Meet the Kalman Music Lessons Faculty

Tal Kalman is a New York City–based music educator and award-winning touring musician. A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, he holds a Master's degree with honors and over a decade of teaching experience. Specializing in saxophone, flute, clarinet, and piano, Tal combines strong technical instruction with insights from years of global performance.

Joey Curreri is a jazz trumpeter, composer, and dedicated music educator from Los Angeles, now based in New York City. With a deep background in jazz and classical music, he brings a thoughtful, creative approach to teaching trumpet, piano, and music theory.

Neal Perrine is a versatile bassist and multi-instrumentalist from Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, now based in New York City. A graduate of James Madison University, he studied jazz and contemporary classical music, shaping a broad musical outlook. Neal has performed everything from indie rock at South by Southwest to choral works at Carnegie Hall.

Ethan Cohn is a bassist, guitarist, composer, and educator from New York City. He is known for his strong groove, melodic approach, and versatility across genres—from jazz and rock to experimental and electronic music. Ethan has performed internationally with a wide range of artists and has released several albums of his own original music. A dedicated teacher, Ethan draws from his classical training at Juilliard Pre-College, his jazz studies at McGill University, and his graduate work at The New School’s Performer-Composer program. His lessons emphasize creativity, listening, and personal expression while building a solid technical and musical foundation.

Born and raised in San Francisco, now based in NYC, Gabriel showcases a catalogue of original music, jazz standards, and arrangements of works by Bill Evans, Chick Corea, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Cedar Walton, Keith Jarrett, and more. Gabriel honors the history of these master pianists with performances that are both soulful and hard-hitting. You'll find him performing almost every night with NYC's finest jazz musicians at household jazz venues.

Miles Mindlin is a London-born guitarist, composer, and bandleader based in New York City, currently pursuing a Master's degree on scholarship at the Manhattan School of Music. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, he has studied with Mike Moreno and Ingrid Jensen, developing a dynamic voice that blends jazz tradition with modern influences. Miles has performed at prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, and The Owl in Brooklyn. In 2023, he released his debut album on Fresh Sound New Talent label, establishing himself as a rising voice in contemporary jazz. As an educator, he teaches students from beginners to undergraduates, adapting his approach to meet diverse needs while fostering creativity, confidence, and musical growth.

Markiian is an experienced drummer with deep musical knowledge and a passion for rhythm. His teaching approach focuses on building strong fundamentals while exploring various drumming styles and techniques.

Alexander (Sasha) Ripley is a Houston-born tenor saxophonist, composer, and educator. He began playing saxophone at 13 and attended Houston's Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Sasha earned his undergraduate degree from Berklee College of Music on a World Tour scholarship, where he studied in the Global Jazz Institute under Grammy-winning pianist Danilo Perez, working alongside luminaries including Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman, and Gary Bartz. He holds a Master's degree from the Herbie Hancock Institute at UCLA, where he studied with Herbie Hancock, Ambrose Akinmusire, Christian McBride, and other renowned jazz artists.

Angelina Kolobukhova is a vocalist and pianist from Minsk, Belarus, who began classical piano at six and voice lessons at nine. After receiving a scholarship in 2018, she moved to New York to attend Adelphi University's Honors College, graduating in 2022 with a degree in Music with a Concentration in Jazz Studies. An alumni of the Boisey Lowery Living Jazz Residency (2021, 2022) and finalist in the Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition (2024, 2025), Angelina has performed at venues including Birdland Jazz Club, Ornithology Jazz Club, and the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival. As an educator, she teaches voice and piano to students of all ages, believing that music learning is a transformative process accessible to everyone.

Yuval Amihai is an acclaimed jazz guitarist, composer, and educator with over two decades of international experience. Born in Israel and based in New York City, he spent many years in Paris, where he received major French jazz awards for his work as a performer and composer. Yuval has released several albums as a leader and performs regularly across NYC and throughout France and Europe. A dedicated teacher, he has worked with students of all ages and backgrounds, teaching in English, French, and Hebrew. He currently serves on the faculty of the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and continues to inspire students through his creative and expressive approach to learning music.

