See works shared by some members of the Class of M&A ’61 HERE

Music and Art Memories

In memory of Celia Cizes, who passed away on November 10, 2021

From Celia Cizes, Instrumental

“My experience at the school contributed to my wholeness to this day. I have 3 graduate degrees and no school did as much for me as Music & Art. I even met my life partner (Mark Gartman), who was a graduate of the M&A class of 1960. We reconnected 40 years after graduating and it was like not a day had passed.”
– Celia Cizes, Instrumental

Celia’s family story was made into a book: https://www.amazon.com/Unanswered-Letter-Holocaust-Familys-Desperate/dp/1684510171

Share a story or thought about a favorite teacher at M&A:

From Rose Levy Beranbaum, Instrumental

“I have more memories of teachers at M & A than of any other teachers at the many schools I attended throughout my life. The two that stand out the most are Mr. Cooper (English) and Mr. Golub (Geography). And here is my memory. Mr. Cooper had several eccentricities, and one in particular was that if a student erased a date on a paper, or used a ballpoint pen (he claimed he didn’t like the ‘sculpture’ on the back of the paper) one was punished by being assigned an essay every day for a whole week. And one day it happened to me when I erased only the day—carefully—but his eagle eyes could detect it. I didn’t like feeling punished, and especially not for such an unreasonably foolish and controlling ‘reason’, but to me writing was a joy not a punishment. (And yes—I eventually did become a writer.) I decided that one of the papers would be on Eleanor Roosevelt and her contribution to foreign policy. After completing the paper, it occurred to me that Mr. Golub (who had eccentricities of his own) might enjoy reading it so I also submitted it to him explaining that it was a “punishment” paper, not for extra credit. His response was that thanks to my honesty he was going to give me extra credit anyway! That was so Mr. Golub—master of the unexpected! After reading the paper, he asked me to read it to the class the following day. One of my fellow students asked a question about it, to which I had no answer. I froze for a moment, trying to come up with something, and coming up empty, admitted that I didn’t know. Mr. Golub rose up to the opportunity to teach an object lesson saying: ‘Rose Karen Levy: That is the right answer! If you don’t know the answer always admit it and then say that you will find out.’ And this has stayed with me for over 60 years.”
– Rose Levy Beranbaum, Violin

From Philip Richman, Instrumental

“Mr. Spitz’ gave a definitive presentation of the Postulates, Axiom and Theorems of Euclidean Geometry. This shapes my thinking to this day. I became a philosophy major.”
– Philip Richman, Instrumental

From Richard Solomon, Vocal

“Mr. Isadore Russ was the coach of our handball team and we won the Manhattan handball championship in 1960.”
– Richard Solomon, Vocal

From Elizabeth Block, Art

“Richard Gesualdo taught Spanish. My senior year I audited 4th year Spanish. (Three days a week, the other two were gym.) First semester: taught (badly) by the department head. Second: taught by Mr. Gesualdo. As far as he was concerned, I was taking his course for credit, and the fact that I was there only three days a week didn’t matter. I still have some Spanish!”
– Elizabeth Block, Art

From Greta Berman, Vocal

“Rudolf Cooper was probably my favorite, but then, I was one of his favorites. If he didn’t like you, it didn’t go well. But I loved him, and learned incredible amounts from him! Other outstanding teachers for me were Mrs. Ext, Mr. Beller, Mr.Goldbaum,, Mr. Kassoy, Mrs. Mandel, Miss Dolgow, Mrs. Barnes, Mrs. Mapp, Mr. Bishop! People had a hard time in algebra, so Mr. Bishop would add 10% to their grades. Some of my friends and I therefore had about a 108% average in that class! The fact that I remember so many, and so many names, and can conjure them up in my head, is a real tribute to them!”
– Greta Berman, Vocal

From Gerald Soslau, Art

“Phil Rogow, Chemistry teacher, set me on a professional path in Biochemistry, and Mr. Cooper, a free thinker, who helped us see the world in many ways.”
– Gerald Soslau, Art

