STRETTO is first and foremost a TEAM of music lovers
who participate in learning and teaching
TOGETHER in an immersion based music learning program.
who participate in learning and teaching
TOGETHER in an immersion based music learning program.
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The leaders in our group do an excellent job of caring for the other students and tutoring within the group. They lead by example and through care. That is why they are chosen to lead. There is no hierarchy to the seating in our group. We want to have strength everywhere. Competitive comparison is not encouraged within our group. Excellence comes from each person doing his/her best out of personal integrity. Younger students get to participate prior to complete fluency, so that they can be immersed in watching and listening with the older students who are at higher levels of fluency. Not everyone will play all of every piece, but everyone will be "learning" all the time. Whether playing or listening, every student's personal responsibility is to remain focused. |
Conductors
Sherri Anderson, Director
Sherri Anderson is the Founding Director of Stretto Youth Chamber Orchestra, a values-driven ensemble committed to fostering equity, empathy, and excellence in music. With a Bachelor of Music degree from Wheaton College and a Master of Sacred Music from Westminster Choir College, Ms. Anderson has pursued advanced studies in String Pedagogy and Choral Conducting at Temple University, learning under esteemed mentors Helen Kwalwasser and Alan Harler. Her academic journey also includes a Master of Theology and a Master of Liberal Studies from Villanova University, underscoring her interdisciplinary approach to community building and youth empowerment. Ms. Anderson maintains large private teaching studios in the Princeton and Philadelphia areas, is the Director of Trinity Strings in Trenton and is the Executive Director of Blue Mountain Chamber Music Festival. Throughout her career, Ms. Anderson has focused on creating safe, inclusive, and accessible learning environments for young musicians—particularly those from underserved and low-income backgrounds. At the heart of Stretto’s mission is the belief that children develop empathy and leadership through community. The ensemble unites students across socioeconomic, racial, and religious backgrounds, including youth in foster care and children living in poverty. Instead of fostering competition, the program cultivates mentorship, service, and mutual care as the foundation for leadership. Under Ms. Anderson’s guidance, Stretto has grown into a diverse and dynamic community where students learn to lead by nurturing one another. Older members mentor younger peers, and all are encouraged to contribute not for prestige, but as an act of service to the ensemble and the broader community. Stretto students share their music in local concerts, nursing homes, at meals for the homeless and community spaces, and every three years, the ensemble travels internationally—ensuring that no student is excluded due to financial constraints. Stretto's holistic and inclusive philosophy has helped shape a generation of young people who carry compassion, cultural awareness, and creative confidence into adulthood. Stretto demonstrates the transformative power of community-centered music education in the broader landscape of child welfare and youth development. |
Johnny Bentz
Johnny Bentz, Assistant Director
Johnny Bentz, Assistant Director for Stretto, Trinity Strings, and Blue Mountain Chamber Music Festival, has been studying viola for over 15 years and graduated from Susquehanna University with a B.M. in Music Performance. He is currently a violin and viola instructor at the Lumberton School of Music, and maintains a private studio around Mercer County, NJ. Johnny has also presented workshops and performances with the Susquehanna University Faculty Quartet, engaging high-school students in critical thinking and conversation through classical music. Having experience leading and performing with both small and large ensembles, Johnny excels at collaborating with performers and students to ensure they are able to confidently play at their best. |
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Amy Goodman Wulfman, Conductor Emeritus
Amy Goodman Wulfman has had an international career as a concert violinist, performing with orchestras in Europe and in the U.S. She studied at the Vienna Academy with Günter Pichler and Michael Frischenschlager, performing and recording with the baroque ensemble Capella Academica under Eduard Melkus. In the U.S., Ms. Wulfman received her B.A. from Yale University and her M.M. from the University of Wisconsin. Ms. Wulfman has been an active performer, playing numerous chamber music concerts including performances at the Bach Aria Festival in Stonybrook, New York and the Blue Mountain Chamber Music Festival at Franklin & Marshall College. Ms. Wulfman was co-founder and co-director of the New Haven Summer Quartet Camp in New Haven, CT. Ms. Wulfman maintains a private violin and viola studio, Princeton Violin Studio in Princeton, New Jersey, and is on the faculty of New England Conservatory Preparatory Division in Boston, MA, Princeton Day School and the Blue Mountain Chamber Music Festival. |
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Stretto Youth Chamber Orchestra ADA Grievance Procedure
- Step 1: Filing a Complaint:
- The complainant submits a written grievance to the Stretto Executive Director, including specific dates and details.
