People
Bernardo Palombo
FOUNDER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Bernardo began the Workshop in 1979 in a small space in the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan, which has since moved to its current location at 215 East 99th Street in East Harlem, between 2nd and 3rd Avenue.
Born in Mendoza, Argentina, Palombo achieved his first musical success at the age of 17 when his song "Vendimiador" was recorded by the legendary Argentinean vocal group, Los Trovadores, and became an immediate and long-lasting hit. He moved to New York City in 1969 and continued to write songs that have been recorded by some of the best-known exponents of Latin music in New York and Nueva Canción in South America including Mercedes Sosa, Philip Glass, Conjunto Libre and Lucecita Benitez. Palombo also became a musical consultant and composer for film and television, involving himself in such diverse and innovative projects as the Lucas/Coppola production of Powaqqatsi , the film Americas in Transition and the PBS show Sesame Street, who have featured some of his Spanish language songs.
Bernardo's musical background and 40+ years of teaching inspired the development of El Taller's unique acoustic based language programs for adults and children. Prior to founding El Taller, Bernardo taught at the New School, Sarah Lawrence, Yeshiva University and the United Nations School. But it is at El Taller that his vision for language education flourished. In recognition of his unique contribution to the education and the arts, Bernardo received the Independent Educator's Award from Teachers College at Columbia University and numerous grants from the National Endowment of the Arts.
Administrative & Creative Staff
BERNARDO PALOMBO — FOUNDER, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSES OF MUSIC AND LANGUAGE
Alexandra Castano - Managing Director
JENNIFER PLIEGO — DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS, HOUSE OF ART
Ivonne García — Spanish teacher, curriculum coordinatoR (Adults)
Andrés Martínez — Communications and outreach coordinator
Atu Ram - Gallery Coordinator
Teachers
Yrma AriaS (Dominican Republic) — Salsa
Timna Comedi (Argentina) — children's spanish (Art)
ALEXANDRA CASTAnO (COLOMBIA) — SPANISH
marilyn castillo (mexico) — CHILDREN'S SPANISH (music)
IVONNE GARCíA (venezuela) — SPANISH
Andrés Martínez (COLOMBIA) — SPANISH
Bernardo Palombo (Argentina) — Spanish
Emma Smoluchowski (U.S.A.) — CHILDREN'S SPANISH (Art)
YOLANDA TORRES (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC) — SPANISH
Sofia Tosello (Argentina) — Children's SPANISH (music)
Sofia Verzbolovskis (Panama) — Art, Photography
Casa México
Isabel Navarro — Founder & President
Carlos Navarro — Executive Director
Terry Romero — Founder & Vice-President
Raul Perez — Music Teacher