World-class masters in their fields
Meet Our Staff
OUR TEACHING STAFF
Director/President of YPI Inc.
Jeff Ostroff
Jeff has been at YPI since 1981 as a writing teacher and as the Director/President of YPI Inc. He has been working with young people for over 50 years as a counselor, teacher, coach, principal, and camp director. He is the former Principal of the CREC Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. GAA was named The Most Outstanding High School by the Arts School Network (2014/15) as well as a school of Excellence from Magnet School of America (2015/16). Jeff truly lives the notion that “YPI is not just a place; it’s a state of mind.”
Poetry, Short Story, Song Writing
Sal Basile Sr
Sal Basile is proud and honored to have been with YPI since 1991! His longevity and loyalty are a testament to the highest quality of humanism, professionalism, and just plain FUN here at YPI. From teaching creative writing, journalism, and songwriting, Sal gives ample evidence of the wonderful vibe that YPI creates in just two weeks of camp. Lifetime friendships and relationships are forged at YPI among staff and campers alike! There is no other place like YPI because it is a State of Mind!
Musical Theater
Louise Carrozza
Louise has been a part of the YPI family since 2008. After several unforgettable summers were spent as a camper in the musical theater workshop, she came back as a Counselor and Assistant Musical Theater Teacher until stepping into the role of Master Musical Theater Teacher. During the school year, she teaches Choir and Guitar at Farmington High School in Farmington, CT. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education (Voice) from Western Connecticut State University (2016) and a Master of Music and Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University (2023).
Musical Theater
Michaela Dolishny
Michaela Dolishny is a singer, songwriter, producer, music teacher, and actor based in Los Angeles, CA. She received her bachelor’s degree in theater arts from Boston College and most recently played multiple parts in an immersive run of “The Skriker” by Caryl Churchill with Coronado Nuns Theater Company. She works as a voice and piano teacher at The Inside Voice in Costa Mesa, CA and spends her free time writing and producing music under the name Michaela Ari. Her music is currently available on all streaming platforms. Michaela is extremely grateful to be part of the YPI family and truly believes in their mission to foster community and creativity through the arts.
Dance
Sarah Grasso
Sarah Grasso has been at YPI since 1990. Her first years were as a camper, where she studied short story, poetry, and photography. Given the opportunity to be the first dance teacher at YPI, Sarah leaped (and pirouetted) and has been in that role ever since. In her life outside of YPI, Sarah has been dancing since she was 3. Trained in tap, jazz, and ballet, her heart beats to hip-hop, and fusing them all together is her passion. She has studied in New York City and, in college, was honored to study with an Alvin Ailey veteran. Sarah lives in Brattleboro, Vermont, with her family, where she teaches dance and serves as a school counselor at a middle/high school. Fulfilling a life dream, Sarah is a member of a professional dance company, KaleidoDance, and has been performing with them since 2013. The most special part of this life addition is that the company’s owner and choreographer is an alumnus of the YPI dance program.
Photography
Mercedes Jelinek
Mercedes Jelinek is an artist and professor working in both NYC and Italy. She holds a BFA in visual arts from the State University of New York at Purchase and an MFA from Louisiana State University.
Music
Calvin Linderman
Calvin Linderman is a composer, music producer, and music educator based in Connecticut. Calvin has written and produced music for brands and institutions such as Amazon, Merrell, Yale, IMDB, Nespresso, and many more. Calvin's music has also been featured on multiple film projects and TV shows, most recently on the Discovery Channel's Shark Week. Calvin started his career as a touring musician for hip-hop and pop acts but now runs his own studio and teaches modern music and orchestra at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, a performing arts high school in Hartford, Connecticut. As an accomplished composer, producer, sound designer, and audio engineer, Calvin brings his expertise and artistic skills to help YPI campers have the most fulfilling week of their summer!
Song Writing
Helena Martin
Helena Martin has been teaching Songwriting at YPI since 2006. A singer and (poor) multi-instrumentalist, she has been lucky enough to perform in tiny basement shows, huge festival stages, and many New York City clubs. She showcased her songwriting and frontwoman talents in her piano rock trio Distoria and, these days, records as half of the electropop duo Playdate. Since a career pivot away from full-time music, Helena spends her non-YPI time serving as an Episcopal priest and learning ancient languages as a PhD student. As a published scholar, she primarily studies embodiment in early Christian literature and art. Helena loves supporting young songwriters as they shape their voices through lyrics, performance, and recording. Even more than that, she loves helping to create a new, uniquely supportive community of artists at YPI each summer.
