Our Teachers

All | 
Art | Chess | Math | Music | Russian

Art

  • Ekaterina Ermilkina

    A graduate of the famous Art and Industrial Design Academy (Mukhina School) in Saint-Petersburg, Ekaterina has an extensive experience in art and graphic design. She is a recepient of several International awards (Milan, Italy, 2002; St.-Petersburg, Russia, 2001; Stocholm, Sweden, 2000.) Patient, resourceful, and easy-going, she is a wonderful addition to our art faculty since September 2009.

  • Ekaterina Kardonova

    Ekaterina graduated from Krupskaya Pedagogical Institute (Moscow, Russia) with M.A. in Fine Arts. A highly skilled landscape and portrait painter who has developed an unusual capacity for fine details from her Russian studies of miniature lacquer portraiture. Her working experience includes lacquer miniature at Smart Work Studio (PA), design and installation of art work at Tropicana Pavilion in Atlantic City and Broken Hearts Memorial - a major fundraiser for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. Katia is a resident artist of Rahway Arts Hive Studio and a regular participant of their exhibits. A professional teacher, Ekaterina has worked at the Do-Re-Mi since 2006 and earned a great reputation among students and parents for her professionalism, patience and cheerful disposition.

  • Leonid Shoshensky

    A graduate from Moscow Architecture Institute, with parents and grandparents professional artists, Leonid is an author of paintings and works in design and graphics exhibited at more than 70 shows held in Russia, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Germany, Belgium, South Africa, and USA. At his lessons, with their creative and relaxing atmosphere, he helps each student to develop his or her own potential, enabling them with adequate technical skills. Under his guidance, college-bound arts students prepared their portfolios and more than 70 of them were accepted in prestigious colleges of Arts. Some of his art students became professional artists and art teachers.

Chess

  • Ellen Gonik

    B.S. from Drew University and M.S. from NYU, Ellen has played from the age of 4 and taught in various locations, including Camp Horizon for straight 8 years. She is patient, determined and is utilizing a very engaging approach to learning.

Math

  • Elena Shtraks
    Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry

    Board of Education (NJ) Certified in Math, Physics and Chemistry, Elena has 20 years of teaching experience in HS in Moscow, Russia and 10 years of teaching experience at both HS and college level (ITT technical institute and various HS in MO and NJ.)
    At our school, Elena works as a private tutor in Math, Physics, Chemistry for upper grades, ACT and SAT/PSAT test preparation, honors and AP classes.

  • Irina Baksht
    Logic/Math

    A professional Mathematician with a M.S in Mathematics from Moscow University and many years of tutoring experience, Irina has been teaching at the Do-Re-Mi for the last year. Irina is trying to connect developmental approach, cultivating logic and word problem solving strategies with a standard program, making sure our students are secure with the school math and develop their mathematical potential up to the fullest.

Music

  • Alexandra Gorokhovsky
    Violin

    With B.A. from the Kiev State Conservatory, and B.A. and M.A. from Manhattan School of Music, Alexandra is a winner of multiple prizes in regional, national, solo and chamber competitions. She joined NJSO in 1995 and continues to enjoy a busy freelance career which includes Little Orchestra Society, The New Philharmonic of NJ, numerous Broadway shows, such as Oklahoma, Kiss Me Kate, La Boheme, Titanic and many others. Alexandra has been on the faculty of the Do-Re-Mi since September 2009 and quickly earned love and respect of students, parents and colleagues for her professionalism, patience, encouraging attitude and cheerful personality.

  • Christopher Tuccillo
    Saxophone, Clarinet

    Mr. Tuccillo has been trained in classical clarinet, jazz saxophone, and later a flute.
    Chris acquired his education from SUNY Stony Brook and Berklee College of Music. He has been teaching classical and jazz clarinet as well as saxophone for about 12 years; flute for 4 years.  This includes preparing students for their all-county and all-state auditions as well as preparing them for various jazz band auditions in the secondary and college level. Chris also has been working as a composer and arranger for 10 years, mostly in the jazz realm, but  on occasion for the chamber and orchestral settings.

  • Marianna Konovalova
    Piano

    A graduate of Gorky Music College and Gorky University, Marianna was a piano and music history teacher in Children's Music School system back in Russia for 20 years. In the United States, she has been working in different schools for 10 years, including Do-Re-Mi from 2008. Each year some of her students enter  ABRSM examinations. Every one of them passes the exams successfully, most of them with merit, and some with distinction (the highest degree.)

