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Our Staff
Click name to see full bio.
Zachary Clark
Grants Manager
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202-797-2145 (x112)
Maureen Dwyer
Executive Director
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202-797-2145 (x100)
Brian Gorman
Programs and Administrative Associate
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202-797-2145 (x118)
Monica Harrington
Director of Development
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202-797-2145 (x101)
Kendall Ladd
Donor Relations Manager
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202-797-2145 (x113)
Joe Link
Music Programs Associate
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202-797-2145 (x108)
Johary Monserrate
Receptionist
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202-797-2145 (x 119)
Angela Robinson
Marketing and Technology Manager
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202-797-2145 (x114)
A. Lorraine Robinson
Director of Faculty and Education
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202-797-2145 (x107)
Rob Smith
Director of Students and Families
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202-797-2145 (x105)
Trisha Taylor
Programs Manager
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202-797-2145 (x120)
Loretta Thompson
Director of Program Operations
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202-797-2145 (x117)
Sylvia Zwi
Head Early Childhood Teacher
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Sitar Arts Center’s Staff Bios
Zachary Clark, Grants Manager: Zachary manages foundation and government giving at the Center. Prior to joining Sitar in July 2012, Zachary served as Program Manager at the Cabarrus Arts Council and developed arts programming through a partnership between Community School of the Arts and Freedom School Partners in Charlotte, North Carolina. Zachary holds an Ed.M. in Arts in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. in Visual Arts and English from Brown University.
Maureen Dwyer, Executive Director: Previously the Deputy Director, Maureen has worked at the Center for twelve years and developed its institutional giving program as the Grants Manager. She now oversees all programs and internal operations. Prior to Sitar Arts Center, Maureen co-directed a small performance company and worked as a performing artist and an early childhood educator. She has a BA in drama from Catholic University of America and enjoys teaching musical theater at the Center. Maureen was a member of the 2008 Future Executive Director’s fellowship class of the Nonfprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington.
Brian Gorman, Programs and Administrative Associate: Brian graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with degrees in Piano Performance and English. After spending a year in Durham, NC teaching piano, Brian returned to the D.C. area and currently teaches piano and music theory at Sitar. Though a classically-trained pianist, Brian also performs locally with an acoustic/folk/blues group, and has published arrangements of traditional songs and hymns for the book Common Prayer. When he's not at Sitar, Brian spends his free time writing and riding his bike.
Monica Harrington, Director of Development: Prior to joining Sitar Arts Center in January 2007, Monica had 10 years of fundraising experience with both national and community-based organizations. Monica has a BA in political science from Seattle University.
Kendall Ladd, Donor Relations Manager: Kendall works with grants and individual giving programs at the Sitar Arts Center. She graduated from Columbia College with a BA in Studio Art and from American University with a MA in Arts Management. Kendall served as an intern and consultant with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative.
Joe Link, Music Programs Associate: Joe is in charge of music theory, providing students with appropriate materials, ensuring that volunteers are available to assist them, teaching lessons in drums, percussion and guitar, and directing the Saints Band. He attended the University of the District of Columbia, Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory of Music, and The Banff School of Fine Arts. In addition to his work at Sitar Arts Center, Joe plays drums professionally around the Washington, DC metropolitan area and teaches at St. Andrews Episcopal School.
Angela Robinson, Marketing and Technology Manager: Angela designs marketing and communications materials for the Center, oversees information technology, and coordinates events. She has a BA from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in Visual Arts with an emphasis in Imaging and Digital Arts. She teaches students web design and graphic design among other digital arts classes.
A. Lorraine Robinson, Director of Faculty and Education: A member of the staff since July 2004, Lorraine designs the class schedule, coordinates the performance series, oversees curriculum development, the volunteer faculty, and teaching and performance partnerships. She has a BA in psychology and theatre from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and a MA in theatre from Brown University. Lorraine is a freelance professional theater director and dramaturg. She has previously served as Artistic Founding Director of MuseFire Productions and an adjunct professor of theatre for St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
Rob Smith, Director of Students and Families: Rob joined the staff in July 2004. Previously, he was the assistant registrar at Levine School of Music, as well as a professional percussionist, visual artist and private percussion teacher. Rob currently teaches percussion ensemble and music production at Sitar Arts Center.
Trisha Taylor, Programs Manager: Trisha joined the Sitar Arts Center staff in April 2009 as the Programs Intern. Before moving to the Washington area from Michigan, Trisha taught instrumental music to students in grades 6-12 for two years and spent five summers on the staff of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. She has a Bachelor of Music Education with minors in instrumental music and business administration from Central Michigan University and an M.A. in Arts Management from American University.
Loretta Thompson, Director of Program Operations: Loretta coordinates the A.R.T.S Circle, the Center’s parent volunteer group, teaches visual arts classes, and supports the program and outreach activities. She has a MA in Arts Management from George Mason University and five years experience in teaching visual arts to youth. In addition to her work at Sitar, Loretta is a professional artist and muralist.
Sylvia Zwi, Head Early Childhood Teacher: Sylvia arrived in New York from Brazil over two decades ago. Among many disciplines and schools, she taught at Woodmere Academy and Stecher and Horowitz School for the Arts in Long Island, NY. Throughout her 17 years in DC, she has been active as teaching artist with numerous arts organizations Trap Institute including Sitar Arts Center, Choral Arts Society, Wolf Trap Institute and Levine School of Music, where she has also been Music and Art Summer Camp Director for Levine’s Virginia Site. She currently holds a position of music teacher at Oyster-Adams Bilingual School (DCPS - English/Spanish) and provides professional training in both English and Spanish for Fairfax Country Office for Children. Sylvia has a private studio for beginning piano students and is a consultant for arts in education and arts integration.