Meet Our Staff
Lindsay Rinaldi,
Executive Director
Lindsay Rinaldi was appointed as the Executive Director of the Nashua Community Music School in July of 2014. Rinaldi is always on the hunt for new and exciting ways to uphold the NCMS mission of providing a broad spectrum of learning, listening, and performance opportunities in music with the finest teachers available.
Serving as a NCMS voice instructor first gave Rinaldi unique insight into the daily operations prior to assuming administrative responsibilities. “Being a teacher first has given me the background to provide superb quality assurance in all of our NCMS programs,” Rinaldi says. She is often involved in the constant innovation and creation of new curriculum in partnership with the faculty. “Our programs are a team effort. We are always striving to find new ways to our refine our programs so that we can really make our students shine.” Rinaldi’s dedication to teaching excellence and unparalleled enthusiasm was recently recognized by Symphony NH when she was named Music Educator of the Year in 2019.
Rinaldi has years of experience assisting in the creation of new music programs, community service programs, and increased student enrollment strategies for all ages at other area schools including Rivier University, Southern New Hampshire University, The Bedford Youth Performing Company and The Yamaha Music School of Boston. She has also gained helpful insight into non-profit management through her role as the West Suburban YMCA Summer Camp Registrar. Ms. Rinaldi has a MM in Opera Performance from the Longy School of Music, a BM in Voice Performance from the University of Maine, where she graduated with High Honors and as a member of the Pi Kappa Lamda and Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Societies. Ms. Rinaldi is also an Adjunct Instructor of Voice and Music Education at Southern New Hampshire University. Remaining rooted in community service, she currently serves as a Chair of the Nashua Arts Commission and is deeply involved on the Steering Committee for the Nashua Performing Arts Center.
Cody Switzer,
Assistant Director
Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Cody Switzer began playing music at 10 years old, starting with classical guitar lessons from the professor at the University of South Alabama and continuing throughout middle and high school. He continued his music education at the University of Alabama where he obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance in 2015. Post-graduation he moved to Tallahassee, Florida to achieve a Master’s Degree in Arts Administration at Florida State University in 2018.
During his time in Tallahassee, Mr. Switzer became president of the Classical Guitar Society at FSU and director of the FSU Modern Guitar Ensemble. In these roles, he organized and participated in multiple engagement events including end-of-semester ensemble concerts, working with local businesses to present student performers and advocating these musical experiences through multiple media formats. All these experiences culminated in him directing the 2019 Florida Guitar Festival. Coordinating with local businesses, community members, and the FSU College of Music, Mr. Switzer raised $10,000 through community concerts, registration fees, and online fundraising. This weekend-long event included concerts, masterclasses, and a multi-level competition featuring some of the finest guitarists in the world.
Since moving to New Hampshire in 2020, Cody has been working at Whole Foods Market and had risen to the role of a supervisor in the E-commerce department before transitioning to his role as Assistant Director of the Nashua Community Music School in February 2023. As a supervisor, Cody managed a team of over 100 people and looks forward to bringing this managerial experience to a team of experienced musicians and community arts leaders.
Krystal Bloom, MSW, MT-BC
Director of Music Therapy
krystal.bloom@nashuacms.org
Krystal uses they/them and she/her pronouns and identifies as queer. They grew up in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, right in the middle of the woods. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy degree with a minor in Psychology from Berklee College of Music, from which she graduated in 2013. Krystal also holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of New Hampshire as of 2023, with a focus on systems-level work and suicide prevention.
Krystal studied under flutist Wendy Rolfe while at Berklee, honing their performance skills and repertoire. They enjoy playing Brazilian flute music, rock-style flute, contemporary flute music, and jazz and blues. They have a solid base in baroque, classical, and romantic styles as well.
Krystal has experience working with folks from all walks of life and across the lifespan. They specialize in trauma work, LGBTQAI+ issues, mental health, and community building. Krystal has a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion and creating and sustaining community spaces that elevate marginalized voices.
When not working, Krystal enjoys avidly reading queer fantasy and sci-fi novels, rock climbing, playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends, and spending time with her dog and two parrots.
Melinda Schreffler,
School Registrar
Prior to joining the Nashua Community Music School, Melinda (Harrison) Schreffler served as a public school music educator in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts for seven years. In those seven years she taught in a wide range of experiences: general music, band, orchestra, chorus, and musical theater; rural, suburban, and urban communities; and pre-Kindergarten students all the way up through seniors in high school. Melinda is excited to be a part of the Nashua Community Music School team where she can continue to make a difference and improve people’s lives through music.
Melinda received her Masters in Music Education degree from Gordon College and her Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from Gettysburg College. She is certified in Conversational Solfege Levels I & II (John Feierabend) and also studied Feierabend’s First Steps in Music for Preschool and Beyond and Edwin E. Gordon’s Music Learning Theory.
When not playing clarinet or engaging in other musical experiences, Melinda enjoys reading, playing games, and biking.