Performing Arts

2023-2024 Upper School Music Offerings

Music Director and String Ensemble Instructor: Dr. Elizabeth Glennon

Music Director and String Ensemble Director Dr. Elizabeth Glennon enjoys a rich musical life as a cellist, educator, and arts advocate. As a fellowship recipient, she earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Cello Performance from the University of Michigan where she was a Graduate Student Instructor. She holds a Master of Music degree from Eastman School of Music where she was the Cello Department Teaching Assistant and a Bachelor of Music degree from Rice University. Dr. Glennon has appeared as soloist and chamber musician at venues such as The Perlman Program, Aspen Music Festival, Temple Israel of Hollywood, The Banff Centre in Canada as an Artist-in-Residence, Aldo Parisot Hall in South Korea, and Liechtenstein’s Schloss Vaduz. Dr. Glennon serves as an adjudicator for the Associated Music Teachers League and other New York competitions. Dr. Glennon is also a faculty member at Southampton Strings Festival and InterHarmony International Music Festival. Additionally, she is Program Director of the CelloBello Teacher Training Seminar. As an educator, she is dedicated to passing her knowledge, experience, and passion for music to the younger generations.

String Ensemble

The String Ensemble is offered to students in Grades 5 – 8. This class reinforces the fundamentals of string playing and develops music literacy while advancing ensemble skills and overall musicianship. Students become acquainted with contrasting periods and styles of music through the study of works from the standard string and chamber orchestra repertoire.  A focus is placed on developing and honing skills in the following areas: rhythm, intonation, tone production, dynamics, phrasing, nuance, and sophisticated ensemble listening. 
 
The String Ensemble is open to students from beginner to advanced levels. Students may elect to study violin, viola or cello. 

Band Instructor: Ms. Shinae Kim

Korean-American clarinetist, pianist, and composer Shinae Kim is an established performing artist, an international competition winner, and highly-acclaimed recording artist and educator. Ms. Kim enjoys a diverse repertoire, presenting solo as well as chamber and orchestral performances, and has made several opera appearances. Most recently, she appeared at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center for the "Celebration of Stephen Kittenplan" concert, held for one of the highly recognized patrons of the New York Philharmonic and the Met Opera. Ms. Kim received her Bachelors and Masters degrees from The Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. While there, she was a three-time recipient of the Dorothy and Grosser Woodwind Excellence Award and a two-time recipient of the Discimus ut Serviamus Awards. She has maintained her private teaching for 20 years, while also serving as music director at Young Oak Presbyterian Church of New York.

Band

The Buckley Band is an ensemble of winds, brass, and percussion that will explore a wide range of musical literature including jazz, blues, swing, folk, rock, fusion and traditional repertoire. Students will work to develop technical skill on their individual instruments with a focus on tone production, intonation, rhythm and musicality. Individual parts will be provided to students so they have appropriately challenging yet attainable music to prepare for performance. Students will develop increased listening skills as they learn to play together in an ensemble. 
 
The Buckley Band is open to beginner through advanced students on the following instruments: flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, horn, and percussion.

Chorus Instructor: Dr. Gloria Park

Dr. Gloria Park, mezzo-soprano, has become known not only for her versatility as a singer, but also for her strong stage presence and vivid portrayal of characters in opera, oratorio, and on the concert stage. The New York Times reviewed her as "a scene stealer" for her performance as Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro. Dr. Park has performed at numerous concerts which include: New American Opera Previews by WQXR, The Orion String Quartet Concert as the featured guest singer, Trinity Wall Street Schumann Festival as a soloist, and VOX under New York City Opera. Since her debut as a Messiah soloist at Lincoln Center, Dr. Park has been a frequent performer in repertoire of various oratorios and had her New Zealand Debut as a Messiah Soloist. Dr. Park was a winner of the David Adams Art Song Competition and was the recipient of the Michael Sisca Opera Award. She received her Doctoral degree from Stony Brook University.

Chorus

Buckley's chorus teaches the fundamentals of vocal technique and provides sequential study of choral literature. Through choral repertoire spanning various periods and styles, students develop vocal technique, ensemble skills, sight-singing skills, and music literacy.

Dance Instructor: Ms. Jennifer Demopoulos

Ms. Jennifer Demopoulos loves performing and has over 20 years of dance experience in various styles of Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, Ballroom, Theater Dance, and Tap. She has taken classes with classic dance icons, including Luigi, Frank Hatchett, and Debbie Hahn. She has attended dance teacher convention workshops with Mia Michaels, Mandy Moore, Kristin Sudeikis, Traci Stanfield, Heather Ring, and Brian Thomas. Some of her favorite styles are Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Theater Dance. Ms. Demopoulos has also been singing her entire life is a trained singer, performing in regional theaters. Ms. Demopoulos has participated in more than 20 productions of various Long Island theater shows over the course of the last decade. In 2017, she won the BroadwayWorldLI Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Sister Mary Catherine in Sister Act.

