Meet the Instructors

Chilean pianist and pedagogue Claudio Espejo joins the faculty of Haverford School in 2020. He received his DMA from the University of Michigan in 2019, and recently graduated from the Global Leaders Program, a 9-month certificate on the intersection of music and social entrepreneurship. As a teacher, Claudio has presented twice at the MTNA National Conference on the intersection of music pedagogy and mindfulness, as he sees in music the depth of commitment akin to spiritual practice. Claudio is also an advocate of Dalcroze methodology for piano students. In 2019, he performed the Brahms First Piano Concerto with the Ann Arbor Symphony orchestra, and presented recitals in the cities of Ann Arbor, Canandaigua, and Plymouth. During his free time, Claudio also participates in communities with a spiritual purpose. 

Anna Kopansky received her Bachelor of Arts in piano instruction with highest honors from Stefan Nyaga College of Music, and Master of Arts in piano instruction with highest honors from Gavril Musichescu Conservatory in Kishnev, Moldova, USSR. She also attended Rimsky-Korsakow Conservatory of Music in St. Petersburg, Russia as a Resident-in-training. In addition to becoming a laureate of the National Music Competition in Kishinev and playing as a soloist on international tours, she has taught a number of prize-winning students on both national and international levels in the U.S., the former Soviet Union, and Europe. Kopansky is also the accompanist to our choral organizations.

Celebrated pianist and composer Leonardo Le San has had a distinguished career. Most recently, he was awarded second place in the Golden Key Piano Composition Competition, performing his work at the World Composers' Recital in Vienna in 2018. Le San was also one of the winners of the international contest of orchestral scores by Ablaze Records in Australia and the Czech Republic.

He made his Carnegie Hall debut in New York City in 2010 and has performed as a classical solo pianist and composer at The White House, the Harvard Musical Association, Merkin Concert Hall, the Gershwin Theater, the Delaware Theater Company, the Ibrahim Theater in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and other venues. Le San's recordings have aired on public radio in the U.S. as well as television networks in Colombia, South America.

Le San has been commissioned to compose ballets, original chamber music, and more. 

Beth Dzwil, director and principal violist of Fairmount Strings, has been teaching violin, viola and chamber music for over thirty years. She is an adjunct professor of upper strings at the Community College of Philadelphia and teaches violin and viola at Germantown Friends School
and Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. She is a seasoned chamber musician, performing for over thirty years with the Fairmount String Quartet and for fifteen years with the Elysian Camerata. She served as principal violist of the Pottstown Symphony for over twenty years and has been a featured soloist with several area ensembles. In addition to her classical work, she has performed internationally and recorded six critically acclaimed jazz albums with the Tyrone Brown String Sextet earning her the status of voting member in the Grammy organization. She records and performs with the contemporary Christian band “For the Spirit”. Her newest album with the Fairmount String Quartet, “Spoken with Strings” was released in May 2019 and is available on all major streaming platforms.

Dorothy began playing violin at age four through her preschool’s Suzuki program. After graduating high school, Dorothy moved from her hometown on Long Island to pursue music studies at the University of Dayton in Ohio, where she studied violin, viola, and voice, receiving a bachelor’s degree in music performance. 

Dorothy has been performing and teaching throughout the Philadelphia area since 2014, when she entered Temple University’s master’s program in string pedagogy, studying violin with Associate Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra, Meichen Barnes. 

Dorothy’s current teaching engagements include group violin and viola classes with Tune Up, Philly! and the Young Children’s Center for the Arts in South Philly. She also maintains a full studio of private students between Philadelphia, Taylor’s Music Store in West Chester, and through the Conservatory at The Haverford School. As a Suzuki-certified educator, Dorothy enjoys teaching students at every level. In addition, she performs regularly with various ensembles, including the Immaculata Symphony Orchestra, Chester County Pops Orchestra, and the Brandywine Singers, as well as for private engagements. 

Annie Pulaski holds a Bachelor of Arts from Smith College, a master’s in violin performance from the University of Massachusetts, and a professional studies diploma from Temple University’s Esther Boyer College of Music. Her teachers have included William DePasquale and David Arben of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She has performed with the Opera Company of Philadelphia and the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. She has also performed numerous summers in Charleston, S.C. and Spoleto, Italy, with the Spoleto Festival of Two Worlds. Ms. Pulaski is the director of The Conservatory and the string orchestras at The Haverford School. She is a certified Suzuki violin instructor and has worked with many master teachers, including Linda Fiore and Ronda Cole. In 2009, she piloted a violin program for ESF Dream Camp at Girard College.

