Creative Producer, Classical/Rock Violinist

Creating the Transcendence show is a calling for classical/rock violinist Daisy Jopling. She is inspired every single day by Sarah Bracey White's extraordinary ability to rise above the limitations of her upbringing. Sarah's story is uplifting beyond words, from being told as a child that she should not stand tall because she will be hit by lightning, to now at age 75 she has created everything she has wanted in her life. Every day Daisy is letting go, and rising above her own perceived limitations. Working with Director Daniel Flannery has been life-changing for Daisy, his vast experience, knowledge, intuition, commitment, passion, love and genius creativity are taking this show to heights Daisy could never have imagined. Being involved in the creation of this show, working with every single one of our world-class artists and absolutely incredible people on the Transcendence team, is a magnificent blessing.

Daisy has spent her life touring, initially with the creative string trio Triology, and for the last 11 years with her own band. She started her solo career at age 14 playing a Bach concerto in the Royal Albert Hall in London, and subsequently played solo twice at the Vienna festival in front of 30,000 people. She has performed and collaborated with artists such as Hans Zimmer, Bobby McFerrin, Chaka Khan, Omara Portuonda, Joe Zawinul, Boris Grebenshikov, Janine Jansen, Oliver Mtukutsi and Shubha Mudgal, and is thrilled to be recreating the artistic possibilities of a classical violinist.

Writer & Storyteller, Teacher, Arts Administrator

Sarah Bracey White grew up in Sumter, SC. She is a writer, storyteller, teacher, arts administrator and frequent motivational speaker. Her academic degrees were earned at Morgan State University and the University of Maryland. She was an Inaugural Fellow at the Purchase College Writers Center.

Her published works include Primary Lessons: A Memoir, The Wanderlust: A South Carolina Folk Tale, and Feelings Brought to Surface, a poetry collection. Her essays have been anthologized in Children of the Dream, Dreaming in Color, Living in Black and White, Aunties: 35 Writers Celebrate Their Other Mother, Gardening on a Deeper Level, and Heartscapes: True Stories of Remembered Loves. The New York Times, The Afro-American Newspapers, the Journal News and the Scarsdale Inquirer have published her essays. Sarah is a frequent contributor to Read650, a literary performance group. She and her husband live in Ossining, NY. Her essays and poetry are archived on www.onmymind.org.

Hair & Make-up Artist

Lorraine Altamura is a professional Make Up Artist, enjoying a career filled with adventure, exciting people and new places. Her ‘notables’ short list includes: Sandra Bullock, 50 Cent, Roger Daltrey, Johnny Depp, Al Gore, Gayle King, Patti LaBelle, Robert DeNiro, Natalie Portman, Donald Trump, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Renée Zellweger & Daisy Jopling.

Having worked mostly on Commercials and Photo Shoots, Lorraine had the freedom to work, raise her 4 children and participate in her community! Serving as PTA Council President, advocating for 37,000 Yonkers children, leading the charge to create YonkersArts.org and serving on many community boards filled those wonderful years. In L.A. after the Northridge earthquake, Pres. Clinton recognized her work in Disaster Preparedness: for helping so many people by organizing neighborhoods. Lorraine is the quintessential ‘helper’. She has been working with Daisy for 15 years, as her Make Up Artist & friend. Most recently, Lorraine has had the pleasure of helping Daisy’s Music Mentorship Foundation thrive.

Pop-Soul Singer

NiNA BLUE is a pop-soul singer and native New Yorker, captivating audiences of all ages! She’s known for her raw vocals, unique tone and vulnerable storytelling performances. More than anything, Nina loves connecting with her audience & giving back in that way. NiNA was on Season 12 of American Idol, and has sold out solo shows all over New York City including The Metropolitan Room & The Bitter End! NiNA BLUE has been featured at Carnegie Hall & Lincoln Center as part of Daisy Jopling’s “Awakening" Concert! Nina is a huge fan and friend of Daisy who continues to inspire her on a regular basis! NiNA BLUE is currently working on an original studio album she is very excited to share! Follow her journey @NinaBlueMusic.

