Cohort v
2025 LAB COHORT
Aarron Dunlap
Aarron Dunlap, originally from West Memphis, Arkansas, is a Trumpet Performance major at Louisiana State University with a strong passion for music education. For the past two years, he has served as a Teaching Artist with Kid’s Orchestra, where he leads group trumpet lessons for students in grades 3–5. Since first picking up the trumpet in eighth grade at West Junior High, Aarron has been dedicated to sharing the joy of music with others. His work emphasizes not only technical skill, but also creativity, confidence, and teamwork—helping young musicians build a foundation that extends beyond the classroom. As both a performer and educator, Aarron is committed to making music accessible and inspiring for the next generation.
Aarron
Dunlap
Kids' Orchestra
Aime Guache
Aime Guache is a trilingual (English, Spanish, ASL) trauma-informed music educator, mentor, and creative leader with over three years of experience supporting youth through social-emotional learning and the arts. Blending her background in performance, leadership, and healing-centered education, Aime has created transformative spaces for students in both classroom and community settings.
As a mentor and Site Coordinator for Guitars Over Guns, Aime leads voice and piano instruction at Title I middle schools while also managing team leadership, program documentation, and ensemble performance prep. She designs and facilitates SEL circles, teaches music rooted in self-expression, and directs multi-instrument rehearsals that culminate in citywide showcases and studio productions. Her intuitive leadership and deep empathy make her a trusted figure for both students and fellow mentors — and she was invited to train national teams at GOGO’s mentor institute.
Outside the classroom, Aime brings that same heart and leadership to her artistry. She is currently the music director of the Alive Choir, a growing gospel group committed to uplifting spiritual music and community connection. She previously served as a co-singer and co-writer for the celebrated Miami band Carlos and the Experience, performing reimagined soul, country, rock, and 90s classics at venues across the city. The band’s standout performances at Coconut Grove Arts Festival and Carnival on the Mile helped solidify their reputation as a local favorite.
Aime’s other credits include professional performances with artists like J Balvin (Latin Grammys) and the Montaner family (Premio Lo Nuestro), as well as appearances at Carnegie Hall and other national showcases. She holds an Associate’s Degree with honors from Miami Dade College and is passionate about the intersection of music, healing, psychology, and empowerment.
Aime continues to seek opportunities where she can lead with care, creativity, and purpose — whether in music education, performance, or trauma-informed community work.
Aime
Guache
Guitars Over Guns Organization- Miami
Alberto Di Priolo
Alberto began his musical journey at age fourteen as a tenor saxophonist in the award-winning youth wind orchestra Gruppo Strumentale Orfeo in Siracusa, Italy.
He then moved to Milan to pursue his studies at the Conservatory Giuseppe Verdi, where he obtained a master’s degree in classical saxophone with Daniele Comoglio and in Composition with Elisabetta Brusa and Paolo Rimoldi.
During his time in Milan, Alberto developed an active performance career as a member of various saxophone quartets, which led him to win first prize at both the XVI Concorso Strumentistico Nazionale Città di Giussano and the XVII Concorso Nazionale di Musica da Camera per Giovani Musicisti Città di Camerino — both chamber music competitions in which he participated with the Milano Saxophone Quartet.
Alongside his career as a performer, Alberto taught saxophone, ear training, music theory, and chamber music privately and at L'Altramusica, a nucleo of SONG - Sistema in Lombardia. He also founded and conducted the high-school orchestra at Liceo Scientifico “E. Vittorini” in Milan, writing all their arrangements and leading the ensemble for three years. During this period, he began a significant collaboration with SONG - Sistema in Lombardia as an arranger for the Pasquinelli Youth Orchestra.
Alberto’s work is featured on the albums Five Sax at the Movies, Musica Ficta, and Il Canto di una Valle – 50 anni. He collaborates with Impronta Edition – UG, through which he has published his arrangement of Giuseppe Verdi’s String Quartet for saxophones and his original work LO! for solo alto saxophone. LO! was also recorded by Marina Notaro and included on her album Maschere.
Since moving to Canada in 2022, Alberto has further embraced community music making by joining Sistema Toronto as a teaching artist and by starting a new collaboration as an arranger with the El Sistema-inspired organization Superar Suisse. He remains active as an educator, teaching saxophone, clarinet, ear training, and chamber music at University Settlement and PEN Education Centre.
Alberto
Di Priolo
Sistema Toronto
Alejandra Pizarro
Alejandra Pizarro is a Peruvian trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist, and music educator, born in the summer of 1987 in Lima. Her musical journey began in school, and by age 14 she was already the lead trumpet in the Orquesta Interescolar de Jazz en Lima. In 2004, she joined the Orquesta Juvenil de Música Nueva, touring Europe as part of its brass section.
In 2008, she began her formal studies at the National Conservatory of Music in Peru, earning her degree in 2015. During that time, she recorded PAWAWN, the debut album of Colectivo Circo Band, and toured extensively across Peru. She also began her work as a music educator, which now spans over 15 years. Alejandra has served as a trumpet instructor for youth symphony orchestras, a big band director in Lima, and later in New Jersey as the director of the NJCU Latin Jazz Ensemble while pursuing her graduate studies.
She went on to teach at Sinfonía por el Perú, a national youth orchestra founded by renowned tenor Juan Diego Flórez, and performed for six consecutive years in Broadway-style musicals with Preludio Asociación Cultural. Alejandra has performed with Peru’s National Symphony Orchestra and in numerous operas and zarzuelas at Lima’s most prestigious theaters. In 2015, she was selected to attend the Chosen Vale Trumpet Seminar in New Hampshire.
She was later awarded a full scholarship to pursue a Master of Music at New Jersey City University, where she studied under acclaimed artists such as Bobby Shew, John Benitez, Nathan Eklund, Tim Horner, Ariacne Trujillo, and Garry Dial.
Throughout her career, she has shared the stage with internationally recognized musicians including Wynton Marsalis, Bobby Shew, Maria Schneider, John Benitez, Lakecia Benjamin, Eva Ayllón, Susana Baca, Juan Diego Flórez, Tito Nieves, Diego Torres, Gian Marco, Christian Meier, and Maricarmen Marín, among others. In 2019, she released her debut solo album Soy Libre on all digital platforms.
Currently based in Miami, Alejandra is entering her fourth year as a music mentor with Guitars Over Guns and her second year as a music teacher with Young Musicians Unite. She has also taken advanced coursework in music production and jazz improvisation at Miami Dade College – Kendall Campus. In 2025, she will join TATI’s Lab Cohort V as a full-scholarship artist representing Guitars Over Guns.
