MIRELA PANAITISOR

Owner & Music Director

(violin, viola, piano, early childhood specialist, music on the spectrum/workshops)

Mirela earned her double degree in Violin Performance as well as Music Education and has been a dedicated educator for the past 32 years.

Notable achievements of her students include successful auditions to Juilliard Pre-College Division, Carnegie Hall Honors Orchestra,  auditions for WHPS' "Camerata" and "I Giovani Solisti" chamber orchestras, Inter El, CT Regionals, All-State Festival, select groups at Hartt, as well as instrumental competitions abroad.

In 2020, Mirela was appointed as a member of the Commission on the Arts by the West Hartford Town Council and she also serves as Principal-2nd for West Hartford Symphony Orchestra. Actively engaged in the Romanian community, Mirela was nominated as one of the "TOP 100 Romanians Abroad" in 2021 and was then appointed as Vice-President of the Românul Corp. in CT.  Mirela loves sharing stories and fun facts about her heritage as well as promoting Romanian music and culture at any chance she gets.

In 2023, Mirela was one of the 10 honorees designated to receive the "Immigrant of the Year" award by the CIRC Coalition of CT for her important contributions to the community.

One of Mirela’s interests is a long and assiduous research regarding the benefits of learning music in children with autism and how the process contributes to their increased language acquisition, heightened processing speed, calmer behaviors, and to more harmonious development. Classes are adapted to include movement as needed, use a variety of positive reinforcement tools, and are sensory-friendly.

Mirela also specializes in early childhood music education and earned her teaching certificates with The Learning Groove company and is licensed to teach their top-notch program.

(860) 906-7332
mirela@newoldschoolofmusic.com

READ MORE ABOUT MIRELA'S STORY >>

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ELISA GARCIA GAETAN

Teacher

(violin)

Elisa is a very enthusiastic violinist and violin teacher.   She believes in helping students reach their highest potential while at the same considering the development and learning process of each individual.                                Elisa earned her Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from The Hartt School in 2019 from which she graduated Suma Cum Laude.  She has taught in several music institutions in Puerto Rico and the USA, one of them being Musica 100x35 (El Sistema de Orquestas y Coros Juveniles e Infantiles de Puerto Rico) with the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music.  Elisa is a Suzuki registered violin instructor and she enjoys performing classical music and Latin American genres.                                            Elisa is passionate about sharing her love for the violin with her students and is fluent in teaching lessons in English or Spanish.

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CLARA GOMES

Business Manager

Clara leverages her extensive business management experience at The New Old School of Music, implementing strategies and overseeing various processes to enhance productivity and foster growth. Her responsibilities include planning semester programs, various recitals and activities, managing teachers’ schedules and pay cards, and ensuring efficient client communication.

 

 

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SHAY BAHAR

Teacher

(guitar-classical/electric/bass, banjo-tenor, A&F style mandolin, ukulele)

Shay Bahar was born in Israel where he lived and studied music with some of the best teachers and top musicians. Shay was an active participant in the music scene of Tel Aviv, which is a vibrant port city known for its music and nightlife.
In 2008, Shay moved to the U.S. where he participated in various guitar competitions while continuing to perform and collaborate with some of the top musicians in the tri-state area. One of his favorite collaborations was writing and performing the music for the Mark Twain Museum’s original play “A Love Chase”.
Shay is a seasoned performer and teacher, proficient in all genres of music. He loves tailoring the curriculum to fit his student's interests and skill levels. Shay specializes in providing adaptive guitar lessons for individuals with learning disabilities.

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DARYL BELCHER

Teacher

(percussion/piano)

Percussionist Daryl Belcher is a passionate musician who believes music is a lens through which life is viewed. As an educator, he advocates for the unity of discipline and imagination as a motivational force for progress. Daryl's musical foundation has been developed through the combining of multiple disciplines in the arts with an emphasis on electronic music, drumkit, and steel pan. He has worked in a variety of disciplines throughout the U.S. including collegiate steel bands, dance accompaniment, improvisational acting, traditional Ghanaian, Cuban and Brazilian ensembles, pit orchestras, and jazz ensembles.

As a performer, Daryl's freelance percussion work has taken him to Iceland and China as well as playing with the Las Vegas Philharmonic and subbing on Broadway. As a teacher, Mr. Belcher has worked with the developmentally disabled community and as a former adjunct professor for the College of Southern Nevada. He continues to freelance in CT, MA, and NY playing with local high schools, colleges, and regional theaters in addition to teaching in the Plainville, Middletown, East Hartford, and Simsbury areas. Mr. Belcher holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Percussion Performance from the University of Akron and the Hartt School of Music respectively. He currently teaches drumkit, steel pan, orchestral percussion (mallets, snare, timpani, etc.), hand drums (congas, bongos, djembe, etc.), doumbek, frame drums (tar, etc), and piano.