Grant Writer

Deborah Brown is the owner of Deborah Brown Consulting LLC, which provides grant writing, organizational management and board support services to non-profit, for profit and hybrid organizations working for social good.

Deborah holds a B.A. in journalism, with a minor in international relations from New York University.  She studied aesthetic education with Maxine Green at Columbia University’s Teacher’s College, fundraising at NYU, and grant writing at the Foundation Center. She serves as treasurer of Grant Professionals of Lower Hudson, Inc., a nonprofit organization committed to enhancing fundraising and philanthropy in the lower Hudson Valley through the advancement of grantsmanship. Deborah is also founder of the Newburgh Clean Water Project and a member of the Grant Professionals Association. Deborah is a life-long lover of learning, music, people, art, discovery, languages, nature, philosophy and design, and is happy to be part of the Daisy Jopling Music Mentorship Foundation adventure.

Violinist, Composer, Music Producer

Angelo Chery, 20, is a violinist, composer, and music producer who currently resides in New York. He has performed at the Dorothy and Lilian Gish Prize Ceremony in honor of Maestro Gustavo Dudamel, the 2019 Social justice Award ceremony in honor of Oscar Robertson, and composed a fiddle solo which he performed at Princeton University, Dudamel residency.

He graduated from Edward R. Murrow High School where he served as Concert Master of the Chamber Orchestra and both the Assistant Director and Concert Master of the Pyt Orchestra. His only professional violin recording “Lazarus (Space Masala)" with the Jolly Band can be found on youtube and other streaming platforms.

His most outstanding awards and achievements include performing at The Grammy Salute to Classical Music in 2018 (hosted by world-famous pianist Lang Lang and celebrated the legacy of Leonard Bernstein) and Bartok Duos with New York Phil Violinist Hannah Choi. Angelo received both a Guarneri and Paganini copy violin and a John Blaire violin from Christophe Landon, violin maker. He was also unanimously awarded the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin at the O'Connor Method Camp in 2015.

Angelo's exposure to a wide range of music during his 7 years as a musician has introduced him to new techniques, perspectives, and possibilities.

Angelo is a servant artist, an advocate for both genre and frequency-fluid music invitation, permanently inspired.

Set Designer

A graduate of the University of Southern California School of Theatre, Garvin Eddy has been an Emmy award winning designer for over 4 decades in Hollywood. His scores of television and film credits include The Cosby Show, Roseanne, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and That 70’s Show. He has been a design instructor at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, the University of California Santa Barbara and the University of British Columbia. He is a member of The Art Directors Guild, ATAS and United Scenic Artists in New York. He was awarded the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle for Distinguished Theatrical Design. In 2010 the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences inducted him into the Archive of American Television.

Lighting Designer

Ro-z is excited to be involved in another dynamic production of Daisy's at the Paramount Hudson Valley Theater. This is where Ro-z is the proud Lighting Director since 2013 and has worked on hundreds of live concerts over the years. Additional Lighting Director credits include Almost Queen (2016-ongoing); Jessica Lynn: Live at Dramatic Hall (PBS special, 2019); and The Unwritten Law (Dixon Place, 2017, 2018). Thanks for supporting live theatre!

Board Vice President, Music Education Advisor & Podiatrist

Being a part of the Daisy Jopling Music Mentorship Foundation Board as Vice President, has allowed me to foster my love of music and to advocate for the importance of music education. I grew up with music playing an important part of my life. I was a part of a Rock Band, Bullet, recorded a hit song, "White Lies, Blue Eyes”. I received a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and performance (trombone) and a Master of Science degree in Music Education. I began teaching band in the NYC School System.

