William A. Shine - Great Neck South High School
PERFORMING ARTS DEPT. (MUSIC & DRAMA) FACULTY
Michael Schwartz, Performing Arts Department Head, Director of Instrumental (Bands and Orchestras)
E-mail: [email protected].ny.us
Mr. Schwartz received his Bachelor of Music degree in trumpet performance from the Mannes College of Music, Master of Music Degree in music education from the Manhattan School of Music and NY state certification in school administration and supervision from Hunter College. In 2020, Mr. Schwartz was named a U.S. Presidential Scholars Distinguished Teacher.
Mr. Schwartz began teaching in the Great Neck district in 1992 where he currently serves as Department Head of Performing Arts (music and drama), Director of Instrumental Music (bands and orchestras) and conductor of the annual musical and opera productions. His opera conducting credits include: Cosi Fan Tutte, La Boheme, Le Nozze di Figaro, Die Zauberflöte, Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Die Fledermaus, Carmen, The Merry Widow, Gianni Schicchi, Suor Angelica and Candide. His musical conducting credits include: The Mystery of Edwin Drood, West Side Story, Cabaret, Guys and Dolls, The Music Man, Anything Goes, The Boyfriend, Into The Woods, Pippin, Grease, Les Miserables, Sweeney Todd, Kiss Me Kate, Bye Bye Birdie, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Phantom of the Opera, The Who’s Tommy, The Drowsy Chaperone, Chicago, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, A Little Night Music, Mama Mia, The Sound of Music and Oklahoma. Mr. Schwartz also created and teaches in the district's Great Neck Summer Instrumental Music program now in its 27th season.
Prior to working in Great Neck, he taught music at PS 217 on Roosevelt Island, O'Henry School of The Arts-Intermediate School 70 and Robert F. Wagner Junior High School #167 in Manhattan. Mr. Schwartz coordinated the Manhattan Boro-wide Band program for many years directing them at Carnegie Hall and worked during summers at the French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts where he was director of jazz band, musical director of cabaret troupe, musical/artistic director of many musical productions and director of theatre in his final year. Mr. Schwartz has performed and conducted at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fischer Hall and as principal trumpet on tour in South East Asia and the Pacific with the Long Island Youth Orchestra and throughout Italy with the Rome Festival Orchestra.
Mark Boschen, Co-Director of Bands, Wind Ensemble Director
E-Mail: [email protected]
Mark Boschen has been teaching in the Great Neck School District for the past 13 years. During that time he has worked with students from 6th - 12th grade. He is currently the wind ensemble director and co-director of the marching band at William A. Shine Great Neck South High School, as well as the 6th grade band director at Great Neck South Middle School. Mr. Boschen is an active member of NYSBDA, NMEA and NYSSMA.
Mr. Boschen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where he studied trumpet with Ronald Anderson of the New York City Ballet Orchestra, Chris Gekker of the American Brass Quintet and Susan Radcliff. He also holds a Masters Degree in Music Education from Five Towns College. Mr. Boschen currently tours the U.S. as a trumpet player in the German/American band die Schlauberger. Along with playing many large festivals around the country, this band has been asked to perform on the QVC television network and have made an appearance in an iPod television commercial. In 2011, Mr. Boschen had the privilege to guest conduct the HMEA (Hamptons Music Educators Association) festival honor band, which consisted of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students from eastern Suffolk County.
Mr. Boschen currently resides in Bay Shore with his wife and three beautiful children.
Ilana Meredith, Drama, Theatre South
E-Mail: [email protected]
Ilana Meredith graduated from N.Y.U., Tisch School of the Arts with a B.F.A. in Drama. (CAP21 Musical Theatre, The Classical Studio, and The Experimental Theatre Wing). For several years after college, she performed in tours, regional theatre and summer stock companies. Some of her favorite performances were as Sally Bowles in Cabaret at the Broward Stage Door Theatre (FL), Frenchy in Grease at The Shawnee Playhouse (PA), and Mrs. Bleakman in Phoenix Production's National Tour of Clifford The Big Red Dog - Live!.
While acting, Ms. Meredith started to teach at various schools and arts programs. Her most treasured pre-grad school teaching experiences were at Multi-Arts Camp in Amherst, MA and at The Institute of Creative Arts in Seoul, South Korea. She then returned to school for her Master's Degree in Theatre Education at City College of N.Y.. Since then, she has taught Drama and directed theatre productions at P.S. 189 (Brooklyn, NY), White Plains High School (White Plains, NY), The Osborn Elementary School (Rye, NY) and Great Neck North High School (Great Neck, NY).
For the past several years, Ms. Meredith has been singing in concerts in the tri-state area, and continuing to study the performing arts by taking classes / workshops in improv (UCB), clown, bouffon, and commedia dell’arte (The Movement Studio Theatre / Funny School of Good Acting). For the past four years, she has been enrolled in various acting classes at The Barrow Group in New York City.
