GEMS Staff & Board of Directors
To contact a member of the GEMS staff, please visit the Contact page
Dominic Giardino, Executive Director
Dominic Giardino is an arts administrator, musician, and public historian with more than a decade of experience supporting and advancing early music organizations. Most recently, he served as Executive Director of Arizona Early Music, where he expanded concert and educational programming throughout Southern Arizona. An active advocate for the field, he has held leadership positions and served on committees with Early Music America, the Historical Keyboard Society of North America, and the American Friends of Lafayette. A specialist in 18th- and 19th-century clarinets, Giardino performs throughout North America, teaches at the University of North Texas, and is artistic director of the period-instrument ensemble Music of the Regiment.
Gene Murrow, Founder & President of the Board
Gene was founder and president of two successful computer companies and has been involved with early music for over 40 years. Following a music degree from Columbia with oboe studies at Juilliard, he toured with the New York Renaissance Band and the Paul Winter Consort. He has coached American Recorder Society Chapters and at early music workshops throughout the United States for over 30 years, and served as ARS President from 1994-2000. A founding member of Early Music America, he has served on the Board of Directors for two terms. Prior to founding GEMS in 2007, he served as General Manager of Early Music/New York in New York City.
Dennis Cembalo, Social Media Manager & Videographer
Dennis is a Brooklyn native who has had a long-standing appreciation of early music. As a frequent concert-goer, he has become well acquainted with musicians and venues throughout the city. Dennis studied Architecture Technology at the CUNY City Tech, but his studies have now turned toward the keyboard. He is an avid harpsichord enthusiast seeking proficiency with the instrument and its repertoire. Dennis’ goal within GEMS is to strengthen the connection between early musicians and their audience as well as expose new audiences to the art form. He is also a valued member of the GEMS videography team for Midtown Concerts live streams.
Rachel Givner, Director of Administrative Services
Rachel provides thoughtful support to GEMS clients, patrons, and staff. She joined GEMS during its 10th year. Rachel’s professional background includes 20+ years of experience in the public sector in planning, analyst, and management roles. Rachel is also an amateur clarinetist who currently plays in ensembles that provide live music for folk dancing. Rachel graduated from New York City’s Stuyvesant High School, where she played in the school’s concert band and orchestra and also sang in the school’s Renaissance Choir. Rachel continued playing in school ensembles while earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her graduate degree from the London School of Economics.
Naomi Morse, Director of Marketing
Naomi has been with GEMS since the beginning, and brings with her a love for the music along with a proficiency for all things technical. Her work in marketing, website, and ticket sales has become integral to the New York City early music scene. She is a graduate of Oberlin College where she performed frequently with the College’s early music vocal ensemble, and studied ensemble singing at the University of York, England with her early music quintet, “Uncloistered.” In addition to her professional singing and work at GEMS, Naomi plays the fiddle for events of all kinds, including weddings, dances, and concerts with her bands The Poor Cousins and the Daybreak Trio. After living in Brooklyn for thirteen years, she is now back in her native Vermont.
Rebecca J. Weber, Chief Philanthropy Officer
Rebecca, an organizational advisor with more than a decade of experience in strategic capacity building, developing growth opportunities, content marketing, and galvanizing organization-wide campaigns, is driven to guide the sustainable scaling of GEMS’ reach by her strong belief in the organization’s mission to serve artist-led early music projects. A former nonprofit executive director in the social justice sphere, she brings a deeply held commitment to closing the opportunity gap that includes public access to the arts and opportunities for artists. Rebecca graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree in communication and currently volunteers as co-leader of the Women Career Changers Networking Circle, a group dedicated to helping women help each other.
Andre Pastoria, Development Officer
Andre brings to GEMS a highly distinguished career in development, marketing and fundraising for the American Ballet Theater and the New York Philharmonic, for which he has raised over $5m. Andre served on the League of American Theatres and Producers Customer Service Initiative Committee, developed a Customer Bill of Rights for the Broadway Theatre and served on the Tony Award Voting Committee for seventeen years. His involvement in the cultural life of New York has included Broadway productions for numerous Tony, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk award-winning shows.
board of directors
PRESIDENT
Gene Murrow
Founder
Gotham Early Music Scene, Inc.
Secretary
Joanne Floyd
Treasurer
Paul B. Ross
members
Louise Basbas
LuGene Bé
Jeffrey Friedman
Nancy Grilikhes
Judith Klotz
Rita Putnam
Norma V. Rosenberg