Melissa’s journey towards teaching music started in fifth grade. Struggling with low self-esteem as a result of dyslexia, she found a huge source of support in her teacher, who mentored her, helped her improve her grades, and gave her a leadership role as a ͞Safety Patrol͟. Learning life lessons through music also guided Melissa’s path. When she joined the marching band as a pupil herself in high school, she found it very challenging and wanted to quit. However, after persevering, she learned that the more you do something the better you get at it – and eventually, Melissa was made the leader of the band. These experiences taught her the value of never giving up, trying to make the world a better place, and helping others. So when she became a teacher, she wanted to help her students in the same way.
When Melissa first started teaching at Public School 48, Joseph R. Drake Elementary School, the school hadn’t had a music programme for over thirty years. There were no instruments and no resources. School 48 is located in the South Bronx neighbourhood of Hunts Point, the most at-risk community for children in New York City: over 59% of children live in poverty and 29% percent of families live on less than $15,000 a year. However, Melissa entered contests, wrote grant applications, and eventually raised enough money and instruments to start the first ever Public School 48 band programme – which was a huge success. When she arrives at school there are seventy-five smiling faces eagerly waiting to start band rehearsal. Behaviour and discipline problems have declined among students participating in music, and attendance is up. So, in 2013, Melissa was named the Big Apple Awards & Lincoln Center Arts Teacher of the Year for her contribution.
In the spring of 2014, over spring break, Melissa’s programme lost $30,000 equipment through theft and damage. Melissa felt she needed to show the students that they could persevere despite the setback. They wrote a song, which they found brought them together and made them stronger, and then made a music video to share the story. It went viral and caught the attention of Ellen DeGeneres, resulting in an invite to her show, where she presented the school with brand new instruments and $50,000! Four years later this led to Melissa winning the 2018 GRAMMY Music Educator Award, selected out of three thousand nominees nationwide for contributions to the field of music education.
Rebecca Ellis USA
Rebecca is an experienced performer in the worlds of opera, musical theatre, and dramatic theatre, performing in regional and off- Broadway theaters throughout NYC. She has continued to exercise her acting skills in Connecticut as an actress with Madison Lyric Stage, HartBeat Ensemble and Bated Breath Theatre Company. Rebecca is a member of the vocal jazz quartet SwingStorm, as well as a teaching artist in the vocal music department at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts.
Dan Auerbach USA
Mr. Auerbach is the co-director of the College of Staten Island Orchestra. He has been described by the New York Times as a player “with quiet virtuosity.” His teaching experience includes the Juilliard Pre-College, Bowdoin Summer Music Festival, and Rutgers University. His students have gone on to win regional and all-state competitions, as well as college auditions such as Columbia, Rutgers, and University of Chicago. Recent clinics include the Georgia ASTA workshop. While at Rutgers, he also conducted the Rutgers Youth Orchestra where he regularly appeared at the University’s Nicholas Music Center. Dr. Auerbach has served on the faculty of Morningside College, as well as the assistant concertmaster of the Sioux City Symphony. He has been a regular member of the South Dakota, Des Moines, and Lincoln Symphony Orchestras. Prior to teaching at the College of Staten Island, Dr. Auerbach served as assistant professor of music at Georgia College & State University, and was a violinist in the Macon Symphony. In the summers, Dr. Auerbach teaches at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.
Ewa Drobek Poland
Ewa Drobek is the 2016 British Alumni Society English Teacher of the Year Finalist. She is the Director of a youth chorus in Warsaw, Poland
Robert Rams USA
Robert Rams is a life-long resident of Staten Island, New York. He is a graduate of Wagner College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education in 1990 and Brooklyn College where he earned a Master Degree in Music Education in 1997 and a Certificate in Administration and Management in 2001. He has been a member of the New York State School Music Association since 1990 and has hosted seven N.Y.S.S.M.A. adjudications Mr. Rams is currently music at Staten Island Technical High School and Wagner College. He is currently supervising the Salute to Music program and is on the Board of the Friend of Music. Mr. Rams was in charge of Music and Art, at James Madison High School, from 1993 – 2004. His performance groups have earned many Gold Medals at N.Y.S.S.M.A. adjudications. Mr. Rams was the Brass Coach for the All-City Concert Band and Marching Band. He has worked with the District 14 / I.S. 318 Marching Band and taught at I.S. 278, Marine Park Intermediate School for four years. In 2002 he was the guest conductor for the Westchester All-County Band. Mr. Rams has performed with four different community bands, the Staten Island Symphony and various Big Bands.
