Armelle GLOAGUEN
Founder, Educator, Performer
Team Members
Teachers
Star Rating
Schools
Students
“ZE" Team
Meet the Family That Makes It All Possible!
Elizabeth Varuolo "Liz"
Business Manager
Elizabeth Varuolo is a resident of Hartsdale and has been working as the business manager for Armelle for Kids since 2017, bringing together her business background with her passion for music. She is married and the mother of twin girls and has been playing music for almost 40 years. Elizabeth has an MBA in finance from Fordham University and a BS in Finance from Manhattan College. She made a transition to music education after having her children and has been teaching music for the last 12 years in schools to children in pre-k through grade 8 which included several years of early childhood teaching for Armelle for Kids. In addition, she has taught piano privately and directed the drama club productions at Sacred Heart in Hartsdale School for 8 years. Elizabeth is passionate for music of all kinds and enjoys writing music as well and cooking in her spare time. She is excited to work with Armelle and her team on marketing classes and events for Armelle for Kids and to spread the word about this unique program that bridges children to different musical styles, cultures and languages.
bénédicte GLOAGUEN
Graphic/Webdesigner - Artistic director
Benedicte is the one and only behind all Armelle’s CD covers, posters, brochures and the new logo! She also painted a gorgeous 15′ x15′ backdrop for Armelle’s Language Studio’s yearly multilingual presentation, full of colors, forest, smurf house, castle and river. She has created art work and websites for many private companies and non-profit organizations, she has a heart of gold!
Benedicte graduated at the Ecole Pivaut Supérieure Technique Privée d’Arts Appliqués, Nantes, France. She lives in France.
Ericka REYES
Enseignante Learn Spanish Through Music
Ericka studied teaching primary schools in Guatemala Ciudad, Guatemala, and worked for Armelle’s Language Studio in NY for over 6 years. She is an amazingly versatile, engaging and committed teacher. Her students love her creativity and clarity in her way of teaching!
Ericka moved to the US 20 years ago and lives in New Rochelle, NY with her husband and their three sons.
Matthew BAUER
The "Rhythmaniac" Percussionist and vocalist!
Since getting started with music at age 9, Matthew’s musical credo has been ‘maniacal about rhythms’ and is now owner/creator of Rhythmaniacs!
Originally a native of Central New York, he has relocated to Westchester County after attending the Music Conservatory at Purchase College.
Maria C. Lima
Web Developer
Maria is an esteemed and celebrated independent web developer based in New York City. Her design and development work shows tremendous passion and insight, which she brings to all of her clients and projects with love, professionalism, and an esteemed work ethic admired by all who partner with Maria.
Gautam
Animator/Designer
Gautam has been working globally for 14 years as an Animator /Designer and a sketch artist. He has been working with us since February 2020 and we love his talent full of humor! Gautam is from INDIA, is a pet lover, an Environmentalist, a artist painter, AND a Human and Animal Rights activist! All values AFK stands for without equivoque.
Adétola FAGBÉMI
Marketing Director
AF is the founder of DigitalementElles, a marketing and communication agency dedicated to small businesses and their owners. Adetola has worked with many industries from retail and beauty to financial and real estate companies. Her role has been to develop and to implement the best marketing strategies to stimulate sales and to build the notoriety of her clients.
Her expertise is always welcome at AFK!
Yasmina EDWARDS
Business Development Director
Yasmina Edwards is the Founder of Edwards Global Management, NY (EGM NY), a talent management company that provides a safe platform for its clients by allowing them to freely create their art.
Fluent in English, French, Spanish, and Yoruba, Edwards is acutely aware of the unique value which intercultural communication brings to the table. By amassing a roster of international clients among whom are writers, musicians, film directors, and actors, EGM NY champions the growth of underground artists. Due to her focus on multimedia projects, Edwards provides her talents with a visionary platform to share their stories with the global community. Yasmina travels between New York, Paris, and Lagos.
Nina OSSOFF
World Music Instructor
Over the past twenty years, Nina has taught music and musical composition to students ranging in ages from pre-school to college, at institutions that include the Home School/Camp Mohawk in White Plains, NY, the National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame, Sleepy Hollow High School (grant program educator),
New York University and Montclair State University (guest lecturer), and Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, NY (guest educator at her alma mater, from which she earned a BA in Music in 1980). She is especially adept at engendering enthusiasm in students for musical composition, encouraging them to use their life and school experience (including classroom learning) to guide their lyrical and musical development.
We are honored to have Nina on board! Her energy, open mind and knowledge of world music is a wonderful addition to our enrichment Rock Your World Kids music program!!
Nina lives and works in the greater New York City area, with an office and home in Briarcliff Manor, NY.
Tany SAPIONE
Spanish Teacher
Born in Lima, Peru, Tany studied assistant teaching in “Las Cazuarinas” school, where she worked as a Kindergarden assistant.
Full of energy, Tany is a happy and interactive bilingual spanish teacher who brings to her students the eagerness to learn a new language while having a tremendous amount of fun. She plays the autoharp and thrives to grow her repertoire in English and Spanish.
Tany moved to the US 10 years ago and lives in Port Chester, NY with her husband and two children.