E-Mail: [email protected]
Ilana Meredith graduated from N.Y.U., Tisch School of the Arts with a B.F.A. in Drama. (CAP21 Musical Theatre, The Classical Studio, and The Experimental Theatre Wing). For several years after college, she performed in tours, regional theatre and summer stock companies. Some of her favorite performances were as Sally Bowles in Cabaret at the Broward Stage Door Theatre (FL), Frenchy in Grease at The Shawnee Playhouse (PA), and Mrs. Bleakman in Phoenix Production's National Tour of Clifford The Big Red Dog - Live!.
While acting, Ms. Meredith started to teach at various schools and arts programs. Her most treasured pre-grad school teaching experiences were at Multi-Arts Camp in Amherst, MA and at The Institute of Creative Arts in Seoul, South Korea. She then returned to school for her Master's Degree in Theatre Education at City College of N.Y.. Since then, she has taught Drama and directed theatre productions at P.S. 189 (Brooklyn, NY), White Plains High School (White Plains, NY), The Osborn Elementary School (Rye, NY) and Great Neck North High School (Great Neck, NY).
For the past several years, Ms. Meredith has been singing in concerts in the tri-state area, and continuing to study the performing arts by taking classes / workshops in improv (UCB), clown, bouffon, and commedia dell’arte (The Movement Studio Theatre / Funny School of Good Acting). For the past four years, she has been enrolled in various acting classes at The Barrow Group in New York City.
Janine Robinson, Director of Vocal Music, teacher of music theory and piano
E-mail: [email protected]
Janine Robinson graduated from the University of Notre Dame with degrees in piano performance and English Literature, Binghamton University with a Master of Music in piano performance with a concentration in vocal coaching from the Tri-Cities Opera, and earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in piano performance. She has performed in the NYC region as a solo recitalist, organist, chamber musician, vocal accompanist, and is a frequent pianist at the Tilles Center with the Nassau All County Chorus. She has worked with the Bronx Opera company for more than 20 years. A lifelong participant in musical theatre productions, Dr. Robinson has been the music director for Oliver, Pippin, Grease, They're Playing Our Song, Threepenny Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, South Pacific, Les Miserables, Urinetown, Rent, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and many others. Dr. Robinson is thrilled to join the South High performing arts department with Mr. Schwartz, Ms. Meredith, Mr. Boschen and Mr. Virgilio.
E-mail: [email protected]
Janine Robinson graduated from the University of Notre Dame with degrees in piano performance and English Literature, Binghamton University with a Master of Music in piano performance with a concentration in vocal coaching from the Tri-Cities Opera, and earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in piano performance. She has performed in the NYC region as a solo recitalist, organist, chamber musician, vocal accompanist, and is a frequent pianist at the Tilles Center with the Nassau All County Chorus. She has worked with the Bronx Opera company for more than 20 years. A lifelong participant in musical theatre productions, Dr. Robinson has been the music director for Oliver, Pippin, Grease, They're Playing Our Song, Threepenny Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, South Pacific, Les Miserables, Urinetown, Rent, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and many others. Dr. Robinson is thrilled to join the South High performing arts department with Mr. Schwartz, Ms. Meredith, Mr. Boschen and Mr. Virgilio.
Anthony Virgilio, Music Technology and Guitar
E-mail: [email protected]
Mr. Anthony Virgilio began working in the Great Neck School district during the 2006-07 school year as Director of the Sixth Grade Band (at South Middle), and instrumental assistant in the William A. Shine Great Neck South High School. Since then Mr. Virgilio created three new courses at South High including Music Technology, Beginner Guitar, and Intermediate Guitar. Mr. Virgilio currently teaches band 6, orchestra 6 and general music at Great Neck North Middle and guitar (beginner and intermediate) and music technology at Great Neck South High. Mr. Virgilio received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from SUNY Fredonia in December 2004, and his Masters Degree in Music Technology from Five Towns College in 2006.
Great Neck South High Music & Drama Faculty
(Past and Present)
Department Heads
Michael Schwartz 1996-present
Stuart Joseph 1992-1996
Diane Martindale 1967-1992
Clifford Ormsby 1954-1966
Band Directors
Michael Schwartz 1992-present
Mark Boschen 1999-present
Stuart Joseph 1973-1992
Nicholas DeCandia 1970-1972
Alan Dickerson 1954-1970
Choir Directors
Dr. Janine Robinson 2017-present
Dr. Pamela Levy 1999-2017
Christopher Hettenbach 1992-1999
Diane Martindale 1970-1992
Clifford Ormsby 1954-1966
Drama Teachers
Ilana Meredith 2021-Present
Tommy Marr 2009-2021
Tracy Dryer 2006-2009
Alan Lehrman
Burton Wolfe
Orchestra Directors
Michael Schwartz 1996-present
Stuart Joseph 1973-1996
Nicholas DeCandia 1970-1972
Alan Dickerson 1954-1970
Music Assistants
Alex Swerdlin
Jennifer Hood
Anthony Virgilio
William (Rick) Helf
Jennifer Monat
Mark Boschen
Eric Kopecky
Alan Schwartz