Alejandra
Pizarro Leon
Guitars Over Guns Organization- Miami
Alexa Cervantes
Alexa Cervantes is a graduate from the University of Connecticut. There, she earned her degree in Music studying flute under Naomi Senzer and Aimee Toner. Currently, she serves as the Head Woodwind and Brass Instructor, as well as the Assistant Music Teacher, at Speak Music in Stamford. Alexa is also the Flute Teaching Artist at Project Music, an El Sistema-inspired music non-profit organization also located in Stamford. In addition to her work at Speak Music, Alexa teaches students of all ages, ranging from all levels in her private flute studio. Along with teaching, Alexa is an experienced performer. Her performance career has taken her to prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Yale’s Woolsey Hall, and Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, both on flute and piccolo. Outside of the studio, Alexa is an active volunteer flutist with the Young Artists Philharmonic in Greenwich, and regularly performs at events for the Greenwich Alliance’s Tuning In To Music program. Having been a flute student in both of these programs from age 11 to 18, she has returned to assist as an active volunteer in the music community she grew up with. In addition to her teaching and performing, Alexa is also a composer, having written works for woodwinds and full orchestra! Alexa is passionate about creating a positive and personalized learning experience for each student, aiming to foster both confidence and curiosity in every lesson.
Alexa
Cervantes
Project Music, Inc
Alexis Mitrushi
Alexis Mitrushi is a violist-both music performer and educator. She is currently a Community Embedded Musician with the Houston Symphony, substitute violist for New World Symphony, and she manages her own private viola & violin studio. Alongside that, she actively freelances and gigs throughout the Houston area. In May of 2024, she graduated with her MM from Mannes School of Music in NYC with a full Performing Arts Award scholarship, studying with Daniel Panner. She completed her undergraduate schooling early at Oberlin Conservatory, graduating in 3.5 years with her BM, as well as a minor in GSFS, studying with Kirsten Docter.
Alexis has performed in orchestras with Andrea Bocelli, Martha Graham Dance Company, and FKA Twigs. She has served as principal violist of all Oberlin Orchestras, Mannes MACE ensemble, and Chautauqua Music Festival Orchestra. Alongside that, she has been a substitute violist of the Firelands Symphony Orchestra, Symphony of Southeast Texas, Denver Philharmonic, Helena Symphony, and New World Symphony. Alexis recently attended the National Repertory Orchestra Music Festival last summer as a section violist and associate principal violist. Alongside performing, she has taught viola, violin, and piano for over 6 years in different communities in Oberlin, NYC, Washington DC, and now Houston! During her time in NYC, she played in a flute, viola, harp trio called the Village Trio that placed second in the Charleston Winter Music Competition, and she was the librarian and violist for a nonprofit, chamber ensemble that performed in various locations throughout NYC & NJ: Westside Chamber Players. Alexis is very passionate about both performing and teaching in many different communities, and she believes that music is a powerful tool to express oneself.
Alexis
Mitrushi
Houston Symphony Community-Embedded Musicians
Amanda Mora
Amanda Mora is a trombonist, educator, and creative in the Los Angeles area. She first began her musical journey within her public K-12 education within the Bonita Unified School District. After discovering the San Dimas Jazz Workshop, she began networking (without even knowing it!) with local professional musicians in her area. This led her to begin her professional gigging and music education journey before graduating high school. Amanda graduated from high school in the class of 2020 with numerous awards for trombone performance, drum major performance, and student council achievements. During her time as an undergraduate student at California State University, Fullerton, she competed with the Fullerton Jazz Orchestra at the annual Jack Rudin Jazz Championships at Jazz at Lincoln Center as the lead trombonist. Alongside her studies, she ventured into the professional world to perform at numerous well known venues, speak as a guest clinician and on artist panels, and began her teaching journey with the Harmony Project Los Angeles. She founded her own all female big band, entitled The BlackBerry Project during this time as well. Sourcing all the musicians from the Southern California area, she set out to create a space that highlighted high achieving women musicians in the music scene, and put on her first show in collaboration with the AY Big Band at the infamous World Stage in Leimert Park. After completing her undergraduate degree, Amanda immediately began internationally touring with several different groups. She played in the horn section as an accompanying trombonist to the Filipino rock band Rivermaya, performing at large well known arenas in the United States and Canada. Some of her favorite venues included The Greek Theater in Los Angeles, CA, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, NY, NY, The PNE Coliseum, Vancouver, B.C., and The Great Canadian Casino Resort, Toronto, ON. Following this opportunity, she then found herself in the Dominican Republic in Felice Garica’s horn section for her Secret Tides Punta Cana Resort residency, and reunited with Rivermaya the following month. She toured the Middle East from Saudi Arabia, to Qatar, to Dubai playing trombone alongside the widely acclaimed rock group. In between her time touring, she was able to excel in the teaching realm, thanks to her supportive and flexible organizations. Amanda commonly finds herself teaching a wide variety of ages from Tk-12th grade, and numerous different classes such as General Music, Musicianship, Intro to Trombone, Intro to Percussion, Drum Circle, Music and Messy Art, Beginning Trombone, Intermediate Trombone, and private lessons catering to each individual student’s needs. Amanda can now be found teaching for The Harmony Project Los Angeles, The Los Angeles School of Music, Soundscape Studios, Paramount High School and her own private students. She currently still runs her big band, The BlackBerry Project, and performs regularly in various capacities in the SoCal area as both a band leader and sideman.
Amanda
Mora
Harmony Project (LA)
Angelica Armagnac
Angelica Armagnac is a dedicated percussionist and music educator with over 16 years of experience teaching in both marching and concert percussion. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from New Mexico State University, where she has also performed with the university’s marching band and percussion ensembles. Angelica also has performances with Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra and Williamson County Orchestra.
Currently based outside of Austin, TX, Angelica serves as a Teaching Artist with Austin Soundwaves where she provides instruction and mentorship in school and community-based settings, helping students gain confidence and love for music. In addition to her work with Austin Soundwaves, Angelica maintains an active schedule as a private percussion instructor, serving students in the greater Austin area.
Angelica is passionate about creating inclusive environments where young musicians can thrive. She believes in meeting students where they are and guiding them with patience, structure, and enthusiasm. Outside of teaching, she continues to seek opportunities for professional growth and collaboration within the music education community.
