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Singing His Praises

His students go from pre-K to 2, but they perform opera as well as pop

By Linnea Covington

Not every kid can say they live in an episode of Glee, but the ones in Stephen Cedermark’s class at P.S. 58 have an elementary version of it, and no one is complaining.

“Through everything he does it’s obvious how much Mr. C truly enjoys sharing his passion for music with our kids,” said Vivian Manning-Schaffel, whose 7-year-old son Dylan is in one of Cedermark’s classes.

Parent Brogan Ganley mirrored the sentiment and said, “Blossom, my daughter, had such a hard time getting out the door for school, but with chorus in the morning she is at the door telling me to hurry up. We absolutely love him.”

Since Cedermark started at P.S. 58 in Carroll Gardens two years ago, he has taught music to pre-kindergarten through 2nd graders, directed the 2nd- and 3rd- grade choir, and organized the music for 5th-grade graduation. His kids have performed all sorts of songs, from Madonna’s “Holiday,” to Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror,” to Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” and yes, Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing,” a Glee classic—though to be fair, Cedermark said he hasn’t seen the show.

The feeling of gratitude is mutual and for Cedermark, the opportunity to work at the Carroll School has been a dream. He lived in the tri-state area the first 13 years of his life before moving to North Carolina with his family. As soon as he was ready to go to college, Cedermark, 29, knew he had to get back to New York City and pursue the performing arts, which he did at New York University. He still hadn’t found his teaching path, but when he took a job as a tutor in the America Reads Program, he fell in love with being in the classroom and spending time with kids. So, instead of following a career in lights, he attended Teachers College at Columbia University and shortly after got his first job at a school in Spanish Harlem. He worked there a year before transferring to P.S. 58.

“This is not a music program in your typical New York City school,” said Cedermark. “And it’s great for me because I wanted to work in a public school where the arts were appreciated.”

The way Cedermark talks about his kids, it sounds like they are teenagers, not 6- to 9-year-olds. He speaks of their harmony and ability to grasp the lyrics of songs. And, because the school has a dual-language program, in this case French (which is also Cedermark’s second language), he is able to teach his students songs in both tongues.

“There are kids that are French-speaking and don’t speak English at all,” he said, referring to the French, Haitian, Swiss and African immigrants. “It’s nice to help make their transition easier and empower them through song.”

The students even did “The Anvil Chorus” from the Italian opera Il Trovatore, when Cedermark brought in people from the Metropolitan Opera.

He also had Judy Kuhn, who sang in Disney’s 1995 animated film Pocahontas, come in and talk to the kids.

After all, he said, “I feel like my parents’ confidence and support in my ability and artistry was important.” And he hopes to help give his students the same encouragement.

Cedermark is in line to be laid off at the end of the year, a prospect he called “nerve racking. I am hoping the mayor does what’s in the best interest of the children… The budget could be refined in many ways that could save teachers.”

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Stephen Cedermark
Carroll School, P.S. 58
330 Smith St., Brooklyn