Mr Khudyev came to the United States in 2001 on a full scholarship from the Interlochen Arts Academy, where he studied with Paul Sonner, Michael Albaugh and Yoshikazu Nagai, then completed his Bachelor of Music degree on a full scholarship at the Oberlin Conservatory studying with Milan Vitek and Bridget Reischl.  He received his Master's degree in orchestral conducting from the Yale School of Music where he studied with Shinik Hahm.  Mr Khudyev is the winner of the coveted Grand Prize and the Gold Medal of the 2007 National Fischoff Chamber Music Competition as the member of Prima Trio.  He has toured the United States and Europe receiving highly acclaimed reviews as both a violinist and composer.  He is a recipient of an honorable mention for the 2004 ASCAP Foundation, held in May 2004 at the Lincoln Center, New York, for his symphonic work Turkmenistan.  In June 2006, he won a prize at the 30th Annual Glenn Miller competition, held in Clarinda, Iowa, the legendary musician's birthplace.  His other awards include the Neil Rabaut Prize, Yale Chamber Music Society Competition Winner, and a debut performance of his trio "Fleeting Miniatures" at the Tribeca New Music Festival in New York.

Mr Khudyev has served as the Music Director of the New Haven Chamber Orchestra, the Music Director of the Saybrook Orchestra at Yale University, the Assistant Conductor of the Yale Philharmonia and the New Music New Haven ensemble, the Assistant Conductor of the NOYO Orchestra as well as the Guest Conductor of the Yale Symphony Orchestra.  Mr Khudyev was a finalist for the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Assistant Conductor positions as well as the finalist for Music Director of the New Jersey Youth Symphony Orchestra, semifinalist for Music Director of the American Philharmonic positions and the Alternate Conductor for the Cleveland Orchestra Assistant Conductor position.  Recently, Mr Khuydev was invited to be one of 10 semi-finalists from around the world to participate at the First International Chicago  Symphony Orchestra Sir Georg Solti Conducting Competition and Apprenticeship with Riccardo Muti.  Currently, Mr Khudyev serves as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the New Jersey Intergenerational Orchestra and the Principal Guest Conductor of the National Orchestra of Ashgabat.

Gavin Davies, Conductor, Intermezzo String Orchestra
Gavin Davies is currently an advisor to the NJIO’s Board of Trustees and has been associated with the NJIO since 2005 as a violinist and violist.  Gavin has had an eclectic career in music having performed in many different genres of music both as a percussionist and a violinist.

He holds a degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Miami in percussion, and earned his public school teaching certificate from New Jersey City University.

He currently teaches instrumental music at Bayonne’s gifted and talented grade school, PS14, where he is responsible for directing the band, jazz ensemble, string ensemble, and it’s required grade four violin program.  He also teaches the string ensemble at Bayonne High School.

Although trained primarily as a percussionist, Gavin has, in more recent years, concentrated his musical efforts, as a teacher, student and player, on the instruments of the violin family.

Vincent Novellino, Violin Coach
Vincent Novellino is a freelance violinist who performs with orchestras, musical theater companies, and at private engagements throughout the tri-state area.  Novellino is proud of his efforts to promote music education and appreciation to the next generation of musicians.  A member of the New Jersey Intergenerational Orchestra since 1997, Novellino joined the staff in 2005 as a mentor and principle 2nd violinist.  In 2004, Novellino joined the New Jersey Youth Theatre (formerly WYACT) as string coordinator and concert master for the summer productions staged at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) and the Algonquin Theater in Manasquan.  NJYT’s 2009 production of “Sweeney Todd” received a rave review by Star-Ledger theater critic, Peter Filichia, “Right from the start, this production surpasses the last two Broadway revivals in offering more musicians; there are 27 on hand to play Sondheim's fascinating music.  And they do so impressively.”  Novellino maintains a private teaching studio in his Springfield home as well at Newark Academy in Livingston, where he also serves as string coach.

Novellino has an active performance schedule having performed in the pit orchestras of over 85 musical theater productions throughout the years.  Novellino frequently performs with Romanza Music, also featuring fellow NJIO member Martin Steinberg, at chamber music functions and private events.  A graduate of Cook College, Rutgers University, Novellino was a member of the Rutgers University Orchestra at Mason Gross.  He has also performed with the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey, Garden State Ballet Company, the Livingston Symphony, Plainfield Symphony, Bloomfield Symphony, and most recently with the Astoria Symphony in Queens, NY.  In 2006, Novellino toured with the Clay Aiken Christmas Concert Orchestra. 

Novellino’s talent and artistic ability is not limited to the violin.  He is also a partner/landscape architect with the award-winning Birch Hill Landscaping of Millburn, NJ.

He has participated in chamber music workshops in France, California, Vermont, Lincoln Center and New Jersey and has been coached by Ida Kavafian, Daniel Phillips, Robert Dodson, Joel Berman and Yehuda Hanani.

Mr. Steinberg studied with David Guggenheim of Philadelphia and has been a student of the pedagogue Irene Sharp since 2000. He also teaches in his studio in South Orange, NJ.

Kathleen Derbyshire and Marty Steinberg

Mr. Steinberg is also a journalist having interviewed musicians like Mstislav Rostropovich, Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Hilary Hahn, Lorin Maazel and Kurt Masur.

Marilyn Tepper, Outreach Ensemble Coach
Accomplished violinist Marilyn Tepper has been playing the violin since third grade. She is a principal violinist of the Livingston Symphony Orchestra with a 17-year tenure and a member of its Board of Trustees.

Marilyn also plays the violin with the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey and Little Opera Company of Westfield Orchestra. She is the founding member and president of Adagio String Ensemble.

Marilyn is a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson and has a master's degree in Social Work Administration from Rutgers University.

Elizabeth Nowik, Viola Coach
Elizabeth Nowik is not only the viola coach for NJIO, but the organization's administrator, as well. She has been professionally active as a violist in the tri-state area since the age of 17 and is a founding member of the Edison Symphony. Liz has worked in arts management as a volunteer since childhood and professionally since college. In addition to her work with NJIO, she is the Handbell Choir Director and Children's Choir Director at Corpus Christi Church in Chatham, and is the founder and current director of the Little Way Ringers. She has a degree in Classical Studies from Seton Hall University.

Director of Instrumental Music at Newark Academy for the past 21 years, Amy Larkey-Emelianoff studied French horn at the New England Conservatory in Boston and earned Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Music Education at Montclair State College (now University) where she taught for 10 years prior to her appointment to the Newark Academy faculty in 1989. Former conductor of the Metropolitan “Y” Orchestra and the Essex County Youth Orchestra, Mrs. Emelianoff has performed with the New York Chamber Symphony, the Colonial Symphony, the Westfield Symphony and the Waterloo and White Mountains Festival Orchestras. She has been guest conductor of the North Jersey Junior Region Orchestra and the South Jersey Senior Region Orchestra. She has studied flute with Keith Brion, French horn with Martin Smith and Jerome Ashby, violin with Larry Schiller, viola with Oscar Ravina and conducting with Gerard Schwarz.