From Allan Vogel, Instrumental

“I visited Mrs. Landecker when she was 100 and it was wonderful personally and musically. She advised me to keep teaching if I was interested in longevity and she had taught at Saddleback college until 95. I will search for a little video of her playing Happy Birthday to herself at her 102 Birthday party with lots of spirit and a couple of mischievous harmonies!”
– Allan Vogel, Instrumental

From Akal Dev Sharonne, Instrumental

“So many. Mr. Valenstein comes to mind as a wonderful science teacher. In 9th grade, he told us that we wouldn’t study reproduction until we were more mature. In 10th grade, we arrived. I can remember him putting the male and female frogs behind a barrier to give them privacy for their sexual union.”

– Akal Dev Sharonne, Instrumental

My website is www.thehealingmuse.com. It includes excerpts from my two Cd’s, as well as photos from performances.

From Anonymous

“Thanks to Mrs. Rattner’s excellent teaching, I was able to converse with a repairman when my car broke down on a highway in a small town in central France in 1995.”
– Anonymous

From Elly Shodell, Vocal

“Mr. Marienhoff’s exciting classes and my paper on John Peter Zenger’s trial sent me searching for library materials, newspapers, books and legal cases. I really sweated that one, but I think it influenced my career decisions and led me to a life of research and history. I was appalled when Mr. M. left us for Hunter High School, well after we graduated, but still….really?”
– Elly Shodell, Vocal

From Jill Munroe Fankhauser, Instrumental

“Mr. Russ: One day the orchestra was arguing with Mr. Russ about the value of rock and roll. We challenged him. ‘We’ll, what do you dance to?’ ‘Bach and Beethoven,’ he replied.

“Mr. Beller: It was just after the Cuban Revolution and Mr. Beller, good and thoughtful American that he was, opposed it. Many of us went home and wrote our research papers on the abuses and exploitation of the United Fruit Company, the occupation of Cuba by American companies, the grinding poverty of the natives, and the hopes and dreams for a better life for Cubans and all humankind of Castro and Che Guevara. When Mr. Beller handed back our papers he told us that we had convinced him. He did a 180-degree turn in favor of the Revolution. How many people, let alone public school teachers, do we know who would have that degree of humility and courage?!”
– Jill Munroe Fankhauser, Instrumental

From Dorothy M von Glahn Lee, Art

“I loved Mr. Valenstein but Mr Cooper was a definitely a favorite too.”
– Dorothy M von Glahn Lee

From Linda Umansky Saiger, Instrumental

“In a music theory class, our assignment was to write a short composition using a certain cord progression. I came to school with my assignment completed and showed it to some other friends in the class, who added a note here and there! After a day or two when Mrs. Mandel selected a few pieces to play in class, mine was among them. But I was so shocked and uncertain, I couldn’t raise my hand when she asked whose piece it was – – The truth was my piece sounded so much better when she played it than when I played it at home –that it made me wonder if indeed it was mine! Don’t know how many of you had Mr Cooper for English – but he was a favorite!”

– Linda Umansky Saiger

From Helaine Seelig Bernard, Art

“Mrs Barnes was a wonderful English teacher. But we had many excellent teachers who really seemed to enjoy teaching us.”
– Helaine Seelig Bernard

From Jack Winerock, Instrumental

“Mr. Lawner loved puns and had a twinkle in his eye.”
– Jack Winerock, Piano

From Steven Stipelman, Art

Mrs Julia Winston, One Fashion Illustration class I had with her was responsible for my perusing my career as an illustrator. I kept in touch with her until she passed away

– Steven Stipelman

From Barbara Grossman, Art

“There were many great teachers at M&A. Many people mention Rudy Cooper and the math teacher whose name started with M…but the one who sticks out is Senor Guesauldo the Spanish teacher. The first class was all in Spanish and he never spoke a word of English during the entire semester. How would get a bathroom pass seemed to be the main concern if one did not speak Spanish (yet). He was a brilliant teach with a good sense of timing and sense of humor.”
– Barbara Grossman

