Music Conservatory of Westchester
Stefan Benkowski MT-BC is an accomplished music therapist with extensive experience across various settings, including hospice care, memory care, special education, and pediatric rehabilitation. Currently serving at the Music Conservatory of Westchester since May 2024, Stefan previously worked at HeartShare Human Services of New York, Education Through Music, and Calvary Hospital, where a focus on communication, motor functioning, and coping skills has been pivotal. Early career roles include assistant music therapist at Heartsong and music instructor at the Phoenix Conservatory of Music. Additionally, Stefan has a background in social media from Sportiqe Apparel and is a founding member of the pop-rock band We The Living. Educational credentials include a Master’s degree in Music Therapy from Colorado State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy from ASU, alongside a Bachelor’s in Jazz Performance from New York University.
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Music Conservatory of Westchester
The Music Conservatory of Westchester, voted Best of Westchester’s “Best Music School” of 2017, was founded in 1929 by a group of community members and renowned artists. Today, the Conservatory, provides the extraordinary benefits of music to all in our community, from absolute beginners to advanced artists, with one-on-one instruction, performing ensembles, theory, composition, early childhood classes, lifelong learning for adults, and free community performances for 2,700 students each year from 4 months to over 80 years old. As a not-for-profit organization, the Conservatory is dedicated to serving the community and reaching out to those who would not otherwise have access through its scholarship program. The Music Therapy Institute brings music into the lives of 1,900 children and adults with disabilities each year. As a community music school, we play a vitally important role in creating the musical landscape for the next generation. We appreciate the importance of the great traditions, and understand how to adapt them for the future, educating tomorrow’s performers, audiences and supporters of the arts. We contribute to youth development, helping to create a stronger workforce through the life skills that music training supports: creativity, leadership, teamwork, discipline, confidence, and critical thinking. We help unite our county’s communities through the universal language of music, creating a common bond among diverse individuals and groups. One of only sixteen non-degree-granting schools nationwide to be accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, the Conservatory has inspired generations of students, and contributed to a vibrant musical life in the county, the region and beyond.