- Step 2: Initial Review:
- The Executive Director reviews the complaint for completeness and jurisdictional issues.
- Step 3: Investigation:
- The Executive Director or their designee investigates the complaint, gathering information and potentially meeting with the complainant.
- Step 4: Response and Resolution:
- The Executive Director provides a written response outlining the findings and potential resolutions.
- Step 5: Appeal (if necessary):
- If the complainant is not satisfied, they can appeal to the SYCO Board of Directors.
- Step 6: Final Decision:
- The Board of Directors reviews the appeal and issues a final decision.
Diversity, Equity, Access and Inclusion (DEAI) Policy
Stretto Youth Chamber Orchestra is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our human capital is the most valuable asset we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities, and talent that our musicians invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our reputation and community's achievement as well.
We embrace and encourage our musicians’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our program unique. Stretto Youth Chamber Orchestra's diversity initiatives are applicable -but not limited- to our practices and policies on recruitment and selection; compensation and benefits; professional development and training; promotions; transfers; social and recreational programs; layoffs; terminations; and the ongoing development of a work environment built on the premise of gender and diversity equity that encourages and enforces:
Respectful communication and cooperation between all participants.
Teamwork and employee participation, permitting the representation of all groups and participant perspectives.
Work/life balance through flexible work schedules to accommodate varying needs of participants.
Participant contributions to the communities we serve promote a greater understanding and respect for diversity.
All Stretto Youth Chamber Orchestra staff, musicians, and participant families have a responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect at all times. All are expected to exhibit conduct that reflects inclusion during classes, practices, and at all other participative events. Any staff member or participant found to have exhibited any inappropriate conduct or behavior against others may be subject to disciplinary action. Musicians, staff, or participant families who believe they have been subjected to any kind of discrimination that conflicts with the Stretto Youth Chamber Orchestra's diversity policy and initiatives should seek assistance from the director or a Board representative.
We embrace and encourage our musicians’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our program unique. Stretto Youth Chamber Orchestra's diversity initiatives are applicable -but not limited- to our practices and policies on recruitment and selection; compensation and benefits; professional development and training; promotions; transfers; social and recreational programs; layoffs; terminations; and the ongoing development of a work environment built on the premise of gender and diversity equity that encourages and enforces:
Respectful communication and cooperation between all participants.
Teamwork and employee participation, permitting the representation of all groups and participant perspectives.
Work/life balance through flexible work schedules to accommodate varying needs of participants.
Participant contributions to the communities we serve promote a greater understanding and respect for diversity.
All Stretto Youth Chamber Orchestra staff, musicians, and participant families have a responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect at all times. All are expected to exhibit conduct that reflects inclusion during classes, practices, and at all other participative events. Any staff member or participant found to have exhibited any inappropriate conduct or behavior against others may be subject to disciplinary action. Musicians, staff, or participant families who believe they have been subjected to any kind of discrimination that conflicts with the Stretto Youth Chamber Orchestra's diversity policy and initiatives should seek assistance from the director or a Board representative.
