Director

Founder and Director

Dr. Katia Moltisanti Tennyson

Her students learn to create with their hands, sing with their voices, explore Italy with their minds, and speak Italian to communicate. Dr. Katia Moltisanti Tennyson has created a very rich environment at Centro Raccontami, Italian Language and Cultural Arts Center in Manhattan. Katia is the founder and director of Centro Raccontami where parents and children socialize and learn Italian with enthusiasm and joy through programs that include: Mom & Me, puppet shows, theater, toddlers, bilingual and adult classes.

Music, dance and art are the foundation of the Centro teaching programs. Growing up in a nurturing family of artists and musicians, Dr. Tennyson realized her life-long affinity for artistic expression through her original educational series of CD’s, Canzoni Per Bambini, Volumes I & II, with her husband John Gentry Tennyson, professional pianist/composer and Musical Director for several Grammy Award-winning artists. In Volume I, children learn the Italian alphabet, numbers, colors, and days of the week. In Volume II, children learn the Benvenuti! song, parts of the body, the alphabet in action, the five senses and more. Currently, Katia is working on an interactive book to illustrate these songs as a guide for parents and teachers to teach Italian through songs and movement.

In recent years, Dr. Tennyson has shown passion and talent of an extraordinary nature. Thanks to her initiative and rare commitment, the Italian American Committee on Education (IACE) is proud to host the first Italian Children’s Library in the heart of New York City. Coordinating the Children’s Library and developing IACE activities and projects, such as the Teachers Training (programs for children and adults), as well as organizing major fundraising events, are all daily duties for Dr. Tennyson. A frequent presenter, Katia leads workshops for Italian language teachers at major educator conferences, such as the NYSAFLT (NYS Association of Foreign Language Teachers), FLENJ (Foreign Language Educators New Jersey) and NECTFL (Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages).

Dr. Katia Moltisanti Tennyson is a native-born Italian from Ragusa, Italy. She earned a Laurea in Lingue from the University of Catania with a specialization in Spanish and English Literatures. She teaches full-immersion classes at SUNY (State University of New York) and at Centro Raccontami (Italian Language and Cultural Arts Center). In the past years Katia has taught Italian classes at Montclair State University and at City College, The City University of New York. Dr. Tennyson has also been named the Italian American Educator of the Year (2007Award) by the Association of Italian American Educators (AIAE) in New York.

Artistic Director

John Gentry Tennyson "Giovanni"

is the Artistic Director for Centro Raccontami. He has been the Musical Director for Grammy-Winning Vocalists, Jennifer Holliday and BJ Crosby, Musical Director for Sophie B. Hawkins, Keyboardist for Diana Ross, Sarah Brightman, Paul Simon, Maurice White and Martika.

Tennyson also has extensive credits in the world of Jazz, playing with such luminaries as Al di Meola, Randy Brecker, Dewey Redman, Tom Harrell, Hiram Bullock, Bucky Pizarelli, Howard Alden, Chuck Loeb, Rodney Jones, Matt " Guitar"  Murphy, Will Lee, Mel Lewis, Grady Tate, Buddy Williams, Richie Morales, Gumbi Ortiz, Arto Tunboycin, Rachel Z, Jeff Hirshfield, Terry Silverlight, Gerry Brown, Joel Rosenblatt, Joe Morello, Terri Lyne Carrington, Chuck Rainey, Lonnie Plaxico, Chip Jackson, Kermit Driscoll, Marc Johnson, Eddie Gomez, Mark Feldman, Mark O' Connor, Todd Reynolds and seven years as a featured guest artist with the legendary, Les Paul at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City.

In the realm of Broadway, John has been Associate and Musical Director for Broadway Directors; George C. Wolfe, George Faison, Otis Sallid and Andre De Shields. Currently, Tennyson is co-composing and producing the new Broadway Show, Merrick And Melissa. In addition to working with many well-known jazz artists, he performs regularly with his own ensembles and music throughout Eastern and Western Europe. Mr. Tennyson is the composer of the Angel/EMI Records release, Europa, as well as Real World Trio, PopJazz, Farragine, Mi Ibiza, Jazz Lounge, Vol. 1 and Mi Rojita. Currently Tennyson is operating his music production studio, QMasterMusic Studios, and expanding the Arts@Centro program for Centro Raccontami full-time.