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Teaching from the Heart: A Conversation with Teacher Catarina

Q & A w/ Teacher Catarina

Be curious—listen to yourself each day. Be consistent with practicing, even if it’s just 15 minutes. And stay confident that every time you practice, you’re improving. Follow the “Three C’s”: Curiosity, Consistency, Confidence.

We sat down with our cello teacher, Teacher Catarina for a Q&A. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Royal Northern College of Music, and a Master’s degree from the Peabody Conservatory.

How old were you when you started taking music lessons and what was your first instrument?

I started piano lessons at 6, but even earlier, I’d play the ukulele with my uncle, which was my first taste of making music. Those early days were full of joy and discovery!

Who/what inspired you to become a musician and music teacher?

My uncle sparked my passion for music, but it was my beloved cello teacher, Karine Georgian, who inspired me to teach, showing me the profound impact a dedicated mentor can have.

Who or what have been the most important influences on your musical life and career?

Many wonderful cellists have shaped my musical path—Jaqueline Du Pré, Rostropovich, Misha Maisky, Daniil Shafran, and Yo-Yo Ma, among others, each offering unique artistry and depth.

Tell us about your musical and teaching background.

Born in Portugal, I studied music in Portugal, England, and the United States. Each place introduced me to different teaching philosophies and allowed me to connect deeply with students of various ages and cultures.

Is there a particular piece of music or composer that you feel especially connected to, and why?

I love discovering new music every day, as each piece brings something fresh to enjoy and explore. I believe music is an endless journey of discovery

Do you have important ideas and concepts to impart to aspiring musicians?

Find the love in what you do, and it will carry you through any challenge. Passion is the most powerful motivation.

What do you love most about teaching?

Seeing a student’s "lightbulb moment" is everything. Helping them solve problems and grow is incredibly rewarding.

Do you have a practice tip you want to share with our students?

Be curious—listen to yourself each day. Be consistent with practicing, even if it’s just 15 minutes. And stay confident that every time you practice, you’re improving. Follow the “Three C’s”: Curiosity, Consistency, Confidence.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not teaching, practicing, or performing?

I love discovering new hiking trails with my husband and dog, working in the garden, tackling DIY projects, and keeping active with exercise.

Celebrating Excellence: The New Mozart Honor Roll 2025

Congratulations to New Mozart Honor Students 2025!

At New Mozart, we believe that true musical excellence isn’t just about talent—it’s shaped by passion, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to growth. This year’s Honor Roll students have exemplified these qualities, dedicating themselves to their craft and reaching remarkable milestones in their musical journeys.

Each student on the New Mozart Honor Roll has been carefully hand-selected by their teachers as the best from their studios, a recognition of their exceptional dedication, skill, and artistry. Through tireless practice, resilience, and a deep love for music, they have pushed their limits and achieved something truly special.

Join us in celebrating these outstanding musicians who remind us of the power of music to transform, inspire, and connect us all.

New Mozart Distinguished Honor Students 2025

We are proud to celebrate the dedication and musical excellence of the 2025 New Mozart Distinguished Honor Students. In recognition of their outstanding achievements, these students will be awarded certificates and have the opportunity to perform at the prestigious New Mozart Honors Recital.

Yohann Aaron-Pracht
Tanisha Aron
Kenneth Baker
Jacob Bau
Malaika Boros
Paloma Boros
Alice Cavalotti
Maidi Crawford
Jackson Dann
Declan Dorsey
Paloma Fatehi
Paxon Fatehi
Madeleine Gifford
Quin Guedelhoefer
Ella Hoy
Neil Iyer
Ayan Iyer
Eleanor Jiang
Jacob Jonson
Kai Knutson
Elsa Lagerblad
Aahana Lal
Carina Lee
Eleanor Lee
Elijah Leppert
Asher Leppert
Yazan Massarweh
Aaron McLaughlin Rodrigues
Malhar Nair
Shaun Ng
Sherrie Osborne
Michael Petrov
Valentina Price
James Reagan
Evelyn Ren
Lillian Ren
Will Rinne
Alivia Romanovsky
Carina Ruiz
Annelise Sailer
Matias Santisteban
Samanvika Sentil
Leo Shang
Michael Shikin
Adalyn Tao
Kyle Tokiwa
Wesley Tsai
Elizabeth Wahl
Mikkel Wiedmann
Fan Yang
Ayla Yarnall
Lisa Zhang
Stella Zhang
Haha Zhang
Annabel Zhao

New Mozart Honor Students 2025

We proudly celebrate the accomplishments of the 2025 New Mozart Honor Students. Their dedication and passion for music have earned them this special recognition, and they will be awarded certificates in honor of their achievements.