Stretto Board of Directors
Helena May, President
Xi Shen, Vice-President
Kenneth Fleischer, Treasurer
Lisa Browne, Secretary
Michelle Conway, Trustee
Joshua Allman, Trustee
Priscilla Allman, Trustee
Yingzi Deng, Trustee
Harold Levin, Trustee
Annie Isaacson, Trustee
Arjun Kaul, Trustee
Kewei Ming, Trustee
Mark Weinglass, Trustee
Althea Williams, Trustee
Amy Wulfman, Trustee
Zhanyun Zhao, Trustee
Sherri Anderson, Director
Johnny Bentz, Assistant Director
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Donors
Our Extraordinary Community of Donors The combined Stretto and Blue Mountain Festival Donor List ~ Thank you to everyone who helped our united communities to survive and thrive during this challenging time. Please note that the donor list will be updated again immediately following the gala. We are so grateful to all the donors who have given since our last update and we will republish shortly!!! Stretto is incorporated as a 501(c3) non-profit and approved as a public charity under section 170 of the IRS Tax Code, EIN: 47-4984177. All donations are tax-deductible. $25,000+
Community Impact Grant of the Princeton Area Community Foundation
$15,000+
Anna-Maria Moggio Foundation
$10,000+
Tony Gleason
Catherine and Harold Levin, in Memory of Harold A. and Roberta Levin Helena May $5,000+
Anonymous
Christina Seix Academy The Kaul Family New Jersey Arts & Culture Renewal Fund The Weight and Wellness Clinic Althea Williams $2,500+ Anonymous Bank of America Employee Giving Programs Catherine Barkley Jean and Brian Campbell Barbara and Max El Tawil, In honor of Kieran Fisher Cathy Ferrara and Kenneth Fleischer Kevin Fisher The Grand Slam We Care Foundation Frank Guastella Xi Shen Jane and CJ Shieh Zhanyun Zhao and Kewei Ming $1,000+ Alison Smith, In honor of Sherri Anderson Anonymous Capital Health Church and Dwight Employee Giving Fund The Cowles Family Qian Dai and Chunhong He Delahanty & McGrory, LLC, In Memory of Kevin McGrory Evelyn Delaney Alcia Gordon HEC Pharm USA Inc.* Oona and Joseph Jackson Andrea and René John Bonnie Liao & YingHua International School* Alleda and John Mack Karen Mende-Fridkis The Ozsvath-Sperber Family NJM Insurance Group The Pemmireddy Family Michael Sindler Aizi Shi The Weihe Family Victoria Zammit $500+ Michael R. Armellino* Stacey Bentz CIMS Global LLC* Karlyn Crotty Don Gilpin Hill Wallack, LLP* Rosemary and Charles Hill Gloria Hu and Quinn Zhao* Georgia Koenig Mycometrics LLC* Tammy and Derrick Pegrem Ruth Perry Davon Reed Susan Jean Remmers The Saltarelli Family Miss Snow Carolyn Lewis-Spruill The Strobel Family Darya Tahvildar-Zadeh, In memory of Firoozeh Khazrai Sarah Vania and Shadi Tahvildar-Zadeh Simona Wright* $300+ Octavia Baker Joan Chen Mary Lou Delahanty Alan Harler, In honor of Sherri Anderson Sue and John Gummere The Horizon Foundation of New Jersey Edith Juarez Nancy Keenan Non Profit Connect Janet Palumbo-Lavery Bobbie Powell Ruby and Bob Schmidt Anne Seltzer Liping Wang* Allan Williams Amy Wulfman $200+ Felicia Alexander Archer & Greiner, P.C.