Our Team

A hallmark of our program is our team of dedicated Workshop Assistants. Assistants are current students and alumni of the Music & Music Education Program at Teachers College, Columbia University, one of the premiere graduate institutions for Music and Music Education.

All are at the forefront of the field of music education, employing the most current research-based pedagogical practices for the betterment of our singers. In addition to being excellent teachers, our assistances are also active performers, conductors, and composers in opera, musical theater, and pop/rock.

2019-2020 Assistants

Darryl Jordan

Doctoral Assistant

A conductor/singer/songwriter, Darryl, holds a B.S. and M.M. in Music Education from NYU and Boston University, respectively. He is currently pursuing his E.d.D. in Music at TC. A former Assistant Conductor of the NYC All-City High School Chorus, he Is an Adjunct Professor of Voice/ Conductor at Nyack College School of Music. His students have performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Apollo Theater, and a host of churches, community centers, and public events!

Chris Citera

Assistant Director - Young Men's Workshop

Chris has completed his M.A. is currently is pursuing his Ed.M in Music and Music Education at TC.He holds a degree in Voice in Combination with Acting, summa cum laude from Ithaca College. He has performed in concert at venues such as Feinstein's/54 Below, le possion rouge, The Metropolitan Room, and The Astor Room at Astoria Kauffman Studios. Presently, he is an associate voice teacher for singing voice specialist, Mike Ruckles, serves as a voice consultant for Kidz Theater, a professional development company for young performers, and is on faculty in the BFA Musical Theater program at Molloy College/CAP21. He has also taught masterclasses on vocal health and technique for musical theater performers and educators with BroadwayEvolved, a musical theater training program for students and educators, co-founded by Broadway star, Betsy Wolfe.

Nesly Kohen

Workshop Assistant

Nesly is a singer-songwriter from Istanbul, Turkey. Currently she is pursuing her M.A in Music Education at TC, and possesses a dual degree in Music and Psychology from Wheaton College. Previously, she attended Berklee College Of Music’s 5-Week Summer program for both Pop and Jazz voice. She has taught as a Music Specialist at Rock and Roll Daycare, and as pop/jazz voice instructor atMusicians Playground. She also competed in local, European and world-wide competitions with the pop rock band, B Yuzu as well as professional sephardic jewish choral ensembles. She has appeared on stage in Israel, Spain, Italy and BPC (Boston), The Little Bronx and Bronx XL (Istanbul, Turkey).

Emily Hudson

Assistant Director - Audition Prep Workshop

Emily is a music educator, singer, and a proud graduate of the summer INSTEP program for Music Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. She also holds a MusB in voice and music education, summa cum laude, from Boston University. During her time at B.U. Emily received the Massachusetts Music Educators Association's (MMEA) “Promising Future Music Educator Award,” as well as Boston University's School of Music Departmental Honor Award.

Emily has served as a cooperating teacher for Teachers College, and she currently teaches Kindergarten through 8th grade general music at Saint Ignatius Loyola School in New York City where she also serves as musical director of the middle school jazz ensemble and spring musical.

Colette Young

Assistant Director - Musical Theater Workshop

Soprano, and native Hawai’ian, Colette earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology and Music from Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges, where she was often guest soprano soloist with the BrynMawr/Haverford Symphony Orchestra. Currently she is pursuing a Doctorate in Interdisciplinary Studies combining music and science education. She is on faculty at Columbia Secondary School (CSS), where she teaches science, leads the middle school choir, Executive Function Program, and the cheerleading team.

A classical, operatic, and musical theater vocalist, flutist, pianist, Polynesian dancer, Colette has performed throughout Hawai’i, continental US, and Italy, including as a guest soloist with the Apollo Orchestra, Landon Symphonette, and at the White House. She won the VSA International Performing Artist Competition sponsored by the Kennedy Center, where she performed at and lectured before the Maryland State Legislature, and the US. Department of Education on Music and Arts Education.

Natalie Fabian

Workshop Assistant - Composer in Residence

Singer/Pianist/Composer, Natalie, is currently pursuing her M.A. in Music Education at TC. She holds a B.S. in Music Education from Hofstra University. At Hofstra, Natalie was awarded for her performance excellence as the winner of the William Rosencrans Endowed Music Scholarship, a solo honors recital in classical voice. She received the award for Excellence in Music Education, as well as membership to Pi Kappa Lambda’s National Music Honor Society. Natalie performed as a soloist in the Jazz, Musical Theatre, and Singer/Songwriter genres at New York venues such as Rockwood Music Hall, The Metropolitan Room, Cornelia Street Café, and Cleopatra's Needle. Presently, Natalie is a studio voice teacher and teaching artist in New York.

Take a listen to Natalie’s original song, “Press Go”, written for the Spring 2019 Musical Theater Workshop!

Past Assistants and Alumni

Lauren D'Ottavio

Lauren is a graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University with a master’s degree in Music & Music Education with P-12 Initial Certification. She studied piano and vocal performance at Bard College in Annandale, New York is an active performer in NYC and abroad. She has a wealth of teaching experience and has been trained in piano and vocal pedagogy from masters in her field at Teachers College, where she is on the adjunct faculty for applied lessons in piano and voice. She follows a student-centered approach and creates a welcoming, safe environment for her students of all ages.

Allie Glassman

Allie is a singer/songwriter and enjoys teaching and performing. Allie performs regularly around NYC at venues including Rockwood Music Hall, Bowery Electric and Pete's Candy Store. Allie is a graduate of The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, where she received a BFA in Vocal Jazz Performance. Allie is currently pursuing her Masters in Music Education at TC.

Elise Jablow

Elise Jablow is a classically trained soprano and educator. Elise is head music teacher at Aaron School and directs Sparkidz, a Saturday program for children with special needs. She recently graduated from from Teachers College and also holds degrees from McGill University and Manhattan School of Music. Elise has performed with organizations such as American Opera Projects, Annapolis Opera, Composer’s Collective and Janiec Opera Company.

Bryant Montalvo

Bryant graduated from TC with a Master’s in Music and Music Education and previously studied music theatre at New York University. Bryant enjoys helping young people find their light as they explore their individual developing voices.

Kyle Mullins

Kylie is currently pursuing her Masters in Music & Music Education at Teachers College and holds a degree in Theatre/Musical Theatre from Northwestern University. In addition to being a vocalist, Kylie is a classically trained pianist. Her experiences working as an accompanist and pit musician for her school's musicals led her to discover her love of singing. She is so excited to work with young performers as they develop their skills and passion for performance.

Rebecka Fishman

Rebecka has been singing and performing for most of her life in musicals and various choirs around the Coachella Valley in sunny Southern California. She has her BA in Vocal Performance from Columbia College Chicago and an MA in Music and Music Education from TC.

Siwen Xi

Siwen is currently in the Ed.M program in Music and Music Education at TC and received her Bachelor's degree from Shanghai Conservatory of Music. She is a classically-trained vocalist and piano player and a specialist in eastern Asian traditional music, especially in Chinese Guqin. She is passionate about singing and would like to help people discover their own voice.