Jackson Potter is a New York City–based guitarist, composer, and educator with over 10 years of teaching experience. He holds a Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. Jackson has taught privately and through several music programs, helping students of all ages grow as confident, creative musicians. An active performer and recording artist, his acclaimed albums Restless and small things showcase the same passion and musicality he brings to every lesson.

Jazz trumpeter Alexandra Ridout, originally from the UK and now based in both London and New York City, rose to national prominence at age 17 when she won the prestigious BBC Young Musician Jazz Award in 2016. The award, heavily promoted on BBC television and radio, launched her into a vibrant international performing career. Since then, Alexandra has captivated audiences across the globe with her powerful sound and musical sensitivity.

Peru Eizagirre is an award-winning drummer and musician from the Basque Country, based in New York City. A graduate of the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, where he earned his Master’s degree in Jazz, Peru’s artistry spans across genres—bridging the depth of jazz with the pulse of modern drumming. Renowned for his technical precision and musical versatility, Peru brings the same passion to teaching as he does to performing, tailoring his approach to meet the unique needs of each student.

Alden Hellmuth is a saxophonist, composer, and improviser currently based New York City. Recipient of the German Jazz Prize “Debut Album of the Year International” Award and a 2025 graduate of the Herbie Hancock Institute at UCLA, she has performed and toured internationally with artists including Herbie Hancock and Dianne Reeves. In 2024 Alden released her debut, Good Intentions, with Fresh Sound Records, which garnered international recognition. Her newest project, Tether, set to be released in 2026, is an experimental two-bass chordless quartet featuring Logan Kane, Miller Wrenn, and acclaimed drummer Justin Brown. Alden has been recognized with numerous honors, including ASCAP’s Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award (2024), Chamber Music America’s Performance Plus Grant (2025), and the Focusyear Fellowship (2021/22). She has appeared on major stages including the Hollywood Bowl/Blue Note Jazz Festival, International Jazz Day (Morocco and Abu Dhabi), Jazz Aux Écuries Festival in France, and Blue Note NYC. As a composer and performer, Alden strives for authentic expression through freedom, intuition, and a deep commitment to her craft. With over seven years of teaching experience, she loves connecting with students of all levels and ages and helping them discover and cultivate their passion for music.

Julian Brezon has over a decade of experience teaching saxophone, flute, and clarinet. He holds a Masters in jazz studies, and performs in venues throughout New York and Maryland. His lessons cover reading music, playing by ear, developing a beautiful sound on the instrument, and cultivating the students' personal musical interests.

Dan Montgomery is a jazz bassist and composer based in New York City. He is originally from Rochester, New York, and spent several years in Miami, Florida, where he received his Bachelors Degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. Dan has performed in groups led by Ari Hoenig, Manuel Valera, Troy Roberts and others, and is a member of Remy Le Boeuf’s “Assembly of Shadows” big band. Dan has performed at several major jazz festivals (Newport, Telluride, Monterey), placed third in the International Society of Bassist’s Jazz Competition in 2017, received the “Pathways to Jazz” grant from the Boulder County Arts Alliance in 2019, and was a semi-finalist in the UNISA Jazz String Competition in Pretoria, South Africa in 2022. He has released three albums as a leader, all with his quintet: “Storyteller,” “Emotional Machines: Live in San Francisco” and “Fly.” He also leads an instrumental prog-rock/metal trio called TIGER. Dan has been teaching both upright and electric bass for many years, with several of his students going on to study at major universities such as University of Miami and The New School. He currently teaches at Uncommon Preparatory Arts Charter High School and Brooklyn Music School.

Noa Chait is a jazz vocalist, bandleader and educator based in NYC. Having grown up musically in the traditions of Jazz and Pop musics, Noa is a graduate of the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music having been awarded the “John and Alice Coltrane Award of Excellence”. With a focus on sound and storytelling, Noa has been performing both in intimate and larger settings in NYC’s decorated jazz scene, around the US and globally.

