Faculty & Administration
The collaborative spirit among our faculty makes NSMS a vibrant learning community for teachers and students alike. All members of our faculty are highly-educated, experienced pianists with a passion for teaching.
Gonzalo Aguilar
Faculty​
D.M.A. in Piano Performance, University of Southern Mississippi
M.M. in Piano Pedagogy and Performance, Westminster Choir College
Gonzalo Aguilar began taking piano lessons at 17 years old with Professor Larissa Belotserkovskaia, and graduated from the National Conservatory of Music in Lima, Peru, with the highest accolades. He joined the New School in 2022.
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Dr. Aguilar holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from The University of Southern Mississippi, with minors in collaborative piano and music theory. He was a student of Elizabeth Moak, and his dissertation is an analysis of folk elements found in three piano compositions by Peruvian composers. He holds a Master’s Degree in Piano Pedagogy and Performance from Westminster Choir College, where he studied with Ingrid Clarfield.
In 2013, Dr. Aguilar was invited to attend the Golandsky Institute Summer Symposium at Princeton University. In 2016, he performed Franz Liszt’s Piano Concerto in E-flat Major with the Westminster Community Orchestra, and he was invited by Art Quitilinga to perform a recital in the Karl Richter Haus in Quedlinburg, Germany. In 2017, Dr. Aguilar performed a recital on Peruvian composers with oboist William Wielgus at the International Students House in Washington, D.C. With Wielgus, he also recorded music of Peruvian Composers for Sono Luminus. Dr. Aguilar was invited to perform a solo recital in Czech Republic, and gave a masterclass to two students of the Prague Conservatory.
Marvin Blickenstaff
Faculty​, Co-Director of the PEPS Program
Board Member & Past President of The Frances Clark Center
M.M. in Piano Performance, Indiana University
B.M. in Piano Performance, Oberlin Conservatory of Music
Marvin Blickenstaff joined the New School in 1999. He is an active private lesson instructor, and he serves as co-director of the PEPS Program. He frequently performs in NSMS faculty recitals and in solo recitals around the tri-state area, including at Carnegie Hall.
Mr. Blickenstaff holds degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and from Indiana University, where he received both academic and performance honors. He is well-known across the country and in Canada for his frequent presentations at state and national conferences. For his many contributions to the field of piano performance and pedagogy, the Music Teachers National Association Foundation established the Marvin Blickenstaff Endowment Fund in his honor.
In 2007, the online journal Piano Pedagogy Forum published tributes to Mr. Blickenstaff honoring his contribution to piano teaching in America. Also in 2007, he was named Fellow of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. He was honored in 2009 with MTNA’s highest honor, the MTNA Achievement Award.
Mr. Blickenstaff has served as chair of the piano departments at the University of North Carolina/ Chapel Hill and Goshen College (IN), and from 2000-2013 he was President of the Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy. With Dr. Qin Ling, he worked to translate the Center's very first Chinese webinar, “Teaching Little Ears to Hear,” in 2022.
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Mr. Blickenstaff's book for piano teachers, Inspired Piano Teaching, was published by the Frances Clark Center in 2024. He continues to make a significant impact on teachers throughout the country through his teaching, lecturing, and publishing.
Kristin Cahill
Faculty​, Junior PEPS Instructor and Theory Instructor
M.M. in Piano Performance, University of Houston
B.M. in Piano Performance, Bowling Green State University​
Kristin Cahill holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Bowling Green State University. She also holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance with additional studies in Collaborative Piano from the University of Houston, where she studied with Ruth Tomfohrde and Timothy Hester.
From 2008-2013, Ms. Cahill lived in Barcelona, Spain, and she extensively studied castanets and Spanish piano repertoire with Ludovica Mosca. At The American School of Barcelona, Ms. Cahill started and developed a group piano program, in addition to teaching private lessons to students from all over the world.
An active adjudicator, Ms. Cahill is a member of the Royal Conservatory of Music College of Examiners. She has published articles in Piano Magazine (formerly Clavier Companion) in addition to presenting at the New Jersey Music Teachers Association State Conference, the MTNA National Conference, and the National Conference for Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP).
Ms. Cahill is a member of Legacy Arts, where she co-directs the bitKlavier course for children in Princeton. At the New School, she is an instructor for theory courses, and she coaches the Junior PEPS Program, working with students as they advance in their studies and prepare to join PEPS.