Angelica
Armagnac
Austin Soundwaves
Astrid Camarena
Astrid Camarena Correa is a dedicated musician, actively performing, teaching, and working with OrKidstra. Born in Mexico, she earned her Bachelor of Music from the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes and completed her master’s in piano performance/pedagogy at Memorial University in St. John’s, NL. She studied with Dr. Kristina Szutor and others. Astrid has taught piano and theory in schools and community projects, believing in music’s power to transform lives.
Astrid
Camarena
OrKidstra
Bianca Lozano
Bianca Lozano graduated from Sam Houston State University, in which she was part of the Sam Houston Orchestra for the full length of the college career. She is a professional mariachi musician and vocalist. She is a freelance musician, owns her own mariachi band, and teaches privately. She is a Community Embedded Musician, Teaching Artist, with the Houston Symphony as well, and teaches a violin program with students between the ages of 6 and 12.
Bianca
Lozano
Houston Symphony Community-Embedded Musicians
Bobby Bush
Bobby Lee Bush, Jr. is a 25-year-old first-generation Latin guitarist and multi-talented artist. Despite not growing up in a musical family or surrounded by musicians, Bobby discovered his passion for music and performance later in life. Initially reluctant to pursue music as a career, Bobby's dreams took shape once he recognized his responsibility as a leader and committed himself to the journey of performance and artistry.
Bobby's relationship with music began when his father bought him and his brother plastic guitars from a garage sale. Growing up in a church environment, Bobby loved the atmosphere created by the guitar. However, he did not immediately embrace it and had other aspirations, such as becoming an NFL superstar. It was his mentor who convinced him and trained him in the art of the Spanish guitar, although he was initially reluctant to embrace the Spanish style. Eventually, Bobby found his identity within it and saw his bond with the guitar strengthen as he held onto his NFL dream.
After experiencing a conviction and witnessing his love for music grow, Bobby fully committed his life to the art of music. He received the Fine Arts Award at Interlochen Arts Academy and Camp in 2018 and 2019, earning full-ride scholarships to attend the academy. The following year, he received another full-ride scholarship to the prestigious Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University.
Bobby
Bush
Miami Music Project
Colby Strong
I am an elementary music specialist in Tulsa, OK. My current post is in a private Catholic school servicing students from Pre-K through 8th grade. This fall will be my 12th year to teach. I have taught in Texas, Oklahoma, and Germany in public, private, and international schools. I employ several philosophies in my classroom, some of which are Orff, Kodály, and Feierabend.
Prior to teaching, I was a vocal performer. I sang in many choral settings, as well as solo. I still enjoy performing, but my focus now is collaborative music-making with littles.
My favorite ages to teach are preschool through 3rd grade. I love the enthusiasm and pure joy they bring into the classroom.
Colby
Strong
Sistema Tulsa
Darius Peterson
Born into a musical family, Darius Peterson started playing drums at age two and has been driving the groove ever since. With over 35 years of experience across Pop, R&B, Gospel, Hip-Hop, Rock, Blues, and Country, his philosophy is simple: the drums are the engine that drives the music.
He has recorded with award-winning producer D. Jamel Kimbrough and acclaimed artist Todd Dulaney, leads his own band Khemistry, tours with Journeyman: A Tribute to Eric Clapton, and performs with Spark Entertainment Group.
Passionate about the next generation, Darius mentors youth through Guitars Over Guns and is developing a summer program that blends instrumental training with music production and industry skills. Whether on stage or in the classroom, Darius’s drumming is always about elevating the music and inspiring others.
Darius
Peterson
Guitars Over Guns Organization- Chicago
Elijah Medina
Known for his musical versatility, Elijah Medina is a double bassist and bass guitarist residing in Chicago. Elijah is principal bassist of Lake Forest Civic Orchestra and Symphony 847, and performs with Rockford Symphony, Elgin Symphony, Des Moines Symphony, and Orchestra Iowa. He holds degrees from University of Oregon (BM) and Chicago College of Performing Arts (MM).
Elijah plays a variety of styles on both electric and upright bass. He is a member of the Chicago rock band, Local Motive, and he enjoys freelancing in jazz and musical theater.
Elijah is a bass teaching artist at The People's Music School in Chicago. When he’s not playing bass, Elijah enjoys hanging out with his wife and cats and rooting for the Cubs.
Elijah
Medina
The People's Music School
Emily Buehler
Currently living in Cliffside Park, New Jersey, Emily is a teacher, administrator and professional freelancer in the New Jersey/ NYC area. As a teacher, Emily holds a private studio of horn students and is a brass teaching artist at the Paterson Music Project which gave her the fabulous opportunity to complete the Firebird Fellowship through the Academy for Impact Through Music (AIM).
Community is at the center of Emily's goals as a teacher, musician and administrator. She currently serves as the Manager of Programs and Community Engagement with the Paterson Music Project where she is beginning her third year! Emily is an avid crocheter and coffee roaster (some might say a coffee snob...) Emily is excited to begin her journey as a part of TATI Cohort V.
Emily
Buehler
Paterson Music Project
Esmeralda Perez
Proudly a first generation Mexican American! With deep love for my culture, music and community! Thankful for the opportunity to form a connection with my community via music not only through my employment through YAMA but also as a mariachi musician. Seeing the joy that music brings to people’s lives first hand and seeing the impact it has on our youth drives me to continue to develop myself not only as a musician but as a person.
Esmeralda
Perez
Yakima Music en Acción (YAMA)
Hollie Greenwood
Hollie Greenwood is a strings educator, freelance bassist and fiddler, and education programs administrator currently based in Cincinnati, OH.
Hollie recently completed her master’s degree in Bass performance with Rachel Calin at the University of Cincinnati as an Albert C. Yates fellow. During her time at UC, she also served as the string methods graduate assistant. She studied with Scott Dixon at the Cleveland Institute of Music for her undergraduate degree. In Cleveland, she had the opportunity to observe the teaching of Tracy Rowell weekly at the CIM Sato Center for Suzuki Studies which really sparked her interest in music education in the early childhood years. She continued studying the Suzuki Method with Dr. Kate Jones.
Hollie serves as a faculty member for the CCM Preparatory Division CPS Strong Program, Cincinnati String Project, and the Ben Carlson-Berne Foundation. These programs provide a unique mix of Suzuki group class, orchestra, chamber coaching, and private lessons that supplement the general music and orchestra curriculum at each site at no cost to the student. She reaches over 150 students weekly throughout the Cincinnati metroplex public schools. She also teaches fiddle classes at the Riley School of Irish Music to students age 6 to adult and runs a small private studio. Most recently, Hollie served as a faculty member for the Young Bassists program at the International Society of Bassists convention where she coached chamber groups.
