extracurriculars. To do so many things at once consistently, I had to really see fencing and violin as leisurely activities even when they required a lot of focus and hard work. Otherwise, I got burnt out from feeling like I could never catch a break. So I used violin practice as a break from school work.
How did your music studies impact your high school experience?
I got to meet a lot of new people through orchestra and also had the opportunity to perform at a lot of school events. I also did a few summer music festivals which were fun.
What do you plan to major in in college? Will you be double majoring in music and another subject, or minoring in music?
I am still unsure if what I will major in. I am planning on minoring in music, and possibly majoring in classics.
’21 Alumni Interviews
Did you feel that your classical music experience was a significant part of your college application?
Yes, because I wanted to apply to the Bienen Music School at Northwestern.
Did you prepare a video/recording of your repertoire to submit when you applied to college?
Yes, I submitted audition recordings to aid in my application process.
On average, how much did you practice each day during high school?
Maybe an hour and a half on average, with freshman and sophomore year averaging more, and junior and senior year averaging less.
What is one piece of advice about music practice that you would like to share?
Practice what you don’t know. It’s easy to play things you are good at over and over again and enjoy the music you are making, but progress doesn’t occur unless you force yourself to step outside your comfort zone and work on new techniques or passages one step at a time.
Did you compete in music competitions? What did you learn from the process and what motivated you to keep competing?
Yes, they were a pretty significant part of my childhood growing up and also my musical life. If there’s anything that I’ve learned through the competition process, it’s that while people may tell you that it’s all luck and you can’t control the outcome, in many cases, the outcome actually does reflect the work you put into preparation. For myself, there have been countless competitions in which I have lost to superior students from the Nelly Berman School of Music. I initially felt indignation, but I later realized those students were undoubtedly better than I was and deserved to lose. However, it goes both ways. When you do place in or win a competition, in many cases it is the result of your hard work and you deserve to be proud of the accomplishment, as you earned it.
What other extracurriculars did you participate in during high school?
In addition to many music groups at school, I was – and still am – very active in Harriton High School’s student council. I initially joined just to be aware of the many different events that occurred at my school.
Now I am the current student body president voted in by over 900 students. The work ethic I learned through music has been surprisingly instrumental in my role as student council president, as many of my responsibilities involve working on slowly developing projects as opposed to instantly gratifying endeavors.
How did you balance your music studies, your academics, and your other extracurriculars? What mindset helped you the most during this time?
The truth of the matter is it’s impossible to do everything (sorry Asian moms). Pursuing any sport, extracurricular, or club at school almost always comes at the expense of something else. In my case, playing on my school’s tennis team took away from time at the piano. Lead-ling Student Council events came at the expense of my grades. Practicing for piano competitions resulted in lack of sleep. I think it really just comes down to what is important to you. It’s sometimes best to just focus on a few things rather than everything, but if you want to give everything a try I say go for it. Everyone eventually figures out what works for them.
How did your music studies impact your high school experience?
Talking about music just in the scope of my high school experiences won’t do it justice. In all honesty, music was probably the foundation upon which the rest of my life developed as soon as I had my first piano lesson at the age of 6. From the life lessons I’ve learned (such as patience, perseverance, and self-confidence), to the invaluable friends I’ve made along the way (through NBS and local youth orchestras), it has shaped my entire youth and adolescence. I wouldn’t be the person I am today, and I wouldn’t be friends with the people I care so much about now without music, so for that, I am forever grateful
Do you plan to study music in college?
Yes, I am currently planning on pursuing a dual degree in Mechanical Engineering and Piano Performance at Northwestern University. Needless, they are very different fields of study, but I can only wait and see what happens.
Did you feel that your classical music experience was a significant part of your college application?
Definitely. Music took up a large portion of my high school life and my experiences taught me life lessons that made for effective application essay topics.
Did you prepare a video/recording of your repertoire to submit when you applied to college?
Yes, I submitted a piano portfolio.
On average, how much did you practice each day during high school?
To be entirely upfront, I didn’t practice every day. I play the piano and the violin, and it was difficult for me to find time to practice both instruments. But I know people are here for the numbers, so when I did practice, I averaged between 2 and 3 hours on the piano. If I had competitions or recordings coming up, that number increased by an hour or two leading up to the event. Violin I practiced less because it was my secondary instrument, but I participated in several festivals with cumulative audition processes that required about 1 to 2 hours of daily practice.
What is one piece of advice about music practice that you would like to share?
A little bit every day is better than several hours one day. Although I’m guilty of not following my own advice, I think music is a very cumulative and foundational process that relies on daily conditioning and strengthening, both physically and mentally.
Did you compete in music competitions? What did you learn from the process and what motivated you to keep competing?
