who we are
Richard Foos
Board Chair
Richard created RHINO Entertainment. Rhino pioneered the promotion and preservation
of folk, rock, blues, and pop music, as a vital element of our culture. Richard
is an active philanthropist for progressive causes.
Bradley Kesden
Executive Director
Bradley Kesden has been the executive director of rock the classroom
since its inception in 2003. Bradley is an author and Creative Director who
has written a variety of books, films, and children’s television programs.
His award-winning film, “Sex, Drugs, and HIV” is the first HIV
prevention film created for adolescents, and has been shown all over the world.
He also wrote a book of the same title that was featured on the New York Times
bestseller list. Bradley collaborated on Everything and a Kite with Ray Romano,
star of CBS’s “Everybody Loves Raymond” for Bantam Books.
He also collaborated on Babyhood with Paul Reiser, star of NBC’s “Mad
About You” for Rob Weisbach Books/ William Morrow.
Since starting at rock the classroom, Bradley has
further immersed himself in the world of education. He has been selected to
participate in the Wells Fargo New Executive Directors Institute, taught by
the Executive Service Corps of Southern California. In 2005, he participated
in the Armory Arts Development Training Seminar for countywide administrators
of visual and performing arts programs. He is currenly continuing his nonprofit
education in ESC's "Developing Development" program.
Jere Mendelsohn, M. Ed.
Curriculum Consultant
Jere has spent the last 18 years as an innovative, energetic and committed
educator, pioneering interdisciplinary, international studies curriculum at
I-POLY High School, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He was
recently named Exceptional High School Teacher, University of California,
San Diego. Currently he is the Chairman of the English Department and the
Technology Leader of Verdugo Hills High school in Los Angeles.
Teachers, Open Court Literacy Coaches, and Principals of several LAUSD schools, as well as professors from CAL STATE LA's graduate school of music education are also currently advising rock the classroom.
Adlai Wertman
Treasurer
Adlai is the Executive Director and CEO of CHRYSALIS, a nationally recognized
organization that provides the education, support, and training homeless people
need to reenter the workplace.
Rob Goldberg
Board Member
Robert Goldberg is the founder and CEO of Gold Marketing
Group (GMG). GMG develops, creates and executes entertainment and music experiences
and programming that benefit brand partners, artists and talent partners alike.
Prior to founding GMG in 2002, he worked at LAUNCH Media (now Yahoo! Music)
for 6 years where he was the Vice President, Partnership Marketing.
Darren Enenstein
Board Member
Darren Enenstein is a partner at Richardson & Patel, a Los Angeles-based law-firm that has a major presence both nationally and internationally in finance, reverse mergers and IPOs. At Richardson & Patel, Darren focuses on complex business and intellectual property disputes as well as trade secrets and real estate issues. Darren is a graduate of Southwestern Law School (J.D.) and the University of California, Berkeley (B.A.) and is involved in multiple LA-area charities including rock the classroom and the John Wayne Cancer Institute.
Susanna Enenstein
Board Member
Susanna Enenstein taught elementary school for five years, starting first as a 6th grade teaching assistant in a private school and then four years leading her own 4th and 5th grade classrooms at Brentwood Science Magnet School. Susanna taught classes of 32 students with both gifted and learning disabled clusters, as well as ESL students. She has also served as a curriculum consultant, helping to write and rewrite lesson plans to better meet the needs of a diverse spectrum of special needs learners. Susanna holds a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies with an emphasis in pre-19th century Material Culture from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts and a clear, multi-subject California teaching credential from CalStateTEACH.
Hilary Jansen
East Coast Director
Hilary began working for rock the classroom
in March of 2005 as the Program Coordinator. Currently, she's living in New
York and helping to run RTC there while pursuing her PhD in Musicology at
the City University of New York. Prior to working for rock
the classroom, Hilary received her master's degree in piano
performance from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA and her bachelor's
degree from Colby College in Waterville, ME. She is the winner of numerous
academic and performance prizes.
Raine Nelson-Grua
Associate Director
Currently the Associate Director, Raine Nelson-Grua came to rock the classroom
in 2007 as the Program Coordinator. She is a graduate of UCLA and is presently
attending classes at the Social Welfare UCLA School of Public Affairs. She
has worked as a teaching assistant in the Santa Barbara School District, is
a classically trained pianist and currently volunteers for the Chrysalis Women's
Empowerment Program.