Hollie also has a passion for arts education administration. She is a part of the learning department team with the Cincinnati Symphony where she manages the CSO Nouveau Program, a free chamber music program for underrepresented youth in music, which has recently expanded to two new locations. She is also Chief Operations Officer for Through the Staff, a free virtual private lessons program that eliminates financial or geographical barriers to music instruction, a program she also used to teach for. She gained an interest in this work during an internship with the Cleveland Orchestra where she got to assist their Education and Community Engagement department with a program called Crescendo which stationed violin teachers at local elementary schools for before school lessons and group classes.
As a performer, Hollie enjoys playing with New Downbeat, a new music collective comprised of female performers that program and premier the works of living composers. She also performs as substitute musician with orchestras throughout the Midwest.
She is looking forward to growing this year with the help of the Teaching Artists Training Institute Cohort!
Hollie
Greenwood
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music CCM Prep
Janae Odenat
Janae Lisa Odenat is a passionate, classically trained musician with an extensive background in STEAM Education and Design Engineering. Janae is a Teaching artist and Fellow for The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's OrchKIDS program, teaching musicianship and Double Bass performance. She is currently playing in local orchestras in Maryland such as The Baltimore Gamer Symphony Orchestra, The Baltimore Philharmonia, Summer String Orchestra, and Arundel Community Strings. When she is not teaching or playing, Janae loves to paint, roller skate and is a 3D printing enthusiast!
Janae
Odenat
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra OrchKids
Jefferson Joseph
Jefferson Joseph is a multi-genre bassist based in Miami, Florida. While formally being trained on lower brass instruments during grade school, he is self-taught on bass guitar and acoustic guitar. Jefferson began his career as a frequent performer within the South Florida open mic circuit. Working as either a session musician with existing groups or formulating small ensembles as a bandleader, he has tackled a wide variety of live performances and recording projects across the country. Joseph also curates music showcases, open jam sessions, and songwriting sessions as Miami MoJo Entertainment LLC.
Jefferson
Joseph
Young Musicians Unite
Jiyu Yan
Jiyu is a cellist native to Austin, Texas, and a graduate from University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Jiyu is very fortunate and privileged to have received the incredible mentorship that he has had from various music educators throughout his life. He first picked up his cello at the age of five and has never looked back since.
Every Child Can certified, trained in Cello Teaching Strategies, and Suzuki cello pedagogy certified up to the level of Unit 3, Jiyu hopes that he can pass on the love and appreciation for music-making that his educators imparted on to him to all. Throughout his musical career, he has loved getting his friends together to go around town playing chamber music at various places. Jiyu hopes that he can continue to do so, as well as facilitate that for others, for a long time.
Jiyu
Yan
Austin Soundwaves
John Wambach
John Wambach is a trombonist, composer, and educator in the Chicago area with over 10 years of experience teaching students of all ages and backgrounds. As a private lesson teacher and a teacher with Chicago Public Schools, Merit School of Music, and The People’s Music School, he has a broad connection to Chicago’s student community. John has taught a variety of music subjects, including big band, jazz combo, improvisation, music theory, concert band, and general music. He primarily teaches low brass students and has had former students accepted to top collegiate jazz programs including The University of North Texas, Temple University, and Berklee College of Music. He has performed in a wide variety of venues, from the Jazz Showcase in Chicago to the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, DC. He has shared the stage with such legendary musicians as Steve Wilson, Delfeayo Marsalis, and Ted Nash.
John
Wambach
The People's Music School
After spending 15 years in Los Angeles, California, Jordan returned to Indianapolis and currently serves as both Associate Director and Teaching Artist for MYO. He also teaches at the Butler Community Arts School. Outside of music, Jordan has diverse interests, including calisthenics, weightlifting, combat sports, reading classic literature, studying theology, and collecting and reselling sneakers.
Jordan
Nelson
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra - Metropolitan Youth Orchestra
Jordan Taylor
Jordan Taylor is a violist studying music performance at Central Washington University and is a member of the William O. Douglass Honors College. Along with teaching local and virtual private lessons, Jordan is a Viola and Violin Teaching Artist at Yakima Music en Acción, a tuition-free program modeled after Venezuela’s El Sistema.
Their love for teaching music stems from their mentors in the Seattle Public Schools system, as they had limited access to private lessons growing up. Orchestra class was framed as a community where members share in each-others’ successes and provide comfort in times of loss. Jordan felt safe to find their voice and express their authentic self through music and is committed to facilitating the same environment for their students. Their goal is to help students grow into kind, healthy humans that have a long-lasting love for music and learning.
Jordan is passionate about increasing accessibility in music education and has been an advocate for injury prevention strategies tailored to string instrumentalists.
Jordan
Taylor
Yakima Music en Acción (YAMA)
Kaitlyn Barnes
Kaitlyn Barnes is currently a Teaching Artist at Sistema Tulsa. Kaitlyn graduated from the University of North Texas May 2024 Magna Cum Laude.
Kaitlyn
Barnes
Sistema Tulsa
Kasia Deja
Kasia is a violinist, educator, and advocate for music as a tool for social change. Originally from a small town in southern Poland, she has traveled the world with her violin—studying, performing, and teaching.
Her musical journey has taken her across a wide range of settings—from recording the Nutcracker Suite for Sony Classical to busking across Europe; from performing at a sold-out concert in Berlin’s Philharmonic Hall to jamming in Cova da Moura, Portugal; from playing chamber music with members of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra to composing with young musicians at a children’s home in Ghana. These experiences have deepened her understanding of music’s ability to connect people and communities, and she is profoundly grateful for them.
Kasia holds degrees in Violin Performance from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in the United Kingdom (BMus Hons) and the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Kraków, Poland (MMus). She is also a proud alumna of the Academy for Impact Through Music Firebird Fellowship and is currently enrolled in Suzuki teacher training. She works with the Empire State Youth Orchestra, where she teaches violin and viola in CHIME, a free after-school music program, and also coaches chamber ensembles and leads sectional rehearsals.
In addition to her musical career, Kasia is a certified yoga teacher, passionate about integrating principles of body awareness, breath, and yogic philosophy into her teaching and performance practice. She believes that music and yoga share much in common and can enrich one another.
Kasia is excited to join the V Lab cohort, connect with like-minded colleagues, and continue expanding her teaching toolbox!