Dance

(7th and 8th Grades) Dance is an art form for the entire body. Dance is a dynamic way of becoming flexible, fit, and coordinated. Our dance program is a creative outlet for both new and seasoned dancers. A class begins with a warm-up of stretching, strengthening, and basic dance technique. Skills and steps learned will be used for creating combinations and future choreography. Each of our dancer's strengths is featured to create a unique piece of choreography for performance. Music is chosen specifically for upcoming assemblies and a spring concert performance each year to give dancers a moment to shine in the spotlight. Technique is taught by demonstration and repetition while using the terminology of specific dance styles, such as: Jazz, Modern, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Street Jazz, Ballet, and Contemporary. Any student who loves to move to music, has discipline to practice, and is willing to step out of their comfort zone should consider dance for their 7th and 8th grade arts selection.

Guitar Ensemble Instructor: Mr. Kyo Lee

Mr. Kyo Lee rose to prominence through his participation in prestigious guitar festivals, where he engaged with revered classical guitar virtuosos, gleaning insights from their masterclasses. In 2013, he embarked on an educational journey at the Madrid Royal Conservatory in Spain, a pivotal experience that paved the way for captivating solo and concerto performances at distinguished venues such as the Korean Association, the CONDE DUQUE of Spanish Cultural Center, and the "Jose Luis Rodrigo" Festival for Young Guitarists. His exceptional talent resonated through performances at the Spanish Embassy in Seoul and fruitful collaborations with the esteemed Rhee Yeu-Seuk Guitar Orchestra.
 
His artistic journey transcended borders, captivating audiences in diverse countries like Canada, Thailand, Indonesia, and South Korea. His accomplishments were accentuated by prestigious accolades, including the Concurso Arriga 2016 honors and his distinction as a finalist in the Concurso Gredos Sandiego para joven in 2015.
Notably, his student achieved remarkable success in the Guitar Foundation of America (GFA) competitions, securing an admirable 4th place in 2020 and an impressive 3rd place in 2023.
 
Currently, he continues to mesmerize audiences with his captivating performances, gracing venues such as the Riverside Church in Manhattan and delivering enchanting private concerts.

Guitar Ensemble Instructor: Mr. Hunter Somogie

Guitarist-Composer Hunter Somogie earned his Master of Music degree in Classical Guitar Performance from the Manhattan School of Music having graduated Summa Cum Laude from SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music with an undergraduate degree in Guitar Performance. Mr. Somogie is a prolific performer in the greater New York City area, both as soloist and with his band, Once Ibex. Their debut album, Live From Madison's Quail Garden, premiered in the summer of 2021 with an award from The USA Songwriting Competition. Mr. Somogie enjoys performing and teaching in a range of musical styles that span rock, singer-songwriter, and classical genres. He has studied guitar with masters Marcin Dylla, Martha Masters, Adam Holzman, David Starobin, David Leisner, Kevin Gallagher, Chris Stell, Alex Tsiboulski, Crispin Catricala, and Doug Rubio. Mr. Somogie is also a faculty member at the Music Conservatory of Westchester where he teaches guitar and song writing. 

Guitar Ensemble

The Guitar Ensemble exposes students of all levels to the guitar, through a modern, structured, motivating, and fun approach to guitar technique. Guitarists will learn to perform together in a fun and stimulating musical environment. In addition to developing proficiency on the instrument and learning their favorite songs, students will learn how to read music, play scales, and accompany any pop song with chords - the most valuable skill of a guitarist. Students in Guitar Ensemble will make rapid progress while studying and performing music from a variety of genres, from folk, to classical, to pop.

The Guitar Ensemble is open to beginner through advanced students playing guitar.

Piano Ensemble Instructor: Ms. Soyoung Chun

A native of South Korea, Ms. Chun received her Bachelor of Music degree from Kyung-Hee University and Master of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music, both in Piano Performance. As a pianist, Ms. Chun is active as both soloist and chamber musician. She has performed at Carnegie Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Steinway Hall, and other venues throughout the New York area. Ms. Chun won prizes in the Artists International Piano Competition, the National Korean Young Adults Competition, and won second place in the South Orange Symphony Artist Competition. As an “educator at heart” and experienced piano instructor, Ms. Chun has developed many young musicians. Her students have been prize-winners at New York International Music Concours, Prima Volta Music Competition, and Concert Festival NYC. Ms. Chun is also an active member of the performance division of Korean Music Society.

Piano Ensemble

The Piano Ensemble is intended for advanced students who have demonstrated high performance level on the piano and dedication to their independent piano study. The class provides the opportunity for piano students to play their primary instrument at school while offering them a collaborative musical experience with their peers. Music is selected from the standard repertoire or may include special arrangements for the Ensemble.
 
Due to the restriction of student number by nature of the instrument, the Piano Ensemble is available to select students who have previously demonstrated a high level of proficiency on the piano.

Buckley Country Day School

2 I.U. WILLETS ROAD ROSLYN NY 11576
P: 516 627 1910 
Buckley Country Day School admits students of any race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally available to students at the School. Buckley Country Day School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law in respect of, without limitation, its educational policies, admission, financial aid, hiring and employment practices, use of school facilities, athletics programs, and other school-administered programs. This policy governs the conduct of all Buckley Country Day School employees including faculty, staff, and summer programs employees.