Masterclasses

Students at Upper East Side Music have unique opportunities to be invited for special masterclasses with industry professionals. These Masterclasses are representative of conservatory level training from excellent professional musicians and world-class educators throughout New York City. They are specifically curated for specific genres and ability levels to offer a unique experience beyond the individual private lesson.

What is a masterclass?

A masterclass is an interactive learning experience where growing musicians have the chance to perform a prepared piece for a master guest artist in front of a small audience, including fellow students and your teacher. After your performance, the master teacher will work with the performer individually for 15 minutes to provide personalized feedback, share insights, and help refine your craft. Students observing the masterclass will also have the opportunity to take notes and learn from each other’s experiences. Friends and parents are welcome to observe and watch the entire experience. This is a fantastic chance to grow as a performer, gain valuable guidance, and connect with peers who share your passion for music.

Classical & Contemporary Vocal Masterclass
with Mr. Sebastian Armendariz

Sebastian returned to operatic stage in 2024 as Nemorino in New Jersey Lyric Opera’s production of L’elisir d’amore. He made his debut at 54 Below in August 2024 singing the works of Christian De Gré Cardenas, and created the role of Juan Escutia at the premiere of Orgullo! by Christian De Gré Cardenas at The Public on September 15th.
In 2023 Sebastian joined Opera Theatre St. Louis in a new opera workshop in NYC and appeared as the titular role in a concert performance of Donizetti’s Roberto Devereux at St John’s in the Village. In 2022, Sebastian performed Richmond County Orchestra’s Hispanic Heritage Concert, a recital for Salon 58, and placed as a semi-finalist in the Federation of the Art Song’s Art Song Fellowship competition. Summer 2021 saw Sebastian join Theatre Now’s developmental reading of Steve Wallace’s new musical adaptation of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” as the villainous propagandist pig, Squealer. In the Fall of 2019, Sebastian joined Indianapolis Opera as a Resident Artist where he covered the role of Nemorino in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore.

Beginning Piano Masterclass:
Adults & Young Musicians with Mr. Matthew Liu

Matthew Liu is an NYC-based actor, dancer, writer and musician/music director with two degrees from The Juilliard School. When not inhabiting lives, stories and worlds onstage, Matthew remains active as a composer with orchestral premieres at Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall and David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center. Matthew’s arrangements are also heard and played worldwide on Nickelodeon and at Candlelight Concerts for which he also performs solo shows as a pianist. He currently plays 10 instruments and is a proud member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Writing Advanced Workshop. Recent acting: Song Liling in M. Butterfly (Woodstock Playhouse), Robert Lyons in Upside Down (AMT Theater), Bandleader Wallace Hartley and Third Officer Pitman in Titanic (Fireside Theatre), The Fiddler in Fiddler on the Roof (Fireside Theatre), Nightclub Cantata (the cell theatre), Stephen Sondheim’s You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow (Theater 2020). Music Directing: Nederlander Worldwide, Off-Broadway and Regional.

Intermediate Piano Masterclass with Harriet Stubbs, BEM

Harriet Stubbs was voted one of the top three pianists in Britain by Julian Lloyd Webber on ITV"s "Britain's Brilliant Prodigies", Harriet then went on to play in "Harry Potter And The Prisoner of Azkaban." In the UK Harriet studied her undergraduate degree with Douglas Finch and was performing at St John's Smith Square, St John's Waterloo, Cheltenham
Recital Series, The Reform Club, St. James's Piccadilly, The Georgian Theatre Royal, London City Lights Festival, for the Rt Hon Lord Mayor of London and Sheriffs for the 800th Anniversary Awards Trust and for the Ambassador of the United States of America for the Association of American Study Abroad Programmes in the UK. Harriet also had the pleasure of working on BBC Maestro with Katie Derham, Radio 1 DJ Goldie and Blur bassist Alex James. In Europe Harriet performed in
Perugia (with Angela Hewitt), Valencia Spain and Cyprus for the Prime Minister on National Television.

Musical Theater Vocal Masterclass with Mr. Matthew Liu

Matthew Liu is an NYC-based actor, dancer, writer and musician/music director with two degrees from The Juilliard School. When not inhabiting lives, stories and worlds onstage, Matthew remains active as a composer with orchestral premieres at Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall and David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center. Matthew’s arrangements are also heard and played worldwide on Nickelodeon and at Candlelight Concerts for which he also performs solo shows as a pianist. He currently plays 10 instruments and is a proud member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Writing Advanced Workshop. Recent acting: Song Liling in M. Butterfly (Woodstock Playhouse), Robert Lyons in Upside Down (AMT Theater), Bandleader Wallace Hartley and Third Officer Pitman in Titanic (Fireside Theatre), The Fiddler in Fiddler on the Roof (Fireside Theatre), Nightclub Cantata (the cell theatre), Stephen Sondheim’s You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow (Theater 2020). Music Directing: Nederlander Worldwide, Off-Broadway and Regional.