Emma: I did compete in several competitions throughout middle and high school. I’ve gained quite a bit of experience from competing and it’s impossible to sum it all in one answer, but I would say my main takeaway was learning to process loss in a healthy and productive manner. It’s easy to feel defeated and purposeless after a loss, but as with any artistic endeavor, your best performance may not be to the taste of the jury. However, what had me coming back to competitions was the goal it gave me: to personally improve and to play my best. I liked that competitions forced me to work under a timeline, and I eventually grew to view them not as a comparison between me and my competitors, but as a form of feedback for myself. I also enjoy the adrenaline rush of competing in front of juries, as well as the camaraderie you feel with your fellow competitors.
What other extracurriculars did you participate in during high school?
By far the most time-consuming extracurriculars outside of music were my medical and healthcare-related activities. I volunteered at Bryn Mawr Hospital, conducted independent research and wrote a paper, interned as a medical camp counselor one summer, and when the pandemic began, I found virtual volunteering opportunities. Aside from STEM-based extracurriculars, played tennis all four years of high school and was a captain my senior season. I was Co-Head of my high school’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, as well as an editor for The Compass, my high school’s literary magazine.
How did you balance your music studies, your academics, and your other extracurriculars? What mindset helped you the most during this time?
The truth is I wasn’t always able to balance everything. I sacrificed sleep to finish homework and to study, and when big competitions and performances came up, my grades often took a hit. Although it may have seemed like I was able to balance my music studies and my academics on top of the rest of my life, it’s ultimately impossible to do it all. I would say to watch out for Duck Syndrome, which describes students who seem put-together and superficially calm (like a duck above the water’s surface) while struggling to keep up with the more personal aspects of their life (the frantic paddling of a duck’s feet underwater).
There’s another analogy I found helpful while juggling everything I did: to know which things in your life are glass balls and which ones are plas-tic. If you drop a plastic ball, it doesn’t break, and you can always pick it back up later and restart whatever you were doing. However, if you drop a glass ball, it shatters, so prioritize keeping your glass balls in the air. It’s okay if the plastic ones fall from time to time. Invest more time and energy into a few activities that you enjoy and that are important to you, rather than trying to do a little bit of everything.
How did your music studies impact your high school experience?
Music was, arguably, the crux of my high school life. It taught me discipline, patience, and attention to detail, all of which benefited my academic and other extracurricular endeavors. Music is also a therapeutic outlet for me, and I occasionally indulge in purely self-serving playing just to have fun without worrying about the pressure of “making good music. I am incredibly thankful for the friendships and lifelong connections that I’ve formed with my peers and my mentors, and I know that music is a gift I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Do you plan to study music in college?
I do not plan on majoring in music in college, but I hope to join Brown’s orchestra and chamber music program as a violinist and to continue playing the piano. I plan to major in public health on the premed track.
Did you feel that your classical music experience was a significant part of your college application?
While I am not planning to study music in college, it certainly served as a great extracurricular on my application and a great expression of my life as a person, and not just a student.
Did you prepare a video/recording of your repertoire to submit when you applied to college?
Yes: I generally record all of my repertoire, so I had a lot of material to choose from for my college applications.
On average, how much did you practice each day during high school?
I try to practice at least an hour a day if possible; that has become more difficult through junior and senior year, but on the weekends I sometimes practice 2-3 hours a day if I’m not busy with other things.
What is one piece of advice about music practice that you would like to share?
Practice is not necessarily just sitting at the piano and learning the music. Practice is understanding the historical and musical context of your piece, watching recordings of your piece by other musicians and learning things from them, annotating your music in whatever way helps you best, and more. So, during practice, if you are getting a little tired of actually playing the music, try something else: it can often be equally or more helpful.
Did you compete in music competitions? What did you learn from the process and what motivated you to keep competing?
Yes, I have competed since elementary school. The most valuable thing I’ve gained from competition is stage confidence. I was nato-ally very shy and I had stage fright. Competing forced me to get on stage in front of people guaranteed to be judging me, and deal with it. Competing also allowed me to get personalized advice from professionals all over the world, whether or not I won anything.
What other extracurriculars did you participate in during high school?
I am president of my school’s math club, general manager of our school newspaper, co-captain of the varsity winter track team, and board member of our monthly debate club. I plan to major in math, so I’ve done many math-related activities: each year I take the AMC, an annual national math competition, and qualified for the AIME last year, the next level in competition. I competed in a mathematical modeling competition last year, and in a competition math tournament in the Inter-ac, the sports league that my school belongs to
How did you balance your music studies, your academics, and your other extracurriculars? What mindset helped you the most during this time?
