Meet Our Teachers

FOUNDER/DIRECTOR

Musical Munchkins grew out of Eileen’s deep connection to music that is formed while teaching children to create it. Watching a child make beautiful music for the first time is a joyful, magical experience for a dedicated music teacher!  

Eileen’s has a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Loyola University (’81) A Piano Diploma from the Conservatoire de Cachan, France (’83) and her Dalcroze Eurhythmics Certification from the Manhattan School of Music (’84). Post graduate studies in Eurhythmics and Orff-Kodaly were obtained with Jack Stevenson at Ithaca College and Marta Sanchez at Carnegie-Mellon University.  

Moving to White Plains, NY in 1984, she worked at Westchester Conservatory of Music in the Eurhythmics and Piano Departments. Musical Munchkins was born from these experiences, and has grown into a program that includes a dedicated team of teachers, locations and music preschool contracts throughout Westchester County. 

Eileen is a member of Westchester Association for the Education of Young Children and has lectured at local, state and national educational conferences. She even sang on the steps of the Capitol in Washington D.C. to open the 1990 NAEYC National Conference.  

Eileen lives in White Plains, New York and remains steadfast in her love for teaching at her home piano studio. She has two musical adult children, both former Munchkins and a musical cat.

TEACHER

Ludmila Barrett comes to us with extensive music education from Russia. She has a bachelor’s degree in music teaching from Kurenkeev Music College, a Masters degree in music and classical guitar from Beshenalieva Institute of Arts. Additionally, Mila holds a post-graduate degree in classical guitar performance from Kyrgyz State Conservatory. Mila taught classical guitar at a children’s music school in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for ten years. She also performed classical guitar pieces, before moving to the United States where she has proudly become a citizen.

A mother of two, Mila became interested in early childhood music education. After attending Musical Munchkins with her son, Mila expressed interest in teaching our program. Her success with moms and children is so evident. In a recent letter from a current parent, Miss Mila has been coined as “our very own Mary Poppins! She is truly a gift. She isn’t afraid to follow the kids’ leads, especially when they are full of energy.” We thank that parent for sharing her praises.

Mila has been a Musical Munchkins teacher since 2001 and currently teaches in our Armonk, Tuckahoe, and White Plains locations. Mila teaches private guitar lessons and has many students. She also teaches a music enrichment program at a Russian school. Mila believes every child has musical talent. She enjoys bringing that talent out in all of her students and watching them grow with music.

TEACHER

MaryEllen discovered Musical Munchkins when she attended with her daughter, Lauren, a toddler at that time.  Because MaryEllen has Bachelor degrees in Music Therapy and Applied Voice from SUNY Fredonia, she truly appreciated the Musical Munchkins curriculum from a therapeutic as well as an early childhood developmental perspective.

MaryEllen’s therapy work included head-injury rehabilitation and Alzheimer’s day treatment. Her professional work with children consisted of a therapy/developmental music curriculum when she served as a music specialist at Blythedale Children’s Hospital. 

MaryEllen also works as the Director of Family Ministries at Scarsdale Community Baptist Church. She is involved in many community groups and volunteers in many different capacities. 

TEACHER

Robin received her Bachelor of Music degree in Voice at the Eastman School of Music. She has performed as an opera singer, choral soloist and jingle singer. She moved from Manhattan to Westchester and discovered Musical Munchkins through friend and fellow teacher MaryEllen Barbieri.  

“As a musician, I am impressed with how the program teaches young children all the fundamentals of music in a fun and active format. As a parent, I appreciate the gentle approach and the importance of treating each child as an individual.”

Her teaching credits include Music Program Director at Breezemont Day Camp, music teacher at Orienta Beach Club’s summer camp, assistant at the Music Conservatory of Westchester’s Summer Camp and coaching private voice students.

Robin has been with Musical Munchkins since 2006 and her gentle style with our youngest Munchkins have endeared her to the families she has in her classes. In her free time, Robin loves baking and doing jigsaw puzzles

TEACHER

Angeline Brown has been a valued staff member with Musical Munchkins as a teacher and performer since 1999. Angeline received a Bachelor of Arts with a piano concentration from Binghamton University in 1994 and a Master of Music Therapy Degree from Temple University in 1997. She is board certified, and a member of the American Music Therapy Association.

Angeline has worked as a Music Therapist for the Music Therapy Institute at the Music Conservatory of Westchester since 2001. She works primarily with autistic children in inclusion and self-contained classrooms across Westchester County. Angeline has also enjoyed teaching piano lessons, playing in churches, and performing at concerts over the past 30 years, and has particularly enjoyed her years of music directing shows in community theaters across the New York and Connecticut area.

Angeline has been a resident of Carmel, NY for the past 22 years with her family, husband Steve, daughter Katie, and son Thomas. Angeline and Steve are enjoying their new life as empty-nesters, and plan on pursuing travel plans in the near future.

