Team

Administration

Virgil de Voldère - Founder & Director

Boleslaw Poniatowski - Director of Operations

(646) 504-9694

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Virgil de Voldère

Founder & Director

Virgil is the co-founder of the Virgil de Voldère Gallery a private contemporary art gallery. From 2005 to 2012 the VDV Gallery was a primary market gallery located in Chelsea representing a group of young and mid-career artists working across various media. These artists have gone on to achieve international recognition and exhibit their works in institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art, Guggenheim Museum, the Musée d'Art Moderne in Paris and at the Venice Biennale.

In September 2008, Virgil launched a French dual-language program at P.S. 84, a public school on 92nd Street and Central Park West, with the help of the NYC Department of Education, the French Embassy, EFNY (Education Française New York), and a team of active parents. P.S. 84 currently offers classes in K-5th grades and a French after school program for children and adults, providing over 300 families with French dual-language education.

From 2009 to 2011, Virgil has held a seat on the Upper West Side Community Education Council (CEC3, former School Board) and concentrates on promoting second language education in public elementary and middle schools. Since 2013 Virgil is now on the board of EFNY (Education Francaise New York) to help promote the creation of new French Dual Language Program in NY City public school.

Virgil de Voldère has a BA in Art History and Intellectual History from the Gallatin School, New York University. Born in Paris, Virgil moved to New York in 1998 and lives on the Upper West Side with his family.

Teachers - Assistant Teachers - Musiciens in Residence

Upper West Side

Aminata Cissé - Lead Teacher, Upper West Side

Nolwenn Burban - Co Teacher , Upper West Side

Hélène Brenkman - Substitute teacher, Upper West Side

Nicolas Duchamp - Musician in residence

Rémy de Laroque - Musician in residence

Josephine Ancelle - Musician in residence

Greenwich Village

Leila Girod - Co Teacher, Greenwich Village

Joelle Ourigou - Co Teacher, Greenwich Village

Marie Scriban - Co Teacher, Greenwich Village

Naomi Lisiki - Co Teacher, Greenwich Village

Elizabeth Bruce - Co Teacher, Greenwich Village

Fatou Ndeye - Assistant Teacher, Greenwich Village

Jimena Faerber- Substitute teacher, Upper West Side

Josephine Ancelle - Musician in Residence

Rémy de Laroque - Musician in Residence

Nicolas Duchamp - Musician in Residence

Hélène Brenkman - Substitute Teacher

Hélène is a French native and has been a New Yorker for over two decades. She graduated from the City University of New York magna cum laude with a Bachelor's degree in English literature. She is the mother of a 6 year-old boy, and one her favorite things to do with him is to pour over books and delight in watching him having tons of fun while learning.

At a time when her son could still barely walk and while in the midst of debating between pursuing or leaving a career in publishing, she created a Mommy & Me Meetup group. The immense thrill she felt from seeing the stars of intellectual excitement in these young children's eyes came as a life-changing experience for her.

Josephine Ancelle - Musician in Residence

Joséphine Ancelle grew up in Paris in a family of actors and musicians. She took her passion for singing to New York at the age of 18, where she developed her career by regularly performing at many of New York’s renowned venues, such as The Bitter End or The Living Room. She has been invited to play numerous times for French Institute Alliance Française’ (FIAF) events, as well as other French festivals. Between 2007 and 2011, Joséphine released one full length album, two EPs, and two singles of her Franco-American compositions, with her song Les “Je T’Aime” receiving radio airplay in France and Germany.

Shortly after joining the team of visiting artists at La Petite École in 2012, Joséphine began writing songs for the preschool, which focus on accompanying the children in their daily routine. She loves knowing that her songs are helping young children learn about the world around them!

In addition to pursuing her career in music, Joséphine completed her master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2016, having found a new passion for this field that combines science, compassion, and creativity. Joséphine also became the mother of twin girls in 2016; her daughters inspired her to start teaching music classes for toddlers in French…