EXECUTIVE OFFICE

Valerie G. Lewis, Anna-Maria Kellen Executive Director, ext. 24 | email

Valerie G. Lewis has been dedicated to advancing the arts and arts education in New York City for over two decades.  While serving in leadership positions in several cultural nonprofit organizations, she has worked to support individuals, strengthen communities and foster connectivity through the creative process.

Since 2014, Valerie has served as the Anna-Maria Kellen Executive Director of Third Street Music School Settlement, the longest-running community music school in the nation.  During this time, Valerie has overseen a multi-million dollar renovation of Third Street’s performance and community spaces, set new organizational fundraising records for five consecutive years, and increased student enrollment across all programs.  

Previously, Valerie served as Executive Director of the Grammy Award-winning Brooklyn Youth Chorus.  During her five-year tenure, she doubled student enrollment, established satellite programs in the Bedford Stuyvesant and Red Hook neighborhoods of Brooklyn, and launched BYC’s program to independently commission, fund and produce new works, which were premiered at St. Ann’s Warehouse and the BAM. 

In her 11 years at the Alliance for Downtown New York, the largest business improvement district in North America, Valerie promoted Lower Manhattan’s rise as a live-work-play community and developed cultural programs to showcase downtown’s rich history, architecture and public spaces.  From 2002 through 2009, Valerie co-founded and led the award-winning River-to-River Festival, an arts festival created to heal and revitalize a community devastated by 9/11.  

Valerie received a Bachelor of the Arts from the University of Delaware and a Master of Public Administration from the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College.  She currently serves as the New York Metro Chapter Chair of the National Guild for Community Arts Education.

In her free time, Valerie studies classical piano and enjoys long-distance running.  She lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn with her husband and two children.

Joanne Coco, Executive Assistant, ext. 23 | email

PROGRAMS

Nancy Morgan, Chief Programs Officer, ext. 20 | email

MUSIC AND DANCE SCHOOL

Brandon Tesh, Director, ext. 41 | email

Ivan M. Antonov, Assistant Director of Music and Dance School, ext. 11 | email

Matthew Stewart, Assistant Director of Production, ext. 35 | email

Kathleen Rivera, Music and Dance School Associate, ext. 36 | email

Sebastian Zel, Production Assistant | email

THIRD STREET PARTNERS

Lauren Bloom, Director of Third Street Partners, ext. 53 | email

Nicholas Scarim, Program Manager | email

Mindy Barnett, Third Street Partners Coordinator, ext. 37 | email

Madelin Gomez, Partners Intern, ext. 60 | email

PRESCHOOL & EARLY CHILDHOOD

Elaine Winter, Director of Preschool and Early Childhood Programs, ext. 16 | email

Kirstin Aadahl, Assistant Preschool Director, ext. 48 | email

DEVELOPMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT

Katharine Nemeth, Director of Development, ext. 26 | email

Alison Uhrlass, Senior Manager, Individual Giving, ext. 38 | email

Hannah Margolies, Senior Manager, Institutional Giving, ext. 25 | email

Jennifer Bencosme, Development Intern, ext. 57 | email

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Kristen Kentner, Director of Marketing & Communications, ext. 42 | email

STUDENT SERVICES

Loyi Malu, Director, ext. 18 | email

Myra Nieves, Assistant Director of Student Services, ext. 30 | email

Kirlin Licorish, Student Services Associate, ext. 34 | email

Deja Robinson, Student Services Assistant, ext. 17 | email

Scott Lynch, Receptionist, ext. 10 | email

Barbara Weiss, Receptionist, ext. 10 | email

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

Sylvie Henry, Director of Finance & Administration, ext. 28 | email

Tiffany Quiroz, Finance Manager, ext. 52 | email

Tanya Matos, Human Resources Manager, ext. 31 | email

Rachelle Respicio, Human Resources Administrator, ext. 61 | email

OPERATIONS

Patrick Pierre, Director, ext. 15 | email

Beverly Harper, Safety Director, ext. 55 | email

Mario Cox, Operations Assistant

Edwyn Pitre, Head Custodian, ext. 21 | email

Robert Grier, Custodian

Joel Marin, Custodian

Jhonny Rodriguez, Custodian

JOB & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Visit our Job & Volunteer Opportunities page for more information on employment and volunteer openings at Third Street.