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TALENT LIKE NO OTHER
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Gina Rand
Middle School Band Director
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Gina Rand was born and raised in Wellington, Florida. She first became introduced to music in fifth grade when she began playing piano before joining her school band and picking up clarinet the following year. She attended the University of South Florida and graduated with her bachelor’s in Music Education in 2022. During her time at USF, she worked as a marching band technician with Palm Harbor University High School while also being a clinician at numerous schools and all county events throughout the greater Tampa Bay area. At the moment, she has an active private studio in which she instructs piano, clarinet, and saxophone students. Currently, Ms. Rand is the Vice President of Membership for Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity’s Fort Lauderdale Alumnae chapter as well as a marching band woodwind and visual technician at Palm Beach Central High School.
Marissa Wites
Elementary Band Director
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Born and raised in Florida, I grew up around music with my family. I started playing piano at 8-years-old, and continued to fall in love with music. When Band was offered in middle school, I started on Tuba in 6th grade. In 7th grade I added on Bass Trombone so that I could participate in Jazz Band. As I continued my Music education in high school I continued to add instruments into my performance repertoire. I graduated from the University of Miami in 2011 with a Bachelors of Music Education, where I developed my teaching philosophy of teaching as a tool to enhance our global citizens of the future. I believe in teaching what I know, so I learned to perform on all woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments at an intermediate level. My teaching career has been varied and colorful with the opportunity to teach all levels of education, Kindergarten through 12th grade, Band, Marching Band, Chorus, Orchestra, AP Music Theory, and Piano. In the programs I have run, I have produced student concerts twice a year, and performed in the community. I found my love in teaching Elementary grade levels and I’m very privileged to have my dream of teaching Band to my favorite level of education in joining The Conservatory School of North Palm Beach.
It is my honor and privilege to be your Elementary Music and Band teacher. I look forward to all of the amazing experiences we will create together.
Essi Nadal
Strings Director | Music Department Chair
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Ms. Essilevi Nadal is an active teacher and performer in South Florida. She has served on the cello faculty of the South Florida Symphony Orchestra (2014-2016), Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (2011), Lynn Conservatory of Music Preparatory Division (2010-2012) and the Schwob School of Music Preparatory Division (2006-2008). She has performed with many of the area’s leading ensembles including: Miami Symphony Orchestra, Symphony of the Americas, Palm Beach Symphony Orchestra and the Dominican National Symphony Orchestra.
Born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Ms. Nadal completed her studies at the Conservatorio Nacional de Música. She served as the principal cellist of the Orquesta Nacional de Cámara and the Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil Juan Pablo Duarte. She was awarded first prize in the third Concurso de Interpretación Musical sponsored by UNESCO. Ms. Nadal holds a Masters of Music Performance from Shenandoah University, a Professional Performance Certificate from Lynn University-Conservatory of Music, and a Masters of Music Education from the University of Miami, where she was a Teaching Assistant for the Donna E. Shalala MusicReach program from 2014 to 2016. She is also an alumna of the Brevard Music Center. Ms. Nadal is a registered Suzuki teacher, and she has been an Orchestra Director at The Conservatory School @ North Palm Beach since 2016.
Kelsey Lin
Strings Director
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Kelsey Lin began her love of music at an early age, receiving her first violin at age six. She participated in many music festivals such as the Florida State University Summer Music Camps, Brevard Summer Music Festival, Indiana University Summer String Academy, and Domaine Forget Summer Music Festival. During those festivals Ms. Lin studied violin with Austin Hartman, Helmut Lipsky, and Marie Berard. She participated in string ensembles receiving instructions from the Biava String Quartet and the Nash String Quartet. Kelsey has been asked to play in many master classes with great violinists including Oleh Krysa, Regis Pasquier, Elmar Oliveira, and Mimi Zweig. She attended both Bak Middle School of the Arts and the Alexander Dreyfoos School of the Arts..
In 2005 she began formal private lessons with Carol Simmons, violinist of the former Florida Philharmonic. Shortly thereafter in 2006 she studied with Rebecca Lautar, violin professor of Florida Atlantic University. In 2008 Ms. Lin was accepted to the Conservatory of Music at Lynn University where she studied with Carol Cole until she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2012 with a Bachelor of Music Performance.
After college, Kelsey pursued a career in teaching. During her first year as a full-time teacher Ms. Lin was selected as one of six finalists for the “Beginning Teacher of the Year Award” representing the Palm Beach County School District. She taught with the Youth Orchestra of the Palm Beaches and for many years she ran the El Sistema program at U.B.Kinsey/Palmview Elementary School of the Arts, a program modeled on the world-renowned social and music education project from Venezuela. Her elementary-aged El Sistema Beethoven Orchestra competed in the Music USA Festival in Orlando, FL, and was awarded first prize competing against middle school students. Because of her dedication to music education throughout Palm Beach County, she was elected and served for two years as the District Chairperson for the Florida Orchestra Association’s District 14 which includes Palm Beach, Martin, and Glades Counties. Currently, Kelsey is teaching with Palm Beach Atlantic University Preparatory Department as a violin and viola instructor. She also works with students around Palm Beach County in both public and private schools. Kelsey continues to spread the joy of music through teaching and performing.