Katherine Cieslewicz
Kaviarasan Hovland
Zacharie Aaron-Pracht
Aesta Abraham
Arnav Agarwal
Ayaana Ahmed
Rebecca Armenta
Arabella Aryanto
Aino Bach
Alexia Bach
Brock Bakan
Sarah Baker
Alex Burch
Ettore Caragiulo
Laure Cetin
Aresa Chakraborty
David Chan
Sherilyn Chan
Bella Chang
Aiden Chao-Parvizi
Kashvi Chatrath
Charlotte Chen
Claire Cheng
Artem Cherniata
Penelope Cheung
Wyatt Chu
Kai Chung
Myra Dangaria
Avarya Das
Dhriti Deepak
Ria Dinesh
Zara Donepudi
Alan Dong
Grace Du
Fharzana Elankumaran
Emily Emerich
Timothy Feng
Jimmy Gao
Alta Gellar
Liam Gibo
Kyra Ginwalla
Caspian Gomes
Phoebe Gorlick
Tanush Goyal
Zaara Gupta
Subi Gupta
Austin Guydish
Arash Hakimi
Farida Hassan
Tianqi He
Mary Hodgett-Chiang
Pierce Howard
Avni Jain
Anya Jain
Avni Jain
Gaurav Jain
Aiden Jamiolkowski
Adam Ji
Eleanor Jiang
Isla Jonson
Hana Jovanovych
Lisette Kanada
Colette Kanada
Luna Karnadi
Viraj Kashyap
Belinda Kim
Sophie Ko
Rihito Koshimizu
Sofiia Kotsiuban
Achintya Kowshik
Adya Kumar
Toran Lento
Yara Leprince
Jackson Leung
Anna Leventopoulos
Michael Li
Iris Liao
Angela Lim
Taylor Liu
Alexander Lou
Leonardo Luh
Dorian Luo
Saanvi Madhok
Riaan Madhok
Sophia Maisano
Elizabeth (Leeza) March
Xavier Martinez
Luna Matin
Kian Matin
Meera Mediratta
Arya Mishra
Leonie Moltmann
Shyam Murali
Saina Narayan
Aveen Nassiri Toussi
Brienne Neil
Oscar Nie
Serena Pang
Colin Pao
Eva Petrova
Rhea Prakash
Noah Purkey
Khyl Putcha
Theo Quinn
Rohan Raghava
Harrison Rampell
Alex Rampell
Lilian Ren
Jack Rosen
Lily Sazdanoff
Emmett Seeger
Maya Sevinc
Everett Shim
Ian Shwarz
Maya Sinha
Anoushka Sinha
Andrew Stevenson
Julian Su
Ivy Su
Elenore Sweeting
Ariana Tang
Anita Tran
Adam Tsagaan
Andreas Tsantilas
Ellinor Urban
Emilia Valdes
Otto Van Roessel
Nathan Vaughan
Matias Velasquez
Libertat Viadiu
Vedika Vivek
Hugo Vu
Marcus Vu
Levi Walter
Betty Wang
Elliott Ward-Shaw
Evelyn Wei
Grace Weir
Alison Wiesner
Lourdes Wong
Kate Wong
Zara Wong
Lana Wong
Bruce Xu
Sophia Yan
Indigo Young
Spencer Young
Alice Zhang
Alex Zhou

New Mozart Students Debut at Vienna’s Legendary Musikverein

First photo by Kyungmi Shin. All other photos by Dieter Nagl

We can’t believe it’s already been a few months since we performed at Musikverein!

In July, a group of talented New Mozart students took center stage at the world renowned Musikverein in Vienna, making their highly anticipated debut.

Performing at the Musikverein, a venue renowned for its exceptional acoustics and rich musical history, was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the New Mozart students. Months of intense practice and dedication culminated in a concert where New Mozart students delivered a diverse and captivating program.

This concert was a dream come true for all of us. To stand on the same stage where world’s musical giants once stood was a moment that will be forever etched in our memories.

Congratulations to New Mozart’s Vienna Performers for your exceptional debut at Musikverein!

Last photo by Kyungmi Shin. All other photos by Dieter Nagl

Inspring Q & A w/Dr. Yang

Q & A w/ Dr. Yang

One of my main messages to aspiring musicians is to approach music as a journey, not a destination. It’s important to cultivate patience, persistence, and self-compassion.

We sat down with our violin/viola teacher extraordinaire, Dr. Yang for a Q&A. She holds a Master’s degree from the Shanghai Conservatory, a second Master’s degree from the Peabody Conservatory, and a Doctorate from the University of Minnesota.

How old were you when you started taking music lessons and what was your first instrument?

I started to learn the violin when I was 3 and a half years old. My mom and I watched the televised Vienna New Year's concert. I told her I wanted to play “that thing on TV” too. So my mom started buying me a violin and looking for a teacher. Later when I entered the Conservatory, I learned more about the viola and grew to love it. So I started to learn the viola performance professionally until I graduated with my doctoral.

Who/what inspired you to become a musician and music teacher?

