Nicole Becker is the Artistic & Executive Director of Every Voice Choirs, which she co-founded in 2012. At Columbia University, she directs the Teachers College Community Choir and teaches piano and conducting. Dr. Becker received an undergraduate degree in Biology from Yale University, a masters in Piano Performance from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and a doctorate in Music Education from Columbia University Teachers College. Dr. Becker’s academic research focuses on student-centered teaching approaches in ensemble settings and developing racial literacy through music education.
Ashira Mothersil is a vocal performer, educator, and second year doctoral student in music and music education at Teacher’s College Columbia University. Born in a Haitian household in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, Ashira’s love for music was inspired by her multicultural upbringing. Today, Ashira describes her artistry as a melting pot of different sounds, styles, and genres that reflect her love for the African Diaspora, and through music she hopes to use her voice to celebrate its beauty, healing, and resilience.
Sayume Romero was born and raised in New York City. She graduated as a vocal major from LaGuardia High School of Music and Performing Arts, obtained a B.A. in Vocal Performance from Stony Brook University, and earned an M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Columbia University Teachers College. She currently works as a preschool, multilingual (English/Japanese/Spanish) speech and language therapist in Washington Heights. Sayume enjoys practicing karate, studying voice, and singing with the Teacher College Community Choir. The opportunity to work with EVC’s VoiceAbility is a dream come true!
Chelsea Kutner is a music educator originally from Long Island. She holds a B.A. in Music and Linguistics from UNC Chapel Hill and an M.A. in Music and Music Education from Teachers College Columbia University. Chelsea worked with EVC while completing her master's degree at Teachers College and returned as the Program Manager, after teaching elementary school music in North Carolina for six years. She is thrilled to now also direct the Hunter Voice Classes. When not working, Chelsea enjoys reading, traveling, practicing yoga, and spending time outdoors.
Sarah Perry, EdD, MT-BC, is Assistant Professor of Music Education at Westminster Choir College, Rider University. Dr. Perry is a board certified music therapist and music educator, receiving her masters and doctorate degrees in music education from Teachers College, Columbia University and her music therapy degree from Elizabethtown College. Her specializations include music in special education and integrated arts learning, focusing on addressing the needs of special learners in music, visual arts, and dance settings. Dr. Perry is a frequent clinician leading teacher training workshops for teachers of visual arts, dance/movement and music in both public school settings and various arts outreach programs in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Dr. Perry is the founder and advisor for EVC’s VoiceAbility.
A classically trained operatic soprano, Sydney Mcnabb is passionate about teaching voice, specializing in classical vocal technique. Past operatic roles include Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi), Despina (Così fan Tutte), and Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro). Sydney holds a bachelor's degree in Music and Psychology from UNC Chapel Hill and a Masters in Voice from Peabody Conservatory. She is a current second year M.Ed candidate at Teachers College of Columbia University, and is excited to continue to work with EVC.
Joelle Mendoza is a music educator and vocalist from Santiago, Chile. She is a current second year M.A. candidate in Music Education at Columbia University Teachers College. She also works as an early childhood music teacher at various Music Together centers around the city. Joelle is passionate about the power of music education in the lives of young people, and looks forward to continued work with Every Voice Choirs.
Tessoro Estrella is an R&B singer from New York City. She graduated with a Vocal major from LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Music from Berklee College of Music. Tessoro has performed for the President of the Dominican Republic and various Borough Presidents of New York. She participated in concert events at Berklee and was featured on Casita Limon’s YouTube channel. As an alumna of the EVC Youth and Concert Choir, she is grateful for the support she received from EVC and aspires to share her passion for music with others.
Feisheng Liu is a composer, pianist, and educator. She holds a B.A. in Music Composition from the China Conservatory of Music and is currently pursuing an Ed.M. in Music Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Feisheng is committed to creating spaces where students can explore their unique voices and contribute to a shared harmony. Her vision extends beyond cultivating skilled musicians; she aims to help individuals find joy, purpose, and connection through music.
Drew X Coles is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, producer, and educator, as well as a lecturer at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he also serves as the director of the Hybrid Masters Degree Program in Music & Music Education. His scholarly interests include; the construct of success as it applies to post-secondary music students, culturally responsive pedagogy in the music classroom, the use of technology in the applied studio, Jazz pedagogy, improvisation pedagogy, comprehensive musicianship coursework and curricula, and quantitative research methods in music education. Drew earned his Doctorate in Music Education at Teachers College, Columbia University after defending his dissertation on the perceptions among musicians on the construct of career success as it applies to them as well as their peers.
JEREMY CHAN is a freelance Australian pianist and vocal coach based in New York City. A versatile musician with a flair for improvisation, he loves collaborating with artists who sing, play, and dance. His “superb” playing has been praised for its “shimmer, mystery, and ease” (Classical Singer Magazine). Outside of music, Jeremy enjoys yoga, tea, and food adventures. Follow Jeremy @jeremychanpiano and www.jeremychanpiano.com
Scott is a freelance percussionist and teacher who recently retired after 32 years from the music faculty at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, where he built the program to include seven percussion ensembles, for which he arranged and conducted. As a drummer, he studied with Jazz great Joe Morello while still in high school, and went on to receive a degree in Jazz Studies at Indiana University under acclaimed professor and bandleader David Baker. Currently, Scott is a sought after percussionist in a wide range of genres and has been around the world both as a player and as a teacher. He has had the pleasure to play and/or record with many of “the greats” including music legends Tito Puente and Lionel Hampton, as well as Bob Dorough, the creator of Schoolhouse Rock. His musical palette is constantly expanding, most recently to include Indian tabla, Balkan drumming, and clawhammer banjo. Scott was also awarded a year long sabbatical from Fieldston in 2022-23 to travel and study music throughout Africa.
Violinist / educator / project manager / solutions engineer Jack Lio holds a B.A. in Music Performance from Central Conservatory of Music, M.Ed. in Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and is a Project Management Institute-certified Project Management Professional. As a teacher in the NYC DOE, Jack founded and advised a music business / management club and a Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter, both centered around rebuilding the music program and developing student leadership and advocacy. Jack now uses his project management and solutions engineering skills to drive operational excellence, continuous improvement, and making a positive community impact.
Chelsea Kutner is a music educator originally from Long Island. She holds a B.A. in Music and Linguistics from UNC Chapel Hill and an M.A. in Music and Music Education from Teachers College Columbia University. Chelsea worked with EVC while completing her master's degree at Teachers College and has returned as the Program Manager, after teaching elementary school music in North Carolina for six years. When not working, Chelsea enjoys reading, traveling, practicing yoga, and spending time outdoors.
Tessoro Estrella is an R&B singer from New York City. She graduated with a Vocal major from LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Music from Berklee College of Music. Tessoro has performed for the President of the Dominican Republic and various Borough Presidents of New York. She participated in concert events at Berklee and was featured on Casita Limon’s YouTube channel. As an alumna of the EVC Youth and Concert Choir, she is grateful for the support she received from EVC and aspires to share her passion for music with others.
Here is a bio: Nadine Jackson was born and raised in Queens, NY. She graduated with a B. A. in Computer Science from Harvard University in 2023, where she also explored her passion for music by singing in the Radcliffe Choral Society and serving on the board of several student-run performing arts groups. She has done programming and AI work for various organizations and she now makes use of her technical and organizational skills in her role as an Administrative Assistant at EVC.
