UPPER EAST SIDE MUSIC
At Upper East Side Music, we design an individualized curriculum for each student. We teach students in our home studio, online or at the families home.
Read more about us and our services below!
FACULTY
Sydney Kucine
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Andrew Hill
Andrew A. Hill is a freelance conductor and professional musician based in New York City. He holds a Masters of Music in Conducting at Colorado State University and a Bachelors of Music in Music Education/Trombone Performance from San José State University.
As a conductor, Andrew made his New York City debut with the New Conductors Orchestra leading the orchestra in David Diamond's Symphony No. 1 (1941) on February 11th and February 12th, 2023. As a professional musician, Andrew has extensive experience as a trombonist performing orchestral, jazz, broadway, salsa and contemporary repertoire. He has performed at Carnegie Hall (NYC), Davies Symphony Hall (SF), Walt Disney Concert Hall (LA), Berliner Philharmonie (Berlin, Germany), Milan Conservatory (Milan, Italy), Teatro Nuovo Giovanni da Udine (Udine, Italy), The Royal Concertgebouw Hall (Amsterdam), Smetana Hall (Prague), Teatro El Círculo (Rosario, Argentina) and Teatro Colón (Buenos Aires, Argentina). As a music director, Mr. Hill recently finished four years as the Music Director (band, orchestra and jazz director) at Los Gatos High School, California where he was awarded Educator of the Year in 2021-2022. Currently, he is the Band Director at Byram Hills High School in New York.
Sydney Kucine is a distinguished American operatic soprano with a prominent career. She earned her Master’s degree in Music from Mannes College of Music at The New School and her Bachelor’s degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Sydney’s recent achievements include performing as the soprano soloist in the "Gloria" from Misa Criolla and Mark Hayes' "Gloria" at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium. She has also been acclaimed for her portrayal of Pamina in The Magic Flute on a U.S. tour with renowned author Carolyn Sloan, and for her performance as the soprano soloist in Górecki's Symphony No. 3, Op. 36: II in New York City.
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Sydney has received several prestigious awards, including prizes from The Gerda Lissner Foundation International Vocal Competition, The Mildred Miller International Voice Competition, and The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.
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In addition to her performance career, Sydney is passionate about teaching voice and piano. She began playing piano at age ten and started her musical journey as a singer at age six. She specializes in teaching beginning to intermediate piano students and students of all levels in voice. Sydney is dedicated to developing strong foundational skills in her students, encouraging their self-motivation and success in performance settings.
Andrew Hill
Andrew A. Hill is a freelance conductor and professional musician based in New York City. He holds a Masters of Music in Conducting at Colorado State University and a Bachelors of Music in Music Education/Trombone Performance from San José State University.
As a conductor, Andrew made his New York City debut with the New Conductors Orchestra leading the orchestra in David Diamond's Symphony No. 1 (1941) on February 11th and February 12th, 2023. As a professional musician, Andrew has extensive experience as a trombonist performing orchestral, jazz, broadway, salsa and contemporary repertoire. He has performed at Carnegie Hall (NYC), Davies Symphony Hall (SF), Walt Disney Concert Hall (LA), Berliner Philharmonie (Berlin, Germany), Milan Conservatory (Milan, Italy), Teatro Nuovo Giovanni da Udine (Udine, Italy), The Royal Concertgebouw Hall (Amsterdam), Smetana Hall (Prague), Teatro El Círculo (Rosario, Argentina) and Teatro Colón (Buenos Aires, Argentina). As a music director, Mr. Hill recently finished four years as the Music Director (band, orchestra and jazz director) at Los Gatos High School, California where he was awarded Educator of the Year in 2021-2022. Currently, he is the Band Director at Byram Hills High School in New York.
David Morales
Lucas Bere
David Morales is a pianist, singer, songwriter, producer, arranger, and musical director based in Long Island. Originally from Nicaragua, David migrated to the U.S. with his family at the age of 13 in pursuit of a better life, which ultimately led to his discovery and passion for music. After graduating from The School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in NYC, David further honed his craft in jazz performance while retaining his roots in salsa and other Latin rhythms, helping him stand out among his peers.