Raphael Silverman is rapidly emerging as one of the most compelling young guitarists on today's jazz scene. A native New Yorker and a recent graduate of Columbia University, Raphael already performs and tours with some of the most respected names in jazz. He is a member of the bands of two iconic former Art Blakey Jazz Messengers—Philip Harper and Johnny O'Neal—and leads the Raphael Silverman Trio. He has appeared at renowned venues such as Smalls, Mezzrow, Ornithology, Jazz Forum, Minton's Playhouse, and Jazz at Lincoln Center, and has toured internationally in Europe and Asia.

Ilhan Saferali is an acclaimed young jazz musician who has swiftly garnered widespread recognition within New York City's vibrant jazz scene. Proficient in both trumpet and piano, Ilhan originally hails from Vancouver, Canada and relocated to New York City to pursue studies at The New School's prestigious jazz program. He has studied under esteemed jazz legends including Reggie Workman, Buster Williams, Jimmy Owens, Emmet Cohen, and Jean-Michel Pilc, and has shared the stage alongside Kamasi Washington, George Coleman, Johnny O'Neal, and Joe Farnsworth. Ilhan is also a sought-after session musician and performs regularly at world-renowned jazz venues including Nublu, Zinc Bar, and Smalls Jazz Club.

Alex Heffron is a Brooklyn-based jazz guitarist known for his work with Big Gigantic, Veronica Swift, and The Colorado Symphony, as well as performances at the Kennedy Center and NPR's Tiny Desk series. Praised by All About Jazz as an imaginative guitarist and intelligent composer, he leads a band blending traditional and contemporary jazz. Alex has released two albums, Looking Out and Avoidance, and was featured in KUVO's 30 musicians under 30 initiative. He holds a degree in Jazz Guitar from the University of Colorado Boulder.

A Kansas City native, Quinton Cain earned his Bachelor's degree from the Manhattan School of Music, where he performed in many ensembles and settings including with the MSM jazz orchestra at Dizzy's Jazz Club. Since graduating in 2022, Quinton has quickly become an in-demand musician, performing at Nublu, Ornithology Jazz Club, Vortex, Chris' Jazz Cafe, and The Kennedy Center (Betty Carter Jazz Ahead 2022). He has been mentored by stalwarts such as Buster Williams, John Riley, and Stefon Harris, and has shared the stage with Dayna Stephens, Billy Drewes, Dezron Douglas, and David Berkman.

Finn Wiest is an award-winning drummer, composer, and music educator from Germany, now based in New York City. He began playing drums at the age of four and went on to win multiple national and international competitions, including the award for Best Composition at the Tremplin Jazz Festival in Avignon, France. Finn has performed internationally and at notable venues such as Carnegie Weill Recital Hall and Minton's Playhouse in Harlem. In addition to performing, he has taught at The City College of New York and led music workshops and masterclasses for students of various ages.

Naples-born drummer and composer Marcello Cardillo has performed alongside some of the world's most renowned musicians. After earning his Bachelor and Master at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, he received a scholarship to attend the Manhattan School of Music where he earned his second Master's degree, studying with Kendrick Scott, John Riley, and Miguel Zenon. A regular on the bandstand in NYC's jazz scene, he's performed at Smalls, Dizzy's, The Django, Nublu, and Minton's Playhouse. He has notably performed and recorded with legendary bassist Buster Williams in his historic band Something More, and recorded the album Portrait of a Moment which led to a European tour in 2025.

DownBeat Award-winning guitarist and composer Michael Hilgendorf is one of the fieriest and most thoughtful improvisers in NYC's next generation of musicians. His musical journey began in the suburbs of Detroit, where his band won the Detroit Blues Society Youth Blues Challenge at only 15 years old. Michael earned his BM in Jazz Studies from Columbia College Chicago, performing with world-class artists like Kendrick Scott, Donny McCaslin, and Cory Henry, before moving to NYC to obtain his MM from the Manhattan School of Music, studying under Mike Moreno, Phil Markowitz, Marc Cary, and Jaleel Shaw. He has recorded and performed with top names including Dayna Stephens, Charles Altura, and Wycliffe Gordon at venues such as the Apollo Theater, Jazz Gallery, and The Django.