Kasia
Deja
Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO) CHIME
Kate McFarland
Kate McFarland began playing viola at the age of 10 in Austin, TX. She has been involved with the Winston-Salem Symphony’s P.L.A.Y. Music program since 2017 when her children joined the program as students. She volunteered with the program for years before coming on in an official capacity in 2021. Kate studied music education at Texas State University and has a degree in Philosophy from Salem College, which heavily informs her SEL-focused teaching style. She has played with community and civic orchestras across Texas throughout her early career, but has called North Carolina home since 2005. Kate shares her time between the P.L.A.Y. Music program and the Winston-Salem Symphony’s Youth Orchestras programs. When not teaching, Kate enjoys sewing, reading, creating art and spending time with her two amazing teenagers and her two wonderfully twerpy dogs.
Kate
McFarland
Winston-Salem Symphony P.L.A.Y. Music
Kelly Perras
Kelly Perras is a Singer, Performer, and Voice Coach. During her years as a working Artist in Toronto, Kelly studied at the University of Toronto and with some of Canada’s most elite voice coaches. She has and continues to perform in many of Ontario’s best live music venues. Moving to Sudbury ON in 2014, Kelly taught Youth Musical Theatre classes at the Sudbury Theatre Centre and truly enjoyed every moment of her 9 years in that role. She also ran a very successful private competitive Voice Studio (Studio K) where she coached dozens of talented youth. Kelly is very happy to now be living in Port Hope, helping to shape Northumberland’s next generation of outstanding performers through her work Directing the Capitol Theatre’s Youth Arts Education programs, her Private Voice Studio (Studio K Voice and Performance Port Hope) and with SONG Sounds of the Next Generation.
Kelly
Perras
Sounds of the Next Generation
Kelvin Mansaray
Multi-instrumentalist Kelvin Mansaray is a unique emerging voice in contemporary music. Born and raised in Nova Scotia with family roots in Transylvania and Sierra Leone, Kelvin began his musical journey in community groups like the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra and Jerry Granelli’s Creative Music Workshop. He has developed a compositional practice through self-directed study and collaboration with an intergenerational group of artists in the field of American music. Since relocating to Toronto, he has been creating original music and teaching youth violin classes with Sistema Toronto. Kelvin’s depth of practice on the violin and research into a variety of musical traditions make him a passionate and engaging performer, collaborator, and educator.
Kelvin
Mansaray
Sistema Toronto
Lindsey Baggett
Violinist Lindsey Baggett joined the team of Community-Embedded Musicians in the Fall of 2023. She has performed regularly with the Houston Symphony since 2013, including three seasons as a contracted substitute. Lindsey also enjoys performing with the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Houston Ballet Orchestra. Lindsey has participated in several summer festivals including Aspen Music Festival, National Repertory Orchestra, Texas Music Festival, Caroga Lake Music Festival, and Lyricafest.
She holds degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music and Florida State University. Her principal teachers include William Preucil and Frank Huang.
Lindsey
Baggett
Houston Symphony Community-Embedded Musicians
Madeline Howard
Madeline Howard is a clarinetist and educator currently pursuing dual Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Performance and Music Education at Michigan State University. Since 2022 she has taught private clarinet lessons, working with students of all ages to develop strong fundamentals, effective practice strategies, and overall musical confidence. She also serves as a clarinet instructor at the Michigan State University Community Music School in Detroit, where she leads group classes for beginning and intermediate clarinetists ages 9–17. In this role, she focuses on cultivating strong technique while encouraging collaboration, creativity, and a lifelong love of music. In addition to her clarinet teaching, Madeline has contributed to early childhood music education by substituting for general music and piano classes, where she supported young learners in exploring rhythm, movement, and musical expression in developmentally appropriate ways. These experiences have further strengthened her communication, adaptability, and commitment to meeting the needs of students at varying stages of their musical journey. Madeline is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment where students of all ages and backgrounds can thrive as musicians, develop confidence, and experience the joy of making music together.
Madeline Howard
Michigan State University Community Music School Detroit
Maria Requena
Maria Requena (she/they) is a queer Latina artist and educator based in Chicago. Maria leads several music projects, including her band Sunflower Summit and Chicago Songwriter Club. Writing music that hits right in the feels, their mission is to encourage spaces of community and connection. Maria teaches music in after school programing with Guitars Over Guns and teaches mental health classes with Hope For The Day. Additionally, she is very active with Palenque LSNA, and volunteers with them often to create safe spaces in the Latino community.
Maria
Requena
Guitars Over Guns Organization- Chicago
Maria Lobreau
Maria started her journey with music at an early age on xylophone in Pre-K rhythm band. She learned to play piano, violin and French horn throughout her school years. Music has opened the doors for Maria to meet others, play in various ensembles and travel the world. Maria played in the Edmonton All City Concert Band, Edmonton Youth Orchestras and the University of Alberta Academy of Strings, and currently plays with Wye Strings Ensemble, Divertimento, Jamwagon Collective, and teaches Suzuki community violin students at UofA Augustana Campus, and is in her 2nd year as Violin Teaching Artist with YONA Sistema, Winspear. Maria holds a BSc, Family Studies Degree from the University of Alberta, and Grade 9 RCM Piano, Grade 8 RCM Violin and Theory/Harmony IV. Her career working with individuals of all ages has evolved over the year allowing her to work in various cities, communities, settings and capacities with individuals over the life span. Maria enjoys a wide range of musical genres and loves to compose simple melodies on piano and violin. She values her family, family pets, faith, and close friends as well as a variety of activities such as hiking, camping, cooking, curling and biking.
Maria
Lobreau
Youth Orchestra of Northern Alberta (YONA)
Melinda Messore
Melinda Messore has been teaching piano since 2003, when she started a home studio at the behest of a parent friend, with the support of her piano mentor.
She joined Ethos Music Center in 2005 and has carried 25-35 individual lessons a week, created and instructed some group piano classes and been a teacher at annual keyboard summer camps ever since.
Three years ago she joined SE Community Music Center as the group piano class instructor, where she has an additional 35 students or so ranging in ages from 6 to H.S.
Two years ago, she added adults to her teaching schedule, as part of Multnomah Arts Center.
She studies raga on zoom (since Covid) which she began learning in a group singing class a few years prior to the shut down. Her interest overlapped with her participation a concurrent small group that sang some of Hazrat Inayat Khan's music in person and then on-line.
She has a Masters in Teaching from Lewis and Clark College.
She is the mom of a senior in college and resides with her family in Portland, Oregon, which she has been happy to call home since 1996.
She grew up in Washington D.C. where she enjoyed being a volunteer radio producer and co-host for several years in the early 1990's at WPFW, Jazz and Justice.