Justin Yoder is a Philadelphia-based cellist and teaching artist. A southeastern PA native, he holds a bachelor’s degree from Goshen College and a Master of Music in cello performance from Temple University’s Boyer School of Music. In addition to working with students at The Haverford School, Justin performs regularly with orchestral and chamber ensembles throughout the region and maintains a private cello studio in West Philadelphia for students of all ages. Trained and anchored in the world of classical music, Justin’s career has also featured extensive cross-disciplinary collaboration; he is passionate about exploring diverse genres in his performance work and encouraging young musicians to do the same. Justin is a regular pit musician with some of the region’s leading professional theaters and is frequently sought after as a versatile studio musician. His playing can be heard on the soundtracks of several recent feature films from major distributors, including Netflix, Universal Pictures, and A24.

Michael Brodine received his Bachelor of Arts from Villanova University and studied guitar with Chuck Anderson. Brodine plays a wide range of musical styles including, country, bluegrass, jazz, classical, and rock 'n' roll. In addition to serving as the staff classical guitarist for the Romig, Carney, and Lewis orchestras, he has performed with the bluegrass band, The Keystone Ramblers, and with a rock 'n' roll band that went on to be #49 on the Billboard charts. Brodine writes and performs original music. Some of his compositions have been recorded and played on national radio.

Jonathan Dichter holds a bachelor’s degree from Temple University. His teachers include Denis Sandole, Joe Sgro, Pat Martino, and Steve Giordano. He performs with Gypsy jazz virtuoso Stephane Wrembel and has led numerous jazz, blues, bluegrass, folk, big band, and rock ensembles. He has performed in many venues, including The Kimmel Center, Philadelphia Folk Festival, Chris’ Jazz Café, and Sellersville Theater. Dichter has produced seven CDs and is currently working on another recording. In 1998, he created a summer concert series with Philadelphia’s own Gene Shay that continues to thrive with a tradition of music and community spirit.

Dichter has taught guitar for more than 25 years, both privately and at schools including The Philadelphia School and The Baldwin School, and is proud to have taught the first guitarist to win the prestigious Greenfield Philadelphia Orchestra Competition. Through his musical versatility and deep appreciation of each student’s unique learning style, he has developed an individualized teaching method. Dichter recognizes that the best approach to teaching music is by fostering and encouraging a student’s natural affinity for music.

Paul Butler has performed in concert with Grammy Award-winning cellist David Darling, most notably at the International Cello Festival in Montreal, Canada. He has collaborated with David on the recordings Balance, In Tune, and Open Window, and on the soundtrack for the Knosis film, “The Song of the Stars.”

In 1999, Paul and the Hot House Trio (with Eric Henry, tuba, Jim Smith, tenor guitar and vocals) were selected Jazz Ambassadors to the Middle East by the U.S. State Department and the Department of Cultural Exchange. As Jazz Ambassadors, they performed and taught in Syria, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Morocco, and Tunisia.

Paul earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree from Mansfield University and is a certified Music For People teacher, leading workshops in music improvisation for self-expression and is committed to sharing his passion for music with children of all ages.

In addition to being a trumpet player and teacher, Charles Cacioppo is also a composer and scholar. He has written chamber, vocal, orchestral, jazz, and electronic music, and has earned degrees in music from Cornell University, UMD College Park, and SUNY Purchase. His scholarly work covers a wide range of topics from Renaissance music to hip-hop, and his dissertation dealt with jazz trumpet solos. A native of Haverford, Charles grew up studying at the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz, and performing with the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. He has performed at some of the city’s most beloved venues including the Mann Center, the Kimmel Center, the Curtis Institute, and Ortlieb’s, as well as at several museums, schools, churches, hotels, and restaurants.

Dr. Paul Futer maintains an active career as a performer and educator throughout the United States. A highly regarded musician, he received critical acclaim for his performances with the Yale Philharmonia at Carnegie Hall, under the direction of William Christie. Futer has recorded and performed with members of The Philadelphia Orchestra, American Brass Quintet, Philadelphia Orchestra Brass Quintet, Yale Brass Trio, and has frequently been presented on WRTI radio. In addition to his Principal Trumpet position with the Haddonfield Symphony Orchestra, Futer is also the Principal Trumpet of Orchestra 2001, one of Philadelphia's premier ensembles dedicated to the performance of American contemporary music.

A dedicated teacher, Futer has given master classes at numerous institutions including Temple University and the University of Georgia. He is currently on the music faculties at Haverford College and The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Futer completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Temple University, where he studied with David Bilger, Principal Trumpet of The Philadelphia Orchestra. He received a master's degree from Yale University and a bachelor's degree from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM).