Arimaris Ely USA
Ms. Ely has been teaching for the DOE for thirteen years. She earned her Bachelor in Music in 2002 from Hunter College. She continued on to earn a Masters in Music Education in 2004 and an Advanced Certificate in Administration in 2013. She began her career teaching middle school in the South Bronx where she had the opportunity to begin an instrumental program at a new Replication school. At this time, she also sought the opportunity to begin a West African Drum and Dance ensemble. During her middle school tenure she also work with the Salute to Music Borough-Wide Program where she had the privilege of performing at Carnegie Hall in 2013 and 2015. Arimaris began looking to further develop as an educator and to get in touch with the musician inside her. In this quest she decided to teach at the high school level and became one of the music directors at Madison High School in Brooklyn where she teaches concert band and West African Drumming. Currently, she is an Associate Conductor for the All-City Concert Band. She also plays trumpet in the Grand Street Community Band and is the Program Manager for the Middle School Arts Audition Boot Camp at Lincoln Center.
Dr. Brian McDaniel USA
Dr. Brian McDaniel, a 2018 California Teacher of the Year and National Teacher of the Year Nominee, is a music educator who has raised over $1,000,000 through grants, donations, sponsorships, and fundraisers to ensure access for every child in his program. As an educator for 12 years, he has successfully built award winning Elementary, Middle and High Schools music programs, serves in Leadership with various school and teacher organizations, and is an Educational Justice Advocate who is passionate about helping students overcome obstacles through academic opportunities. Choosing to serve in a Title I schools, he founded The Regiment, his student-led music organization that serves as a safety net for students; helping kids to overcome the trials of school and life. The Regiment continuously improves school climate and academic performance by living up to their motto of rising “Beyond All Expectations”.
Melissa M. Morris, USA
Ms. Morris is the Director of Modern Band and The Global Classroom at James Madison High School, Brooklyn NY. Formerly, Ms. Morris began her global focus with her students in her former school where she was the founding director of the schools World Percussion Ensemble/Drum Circle Facilitation. Research has shown that participants in the program think more globally and excel in general leadership skills and collaborative teamwork. Students acting as drum circle facilitators learn that the contributions of individuals make the experience and the music unique, and they incorporate this appreciation and tolerance of others into everyday life. Her methods have drawn the attention of the Grammy Foundation, the Recording Academy and Converse, allowing her students to record and release a CD in 2014. She was a quarterfinalist for the prestigious for Grammy Music Educator Award, and has won several awards, including the Bertelsmann Corporation’s Teacher Award for Excellence in Creativity and Inspiration and the Distinguished Educator Award from Wagner College. Most recently Ms. Morris was a top 50 Finalist for the one-million-dollar Global Teacher Prize. She takes her place with the other finalists as Varkey Teacher Ambassador for Education. Ms. Morris is a Global Education Consultant and Co-Founder of the Music Teachers for Global Peace Foundation.
Ron Alvarez, El Sistema Venezuela & Sweden
Ron didn’t originally know that he wanted to be a teacher. He came from one of the most dangerous neighborhoods (favelas) in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. At the age of ten he entered the Venezuelan National System of Orchestras and Choirs for Children and Young People, known as El Sistema, where he was inspired by the inclusive, expressivist philosophy of the founder, the Venezuelan economist and musician José Antonio Abreu. Ron worked as a teacher trainer in Venezuela to promote the El Sistema teaching method, later becoming an international teacher trainer of El Sistema for many countries around the world. Over the years Ron has made a difference to many individuals. When he was 16 years old he began giving violin classes to a boy called Richard Urbina three times a week at 5 a.m. Today Richard is the first violin of the Teresa Carreño Symphonic Orchestra, the second most important orchestra in Venezuela. Ron also set up the El Sistema Sweden Dream Orchestra in Gothenburg with young refugees of war and civil or social violence, aged between 11 and 17 years old, from countries like Syria, Afghanistan, Albania, Somalia and Eritrea. The objective has been to integrate them into Swedish society through music and inspire them to be global citizens. Ron would like to use prize funds to create a foundation that could contribute to and support projects inspired by El Sistema, which currently operates in more than 65 countries. This would work in support of programs for orchestras and choirs with refugees and in refugee camps.
