Alexander Marrero, Executive Director
Alexander Marrero is the Executive Director for Rockland Youth Orchestra. an Affiliate Facilitator for SUNY – Orange County Community College, and a Private Teacher for Classical Piano Lessons. Mr. Marrero is also the Keyboard Instructor involving the Blooming Grove Studio for New Generation Dance. At the regional level, he is a member of the Orange County Music Educators Association, and the Hudson-Catskill Music Teachers Association. At the state level, Alexander is a member of the New York State School Music Association, and the New York State Music Teachers Association. At the national level, Mr. Marrero is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the Music Teachers National Association, and the National Guild of Piano Teachers. On November 12th in 2017, he was chosen as 1 out of 9 musicians in the USA to be on the Cultural Diversity Committee for the American Musicological Society. Since being with RYO, Alexander has observed academic classical music programs at Bard College in Annandale, The College of Saint Rose in Albany, Nazareth College in Rochester, the Crane School of Music at SUNY – Potsdam, Hunter College in New York County, New York University in Manhattan, the Eastman School of Music in New York State, Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, Millersville University in Pennsylvania, and Princeton University in New Jersey. Mr. Marrero’s next academic classical music conference that he is scheduled to attend will take place at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He studied classical piano by taking applied music, piano literature, and master classes with Vladimir Feltsman. Alexander completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Music History at The College at New Paltz through the State University of New York. He also attended additional classes in Music History through the Juilliard School of Music. During his graduate studies, Alexander tested online with success for absolute pitch through the University of California. Alexander’s Master of Arts Degree in Music and Music Education is from Teachers College of Columbia University. Effective January 22nd in 2020, Mr. Marrero is the Chairman of the Cultural Inclusion Committee for the College Music Society.
Matthew Lucero, Associate Director
Pianist and Violinist Matthew M. Lucero is an active music educator known for bringing his creativity and dynamic energy to the ensembles he leads. Upon completion of his undergraduate studies he was first brought on as the Nyack Public Schools’ Elementary Orchestra Director. In 2013 he was appointed the Nyack High School Orchestra Director where he led the Nyack High School Chamber Orchestra, Nyack High School String Orchestra, and Nyack High School Symphony Orchestra. During his time with the High School Chamber Orchestra, he has led the ensemble to successful performances in Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and internationally in both Prague and London.
His career in Nyack has also led him to instruct the Nyack Middle School Orchestra Program and pioneer the district's Music Technology and Piano Program. He frequently collaborated with the other music faculty as a piano accompanist and was the Assistant Marching Band Director to Nyack High School Marching Band. During the summer months, he was the Director of the Nyack Summer Music Program. In 2016, he became the Nyack Public Schools Music Department Chair where he supervised the district’s K-12 Music Program.
Matthew M. Lucero received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Hofstra University with his instrumental concentration on both the Piano and Violin. He completed his Masters in Music and Music Education at Columbia University, Teachers College and completed his School District/Building Certification through SUNY New Paltz. Since August of 2019,
Mr. Lucero is currently an Assistant Principal at Albert Leonard Middle School in the New Rochelle City School District.
His career in Nyack has also led him to instruct the Nyack Middle School Orchestra Program and pioneer the district's Music Technology and Piano Program. He frequently collaborated with the other music faculty as a piano accompanist and was the Assistant Marching Band Director to Nyack High School Marching Band. During the summer months, he was the Director of the Nyack Summer Music Program. In 2016, he became the Nyack Public Schools Music Department Chair where he supervised the district’s K-12 Music Program.
Matthew M. Lucero received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Hofstra University with his instrumental concentration on both the Piano and Violin. He completed his Masters in Music and Music Education at Columbia University, Teachers College and completed his School District/Building Certification through SUNY New Paltz. Since August of 2019,
Mr. Lucero is currently an Assistant Principal at Albert Leonard Middle School in the New Rochelle City School District.
Alex Fung, Co-Director
Alex Fung is the orchestra director of Highview Elementary School and Nanuet Senior High School in Nanuet Union Free and high school string orchestra. Alex began teaching seventh and ninth grade general music in North Junior High School (now Newburgh Free Academy North) in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District in 2007 before arriving to Nanuet schools in 2009.