She started studying piano at the age of 6.
Melinda
Messore
Ethos Music Center
Najeeb Sabour
Najeeb Sabour is a New Orleans-born, Texas-raised, "Southern" American, cellist, and singer-songwriter, mindfulness facilitator and music educator. Najeeb combines his education in classical and contemporary music along with his cultural experiences to shape his eclectic style of teaching and composing music. Pulled from a diverse background of communities and molded into his own style of performing , Najeeb navigates students and audiences through a bold and unique journey of modern storytelling.
Najeeb began playing the cello at age 9, and credits representation as a huge factor in his motivation. "I remember witnessing lots of underprivileged kids, like myself, getting the opportunity to escape the current environment and play music all around the country. I was immediately drawn to that energy." Najeeb was able to receive a scholarship providing free lessons for people of color and studied with the principal cellist of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Having a path out of a challenging environment, Najeeb received scholarships to the Boston Tanglewood Institute and the Aspen Music Festival and went on to achieve first prize at the Dallas All-City Competition and the Dallas Symphonic Competition, debuting as a soloist with the Dallas City Orchestra.
Growing up as an African American and learning a classical instrument, it was apparent early on that Najeeb was reaching for more of a way to express his own culture through music. He began writing his own songs that told stories and later found that telling historical stories was a more emotional way of understanding and connecting to his own history. In addition to creating contemporary art, Najeeb has received many prestigious classical awards and had the opportunity to represent The United States as an Ambassador of Music for the U.S. Department of Cultural Affairs, American Music Abroad program and was chosen to work with Turkmenistan, a dictatorship in central Asia. Along with the U.S embassy he created programming including mindfulness workshops, teaching artist masterclasses and performed a collaborated composition with the National Turkmenistan Conservatory.
Najeeb’s passion for telling black stories stems from his drive to discover untold history.. Najeeb has been commissioned to create music for many historically black stories including dances, films, museums and hotel performance art installations.
As an alumni of the Dallas Symphony’s Young Strings program Najeeb is humbled to be working with the DSO’s Young Musicians program using his passion for music and service to give back to a organization that has allowed him to fulfill his own dreams.
Najeeb
Sabour
Dallas Symphony Young Musicians
Nathalia Boeira
Nathalia Boeira is a Brazilian flutist and passionate music educator, currently based in California. Known for her lyrical tone and expressive musicality, Nathália began her flute studies in 2009 in Caxias do Sul, Brazil, through social projects and youth orchestras dedicated to training young musicians—many coming from public schools.
She has held the position of flute and piccolo player with the Caxias do Sul Municipal Wind Orchestra since 2016 and has performed as a guest artist with numerous orchestras and ensembles across the state of Rio Grande do Sul. An experienced and versatile teacher, she has been working with students of all ages and levels since 2019, both in private settings and through community-based programs.
Nathalia earned her Bachelor’s degree in Flute Performance from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), one of Brazil’s most respected institutions, studying under Prof. Dr. Leonardo Winter. During her studies, she participated in masterclasses with internationally acclaimed flutists including Tom Ottar Andreassen, Michel Bellavance, Christopher Lee, Christine Beard, Nicole Esposito, Elena Cecconi, Jorge Salgado, and Suzanne Snizek.
Her performance experience spans chamber music, solo repertoire, and orchestral settings. She has been featured in numerous music festivals throughout Brazil and was a finalist in the 2021 Aldo Parisot Competition. Nathalia has collaborated with a wide range of instrumentalists and vocalists, and she was a member of the UFRGS Academic Orchestra from 2020 to 2021.
Dedicated to music education, Nathalia has taught flute and recorder in several nonprofit programs and private schools, including the UCS Youth Orchestra, Mais Música RS, Teutônia Cultural Project, and the Vacaria Symphony Orchestra—bringing classical music education to communities of all ages across southern Brazil.
She recently completed a Performer Certificate at La Sierra University in Riverside, California, under the mentorship of Dr. Martin Glicklich. She also serves as a flute instructor at the Vienna Music Institute (Irvine, CA) and teaches and conducts at the Riverside Arts Academy. In 2024, she began formal conducting studies under Dr. Giovanni Santos and in the Fall of 2025 she will start a Performance Certificate in Wind Conducting under Dr. Christine Lundahl.
Nathalia
Boeira
Riverside Arts Academy
Nestor Mercado-Garcia
Nestor Mercado-Garcia is an active percussion educator, performer, and Clinician in the area. Outside of school, Mr. Mercado teaches private lessons, is the training cultural manager at a musical foundation called Caribe Jazz Kids in Cartagena, Colombia, plays drum set at church and other groups where many musical styles are needed such as Latin music, Afro beats, acoustic sets, among others. His professional affiliations include the Percussive Arts and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
Nestor
Mercado-Garcia
Dallas Symphony Young Musicians
Niamh Bloomer
Niamh is a classical and Irish traditional musician from Castlewellan, Co. Down. She graduated from the University of Glasgow with a Bachelor of Music with Honours, where she held the Sir Thomas Beecham scholarship for instrumental performance. She was the concertmaster of the University of Glasgow’s student-run orchestra from 2019-20, and received sponsorship to travel to Marseille, France, to participate as a first violinist in the CIVIS European University Alliance as one of three orchestral representatives for the UK, performing in La Criée National Theatre.
Niamh believes in continuous professional development, and has benefitted from teacher training with Sistema Scotland, the Benedetti Foundation, and Sound Waves SCIO. She has taught violin for Sistema program Big Noise in Scotland, and now lives in Ottawa where she teaches with Sistema program OrKidstra.
Niamh
Bloomer
OrKidstra
Nico Carter
Nico is a composer and pianist who trained at Oberlin Conservatory under Lewis Nielsen and Josh Levine. He has studied composition and theory with John Orffe of Alarm Will Sound, and jazz/blues with Robin Eubanks and Andrew Lawrence. Nico has written for film, musicals, and composes beats for transient artists in Chicago. Nico was the winner for the MTNA Young Artists Composition contest for Pennsylvania for his piece, Invoice. He currently performs with Dúo Armónico and Okay, Kiddos. He is the creator of The Juicebox, a music program that partners with Chicago Hopes For Kids, providing music and expressive education to youth experiencing homelessness.
Nico
Carter
The People's Music School
Octavio Mujica
Octavio Mujica is a Venezuelan-American cellist recognized for his expressive versatility and dedication to music education. He holds a Master’s degree in Modern Cello and a Professional Studies Certificate in Baroque Cello from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied with leading performers in both historical and contemporary performance practice.
