About the Team

Benjamin J. Arrindell (mixing engineer).  A Grammy®Award-winning Engineer, Ben has worked his magic in the recording studio for  such legendary greats as Aretha Franklin, the OJ’s, The Temptations, The Village People, Mary J.Blige, Kool and the Gang....to name just a few!   Benjamin earned his GRAMMY® AWARD for mixing Yolanda Adams’ Soul Gospel Album The Experience.  Ben is the in-house engineer at Old Mill Road Recording in East Arlington, Vermont, the 2020 recipient of the coveted NAMM TEC® AWARD for Best Studio Design.   

Gail Bluestone (music) Honored multiple times by the Los Angeles Board of Education and Los Angeles’s Fulfillment Fund for her exemplary work in the classroom, Gail inspired hundreds of kids to seek a better life through her own love for musical theater. From her own students performing in the school auditorium to “Broadway’s Best,” performing her work on the stages of  Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center,  Gail’s  holiday compositions for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa have charmed audiences around the country and continue to fill the airways every holiday season.  A recipient of multiple music awards, Gail is especially proud of her score for the Emmy®Award winning children’s special, The Odd Potato, inspired by her dad’s childhood tale.  Listen to 20 Tony® Award Winners sing The Odd Potato on Spotify.  

Eileen Bluestone Sherman (lyrics)Whether working as a Theater Arts Montessori Teacher, University Professor, television writer, young adult novelist, recording producer, dramatist, or musical theater lyricist, Eileen loves sharing her passion for storytelling with all ages!  Through the years, her written works were twice honored with the Emmy® Award, a National Jewish Book Award,  the International Reading Association’s “Teacher’s Choice  Award,” and a Thorpe Menn Honorable Mention Literary Award.     https://www.ebsoriginals.com/ 

Flor Bromley (vocals)  Flor Bromley, a Latin GRAMMY® nominee, is a captivating singer/songwriter on a mission to bring the vibrant Latin-American experience to families. Hailing from Peru, she combines global rhythms, bilingualism, storytelling, and puppetry in her music and theatrical performances. With 4 bilingual family albums, her work has graced Sirius XM’s Kids Place Live and PBS WNET Thirteen. www.florbromleymusic.com

Jerome Brooks, Jr. (vocals) Jerome Brooks, Jr. is the 2023-24 Season Host of the Chamber Music Society (CMS) of Lincoln Center’s Chamber Music Beginnings. He joined the Recording Academy as a Voting Member in 2008 and has been writing and producing music for a host of New York based Artists for over 20yrs in various genres like R&B, Pop, Gospel & Musical Theater. He co-wrote and produced the 2011 Musical Soundtrack “Love Happened By Chance” which features Ayana George (currently featured in MJ on Broadway). In the summer of 2023 he was the Music Director for Tony® Award Winner Tonya Pinkins’s 2023 Residency at Little Island in New York. He’s a 2022 Outstanding Musical Director AUDELCO Award Nominee for BLACK LOVE at Black Spectrum Theatre. He had his big screen debut as Josh McKee in Art = (Love)2. He was the Dueling Piano Player in Amazon’s Z: The Beginning Of Everything. He was the Choir Director & Vocal Arranger for POWER Season 5 Episode 1. He is a 2021 City Artist Corps Grant Recipient for his musical SOCIAL DISTANCE with a SOLD OUT one-night presentation at The Players Theatre, NY 

Xiangrui Chen (animator) Ray Chen is an award-winning motion designer and animator based in New York, originally from China. With a background in graphic design and a Master’s degree from the School of Visual Arts (SVA), Ray’s work has been recognized at numerous film festivals and illustration competitions.

Gera Clark (Native flute) Gera Clark is an award-winning musician and voting Grammy (NARAS) member with a lifelong passion for music, having started her journey at a young age. She switched to the flute for its convenience and portability, ultimately discovering the beauty of various flutes, particularly the Native American flute. Gera has incorporated her unique sound into meditation and sound healing practices, sharing her expertise at the renowned Open Center in New York. Her music has taken her around the globe, including performances on the world stage in Mendoza, Argentina. Currently, she is excited to contribute her talents to the Bluestone Sisters project, continuing her mission of promoting peace and inner healing through music.

Joseph D'Abate (assistant mixing engineer) Joseph D'Abate is a guitarist, composer, arranger, and sound engineer from Boston, MA. He graduated from Berklee College of Music with a degree in Contemporary Writing & Production then moved to the greater Washington D.C. area and quickly became a sought after live sound engineer, working in prestigious venues like the National Archives and Capital One Hall and with distinguished musicians including UFO, Marsha Ambrosius, George Clinton, and Jake Shimabukuro. After a decade of live event production, Joseph apprenticed with Hunn Amplification in Centreville, VA, honing his skills in amplifier building and repair. Most recently, Joseph has taken on the role of Assistant Engineer at Old Mill Road Recording in East Arlington, VT where he looks forward to facing new and interesting challenges from 'the other side' of the industry.