Fiona Christano
Faculty​
M.M. in Piano Pedagogy, Bowling Green State University
​B.A. in Piano Pedagogy, Goshen College​
Fiona Christano initially joined the New School as an intern in 2003. Ms. Christano holds a Master of Music degree in Piano Pedagogy from Bowling Green State University, where she studied under the direction of Dr. Robert Satterlee. Prior to her study at Bowling Green State University, Ms. Christano completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Pedagogy at Goshen College under the direction of Professors Marvin Blickenstaff, Beverly Lapp, David Gross, and Matthew Hill. Her minor area of study was in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).
Ms. Christano became a full-time member of NSMS faculty in 2004, and she taught numerous students until 2009.
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During her time off from NSMS, Ms. Christano served as volunteer director of the children’s choir at her church. She also and provided pro-bono 3-month piano lessons to individuals with varying degrees of musical skills in her hometown of Kudus, Indonesia.
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Ms. Christano and her husband currently live in Princeton. She is a mother of two wonderful and lively children. She enjoys knitting and baking with or reading to her kids.
Xiaoya Gao
Faculty​, Postgraduate Fellow
D.M.A. in Piano Pedagogy, University of South Carolina
M.M. in Piano Performance, New York University
Advanced Certificate in Piano Pedagogy, New York University
B.M. in Piano Performance, Lawrence University
B.A. in History, Lawrence University
Born in Urumqi, China, Xiaoya (Sisi) Gao is a dedicated pianist and music educator. Dr. Gao has performed solo and chamber recitals in various prestigious venues including the Lawrence Chapel; Harper Hall in Appleton, WI; Blackbox Theatre in New York City; and Palais Corbelli in Vienna, Austria.
In 2019, Gao earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Lawrence University in Wisconsin. In 2021, she received her Master’s Degree in Piano Performance and an Advanced Certificate in Piano Pedagogy from New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. As a faculty member at NYU, Dr. Gao taught undergraduate piano lessons and group classes.
In 2024, Dr. Gao received her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Pedagogy from the University of South Carolina. Her dissertation topic is entitled An Analysis of Akira Yuyama’s Piano Works for Children. Further research areas include an analysis of Liszt’s Piano Sonata in B minor, the integration of dance steps in Baroque pieces, and guiding students in the study of Baroque counterpoint.
Dr. Gao is an active performer and presenter in the New York and New Jersey areas. During her free time, Dr. Gao volunteers for non-profit art organizations, advocating for marginalized voices in the field of music.
Amy Glennon
Faculty​, Educational Director
M.M. in Piano Performance, University of Louisville​​
B.M. in Piano Performance/B.S. in Music Education, University of Connecticut
Amy Glennon studied Piano Pedagogy with New School co-founders Frances Clark and Louise Goss, earning the Certificate of Professional Achievement in 1986. She then joined the piano faculty of Mount Holyoke College (South Hadley, MA), where she remained for six years before returning to the NSMS faculty in 1996.
During the following years, Ms. Glennon has served as Admissions Director and, more recently, Educational Director. In her current position, Ms. Glennon oversees the New School’s pedagogy development program. Her articles have frequently appeared in the Clavier Companion/Piano Inspires magazines. She is the co-author (along with Ted Cooper) of four duet collections comprising the Side by Side series, published by Alfred. Ms. Glennon has presented at local and national music teachers conventions, including the Music Teachers National Association and the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy.
Ms. Glennon remains active as an adjudicator at local festivals and competitions, and she serves as the pianist and choir director at Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church. She holds two undergraduate degrees from the University of Connecticut: a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education. She earned her Master's degree in Piano Performance from the University of Louisville, where she studied with Lee Luvisi.
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Ms. Glennon has recently published a collection of pieces called "Friends at Last" through Piano Safari. These pieces are woven into a story for beginning pianists about what it means to be a friend.
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Yu Han
Faculty​
M.F.A. in Music Production, Academy of Art University
B.M. in Piano Performance, Tianjin Normal University
Yu Han is a pianist and composer currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition and piano performance at the University of Arizona. She has recently performed in recitals in Aspen and Tucson that showcased her diverse repertoire and mastery of both solo and collaborative works.
Throughout her career, Yu has been selected for numerous performances and compositions across the United States. Her multimedia composition The Beauty Within won the grand prize at the Red Rock Dance Festival, and her work Immune to Love for piano and electronics was showcased at the TURN UP Multimedia Festival in collaboration with the NYU Music Department. Yu has also received commissions from institutions such as the UNLV Dance Department and the UA Choreographic Institute. Her compositions and performance recordings have been broadcast on Performance Today and Tianjin Classical Radio.