A graduate of Venezuela’s renowned El Sistema, Octavio’s early training fostered his lifelong commitment to the social impact of music. He has performed with ensembles including the Simón Bolívar Orchestra of Táchira, the SFCM Baroque Ensemble, the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra, and has appeared at major festivals such as the Aspen Music Festival and the Oregon Bach Festival. His artistry has been recognized with multiple honors, including Latin Grammy Foundation Scholarships, the Cervantes Talent Award, several institutional prizes, and first prize in the SFCM Baroque Concerto Competition.
Based in the Bay Area, Octavio is a teaching artist with the San Francisco Symphony’s Adventures in Music (AIM) program and Enriching Lives through Music (ELM), an El Sistema–inspired youth orchestra. Equally at home on modern and period instruments, his work bridges centuries of musical tradition, guided by a focus on connection, creativity, and community.
Octavio
Mujica
Enriching Lives through Music
Olivia Quintanilla
Olivia Quintanilla is a Twin Cities based cellist, composer and teacher. Quintanilla's musical activity in the Twin Cities as a modern cellist and collaborator allows her to explore her own musicianship and virtuosity by going outside the box of the traditional concepts of acoustic cello playing. In 2012, Quintanilla graduated from Lawrence University with a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance. She studied Classical cello solo repertoire, chamber music and Jazz.
Since moving to Minneapolis in August of 2012, Quintanilla has been a part of many musical and teaching endeavors, including her primary band Useful Jenkins, a contemporary acoustic jamgrass band and the GYCYS Harmony program. She has been a private music teacher of cello, violin, improvisation and theory in Minneapolis since 2014 ranging from all ages and an emphasis on beginner to intermediate levels. In 2019 she joined Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony (GTCYS) Harmony program as a teaching artist, helping serve up to 75 second-fifth graders in a barrier-free beginner string program that meets before school at Riverview Spanish Immersion Elementary School.
Olivia Quintanilla
Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies
Salam Cross
Salam The Poet is a Spoken Word artist from the southeast side of Chicago. Writing for over over a decade a piece. Salam uses his craft to spread dope energy through creativity, affirmation, and interaction. Salam’s talent has taken him to stages as big as Bantu Fest, 24/7 Hip Hop’s ‘Check Da Mic’, Columbia College Chicago’s ‘Manifest’, and The Broward Center for Performing Arts, to spaces as small as High School classrooms, family gatherings, and various community events. Since then, his endeavors have lead him to becoming the host of his own open mic called ‘Spit Yo Peace’, the first Poet Laureate for the Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater, as well as 1/6 of the artistic conglomerate ‘The Goat Pen Society’ where he continues to use art, affirmation, energy, and interaction to reach people while simultaneously creating a community safe space.
Salam
Cross
Guitars Over Guns Organization- Miami
Samantha Arizpe
Samantha Arizpe is a professional violinist and music educator in the Greater Houston area, with more than 10 years of experience in private teaching and youth mentorship. A Houston native, she began her early music training at Parker Elementary and Meyerland Middle School before attending the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance from the University of Houston and a Master’s degree from Florida State University, where she studied under Dr. Shannon Thomas.
During her collegiate years, Samantha distinguished herself as an active performer and scholar, earning numerous awards and scholarships, including the Clara Freshour Nelson Music Scholarship, the Richard Y. Grant Scholarship, and a full scholarship from the Helen B. Olshan Fellowship to participate in the Texas Music Festival Orchestral Institute. She also served as Assistant Concertmaster for the Moores School Ballet and Opera Orchestra and held the same leadership role with the Florida State University Chamber Orchestra.
Samantha’s musical journey began in mariachi and ballet folklorico, experiences that deeply shaped her artistry and stage presence. She has performed at prestigious events such as the Latin Grammys, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Mariachi Competition, and Mariachi Espectacular de Albuquerque. Her career has brought her opportunities to collaborate with distinguished Latin artists, including Grammy-winning Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, Amanda Miguel, Jorge Celedón, Diego Verdaguer, and Yolanda del Río.
Equally dedicated to education, Samantha has made significant contributions to youth music programs across Houston. She has served as a faculty artist for the American Festival of the Arts Chamber Academy and Summer Festival, and has mentored students through Virtuosi of Houston. She has played a key role with the Houston Youth Symphony’s El Sistema-inspired CODA program, which provides group violin instruction to Title I schools, teaching nearly 50–60 students annually at Ridgemont and Blueridge Elementary Schools. She also serves as the acting FBISD liaison for CODA, helping build sustainable access to music education for underserved communities.
As a performer, Samantha has held positions as section violinist with the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and assistant principal second violin with the Galveston Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed with Sinfonia Gulf Coast, the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, the Texas Medical Center Orchestra, and collaborated with members of the Sphinx Organization.
Today, Samantha holds a tenured position as principal second violin with the Symphony of Southeast Texas in Beaumont, TX, where she continues to perform regularly while balancing her work as an educator and mentor.
Beyond her career, Samantha enjoys traveling, exploring Houston’s coffee scene, and spending time with family and friends. Her journey reflects a lifelong commitment to performance, education, and expanding access to music for the next generation of young artists.
Samantha Arizpe
Houston Youth Symphony Coda Music Program
Samara McDermid
Samara McDermid graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. She now is a teacher of voice, piano, general music, dance, and acting.
She is a frequent music director and choreographer with local theaters in the Chicagoland area.
Samara McDermid
Chicago Center for Music Education (ChiME)
Sarah Jenkins
Sarah Jenkins is an authentic musician and educator who offers instruction in singing, piano, and general music. With a wide range of experiences paired with a Bachelor of Music Education degree, Sarah brings innovative ways for her students to experience music. Teaching in both public and private schools, she organized and executed a PreK-8 music program at Durkin Park Elementary and currently does at DuPage Montessori School. Sarah is also a teaching artist at The People’s Music School, a free music school for students in the greater Chicago area. She believes in allowing students to explore their individual relationship to music and how it connects to the rest of the world around them.
Using compassion to guide the pace, Sarah enjoys bringing relevant material to all of her students. Whether it's during a weekly choir rehearsal or during a regular music class, she truly enjoys connecting with the students and forming relationships. She has coordinated large musical performances with all students in a school, covering music and other show elements. Dabbling in directing, she has also helped to revive the arts and theater program at DuPage Montessori School by spearheading a production of The Wizard of Oz. During the week, Sarah enjoys bringing general music to students of all ages and abilities. Watching them grow as musicians and people is Sarah’s favorite part of being a music educator. With 4 years of eclectic experience, she is comfortable with individual and group instruction. Sarah is excited to continue to grow her craft both as a musician and an educator.
