Lesley Joyce Kranz
​Founder/Director/Educator

Lesley is a life-long musician raised in a musical family.
​She has over 25 years of experience as a musician, music educator, curriculum designer, community builder and as an advocate for arts education.  

​Growing up in Stamford CT,  Lesley studied violin from the age of 9 and voice from 14 years old.  She holds a BMA in Voice Performance from the University of Michigan and an MFA in Performing Arts Management from Brooklyn College.  She is proud to have performed with New York Choral Society and Chamber Singers, the Juilliard Choral Union, Women of Westchester (WOW) Chorus, and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute Chorus.

​Since 2018, Lesley has served as sacred song leader for Sanctuary NY, alongside Rabbi Bethie Miller.  She is also the longtime music specialist at the STEM Alliance's Co-Op Summer Enrichment, and at Kids Base & Little School in Scarsdale.

Before founding Groove in 2005, Lesley served as Director of Development for Jazz at Lincoln Center (alongside Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis), Director of Development at Playwrights Horizons, Director of Development for BRIC: Brooklyn Information and Culture, as well as Development and Special Events Consultant to Celebrate Brooklyn.
 
​Professional Development:
World Music Summit (2026)
Carnegie Hall Music Educator Workshop (2025, 2026)
Yoga in the Pre-School Classroom (Karma Kids 2024)
Music for Kiddos Conference  (23, 24, 25)
Brooklyn Music Factory Teacher Training (21, 22, 23)
​Loog Educator Certification (Lessonface, 2021)
Kids Yoga Teacher Training  (Yoga Haven, 2020) 
Salsa Babies + Salsa Kids Teacher Training (2008) 
​Music Together Babies Teacher Training (1997) 
Music Together Teacher Training (1997)

JAKE ALBI

ZEV HABER

BARBARA PRAT

GABY GOLD

MELANIE KRAUT

EDDIE KAM