Anthony Mazzocchi Named Executive Director Of New York’s Kaufman Music Center

Grammy-nominated educator, musician and author Anthony Mazzocchi has been selected as the new executive director of Kaufman Music Center in New York.

Mazzocchi has served since 2020 as director of the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University and executive director of the Kinhaven Music School in Vermont since 2010. An accomplished trombonist, Mazzocchi has performed with leading ensembles including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, New Jersey Symphony and San Diego Symphony as well as numerous Broadway productions.

Established with the mission of providing access without barriers to education and music, the Kaufman Music Center includes Merkin Hall, a 450-cap performance venue featuring workshops, competitions and performances including the Center’s artist-in-residence program. Kaufman Music Center nurtures the next generation of artists through Special Music School, New York’s only K-12 public school prioritizing musically focused education without financial barriers, as well as Lucy Moses School, Manhattan’s largest community performing arts school for students of all ages.

A music education advocate, Mazzocchi spearheaded initiatives such as the Cali Immersive Residency Program, the pioneering Cali Pathways Project to advance diversity in the field and international artist partnerships while at the John J. Cali School of Music. Under his guidance, the school developed a BA in Recording and Production Arts and forged collaborations with premier venues including the Kaufman Music Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and National Sawdust. Mazzocchi has written books that are widely adopted by educational organizations including the NYC Department of Education.

“I am deeply honored to assume the role of executive director at Kaufman Music Center, a truly extraordinary organization that stands at the unique intersection of education, performance and public service,” said Mazzocchi in a release. “I am excited to further demonstrate the power of the arts to develop individuals and strengthen communities.”