I changed careers and studied to become a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. I became President of the NYSPMA and later served on the State Board of Podiatry. I joined the Peekskill Rotary Club in 1987, became President twice and never missed a meeting! I was the programming chair of the Paramount Center for the Arts in Peekskill, on the Board of First Hebrew Congregation, and was a board member of the Lincoln Society.

Being on the DJMMF board, has brought together my experiences in music and sitting on boards, to help accomplish the goals and meet the mission of the foundation.

Drummer, Singer, Guitarist, Songwriter

Originally from Sydney, Australia, Simon "SiFi" Fishburn has played with renowned Australian artists such as Andy Firth and Craig Calhoun and the Brothers of Oz, and American artists such as Richie Cannata (Billy Joel), Lee Hogans (Prince, Jay-Z, The Jonas Brothers) and Billy Lewis Jr. and Samantha Marie Ware (from the TV show ‘Glee’). Simon continues to be an in-demand musician, who also has his own electro-pop/funk band SiFi, who had their debut single ‘Calling Out Your Name’ appear in the Original Netflix TV Series ‘Tales of the City’. Simon is also a children’s entertainer/enrichment performer by day, singing and playing guitar for New York City preschool children as the charismatic Mr. Simon.

Find out more about Simon and his endeavors here: simonfishburn.com | sifiband.com | mrsimonmusic.com

Board President, Marketing Director

Laura is corporate by design, entrepreneurial at heart and determined to succeed. Her extensive brand building, rebranding, marketing and sales expertise has been built over 35+ years. She's helped launch the careers of many of today’s most famous artists and entertainment companies. Her innovative and creative skills translate into tremendous success in building rock stars, be they persons or products. Laura was the associate producer for DJMMF's Illuminance show on Bannerman Castle Island in 2020 and as Board President, has helped lay the foundation for DJMMF's next decade of impact.

Relying on her years of consumer and corporate marketing expertise, Laura brought a new level of visibility to Planet Data. Hailing from the music and entertainment space, she had the honor to work with and for many of music’s biggest artists including Whitney Houston, Duran Duran, MC Hammer, Rich Springfield, The Offspring, Train, Los Lonely Boys and so many more. Both as new artists and established.

On the corporate side, Laura has spent 15 years successfully building a power-house marketing arm, contributing towards the development and success of award-winning SONY/RED Distribution into the largest and most successful “independent” music distribution company in the business. Laura is currently the Director of Marketing and Communications at Forza Forni.

Live Sound Engineer, Producer & Musician

Todd Giudice serves as Tech Director and House Engineer at the Paramount Hudson Valley Theater in Peekskill, NY. He has overseen more than 200 productions at the Paramount including evenings with Chris Isaak, Marc Cohn, Lyle Lovett & Shawn Colvin and Al DiMeola. Todd mixed Daisy’s 2019 "Who’s Who" show at the Paramount and her Bannerman Island "Illuminance" shows last summer. Todd has worked in live music production mixing sound at The Towne Crier Cafe in Pawling, NY for artists that include CJ Chenier, Richard Shindell, Ritchie Havens and Leon Redbone. He recently was sound designer for two productions at the Sharon Playhouse in Sharon, CT, Nonsense and The HMS Pinafore.

Todd studied production and engineering at Berklee College of Music. He is an independent music producer and musician who operates Roots Cellar Recording Studio in Cold Spring, New York. Todd is also a guitarist, drummer and singer-songwriter who is active in the Hudson Valley music scene. He likes dogs.

Instrumental Duo

Anton and Joseph Klettner are an instrumental duo who play classic rock and other popular music on a variety of instruments. The brothers reside in South Salem, NY. Their duet combinations include violin, piano, guitar and accordion. Their musical studies began with the piano over 12 years ago, and shortly thereafter, they began training in the other instruments. They have performed in several venues in the area, including The Heights at Brother Vic’s in South Salem, NY; the Note Kitchen in Bethel, CT; The Spotted Horse in Shelton, CT; Nod Hill Brewery in Ridgefield, CT; and as featured artists at the Horseshoe Café in Southport, CT. In addition, they were winners of the 2018 Darien’s Got Talent and Connecticut’s Got Talent competitions. Anton and Joseph are also members of the rock band Platinum Moon, which performs in the area, including as a headliner at the Wall Street Theater in Norwalk CT, at The Bitter End in NYC, at Daryl’s House in Pawling, NY, and as an opening act at the Chance Theater in Poughkeepsie. The band also was the first place winner of the 2019 Connecticut’s Got Talent competition.