From Yolanda Escollies, Instrumental

“That’s easy, Mr. Russ. I was walking out of the orchestra room after rehearsal with Mr. Russ and as I passed by him he said that I had played very well that day. It thrilled me to get a compliment from him. His kindness and patience with us made us want to do our very best for him.”
– Yolanda Escollies, Viola

From Philip Bustin, Instrumental

“Mildred Landecker and [the senior chorus teacher, whose name just temporarily vanished] were wonderful; and Ms. Muller, my biology teacher, apparently taught all her classes that the U.S. could grow enough food to feed the world, and that launched me on an avocation as a revolutionary socialist; I’m still active in that movement.”
– Philip Bustin, Violin

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Share a story or a thought about your times at the High School of Music and Art:

From Ted Pollock, Art

“Despite the very long commute each day, my time at M&A was perhaps my fondest four years. As co- photo editor, I wandered the halls with a camera always hung from my neck, capturing myriad scenes. One that stands out was shooting of the crown prince of Japan signing the school visitors’ log book with his wife and the school principal looking on… years later I sent him the 8 by 10 photo but never got a response.”

From Yolanda Escollies, Instrumental

“I raised my hand in my algebra class and my teacher , Mr. Stark wouldn’t call on me. No one else was volunteering and he just kept criticising all of us and saying that we were going to lose to the Russians because we didn’t know our math. I was frantically still raising my hand and finally said, ” You don’t ever call on me!” He gave in and of course, I solved the problem but he was angry with my behavior. I, however, felt great!!”

– Yolanda Escollies

From Deborah Silver Verlen, Vocal

“I have so many wonderful memories of my time at M&A including singing with Leonard Bernstein in his Young People’s Concerts, performing at the ground-breaking at Lincoln Center, dancing with my classmates on the Dick Clark TV show, and, of course, my one claim-to-fame: the performance of my original music at the semi-annual concert! One very comical incident also stands out. I arrived for my midterm exams during a January snow storm wearing pants to keep warm. I was stopped at the door and told I could not take my exams unless I changed into a skirt. After much deliberating, Mr. Beller, our principal at the time, stepped in and let me take my exams. My one rebellious act that would be laughed at today! My thanks to all our wonderful teachers particularly Mrs. Ext, Mrs. Landecker, Mrs. Barnes (who really taught me how to write!), and many others. And also thanks to my dear classmates in the vocal program who joined me daily singing on the subway going home. It was a fantastic experience!!!!”
– Deborah Silver Verlen

From Greta Berman, Vocal

“Fabulous education in music, and in general. Wonderful friends! Terrific teachers! Such warm memories!”
– Greta Berman

From Dorothy M von Glahn Lee, Art

“It gave me confidence to continue in art through college and during years in Europe on.”
– Dorothy M von Glahn Lee

From Jill Munroe Fankhauser, Instrumental

“It was the first day of class. We were buzzing with anticipation when I heard the formidable Mr. Cooper’s footsteps coming down the hall. I said, “Shhhh” to the class. Mr. Cooper enters, slams his folders and books down on the desk and says, “No one shushes my class!!”
– Jill Munroe Fankhauser, Instrumental

From Akal Dev Sharonne, Instrumental

“I adored M&A. In retrospect, I am honored and grateful to have attended the best high school for me at that time in my life. I am still friends with some of our classmates.”

– Akal Dev Sharonne (Sharon Zuckerman), Instrumental

From Marilyn Kaplan Eisenberg, Instrumental

“Adolescence is purportedly an awkward time in one’s life. But my stories go off the charts. Here are some

As a music student coming in on piano, I was placed in a Brass Class to choose another instrument. After all the cool instruments were claimed, Mr. Kosakoff asked me sweetly, ‘What instrument do you want to play, little girl?’

I told him quite innocently , ‘I want to play the flute’.

After a short discussion about that although the flute might look like a metal instrument, it was really in the woodwind section, and anyway they had enough flutes. My choices were to play the tuba or the tympani or join a string class and play the violin.

The violin was far beyond my musical seriousness at that moment of time. So I chose the tuba.