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Yu is dedicated to providing personalized, one-on-one piano lessons, focusing on nurturing each student's unique talents and goals. She has worked with a diverse range of students from beginners to advanced learners, tailoring her teaching methods to meet individual needs. Her approach emphasizes the development of technical skills, musical expression, and a deep understanding of repertoire. Through this individualized instruction, Yu has helped many of her students achieve significant milestones, such as earning State Honors in the MTAC Certificate of Merit exam in California. Her commitment to each student's progress ensures that learning is both effective and fulfilling.
Esther Hayter
Faculty​
M.M. in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, Texas Christian University​​
B.M. in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, Washington State University
Esther Hayter first joined the New School for Music Study in 2017. A native of Washington State, she completed her undergraduate studies at Washington State University, where she studied piano performance and pedagogy with Drs. Jeff and Karen Savage. She then went on to complete a Masters of Music at Texas Christian University, under the guidance of Dr. Ann Gipson and Dr. Tamas Ungar.
While at TCU, Ms. Hayter taught class piano for the Pedagogy Lab Program, along with Extended Education and undergraduate classes. She also taught private lessons for college elective students, and was a private lesson instructor through the TCU Preparatory Department. In addition to her duties at TCU, Ms. Hayter maintained a busy schedule of private students for several studios in the Fort Worth area.
One of Ms. Hayter's favorite aspects about teaching is building relationships with her students and seeing their growth, not only as musicians, but as individuals. She also enjoys performing in both solo and collaborative settings, and she volunteers as a church musician. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, baking, reading, outdoor activities, hanging out with friends and family, and spoiling her nieces and nephews.
Denise Isaac
Faculty​
M.M. in Church Music, Westminster Choir College
B.M. in Church Music, Moravian University
Denise Isaac joined the New School in 2022. She holds a Master’s Degree from Westminster Choir College, where she studied with Ingrid Clarfield, and a Bachelor of Music from Moravian University in Bethlehem, PA. In 2020, Ms. Isaac completed the Comprehensive Practical Teaching Program through the Frances Clark Center at NSMS.
Ms. Isaac taught elementary school for several years in Trinidad and Tobago, her native country. She also worked with the Eastern West Indies Province of the Moravian Church, serving as the Minister of Music. One of her responsibilities included coordinating choral seminars focused on the important role of the choir in leading the congregation in worship.
Prior to joining the NSMS faculty, Ms. Isaac worked for a non-denominational church with a K-12 academy where she was responsible for preparing students to meet rigorous academic standards. The program included specialty areas such as piano skills and curricula, and primarily focused on musical training and preparation.
Teaching is Ms. Isaac’s life goal, her passion, and her calling. She believes that teachers have the huge responsibility of shaping and molding the minds of the next generation, especially through the study of music. She is a success-driven educator with more than 35 years of experience and a track record of developing an intuitive connection with students, tuning into their specific learning needs. In her spare time, Ms. Isaac is an avid runner, and she enjoys baking and cooking to support her ketogenic lifestyle.
Kairy Koshoeva
Faculty​
D.M.A. in Piano Performance, University of Missouri-Kansas City​
Artist Diploma in Piano Performance, Oberlin Conservatory of Music​
M.M. and B.M. in Piano Performance, Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow, Russia
Kairy Koshoeva earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. She also holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow, and an Artist Diploma certificate from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. She joined the NSMS faculty in 2015.
Dr. Koshoeva has garnered awards from around the globe, including top prizes at the International Piano Competition in Vicenza, Italy and the N. Rubinstein Competition in Paris; the Gold Medal at the 2004 Rachmaninoff Awards in Moscow; and first prize at the Chautauqua Music Festival concerto competition in New York. In 2003, her home country awarded her the prestigious title of Honored Artist of Kyrgyzstan. She has performed in Israel, France, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Switzerland, and the U.S. In 2013, Dr. Koshoeva received the Marian Bowker Davidson Collaborative Pianist Award for her performance of Bach’s Goldberg Variations with the Owen/Cox Dance Group. She also earned the 2015 Berta Eisberg Award for collaboration with Owen/Cox performing Hindemith’s Ludus Tonalis.
She has studied with Bella Zubok, Faina Kharmatz, Michael Burshtin (Kyrgyzstan/Israel), Vera Nosina (Moscow), Monique Duphil (Oberlin), and Robert Weirich (UMKC); and was coached by renowned pianist Lazar Berman in Weimar Master Classes.