Musicians
(partial list)
Manisha Shahane (Ma-nee-shah Sha-hah-nay) is an independent performing, recording,
and teaching artist with experience working in genres ranging from Jazz to Classical
to Rock to Indian music to Reggae to Afro-Cuban Armenian Salsa, over the course of the
last two decades. Her original music—rooted in folk, jazz, and Indian traditions—draws
on all of these experiences, combining a coming-of-age in southern Virginia with her
Maharashtrian heritage. In 2004, she released her bilingual debut album, Peace in Progress,
featuring her as a singer, songwriter, pianist, composer, arranger, and co-producer.
These days she is wrapping up her next album.
For more information, please visit www.ManishaMusic.com.
Malesha Jessie
Malesha Jessie, opera singer, professor and Co-founder of Visionary Voices
for Youth, a non-profit organization providing arts enrichment for at-risk
youth in Los Angeles County. She received her Masters of Music degree at the
University of Southern California, Los Angeles. She has performed with Los
Angeles Opera, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Pacific Symphony and the Boston Pops
Orchestra. Her website is www.maleshajessie.com.
Willie
Loya
Willie Loya is a professional musician and arts educator based in Los Angeles
with over twenty years experience in the music business. As a Latin percussionist
Mr. Loya has performed and recorded with artists of international acclaim.
As a veteran arts educator he has help design and implement effective music
enrichment programs in the public schools and continues to work with students
of all ages.
Christo
Pellani
Christo is a dynamic drummer/percussionist, event coordinator, recording artist,
producer, and sound healer with extensive worldwide performance credits. His
versatility includes worldwide concerts, television shows, videos, and film
and studio recordings with many artists. He also facilitates interactive playshops
for schools, retreats, ceremonies, and festivals blending principles of rhythm
and sound awareness for personal expression and wellness. He has worked with
various after school programs, and with the disability community through the
Down Syndrome Assn. of America, and The Rhythmic Arts Project. Christo was
featured as one of ten “"Unsung Drumming Heroes of LA"”
as chosen by BAM magazine.
Daniel
Raimi
Born in Durham, NC, Daniel attended Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT.
In 2006, Daniel moved to Los Angeles, and began scoring numerous projects
for film, television, internet, and cell-phone applications. He has written
for a wide array of instrumental ensembles, from small groups to orchestras
to jazz big-bands, as well as rock, country and West African groups. He's
been lucky enough to perform and/or record with Anthony Braxton, Djelimady
Tounkara, Peter Evans, Brent Arnold, Jim McAuley, Chris Dingman, Carl Testa,
Matana Roberts, Taylor HoBynum, Greg Rogove, and many others.
As an instructor, Daniel has been an international judge at the 2005 Hong Kong Schools Music Festival, published articles in Guitar One and Modern Drummer magazines, and worked with hundreds of students in New York and Los Angeles.
Lara
Vaidya
Oakland, California native, Lara Vaidya, was introduced to the world of performing
at the age of eight when she was cast in the Bay Area production of the musical,
Annie. By the time she was thirteen, Lara had performed in over ten productions,
developing a reputation as the little girl who could “SANG.” Since
then she has sang in choirs, performed with Kanye West, performed the National
Anthem at major-league basketball games and opened for such acts as De La
Soul, Ben Harper and Maceo Parker with the hip-hop group Blackalicious. In
addition to teaching for rock the classroom, Lara
can be found performing original songs around the Los Angeles area.
Destani
Wolf
Destani's vocals were featured on "My Flesh and Blood", a HBO documentary
that won the audience award of Sundance 2003. She sang on John Santos' "SF
Bay" album (nominated for a Grammy and California Music Award in 2003).
Santos says: "Destani Wolf is a name you'll know soon if it's not already
etched in your heart''.
For four years she performed, released three albums, and toured internationally
with SoVoSó - an a cappella band and offshoot of Bobby Mcferrin's Voicestra.
She has now released an album with SLAMMIN all body band. She has recorded
and/or continues playing with John Santos, Benny Rietveld (Santana), Bobi
Cespedes "Rezos", The Pharcyde, Crown City Rockers (MISSION), Omar
Sosa, and many other Bay Area treasures. Destani composes music for all the
groups she’s involved in, including her self entitled group - music
of soul world beats. She also composes for AguaLibre, formerly of O-maya,
a 10 piece afro-latin-hip hop band voted Best of the Bay 2003 by SF Weekly.