TEACHER

Adrienne received her B.A. in Music, and a Masters of Professional Studies at Manhattanville College. She earned a Masters of Music in classical and vocal performance at The New England Conservatory.  In addition, she has 3 New York State teaching certifications, and taught music to grades K-2 for 5 years at Virginia Road Elementary School in Valhalla. She has performed extensively in opera and musical theater, as well as on film and television.

Adrienne has been very involved in music and theater from a very early age. After becoming a mom to adorable Audrey, she wanted to find a career path that would merge her love of music and her teaching experience with motherhood. Musical Munchkins was a perfect fit!  

She lives in Pleasantville with her husband Shannon, and their sweet little daughter Audrey.

TEACHER

Sandi’s interest in music began at an early age. She studied 4 different musical instruments, and spent her childhood performing at church, school and in musical theater. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Connecticut College with a concentration in English and Music.

Sandi had a successful career in corporate human resources before discovering a new passion in early childhood education. She worked as an assistant teacher, a music teacher and soon became the head teacher at a local preschool. After 11 years of teaching, Sandi decided to combine her love of teaching with her musical talents at Musical Munchkins.

“Exposure to music is so valuable during a child’s formative years. Music can stimulate cognitive, social, emotional and physical development. And children are so instinctively engaged in and drawn to music, that it’s a natural progression to growth.”

Sandi lives in Pleasantville with her husband and two lovely children, and continues her musical journey as a valued part of our staff. 

TEACHER

Charlotte brings to Musical Munchkins, more than twenty-five years of making music with the very young, the elderly, and everyone in-between.  A gifted educator and lifelong advocate for comprehensive arts education, in 1994, Charlotte began her career as a music educator in Mount Vernon City Schools.  As founding director of an Intergenerational Choir of Mount Vernon, she brought together elementary school students and senior citizens through an innovative after-school choral program that demonstrates the unique way music supports cross-generational respect and understanding.  At present, Charlotte teaches K-8 students at Traphagen Elementary School where she enjoys exploring rhythmic movement, sound exploration, and storytelling through music.

Born and raised in Westchester, Charlotte studied theory and classical piano with Jean Graham at Hoff-Barthelson Music School in Scarsdale, NY.  She holds a Bachelors degree in Music from Mt. Holyoke College, a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education from Fordham University, and an Administrative degree in Supervision from Mercy College.  Certified in Orff-Schulwerk instruction, Charlotte has completed training in Dalcroze Eurhythmics methodology, and is currently on faculty at the Music Conservatory of Westchester where she teaches early childhood music skills. 

TEACHER

Christine earned her Bachelor of Music in cello performance and Performance Certificate from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Here she fell in love with teaching and pursued a Suzuki cello education at the School for Strings in NYC. She has performed in the New England and TriState area and has been teaching privately for 5 years. 

She grew up in White Plains playing cello, guitar and dancing at the Music Conservatory of Westchester. Christine has always enjoyed working with children whether it be in music lessons, summer camp, or through child care. Her interest in working with younger children started through teaching cello lessons, and Musical Munchkins is where her passion for early childhood education and music align. 

TEACHER

Juliana studied at Purchase College where she received degrees in Musical Theatre & Arts Management; then completed her master's degree in Educational Theatre at  New York University. She has been a teaching artist since 2018 and has taught in NYC, Westchester, Putnam & Dutchess counties. She currently runs a performing arts studio Voice With Jules where she teaches voice & acting lessons. 

Music & performance has been a part of Juliana's life since she was young. She loves getting to share the gift of music with so many young artists. 

Juliana lives in Bronxville with her boyfriend Graeme and two Chihuahuas who also love to sing!

TEACHER

Graeme is a NY based actor, director and musician, is thrilled to be a part of the Musical Munchkins team. His passion for Music and Theatre developed from a young age, and he has been performing on stage since he was 12 years old, and is a self taught musician in guitar and piano. He continued his love for performance at the Neighborhood Playhouse where he studied acting, music & dance. Graeme also has a passion for working with children and inspiring the next generation of musicians and artists, making his work with Musical Munchkins much more impactful.

Graeme spent his early years in Westchester County, before moving and finishing his school years in Dutchess County. Graeme now resides in Bronxville, NY with his girlfriend Juliana and their 2 handsome dogs, where they all sing together!

TEACHER

Joel Knopf is happy to join the Musical Munchkins community! Recently seen playing guitar in the pit in The Last Five Years (Studio Theatre in Exile), Joel is a composer/lyricist whose musical The Last Ibex was produced at the Colorado New Music Festival (Wellspring Theater) and was developed at Off-Off-Broadway Theater The Tank in New York City. A participant in the 2022-23 BMI musical theater workshop, Joel’s music has been featured on NPR’s The Uncertain Hour podcast. He also won a $1.7 million Creatives Build New York grant for the arts organisation Creative Muse.