2025-2026 Collegiate Officers
President: Sophie Wood, she/her
Sophie Wood is a senior Music Education major with a minor in Disability Studies at Hofstra University. Her primary instrument is the Tuba. Sophie currently serves as the President for the Hofstra Collegiate NAfME chapter and is an active member in the collegiate chapters of NYSBDA, ACDA, and JEN at Hofstra University. In addition to her activities at school, Sophie works as an elementary school substitute teacher where she cherishes her interactions with students and learning from many skilled teachers. During the academic year, Sophie works as a high school cheerleading coach on Long Island. She is looking forward to another successful year of collaborating with and having the pleasure of advocating for her fellow future music educators as the Collegiate NYSSMA President for the 2025-2026 school year.
President-Elect: Samantha Mason, she/her
Samantha Mason is a Junior Music Education and Flute Performance Major at the State University of New York at Fredonia. She is currently serving as President of Fredonia’s NAfME Chapter, Secretary of Fredonia’s Sigma Alpha Iota Chapter, Delta Lambda, and is a Music Tutor. She is also an active member of Fredonia’s NYSBDA Chapter, Flute Association, and Conductor’s Guild. For the past two years she has helped facilitate the audition days for prospective Fredonia students and is excited to continue creating more professional opportunities for her fellow music education students, as well as assisting underclassmen in their musicianship courses. Samantha is from Long Island and during her summers she spends her time working at Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts. Samantha is looking forward to continuing her involvement with Collegiate NYSSMA, having previously served as Province 6 Representative, and by stepping to her new role as President-Elect, she hopes to grow professional network opportunities and create a stronger community for collegiate music education students across New York State.
Secretary-Treasurer: Aidan Carney, he/him/his
Aidan Carney is a Senior Music Education and Music History & Literature dual-major at the State University of New York at Fredonia, where he studies Tuba under Dr. Christoper Hotaling. Aidan is incredibly dedicated to the growth and continuity of the music education community in New York State. At Fredonia, Aidan has played with the Fredonia Brass Choir, Fredonia Trombone Choir, and the Fredonia Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble; he has also sung with the Fredonia Masterworks and University Choruses. Aidan is a member of the Fredonia Chapters of NAfME, NYSBDA, ASTA, and ACDA, serves as the President of Collegiate-NYSBDA, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Media Music Collective and its ensembles, and Director of the Lancaster Central School District Handbell Choir. Aidan has also guest-conducted the Fredonia Trombone Choir and Fredonia Tuba-Euphonium ensembles. Aidan enjoys composing and hiking local trails across New York in his free time. Aidan is excited to serve Collegiate-NYSSMA as the Secretary/Treasurer this year!
Web Editor: Gillian Gates, she/her
Gillian Gates is a junior Music Education major at Nazareth University where she studies Violin as her primary instrument. She is a principal member of the Nazareth University Symphony Orchestra and is an active member of the Rochester based ensembles Center Stage Pops and Greater Rochester Women’s Philharmonic Orchestra. At Nazareth, Gillian serves as President of Nazareth’s NAfME Chapter, Vice President and Treasurer of Nazareth’s ASTA Chapter, Treasurer of the Naz IMPACT! Percussion Club, and a tutor for music classes. Outside of Nazareth, she has been involved in many community ensembles and has helped facilitate local music festivals, NYSSMA Major’s and NYSSMA All-State performances. She is looking forward to continuing her role on the C-NYSSMA Executive Board as Web Editor!
Province Representatives
Province 1: Cate Palanski
Cate Palanski is a senior Music Education and Music Performance double major at SUNY Fredonia, with a primary focus on bassoon. At Fredonia, Cate serves as the Vice President of Fredonia’s collegiate NAfME chapter and is also heavily involved in the Delta Lambda Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota. Cate engages in numerous playing opportunities on a regular basis, performing with the Fredonia College Symphony Orchestra, Fredonia Wind Ensemble, Western New York Chamber Orchestra, and the Erie Philharmonic. Cate also performs numerous chamber works with her quintet Perfect Fifth. Cate was selected as a winner of Fredonia’s 2025 concerto competition and will perform the first movement of Mozart’s bassoon concerto as a soloist in the fall of 2025. Cate is originally from Rochester, New York and is excited to foster connections with both current and future music educators across the state.