I find that doing music, academics, and my extracurriculars make me a better person, each in some different way. I would never do something if I didn’t feel it was truly worth my time. So even if I feel like procrastinating or wasting time, I know in the back of my head that I am doing this for me and nothing else. More practically, getting simple things done early, like worksheets or readings, always gives me more time to complete longer, more complex projects, like research papers, learning a piece, or whatever it is. I like to get the small things out of the way so I can have time and brain space to totally focus on the bigger things.
How did your music studies impact your high school experience?
I will forever be grateful to have such a high level of musical ability in my life. I find that being good at something not only makes you enjoy it more, but it gives you a sense of stability, both personally and professionally. Having a skill that I can be proud of, that I can continue to improve, certainly contributed to my confidence and my stability as a person.
Do you plan to study music in college?
I plan to major in mathematics. I love math, and it is a great jumping off point for nearly any career in STEM: physics, finance, economics, statistics, applied math, pure math, engineering, etc. I hope to figure out that career sometime in college. I don’t plan to minor in music from the start, but depending on what school I attend, I may add it later on. I will definitely be in extracurricular music regardless, whether it’s orchestra, band or whatever.
Alumni: Where are they now?
Studying classical music is not an end in itself but a way to become a better citizen. Our alumni have gone on to study at some of the top universities in the US and the world, and credit the Nelly Berman and their serious study of classical music at her school for inspiring them to become more profound human beings and achieve excellence in their professional lives.
Alexandra Stein is currently completing her M. Sc. in Development Management at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She previously worked as a Social and Environmental Responsibility Officer at Le Groupe AZURA and as a Country Manager at the High Atlas Foundation in Morocco. She previously studied flute at the Nelly Berman School of Music, and went on to graduate from Columbia University in New York, NY, with a B.A. in Middle East and North Africa Studies, magna cum laude.
Alison Klayman is a Director’s Guild of America-nominated filmmaker whose debut feature documentary, “Ai Wei Wei: Never Sorry,” was shortlisted for an Academy Award and nominated for two Emmys, and was one of the highest grossing films of 2012 directed by a woman. She studied piano while at the Nelly Berman School of Music and graduated from Brown University with a B.A. in History, with honors.
Alison Tatsuoka is a Ballet Arizona second company member and Columbia University student who deferred her university studies to dance for Oklahoma City Ballet and Ballet Arizona. She previously studied piano at the Nelly Berman School of Music, winning and placing at a number of local and national music and ballet competitions.
Ashwini Shende is currently pursuing her B.S. in Chemical & Biological Engineering at Princeton University. She previously studied piano at the Nelly Berman School of Music, performing with a number of local orchestras and winning and placing at many local and national music competitions.
Dr. Brynne Reece is a dentist at Westminster Endodontics. She received her B.A> from Hendrix College, and completed her Endodontic Post-Graduate program at the University of Maryland. She is the recipient the Sherill Ann Siegel, Harry W.F. Dressel, and numerous American Association of Endodontists (AAE) Dentsply awards. She studied piano at the Nelly Berman School of Music and is an accomplished pianist, earning an Advanced Certificate in Piano Performance from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, London, UK.
Dr. Caesar K. Luo is a board certified vitreo-retinal surgeon, currently working at the Progressive Vision Institute. While in high school, he studied piano at the Nelly Berman School of Music. He later graduated from the University of Rochester with a B.A. in Biology, magna cum laude, earned his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, and completed his residency at the Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia, PA.
Daniel Schlosberg is a composer and Co-Music Director of Heartbeat Opera in NYC. His works have been played by the Dover Quartet, Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, Nashville Symphony, and Yale Philharmonia, among others. He was awarded a 2014 Charles Ives Scholarship by the American Academy of Arts and Letters and a 2014 Morton Gould Young Composer Award from ASCAP. He studied piano at the Nelly Berman School and went on to earn his B.A. at the Yale University and his M.A., M.M.A., and D.M.A. from the Yale School of Music.
David Wu is currently completing his M.Eng. in Supply Chain Management and Logistics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He previously worked as a Consultant for A.T. Kearney in Melbourne, Australia, and as a Materials Planner at Unilever. He studied piano at the Nelly Berman School of Music through high school and went on to attend Penn State University, where he was recognized as the R. Gene Richter Scholar for Supply Management in 2011. He graduated with a B.S. in Supply Chain Management & Information Systems, summa cum laude.
Ellen Morris is currently Music Director at the Griffin Theatre Company in Chicago, IL. She also holds the position of Music Director of Wilmette Park District and The Hypocrites Theater and is a voice teacher. She previously studied piano at the Nelly Berman School of Music from the age of five, and continued through high school. She graduated from Northwestern University with a BMus in Piano Studies/Music Direction & English.
