Jacob Litoff:

A violin student at Merrywood, he went on to attend/join Greenwood, Tanglewood Youth Orchestra, Kneisel Hall, and Meadowmount.  He received his Bachelor’s degree in Music from Boston University in 1981.  Thereafter, he joined the Springfield Symphony, the Vermont Symphony, the New Bedford Symphony, and others.  Unfortunately, epilepsy interfered with his career but he was still able to teach at the Boston Conservatory extension program and studied the Suzuki method in Japan.  He taught at Robinsons Music in Westborough, MA and has gone on to teach privately.  In 2002 he joined the Charles River Sinfonietta (www.charlesriversinfonietta.com) and continues to play with them to this day.  Jacob is also extremely interested in macrobiotics and wrote a cookbook on the topic My Macrobiotic Cookbook.

Mark Maimone:

A cello student and teacher at Merrywood, Mark graduated with his Bachelor’s in Music from Brandeis University in 1974.  He then pursued Environmental Engineering degrees in Delft, Netherlands, receiving his PhD from Groningen University.  He was a member of the National Ballet Orchestra in Amsterdam.  Currently he is the Senior VP of CDM Smith where he has expertise in groundwater and surface water modeling, water resource planning, and climate change adaptation.  He has published innumerable articles on these topics.  Also, for over 30 years, he has been part of and now is Chair of the Board of the Ridotto Arts Organization, a classical concert series in Huntington, NY (www.ridotto.org).

Gregory Probyn:

A trumpet student at Merrywood, Gregory now plays guitar, bass, banjo, theremin, trumpet, French horn, tuba, trombone, and melodica.  He received his Bachelor’s degree from Oberlin in 1979 then attended the Guitar Institute of Technology in 1981.  He has been a working musician in Los Angeles since then.  Among other activities, he has played in Beach Boys, Monkees, and Weird Al tribute acts.  He’s published articles in Rolling Stone, Guitar World, and The Washington Post.  He was Director of Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music camp (1978-1980, 1995-2003).  He’s been involved in the Grammy Awards (2005) and the Grammy Salute to the Beach Boys.  And he has produced “innumerable” recordings.  He comments that “Merrywood changed my life.  I am forever indebted to Mrs. Hurwitz and especially the amazing kids I met there who were truly peers.   Learned tangentially to play guitar from teacher Doug Freundlich, which altered my life trajectory… Just wow, I am so grateful.”

David Vogel:

Both a violin and viola student and teacher at Merrywood, David currently plays with the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra.  A physician, he is also an adjunct assistant professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Lisa Wiedman Yancich:

A violin student at Merrywood, Lisa is the first violin for the Atlanta Symphony (1984-present).  She has also been an Affiliate Artist at Emory University for more than 30 years.  “I loved my summers at Merrywood.  How lucky we were.”

Barbara Chaffe:
https://www.sanfranciscoballetorchestra.org/barbara-chaffe-principal-flute/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RfEXqCp5dk

James Bergin;
http://jamesbergin.net

Lynn Binstock:
https://www.operabase.com/lynn-binstock-a29505/archives/performances/en