Staff

A trained opera singer and violinist, Karin studied at Indiana University, Trinity College of Music in London, and Manhattan School of Music, Where she obtained her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees is Voice. She received Orff Certification from Montclair State College and went onto graduate studies in Music Therapy at New York University. She has participated in many music festivals, including the Aspen Music Festival, Blossom Music Festival, and Chautauqua Music Festival. (Back to top)

Pamela Jo Audo

Business Manager
pam@tbms.org
212-753-8811 xt 12

A graduate of Crane School of Music SUNY at Potsdam with a BS degree in Music Education (flute major), she combined her love of music and a strong business background (General Manager of a Ford & Mercury dealership & Manager of all concessions at Snow Ridge Ski Area) when joining the Turtle Bay Administrative team first as registrar for 11 years and then as Business Manager in 2001. Raised in upstate New York on Lake Ontario, she pursues her interests in music, archaeology, maple syrup production, and sailing. Believing that perspectives and abilities grow through music and musical experiences, Pam enjoys her part in the community of music and music making at Turtle Bay Music School. (Back to top)

Meredith Avey

Desk Supervisor
meredith@tbms.org
212-753-8811 xt 10

Meredith-Lyn Avey holds a BFA in Dance Performance from SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Dance. She has been living and working in NYC since May of 2006, performing for various independent choreographers at myriad venues. She is currently dancing for Avodah Dance, a NYC-based company whose mission is to build communities through dance while also providing dance residencies to incarcerated women at correctional institutions within Connecticut, Delaware and New York. Meredith has also performed and shown her own choreographic work at venues in Brooklyn and Manhattan. She has a background in management, having previously worked as a Supervisor at The Metropolitan Museum of Art Main Gift Shop. She is currently in the process of obtaining her Masters in Non-profit Management at The New School. (Back to top)

Emma Clune

Development Assistant
emma@tbms.org
212-753-8811 xt 23

Emma Clune is a soprano, violin and viola player, and fledgling filmmaker. She received a B.A. with Honors in Anthropology in 2007 from Yale University, where she sang in the Collegium Musicum under the direction of Richard Lalli. After graduating from Yale, Emma decamped to Oakland, CA, where she spent three years as an Associate Producer at The Working Group, making documentaries for the Not In Our Town project. Emma currently lives in Brooklyn and sings with Essential Voices USA, Judith Clurman’s choral ensemble in residence with the NY Pops, and Polyhymnia, an early music ensemble. (Back to top)

Laura Kay

Registrar, Coordinator of In-School Scheduling
laura@tbms.org
212-753-8811 xt 13

Laura Kay hails from Florence, New Jersey. She received her Bachelor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance and Contemporary American Literature from the Pennsylvania State University in 2005, and completed her Master of Music in Voice at the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2008. A full biography is available on our faculty page. (Back to top)

Jillian Flinn MacNamara

Marketing Associate
jillian@tbms.org
212-753-8811 xt 11

Jillian graduated with her BBA from Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada. Jillian has worked with Turtle Creek Asset Management (Toronto), Paramount Pictures (Toronto) and at Young & Rubicam (New York & Toronto). While at Y&R, Jillian served as Account Executive for clients Fisher-Price, Texaco and LG Electronics. Jillian also holds an AAS in Advertising, Marketing and Communications from the Fashion Institute of Technology and is a certified yoga instructor. (Back to top)

Katie Mazzari

Director of School and Community Programs
katie@tbms.org
212-753-8811 xt 21

Prior to joining Turtle Bay, Katie served as Administrator of the James Renwick Alliance – the support group of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Since receiving her BA in Arts and Cultural Management from American University, Katie has spent many years working in arts management in the Washington, DC area, from managing a local music venue, to interning with the Education Department of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She is thrilled to be able to combine her love of music and passion for education at Turtle Bay. (Back to top)

Patti Onorato

Early Childhood Coordinator
patti@tbms.org
212-753-8811 xt 14

Patti received her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. She was a soloist for The Old Moscow Circus in Japan and currently premieres new music and opera. She received her Orff Schulwerk Training at the Bloomingdale House of Music. A full biography is available on our faculty page. (Back to top)

Julie Steinberg

Director of Development
julie@tbms.org
212-753-8811 xt 17

Julie Steinberg is proud to serve as the Director of Development and Marketing at Turtle Bay Music School. Previously she served as the School's Development and Marketing Manager after joining the TBMS family in 2005. Prior to working with TBMS, Julie acted as Managing Director of Cynthia Glacken Associates, a leader in not-for-profit communications strategy and design. Julie brings a wealth of experience in brand identity and continuity, strategic planning, and best practices for fundraising and development. She has also had the opportunity to present and discuss relevant topics in fundraising and organizational strategy at national, state, and local conferences and panels.

Deeply committed to the growth of community music, Julie has also worked with Third Street Music School Settlement and the National Guild for Community Arts Education (formerly the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts) while developing curriculum for a Community Music Education Master's Degree Program at New York University. Julie holds a B.M., summa cum laude, and M.A. from New York University's Steinhardt School for Culture, Education and Human Development.(Back to top)

Jonathan Sirlin

Marketing Assistant
jonathan@tbms.org
212-753-8811 xt 10

A native of New Rochelle, New York, Jonathan Sirlin received his Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Music from Wesleyan University. He was the recipient of the Gwen Livingston Pokora prize, an award given annually to an outstanding undergraduate student in music composition. Jonathan studied composition under Neely Bruce and Alvin Lucier during his years at college. He was also both an active member of and general manager for the Wesleyan University Orchestra, playing both violin and percussion in addition to managerial duties. Jonathan was the Assistant Head Boys Counselor at New England Music Camp, where he studied conducting and composition under Leon Gregorian. Jonathan currently lives in Queens, NY and is studying composition at Juilliard with Jonathan Dawe. (Back to top)

Joanna Sirlin Smulakowski

Suzuki Faculty Advisor
joanna@tbms.org
212-753-8811 xt 87

Joanna Sirlin Smulakowski, a native of New Rochelle, New York, has established herself as a highly sought-after teacher and performer in the New York City area. She has a Bachelor's and a Master's of Music in Viola Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music and completed long-term Suzuki Teacher Training with Kimberley Meier-Sims. Joanna performs frequently as a violist with chamber and orchestral groups such as the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, Dicapo Opera, Westchester Symphony Orchestra, the Radio City Music Spectacular Orchestra, and the Atlantic Classical Orchestra. She has also collaborated with artists such as Barry Manilow and Kanye West. Her teachers include Stanley Konopka and Lynne Ramsey of the Cleveland Orchestra and pedagogue Jeffrey Irvine.

Mrs. Smulakowski believes in teaching violin and viola based on the Suzuki Philosophy and encourages technical and artistic growth in her students in a positive manner. A devoted teacher, she is on the faculty of Turtle Bay Music School, the Town School, and New England Music Camp. She also serves as Suzuki Faculty Advisor at Turtle Bay Music School. (Back to top)

Elisabeth Thompson

Program Assistant
elisabeth@tbms.org
212-753-8811 xt 20

Elisabeth Thompson graduated from Franklin & Marshall College with a B.A. in Music, Anthropology and Italian. While at F&M, Elisabeth sang in various musical groups ranging from classical music to modern day a cappella, as well as performing often as a soloist. After leaving F&M, Elisabeth moved back to Cold Spring Harbor, New York, and worked closely with children for two years as a substitute teacher for the East Woods School. She returned to the arts with an internship in the marketing department at the New York City Opera Company, and is now extremely excited to combine her experiences with children and music at TBMS. (Back to top)