Laura Gravino is a native Long Islander who holds a Bachelors of Music from Five Towns College and Masters in Music Education from Boston University. She has NYS Certification in Music Education for all ages. With over twenty years of educational experience, Laura was most recently the Senior Director of Programming at Bloomingdale School of Music in New York City, overseeing all teaching and learning for the Upper West Side institution.

Nicole Davidson went to Usdan as a student and is excited to be back this summer as Co-Chair of the Music Department and conductor for the Junior Band! Her primary instrument is flute, but she loves the sound of all instruments coming together in the band. During the year, Nicole is an elementary band teacher and can be seen presenting workshops to newer teachers through NAfME, NYSSMA, and NYSCAME. She is a four-time quarterfinalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award.