Barry is a musician that defies categorization. Having begun his career while still enrolled at the Curtis Institute of Music, he also cut his teeth in the clubs of Philly and Atlantic City. His versatility has earned him respect as a “crossover” artist, performing in venues ranging from Lincoln Center to the House of Blues with anyone from the Royal Ballet, to the Jaco Pastorius Big Band, to R&B legend Aretha Franklin.

In addition to his work as a performer, he is a Senior Lecturer at the University of the Arts, an Associate Conductor of Bravo Brass, a Teaching Artist for the Kimmel Center of the Performing Arts, has taught at the Philadelphia International Music Festival through chamber music coaching and a solo performance class, and has given Masterclasses throughout the United States(West Chester University,  Drexel University, Auburn University, Merit School of Chicago).

Rather than accept the parameters that so many try to place on musicians, Barry plays what he wants to play—his love of rock, jazz, r&b, pop, and classical show every time he hits the stage.

Daniel received his Bachelor of Music from James Madison University, where he studied Tuba with Kevin Stees. He has performed with many concert bands and brass bands including The James Madison University Brass Band, The Lukens Steel band, and the Chester County Concert Band. Daniel has been teaching in his private studio since 2012 and has work as a brass instructor at Fairfax County High School, Prince William County High Schools, West Chester Bayard Rustin High School, and most recently Upper Dublin High School.

Hornist Martina Smith is currently working towards earning her post-baccalaureate diploma at the Curtis Institute of Music, studying under Jeffrey Lang and Jennifer Montone. Martina also studied with Jeffrey Lang at Temple University where she received her Bachelor of Music in Horn Performance. Martina is a freelancer in the Philadelphia area playing with various chamber groups and orchestras. She has played with Symphony in C and was a substitute player in the Curtis Symphony Orchestra while still a student at Temple University. Martina has worked and taught at the Philadelphia International Music Festival the past two summers as the Assistant Orchestra Director, chamber coach, and private practice coach. She has also attended other summer festivals such as the Atlantic Brass Quintet Seminar, Imani Woodwind Quintet Music Festival, Curtis Summerfest, and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute’s Horn Workshop. While in high school she was the principal horn of the All-City Philadelphia Orchestra’s Italy tour.

Drummer Phil Giordano, whose band plays in the great tradition of Count Basie and Woody Herman, is both founder and music director of the Phil Giordano Jazz Orchestra.

Born in 1951, he studied drums privately with some of the finest jazz drummers: Mel Lewis, Philly Joe Jones, Sonny Igoe, and Joe Morello. Giordano attended the Philadelphia Music Academy and studied percussion with Nick D’Amato and arranging with Manny Album and Jim Amdei. He has performed with the Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras, the Four Aces, the Howard Lanin Orchestra, Al Grey and Jimmy Forest, and most recently with Ted Curson and Pat Martino.

Abundant Sounds magazine voted Giordano “Most Popular Musician,” and his big band was voted most popular jazz ensemble in Philadelphia by the Philadelphia Daily News.

Drummer and percussionist Kyle Struve brings a lifelong love of music and a genuine passion for teaching to every lesson and every student.

After being largely self-taught aside from the school band, Kyle attended Lawrence University, where he majored in classical percussion with a jazz emphasis. He then moved to NYC to study with John Riley at the Manhattan School of Music and Purchase College. In the following years, he performed and/or recorded with a broad range of musicians, including Walter Blanding Jr., Nir Felder, Adam Niewood, Mika Pohjola, and the Asphalt Orchestra. He was also mentored by drummers Felix Lecaros, Dan Rieser and Kenneth Salters. His gratitude for all his guidance and experiences helps fuel his love for teaching.

Carole Latimer is originally from Nova Scotia, Canada. She is active as a soprano soloist and voice teacher in the Philadelphia area. She has taught voice, French Diction for Singers, and Opera History at Eastern University for the past 13 years. A long time member of the Opera Philadelphia Chorus, Carole was recently seen in Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Choristers of Upper Dublin, Die Meistersinger at The Metropolitan Opera, Dialogues of the Carmelites with Curtis Opera Kimmel Center Perlman Theater, and Nabucco at the Academy of Music. She holds post-graduate degrees in opera performance and a master’s in vocal performance from the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati.

$225 for six-half hour lessons, taught by Conservatory vocal instructor Carole Latimer. This offering is ideal for students who want extra assistance in preparing for any PMEA choral auditions. Please contact Conservatory Director Brian Adamczyk at badamczyk@haverford.org to enroll.