Scroll forward a year. I am in Intermediate Band under Mr. Glaser. I was still at that point an accomplished Little Miss Goody Two-shoes. How Mr. Glaser knew that from behind my E Flat tuba is beyond me.. But I was chosen to help him organize his Delaney book by instrument. We were all to fill out a card with our official class and the instrument we played. I efficiently gathered the cards up and started to arrange them by instrument in his book.

One of the young men in the band had not filled in his instrument. So I pushed Mr. Glaser off the podium and announced in a nice, clear voice, ‘Who’s Dick Hertz?’

I had at that time not the slightest idea what a dick was, nor why it should hurt. But a loud amused snicker went up throughout the room along with many hands, and Mr. Glaser, red and flustered, now pushed me off the podium. I retreated back to the tuba section, and my friend there tried to explain my gaff. But those matters were far beyond my comprehension at that time, and myself ended up red, flustered and confused. It took me a few years to catch onto it, but I did, belatedly mortified.

Mr. Glaser gave me another chance to redeem myself, and let me announce for the Intermediate Band Concert.

I announced, ‘The Intermediate Band Will now play Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky. It was arranged for orchestra by Ravel.’

All sounds good, except I pronounced Ravel like ‘unravel,’ Mr. Glaser approached the podium once again red, flustered, and shaking his head in disbelief, as I paraded innocently back once again to the tuba section to play my part.

I don’t believe Mr. Glaser gave me any leadership roles after that. He was really so sweet and caring, and I feel terrible that I embarrassed him so.”
– Marilyn Kaplan Eisenberg, Instrumental

From John Cepelak, Vocal

“Met my late lady in Mrs. Junkermann’s World Drama Class, then known as Christina Fiske, Class of 1960. She was my partner here for 16 years.”

– John Cepelak, Vocal

From Elizabeth Block, Art

“Barbara Rosen and I both had lunch 4th period. She wrote a note to Sybil Mandel, who conducted the senior chorus, saying we were two art students who would rather sing than eat. She let us join the chorus. For years I wondered why she had bestowed this boon upon us. I finally realized: Why shouldn’t she? Big chorus. And she had a good ear. If we had been singing out of tune, she would have heard us and thrown us out.”
– Elizabeth Block, Art

From Thomas Windham, Instrumental

“It was wonderful, helped to change my life trajectory.

M&A was one of the few schools where I could be a three year starter on the school baseball team.”
– Thomas Windham, Instrumental

From Richard Solomon, Vocal

“We had the honor of performing Aaron Copeland’s operetta, The Second Hurricane, at Carnegie Hall. Leonard Bernstein was our conductor and the NY Philharmonic was our orchestra. We were also on television in a Sunday program entitled the Young People’s Concert and we made a record with Columbia Records of our performance of the Second Hurricane.”
– Richard Solomon, Vocal

From Barbara Hendrickson, Art

“The energy, the people, the music in the background, whole experience was so life-giving so energizing so wonderful. It made me who I am in many ways. I don’t know who I’d be if I hadn’t been there. I’m so grateful for the experience as I know my friends who went there are. And I’m still friends with so many people I went to school with there. We share this common experience.”
– Barbara Hendrickson, Art

From Allan Vogel, Instrumental

“As the decades flow by most of us are still, if not increasingly, feeling fortunate to have gone to M&A. It is great that there are still plans to have our 60^th reunion but I also have been haunted by an idea which had its roots in something that Mrs. Ext did and then said at the beginning of my first theory class as a Freshman in September 1957 (I would love to hear from any of you who were among the thirty other students in the room). Mrs. Ext was a fantastic music theory and voice teacher.
Near the beginning of our first theory class, Mrs. Ext, who seemed always to have a twinkle in her eye and a mysterious happy smile which seemed to say ‘I know some cool things that you don’t yet, so pay attention’ drew a series of chalk dots on the blackboard. She asked us who could connect the dots with a single line and, as I remember, no one could because of the way they were spaced. It turned out that it was necessary to draw way outside the box and angle back to include the last two dots. Mrs. Ext then looked at us all and said, ‘We did this drawing exercise so that you always remember that a musician has to have a flexible mind.’ This is what I needed, and still need, to hear so I think of this almost every day.”

