About Us

Daniel’s Music Foundation is a non-profit organization formed in August 2005 to provide free music programs for people with disabilities in the New York city area. From our personal experience we have seen that music can enhance people's lives.

Our mission is to provide a comfortable educational and social environment in which our members can enjoy, learn and practice the joys of music together. Membership to the foundation is free and is available to people with disabilities, both developmental and physical from ages 3 to adult.

The catalyst of the Foundation is Daniel Trush, a 23-year-old survivor of five brain aneurysms. Daniel has used music, in particular, the keyboard to help overcome his challenges. He is joined by a group of instructors who oversee and conduct the classes.

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and and donations are tax-deductible. We are very grateful to all of you who contribute financially to Daniels's Music Foundation and help make a difference in the lives of children and adults with disabilities. For more information on how to donate click here.

Founders

Daniel Trush
“When I was 12 years old, one of my five brain aneurysms burst in my head while I was playing basketball. I was in a coma for 30 days and hospitalized for 341 days, but who's counting? Although I still face challenges, music has always played an important role in my life. It helped me in my recovery and still brings me happiness. I want to share this gift with you.”

Daniel is the co-founder of the Foundation. He also volunteers at the pediatric unit of The Rusk Institute where he spent close to 9 months in 1997 and 1998 during his recovery and rehabilitation. During his free time, he enjoys walking with The Achilles Track Club, a running club for people with disabilities. Daniel finished the 2007 ING New York City Marathon on November 4, 2007 in 7:46, a feat no one could have ever imagined 10 plus years ago. Click here for a short 6-minute video produced by Reading Rainbow.

Ken Trush
“While Daniel was recovering and couldn't speak, music was our common language. I saw how music became the vehicle for Daniel to express himself, to gain self-esteem, build confidence, and be creative and innovative. My hope is that Daniel's passion will benefit others in the same way.”

Ken is Daniel's father and is the co-founder of the Foundation. He has worked for close to 30 years in the financial, accounting and operational areas of business. In addition to Daniel and Ken, the Foundation's programs are facilitated by his wife Nancy, his younger son Michael and an experienced and talented staff of instructors and volunteers.

Instructors

Brooke Bryant
Brooke is a Ph.D. candidate in Musicology at the CUNY Graduate Center, and works as a CUNY Writing Fellow at the College of Staten Island. She has taught music for several years at parochial schools in the Bronx and Brooklyn and volunteers as a voice teacher for the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls. Also a performer, Brooke sings with her rock band and the Baroque Trio Charities. Brooke teaches the Introduction to Voice class on Mondays.

Susan Conley
Susan has been teaching 3 – 5 year old children for over 20 years at the Park Avenue Methodist School. She has been playing music since she was 7 years old and plays the guitar, piano and trumpet. She has also taught a music movement sign class for children for the past 5 years. Susan teaches one of the Rhythm classes for children 3–6 years old on Mondays.

Jessy Pepi Ginsberg
Jessy Pepi is a singer/songwriter and has played in many notable venues throughout the east coast. She plays the guitar and piano and has recorded an album. Pepi is currently working on her second album and works in the Music Lab on Mondays and leads the Song Composition classes on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Sarah Loveland
Sarah received both her Bachelor and Masters in Music from Mannes College in NYC. She has over 17 years professional experience as a singer and plays a variety of instruments including the guitar, oboe, clarinet, English horn, violin, flute, pennywhistle and recorder. Additionally, Sarah has over 5 years experience as a teaching artist in the NYC Public Schools. Sarah teaches the Voice Technique and Introduction to Voice classes on Wednesdays.

Stephanie Jensen-Moulton
Stephanie earned her Ph.D in Musicology from the CUNY Graduate Center. She has taught Music History, Music Theory and Voice at Hunter College is currently teaching at Brooklyn College. Her work can be found in “Critical Minded: New Approaches to Hip Hop Studies” and in “Sounding Off: Theorizing Music and Disability”.  Stephanie will be teaching again during the Summer 2008 semester.

John Marino
John is a Board Certified Music Therapist and a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist and has been teaching the keyboard to Daniel for more than 7 years.  He is a lifetime percussionist and has played with several touring groups.  He teaches the adult Keyboard class and works in the Music Lab on Mondays .  

Jaime Lyn Palmer
Jaime received her Bachelor of Music – Music Therapy Degrees from Arizona State University and her Masters Degree in Education from The Teachers College at Columbia University.  She has worked with people with disabilities for more than 6 years and has experience with a variety of different populations.   Jaime is a classically trained pianist and teaches the children’s Introduction to Keyboard on Mondays and the adult Keyboard II class on Wednesdays.

Braulio Thorne
Braulio is a life long percussionist and teaches the Introduction to Percussion class on Wednesdays. He has over 20 years teaching experience and be using a variety of instruments including congas, bongos, hand drums, buffalo drums along with some "homemade instruments." Braulio will also assist in one of the Introduction to Keyboard classes on Wednesday.

Jennifer CHJ Wilson
Jennifer is a Ph.D. candidate in Musicology at the CUNY Graduate Center, and works as a Communication Fellow at Baruch College.   She is a classically trained pianist and will be teaching two Introduction to Keyboard classes on Wednesdays.