Board Trustee, Trumpeter, Attorney

Sal Lagonia is a versatile trumpet player who studied under famed Professor Peter Crino. He loves to play everything from classical to rock to jazz. Sal is an attorney with his own office in Yorktown, NY. In addition to music his passions include piloting his own aircraft on Angel Flights and Animal Rescue missions, as well as introducing young people to aviation. He is the trumpeter in the duets with Daisy Jopling at the Bannerman Castle concert, Illuminance, and says that performing there with Daisy was a magic moment in time. Sal now sits on the Foundation Board to help others realize this magic.

A critic commented, “He has such a nice easy going jazz tone and yet can play the rock riffs from Chicago on the same night.”

Nonprofit Consultant

Andréa E. Mahee is a nonprofit consultant bringing fresh ideas and new initiatives to the DJMMF. Her expertise is vital in helping the Foundation grow.

Pianist

Jeff is a Grammy Award winning keyboard player and a member of the Daisy Jopling Band. He has played keyboards for many worldwide superstars such as Bo Diddley, Jeffrey Osborne, Shirley Bassey, Vanessa Williams, Shakira, Lyfe Jennings, and others. He has also toured the world and shared bills with Pete Townsend, Joni Mitchell, Willie Nelson, George Jones, Dwight Yoakam, NRBG, Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts, and Taylor Swift. Some other highlights of Jeff's career are playing with Lionel Hampton in Carnegie Hall, Dreams Come True (Japanese pop megastars who have sold more than 50 million albums worldwide), legendary avant-garde jazz guitarist Sonny Sharrock, Universal recording artist Rachid, Marc Von Em, Eric Redd, and KJ Denhert.

Some of Jeff's favorite venues that he has played at include: Carnegie Hall, The Grand Ole Opry, The Fillmore West, Mandalay Bay-Las Vegas, CBGB's, Town Hall NYC, The Channel-Boston, and Irving Plaza NYC.

Jeff studied jazz at University of Miami and William Paterson University. Jeff does all this to support his biking and motorcycling habits. You can hear his music on ReverbNation.

Production Manager

Robert Signom III has been working in production for over nineteen years. As Production Manager, he has worked for Opera Naples, The American Opera Project, Tri-Cities Opera, Signature Theatre, Gotham Chamber Opera, Aspen Opera Theatre Center, Ensemble Studio Theatre, HERE Arts Center, and NJPAC, and many others.

As Stage Manager, he has called over fifty productions in New York, many regional operas and Off-Broadway tours. Rob is the Curator of The Citizens Motorcar Company, America’s Packard Museum. He is an Eagle Scout, and a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Videographer

Andrew Stein, owner of Andrew Stein Videography brings over 30 years of experience working high profile video production positions in New York such as in the Stadium scoreboard crew for the NY Yankees,and news production for CNN, and NBC. His production company produced unique projects including "The Great American Jukebox" documentary and video series which combine the magic and beauty of the machines, and the music of these classic vintage jukeboxes from the 1920’s to the 1960’s.

Still a young musician at heart, Andrew finds inspiration working with students to create promotional videos for Daisy’s Student Mentorship program. Andrew inspires the students to be creative and shares in their glory as they get to perform onstage and learn the ropes of being a performer.

