Conductor
Cynthia D. Longley, MT-BC, is a string pedagogue, conductor, freelance cellist, and music therapist. Hailed as a cellist of ‘clarity and taste’, she performs regularly with orchestras throughout the state, and made her orchestral debut at Carnegie Hall performing under composer/conductor, John Rutter. She has had cello performance studies with Andre Emelianoff, Colin Carr and Nicholas Tzavaras, cellist of the Shanghai Quartet, amongst others. She received a B.Mus in cello performance from James Madison University and a Performer’s Certificate from Montclair State University. Her conducting studies were with Dr. Robert McCashin at JMU; she also conducted in a masterclass with Sandra Dackow.

Ms. Longley attended the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival; and also the American Sinfonietta Performance Academy, playing with violinist Robert McDuffie and guitarist Pepe Romero. Ms. Longley has also had the opportunity to perform and record with various pop acts and artists. She recorded with the artist, Kobie Jackson, whose song, Ordinary, won an ASCAP award for best songwriting; and with whom she is currently working on another project. She has worked with the New Jersey Youth Symphony Orchestras since 1999, and is the conductor of Sinfonia, their touring orchestra. Ms. Longley is an adjunct professor at Montclair State University where she teaches the string technique classes for music education majors.

Ms. Longley earned an MA in music therapy from Montclair State University. As a music therapist, her area of specialization is with children with disabilities, specifically with pervasive developmental disorders. She is very active in promoting musician's wellness through body awareness and correct movement in playing positions, as well as neurological-musical connections.