  • Marina Genina
    Piano

    A graduate of Gnessin Music College, Moscow, Russia and Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory of St.-Petersburg, Russia, Marina is a piano teacher with 30 years of experience. She was a head of piano department of the oldest children’s music school in Moscow for over 15 years. In the US, she worked in various settings. Recently she became associated with the Golden Key in Vienna and Golden key in Paris Piano Festival. Many of her students participate in various student piano auditions and festivals, receiving awards with the following performance in Carnegie Hall. Mrs. Genina has been on the faculty of the Do-Re-Mi since 2005.

  • Marina Goldin

    Marina Goldin teaches piano and music classes. She is also the director of Do Re Mi School of Music and the Arts.

  • Nana Gray
    Piano, Singing

    Classically trained pianist (B.A.) and singer/chorus conductor (B.A.), Nana completed her education with M.A. in composition.
    Nana started her career as a pianist and chorus teacher. Later she was a director and singer at the Georgian Radio vocal group "Sun and Chocolate" as well as director and teacher of Children’s vocal studio at Georgian TV. For both vocal group and children’s studio she was a principal arranger of the songs. She has been working at the Do-Re-Mi since 2003.

  • Rebecca Schmoyer
    Guitar

    With a B.A. from Moore College of Arts, Philadelphia, PA, and a 5-yrs. teaching experience of classical guitar (Scotch Plains Music Center, NJ, Harry Patch Institute, Montclair, NJ), Rebecca is a wonderfull and long-awaited addition to our school's faculty due to her skills and experience in teaching  guitar to young childen, 5 yrs. and older. Rebecca has several CD's released and participated in many performance in the USA and Europe as a guitarist, singer and a member of chamber ensemble. One of her areas of interests is microtonal music.

  • Tatiana Krein
    Piano

    Tatiana is a graduate (M.A.) of the world-famous  Gnessin Musical Pedagogical Institute of Moscow, and has got years of experience teaching piano in a Moscow Children's Music School and in various settings in NJ. She has a kind, nurturing personality. Along with her professional background it makes her very well "suited" for teaching children of various ages.

  • Taya Shumerina
    Piano

    A graduate of Kishinev Conservatory with a diversified experience as a pianist and piano teacher, Taya came to us from Amato Opera (NYC) where she had been working as an accompanist and vocal coach. Her previous experience includes teaching in a Kishinev School for Gifted Musical Students and various educational music programs in Ukraine. Currently, additionally to the Do-Re-Mi, she teaches at the Fort Hamilton Military Community Children's Enrichment Program and holds a position as an organist and choir director in St.-John Lutheran Church in Bloomfield.

  • William Kratz
    Guitar

    Electric bassist, guitarist, and educator, a graduate of The Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA) and The New School for Jazz (New York, NY), has performed and recorded with numerous artists including Dennis Chambers, Paul Gilbert, Samir Chatterjee, Eric Wollman, Sanjay Mishra, and Gary Hoey among others. Bill has over 15 years teaching experience, including National Guitar Workshop children’s program, DayJams.(New York, NY); at the Do-Re-Mi since 2007.

Russian

  • Alina Poluyko

    A professional teacher with Master's degree in Elementary Education, and with teaching experience of 20+ years in preschools and elementary schools, Mrs. Poluyko teaches pre-reading and language development program to younger children. Her program is coordinated with and serves as an introduction for the reading program that is developed and taught by Angela Kozarevich. At the Do-Re-Mi from 2006.

  • Angela Kozarevich

    A professional elementary school teacher, with B.A. in Elementary Education from Pedagogical Institute of Odessa, Ukraine, and 12 years of work in elementary grades, Angela is perfectly equipped to teach reading. Angela started working with us in 2003 and during these years she developed a strong reading readiness and language development program and adjusted a standard reading program to meet the needs of children with limited conversational Russian.

  • Natalia Smirnova

    Natalia's educational background includes both Pedagogy and Russian Philological degrees from the University of Riga. Her research ranged from modern children's literature to Russian literature of 12th century. Natalia’s 20-year teaching experience ranges from nursery school to High School (Russian language, Russian and Foreign literature) to adult foreign speakers at Latvian International organizations. Teacher of the Year 2000 in Riga. For school-age children born in the US, Natalia adapted recently published in Latvia an efficient method of teaching Russian as a Foreign Language. At the Do-Re-Mi since 2003.