Mairi is the 2015-2016 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year and advocate of public education, believing that it is an imperative to offer quality education to every child. She is passionate about the importance of educating the whole child and believes that all children should receive an education that both interests and challenges them. Mairi is the orchestra director and chair of the music department at Fox Chapel Area High School. Under Mairi’s leadership, the district was the first public school recognized as an “Exemplary Program” by the Middle States Accreditation Committee.
In 2017, Mairi helped to found the Pennsylvania Teachers Advisory Committee (PTAC), an organization that serves as a direct pipeline between teachers and decision makers within Pennsylvania. As President of the PTAC board, Mairi fervently believes that decisions about education policy must reflect experiences from within the classroom and be informed by the experts in the field, current teachers.
Mairi has won the Teachers Association Outstanding New Orchestra Teacher Award, the Yale University Distinguished Music Educator and the Carson Scholar “Power of Excellence” Award. Mairi’s proudest moments have occurred when her students have used music as a change agent within the Pittsburgh community, sharing their talents to better other’s lives.
Diane Mower USA
Dianne Mower never had jazz in mind when she started singing professionally. She turned to jazz when impresario, Kent Hewitt wanted to form a Lambert, Hendricks and Ross tribute band. Mower, who at the time was singing in Top 40 lounges along the East Coast, was tapped to join the group. She knew a lot of standards, so it didn’t take much for her to fit right in. Also to her advantage was a voice with a huge range allowing her to “play” Annie Ross with facility. Based on that experience, she has added Vocalese to her repertoire which is used to good effect on her initial album for JazzCity, A Song for You, where she is backed by Bill Mays. She has since joined with Norman Johnson to make Maybe September and The New Millennium Jazz Ensemble, and Easy as You Go, with Norman and Brubeck Brothers, Chris and Dan. Mower has appeared at such eminent jazz venues as New York’s Blue Note and Smokin’ with Chris, participated in several concerts with the Hartford Jazz Society and appeared at various jazz festivals singing with many notables including Jon Hendricks and Dave Brubeck. Dianne continues to record, perform in the New England area. She also directs the award winning high school jazz choir, The Real Ambassadors, at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts of which Atla and Matt DeChamplain are alumni.
Sanchi Bobrow USA
Sanchie Bobrow is a violinist, composer and educator, Sanchie Bobrow has been director of the Mighty String Demons since she founded the ensemble in 1995. As a Suzuki trained violin instructor, Ms. Bobrow often starts her young students on the violin as young as 3 years old. Ms. Bobrow teaches on Staten Island as well as at the School for Strings in Manhattan.
The Mighty String Demons, founded in 1995 by its director, Sanchie Bobrow, are an ensemble of young Staten Island violinists currently ranging in age from 7 to 17 years. Their mission has been to inspire young audiences to listen to and appreciate various styles of music by different composers and from many countries of the world. Their performances are fun and educational, often involving the members of the audience. In addition to their work with young audiences, they strive to bring music to seniors and people recovering from serious illness who may not have the ability to attend concerts outside of their residences, hospitals or rehabilitation centers. The goals of The Mighty String Demons, are to give these young musicians the opportunity to share their music with the community with an open heart and good will, to raise the spirits of those who are recovering from illness and to educate and entertain young audiences. We are helping our members to become goal oriented, compassionate, responsible and giving young people who are committed to serving their community.