As a performer, David has had the opportunity to tour the East Coast, from Philadelphia to Florida, Virginia, and Massachusetts. Additionally, David is a music educator specializing in piano and general music education, teaching primarily in minority and bilingual communities in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn. He believes that music is a core component of the education system and should be accessible to all students, regardless of their racial, linguistic, or financial backgrounds.
Lucas Bere is a professional woodwind performer, composer, and audio producer with over a decade of experience teaching students of all ages and abilities. Lucas was a Fellow at the Dave Brubeck Institute and holds a Bachelors of Music in Performance from Berklee College of Music, as well as a Masters of Music in Technology and Applied Composition from San Francisco Conservatory of Music. During his studies, Lucas performed across the U.S. and in parts of Europe, and received awards from the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival, the Essentially Ellington Festival, and the Charles Mingus Festival, among others.
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Lucas’ extensive experience in both music academia and as a professional musician allows him to adapt his teaching approach to best fit the needs of each student. Lucas often combines traditional teaching methods with custom exercises and approaches to equip students with the tools they need to overcome musical challenges and reach their goals. Some of Lucas’ students have gone on to participate in various honor bands, as well as perform and receive recognition at festivals across the country.
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In addition to teaching, Lucas maintains a career comprised of performing, recording, composing for media, sound designing, and implementing audio systems for video games and interactive media.
Zack Silverberg
Zachary Silverberg is a versatile guitarist based in Brooklyn, New York, with a dynamic career as both a professional performer and educator. A graduate of the Purchase Conservatory of Music, Zachary studied under the mentorship of renowned guitarist Pasquale Grasso in the jazz performance program. While his formal education grounded him in jazz, Zachary has a deep passion for exploring a wide array of musical genres, which he integrates into his daily practice and creative work.
Beyond performing, Zachary is deeply committed to teaching. He has spent years working with students of all levels, helping them tap into their passion for music and guiding their growth as musicians. For Zachary, there is nothing more rewarding than witnessing students discover their unique voice on the instrument and progress in their craft.
Zachary excels at adapting his teaching style to fit the needs of each individual student. While he emphasizes the importance of building a strong musical foundation, he believes there is no one-size-fits-all approach to learning the guitar. Every student deserves a personalized method that fosters their lifelong love of music and supports their unique learning process.
Throughout his career, Zachary has had the privilege of performing with and working alongside a diverse range of artists, including The Marcus King Band, Jon Faddis, David DeJesus, Victory Boyd, and Jamal Corrie (from The Voice).
Jason Handy
Jason Handy is a collaborative pianist, educator, and vocal coach based in New York City. An active freelancer, he has collaborated with students at the Aaron Copland School of Music, New York University, the Chamber Music Center of New York, Manhattan School of Music Pre-College, and Brooklyn Youth Chorus, among others. Recent concert appearances include performances in Breno and Brescia, Italy, new music premieres at Brooklyn’s National Sawdust and with the Momenta Quartet at Binghamton University, as well as innovative recital projects at Foothills Performing Arts Center and Rockwood Music Hall. Jason is on the faculty of the Breno Italy International Music Academy (BIIMA), where he collaborates with an international group of emerging young singers each summer. He is currently the collaborative pianist and private lesson instructor at The Brearley School.
As an educator, Jason has over a decade of experience helping piano students become their best musical selves. He has guided students to reach a variety of goals, from successful auditions at collegiate music programs, to outstanding scores at the NYSSMA Solo Festival, to gaining new skills in sight-reading, music theory, composition, and more.
Jason completed undergraduate studies in solo piano at SUNY Geneseo. He also spent formative time studying in Vienna, Austria, and is a fluent speaker of German. He completed his master’s degree in Collaborative Piano at Binghamton University under Dr. Joel Harder.
More teacher biographies coming soon
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