Visual Arts
Natasha D. Miles
Natasha is an accomplished painter, printmaker, book designer, and arts advocate. Her multimedia works of art have been exhibited at local, national, and world-renowned museums such as Galleria d’arte Nocchia in Cortona, Italy, Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut, and the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, Florida. She offers enriching arts education for children and adults of all ages by introducing innovative visual arts skills across multiple disciplines. Since 2002, Natasha has been an arts educator and mentor at CREC’s Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, where she also serves as Visual Arts Department Head and Equity Team Leader. Recently she joined the Wadsworth Atheneum's Artist Educators Workshop series. The program at Wadsworth was created to engage the community by connecting museum and gallery culture with creative response programs led by artists. She will be returning this summer to YPI to develop modern art techniques with inspired students!
Health
Judy Niedzielski
Judy Niedzielski, RN, has been the registered nurse for YPI since 2016 and has been employed as a school nurse for over 20 years. Mom to 4 adult children and Oma to 2 grandchildren, her spare time is shared among leadership within her church community, volunteering at her local Thrift Shop, sewing, woodworking, creative projects, and helping others. You will find her at YPI hanging out in the quad, riding her bike from here to there, and making sure campers and staff are healthy and feeling their best.
Photography
Scott Nidermaier
Scott Nidermaier is a professional photographer who has worked in catalogue, editorial and advertising. He was an adjunct at Parsons School of Design for five years and is currently the Manager of Education and a Product Specialist for Phase One, a global digital camera company. Scott volunteers with the Josephine Herrick Project, teaching photography to veterans and people with special needs. In 2009 he was introduced to YPI and was blown away by the talent and love for the arts this camp nurtures. Every year promises new experiences and new friends. He is looking forward to spending some time in the darkroom, sharing new ideas and rocking out with all the YPI superstars!
Song Writing
Dave Pelaggi
David earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Education at Western Connecticut State University in 2016 and a Masters of Music Education from Texas Tech University in 2022. During his time at Western, he studied with percussionists Dave Smith and Doug Perry. During this time, David has shared the stage with the likes of Pius Cheung, Dave Samuels, Joe McCarthy, and others. This is David’s fourth year teaching at Jonathan Law High School. He teaches Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Music Technology, and Guitar. David was awarded the Jonathan Law High School Teacher of the Year in 2022. David is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the Connecticut Music Educators Association, and the Percussive Arts Society. David is endorsed by Innovative Percussion Sticks and Mallets.
Film
Sarah Rehm
Sarah Rehm received her BFA in Dance, along with her BA in English from Adelphi University. She is now working in Manhattan as a professional dancer and pilates instructor. During the pandemic, she had to pivot from dancing in person to dancing on film which led her to discover her love for filmmaking. She now teaches her students to find ways to branch out of their comfort zones and find new creative outlets through film. Her work was featured in the 92Y Mobile Dance Film Festival.
Visual Arts
Chris Roque
Chris Roque is an interdisciplinary artist. Chris holds degrees in the arts from Manchester Community College and the University of Hartford. He has worked as an art handler for the Wadsworth Atheneum and has collaborated with many respected artists across Connecticut’s creative community. For the past 12 years, Chris has served as an educator at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, where he is deeply committed to nurturing young artists. A proud Hartford native and one of Hartford's Changemakers, he is dedicated to strengthening the role of the arts within both local and statewide educational systems.
Musical Theater & Virtual Assistant
Mackenzie Trowbridge
Mackenzie Trowbridge is a freelance NYC-based stage manager. She is a proud member of Actor's Equity Association and has worked on numerous regional, Off-Broadway, and Broadway productions. She serves as the resident production stage manager for dance departments at Adelphi University and Union College, where she also works as an adjunct professor with the theater department. Mackenzie serves as the Company Manager for The Golden Gays Drag Troupe and a staff stage manager for educational programs through The Alvin Ailey Foundation, where she works with all levels of pre-professional and recreational dancers. Mackenzie works as a Production Coordinator for film producer Tyler Miguel Mercer, based out of Los Angeles. YPI has been foundational in how she perceives the world as an artist and as a human ever since the poetry class of 1993 chose her name when her mom worked at camp. She loves continuing to come home to YPI each summer to help new generations of young artists find their voice!
Director of Giving
Andrew Tyson
Andy Tyson leads the YPI annual giving and fundraising efforts. During the school year, he is the band teacher and musical theater director at The New Canaan Country School. He earned his Masters in Music Education from Boston University in 2007, he sits on the music committee and board of directors for The University Glee Club of NYC, and his trio, The Andrew Tyson Trio, released an album of original music in 2014.
Operations & Marketing Consultant
Jessica Tyson
Jess has been at YPI since birth, growing up and learning from the talented and artistic community that YPI cultivates. She studied acting, photography, and creative writing at camp before becoming a counselor for six years. Now, she is a consultant to the director and #1 daughter. When she’s not helping her dad make YPI happen each year, she the CEO and the Director of Calm for a virtual assistant agency called Don’t Panic Management. With the “don’t panic” mantra in mind, she has found that there are no projects too big or strong for her to conquer. She firmly believes in the Oxford Comma and has a passion for helping people find efficient ways to get things done.