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CARLOS BOLTES

Teacher

(violin/viola/charango)

Carlos Boltes is a seasoned musician who started his career early, learning at first to play charango from Giovanni Vaccani, his older brother. Later on, Carlos pursued viola performance and earned his Bachelor's Degree from the Universidad Catolica de Chile, Hartt School of Music, and a Master's Degree from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.

Being an avid performer, Carlos served as principal violist of the Orquesta de Cámara del Teatro Municipal de Santiago and Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra. In 2001 while Carlos was pursuing his graduate studies at the Hartt School of Music, he founded Alturas Duo along with his friend Scott Hill. Today, Alturas Duo tours the world while promoting music education through multiculturalism. Carlos has extensive teaching experience as a violin, viola, and charango instructor. In 2010, Carlos received the Connecticut 2010 "Latino de Oro" award and is also the recipient of the Boston Fund Individual Artist Fellowship and an Andes Foundation Performance Grant.

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YANGHEE CHOI

Teacher

(piano/accompanist)

Yanghee Choi is a very talented piano teacher with a gentle and kind approach to education. She studied Piano Performance at Boston College and also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from Keimyung University, Seoul, Korea. Yanghee served for over 20 years as a dedicated pianist for the First Korean Presbyterian Church in Manchester, CT. Our students are also fortunate to work with Yanghee while preparing for various recitals, auditions, and concerts. In recent years, Yanghee helped numerous NOSOM students participate and receive top prizes/recognition in the local piano competitions circuit.

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GONZALO CORTÉS                                                              

Teacher

(flute)

A native of Chile, Gonzalo brings a wealth of teaching and performing skills to the NOSOM team with his passion for exploring in-depth the Music of the World and sharing with his students the love of flute.

Gonzalo was formerly the Principal Flute of the Classical Orchestra of Santiago, Chile. He studied with Alberto Harms at the Catholic University of Chile and earned an Artist Diploma from Duquesne University with Robert Langevin, Principal Flute of the New York Philharmonic, as his teacher.

As a soloist and orchestral musician, he has toured South America and the USA
with different ensembles such as the Simon Bolivar Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfónica
de Chile, Classical Orchestra of Santiago, Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra,
Chorus Angelicus and Gaudeamus, UCONN Opera Orchestra, and the Symphony
of South East Texas.
He has performed at numerous festivals and venues such as the Orford Arts
Centre's Academy of Music in Canada, Primer Festival Internacional de Flauta in
Rio de Janeiro, the Western Slope Music Festival in Crested Butte, Colorado,
Semanas Musicales de Frutillar, Chile, International Festival of Arts and Ideas,
New Haven, CT, The Phoenicia International Festival of The Voice, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts among others. In addition to his classical training pursuit, Gonzalo is a proponent of World Music, particularly Flutes From Around The World. He has recorded with the internationally acclaimed Chilean folk group Inti-Illimani as well as the Choral Arts Society of Washington, DC for the Naxos label.

In 2006, Gonzalo released his own CD, "Valle", which features an amazing collection of his original music performed by himself.  Gonzalo is also a skillful improviser who explored other musical genres such as flamenco and Latin jazz.
In addition to The New Old School of Music, Gonzalo also teaches flute at Trinity College, Miss Porter’s School,  and the Jazz and Popular Music sector at Hartt Community Division. Gonzalo is the founder and Artistic Director of the Hartford Flute Ensemble, and the Atacama Ensemble, as well as a member of Blue Madeiras.

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MARY DOMBROSKAS

Teacher

(percussion/piano/early childhood)

Mary is a percussionist, pianist, and music educator, specializing in classical percussion studies. Mary grew up in Ohio and studied at The University of Akron (BM in Percussion and Music Education) and The University of Hartford Hartt School of Music (MM in Percussion Performance). She has previously taught drumline and percussion at Berlin High School, Berlin, CT, and taught PreK-8 Music at Solomon Schechter Day School in West Hartford. Mary is currently the general music teacher at Bolton Center School in Bolton, CT.

