music in schools initiative New Haven Public Schools Yale School of Music New Haven, CT
Ellen Maust Ellen Maust is Supervisor of Performing and Visual Arts for the New Haven Public Schools, which includes 77 music teachers at 42 schools and collaborations with Yale School of Music and several other community partners. Together they are making strides in bridging the achievement gap in urban music education. She has devoted her entire professional life to the children of New Haven. Prior to becoming Supervisor, she taught music in the district for 29 years. Ellen holds a BM from Ohio Wesleyan University, and an MS and 6th Year Professional Certificate from Southern Cconnecticut State University. In the community, Ellen is the President of Alliance Theatre, Inc. and has served as the organization’s Youth Coordinator for 18 years. She has been part of her parish youth ministry committee for over 20 years and has been the recipient of the Archdiocese of Hartford Youth Formation, Commitment to God and Youth, and Light of the World awards.
Rubén Rodríguez Rubén Rodríguez is the Lead Teacher of the Music in Schools Initiative, which includes serving as Director of the All-City Honors Ensembles, Morse Summer Music Academy, and the Winter/Spring Festival. Through this partnership between the Yale School of Music and the New Haven Public Schools, these city-wide programs serve more than 600 NHPS students every week. As a trombonist, Mr. Rodríguez has performed with the New World Symphony, Orchestre International de Paris, Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia, and the Yale Trombone Quartet, among others. From 2004 to 2009 he was a Yamaha Endorsement Artist, in which role he created and developed the program “Vientos, Cámara y Acción” — a non-traditional music program with the aim of having a positive social and cultural impact on the well-being of disadvantaged youth through instruction on musical instruments. For this program he coached and trained professional musicians, band directors, school music teachers, and music educators throughout Guatemala, Panamá and Colombia, and helped them to establish stronger music programs in their communities. Mr. Rodríguez has studied in Colombia (Universidad Nacional), France (Conservatoire National de Region in Paris and Conservatoire National Superieur the Musique in Lyon), and at the Yale School of Music.