“On the first day I remember being asked “do you wish to Major In Instrument or Voice? If you answered “Instrument” the choice of instrument was made by a small group of teachers who were inspecting the our fingers and tongues. When it was my turn someone happened to walk by with a tuba so I answered “Voice!” This turned out to me a good warm-up for the oboe which I began in my junior year.”
– Allan Vogel, Instrumental

From Adele Phyllis Unterberg, Art

“My Life’s Journey: Reflections
Three changes by train! That hill! and stairs! But I got there and my life evolved. At thirteen years of age-my father taught me the travel route. I was excited and proud-nervous, yet very worried. My dad died on December 16th 1957 and my life was turned upside down. My fabulous mother worked 4 jobs and kept us together. I thank Mrs. Silver, my French teacher, who provided free tickets for my sister and I to attend Radio City Music Hall on Saturday mornings. Ms. Adele Matzke, my lovey guidance counselor, who called my mother whenever I worried about my school work, and my fabulous English teachers over the four years, who encouraged me to write and express myself. My painting teacher who traveled with me all the way to East Broadway. I made many wonderful friends and had joyous times sharing stories and “life” talk. I went on to study at NYU’s Art Education and Studio. It was there, that I studied art and painting and became a teacher of Fine Arts in the public school system. Where else but public education that defines the American ideal. Where else to find talent, intellect and sharing but at Music & Art. I thank my parents forever who encouraged me. I am grateful that I had such enrichment at the High School Of Music & Art. Thank you!”
– Adele Phyllis Unterberg

From Rose Levy Beranbaum, Instrumental

“My mother was a pianist but I never studied theory so I was in total shock when told in class that I would have to listen to 4 part harmony and copy down all the notes. I employed various tricks to remember intervals–the most obvious being “here comes the bride” for the major 5th and the tomb aria from Aida for the 7th. It seemed a miracle that I was ever able to graduate given my lack of musical knowledge. I even had to be tutored one semester by Mrs. Landecker.”
– Rose Levy Beranbaum, Violin

From Phillip Richman, Instrumental

“I was so crazy about Charlie Parker that my friends used to call me Bird. It was exciting to share that love of Jazz with a couple of Trumpet players. Then in my senor year seeming accidents planted seeds that set the course of my life. I started to study Whitehead’s Science and the Modern World in an AP course. Later my obsession with Bird transmuted into systematic study of Bach which led to an enduring friendship with Carl Estrin – poet, visionary, brilliant iconoclast. His friend Alan Vogel introduced me to my wife of 55 years.”

“Mr. Spitz’ gave a definitive presentation of the Postulates, Axiom and Theorems of Euclidean Geometry. This shapes my thinking to this day. I became a philosophy major.”

“Carl Estrin happened to borrow Alan Vogel’s oboe teacher’s (Joseph Marx) copy of Tibet’s Great Yogi Milarepa and by strange twists of karmic fate the last 50 years of my life have been devoted to Tibetan Buddhist meditation. I have merged that with a natural inclination towards Jewish Mysticism. Who knew? When Carl died I published a set of his poems called Journey to Dorylaeum.”
– Phillip Richman, Trombone

From Gerald Korman, Art

“Living where I do now in Pittsburgh, a city where entire neighborhoods are named for the hills they occupy, a few only reachable by concrete stairs, I often think about that climb to school through the park from the subway stop at 135th Street. And I think there wasn’t a day when I didn’t look forward to climbing those stairs.”

“I have over the years thought of Helen Ridgaway, a teacher on the Art faculty that taught the course on Watercolor, who I believe left and enduring mark on my growth as an artist. Although getting-on in years, she moved about the room like a sorceress, speaking as she went, commenting on our work, offering suggestions on technical issues, mentioning the work of artists that we should become familiar with, or a show currently on view at one of the museums. I credit her with introducing me to the work of John Marin, and Charles Demuth.”