Among the group’s performances within the New York City community, they returned to WNYC Radio in March of 2000 as featured guest artist for the weekly talk show New York Kids, and performed in the Variety Children’s Charity Annual Telethon in April of 2000, hosted by WCBS radio personality “Cousin” Bruce Morrow. They have been featured on N.Y. 1 News and on NBC Channel 4 in special presentations on the Borough of Staten Island. The String Demons were featured artists on Staten Island’s Community Television show “Island Talent” in June of 2014. The String Demons have proudly performed our National Anthem at The Richmond County Bank Ballpark in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006 and at the Prudential Center in New Jersey for the WNBA New York Liberty in 2011. In April of 2013, the ensemble performed alongside Mayor Michael Bloomberg at his Awards for Art and Culture ceremony at City Center in Manhattan. The group performed for Councilwoman Debi Rose’s Women in History month awards ceremony in April of 2013. In November of 2001, the String Demons participated in Staten Island’s Straight From The Arts Benefit for the September 11th Fund, which raised over $20,000 for the families of the victims of the World Trade Center tragedy. In 2011, they participated in two concerts to raise funds for senior citizens who lost their homes to the tsunami in Japan. In 2012 they gave a benefit concert, raising over $1,000 for those who lost their homes during Hurricane Sandy. The ensemble performed annually at Staten Island Borough President Molinaro’s Memorial Ceremony for the Victims of the tragedy of September 11, 2001 at the Postcards Memorial in St. George. They have also been honored to perform at the Fire Department of the city of New York’s annual memorial ceremonies for the families of firefighters who lost their lives on September 11 2001 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral at the Metrotech Center. Most recently, The Mighty String Demons presented a benefit concert in collaboration with the MetroGnomes of Long Island, raising $2500 for music programs in Houston, Texas affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Edward E. Brown USA
Mr. Brown holds a BA degree in Music from the College of Staten Island, CUNY and two MA degrees, in Music History and Music Education, from Hunter College. He is the recipient of the Dr. Benno Lee Award for Excellence in Graduate Music Studies. Ed has studied with noted guitarists Alice Artzt and William Matthews and attended Master Classes with Christopher Parkening, John Duarte and Paul O’Dette. Mr. Brown is a pioneer in guitar ensemble development on Staten Island, having founded the Wagner College Guitar and Lute Ensemble, a group he led for nearly twenty-five years. He joined the CSI Music faculty in 1989 and subsequently created the CSI Guitar Ensemble, which has become one of the Music Program’s most popular and lauded performance groups. Mr. Brown has contributed articles and reviews to the Lute Society Quarterly and Soundboard Magazine. He has been awarded numerous grants for research and performance projects, most notably his five-year series entitled “The Music of Olde Staten Island.” In addition to his many solo performances, Ed has appeared as guest guitarist with The Metro Chamber Orchestra, Staten Island Philharmonic, Omni Ensemble and The Richmond County Orchestra. Mr. Brown records for many labels, including Pantheon.
James Minenna USA
Mr. Minenna, violinist and conductor, is a graduate of Manhattan School of Music and student of Arianna Bronne and Ronald Copes. He has performed in master classes given by Josef Gingold, Raymond Lewenthal, Martin Balsam, Lynn Harrell and Raphael Bronstein. He was the concertmaster of the Staten Island Symphony and the St. Bart's Chamber Orchestra. He has appeared regularly with the American Symphony, Brooklyn Philharmonic, and the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestras. He has been a busy freelancer and chamber musician on both coasts and was a founding member of the Sterling String Quartet. Mr. Minenna has also performed in solo and chamber recitals on both US coasts, in Europe and Asia and has appeared under the batons of such notable conductors as George Manahan, Herbert Bloomstedt, Michael Tilson-Thomas and Leonard Bernstein. He has also premiered works by composers, Charles Wourinen, Lukas Foss, Morton Feldman and Phillip Glass. Minenna has dedicated himself to the education of the young musicians of the Interschool Orchestras of NY, 3rd St. Music Settlement, The Manhattan School of Music Prep Division, the LaGuardia HS of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where he conducted the LaGuardia Symphony and coached Lincoln Center award-winning chamber musicians. For the last twelve years, he has worked with the students of Curtis HS in Staten Island as the orchestra conductor and director of the Curtis Guitar Ensemble. Mr. Minenna has brought to Curtis HS such world class partnerships as the Carnegie Hall Academy residency program and the innovative orchestra program called "Electrify Your Strings" created by rock violinist and educator, Mark Wood, formerly of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. As a conductor, Mr. Minenna has appeared with the Richmond County Orchestra and was also the music director of the Lawyers' Orchestra of NY. Mr. Minenna is an adjunct professor at CSI and is co-director of the CSI/Curtis Orchestra.
Samuel Pang China
Mr. Pang earned his Master’s degree in orchestral conducting at Eastman School of Music in the USA. He received a degree in viola performance at Eastman, taught briefly in Hong Kong, and returned to Eastman, this time to study conducting. He returns to Hong Kong, China as the Orchestral Director of Diocesan Boys' School.
Ronnie Cheng China
Ronnie Cheng is Headmaster of the Diocesan Boys’ School (DBS) in Hong Kong and has been a teacher for 17 years. DBS is one of the top schools in Hong Kong and under Ronnie’s direction has produced a #1-world-ranked male choir, winning many international championships over the last few years. Many students have gone on to become professional musicians and some have even returned to teach music at DBS to help a new generation. For underprivileged students, Ronnie has set up the DBS Foundation to enable students to be supported even if in financial or medical difficulty. This has been made possible by Ronnie’s excellent relationships with alumni.