Elena Nikonova is currently a medical resident in the department of surgery at the University of Florida. She previously studied piano at the Nelly Berman School of Music through high school, received her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, and attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Eliza McCarthy is winner of the 2013 British Contemporary Piano Competition and currently a member of the Birmingham-based contemporary ensemble Decibel and the London-based band Jetsam. She has worked with John Adams, George Crumb, and Tansy Davies, among others. She studied piano while at the Nelly Berman School of Music, going on to receive her B.Mus., First Class, her M.Mus, and her Artists Fellowship from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Ethan Lee previously studied piano at the Nelly Berman School of Music, performing with the Philadelphia Orchestra as winner of the Albert M. Greenfield Student Competition. He received his B.A. in Biology & Music from Washington University in St. Louis, where he studied pre-med, and is currently on the piano & jazz faculty at the Nelly Berman School of Music.
Felix Zhang is currently Senior Investment Associate at Ares Management in New York, NY. He previously was an Investment Banking Analyst at Goldman Sachs. He studied piano at the Nelly Berman School of Music and went on to attend Harvard University, graduating with a BA in Economics and Neurobiology, with honors.
Grace Kamfonas is a piano teacher in the Philadelphia area. She previously studied piano at the Nelly Berman School of Music and graduated from Ithaca College with a B.A. in Music, magna cum laude.
Ian Robinson is a professional cellist. He studied at Indiana University under Janos Starker, and was one of Mr. Starker’s last students. He graduated with a master’s in cello performance and Suzuki pedagogy from the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Irene Moretto currently teaches piano, leads chamber music studies, handbells, and Liturgical Ensemble at Merion Mercy Academy. She holds an M.M. in Piano Performance and in Harpsichord Performance, as well as a B.M. in Piano Pedagogy from Temple University.
John Kamfonas is currently a concert pianist based in Paris, France. He studied piano at the Nelly Berman School of Music, going on to earn his B.A. in Music and Economics from Columbia University and his M.M. in Piano Performance from the Manhattan School of Music in New York, NY, where he studied under Phillip Kawin as the recipient of the Artur Balsam Foundation Endowed Scholarship. He also holds a Diplome Superieure in Piano Performance from the Ecole Normale de Music de Paris – Alfred Cortot.
Jonathan Adler is currently a pursuing a B.A. in History at Yale University. He studied piano and saxophone at the Nelly Berman School of Music, discovering his passion for jazz while at the school, and continues to play with his university jazz group.
Katherine Hung previously studied piano at the Nelly Berman School of Music. She was one of 160 students nationwide to qualify for the U.S. Presidential Scholar award, presented to the country’s top-performing students, and is currently at Harvard University.
Lan Luo is currently at Yale University, studying economics. He studied saxophone and was a key member of the Jazz Ensemble at the Nelly Berman School of Music. He was also the All-State Champion in the Number Sense Competition, sponsored by the Texas Math and Science Coaches Association, and qualified to represent Pennsylvania and New Jersey at the national American Regions Mathematics League contest.
Matthew Klayman currently serves as a law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He previously studied at the Nelly Berman School of Music. He went on to graduate from Harvard University with an A.B. in History and Language Citation in Yiddish, magna cum laude, and earned his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Matthew Gliatto is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at Princeton University. He studied piano at the Nelly Berman School of Music and continued his studies even while completing Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Mathematics at Saint Joseph’s University.
Naomi Hachen is currently working at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory. She studied piano at the Nelly Berman School of Music and went on to earn her B.S. in Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering and her M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
Priya Ganesh is studying chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She studied clarinet at the Nelly Berman School of Music, played clarinet in the Radnor High School band, and participated in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) band festivals at the district, regional and state level.
Rebecca Solomon, a recent graduate of Harvard University with a Masters degree in Education, is the founder of Acrodemics, which provides educational services in the nature of acrobatics, yoga, and academic tutoring. She started her musical studies at the Nelly Berman School of Music, first in piano and later in voice. She later earned a B.A. in Psychology and Linguistics from Bard College at Simon’s Rock and studied Education and Social Entrepreneurship at Tulane University.
Sharon Hsu is studying engineering at Cornell University, where she is also a freshman TA. She studied voice and piano at the Nelly Berman School of Music, and has continued to sing in a vocal group in college.
Stephen Gliatto is currently an Elementary music teacher in Virginia. He previously attended Georgetown University as a pre-med, before deciding to instead pursue a career in music education, completing his B.M.Ed at West Chester University. He has worked as Assistant Music Director at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia, PA, and continues to be an important member of the Nelly Berman School of Music community as a part-time office assistant, accompanist, and chamber music coach.