Band – Amy Richter
Amy Richter has been teaching music for 31 years, the last 23 of them at Blue Mountain Middle School in the Hendrick Hudson School District in Westchester County, NY. At Blue Mountain Mrs. Richter directs three concert bands, the jazz band, and is the music team leader. Her bands have earned many awards, including gold medals at the 2008 and 2009 NYSSMA festivals. She is a certified NYSSMA woodwind adjudicator and a member of the New York State Band Directors' Association and Women Band Directors International.
Mrs. Richter holds a Bachelor of Music in oboe and a Master of Music in education from Manhattan School of Music. Outside of school she is the director of the Junior Choir at St. Philips Church in Garrison, NY. Mrs. Richter resides in Garrison with her husband, Eric, and her teenage son and daughter.
General Music – Lisa Lehmberg
Lisa J. Lehmberg is Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her areas of specialty are general music education, world music education, and music education technology. Lisa holds a Ph.D. Degree in Music Education from the University of South Florida, as well as Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees in Piano Performance from the University of Illinois. She has extended experience as a public school general music specialist, is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early/Middle Childhood Music, and has also earned Level 2 certification in Orff-Schulwerk. Her honors include selection as first alternate for Iowa Teacher of the Year, as Sioux City (IA) Community School District Teacher of the Year, and as the first music educator member of the USA Today All-USA Teacher Team #1. She has served as a presenter at ISME World Conferences, MENC Biennial In-Service Conferences, and Biennial National Multicultural Music Symposiums, as well as state MEA conferences in Florida, New England, and throughout the Midwest. She is author of the book The Challenges and Rewards of Urban Teaching: Six Elementary Music Teachers’ Perceptions of Effective Teaching and Pre-Service Preparation for Urban Classrooms, an article in Music Education International, and an upcoming chapter in an MENC publication of proceedings from the Biennial National Multicultural Music Symposium.
Chorus – Kyle Weary
An active presenter and music educator, Kyle Weary is currently the Vocal Music teacher at Hampden Elementary School in Mechanicsburg, PA as well as Adjunct Instructor of Music for Harrisburg Area Community College. Kyle has experience teaching both secondary and elementary levels as a music and drama teacher. Kyle has received Bachelor of Music Education (vocal emphasis) and Master of Music in Conducting from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music (Winchester, VA). Kyle has appeared on stage with Marvin Hamlisch, Julie Andrews, Elaine Stritch, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Dana Reeves, Barbara Cook, Sam Freed and David Masenheimer. Kyle is also a graduate of the Contemporary Commercial Musical Theatre Vocal Pedagogy Institute - Level III Certified Somatic™ Voicework - The LoVetri Method, under the guidance of New York based teacher Jeannette LoVetri. Kyle has completed additional graduate studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University and Westminster Choir College. Kyle has appeared on stage and in the pits of numerous musicals including: Follies in Concert (starring David Masenheimer and Sam Freed), Starmites, Bye Bye Birdie, Joseph...Dreamcoat, Guys and Dolls, The Baker’s Wife, My Favorite Year, and Pirates of Penzance among others. Music and stage direction credits include: Beauty & the Beast, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and A Night of Broadway - a Musical Revue, Willy Wonka Jr. (central PA premier), and now, The Last Five Years. Kyle has served as the Director of Music Ministries, as well as the Director of Adult and Youth Choirs at Palmyra Church of the Brethren since 2006. Kyle has studied voice with Dr. Bryon Jones, Dr. Kathryn Green, Jeannette LoVetri and Bob Marks and he has studied conducting with Dr. Karen Keating, Grammy® Award winning conductor Robert Shafer, and Dr. Elizabeth Schauer. Kyle is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, the Conductors Guild, the Educational Theatre Association, Music Educators National Conference, Phi Mu Alpha - Sinfonia, and National Association of Teachers of Singing.
Orchestra – Jim Robinowitz
James M. Robinowitz is a graduate of the Crane School of Music, receiving his Masters Degree from the Western Connecticut State College. Before retiring, he was the high school Orchestra Director in the Arlington Central School District for thirty-five years. During this time, the high school orchestra program grew from two string players to over 235 students. Both the Arlington HS Symphony and Chamber Consort consistently received “Gold with Distinction” ratings at NYSSMA Major Ensemble Festivals. Under his direction, Arlington Orchestras have performed at many state conferences including NYSSMA, NYS School Boards, and NYS School Administrators, as well as a MENC All Eastern Conference. He led the Arlington Touring Orchestra on six summertime international trips to such places as Germany, Austria, Romania, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Rarotonga, Fiji, Tahiti, China and Hawaii. Besides his association with Arlington, Mr. Robinowitz was also the Music Director of the Empire State Repertory Orchestra for 7 years and the Southern Dutchess Pops for 3 years, as well as orchestra conductor for two summers at Crane Youth Music.
