EDUCATION:

 

Columbia University, New York, NY

D.M.A. in Music Composition, May 2006

    Dissertation Composition: Elegy and Dance for Chamber Ensemble

    Dissertation Paper: “Digging (Notes from Under-Ground)”

    Honors: Dissertation passed “with distinction”

    Committee: Milton Babbitt, Allen Blustine, Joseph Dubiel, Fred Lerdahl, Jeffrey Milarsky

    Composition Studies with: Joseph Dubiel, Jonathan Kramer, Fred Lerdahl

    Computer-Music Studies with: Bradford Garton

    Music-Theory Studies with: Joseph Dubiel, Jonathan Kramer, Fred Lerdahl, Jeff Nichols

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The Juilliard School, New York, NY

M.M. in Music Composition, May 1994

    Composition Studies with: Milton Babbitt

    Computer-Music Studies with: Hubert Howe

    Musicology Studies with: Robert Bailey

    Ear-Training Studies with: Mary Anthony Cox

B.M. in Music Composition, May 1992

    Areas of concentration: Twelve-tone composition, Pitch-Class Set Theory, Schenkerian Analysis

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

 

Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY

Adjunct Assistant Professor, 2015-Present

Teaching the following courses: “Music Theory Fundamentals” (enrollment: 30), “1000 Years of Listening” (enrollment: 50).  Taught “Music Theory III” (enrollment: 15).  Design and conduct experiential course lectures and assignments.  Develop and implement effective teaching strategies for a diverse student body drawn from a range of musical styles and sources.  Incorporate technology into lessons. Assess student comprehension and advise students. Maintain Blackboard. Conduct regular assessments, benchmark exams and semester grading.

 

National University of Ireland, Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland

Visiting Assistant Lecturer, January 2013-July 2013

Taught the following courses: “Ensemble Performance,” “Music History II: Twentieth-Century” (enrollment: 175), “Analysis of Romantic Piano Music” (enrollment: 35), “Musicology in Practice,” “Engaging Music: Approaches to Analysis.”  Supervised dissertation research and writing.  Coordinated ensemble performance.  Coached chamber music ensembles.  Advised students. Participated in curriculum development.  Administered Entrance interviews and auditions.  Conducted piano examinations and recital juries.  Formulated course requirements and organization.  Facilitated class discussion.  Evaluated written work.  Assessed student performance and determined grades.

 

Columbia University, New York, NY

Adjunct Assistant Professor, 2011-2013

Taught the course “Masterpieces of Western Music” (enrollment: 25).  Developed course structure and requirements.  Formulated syllabus. Directed class discussions. Evaluated all work and generated final grades.

 

Yeshiva University, New York, NY

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Yeshiva College, 2002-2013

Taught the following courses: “Introduction to Composition,” “Composition,” “The Sense of Music” (enrollment: 35), “Introductory Ear-Training and Keyboard Skills,” “Elementary Ear-Training and Keyboard Skills,” “Diatonic Harmony and Counterpoint.”  Formulated course structure and requirements.  Directed weekly discussion sessions. Evaluated all written work and generated final grades.

 

Adjunct Professor, The Belz School of Jewish Music, 2004-2013

Taught the following courses: “The Rudiments of Music,” “The Fundamentals of Music,” “Musicianship,” “Keyboard Work.”  Formulated course structure and requirements.  Directed weekly discussion sessions and lessons, Evaluated all written and aural work and generated final grades.

 

PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS:

 

The Leonard Bernstein Office, New York, NY

Special Projects Coordinator, August 2013-April 2014

Wrote informative and persuasive marketing materials and alerts of exceptional quality to various audiences.  Incorporated all necessary creative materials, including biographical, performance histories, sound, visual and video.  Coordinated and executed project tasks with the Senior Vice President, external consultants, presenters, co-author organizations and educational institutions.  Created, implemented and supervise social media programs, particularly Leonard Bernstein’s 100,000+ Facebook friend community.  Provided recommendations and oversaw execution of aspects of the 2017-2018 Leonard Bernstein Centennial and the Leonard Bernstein Artful Learning model.