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Dr. Koshoeva enjoys a varied career as a soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. While in Kansas City, she taught music at a host of higher learning institutions including Avila, Park, and Rockhurst Universities, UMKC, and the University of Kansas. Many of her students have won prestigious piano competitions, some leading to performances in Carnegie Hall. Dr. Koshoeva was interviewed for Princeton Info in 2022.
Phyllis Lehrer
Senior Advisor of Teacher Education
M.S. in Piano from The Juilliard School
B.A. with Music Concentration from University of Rochester Eastman School of Music
Phyllis Alpert Lehrer is known internationally as a teacher, performer, clinician, author, and adjudicator. She has given master classes and workshops, and enjoyed an active concert career as a soloist and collaborative artist in the U.S., Canada, Central and South America, Asia, and Europe.
Ms. Lehrer is Professor Emerita of Piano at Westminster Choir College of Rider University. She now serves on the artist faculty of the Westminster Conservatory community music school. She has presented regularly at conferences, and she is a founding member of Young Audiences of New Jersey and the International Society for the Study of Tension in Performance. Her collaboration of over 35 years with Ena Bronstein Barton includes two CDs featuring duets and two-piano works.
Recent publications include five volumes entitled Classics for the Developing Pianist, co-edited with Ingrid Clarfield, along with their Study Guides; Personal Trainer, five volumes devoted to keyboard theory, sight playing, technique and repertoire, co-authored with Paul Sheftel; and Chopin: An Album, published by Carl Fischer. Ms. Lehrer wrote the practice suggestions for the four books of Piano Etudes for the Development of Musical Fingers. Among her other edited works are Fantasie-Variations and Sonata, No. 2, Op. 31 by Dianne Goolkasian-Rahbee, Outside the Box by Kevin Olson and Wynn-Anne Rossi, and Dance Preludes for Piano Duet by Timothy Brown. Ms. Lehrer contributed several chapters to A Symposium for Pianists and Teachers, and co-authored The Inner Game of Music Keyboard Workbook with Barry Green.
Ms. Lehrer received a B.A. with music concentration from the University of Rochester Eastman School of Music, and an M.S. in piano from the Juilliard School of Music. She was honored as a Music Teachers National Association Foundation Fellow in 2007, and voted NJMTA Teacher of the Year for 2012-2013. In 2019 she received the Westminster Merit Award from the Alumni Association. At NCKP 2021, she received the Frances Clark Center Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding dedication to the field of music and piano teaching.
Suzanne Lehrer
Faculty
Master of Social Work, Rutgers University
M.M. in Piano Performance, Westminster Choir College
B.A. in Music, University of Rochester
Ms. Lehrer teaches piano lessons, group classes, and chamber music in the Princeton area. She maintains an independent studio in Princeton. Over the years, she has had many roles at Westminster Conservatory: as a member of the piano faculty, she has taught private and group piano lessons; coached chamber music and taught performance classes for the Honors Music Program; and founded and directed the Westminster Conservatory Piano Camp. She currently serves as the Conservatory’s Director of the Honors Music Program.
In 2016, Ms. Lehrer joined the piano faculty at Camp Encore/Coda in Sweden, Maine where she teaches piano, coordinates and coaches chamber music, serves as an accompanist for campers, and performs in faculty recitals. Currently the Arts Advocacy Chairperson for the New Jersey Music Teachers Association, Ms. Lehrer coordinates the annual Children Helping Children Performathon.
Ms. Lehrer graduated from Westminster Choir College of Rider University with a Master of Music in Piano Performance. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in piano and a minor in English Literature from the University of Rochester. As part of her undergraduate education, she studied classical and jazz piano at the Eastman School of Music.
With an interest in furthering her understanding and knowledge of management, organizational structure, diversity, and equity within organizations and communities, Ms. Lehrer recently completed a Master of Social Work with a focus on Management and Policy at Rutgers University.
Colin Levins
Faculty, Postgraduate Fellow
M.M. in Piano Performance, University of Missouri-Kansas City
B.M. in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, University of Central Missouri
Originally from the St. Louis, Missouri area, Colin Levins has performed throughout the United States and abroad. Recent appearances and awards include being a prizewinner of the Kansas City Sigma Alpha Iota Scholarship Auditions, performing in the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts and the Peabody Conservatory, and performing world premieres of solo piano works. He earned a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory with a fully funded Graduate Teaching Assistantship. Mr. Levins also holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Central Missouri, where he graduated with concentrations in Piano Performance and Pedagogy. Major teachers include Dr. Francine Kay, Professor Sean Chen, Dr. Mia Kim, and Dr. Jennifer Judd.