Sarah
Jenkins
The People's Music School
Sonia Rivera
Originally from Colombia, Sonia is an Ottawa-based musician and music educator specializing in violin. She earned her Bachelor of Music with Honours in Education from the Industrial University of Santander (UIS) in 2017. In 2019, she completed a Graduate Diploma in Violin Performance at the University of Ottawa, followed by a Master of Arts in Music and Culture from Carleton University in 2021.
Sonia has performed with several notable ensembles, including the Symphonic Orchestra of the Autonomous University of Bucaramanga (UNAB), the Young UNAB Orchestra, the string quartet Aniri, and the Kanata Symphony Orchestra. Deeply influenced by her musical upbringing, Sonia was immersed in traditional Colombian Andean music through her family and was actively involved with the ensemble Corazón Santandereano, which helped shape her deep appreciation for Colombian cultural heritage.
In the spring of 2022, Sonia was selected as one of 40 teachers worldwide to participate in the prestigious Firebird Fellowship offered by the Academy for Impact through Music (AIM). Since then, she has continued her engagement through the Fellowship’s Alumni Track and Fire Up Program, participating in ongoing initiatives that promote music as a tool for social change.
Sonia joined the OrKidstra family in 2018 as a Violin Teaching Artist Assistant and has since grown into leadership roles including Violin Teaching Artist, Teaching Artist & Program Facilitator, and currently serves as Strings Artistic Manager. In these roles, she has led numerous workshops within OrKidstra and facilitated sessions through the Sistema Canada Network, including participation in the Mentorship Program in 2024. Most recently, in 2025, Sonia participated in a cultural exchange program with the National Arts Centre Orchestra to Japan, further expanding her commitment to cross-cultural musical collaboration and learning.
In addition to her work with OrKidstra, Sonia runs a private violin studio in Ottawa. She enjoys spending time outdoors, connecting with loved ones, and dancing. Sonia remains a passionate advocate for the transformative power of music and feels honored to contribute to its impact in the lives of young people.
Sonia
Caceres Rivera
OrKidstra
Sydney Ballensky
Based in Baltimore, Maryland, Sydney Ballensky is a horn player and music teacher currently serving as an Upper Brass and Musicianship Teaching Artist at Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s OrchKids program. Growing up in Indiana, Sydney began playing the horn at 10 years old, motivated by her horn player sister, Sam. From there, she found continuous inspiration from her horn teachers Kent Leslie and Gail Lewis, driving her to professionally pursue horn playing and music education. Sydney began teaching beginning horn students during her final year of high school and has continued to do so today. In 2023, she received her Bachelor of Music degree in Horn Performance from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University Bloomington, studying with Jeff Nelsen. During her time at Jacobs, Sydney participated in a plethora of ensembles, ranging from wind ensembles and orchestras to various chamber groups and even playing in a big band rotation. Additionally, she was a member of both the Conductor’s Orchestra and the Harmonie Octet, ensembles used as pedagogical tools for student conductors. Sydney is committed to providing equitable access to the same rich musical education she was given from an early age. Outside of music, she enjoys hiking, baking, and spending time with her cat, Panda.
Sydney
Ballensky
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra OrchKids
Tanya Katleya Guerrero
Tanya Katleya Guerrero is a bilingual music educator and proud Colombian-American from Chicago who began working professionally in music at the age of 16. Tanya has performed across a wide range of genres—including Classical, Jazz, Musical Theatre, R&B, Rock, and Metal—but her deepest passion lies in the Latin music she grew up with. She is thrilled to share the joy, rhythm, and culture of Latin music just as it was shared with her.
Tanya Katleya Guerrero
Merit School of Music
Theo Garcia
Theo Garcia is a trumpet and piano teacher with a Bachelor's degree in Jazz Studies from Ball State. He has 3 years of teaching experience and over 15 years of playing experience. Theo was 1 of 10 semi-finalists for the 2023 ITG Jazz Competition, and has played at internationally renown venues like Dizzy's Club in New York and the Jazz Kitchen in Indy. Music Education is something that is very dear to Theo, and he strongly believes that it is never too late (or early) to begin learning music. Patience, Kindness and Encouragement are pillars of his teaching philosophy. His goal is to help students become lifelong musicians by cultivating curiosity and joy in his students; music is meant to be fun!
Theo
Garcia
El Sistema Indianapolis
Timothy Blackman
Timothy Blackman is an award winning multi-instrumentalist, producer, and filmmaker from Cleveland, OH. Prior to moving to Los Angeles, he honed his musical skills in Detroit, MI. His film and music work has been recognized both regionally and nationally through collaborations with ESPN, the Kresge Foundation, Cottage Life TV (Canada) and others.
His musical accolades include two 2021 Detroit Music Awards (DMA) Nominations as an Outstanding Rap Producer and Outstanding Rap Composer. He was also a three-time 2020 DMA Nominee as an Outstanding Urban Musician, Outstanding Rap Composer, & Outstanding Rap Producer. He also received an award for Best Cinematography in the 2022 Silicon Beach Film Festival in Hollywood, CA.
Timothy Blackman
White Hall Arts Academy
Wesley Rice
Wesley Rice is a Vocal/General Music teacher for Jenks Public Schools and a Fundamentals teacher for Sistema Tulsa. He has taught at Sistema on and off for 2 years, and is entering his first year in public education with Jenks Public Schools. He has obtained two Bachelors Degrees from Oklahoma State University, one in Music Industry and another in Vocal Music Education.
Wesley
Rice
Sistema Tulsa
Zoë Douthit
Zoë Douthit was born and raised in New York City where she attended Third Street Music School, studying the cello at the young age of 4. Throughout her educational career she studied under the instruction of Sibylle Johner, Mary Jo Pagano, Founder of Chamber Music Center of New York, and performed in master classes taught by Stefan Kartman, Professor of Cello and Chamber Music at the University of Wisconsin and Anthony McGill, Principal Clarinetist for the New York Philharmonic. After graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Pedagogy in the spring of 2021 from Wheaton College, she began teaching at the Chicago Center for Music Education as the early childhood music instructor and cello instructor. She is also the Program Chair in the private lesson program, working closely with teachers, students and student's families.
When she is not teaching she enjoys traveling and partcipating in baroque music festivals and institutes as well as making coffees and teas in a local coffee shop in Lincoln Park.