 

OTHER TEACHING CREDENTIALS:

 

Private Instruction, New York, NY

1992-Present

Studio classes in the following subjects:  Musical Composition, Musicianship, Ear-Training, Music Theory, Keyboard Studies.

Provide students with a custom-tailored learning experience incorporating traditional texts and personally-designed exercises within a carefully structured, progressive method.

 

Columbia University, New York, NY

Mellon Teaching Fellow, 2002-2003

Assisted Professor Christopher Washburne in the following courses: “Jazz,” “Popular Musics of the Americas: Salsa, Soca, Reggae.”  Reorganized examinations.  Advised students.  Determined grading for all written work.

 

Mellon Teaching Fellow, 1997-2002

Taught the course “Ear-Training,” elementary through advanced levels.  Substantially revised and streamlined course structure and requirements.  Revamped examinations and assignments.  Instructed and implemented grades.

 

Yeshiva University, New York, NY

Visiting Assistant Professor, Stern College for Women, 2006-2009

Taught the following courses: “The Sense of Music,” “Harmony and Counterpoint,” “Introductory Ear-Training and Keyboard Skills,” “Elementary Ear-Training and Keyboard Skills,” “Advanced Ear-Training and Keyboard Skills.”  Effectively facilitated curriculum development, redesigned examinations and assignments.  Formulated course structure and requirements.  Lectured and administered all grades.

 

Adjunct Professor, Stern College for Women, 2003-2005

Taught the following courses: “The Sense of Music,” “Introductory Ear-Training and Keyboard Skills,” “Elementary Ear-Training and Keyboard Skills.”  Effectively facilitated curriculum development, redesigned examinations and assignments.  Formulated course structure and requirements.  Lectured and administered all grades.

 

New York University, New York, NY

Adjunct Professor, 2001-2002

Taught the course “Fundamentals of Music.”  Provided students with basic music reading and writing skills.  Devised syllabus, Implemented course structure and requirements.  Initiated weekly assignments.

 

American Musical and Dramatic Academy, New York, NY

Adjunct Professor, 2000-2002

Taught the course “Sight Singing and Musicianship.”  Oversaw the audition process.  Organized and oversaw placement examinations.  Advised department head on course structure, and assisted in developing syllabus.  Significantly expanded examinations and assignments.  Coordinated and generated grades.

 

The Juilliard School, New York, NY

Technical Assistant, 1993-1994

Assisted Professor Hubert Howe in monitoring and maintaining the Electronic music studio.  Aided students in sound-design, production, and recording.

 

Teaching Fellow, 1993-1994

Assisted Professor Mary Anthony Cox in her “Ear-Training” course.  Conducted aural practice sessions and dictation.  Led weekly lectures, graded written work.

 

TEACHING INTERESTS:

 

Composition/Theory/Musicology:

Beginning and Advanced Ear-Training; Diatonic and Chromatic Harmony; Introductory Keyboard Skills;  16th–20th Century Counterpoint; Musicianship, Orchestration; Chamber-music coaching; Contemporary Compositional Styles and Techniques; European/American Serialism; Pitch-Class Set Theory; Transformational Theory; Neo-Riemannian Theory; Schenkerian Analysis; Beginning and Advanced Composition; Computer-Assisted Composition; Analytical Theory and Performance; 16th-21st Century Music History 

 

RELATED EXPERIENCE:

 

Subject Specialist in Experimental Music of the American Tradition, 2013

 In collaboration with the California Institute of the Arts and the National University of Ireland’s “Traveling Studentship in the Humanities and Social Sciences.”

 

Association to Benefit Children, New York, NY

Volunteer, 2009-Present

Continue to develop “Someone to Watch Over Me” a creative outlet for underprivileged children, and children with special needs.  Coordinate projects and assist in developing lesson plans. Familiarize students with rudiments of music.

