Yvonne Chavez Hansbrough

Current Students

Caitlyn S. Goodwin resides in her hometown of Rotterdam, New York.  She is a 2007 graduate of Mohonasen High School.   During her senior year, she studied flute under the instruction of Kim Plouff, a local music teacher.  Also during her senior year, Caitlyn was chosen as the Mohonasen Marching Band’s Drum Major. She conducted the marching band which won the Governor’s Cup as well as 1st place at the NYS Field Band Competition in New York State beating out eight other bands in the same level.  In the spring of 2007, Caitlyn also competed in the Fiesta Val Music Competition in Myrtle Beach, SC, which featured various wind ensembles from schools across the Atlantic coast.  She was awarded Outstanding Soloist for wind ensembles in her class. 

Caitlyn is a sophomore at the College of Saint Rose working toward a music education degree with a concentration in flute and secondary in piano.  The music program at The College of Saint Rose was appealing to Caitlyn because of the excellent demographic of faculty and resources, as well as the new Massry Center for the Arts!  At Saint Rose, Caitlyn has attended the Skidmore Flute Festival 2007 with World Renowned Flutist Gary Schocker and has taken a Master Class with Flutist Jan Vinci.  She also attended the MENC Winter Conference in Rochester, NY. 

Caitlyn is currently involved with the following Ensembles: the Saint Rose Flute Choir, Campus Community Band, Opera Workshop, and Chamber Singers of which Caitlyn attended the ‘07-‘08 Tour to Ireland where she was afforded the opportunity to perform a solo.  With her degree in music education, Caitlyn plans to teach students at  the high school or college age level. 

Laura Martellaro graduated from Cornwall Central High School in 2007 and resides in the Hudson Valley with her family. While in high school, she actively engaged in various aspects of the high school music department.  In her Sophomore year she was Band Council Vice President. In her Junior and Senior years she served as the Band Council President. Laura also was the Music Department Intern during her Senior year. She was the first chair flutist in the Concert Band, the pianist in the Jazz Band, and vocalist in the Mixed Choir. Laura was honored when she was asked by the choral director to be the piano accompanist for the Women’s Choir and Mixed Chorus, and gladly accepted.  She participated in the New York State School Music Association Solo and Ensemble Festivals from the elementary grades through high school and was presented with the John Philip Sousa Award as well as two music scholarships from Cornwall Central High School.

Laura studied flute with Lynn Cunningham, the Principle flutist of the West Point Band at West Point, New York as well as Kaylyn Kinney from SUNY New Paltz and Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, New York.  She also studied piano with concert pianist Ruthanne Schempf from SUNY New Paltz and Marist College. 

Laura is a sophomore at the College of St. Rose and is advancing towards her Music Education degree with a concentration in flute. She is currently the Secretary of the CMENC Chapter at the College of St. Rose.  Laura is a member of The College of St. Rose Wind Ensemble, Campus Community Band, and The College of St. Rose Flute Choir. She attended the Skidmore Flute Festival in 2007 and participated in a master class with the well-known flutist Gary Shocker.  Laura attended the 2007 MENC Winter Conference in Rochester, New York, and plans to attend this event annually.
Laura selected the College of St. Rose to study with flute Professor Yvonne Chavez Hansbourgh.  The close proximity of the college to home was also a deciding factor, due to her father’s deployment to Iraq. She was also impressed with the design of the new performing arts building, which has been under construction. She looks forward to performing in the new facility when she returns to school in the fall. Laura aspires to teach on a high school level and continue performing on flute as well as piano.

Caitlin Sbiroli currently resides with her family in Utica, New York. Caitlin is a student at the College of Saint Rose majoring in Music Education with a concentration in the flute. She studies the flute with Yvonne Chavez Hansbrough, and participates in the Saint Rose Flute Ensemble and Campus Community Band, as well as being an active member of the Saint Rose chapter of MENC. Caitlin also volunteers her time at many of the concerts held at the Massry Center for the Arts, where she passes out programs and does general stage hand work. After completing her degree, Caitlin hopes to pursue further education as a graduate student and to enter the working world as a private flute teacher and public school music teacher.
 
Caitlin is a graduate of Thomas R. Proctor High School. While in High School she participated in various New York State School Music Association events such as the NYSSMA Solo Festivals, Area All-State as principal flutist, and Conference All-State in Rochester, New York. She also participated in Road band, and Pit Orchestra, as well as Jazz Band, in which she played the Alto Saxophone. As a senior she memorized and performed Mozart’s Concerto in G with the Orchestra. Along with this she participated in the Jr. B Sharp Music Club as an active performer, playing at various community events, and receiving many of their scholarships throughout her high school career. She has also won the Curran Music scholarship for each of the past 4 years. While in High School she Attended Mohawk Valley Community College full time, where she studied art and completed her liberal education requirements, allowing her more time to focus on her music studies at The College of Saint Rose. Upon graduating, she received many awards and recognitions for her participation in the arts at Proctor High School.
 
During the summer Caitlin studies flute with Elizabeth Evans, and works at the Utica Department of Motor Vehicles registering many, many, cars. In her free time she likes to draw, paint, and try different teas.
 

