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, the founding director of "Stretto", received her Bachelor of Music degree from Wheaton College and her Master of Sacred Music degree from Westminster Choir College. Ms. Anderson completed additional graduate study in String Pedagogy and Choral Conducting at Temple University where she studied with Helen Kwalwasser and Alan Harler. In addition to studying music, Ms. Anderson has also completed a Master in Theology degree and a Master in Liberal Studies degree at Villanova University. 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. |
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+
New Jersey Arts & Culture Renewal Fund
Anonymous Arjun Kaul New Jersey Arts & Culture Renewal Fund Xi Shen The Weight and Wellness Clinic Althea Williams $2,500+ Anonymous Bank of America Employee Giving Programs Jean and Brian Campbell Cathy Ferrara and Kenneth Fleischer Kevin Fisher Frank Guastella Zhanyun Zhao and Kewei Ming $1,000+ Anonymous Catherine Barkley Qian Dai and Chunhong He Delahanty & McGrory, LLC, In Memory of Kevin McGrory Evelyn Delaney Barbara and Max El Tawil, In honor of Kieran Fisher Alcia Gordon The Grand Slam We Care Foundation Andrea and René John Alleda and John Mack Karen Mende-Fridkis The Ozsvath-Sperber Family NJM Insurance Group The Pemmireddy Family Michael Sindler Jane Shieh Carmen and John Varley The Weihe Family $500+ Stacey Bentz Arthur Cam Wind Cowles Karlyn Crotty Don Gilpin Gloria Hu, In honor of Sherri Anderson Megumi Kobayashi Georgia Koenig Taneshia Nash Laird The Method Family Tammy and Derrick Pegrem Ruth Perry Kanchan and Ashish Purandare Davon Reed Susan Jean Remmers The Saltarelli Family Aizi Shi Sarah Elizabeth Strobel Darya Tahvildar-Zadeh Sarah Vania and Shadi Tahvildar-Zadeh $300+ 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 Carolyn Lewis-Spruill Allan Williams Amy Wulfman $200+ Felicia Alexander Octavia Baker Elizabeth and John Balazs Jessica Bayer The Blackbaud Giving Fund Helene and Marty Cohen, In honor of Sherri Anderson Michelle and Channing Conway Sandrine Erdely-Sayo Janine Edwards Sarah and Jeremy Greiner Sue and John Gummere Allison Howe Oona and Joseph Jackson Carol and Robert Johnson The Karpur Family Hugh Kesson Robert Misbin Gary Nool Raghav Pemmireddy Krista and Evan Quinn Ronnie Ragen and Andrew Lowenstein Robyn Richmond Evan Shieh Alison and William Smith Shiva Soheilli and Niki Tahvildar-Zadeh Brent Taggart, In memory of James L. Taggart Rebecca and Mike Tewes Anna Verhaegen Jim Wetzel Donna Wilson Windrows Susannah Wise Marcia Wood Asela Zamorano $100+ Shiva Agarwal Kathleen Amon Matthew Amon Sharon Anderson Sherri Anderson Katrina Baker Elizabeth Bartholomew Lisa Bass The Bejin Family Edward Butler Neil Campbell Bing Bing Chang 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 Deborah Hersh and Joe Kinniry Kim Hunkele Julian and Darryl Kestler Megumi Kobayashi Sam Lavery Janice Liou Fay Manicke Mike McCoy Akiyo McCue Harish Menon Cathy and Mitchell Owen Win Radcliffe-Trenner Constance Werner Ramirez Stuart Rich Saba Rizavi Gwen Robinson Elizabeth Romanaux Anna Rubin Clara Seigel Kanika Sharma Carolyn Lewis Spruill Valerie and John Strobel Shadi Tahvildar-Zadeh, In memory of Firoozeh Khazrai Sophia Teng Josephine Vania Matthew Vlissides Brenda Whiteman $25+ Nancy Bell Johnny Bentz Michelle Bryson Lea Carlon Mijah Christie Wilma Classon Dennie Higgins Jennifer Hinck Janice Iverson, In honor of Caroline Ellich Cathy and David Lane, in honor of Sherri Anderson Siyang Liu Lois Jacobs Ulysses James Josh Jen Carol and Robert Johnson Mary Pawelko Sandra Pearson Richard and Barbara Pearlman Lily Perrotta Bernard McMullan and Samuel Stephens Coco Mi Albert Ming Anna Rubin Mojgan Salehi Blanche Sanfiz Madeleine Shakespeare Elisa Shieh Anna Shields Nancy Vanderbas Jacky Vargas Gil Williams Edith and William Ziegler Donors in Kind (Gala Auction Donors): Priscilla and Joshua Allman Michelle Anderson Sherri Anderson Octavia Baker Andrea Berry Carole Bridges Kenia Contreras The Cowles Family Karly Crotty Kevin Fisher Ken Fleischer Hilary Gehman Molly Gebrian Kerry Heimann Hillary Lee Nancy Leidy Helena May McCarter Theatre Caryn Newman (Willowood Pottery) Janet Palumbo-Lavery (Red Tulip Gallery) Longwood Gardens 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 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] |