Mr. Robinowitz has served as the Zone 10 Representative on the New York State School Music Association Executive Council, Contributing Editor (Double Bass) for the NYSSMA Manual, Chairman of the Sectional Festival Committee, State String Chair and President of the Dutchess County Music Educators Association. Additionally, he has been Chairman of the MENC All Eastern Orchestra. He has been a guest clinician at both the NYSSMA Winter and Summer Conferences. He is a NYSSMA certified String, All State String, and Major Organization adjudicator. Other NYSSMA contributions include hosting numerous Solo, Major Organization, and Area All State festivals. He regularly guest conducts at regional music festivals. Additionally, Mr. Robinowitz is a double bassist and a charter member of the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra. He resides in the Town of LaGrange, just east of Poughkeepsie.
Jazz – Carol Jacobe
Carol Jacobe has been a music educator for 38 years, beginning in Liverpool teaching general music and chorus at the middle school level and moving to become the choral director at Baker High School in Baldwinsville, where she taught Music Theory I, II, and III, directed the Concert Choir, and produced and directed 24 musicals. She received her B.S. and M.A. in Music Education at Syracuse University.
In Baldwinsville, Ms. Jacobe started a jazz rock vocal group which evolved into its present vocal jazz ensemble, "Silk & Satin." Her collaboration with many prominent jazz educators has enhanced her expertise, resulting in accolades in competitions in Canada, Great Britain, and the USA. The ensemble has performed for the American Choral Directors Association, International Association of Jazz Educators, and the New York State School Music Association music conferences.
She has held the position of chairperson for the NYSSMA Vocal Jazz Ensemble for numerous terms and is currently the chairperson for Repertoire and Standards for the NY State division of American Choral Directors Association. Ms. Jacobe is also an active member in OCMEA, ACDA, NYSSMA, and JEN, acting as an adjudicator, clinician, or chairing vocal jazz festivals. Honors include Choral Educator of the year from the Syracuse Symphony and Civic Morning Musicals. During her final year in Baldwinsville, the Syracuse Jazz Fest honored her by dedicating one of the festival days in her name.
In 2004, Ms. Jacobe became the director of the "Jazzuits," a vocal jazz group at LeMoyne College, where she is also a Professor of Vocal Studies. Although she has retired from public school education she continues her avocation to the promotion of vocal jazz education by conducting festivals and workshops throughout New York and directing the LeMoyne College Jazzuits.
Guitar – Glen McCarthy
Glen McCarthy graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and an emphasis in Music. In 1976, after traveling internationally with the band “Hickory Wind”, he settled down to teach at Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax, Virginia. Though he was originally hired as an assistant band director, Mr. McCarthy (“Mr. Mac” as he is known to his students), saw the need to involve a more diverse student population in the courses the music department offered. In order to do this, Mr. Mac implemented two beginning guitar classes. Over the years, the highly successful guitar program at Robinson has become an integral part of the music curriculum. The Robinson Guitar Ensemble has consistently been awarded superior ratings at adjudicated festivals. The Ensemble was the first high school guitar ensemble to perform at the annual Guitar Foundation of America convention. Robinson High School was the first recipient of the Guitar Accessories Manufacturers Association’s effort to recognize innovative guitar programming in the United States.
As Mr. McCarthy’s guitar program at Robinson has grown, so has his reputation. He has been “instrumental” in developing guitar curriculum throughout much of Fairfax County. He has taught Guitar Methods, required for all Music Education majors at George Mason University, for over 15 years. He has been a guest clinician at Virginia Tech, Roanoke County, Loudoun County, and the Virginia; Southern Division; and National Music Educators Conferences. In the 2003-2004 school year, Mr. Mac was nominated for Fairfax County Teacher of the Year. His most recent guitar teaching venture has been as the selected instructor at the educational center of the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. Over the summer, as a member of the National Guitar Task Force, he teaches workshops throughout the country. Glen McCarthy is particularly proud that many of his students have gone on to enjoy successful music careers. Among those are Martha Ann Masters who in 2000 won the Guitar Foundation of America International Competition, Tony Lopacinski who has played with numerous contemporary artists and Keith Owens and Michael Ward; both teaching high school guitar in Fairfax County Public Schools.
Mr. Mac continues to play in big band, bluegrass, Celtic, country, funk, German, Hawaiian, jazz, musicals, praise bands, rock, and numerous wedding groups and ensembles.