SHOW TEACHERS THE LOVE!

Melissa Elledge is a musician based in New York City. After obtaining her M.A. in Piano Performance from NYU, she turned her sights to the accordion and soon became a recognizable fixture of the subways as a busker. She was accepted into the MTA’s Music Under New York program in 2012, and since then has appeared on Monday Night Football, the cover of Crain’s magazine, and in a variety of recordings, films, and other media.

The origins of Ron Blake’s tradition-honed eclecticism can be traced back to his homeland of the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Grammy and Emmy Award-winning saxophonist and composer has worked extensively with Roy Hargrove, Christian McBride, Roy Haynes, Art Farmer, Meshell Ndgeocello, Yerba Buena, and recently completed his 20th season with NBC’s Saturday Night Live Band. His most re-release, Mistaken Identity, on 7tēn33 Productions, is his first in 15 years.

Luke Sellick is a bassist, composer, and teacher from Winnipeg, Canada. Now a mainstay on the NYC scene, Luke has been the bassist-of-choice for many jazz artists including Monty Alexander, Russell Malone, Benny Golson and others. Luke currently travels and performs extensively as the bassist in the Monty Alexander Trio.

Grammy-nominated guitarist Alex Wintz has quickly gained recognition in the international jazz community as a performer, educator, and composer. Wintz is a frequent collaborator with Etienne Charles, Jeremy Pelt, Roxy Coss, Ron Blake, Jimmy Macbride, and Nick Finzer and has performed at the Newport, Monterey, Montreux, and Montreal Jazz Festivals, among many other major venues worldwide.

With specials on HBO and Comedy Central, appearances on Colbert, Fallon, and Howard Stern, Bonnie McFarlane is also known for the critically acclaimed documentary Women Aren't Funny and her popular autobiography You're Better Than Me, published by Harper Collins and Anthony Bourdain books. Bonnie has also gone on to direct commercials, including an award-winning campaign for Cannon. Bonnie has also written for both the Comedy Central and Netflix roasts and most recently wrote for the Golden Globes.

Violinist Kyung Ji Min joined the New York Philharmonic in September 2019. Born in South Korea in 1995, she began playing the violin at age seven, studying with Hyuna Kim and graduating with highest honors from Yewon School, where she was concertmaster of the school orchestra. She performed with the Verbier Chamber Orchestra in 2017 and has performed under the baton of conductors including Alan Gilbert, Rossen Milanov, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Gerard Schwarz, and Osmo Vänska.

Violist Vivek Kamath has been a member of the New York Philharmonic since 1997. Growing up in Rochester, New York, he was a student of Lynn Blakeslee in the preparatory department of the Eastman School of Music.

Sumire Kudo joined the Philharmonic as a cellist in June 2006. Previously she taught at Indiana University–South Bend and was the cellist of the Avalon String Quartet. Born in Tokyo, Japan, Kudo began cello studies at age four with her father, cellist Akiyoshi Kudo. She came to the United States in 2000, after establishing herself in her native country through solo performances and recordings.

Violinist Su Hyun Park joined the New York Philharmonic in September 2017. She previously served as assistant concertmaster of the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, as well as concertmaster of the Music Alps Festival Orchestra, Juilliard Orchestra, New York Classical Players, and Music Academy of the West Orchestra.

Chuck Lott is a seasoned event host with over 15 years of experience, known for his dynamic presence and versatility across sports and entertainment. He has captivated audiences as the host at Madison Square Garden for College Basketball events and the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. With a passion for engaging storytelling and a knack for connecting with diverse audiences, Chuck continues to shine as a leading figure in live event hosting.