Mary has performed as a percussion section member with a variety of orchestras around Connecticut, including the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra and the Connecticut Valley Symphony Orchestra. Mary's favorite way to play percussion is in musicals! She has had the pleasure of playing for a number of community and youth musical groups and enjoys the variety that playing musicals brings.

Mary is a member of the National Association for Music Education and the Connecticut Music Educator's Association. She loves watching her students make connections to and within music, and has a patient demeanor to allow her students to flourish in their studies. When not teaching or playing, Mary enjoys being with her husband, Ted, and miniature schnauzer, Halligan.

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ALFREDO GRADO

Teacher

(string bass/classical guitar/bass guitar/ukulele)

Alfredo Grado is a versatile musician and educator with over 25 years of experience performing classical music, jazz, rock, blues, and various other styles of music. He is a faculty member of the West Hartford Public Schools music department and has taught at the National Guitar Workshop, The Berklee College of Music Summer Guitar sessions, as well as private lessons in West Hartford.

Alfredo studied at the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, The Berklee College of Music from which he received his B.M. in Performance and Contemporary Writing and Production as well as Cambridge College where he obtained his Master of Education.

When he is not teaching, Alfredo loves spending time with his family, and performing locally, and in New York City with his band.

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ANA MARIA HOJBOTA                                               

Educational Consultant

Ana-Maria Hojbota, who joined our team as an educational consultant has a Ph.D. in social psychology of creativity from “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, Romania. She published papers in educational and social psychology, focusing on creativity,
motivation and mindsets, emergence of group norms, and intragroup conflict. At
present, she is interested in exploring topics such as immigrant integration
(especially emotional acculturation), multicultural identities, authenticity, and
especially the use of music in multicultural contexts, to understand cultures,
identification, and belongingness. Volunteering as a Research Analyst at the
Honorary Consulate of Romania to Connecticut, ARCHER (American Romanian
Coalition for Human and Equal Rights), and the Romanian language school in
Connecticut, she works on various projects aimed at supporting the Romanian
community and other ethnic minority groups, immigrant integration, and cultural
heritage maintenance. With the NOSOM team, she is working on providing
guidance and improving processes through identifying areas of improvement or
programming needs, designing educational materials, or promoting the benefits
of musical education within the community.

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MIJEONG (MIMI) HUH

Teacher

(voice)

Mijeong (Mimi) Huh is a highly trained and seasoned soprano who began singing on stage at the age of ten, encouraged and inspired by her older sister who is also a professional musician.

Mimi offers voice lessons to students of any age and skill level (beginner to professional). As a teacher, Mimi is always aiming to bring out her students’ strengths and build solid vocal techniques. She is very patient and caring with her students.

Mimi received her Bachelor of Music degree from Yeungnam University in South Korea, Master of Music in vocal performance from Temple University, and Doctor of Musical Arts in vocal performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. During her Doctor of Musical Arts program, she researched a British composer, Rebecca Clarke, and performed most of Clarke’s beautiful songs in concert.

Today, Mimi serves as a soloist at the First Korean Presbyterian Church in Manchester. She performed as a soprano soloist in Bach’s Cantatas and Oratorios as well as in many recitals. While teaching at UConn - Community School of the Arts, Center for Continuing Studies, Mimi performed in “Voices of Spring” accompanied by Allan Conway and Bachianas Brasileiras and with a cello ensemble conducted by Kangho Lee.

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KARLA LEE

Teacher

(flute/bassoon/piano/clarinet/saxophone)

I was born in the mountains of Missoula and raised among the wheat fields of Montana in the culturally progressive city of Great Falls. At age 4, I “disappeared” from an outdoor band concert only to be found sitting in the front row, enthralled by the music and the instruments. At age 6, I began piano lessons but was “released” because I talked too much. I returned to the piano at age 8, added the flute at age 9, and at age 11, my grandmother suggested I should also play the oboe. However, because I was tall, my band director suggested I play the bassoon instead (I had no idea what a bassoon was).  Before I knew it, I was playing 3 instruments and my lifelong love affair with music had begun.

Throughout elementary, middle, and high school I played and sang in every concert-marching-pep band, orchestra, choir, and small ensemble possible so it’s not surprising that I majored in music in college and then earned a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University in Chicago. I am currently the principal bassoonist in the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra, I teach a music studio of about 2 dozen flute, piano, and bassoon students, and I am a full-time phlebotomist for Quest Diagnostics.  When I am not practicing, performing, teaching, or drawing blood, I love to sew, scrapbook, walk my dog, and take the occasional yoga class. My three young adult children still keep me busy even though, sadly, none have chosen to pursue musical careers.  I visit my home state of Montana as often as possible and always feel so grateful for the supportive musical atmosphere in which I was raised. 