Province 2: Cade Wyles
Cade Wyles is a sophomore at the State University of New York at Fredonia, where he studies cello under Dr. Natasha Farny. Originally from Amherst, NY, Cade studied with Nancy Anderson of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Cade is the winner of the BPO Young Artists Competition, which led to a concerto performance with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra during their summer season. He has also earned accolades from the Buffalo Chamber Music Society and the Amherst Symphony Orchestra Scholarship Competition. His performance experience includes appearances as a solo cellist with the Buffalo Tango Orkestra and as guest principal cellist with the Cheektowaga Community Symphony Orchestra. Deeply committed to community engagement, Cade has volunteered for the past five years as a teaching assistant at Buffalo String Works, where he helps immigrant children learn string instruments. He also interned with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra for three consecutive summers, working on initiatives to grow their high school audience. He is honored and excited to serve as the Province 2 Representative of C-NAfME this year and looks forward to representing and supporting music education students across the region.
Province 3: Elsie Munsterteiger, she/they
Elsie is a junior Music Education major with an Art History minor at The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. She studies flute as her primary instrument, and also plays saxophone in multiple ensembles at Crane. Elsie currently serves as the President of Crane’s collegiate NAfME chapter and directs the Clarkson University Orchestra. When not at school, Elsie lives in New Hampshire and enjoys making music within the local community. Elsie is incredibly excited to represent Province 3 this year and is honored to serve as a liaison between the state and local communities within NAfME.
Province 4/5: Nellie Cordi, she/her
Nellie Cordi is a senior Music Education major and double bassist at Ithaca College. She serves as Treasurer for IC’s chapter of the American String Teachers Association, and as Dorm Head for Eastern U.S. Music Camp. She is an active member of NAfME Chapter 219, and performs in the IC Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Vocal Ensemble, and previously in the Concert Band. She is also passionate about teaching Modern Band! Nellie graduated with a degree in Electric Bass performance from SUNY Schenectady in 2024, and actively gigs in both the Finger Lakes and Albany areas. She is proud to be supporting the Capital Region as the representative for Provinces 4 and 5!
Province 6: James Keesee
James Keesee is a senior music education student with a focus on choral studies at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. As a collegiate, he has had numerous opportunities to work as a teacher, from private lessons to marching band, and currently serves as the NAfME chapter president at Queens College. James is super thrilled to be representing Provence 6 and looks forward to connecting with many future and current educators in New York City!
Province 7: Jameson Connaghan
Jameson is a junior Music Education major at Hofstra University, where he studies trumpet as his primary instrument of focus. At Hofstra, Jameson performs with the University’s Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra, and Brass Ensemble. He can also be seen playing Euphonium in the Tuba Euphonium Ensemble and singing in Chorale. Jameson currently serves as the President of Hofstra’s JEN Chapter and the Treasurer of their NAfME Chapter. He also works as the undergraduate assistant of bands. Jameson is from Brooklyn, NY, and when not at school he can be seen working as substitute paraprofessional within the New York City Public School System. He is looking forward to another year of great memories and achievements with the Collegiate Executive Board!
Province 7: Joseph Pesco Jr, he/him
Joseph Pesco is a Junior studying Music Education at Hofstra University. His primary instrument is Trumpet. And he participates in Hofstra’s Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, University Chorale, Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble. Joseph is also the recipient of the Dorothy B. Hoag Honors Recital which will be performed in the Fall. Currently he is the acting Vice President at Hofstra’s NAfME chapter and is an active member across all of Hofstra’s Music Education Clubs. A fun fact about Joseph is that he marched with the World Class Drum Corps, Madison Scouts in the summer of 2023. Joseph says he is eager to teach and spread his passion of music to future students. He is also very thankful to be a Collegiate NYSSMA Province 7 Representative!