“Though I have worked in other media, I still return to Watercolor as a way of reconnecting to the mystery of what can transpire between the eye and the hand. I will leave a few images of my work, along with my gratitude for having spent one term as a student of Helen Ridgaway.”
-Gerald Korman, Art

From Jack Winerock, Instrumental

“I remember playing the Paul Creston Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra with the orchestra.”
– Jack Winerock, Piano

From Susan Schwalb, Art

“I just loved it there.”
– Susan Schwalb

From Ellen Koment, Art

“The most seen painting I’ve ever done was on a poster. After I win a contest. That was in the subway!”
– Ellen Koment

From Philip Bustin, Instrumental

“I was a couple of years younger than most of my classmates, and shy besides. I wish I had related more to all my classmates!”
– Philip Bustin

From Robin Binderman, Vocal

“One terrible experience was with Mrs. X who called the roll the first day in class and she said that she heard about me and it wasn’t good. That is the only thing I remember about that class. I never learned a thing from her. Although we learned wonderful repertory in voice classes we were never taught how to use our voice as an instrument and to support the voice with the breath. It is only now that I am learning that from a very fine teacher.”
– Robin Binderman

From Jay Schleifer, Art

“M&A vastly widened my world and my mind. Met people I’d never have known if I followed my Bronx friends in their life paths.”
– Jay Schleifer

From Steven Stipelman, Art

“Some of my favorite years of my life.”
– Steven Stipelman

From Barbara Grossman, Art

“Changed my life…I have no idea what direction it would have taken but I doubt it would been what it turned out. A life in the arts, friends in all disciplines but particularly art, flexible to follow my path and have a studio life, ever since. It also instilled intellectual curiosity and a love of life.”
– Barbara Grossman

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How did attending M&A influence your life after high school?

From Richard Solomon, Vocal

“M&A gave me the sense that I could compete in any learning environment.”
– Richard Solomon

From Ann Baron Steiner, Art

“M&A furthered my interest in art and particularly in photography.”
– Ann Baron Steiner

From Thomas Windham, Instrumental

“Encouraged me to see new eligibilities.”
– Thomas Windham

From Deborah Silver Verlen

“My experience at M&A expanded my love for music and art and my determination to stay involved with my music although I actually became a psychotherapist.”
– Deborah Silver Verlen

From Elizabeth Block, Vocal

“I was a choral singer for years. Still sing.”
– Elizabeth Block

From Barbara Hendrickson, Art

“The day I got my acceptance to music and art was the most exciting day of my life until I had my children and until this Monday when my grandson was born. Of course I have two other grandchildren and those were exciting days too.”
– Barbara Hendrickson

From Phyllis Edelstein Stern, Instrumental

“Attending M&A opened my world and experiences to many new things and my life was richer for it.”
– Phyllis Edelstein Stern

From Adele Phyllis Unterberg, Art

“Greatly enriching as I became a teacher in Fine Arts for over 42 years and I am still teaching a group of lovely senior groups in my community.”
– Adele Unterberg

From Greta Berman, Vocal

“It was everything! My whole career has been about music and art. In fact, I am partway through my 43rd year of teaching art history at Juilliard!”
– Greta Berman

From Susan Schwalb, Art

“I became an artist.”
– Susan Schwalb

From Marilyn Kaplan Eisenberg, Instrumental

“Music and Art was a sweet spot in my life, a respite between a difficult childhood and the rigors of college and adulthood. I learned so much about music, and enjoyed playing several instruments after high school.”
– Marilyn Kaplan Eisenberg

From Allan Vogel, Instrumental

“I became a professional musician.”
– Allan Vogel

From John Cepelak, Vocal

“Never lost touch with music, especially orchestral music, vocal music and opera. Have become later in life an opera and song composer. I did this with my wife, Christina (Fiske), who was my librettist and wrote the music for some scenes as well.”
– John Cepelak