A member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), he served on the Executive Board of the KCMTA, UCM, and UMKC Conservatory’s chapters, the latter of which he was Founder and President. He is currently on the NSMS faculty as a Postgraduate Teaching Fellow. Former teaching positions include the UMKC Conservatory, UMKC Conservatory Academy, Interlochen Arts Camp, and the Wentzville Academy of Arts, Music, and Education.
In 2022, Mr. Levins launched a project called “Classical Horizons,” a series of mini-recitals with exciting pieces for a casual audience. He has also dabbled in arranging music and composing. Throughout his performance career, Mr. Levins also served as a pianist and organist at many churches in the United States. He is currently the Director of Music Ministry at the First Presbyterian Church of Bordentown (Bordentown, NJ). Outside of music, Mr. Levins takes pleasure in photography as a hobby and attempts to be a runner.
Teresa Lim
Faculty
M.M. in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, Westminster Choir College
M.A. in Church Music, Santa Clara University
Teresa Lim joined the NSMS faculty in 2022. She holds a Master of Music from Westminster Choir College of Rider University, and a Master of Arts in Church Music from Santa Clara University, California. She also holds teacher diplomas and degrees for voice and piano from Trinity College of Music, ABRSM in London, and a diploma and award for Excellence in Music Teaching from the Yamaha Music Foundation, Japan. In March 2006, Ms. Lim was recognized as a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) in recognition of professional excellence.
Prior to joining NSMS, Ms. Lim conducted pedagogy classes at the Yamaha Music Academy for Teachers in Singapore, and presented at the Music Teacher’s Symposium in the Asian Pacific region. Ms. Lim taught piano and composition for Westminster’s Middle School Piano Camp, and was a guest lecturer for the Westminster Pedagogy Certificate Program. She also taught piano, music theory, ear training, AP courses, and early childhood music in the Young Artist Program. She created the curriculum for “Piano and Pizzicati,” a course for children studying at Westminster Conservatory.
Ms. Lim specializes in preparing students for international examinations including RCM (Canada), ABRSM, TCM (UK), and YGE (Japan). She is an active adjudicator for piano festivals and competitions organized by MTNA and the American-Asian Fine Arts Association Piano Competitions (AAFAA). She has been featured in Princeton Town Topics, and many of her students have performed in Carnegie Hall after success in competitions.
In addition to teaching, Ms. Lim serves as music liturgist, choir director, pianist, and cantor in Catholic churches. In June 2011, Ms. Lim was invited to conduct a workshop on “Liturgy and Music in Ministry” for Catholic musicians and choir members in Singapore.​ Aside from being a dedicated piano teacher and musician, Ms. Lim also has a passion in spiritual direction, a love for her dogs, Benni and Gus, and is a great chef.
Qin Ling
Faculty
D.M.A. in Piano Pedagogy, Texas Tech University
M.M. in Piano Pedagogy, The University of Georgia
A native of China, Qin Ling began her piano training at age 5 and was an active prize winner of local and national competitions. When she was at the University of Georgia studying piano pedagogy with Dr. Pete Jutras, Dr. Ling was actively involved in the UGA Community Music School “Keyboard Kids” program. She was also involved in an online piano program teaching lessons to students at a girls’ school in Kenya.
Dr. Ling completed her D.M.A. from Texas Tech University, where she studied piano pedagogy with Dr. Carla Davis Cash and worked as a research and teaching assistant, instructing college music majors and adult amateurs. Her research examined topics such as Recreational Music Making, motor skill development in adult piano learners, and group music instruction for highly-stressed individuals. She has studied the phenomenon of flow and play, vulnerability, piano students with special needs, and the Kodály method. Dr. Ling’s work has been presented at the Texas Music Educators Association, Music Teachers National Association, and the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy.
Dr. Ling has played solo and collaborative concert repertoire on a variety of stages across the United States and Europe. She was a first prize winner at the 2020 Charleston International Music Competition and has worked with many distinguished artists in masterclass settings. Her primary piano teachers included Dr. William Westney, Dr. Martha Thomas, and Dr. Sergio Ruiz.
Dr. Ling joined NSMS in 2021. In addition to teaching, she helped organize the third annual Silent Film Celebration. Dr. Ling has served as administrative support and translator for The Frances Clark Center. She translated the Center’s very first Chinese webinar, “Teaching Little Ears to Hear,” with Marvin Blickenstaff. She enjoys working with diverse learners, looking for the potential of music-making in every individual, and inspiring love for and appreciation of music.