Sonya Hensley (vocals) Having regaled audiences in over 50 countries as featured headliner, principal performer or co-lead singer - including a 14 country tour of  Broadway’s sensation, Sophisticated Ladies - Sonya Hensley is equally at ease singing jazz, R&B, Broadway, pop, Latin and blues - and has long been driven by her desire to keep expanding her horizons and bring a fresh twist to the world's most beloved songs. In her album,  The Essential Sonya Hensley,  Sonya finds herself at a unique crossroads of past, present and future. She pays homage to the Bessies, Billies and Ellas, who paved the way for her own success story, and all the legendary artists and musicians she has worked with over the years, including Les Paul, Lena Horne, Harry Belafonte, Gladys Knight, Jimmy Buffett and Ricky Martin. The collection is a high-spirited, joyfully eclectic culmination of the many facets of her career. 

Thomas Hutchings (saxophone) A renowned New York City saxophonist and producer, Thomas Hutchings is a versatile and accomplished artist,  recognized for his dynamic performances and extensive recording work. He has performed at iconic venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and The Bitter End. Thomas regularly records with Grammy-nominated artists and producers, contributing his signature sound to a wide range of projects. His work has also been featured in numerous film and television productions, further amplifying his influence across the entertainment industry. Learn more at www.thomashutchings.com

Craig Light (social media and website manager) Craig, raised in Plattsburgh, NY, headed west for a Dual Major in Marketing Management and Corporate Management from CSU East Bay in Hayward, CA. Craig’s career began with sales and marketing at ski resorts in northern New York and southern Vermont and is now Digital Marketing Manager for Old Mill Road Media, a multifaceted media and production company.

Karen Olson (viola) Karen Olson, “Rock Star” of the viola, is a multiple award winning, Billboard chart topping violist and composer, vibrational sound healer, Reiki Master, bestselling author, and podcast host. Testament to her success as a recording artist in multiple genres, Karen has hit the Top Ten on a total of five Billboard charts and some of her accolades over the years include a ZMR Award, and a Global Music Award (Silver Medal). A longtime violist with the New York Pops who has made many appearances at Carnegie Hall, Karen throughout her career has shared the stage with everyone from Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett to Liza Minelli, Jason Mraz, Roger Daltrey and many more. Two videos featuring Karen have been a part of programs at the United Nations.

ALEX OTEY  Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, versatile journeyman musician, Alex Otey, has worked on one Grammy® Award-winning and two Grammy® Award-nominated projects.  He performs regularly at numerous venues in central NJ and PA, as well as special IC performances at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.  He performed at the White House Egg Roll event in 2010 with Miss Amy and has appeared at Musikfest and other festivals along the East Coast.  

Judy Pancoast (vocals) Grammy®Award nominee, singer/songwriter Judy Pancoast radiates joy in her music for children and families.  Known for her infectious Christmas hit, “The House on Christmas Street,”  this holiday favorite  can be heard every year at residential synchronized light displays and on radio stations worldwide. As a cabaret performer, she has enjoyed success at New York’s famed cabaret club, “Don’t Tell Mama.” Her original middle school musical, GIRL ON THE MOON is available for licensing by theater troupes and schools. Find out more at www.girlonthemoon.org

Ricky Persaud, Jr. (arrangements, musical direction, ukulele, percussion, guitar) Ricky Persaud, Jr. is an award-winning artist and multi-instrumentalists. A member of the Recording Academy/GRAMMYs® Ricky has worked with Regina Belle, Savion Glover, George Clinton, Christian McBride and Cissy Houston and performed at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, The Cutting Room, The Bitter End and Carnegie Hall. A summa cum laude graduate of Berklee College Of Music, Ricky is currently a Berklee graduate student, studying music business.

Valerie Peter Chong (production assistant) Valerie Peter Chong (they/them) is a longtime production and publicity assistant with EBS Originals and a frequent stage manager for the Indie Collaborative. An NYC based artist, Val is the current Company Director of Hamlet Isn’t Dead, helping to maintain the wellbeing, relationships, and inclusivity of the independent Shakespeare company. Credits include Macbeth (Director), Antony and Cleopatra (Co-Director), All’s Well that Ends Well (Stage Manager), and Pericles (Stage Manager, Producer). Beyond the stage, Val is a CUNY program manager, urban farmer, forager, cat parent, and- clearly- a chronic busybody.

