Artistic Staff

Christopher Beckett

Conductor of Concert Orchestra and Preparatory String Ensemble
String Conductor (2020-2021)
Christopher Beckett graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Music Education from Rutgers University – Mason Gross School of the Arts, having studied both violin with Lenuta Ciulei (first prize winner of the Paganini International Violin Competition) and....Read Full Biography

Email: cbeckett.gpyo@gmail.com

David Rabinowitz

Conductor of Preparatory Wind Ensemble
Wind, Brass and Percussion Conductor; Performance Workshop Coach (2020-2021)
Mr. Rabinowitz holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Mason Gross School for the Arts at Rutgers University and his Masters in Orchestral Studies with a focus on Tuba from the Chicago Musical College at Roosevelt University.  He has studied tuba with some of the best artists and teachers in the United States including....Read Full Biography

Email: ​drabinowitz@mtsd.us

Noelle Casella Grand

String Sectional and Performance Workshop Coach (Spring 2021)
Noelle Casella Grand, an American-born cellist, has been praised for her “wonderful, rich tone” and her “particularly expressive and finely nuanced playing.” Noelle enjoys an active performing and teaching career throughout Europe and the United States. Noelle is currently a Director of the Grand School of Music, cello professor at Bucks County Community College, conductor of the Ripieno Orchestra of the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County, and a member of the music faculty at George School. Additionally, Noelle is an active freelance cellist and can be seen with such groups as the Bach Festival Orchestra, Philly Pops Orchestra, and other ensembles in both the tri-state area as well as in Europe. Most recently, Noelle was selected as an orchestral coach for ECSOC (Elizabeth College Summer Orchestral Course) in Guernsey, U.K. and worked alongside members of the Coull Quartet. Noelle is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London where she received a Master of Arts and the accompanying LRAM Teaching Diploma with Distinction. Prior to her years at the Academy, Noelle studied in New York at Sarah Lawrence College with Chris Finckel (Manhattan String Quartet) and at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. ​

Christopher McEwan

String Sectional and Performance Workshop Coach (Spring 2021)
Mr. McEwan is an experienced and passionate music educator and performer located in Central New Jersey. He is a graduate of The College of New Jersey (summa cum laude) where he studied with Uli Speth, and served as concertmaster of the TCNJ Orchestra for 3 semesters. Christopher has been playing violin since age 8, and has since performed with the Garden State Philharmonic, the Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea, the Algonquin Arts Theatre, the Ashley Lauren Theatre Ensemble, TCNJ Lyric Theatre, and TCNJ Musical Theatre. Christopher is currently the 7th-12th grade Director of Orchestras in the Metuchen School District, where he also conducts an after school chamber orchestra and advises the Tri-M Music Honor Society.

Uli Speth

Performance Workshop Coach (2020-2021)
German violinist Uli Speth earned degrees from the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria as well as Mannes College of Music in New York, studying with teachers such as Felix Galimir and Nicolaus Harnoncourt. As an orchestral musician Mr Speth has spent over 20 years performing with New York City Opera at Lincoln Center and since 2005 he serves as concertmaster of the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been invited to perform as guest concertmaster by numerous orchestras including Northeast Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Schenectady Symphony, Wichita Symphony and others. For over 20 years Uli was first violinist of the Diller-Quaile String Quartet in residence at the Diller-Quaile School of Music in New York City. With this group he played concerts throughout the U.S., commissioned and premiered new pieces for string quartet, and performed live on Vermont Public Radio and KMFA of Texas. In recent years Uli Speth he has served on the panels of several state and national violin competitions and serves on the faculties of Hartwick College, The College of New Jersey and Eastern Music Festival. Uli Speth joined the board of GPYO in 2018.