Charl Louw
Faculty, Co-Director of PEPS Program
D.M.A. in Piano Performance, University of Missouri-Kansas City​​
M.M. in Piano Performance, University of North Texas
Charl Louw has taught and performed throughout the U.S. and South Africa as a soloist, collaborative pianist, and with orchestras including the South African National Chamber Orchestra, Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, New Orleans Civic Orchestra, and University of Missouri Chamber Orchestra. He has served as director of chamber music and pianist-in-residence for the Mid-West Chamber Ensemble. As the pianist of the Filamental Trio, Dr. Louw collaborated on a recording project of newly-commissioned repertoire by award-winning composers from Kansas City.
Throughout his career, Dr. Louw has received prestigious awards and scholarships, including the Kauffman Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching, MC Roode Award, and Getrude Buchanan Award. He has been a finalist and top-prize winner in piano competitions, and he regularly adjudicates for piano festivals.
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Dr. Louw currently serves as the Artistic Director of the Greater Princeton Steinway Competition, and he is the Co-Director of the Program for Excellence in Piano Study (PEPS) at The New School for Music Study. He has presented lectures and master classes in both South Africa and the U.S., and he completed his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, where he studied with Dr. Robert Weirich.
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In 2023, Dr. Louw was recognized as a Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Teacher of Distinction.
Margie Nelson
Faculty, Director of NSMS Student Composition Contest
M.M. in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, Westminster Choir College
Margie Nelson came to The New School for Music Study in September of 1993, when she studied with the school's renowned founders, Dr. Frances Clark and Louise Goss. Shortly after her study at NSMS, Mrs. Nelson earned her Master’s Degree in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College.
Mrs. Nelson is the director of the New School's annual Student Composition Contest. She teaches both private students and group classes with a variety of ages, levels, and learning styles. Her students have had successes with programs such as the RCM exams and the PEPS program. In addition to her work at NSMS, Mrs. Nelson teaches music at Saint Matthias in Somerset and at Raritan Valley Community College, and she also plays piano for her church.
About teaching, Mrs. Nelson says, “One of my favorite aspects of teaching is when students make their own realizations about music. I love when they share them with me, and I love to laugh with my students because we are doing something so special and sacred with each other. I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than collaborate about music.”
Outside of music, Mrs. Nelson enjoys spending time with her family and reading. She also stays active through swimming, biking, running, and shopping.
Rebecca Pennington
Faculty, Administrative Director
D.M.A. in Piano Performance, University of Kansas​​
M.M. in Piano Performance, University of Kansas​​
B.M. in Music Education, Concordia College
Rebecca Mergen Pennington has been a member of the faculty of the New School for Music Study since 2007. She currently serves as Administrative Director, overseeing the NSMS administrative team and all school operations.
Dr. Pennington has been a frequent performer in faculty recitals, and is often seen performing duets and trios with other faculty members. She teaches the popular Piano Detectives Club, a group class for kindergarten students. She also runs beginner piano programs during the summer for young children, aiming to foster a love for music through these students' natural curiosity and enthusiasm.
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Dr. Pennington represents the NSMS teaching philosophy by saying: “At the New School for Music Study, we believe in the importance of music education for all students and the power of music to transform lives. One of my best days as a teacher is when a student comes into their piano lesson feeling unhappy. We spend the lesson making music and they leave with a smile on their face. That is the testament to the power of music.”
She holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts and a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Kansas, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Concordia College. Previous teachers include Jack Winerock and Jay Hershberger.
Dr. Pennington is a frequent presenter at local and national conferences. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her three children.
Kyu Jung Rhee
Faculty
D.M.A. in Piano Performance, Rutgers University
M.M. in Piano Performance, Rutgers University
B.M. in Piano Performance, Rutgers University
Kyu Jung Rhee holds three degrees in Piano Performance from Rutgers University. With over 20 years of experience, she has taught piano and chamber music to students of all ages, proficiency levels, and backgrounds. A native of South Korea, Dr. Rhee has taught at Kon-Kuk University, Yewon School of the Arts, AIM (African Institute of Music), Millersville University, Lancaster International Keyboard Festival, Westminster Conservatory of Rider University, and Rutgers Community Music Program.
Many of Dr. Rhee’s students have won competitions such as the Prima Volta Music Competition, Camerata Artist International Competition, and National League of Performing Arts. Her students have performed in prestigious venues including Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, and Weill Recital Hall. Others have excelled in examinations, while some have simply enjoyed playing the piano.
