The Teachers
Joseph S. Piccirillo - Principal Conductor
Mr. Piccirillo is the Director of Special Projects for the Vernon Township School District and Principal of The Walnut Ridge School in Vernon, NJ. He first joined Vernon as the District's K-12 Supervisor of Fine, Performing, and Practical Arts after previously working as the Music Chairperson of the Nyack School District in Rockland County, NY. Mr. Piccirillo also spent seven years as a music teacher at Bayside High School in New York City where he served as the Choral Director and General Music teacher. Mr. Piccirillo holds degrees in music from New York University and Westminster Choir College.
As a choral teacher, Mr. Piccirillo has led many choral groups to Level 6 NYSSMA Gold honors in both jazz and classical repertoire. Mr. Piccirillo’s students have performed in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Palace Theatre, The United Nations, Flushing Town Hall, New York University, Queens College, and Pace University as well as outside the city from Princeton to Walt Disney World. He has maintained partnerships with the National Chorale, Carnegie Hall, and the Collegiate Chorale empowering his student ensembles to perform with some of the best orchestras and ensembles in the world. Piccirillo’s students have sung alongside some of the most famous vocalists across a variety of styles ranging from Dee Snider to Bryn Terfel. Most recently, Mr. Piccirillo has conducted All-County Choruses for both Rockland and Orange County.
Mr. Piccirillo has performed with ensembles in Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall as well as various venues throughout the NYC area as a classical and jazz soloist. He had previously served as a cantor at St. Joseph’s Church in Greenwich Village for over 10 years. Mr. Piccirillo has worked for Carnegie Hall as a teacher, educator, conductor, and singer for various projects, including as a director for the “Count Me In” program through Carnegie Hall which serves students in the Bronx. Mr. Piccirillo maintains several private music students ranging from children to adult and studying voice, contemporary jazz piano & composition, and music theory & ear training. Additionally he is an Adjunct Professor of Music at Sussex County Community College in Northern NJ and conducts The Community Choral Society of Sussex County. He is thrilled to be returning for his seventh year as the Principal Conductor for the City-Wide Salute to Music Chorus.
Jeanne Cascio - Associate Conductor
Ms. Cascio is in her second year as a choral teacher at LaGuardia Performing Arts H.S. -- the "Fame" School. Previously she served as the Vocal Talent Teacher at Mark Twain Intermediate School for the Gifted and Talented, a Magnet School in Brooklyn, New York where she served as the choir director of the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade choirs. In her 8 years at Mark Twain her students received Gold (Level IV) and Gold with Distinction (Level III), at the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Major Organization Festival each year.
In December 2012, Ms. Cascio conducted her 7th grade choir on national television for the Christmas broadcast of The Today Show on NBC. Her students have also performed at Carnegie Hall, New York University, and Brooklyn Borough Hall. This school year, Ms. Cascio is participating in Carnegie Hall's Music Educator's Workshop, where her students will perform as a workshop choir, demonstrating rehearsal techniques and practices.
Outside of school, Ms. Cascio sings with The Glass Menagerie, a Greenwich Village Community Chorus. She is excited to be working with the Salute to Music Chorus again this year!
Alison Cherrington - Piano Accompanist
Mr. Piccirillo is the Director of Special Projects for the Vernon Township School District and Principal of The Walnut Ridge School in Vernon, NJ. He first joined Vernon as the District's K-12 Supervisor of Fine, Performing, and Practical Arts after previously working as the Music Chairperson of the Nyack School District in Rockland County, NY. Mr. Piccirillo also spent seven years as a music teacher at Bayside High School in New York City where he served as the Choral Director and General Music teacher. Mr. Piccirillo holds degrees in music from New York University and Westminster Choir College.
As a choral teacher, Mr. Piccirillo has led many choral groups to Level 6 NYSSMA Gold honors in both jazz and classical repertoire. Mr. Piccirillo’s students have performed in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Palace Theatre, The United Nations, Flushing Town Hall, New York University, Queens College, and Pace University as well as outside the city from Princeton to Walt Disney World. He has maintained partnerships with the National Chorale, Carnegie Hall, and the Collegiate Chorale empowering his student ensembles to perform with some of the best orchestras and ensembles in the world. Piccirillo’s students have sung alongside some of the most famous vocalists across a variety of styles ranging from Dee Snider to Bryn Terfel. Most recently, Mr. Piccirillo has conducted All-County Choruses for both Rockland and Orange County.
Mr. Piccirillo has performed with ensembles in Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall as well as various venues throughout the NYC area as a classical and jazz soloist. He had previously served as a cantor at St. Joseph’s Church in Greenwich Village for over 10 years. Mr. Piccirillo has worked for Carnegie Hall as a teacher, educator, conductor, and singer for various projects, including as a director for the “Count Me In” program through Carnegie Hall which serves students in the Bronx. Mr. Piccirillo maintains several private music students ranging from children to adult and studying voice, contemporary jazz piano & composition, and music theory & ear training. Additionally he is an Adjunct Professor of Music at Sussex County Community College in Northern NJ and conducts The Community Choral Society of Sussex County. He is thrilled to be returning for his seventh year as the Principal Conductor for the City-Wide Salute to Music Chorus.
Jeanne Cascio - Associate Conductor
Ms. Cascio is in her second year as a choral teacher at LaGuardia Performing Arts H.S. -- the "Fame" School. Previously she served as the Vocal Talent Teacher at Mark Twain Intermediate School for the Gifted and Talented, a Magnet School in Brooklyn, New York where she served as the choir director of the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade choirs. In her 8 years at Mark Twain her students received Gold (Level IV) and Gold with Distinction (Level III), at the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Major Organization Festival each year.
In December 2012, Ms. Cascio conducted her 7th grade choir on national television for the Christmas broadcast of The Today Show on NBC. Her students have also performed at Carnegie Hall, New York University, and Brooklyn Borough Hall. This school year, Ms. Cascio is participating in Carnegie Hall's Music Educator's Workshop, where her students will perform as a workshop choir, demonstrating rehearsal techniques and practices.
Outside of school, Ms. Cascio sings with The Glass Menagerie, a Greenwich Village Community Chorus. She is excited to be working with the Salute to Music Chorus again this year!
Alison Cherrington - Piano Accompanist