Laura Apruzzese joins the Vocal Arts staff as the scheduling coordinator and assistant. She graduated from New York University in May with a B.M. in vocal performance (music theater) from the Steinhardt School. While pursuing her degree at N.Y.U., she worked as the assistant to both the director of the vocal performance program as well as the director of production, and performed extensively with the university and in city and regional productions. She is originally from the New Jersey shore and is now living in Manhattan.

Nicola Cannizzaro, the new instrument manager in the percussion department, is a percussionist who holds degrees from Juilliard and Indiana University. After traveling for four years with the national tour of The Lion King, he’s returned to an active freelancing career in the tristate area. He has two beautiful daughters and a wife who is also a percussionist. He feels right at home on the third floor, and says that some days, it’s even quieter at work than at home.

Kathryn Carissimi joins the Office of Development and Public Affairs as research associate for the capital campaign. Kathryn spent two years at a consulting firm specializing in prospect research for dozens of nonprofits with varied interests and budgets. In addition, she has published several works of short fiction in small journals and holds a B.F.A. in writing for publication, performance, and media from the Pratt Institute. She lives in Brooklyn.

Robert Clotter joins the Dance Division as administrative assistant, having last worked as the assistant registrar at Dance Theater of Harlem. He has studied classical piano and violin since the age of 10 and graduated with a B.A. in music from the University of Pittsburgh. While pursuing his bachelor’s degree, he discovered Brazilian dance and began dancing with a Brazilian troop, which led to teaching and choreographing for the group. Upon moving to New York City in 2005, he continued to teach and choreograph dance routines in a style he calls Brazilian Fusion.

Accounting manager Laura Cortes was born and raised in Honduras and came to New York 25 years ago. She earned a B.S. in accounting from the CUNY Graduate School in the Baccalaureate program and has worked for various nonprofits such as the American Craft Council, the New York Hall of Science, and for the past 10 years, Public Health Solutions. Meeting such talented people and having nice co-workers at Juilliard make her days go very fast, and she is very happy to be here.

Cassidy DuRant-Green joins the Jazz Studies department as performance coordinator, having last worked as engagement manager for Amazing Taste, a socially conscious marketing and event-planning company in New Jersey. A graduate of Smith College with a B.A. in government and a minor in women’s studies, she has worked in political fund-raising, outreach, and event coordination among college-age and young professionals for a high-profile political campaign, and has served as director of development for a nonprofit organization dedicated to achieving universal girls’ education. A board member for the Smith College Club of N.Y.C., she devotes much of her spare time to student recruitment for her alma mater. An avid and classically trained dancer, she is thrilled to be working at Juilliard.

Schyler Fung is the new assistant in the box office.

Lawrence Halverson joins the Ensemble Library as assistant librarian. He is a violist and holds a B.A. from Metropolitan State College of Denver and an M.M. from Florida State University. He has worked as a librarian for Florida State University and the University of Texas at Austin; most recently, he worked for Educational Music Service in Chester, N.Y. As a violist, he has performed throughout the country. When he is not working, Lawrence enjoys reading, going to concerts, museums, and hanging out with his cat.

Geoffrey Hamlyn is the new artistic administration intern in the Office of the Provost and Dean.

Kimberly Glennon is the new wardrobe assistant in the costume shop.

Anna Hewett joins the Juilliard production staff as assistant scenic charge artist. She has been living and painting in New York since 2005, and is a graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts, with a B.F.A. in set design.

Jenn Huntzinger, assistant to the director of the Drama Division, has spent more than a decade working in both theater and education in New York, Chicago, and Washington. She holds a B.A. in dramatic literature from George Washington University and an M.A. in educational theater from New York University. Jenn has served as director of the training center at Second City, company manager at the O’Neill Theater Center, and has worked as a teaching artist in a variety of arts outreach programs. In 2006, she taught after-school writing and drama workshops in Cape Town, South Africa, as a volunteer for the South African Education and Environment Project. Most recently, Jenn served as deputy director of the International Scholar Laureate Program, where she designed and implemented undergraduate study abroad programs in Australia, India, and South Africa.

Accounts payable/payroll assistant Yafa Iskhakova has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education. She worked as a high-school teacher for 12 years in Uzbekistan. Thirteen years ago Yafa immigrated to the United States with her family and went back to school to receive a diploma in accounting. She likes to read and spend time with her family.

Danielle La Senna, director of the Evening Division, is a vocalist and visual artist who earned her B.M. in voice from Indiana University. Her performances have included leading roles in Off-Off-Broadway musicals, jazz gigs at Birdland and other venues in Manhattan, and classical music at the Cornelia Street Café. After holding various administrative positions, Danielle decided to pursue a career in education. She worked at the New School in the department of social sciences before receiving her Ed.M. in arts in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. While pursuing her degree and following graduation, Danielle was a research assistant with Project Zero in the Harvard University Art Museums, researching learning in the museums’ study centers and designing the final report. She then worked as program manager for academic affairs at the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University before returning to the New York area to join the Juilliard community.

David Marcus, chief investment officer of Juilliard’s endowment, previously lived in Vermont, where he helped manage Dartmouth’s endowment. Before that, he worked on Wall Street after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Chicago. David is married and has two great teenage girls. He has no musical talent but loves opera and jazz.

Primitivo Marinez is the new staff carpenter in the production department.

Katie Miles joins the costume shop as a first hand, having completed the Juilliard costume internship during the 2006-07 school year. She has freelanced as an assistant costume designer here in New York City, as well as at several regional theaters. She has also spent five lovely summers in Spring Green, Wis., at American Players Theater, in various capacities. Katie holds a B.A. in theater design and technology from Purdue University.

Abigail Mohlin, assistant director of annual giving in the Office of Development and Public Affairs, comes to Juilliard from Simmons College in Boston, Mass., where she served as development associate for the development and alumnae relations office at the Simmons School of Management, the country’s only M.B.A. program designed specifically for women. While at Simmons, she received her master’s degree in communication management. Abigail’s undergraduate education was at Boston University, where she studied public relations and women’s studies. A former student of the violin, Abigail is inspired by her creative colleagues and happy to be part of the Juilliard community.

Natalie Ng is the new benefits coordinator in the Office of Human Resources.

Jacqueline Schmidt joins the Vocal Arts Department as associate administrative director after completing a 10-month arts management fellowship at the Kennedy Center in Washington. Previous to that, Jacqueline was the director of guest services and university outreach for the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center at the University of Notre Dame, overseeing house and event management, artist hospitality, and marketing strategies geared toward the university community and particularly the student population. A native of Honolulu, Jacqueline earned her bachelor’s degree in music and American studies, and her master’s degree in piano performance and literature from the University of Notre Dame.

Julianne Thompson, administrative assistant for the Office of Educational Outreach, recently completed an internship at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. She earned a B.M. with a concentration in cello performance at Montclair State University in 2007.

Shanti Wilson is the new medical receptionist in Health and Counseling Services.