Creative Writing
Erica Moffit-Dilks
Erica Moffit-Dilks has a long history with YPI. She first fell in love with the camp back in 1992 when she started as a camper. She was beyond excited to return in 2018 as an assistant in our writing class. Erica is an Emmy Award-winning morning reporter in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She’s been working on air since she started her broadcast journalism career more than 20 years ago. When she’s not bringing viewers the daily news, she’s busy chasing around her three kids or getting creative in the kitchen. Being back at YPI and getting to work with all of the incredible young people and staff at camp is something she looks forward to all year long.
Film
Jaileen Vargas
Jaileen Vargas has been a part of the YPI family since 2022. In
addition to being a public school teacher specializing in English for
multilingual students, Jaileen is a professional American Rhythm
Ballroom dancer and freelance artist. Alongside her professional dance
partner, Bob Gai, she competes in major ballroom competitions across
the tri-state area in both the Rising Star and Open Professional
divisions. In the classroom and beyond, Jaileen blends her experiences
as an educator and artist, using her extensive dance training to shape
her movement styles and creative choices.
Photography
Marly Ahearn
Marly Ahearn started her YPI experience in 2013, discovering a passion for photography and never looked back! In addition to teaching 4th graders as a public school teacher, she is also a yoga instructor and continues to use her passion and develop film outside of her time at YPI. After 5 years as a camper, Marly returned to YPI as a counselor in the summer of 2021 and was a counselor for 3 summers! For her, YPI is the place to inspire yourself and others through your creative journey while making memories that will last a lifetime. This summer, Marly is excited to capture and share the true magic and creativity that the campers at YPI create!
OUR COUNSELORS
Head Counselor
Alejandro Arcila
Alejandro Arcila is working on his Masters in Social Work at Central Connecticut State University. He is the manager of the Recreational Center at his university, being responsible for the gym as well as Club and Intramural Sports. With that being said, he wants to he wants to do recreational therapy, combining his work experience with his education. He will be going into his sixth year and his third as head counselor, while having the opportunity to be a part of the family since he was 11. His goal is to incorporate the excitement of summer camp with the expertise of the teachers to try and ensure that you are having as good of a YPI experience as he did! Starting from creative writing, he has been involved with multiple classes, including theater and photography but is more than willing to warm up with the dancers!
Head Counselor
Claire Knecht
Claire Knecht (she/her) is a first time counselor at YPI! She is currently a rising-senior at Union College, where she studies Psychology with a specific focus on Gender, Sexuality, and Women Studies. Claire grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina where her love for dance started, she then moved to New Orleans to finish her high school years!! Claire loves to cook, travel, and is always down to watch a good show!! At Union, Claire has fostered her love for dance by working behind the scenes as a Stage Manager for the Winter Dance productions with the amazing guidance of Mackenzie Trwobridge. Her most special memory is getting to work at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with a group of Union dancers! She is so excited to experience the light and joy that the YPI camp has to offer, and is excited to jump right in!
Counselor
Hettie Brazier
This is Hettie Brazier's third year as a counselor at YPI! She was born and raised in South Carolina and currently studies abroad at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. She is entering her fourth year of a bachelor's degree in psychology, but her creative passions include visual art, photography, and travel. She is also a bit of a nerd, and loves to read, game, and watch movies. She fell in love with this community after being introduced to YPI in the summer of 2021 as a camper, made possible by a Scholastic Art and Writing scholarship. Hettie can't wait to return and spread the YPI magic to new and returning campers alike!
Counselor
Knox Travis
Knox Travis is jazzed to be returning to YPI for his first year as a counselor! After joining the YPI family in 2022, Knox participated in the videography program for three years. Since then, Knox has taken a gap year, during which he embarked on the Semester at Sea program where he visited ten countries over the course of four months. In the Fall, Knox will be attending Ithaca College as a freshman with a Major in Film. He is overjoyed to be back with the most kind and creative people he knows!
Counselor
Bridig Wilhite
Brigid Wilhite (she/her) is a first time counselor at YPI! She is a recent graduate of Union College, where she studied Political Science and Anthropology with a minor in Gender, Sexuality, and Women Studies. Brigid grew up doing theatre and choir in her hometown Springfield, Illinois and is excited to dip a toe back in. In her free time, Brigid loves reading, listening to new music, and going on long walks (bonus points if there’s a dog involved). She has worked at a variety of summer camps and is eager to join the YPI family and make the summer as memorable and fun as possible!
Counselor
Kobi Masselli
Kobi Masselli is a New York based theatre artist and a three year returning YPI counselor. As a camper, Kobi took 5 years of photography, and found that YPI was more than just a place. Now as a counselor and our Wednesday night dance DJ, Kobi hopes to help campers find their passions through art, and have a fun summer camp experience.