I firmly believe that every student brings something special to the musical table. Some students naturally have great rhythm, some have flying fingers, and some are innately expressive.  It is my challenge and delight as a teacher to discover those strengths and support them with a good solid musical foundation. I really want kids to grow up remembering that they enjoyed their music lessons and I want adult students to rediscover what they may have missed as kids. Thank you for the opportunity to awaken the inner musician in you and/or your child!_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

LUKE NELSON

Teacher

(guitar, bass, piano, and ukulele, composition)

Luke is a multifaceted musician, educator, composer, and actor who returned to Connecticut after fifteen years in Chicago and New York City. Holding degrees in Music Theory & Composition and Music Education, he imparts his extensive knowledge to middle and high school students, college students, and adults alike. As the Coordinator of Ensembles for Commercial Music and Director of Jazz and Popular Music at the Hartt School Community Division, he has been instrumental in establishing new ensembles such as the Hartt Funk Band, American Roots Ensemble, and the Hartt Hot Club. In addition to his leadership roles, Luke teaches a variety of instruments, including composition, guitar, bass, piano, and ukulele. A prolific songwriter and producer, he has released several albums of his own music and overseen recording projects for his band, "Luke and the Cool Hands". His performance and music direction credits span numerous shows across the country, and he continues to collaborate on musical projects in Chicago and New York. Bringing all his experience as an ensemble director to NOSOM, Luke remains dedicated to composing, performing, and above all, teaching music.

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MATEI PANAITISOR

Teacher

(saxophone)

Matei started studying music at the age of 5 when he expressed his wish to join his mom on stage and play in recitals. Matei asked for a small violin that he kept on practicing to improve his skills, and soon enough participated in all of the music-related events within the community.    Before middle school started, Matei became fascinated by the saxophone, wanted to try it, and fell in love with it.

Today, he is enjoying his new job as a teacher and is happy that he can help inspire students to learn how to play saxophone and share his passion for music.

With a genuine passion for social studies, Matei likes to keep himself up to date with all worldwide events and is always curious about different cultures and customs. In his spare time, Matei likes to volunteer his time for different events within the Romanian community especially because he understands the importance of honoring and protecting his Romanian heritage.

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TIM RECHEN

Teacher

(trombone/trumpet/baritone/sousaphone)

Tim Rechen is a brass player originally from Simsbury, Connecticut. Since his high school years, Tim showed a genuine interest in teaching by participating in outreach programs such as the Harmony Bridge Project and volunteering to teach children of all ages fundamentals on various brass instruments at the instrument zoo at the Hartford Symphony Orchestra's summer concert series. In 2014, Tim moved to New Jersey to study with renowned trombonists Conrad Herwig, John Rojak, and George Curran at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. There he played in a wide variety of ensembles ranging from pit orchestras and brass quintets to big bands and trombone choirs and more. Since moving back to Connecticut in the fall of 2017, Tim has been a very active musician playing various instruments and genres of music ranging from classical music with few symphony orchestras in the region, as well as the Dirty Water Brass Band, a classic rock cover band called Crossroads, and an unaffiliated southern rock cover band by the same name. In 2018-2019, Tim was chosen to join the famous Postmodern Jukebox group with whom he toured America as their trombonist.

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HELKIN F. SOSA

Teacher

(trumpet/piano/classical & jazz)

Helkin Felipe Sosa is a versatile composer, producer, performer, and educator with a passion for blending diverse musical styles. With a foundation in both classical and jazz traditions, Helkin's musical journey began in the fourth grade, where he received rigorous training in trumpet and piano. He further honed his craft at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, studying trumpet performance and technique under the guidance of distinguished mentors Eric Berlin and Jeffery Holmes.

An accomplished performer, Helkin is a key member of various ensembles, including Shokazoba, a dynamic Afro-funk band based in Massachusetts. His performances are celebrated for their energy and emotional depth, reflecting his belief that the best art challenges us to think and feel deeply.

In addition to his work as a performer and composer, Helkin is a dedicated educator who brings his passion for music into the classroom. His students benefit from his youthful enthusiasm and his commitment to fostering expression through music, encouraging them to explore and experiment with different styles and genres. Helkin's teaching philosophy is rooted in the idea that music is a universal language, capable of conveying powerful stories and emotions, and he strives to inspire the same belief in his students.