Michael DeVellis USA
Mr. DeVellis is a composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, who has been playing professionally for over 20 years. Michael first appreciated the power of a score at four years old while listening to the playful, orchestral stylings of Scott Bradley for Tom and Jerry. He received his B.A. in Music from Tufts University and his Master's Degree from Touro College. More recently he completed a Master’s Certificate in Orchestration for Film and Television at Berklee College of Music. Michael lives with his wife, daughter and son in Brooklyn, NY where he is the director of the Symphonic Band and award winning Jazz Band at James Madison High School. Mr. Devellis is a Co-Founder of the Music Teachers for Global Peace Foundation.
Jose Luis Diaz, Jr. USA
Jose Luis Diaz, Jr., currently serves as the Director of Bands for Wagner College. Under his direction, the reinstated Athletic Band program as performed for New York City Columbus Day parade, the Veteran’s Parade and the St Patrick’s Day Parade as well as the 50th anniversary of the Verrazano Bridge. Diaz also led the Athletic Band in the Major Motion Pictures NERVE(2016) and the Brad Pitt production OKJA(2017). Diaz has previously served as Orchestra Conductor/Instrumental Music at Saddle River Day School. At Saddle River Day, he instructs and conducts the Lower, Middle, and Upper School Orchestras while also conducting and arranging the Jazz, Guitar, and Chamber Ensembles along with conducting the pit band for concerts. Diaz began his career at Moore Catholic HS where he served as Music Director from 2002-2012. In 2005, he took on the added role of Director & Chairperson of the Performing Arts Institute. Diaz has performed at numerous venues throughout the country and command performances for luminaries that include Eminence Cardinal Egan of the Archdiocese of New York, Archbishop Dolan, and for the Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg. He has also recorded three albums and has produced local concerts, which raised tens of thousands of dollars for various charities and currently serves as the organist at St Luke’s St Paul’s Lutheran Church. Diaz graduated from the College of Staten Island in 2002, where he earned Dean’s List honors while earning a B.S. in Music. He later earned a Master of Science in Educational Administration in 2010 from St. Johns University.
Perry Ditch, Director @perryditch USA
Perry Ditch is currently the band director at White Oak High School in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Mr. Ditch graduated from East Carolina University 1986 and taught for 6 years in Brevard, N.C. In 1993 Mr. Ditch moved to White Oak High School and since that time the music program has grown from 68 members to 185 members. The bands he has directed have received numerous superior ratings and awards. He has been a guest clinician and adjudicator in Virginia and North Carolina. Mr. Ditch is also the director of all the Academies at White Oak High School. Recently his Jazz Ensemble was selected to perform in the New York City Jazz Festival. He is driven by his philosophy that “Music Sounds like Life Feels”. The sounds that we make often can move people to feel the music. It is the journey that the ear takes when listening to the music that keeps the audience captive. Mr. Ditch also loves using technology in his rehearsals. He has given several clinics on using technology in the classroom. Methods of rehearsal that engage the student and keep them learning about music are a key ingredient in his rehearsals. On June 2, 2017 the White Oak High School Symphonic Band did a Skype Concert to the Cheery Education Centre (http://cheerycentre.org/) in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya at Mashimoni. During that session we realized that they neither had music classes nor instruments. So the Cheery Education Centre Music Project (www.cheerymusicproject.com) was created. There are three phases to the project: 1) Provide Recorders and improve their WIFI capabilities, WOHS Band Students will teach them via Skype how to read music using Recorders; 2) Using Nuvo instruments, Ptrumpets and Pbones we will get an instrumental ensemble established; and 3) We will provide the Cheery students with student model instruments for them to play and form their first Concert Band. Mr. Ditch completed his Master’s degree from East Carolina University in 2000 and is National Board Certified Teacher. Mr. Ditch is a past president of the Eastern District Bandmasters association and a past Secretary for the North Carolina Bandmasters Association. He is a proud member of ASBDA. Mr. Ditch is a proud member of the Music Teachers for Global Peace! His greatest achievement is being the proud father to his son Jacob Perry Ditch. www.whiteoakbands.com/cheery-music-project
Jason Markowitz, Film Editor Virtual Concert for Global Peace.