* Elizabeth and John Balazs Lisa Browne Jessica Bayer Best Glass LLC* The Blackbaud Giving Fund Neil Campbell Helene and Marty Cohen, In honor of Sherri Anderson Michelle and Channing Conway The Lieb Group LLP* Sandrine Erdely-Sayo Janine Edwards Sarah and Jeremy Greiner Sue and John Gummere Deborah Hersh And Joe Kinniry Allison Howe Julie C. Hsu* Carol and Robert Johnson The Karpur Family Hugh Kesson Qing Liao* Masa Sushi* Robert Misbin Gary Nool Raghav Pemmireddy Krista and Evan Quinn Ronnie Ragen and Andrew Lowenstein Robyn Richmond Evan Shieh Shiva Soheilli and Niki Tahvildar-Zadeh Brent Taggart, In memory of James L. Taggart Rebecca and Mike Tewes Anna Verhaegen Wanglei International Fencing Club* Jim Wetzel Donna Wilson Windrows Susannah Wise Marcia Wood Ying Cao Law LLC* YingHua Chinese School* Asela Zamorano $100+ Anonymous* Shiva Agarwal Kathleen Amon Matthew Amon Sharon Anderson Sherri Anderson Arthurs Estate Llc Katrina Baker Elizabeth Bartholomew The Bejin Family Edward Butler Sabrina Cassagnol Bing Bing Chang Lily Chen* Steven Chen* Kay Chubbuck Mildred Chubbuck Creative World Media Myriam Exume Susan Fahey And Randy Yasenchak Alicia Ferreira And Hector Geronimo Joan Fleming Phyllis Freed Michael Frias Elizabeth George Jennifer Gilbert Wendy Gilgeous Judith Gray Breanna Guindon Nancy Hall James Harford Dennie Higgins Kim Hunkele Aaliyah Jenkins Marsha Johnson Julian And Darryl Kestler Anastacia Kurylo* Cathy And David Lane, In Honor Of Sherri Anderson Sam Lavery Janice Liou John JD Liu* Haiyin Lu* Shirley Ma* Bernard Mcmullan and Samuel Stephens Fay Manicke Mike Mccoy Harish Menon The Mi Family* Margaret Nartey Constance Werner Ramirez Stuart Rich Elizabeth Romanaux Kanika Sharma Gabriella Son Deborah Smith Sophia Teng Matthew Vlissides Brenda Whiteman Yan Zhang and Family* Yingchao “YZ” Zhang* Joy Zhao* Chen Zhou* Jiesong Zhu & Family* $25+ Anonymous* Amanda B Baker Nancy Bell Johnny Bentz Sherilyn Browne Michelle Bryson The Coffey-Li Family* Jennifer Hinck Janice Iverson, In Honor Of Caroline Ellich Lois Jacobs Ulysses James Josh Jen Carol And Robert Johnson Ling Liang* Mary Pawelko Sandra Pearson Richard And Barbara Pearlman Lily Perrotta Coco Mi Albert Ming Tanishia Robinson Mojgan Salehi Blanche Sanfiz Madeleine Shakespeare Elisa Shieh Anna Shields Nancy Vanderbas Jacky Vargas Xuefeng Wei* Gil Williams Edith And William Ziegler Donors In Kind (Gala Auction Donors): Anonymous Priscilla And Joshua Allman Michelle Anderson Sherri Anderson Octavia Baker Andrea Berry Carole Bridges Lisa Browne Dan Burstein (New Hope Stained Glass) Kay Chubbuck Kenia Contreras Helene Cohen The Cowles Family Karly Crotty Kevin Fisher Ken Fleischer Hilary Gehman Molly Gebrian Kerry Heimann Rosemary And Charles Hill Homestead Edith Juarez (The Well) Larissa Korkina Hillary Lee Nancy Leidy Locomotion Helena May Mccarter Theatre Caryn Newman (Willowood Pottery) Janet Palumbo-Lavery (Red Tulip Gallery) Longwood Gardens Elena Panova Monique Perry (Monique’s Art Jewelry) The Philadelphia Orchestra Rafael Ponce De Leon Princeton National Rowing Association Princeton University Concerts Evan Shieh Dave And Mindy Spray Trenton Thunder Trinity Cathedral Nancy Vanderbas Lee Whiteman Althea Williams Henry Wong (Carvel Pennington) Amy Wulfman Dee Young Farshad Zadeh Asela Zamorano Zhanyun Zhao *In support of Bryan Zhao Web Design
Arthur Cam |
Thank You!
Thank you to all for the continued support of the children and youth in our community.
Because our donors balance their giving between Blue Mountain Festival, Trinity Strings and Stretto as needed, we have chosen to combine the donor lists. Your donation has been distributed directly to your chosen area of impact. This list is complete as of July 31, 2025. If there are any errors or omissions please email [email protected] or [email protected] |