As a performer, Kyu Jung Rhee has appeared as a soloist and collaborative artist in the U.S., Korea, Italy, and Uganda. An avid chamber musician, she was one of the founding members of Trio Medici, has performed with the Essex String Quartet, and collaborated in numerous themed recitals in the Princeton area. She was a winner of the Joanna Hodges International Piano Competition, and Corsi Etruria in Italy.
In addition to teaching, Kyu Jung Rhee has served as an adjudicator for organizations including PianoFest, Steinway Society, and NJMTA. She served as the Chairperson for the NJMTA Advanced Masterclass Competition and the MTNA State Student Composition Competition for numerous years. Additionally, she edited the Korean edition of Succeeding at the Piano by Dr. Helen Marlais (FJH Music).
Kyu Jung Rhee believes that learning and making music can extend well beyond high school and places importance on fostering a lifelong love of music.
Carla Salas-Ruiz
Faculty, Associate Director
Ph.D. in Music Education, Louisiana State University
M.M. in Piano Pedagogy, Louisiana State University
Licentiate in Piano Performance, Universidad de Costa Rica
Licentiate in Piano Pedagogy, Universidad de Costa Rica
A native of Costa Rica, Carla Salas-Ruiz earned her Ph.D. in Music Education with an emphasis on Piano Pedagogy from Louisiana State University in 2023. Her dissertation, "A Multiple Case Study of Adolescent Piano Students: Examining Motivation through the Lens of Interest Development," reflects her focus on interest development and effective practice strategies. She holds a Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy from LSU, and two Licentiates in Music from the Universidad de Costa Rica. Her undergraduate thesis focused on Costa Rican repertoire as a contribution to piano teaching in initial and intermediate stages.
Previously, Dr. Salas-Ruiz served as an instructor and collaborative pianist at Brazosport College (TX). She was a Graduate Teacher of Record at LSU from 2019 to 2023, during which she received the prestigious Alumni Association Teaching Assistant of the Year award. From 2015 to 2019, she was an Assistant Professor at the Universidad de Costa Rica, where she created a new space for students to perform weekly and promoted interdisciplinary collaborations with the school of social sciences. She also served as the Music Precollege Program Coordinator, teaching beginner to advanced piano lessons and serving as a collaborative pianist for strings, wind, and brass sections. Additionally, she has served as the Manager of Communications and Periodicals at the Frances Clark Center and is an active member of the editorial board of the Journal of Piano Research.
Dr. Salas-Ruiz is a Steinway & Sons Educational Partner Teacher, and she regularly serves as an adjudicator in piano festivals and competitions. She has presented her research at various national and international conferences and has been published in journals such as Visions of Research in Music Education, Piano Magazine, and Research Perspectives in Music Education. Her work emphasizes fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment, encouraging critical thinking, creativity, and healthy musicianship among her students.
Molly Sanford
Faculty, Administrative Manager
D.M.A. in Piano Performance, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
M.M. in Piano Performance, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
B.M. in Piano Performance, Western Michigan University
Molly Sanford joined the NSMS faculty and administrative team in 2024. She earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Performance with a minor in Musicology at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), studying with Michael Chertock. She was also the Head Graduate Assistant of Secondary Piano for Dr. Michelle Conda, serving as administrative support for the piano department. Dr. Sanford completed her Master’s degree at CCM, and she holds a Bachelor of Music from Western Michigan University, where she studied with Lori Sims and was a member of the contemporary music ensemble Birds on a Wire.
Dr. Sanford specializes in contemporary and American music; her most recent projects include presentations on interpreting Charles Ives’ “Concord” Sonata, solo piano transcriptions and lecture recitals of John Williams’ film music, and a CD album premiering several of Allen Sapp’s piano works. Her recital programs often include creative pairings of well-known and unknown repertoire.
In both group and private lessons, Dr. Sanford enjoys teaching students of all ages and spreading a love for music. At CCM, she was the instructor of record for music major group classes, non-major electives, and honors-level private lessons. She constructed and refined curricula to help students develop a variety of musical skills. In addition, she taught at the Piano Sensei studio in Cincinnati from 2020-2024. Dr. Sanford is an active member of MTNA, and she has presented at various conferences on motivation through contemporary music, teaching students with visual impairments, practice strategies for adult piano students, and technology in group piano classes.
When she is not at the piano, Dr. Sanford works on music editing, mixing, mastering, and audio restoration for film scores, instrumental works, and private recordings. She is now helping to run the NSMS Silent Film Celebration.