From Akal Dev Sharonne, Instrumental

“I went on to CCNY along with many of my high school classmates. We were like an extended M&A family.”
– Akal Dev Sharonne

From Anonymous

“Through attending M&A, I developed a lifelong hobby — choral singing — that has been a constant source of intellectual, emotional, and social enjoyment. As a result of my M&A training in solfeggio, I became a skilled sight reader, which enabled me to join outstanding amateur choirs that probably would not have admitted me on the basis of the quality of my voice.”
– Anonymous

From Jill Munroe Fankhauser, Instrumental

“Music and art are both still essential to me. I subsequently earned a Masters degree at CCM in Cincinnati. I still practice piano an hour or two a day. I was lifted up by my experience and friendships there into that loftier realm we sang of in our alma mater from Brahms’s Symphony No. 1.
I paint and make my own greeting cards. I cannot imagine the direction my life would have taken had I gone to the local high school.”
– Jill Munroe Fankhauser

From Judith Raifman Claire, Art

“I became involved with all kinds of creative endeavors – song lyrics, comedy improv, screen writing, co-wrote 2 non-fiction books, created Judith Claire Counseling and Coaching specializing in members of the entertainment industry, creative thinkers and spiritual individuals, and am recently doing plein air watercolor paintings.”
– Judith Raifman Claire

From Dorothy M von Glahn Lee, Art

“I feel I was able to use my background in working with non-profits and give back a bit.”
– Dorothy M von Glahn Lee

From Anonymous

“After getting a degree in history, I went back to music and eventually got a Ph.D. in music history.”
– Anonymous

From Jay Schleifer, Art

“It’s always been a special part of my background and imbued me with pride in having spent those three years in the Castle.”
– Jay Schleifer

From Robin Binderman, Vocal

“I really appreciated Lieder and Gilbert and Sullivan. Later in life I decided I must have music as an important focus and studied at the Dalcroze School of Music and became a piano teacher.”
– Robin Binderman

From Helaine Seelig Bernard, Art

“I taught art at the NYC Board of Ed and was a school psychologist for twenty years where I used art therapy with youngsters I counseled. I love drawing, working in various media and visiting museums.”
– Helaine Seelig Bernard

From Linda Umansky Saiger, Instrumental

“It remained a marker – -a constant reminder of what was.”
– Linda Umansky Saiger

From Jack Winerock, Instrumental

“I appreciate the diversity of the student body and the broadening of ideas.”
– Jack Winerock

From Daniel Waitzman, Instrumental

“My attendance at M&A gave me a real education. I met many extraordinary students and teachers. It was one of the formative experiences of may life, and one of those which I treasure the most.”
– Daniel Waitzman

From Ann Lowenthal, Instrumental

“Best high school ever and best teachers and friends. Lifelong love of music and art too.”
– Ann Lowenthal

From Steven Stipelman, Art

“Influenced my career.”
– Steven Stipelman

From Barbara Grossman, Art

“It gave me the confidence to pursue the life of an artist.”
– Barbara Grossman

From Yolanda Sylvia Escollies, Instrumental

“I loved music before I attended M&A but playing in the orchestra was magic for me. I just attended a concert at Alice Tully Hall (11/12/21) and they played Brahms 1st symphony. When the fourth movement began I prepared with my sister (also an M&Aer) for our school song and we held hands a smiled with joy remembering M&A.”
– Yolanda Sylvia Escollies

From Philip Bustin, Instrumental

“My music training enabled a 10-year stint as a piano teacher, and see the comment about Ms. Muller above.”
– Philip Bustin

From Richard Mishkin, Instrumental

“Absolutely opened opportunity for me as a musician and a critical thinker.”
– Richard Mishkin

M&A ’61 Class Fund 2021 Recipients

Olivia Pantoga (LaGuardia ’21), Vocal Music

“Nothing in the world brings me more joy than music, and I am certain that it will always be an essential part of my life whether or not I decide to pursue it as a profession. Receiving a free arts education was a gift that allowed me to discover myself as an artist, and for this I will be forever thankful.”

Read Olivia’s full thank you letter h ere