First Annual Music FestivalSpecial EventIn-Person
Join us for our First Annual Fellows Music Festival!
Enjoy the music of Academy Fellows at the iconic Bitter End.
Admission is free for teachers, and we'll buy your first two drinks!
Alfrida Tozieva, Brooklyn's Echo, Dan Strauss, Geoffrey Kiorpes, Vincent Cross
Alfrida Tozieva is a classically trained violist from the Republic of North Macedonia where she performed with the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra, the alternative rock band String Forces, and Kaldrma, an ensemble performing traditional chalgia music. After a teaching stint in Brazil, she has settled in the U.S. and teaches at The Brearley School. Alfridav performs with orchestras and ensembles across the NYC metro area and is a proud member of The Academy for Teachers chorus.
Brooklyn’s Echo brings together Academy Fellow and vocalist Lisa Kasimow, talented drummer Shawn Banks, and bluesy harmonica player Chris Cantely. Lisa's sonorous voice has serenaded New York since 1998. Her style is a mix of "pop, folk and blues, and her voice has a raw, soulful, impassioned sound." She’s thrilled to be performing again, after a hiatus prompted by the birth of her two children.
Dan Strauss is a singer-songwriter from Queens, now living in Brooklyn. His music wanders in and out of indie-folk, country, pop and rock, evoking the melodic hooks of the Beatles, the warmth of Nick Drake, the alt-rock of Wilco and the storytelling whimsy of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.
During the pandemic, he holed up and penned several new songs which appear on his newest album There And Not There. With the reopening of venues, Dan has a full summer schedule of gigs and is excited to get back out in front of live audiences.
Geoffrey Kiorpes trained at the NC School of the Arts and the Manhattan School of Music. He has performed extensively in the city in various capacities, including a Carnegie Hall debut in 2007, as a recipient of the Artists International Award. A co-founder of the NYC Charter School of the Arts, Dr. K serves as the Artistic Director and Piano Teacher, having spent 13 years in similar positions at the Bronx Prep Charter School. He is currently working on a solo recital of music by all African-American composers.
Vincent Cross is a writer, musician, performer, and educator. Born in Ireland, raised in Australia, and now based in New York City, he was influenced by local traditional players in Ireland and inspired by the contemporary singer-songwriters he encountered on his travels. His four, full length albums, combine traditional songs with newly composed material garnering critical acclaim and charting success with Home Away from Home, A Town Called Normal, Old Songs for Modern Folk, and The Life & Times of James “The Rooster” Corcoran.