Alexa Stier
Faculty
D.M.A. in Piano Performance, Yale University, expected 2027
M.M. in Piano Performance, Yale School of Music
B.M. in Piano Performance, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Alexa Stier joined the New School for Music Study in 2023. Ms. Stier earned her Bachelor of Music degree at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where she studied with Fali Pavri. She completed her Master of Music degree at the Yale School of Music. There, she is currently a Doctorate of Musical Arts candidate, studying with Professor Boris Berman and Professor Wei-Yi Yang. ​
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Described as “simply phenomenal” by the New Britain Herald, Romanian-Hungarian pianist Alexa Stier has performed extensively in the United States and across Europe. She has appeared as a soloist with orchestras such as the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (UK), the New Britain Symphony Orchestra (USA), and Transylvania State Philharmonic Orchestra (Romania). Ms. Stier has received first prizes in many international competitions, such as the Sheepdrove Piano Competition (UK) and the Virtuoso and Belcanto Concerto Competition (Italy). She was the recipient of the “Maurice Ohana” Special Prize at the Orléans International Piano Competition (France), and in 2021, she was a Fellow at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival.
Ms. Stier won the Third Prize, the Prize for the Best Performance of a New Work, and the Audience Prize at the 2023 International Messiaen Piano Competition in Grenoble, France. She performed works by Mozart, Albeniz, Bartók, Debussy, and Messiaen. Ms. Stier frequently performs in the Princeton and New York City areas, as well as for cultural embassies around the world.
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Ms. Stier is the founder and artistic director of the ContemporArt Association based in Romania, which aims to contribute towards the cultivation of chamber music in her hometown through a concert series and a workshop program designed for local music students.
Malissa Tong
Faculty
Doctor of Arts in Piano, Ball State University
M.M. in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, Ohio University
B.M., SUNY Potsdam Crane School of Music
Malissa Tong joined NSMS in 2022. A native of Brooklyn, NY, Dr. Tong is a dedicated music educator and pianist with a wealth of experiences and a unique professional perspective. She earned her Doctor of Arts degree in Piano from Ball State University with emphases in chamber music/accompanying and music education, studying with Dr. Ray Kilburn. She holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Ohio University, where she studied with Dr. Christopher Fisher. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam with a concentration in pedagogy, and she is a certified K-12 public school music teacher in the state of New York.
Dr. Tong has taught students of all ages and levels for well over a decade. While completing her doctoral studies, she maintained a private studio and taught general music, choir, and band at St. Mary school in Muncie, IN. She assisted Professor Phoenix Park-Kim at Indiana Wesleyan University with class piano, applied piano, and pedagogy coursework. Additional training includes numerous pedagogy seminars at the graduate level, and a case study in piano studio teaching for her doctoral dissertation. Most importantly, Dr. Tong loves teaching and is constantly striving to give her students the best she has to offer.
Dr. Tong remains active as a performer and presenter. She enjoys playing stylistically diverse programs and extended piano techniques. Dr. Tong has presented and performed at regional and national conferences such as NCKP and MTNA. She adjudicated in the 2019-2020 National Federation Music Club Junior Festival, where she has been employed as treasurer since 2020. She also served as administrative assistant for the Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition from 2017-2019, and is currently the assistant director of the Carmel Klavier International Piano Competition, where she assists in organizing the annual competition for young artists.
Angela Triandafillou Jones
atriandafillou@nsmspiano.org
Faculty, Admissions Director
M.M. in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, University of Oklahoma​​
B.M. in Piano Performance and Music Education, Ithaca College
Angela Triandafillou Jones holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance and Music Education from Ithaca College, as well as a New York State teacher certification for K-12 music. She holds a Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma, where she was awarded a full teaching assistantship. She has spent summers at the Neighborhood Music School in Connecticut, the Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan, and the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina.
Ms. Triandafillou joined the New School for Music Study in 2011, and she currently serves as the Admissions Director. Her students actively participate in local events and regularly receive honors in the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) program. She teaches the weekly "Music Tree" group class program for elementary students. In addition to her passion for teaching group and private piano lessons to children and adults, she is active in teacher education. She has presented at the national and local levels, and she serves on the board of the Piano Teachers Forum of Central New Jersey. She has adjudicated for festivals and competitions in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In 2023, she received The Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy Outstanding Service Recognition Awards.
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Ms. Triandafillou frequently performs as a soloist in the New School Faculty Recital Series, serves as a substitute church pianist throughout central New Jersey, and enjoys collaborating with her husband Christopher Jones, a violinist.