 
Elizabeth Walsh graduated from Highland High School in the year 2007. She studied with Julie Ditzel as a young flutist, but then studied with Barbara Rizak when she reached high school. She participated in NYSSMA all four years of high school on flute and piano, and participated in Area All State for two years as well as All County for three years. She also was principle flute in the orchestra at Suny New Paltz for two years. In her senior year of high school, she was awarded the John Philip Sousa Award and received several scholarships from Highland High School and a few from participating in All County festivals.

Elizabeth is currently a Junior at the College of St Rose and resides in Albany, NY. She is majoring in music education and plans to become a teacher as well as a performer when she graduates. She received a music scholarship to the College of St Rose after her audition in the spring of 2007. During her years at the College of St Rose, she has participated in the wind ensemble, chamber orchestra, flute choir, and several trios and quartets. She has also been an officer for MENC in her Sophomore and Junior years. In the Spring of 2009 she particpated in a flute master class at St Rose with Alexa Still, which is still, to her, a very rewarding experience.

After receiving her undergraduate degree, Elizabeth hopes to continue her schooling and recieve her Masters degree. She looks forward to one day teaching Elementary level and being invovled in many different ensembles as well as performing as much as possible.

 Samantha Spiezio

 
Paul Jenkins is a freshman in the College of Saint Rose's Music Education program with a concentration in flute. He currently lives in Laurens New York and graduated from Laurens Central School in 2009 as his class's valedictorian. While a student of Laurens, Paul sought out private lessons with multiple teachers. They include Floyd Hebert, Johann Gregoriev, Danielle Duquette, and Katie Martin. While attending high school, Paul took part in multiple bands and ensembles including Area All State band, All County band, All County Chorus, All County Jazz chorus, and two different community  orchestras in Oneonta.  Paul also took part in several competitions throughout is his school career. Among these competitions are the NYSMMA Solo festival, and the NYSMMA Composing Competition.  At age twelve Paul submitted an original work which won, was recorded, and then published in Hartwick College's Child Composer Project. Paul has also written  a piece for his school entitled Wandering Winds which was played his senior year for his community. Paul is also a advocate of jazz music. In high school he played baritone saxophone and improvised on flute in his schools award winning jazz band.

Paul has always supported his small home town in a variety of community organizations and recently acquired his Eagle Scout Rank in Boy Scouts for his service and dedication. Paul hopes to one day bring a new sense of musical awareness into the community he decides to live within and stimulate young and old alike to get involved in musical activities within their community.   

Paul is currently involved in a variety of ensembles at the College of Saint rose including Flute Choir, Campus Community Band, Jazz Chorus and a freshman flute quartet. Paul plans on using his Music Education degree to teach high school band and theory.

Juan Bitanga graduated from Fox Lane High School in 2008.  He currently resides in Bedford Hills, NY.  In his years as a Fox Lane student, Juan competed yearly in NYSSMA Solo festivals for flute and voice, resulting in an attendance as a Tenor at All County Chorus, Area All State Mixed Chorus, and All State Mixed Chorus as a junior and senior.  In high school, Juan took part in many musical ensembles such as Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble under Dr. Paul Tooker, Flute Choir under Mr. Berkeley, Chorus, Men’s A Capella, and Chamber Choir under Mr. Edward Reisert.  

As a sophomore and a Biochemistry and Mathematics major, Juan’s future is either in the pharmacy or neurosurgery profession.  At the start of his senior year in high school, Juan had no intentions of continuing music at the College of Saint Rose, as his heavy course load would be overwhelming; however, his last attendance at the NY All State Mixed Choir of 2007 left him inspired and needing to continue music.  Despite being a Biochem and Math major, Juan feels as if he is a part of the music department as much as he is a part of the Math and Science department.  He is currently a part of Masterworks Chorale, Flute Choir, and Chamber Singers.

Along with his many interests in multiple fields, Juan’s true passion lies in the sport of tennis, competing in Fox Lane High School’s Boys’ Varsity Tennis Team for 4 years and competing in USTA sanctioned tournaments as a junior tennis player.  Currently, he is rooting for his favorite tennis players, Maria Sharapova and the famous Roger Federer, to win the US Open.

Lauren Gailor is currently a freshman at The College of Saint Rose as a Music Education major with a French minor. She graduated from South Glens Falls Senior High School in 2008 where she was a member of her high school’s flute choir, marching band, pep band, symphonic band and orchestra. Upon graduation, Lauren was named the most valuable player and received the John Philip Sousa award. Lauren has privately studied with Diane Larsen,  an Ithaca College graduate and flutist for the Glens Falls Symphony, for the past nine years. She has attended and participated in 8 NYSSMA festivals, 7 All-County festivals, and 4 Area All-State festivals. Lauren was also a member of the Saratoga Springs Youth Orchestra where she participated in its Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and several chamber groups. She is currently a member of the Saint Rose flute ensemble, campus band, and flute quartet. 

More student bios coming soon!

Cathleen Cook

Julia Manetta 

Kathleen Kenny

Jamie Feather