 

One-Eyed Dharma Productions, New York, NY

Production Assistant, 2002-2003

Collaborated with Film composer Martin Erskine on various productions for Walt Disney Pictures including “The Music Man,” The Lion King 1 ½,” “The Tigger Movie.”  Assisted in recording and editing process.  Worked in partnership on composition and orchestral arranging for film scores.  Helped upgrade studio with Logic audio, and new Pro-Tools system.

 

Association to Benefit Children, New York, NY

Volunteer, 1998-2001

Helped establish the “Young Musicians and Artists Program,” a creative outlet for underprivileged children, and children with special needs.  Developed daily activities and workshops, acquainted students with basic musicianship skills.

 

Columbia Composers - Columbia University, New York, NY

Director, 1998-2000

Consistently programmed a concert series of the highest quality, featuring graduate student composers at Columbia University.  Involved in all aspects of production, including hiring of performers, scheduling rehearsals, supervising recording process.

 

SELECTED COMMISSIONS, PERFORMANCES AND RECORDINGS:

 

Factory Seconds Brass Trio, piece forthcoming, 2023; Collide-O-Scope Music for The Joke, 2022; 2nd Trumpet, Cleveland Orchestra Jack Sutte, piece to be written for his Sonata Project, 2022; Robert Pound for Litani, 2021; The Playground Ensemble for The College Music Society’s Regional Conference, Denver, CO for Three Poems of Emily Dickinson, 2014; 2nd Trumpet, Cleveland Orchestra Jack Sutte for Salient Flourishes, 2013; released on Jack Sutte: Fanfare Alone, 2014; Oboist, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Randall Wolfgang for Seven Benedictions, 2012; Sinopia Quartet for Praeludium, 2011; Pianist Shiau-uen Ding for Canto, 2009; The Manhattan Sinfonietta for in Just, 2008; All Saints Church, Pasadena, CA for Agnus Dei, 2005; Speculum Musicae for Elegy and Dance for Chamber Ensemble, 2002; Roy Disney, Alden James and The National Arts Club for Four Movements for Violin and Piano, 2000; The Arditti Quartet for String Quartet No. 2, 1999; Speculum Musicae for Three Poems of Emily Dickinson, 1997; The Frelinghuysen Foundation for Chorale Prelude on “An Die Freude,” 1992; The Carnegie-Mellon Baroque Chamber Ensemble for Cadenza for Brandenburg Concerto No.3 – II, 1989; The Carnegie-Mellon Philharmonic for Jeu de Robin et de Marion, 1989; Cuarteto Latinoamericano for Prelude and Fugue in A Minor, 1989

 

COLLABORATIONS:

 

El Grito with Lila York for the San Francisco Ballet, 1997; ERECT sECRETs with Henning Rubsam of Sensedance, New York City Center, 1993; el Dia de la Muerte with Rodolfo Maya Dancers, Alice Tully Hall, 1992; Olly-Olly-Ox-in-Free with Paul Dennis of Jose Limon Dance Company, Alice Tully Hall, 1989

 

AWARDS AND HONORS:

 

The American Prize, Finalist, 2014

The American Academy of Arts and Letters, Nomination for Academy Award, 2003 

The Dr. Boris and Eda Rapaport Prize for Elegy and Dance for Chamber Ensemble, 2002

Mellon Fellowship, Columbia University, 1996-2003

The American Academy of Arts and Letters, Nomination for Academy Award, 1996

The George Gershwin Memorial Scholarship, The Juilliard School, 1991

The Gretchaninoff Memorial Award, The Juilliard School, 1990

The Henry Mancini Fellowship, The Juilliard School, 1989

The Schubert Foundation Award for Outstanding Musicianship, 1981

 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

 

American Composer’s Forum; American Music Center; ASCAP; The Boston New Music Initiative; Composer’s Concordance; National Association of Composers-USA; Society of Composers, Inc.; Society for Music Theory; College Music Society; Columbia Composers