Join us for Diller-Quaile’s Gala, benefiting the Need-Based Scholarship Fund, empowering tuition-free community music programs that bring the joy of music to children and adults across NYC, and sustaining the excellence of the School’s onsite programs and faculty.

Honoring
Ruth Alperson

Artistry & Education Award

Ruth Alperson took her first eurhythmics class at Oberlin College, taught by Inda Howland; she continued studies in eurhythmics, solfège, and improvisation at the New York Dalcroze School, directed by Dr. Hilda Schuster. Ruth earned the Licentiate from The Dalcroze Teachers Training Course in London, England, under the direction of Elizabeth Vanderspar, and the Diplôme Supérieur from L’Institut Jaques-Dalcroze in Geneva, Switzerland. Ruth has a Ph.D. in Arts and Humanities from New York University. She is a former faculty member of NYU, the Manhattan School of Music, and L’Université Laval, in Quebec City, Canada. She has presented Dalcroze workshops across the United States, in Canada, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, England, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Australia. Ruth is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Dalcroze Society of America (DSA); she is a founding member of the the International Conference of Dalcroze Studies (ICDS). This is her 26th year as a faculty member at The Diller-Quaile School of Music.

Honoring
Claudia Cordova

Leadership Award

Diller-Quaile is proud to recognize Claudia Cordova with this year’s Leadership Award in celebration of her commitment to community engagement and lifelong learning through the arts.

Claudia Cordova is a Program Manager at the Goddard Riverside Older Adult Center, where she dedicates her work to supporting and empowering the elderly community. Born and raised in Mexico City, she began her career serving older adults through VRIM, an organization focused on senior care, and has continued to build her expertise in this field.

Claudia holds an MBA and has earned multiple recognitions from insurance companies and employers for her commitment, leadership, and impact. She is proud of the projects she has led that enhance the quality of life for older adults and strengthen community support systems.

Guided by the values of respect and sincerity, Claudia brings compassion and integrity to every aspect of her work. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys music and dancing, which keep her grounded and inspired.

Through her role at Goddard Riverside, Claudia works closely with Diller-Quaile as a key partner in the Senior Centers Partnership, which since 2000 has provided lifelong learners with opportunities for growth and personal fulfillment through music. Diller-Quaile leads a weekly singing group at Goddard Riverside, taught by the School’s faculty of singers and pianists, and presents chamber music concerts through its Classical Access program, sharing the beauty of live, acoustic music with New York City’s senior community.