music staff & administration

Fall/Winter 2007 - Winter/Spring 2008

Kenny Green
Music Director

Kenny began serving as music director of Westchester Klezmer Program (formerly, KlezKidz) in September 2001, when the program had only seven students. Since that time, WKP has become one of the largest programs of its kind in the country with close to 60 participants in 2006-2007, WKP  expects at least that number for 2007-2008. The growth of the program is due, in no small way, to his involvement.

After graduating high school and spending a year studying jazz guitar at Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music, Kenny entered the field of children's and family music. In addition to his ever-present guitar, Kenny is an accomplished performer on banjo, dulcimer, mandolin, mandola, and cittern.

For additional biographical information, Kenny's web site can be accessed by clicking here.

Eric Seti
Teen Music Leader

Eric pursued his interest in music by studying piano at age 8 for 3 years. In 5th grade he took up the clarinet and in 6th grade began studying guitar privately under Jamie Fox, lead guitarist for Jen Chapin. Eric has been a member of his high school's Concert Band and the Pep / Marching Bands throughout 9th - 12th grades. This is his third year playing electric guitar for the Westchester Klezmer Program. This year he is the head song-leader of the National Federation of Temple Youth - New York Area Region and is looking forward to his second summer as a song-leader at the Union for Reform Judaism's Eisner Camp.

Eric is an IB diploma candidate at Dobbs Ferry High School and is graduating in June 2008

David Zaidins
Teen Music Leader

After starting piano lessons at age seven, David took up the alto saxophone at age eight, studying privately with Don Dupont and John Sergenian. In the 8th grade he picked up the bari sax, and became a member of the New Castle Parks & Recreation Dept.'s Youth Jazz Band, under the direction of Don Dupont from 3rd-7th grades. After playing in his elementary school and  middle school bands, he joined his high school's Symphonic Band (9th-12th grades). He is also a member of his school's Saxophone Quartet (Jr./Sr. yrs.) and it's prestigious Stage Band (Sr. yr.).

David co-founded the Westchester Klezmer Program (then called "KlezKidz") in January 2001 with his twin brother Jonathan. Starting in 2002, he has annually attended KlezKanada, a week long klezmer camp in Lantier, Quebec, and studied with Alex Kontorovich, Pete Sokolow, Frank London, and Susan Watts.

David attends Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, NY, and is graduating in June 2008.

Jonathan Zaidins
Teen Music Leader

Jon studied piano from ages 7 through 11, and began violin at age 8, studying classical violin privately with Jon Kass. In addition to playing in his elementary, middle, and high school orchestras as a violinist, Jon became a member of his school's Symphonic (10th-12th grades) and Pep (Sr. yr.) bands after taking up and mastering the tuba.

Jonathan co-founded the Westchester Klezmer Program (then called "KlezKidz") in January 2001 with his twin brother David. Starting in 2002, he has annually attended KlezKanada, a week long klezmer camp in Lantier, Quebec, and studied with Yaela Hertz, Deborah Strauss, Steve Greenman, and Susan Watts.

Jon attends Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, NY, and is graduating in June 2008.

Matty Mozzor
Music Instructor

This is Matty's fourth year as an instructor with the program. A nuclear physicist by profession, he started playing clarinet at age 8. He also plays saxophone and bass guitar.

Matty teaches at New York Medical College where he is a professor of nuclear medicine. He also teaches part-time at the Peekskill/Cortlandt Music School as the principal woodwind teacher.

Matty can be contacted via email by Clicking here.

Mindy Hermann
President & Executive Director

Mindy (along with her husband and two sons) created the program, and has been running it since its inception in 2000. She is the founder of The Hermann Group, Inc., a marketing and communications company based in Mt. Kisco, NY, with clients that include Dannon, H.J. Heinz, Kraft Foods, General Mills, Nestle, Reader's Digest and Weight Watchers, to name just a few. Mindy has also co-authored several books, and written for magazines and websites. She holds an MBA from New York University and a BS from UCLA.

Jerald Seti
Assistant Director

This is Jerald's third year as member of the southern Westchester arm of WKP, which he helped found immediately after hearing about the program from local clergy. A global-banking software designer by profession, Jerald started playing piano and clarinet at age 8. As a volunteer musician, Jerald has conducted and played clarinet in various musicals and has played with the Bronxville and Larchmont Pops. He holds an MBA from NYU and a BA from SUNY-Binghamton.

upcoming rehearsals and performances

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klezmer happenings in and around the NY metro area