We are one week out from the start of the 2023-2024 school year, so we are continuing our Meet Us Monday blog series to introduce you to the outstanding new and returning teachers and staff who will be working alongside you and your children each day this year.

We are pleased to welcome Mr. Sasha Kandybin as our Music Teacher. He is an accomplished violinist and conductor with a B.M. from the Cleveland Institute of Music and just completed his M.M. from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. He has experience conducting and teaching music in the public schools as well as teaching in private lessons.

Please join us in welcoming Mr. Kandybin ILS!

What is your position at ILS?
Music Teacher!
What are you most looking forward to about working at ILS?
To push the boundary of each student’s musical potential, and to help everyone embrace the idea that music is one of God’s greatest gifts and mercies.
What book are you currently reading?
A wonderful apologetics book called On Guard by William Lane Craig, and Jiro Gastronomy, a beautiful book on the craftsmanship of Japanese cooking.
What was a favorite thing you did this summer?
Conducting Prokofiev’s Orchestral Suite from his ballet Romeo and Juliet.
What is one place you would like to visit but have not yet been?
Without a doubt New Zealand.
What was your favorite subject/class when you were in school? Who was a teacher who inspired you?
An easy answer would be music, or orchestra, or choir… but I’ll actually go with chemistry. My parents have PHD’s in chemistry so it runs in the family.
What was your favorite book as a child?
Mole Music. It is still one of the most meaningful things I have ever read.
What is your favorite scripture verse?
Proverbs 1:7 — The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.