DAISY JOPLING FOUNDATION

Music Notes

NEWSLETTER | EDITION 1 | AUGUST 2025

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FROM OUR CEO:

Welcome to the first edition of Music Notes!

Designed to keep you informed and involved with the exciting programs, concerts and initiatives of our wonderful Foundation, we hope you will enjoy and further engage with us throughout the year. 

JOHN FANELLI

The DJMMF is both excited and proud to announce the appointment of John Fanelli as our new Executive Director.

John takes the helm following the departure of Deb Milone. We thank Deb for her many accomplishments and contributions. We wish her continued success.

John brings 30 years of success in the non-profit performing arts world with a dynamic career spanning education, production and leadership. His impressive background includes The Metropolitan Educational Theatre Network (California), Times Square Group (NYC), Westchester Broadway Theatre, Lighthouse Youth Theatre, and Building Kids Worldwide. His programs have touched well over 100,000 young people.

John is already working toward amazing growth and success with his tremendous vision and passion for our organization!

WELCOME John!

NEW DIRECTOR & NEW PROGRAMS!

Now under the direction of violin teacher extraordinaire, Travis Carpenter, our Ovations Strings program provides underprivileged children with lessons on a weekly basis throughout the year.

Our students are taught the beautiful universal language of music in a safe and happy environment; including our 3 new sites at Madison Square Boys & Girls Club in the Bronx, YMCA of Central Northern Westchester, and the Family YMCA at Tarrytown. These classes are a catalyst to increase confidence in learning, listening, social and performance skills; transforming each area of our children's lives.

OUR NEW PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM

The Daisy Jopling Music Mentorship Foundation is thrilled to announce the addition of a dynamic new program to our educational offerings—DramaBEE! A nationally celebrated children’s theatre initiative created by veteran theatre educator and our new Executive Director John J. Fanelli.

This joyful, 10-week performing arts program designed for children ages 3–6 builds confidence, teamwork, creativity, and communication skills. Using songs and stories children and families already love—like Encanto, Frozen, and Beauty and the Beast. DramaBEE teaches acting, singing, and dancing in a fun, engaging way. Each session culminates in a heartwarming final performance for family and friends, giving every child the opportunity to shine on stage.

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DAISY'S PERFORMANCES IN AUGUST & SEPTEMBER

AUG 30: Live at Italian Art Gallery Magazzino with Pianist Alex Smith (who plays with Lady Gaga) and Trumpeter Ingrid Jensen (Director of Jazz Program at Manhattan School of Music.)

SEP 16 - 18: Daisy Performing at the The Joyce Theater in NYC with Native American dance group extraordinaire Indigenous Enterprise.

SEP 20: Two concerts with pianist Matt Herskowitz at St Mary's Church in Cold Spring and Reformed Church of Cortlandtown, Montrose, NY.

SEP 21: DJMMF 3rd Annual Gala. Tickets are on Sale here!!

More details coming soon!

THANK YOU TO OUR OUTGOING BOARD MEMBERS!

A most sincere and heartfelt Thank You to our outgoing Board Members who have served us so well in bringing our Foundation to new heights. Board President Barbara Kerasiotes worked tirelessly to enhance our organization through outreach, development and our Annual Gala; while the contributions of members Don Feldman, Errol Rappaport, Barbara Bodnar, Brian Caplan, Mickey O’Connor, Rob Gross and Treasurer Linda Murphy enabled our organization to expand our boundaries. Under their leadership we provided world-class programming at Lincoln Center, Lake Placid Center for the Arts, Bannerman Island, the Northgate Mansion, the Abbey Inn & Spa in Peekskill, the Transfiguration Church in Tarrytown and the Paramount Hudson Valley Theater, while adding three new sites to our Ovation Strings programs. We wish them continued success in their journeys.

& A MOST WARM WELCOME TO OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS:

Chazz and Gianna Palminteri Actors, Writers and Educators

Thom Johnson

Educator and Historian

Maria Modica-Snow

Real Estate and Estate Lawyer

James Mazur

Music Tech Product Director, Designer and Manager

FOR OUR NINE-YEAR BOARD MEMBER ERROL RAPPAPORT

It is with a profoundly heavy heart that we are sharing the passing of our dear board member and eternal supporter Errol Rappaport. It is impossible to truly express our infinite gratitude for this incredible man.

Ever since Errol heard Daisy perform at a Jamie deRoy benefit at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater in NYC in 2015, he has attended nearly every single one of our performances in NYC and the Hudson Valley, and soon became a board member. He was always there for us, and his tremendous and invaluable support of our music and our educational programs will be deeply missed.

We could not imagine a more generous, kind, fun, handsome and always impeccably dressed, creative, brilliant and truly giving human being. And the extraordinary thing was that he was like that for everyone he met! Everyone remembers his thoughtfulness, and beautiful smile and warmth.



We will miss you beyond words Errol, and always hold you in our hearts ♡ Thank you for the magnificent gift you were to our lives.

Here is a beautiful article by Suzanna Bowling about his life.

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Symphony of World Citizens

THE DAISY JOPLING FOUNDATION MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM

 We are deeply grateful to all our donors for making our programs possible!

 Your donations support the purchase of instruments and youth music education.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS & EVENTS AT



DAISYJOPLINGFOUNDATION.ORG