Bassist/Multi-Instrumentalist, Musical Director

As a NYC based multi-instrumentalist, Lavondo has solidly rooted himself as a new breed of in demand performer. Having studied privately with Felix Pastorius, Dr. Mark Morton (Principle Bassist of Columbus Symphony), Douglas Richeson (Tony Bennett unplugged, Phil Collins), and Janek Gwizdala, he feels just as comfortable on acoustic bass as he does on his electric. He has performed for audiences around the world; 30 plus countries from Europe, Asia, and all throughout North America with such artists as world renowned recording artist, Daisy Jopling, fresh offa six week / 23 city tour of China, and performing in Europe at the world famous Musikverein Hall in Vienna. He has also toured with award-winning guitarist Ana Popovic, Broadway and TV's "Survivor" stars Josh Canfield and Reed Kelly, Mitch Jarvis, Eddie Holman (Hey There Lonely Girl), violinist Christian Howes, Umar Bin Hassan and The Last Poets, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Shine and the Moonbeams, along with other artists across a wide genre busting palette. Lavondo is signed to Ropeadope Records with his band The Flowdown. He also served as Assistant Musical Director for Echoes of Etta (2014 MAC Award for Show of the Year), Asst. Music Director for vocalist William Blake (New York Nightlife Award for Outstanding Male Jazz Vocalist), and is a member of Brother Joscephus and the Love Revolution (2011 independent music award best live performance) and bassist for 50 Shades! The Musical.

Lavondo is a Dunlop Artist and plays MXR bass pedals, Dunlop Marcus Miller Super Brights nickel wound strings, doesn't leave the house without his Will Lee Sadowsky, and makes a mean peanut butter & jelly sandwich.

Stage Manager

Francine Torres has been apart of the Daisy Jopling Music Mentorship Foundation for the past 6 years, most recently Stage Managing for the Illuminance show on Bannerman Castle Island in 2020. She has a BFA from Florida Atlantic University in Theatre Performance. She enjoys drawing, dancing and spending time with family.

Pianist, Keyboardist

Matthew is a Brooklyn-based, California-born, and Tokyo-raised pianist who has extended his fingers across genres from pop to jazz. He graduated from The New School in 2012, where he studied with Reggie Workman, Danny Grissett, LeeAnn Ledgerwood, and Sam Yahel amongst others.

After graduating, Matthew contributed lessons to IROCKU, an online piano school founded by Rolling Stones pianist Chuck Leavell to teach students of all ages and experience the principles of rock piano.

In 2015 he joined five-time MAC Award winner Stacy Sullivan for a monthly residency at the Metropolitan Room, which was described by The New York Times as "an audacious, often thrilling new show" with "an excellent folk-pop trio." They took the show to London later that year for a week-long stint at the Crazy Coqs at Brasserie Zedel.

The Barnstorm scooped him up in 2016 in their quest to become "America's Party Band," though they find themselves entertaining audiences overseas more and more. The band recently started a monthly residency at Hill Country after ten years of honing their craft at a residency at Brother Jimmy's. Together over the past two years they've played sporting events like The Kentucky Derby and Super Bowl Tailgate parties as well as celebrity weddings covered by People Magazine.

Matthew continues to play everything in between at local venues like Jazz at Lincoln Center, BAM, and Soho House. He's recorded music with fellow artists including Hillary Capps, Cameron Mitchell, and Paul Sanwald.

Producer, Videographer, Musician, Composer

Mark Westin has created and contributed to thousands of hours of award-winning visual content in many genres. But rather than share a list of credits, he’d prefer that you understand what drives him to create.

Mark was fortunate to begin his career apprenticed to some of the finest producers, writers, and editors in the industry. They shared their technical expertise, but the most valuable lesson they taught him was: First, be human. Then look for the elements that humanize your subject matter.

Mark believes those subtle details make the difference in whether a story comes alive on screen. Do audiences always notice? Nope. But he lives by one of his mentors’ principles, "When it's right, you feel it, and they feel it."

In addition to video, Mark is an Emmy-nominated film composer. He also has a fairly serious penguin fetish.