In addition to public school and youth orchestra collaborations, Alex maintains a small private violin studio, performs regularly with regional orchestras, mentors student-teachers in music teacher preparation programs, contributes to state/national music education publications, and conducts research in the field of music education. Alex Fung holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education and Violin Performance from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam; Master of Arts degree in Educational Psychology from Marist College; Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership from Long Island University; and Doctor of Education in Music and Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Matthew Rotjan, Co-Director
Matthew Rotjan, Ed.D., is an active music educator committed to cultivating excitement and enthusiasm in music and music education. As a public school music educator, he recently joined the faculty of the Scarsdale Public Schools (NY), where he is on staff teaching orchestra at Scarsdale Middle School. Prior to this position, Matthew taught in the South Orangetown Central School District (NY), where he taught grades 3-8 string lessons and orchestra classes. Outside of his activities in the public school, Matthew works with young musicians in NYC as a conductor of the InterSchool Orchestras of New York’s Morningside Orchestra, which has led him to conduct in Trinity Church, Symphony Space, and Carnegie Hall. With a strong commitment to community music making, he is the co-conductor, co-director, and co-founder of the Rockland Youth Orchestra, a not-for-profit organization in Rockland County (NY).
Matthew has recently written articles, guest conducted, and presented at conferences for the American String Teachers Association, Broome County Music Educators Association, Connecticut Music Educators Association, Nassau County Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, New Jersey Music Educators Association, New York State School Music Association, and the Vermont Music Educators Association. He has been invited to present his research, pedagogical practice, and philosophy at colleges and universities throughout the east coast and has twice been named a Quaterfinalist for the Grammy Music Educator Award.
Matthew earned his doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University, where he served as a music teacher supervisor, applied music instructor, research assistant, and cooperating teacher. His dissertation, “In-between and together with: Exploring the complexity of repertoire selection with orchestra teachers and their students,” examined the complex relationships between student interests and identities, teacher training and philosophy, and repertoire selection practices in public school orchestras. He is actively immersed in connecting theory to practice in music education, string pedagogy, and teacher preparation. Degrees are from Ithaca College (B.M.) in Music Education and Performance (cello) and Teachers College, Columbia University (M.A., Ed.M., Ed.D.) in Music and Music Education.
-
In addition to public school and youth orchestra collaborations, Alex maintains a small private violin studio, performs regularly with regional orchestras, mentors student-teachers in music teacher preparation programs, contributes to state/national music education publications, and conducts research in the field of music education. Alex Fung holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education and Violin Performance from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam; Master of Arts degree in Educational Psychology from Marist College; Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership from Long Island University; and Doctor of Education in Music and Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Matthew Rotjan, Co-Director
Matthew Rotjan, Ed.D., is an active music educator committed to cultivating excitement and enthusiasm in music and music education. As a public school music educator, he recently joined the faculty of the Scarsdale Public Schools (NY), where he is on staff teaching orchestra at Scarsdale Middle School. Prior to this position, Matthew taught in the South Orangetown Central School District (NY), where he taught grades 3-8 string lessons and orchestra classes. Outside of his activities in the public school, Matthew works with young musicians in NYC as a conductor of the InterSchool Orchestras of New York’s Morningside Orchestra, which has led him to conduct in Trinity Church, Symphony Space, and Carnegie Hall. With a strong commitment to community music making, he is the co-conductor, co-director, and co-founder of the Rockland Youth Orchestra, a not-for-profit organization in Rockland County (NY).
Matthew has recently written articles, guest conducted, and presented at conferences for the American String Teachers Association, Broome County Music Educators Association, Connecticut Music Educators Association, Nassau County Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, New Jersey Music Educators Association, New York State School Music Association, and the Vermont Music Educators Association. He has been invited to present his research, pedagogical practice, and philosophy at colleges and universities throughout the east coast and has twice been named a Quaterfinalist for the Grammy Music Educator Award.
Matthew earned his doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University, where he served as a music teacher supervisor, applied music instructor, research assistant, and cooperating teacher. His dissertation, “In-between and together with: Exploring the complexity of repertoire selection with orchestra teachers and their students,” examined the complex relationships between student interests and identities, teacher training and philosophy, and repertoire selection practices in public school orchestras. He is actively immersed in connecting theory to practice in music education, string pedagogy, and teacher preparation. Degrees are from Ithaca College (B.M.) in Music Education and Performance (cello) and Teachers College, Columbia University (M.A., Ed.M., Ed.D.) in Music and Music Education.
-