Stephanie Pope-Lofgren (vocals) A musical theater veteran with a career that includes eleven Broadway shows , Stephanie was hand-picked by the legendary director-choreographer, Bob Fosse, to appear in her first two Broadway shows, the revival of Sweet Charity and Bob Fosse’s Big Deal. Stephanie  is sanctioned to reconstruct Mr. Fosse’s work on behalf of the Verdon/Fosse Legacy, LLC under its founder, Nicole Fosse.  Also an award winning director, Stephanie is committed to sharing the beauty, humanity and cultural contradictions of the African American experience by exploring, amplifying and uplifting unheard and seldom heard voices through a unique and unapologetically authentic lens.  Her voice can be heard on her solo CD project Now’s the Time to Fall in Love, available on all streaming platforms as well as numerous cast albums and compilations.

Jack Schlandt (assistant mixing engineer) Jack Schlandt is an audio engineer hailing from Tampa, FL, who strives to make the world a better place for our ears. His greatest passion is facilitating creativity and helping musicians achieve their dreams. Jack graduated from American University with a masters degree in Audio Technology, and he currently works with Old Mill Road Recording in East Arlington, VT, where he’s been heavily involved in music recording & production, musical arrangement, dialogue & voice over editing, and the production of two weekly radio shows.

Charu Suri (piano) One of the few female composers from India to perform work at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, Charu has lived in four continents, and writes music that reflect her journey as both a traveler and her training as a classical music piano prodigy. She has been playing the piano since the age of five, and performing since the age of nine. One of her best memories is winning an international piano competition at the age of 15. What started purely as an experiment with her "Book of Ragas" has turned into a niche that she is now increasingly becoming known for. Her latest album is RAGAS & WALTZES, a first collaboration between her and Preservation Hall's jazz drummer, Joe Lastie. Recently she recorded her upcoming album, RAGS & RAGAS, with bassist John Patitucci, drummer Joe Lastie, drummer Steve Gadd, and pianist Kobi Arad. It will be released at the end of summer 2023. But she is no stranger to the art of the Songbook too (attribute this to her listening to numerous records of Bill Evans and Billie Holiday as a kid).  "The New American Songbook" has garnered many awards, including a "Band Single of the Year" crystal trophy for her song, “Bluesy”, awarded by the International Singer-Songwriters Association (ISSA) in 2021.

Syreeta Thompson (trumpet) A top-charting Billboard artist who has contributed to multiple Grammy®Award winning album, Syreeta Thompson skillfully wrote more than twenty- six music education curriculums for the East Orange School Districts and is a Master Music Educator with the New Jersey Education Association.  Trumpet fans have been singing the praises of Syreeta Thompson for over a decade. Thompson’s Winner and Evolution of a Winner both debuted #1 on both jazz and gospel charts. Syreeta currently serves as an Executive Board Member for Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Young Patrons. Syreeta is often a red carpet guest at the Lincoln Center Community Galas as well as Hype Magazine events. Amongst Thompson's other projects she remains focused on paying it forward to the next generation of female musicians with a documentary entitled Blow Yo Horn; Making Music In a Man’s World that’s currently in production. Blow Yo Horn; Making Music In a Man’s World profiles female musicians, music producers, instrumentalists and songwriters who have yet to achieve commercial success.

Kelly Hall-Tompkins (violin) Winner of a Naumburg International Violin Competition Honorarium Prize and featured in the Smithsonian Museum for African-American History, Ms. Hall-Tompkins is a violin soloist entrepreneur who has been acclaimed by the New York Times as “the versatile violinist who makes the music come alive,” for her “tonal mastery” (BBC Music Magazine) and as New York Times “New Yorker of the Year.” She has appeared as co-soloist in Carnegie Hall with Glenn Dicterow and conductor Leonard Slatkin, in London at Queen Elizabeth Hall, at Lincoln Center and with the Symphonies of Dallas, Jacksonville, Oakland, recitals in Paris, New York, Toronto, Washington, Chicago, and festivals of Tanglewood, Ravinia, Santa Fe, France, Germany and Italy. She was “Fiddler”/Violin Soloist of the Grammy/Tony-nominated Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof. Inspired by her experience, she commissioned and developed the first ever Fiddler solo disc of all new arrangements, “The Fiddler Expanding Tradition,” which is featured in the upcoming new documentary “Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles” on the 55-year history of the musical. As founder of Music Kitchen-Food for the Soul, Kelly Hall-Tompkins is a pioneer of social justice in classical music, bringing top artists in over 100 concerts in homeless shelters coast to coast from New York to Los Angeles, and in internationally in Paris, France.

Jasmine Watson (animation) Jasmine is an artist/animator with a passion for experimental film. Much of her work explores the surrealism and whimsy of childhood, with her major influences being horror movies, fairy tales, and musical theater. Jasmine is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts.

Siyi Zhao (animation) Siyi Zhao, who grew up in Canton City in China, is an illustrator and graphic designer. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts, she is passionate about drawing vibrant, visual narratives inspired by history and diverse cultures. When she's not creating art, she might be practicing her Wing Tsun Kung Fu moves or jamming out to her favorite music!