From an early age, music was a central part of my life, inspired by both my family’s love for music and the dedication of my music teachers. Their passion and support made me see the beauty and power of music, and I wanted to help others experience that same joy. As I grew, I found that teaching allowed me to combine my love for music with my desire to make a positive impact in people’s lives, and pass on the beauty of music.

Who or what have been the most important influences on your musical life and career?

Throughout my career, I've been influenced by several wonderful mentors who taught me not just technique, but also how to be expressive and thoughtful in my playing. Each teacher inspired me and taught me in their unique way. This enriched my understanding of teaching and made me very good at adapting my teaching style in time for different students. They instilled in me the importance of expression and perseverance. This has improved my professional abilities and has also shaped my personality, making me a more resilient person at the same time.

Tell us about your musical and teaching background.

I studied music formally, earning two master's degrees at Shanghai Conservatory and Peabody Institute, and a doctor's degree at the University of Minnesota. My journey includes both solo and professional orchestral performances, which have enriched my understanding of different musical styles and settings. Teaching became a natural extension of my passion for music. I have over 15 years of teaching experience. Working with a diverse range of students, from beginners to advanced musicians. I teach students as young as four, focusing on creating a nurturing environment where they can learn the fundamentals, build confidence, and develop a genuine love for music.

Do you have important ideas and concepts to impart to aspiring musicians?

One of my main messages to aspiring musicians is to approach music as a journey, not a destination. It’s important to cultivate patience, persistence, and self-compassion. Growth in music doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a gradual process that requires both technical skill and emotional connection to the music. I also encourage students to explore creativity and expression in their practice, making music something personal and meaningful to them.

What do you love most about teaching?

Teaching allows me to witness and contribute to each student’s unique journey of growth and discovery. I love seeing students develop not only their technical skills but also a deep appreciation for music. Helping students overcome challenges, watching their confidence grow, and seeing them find joy in their accomplishments is incredibly rewarding. Teaching also lets me share my passion and continue learning myself, as each student brings something unique to the learning process.

Do you have a practice tip you want to share with our students?

One of the most effective practice tips I can offer is to set small, achievable goals for each practice session. Rather than just focusing on time, aim to accomplish specific tasks—whether it’s mastering a challenging phrase, improving intonation, or working on rhythm. Also, incorporate focused listening and take breaks to avoid mental fatigue. Consistent, thoughtful practice is far more valuable than mindlessly going through the motions.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not teaching, practicing, or performing?

Outside of music, I enjoy activities that allow me to relax and recharge. I love reading, exploring new genres of literature, and spending time outdoors. I also find inspiration in attending live performances and learning from other art forms.

Student Highlight - Jacob Jonson, Winner of 2nd Prize at Wien Competition

1. What is your name and how old are you? My name is Jacob Jonson, I am 13 years old.

2. How long have you been studying music and how old were you when you first started? I have been studying music for around 10 years, I began studying at 3 1/2 years old with a private teacher in San Carlos. I started at New Mozart at 6 years old.

3. Who is your teacher? I am currently studying with Teacher Ludmila.

4. What pieces are you currently working on? I am working on Liebstraume no 3 by Liszt and czerny etudes.

5. How often do you practice? I practice around 5-10 hours a week

6. Why do you love music? I love music because it makes me happy, I enjoy it, and it relieves any stresses or worries that I have.

7. Tell us about some of your recent accomplishments. I won 1st prize in the Golden Classical international Competition and 2nd prize in the BTHVN Wien (Beethoven Vienna) Competition. I also performed at Musikverein at New Mozart's 20th Year Anniversary concert in Vienna over the summer.

8. What are some things you like doing besides music? Outside of music, I play two sports: basketball and baseball. I am also on my schools competitive academic decathlon team where I won 1st place for my school in the San Francisco regional competition. On the weekends I go fishing with my grandparents and during the summer my family and I travel the world.

9. What do you want to be when you grow up? When I grow up I want to be a patent attorney. I’m passionate about law but I am also very good at math and science which is what someone needs if they want to go into intellectual property law. This field excites me because it combines both legal expertise and scientific knowledge, allowing me to work on the cutting edge of technology and innovation. My goal is to attend Harvard Law School or Yale Law School to achieve this dream.

From New Mozart to Yale - Congratulations Claire Spence

From New Mozart to Yale University!

Meet Claire, our talented pianist who joined us when she was just 2 years old. After completing the Harmony Road program at age 5, she continued her piano study with Dr. Alexander. She won numerous competitions and is now off to Yale this fall! We couldn't be prouder and will miss her dearly. Congratulations Claire!

What instrument did you study at New Mozart and for how long? I have been a student at the New Mozart School of Music for 16 years. I started in the Harmony Road class at 2 years old, and went on to study piano with Dr. Alexander for 13 years

Which high school did you attend? I recently graduated from a French-American bilingual high school called the Lycée Français de San Francisco (LFSF).

What are you doing next? I am attending Yale University where I study English literature and poetry and continue studying music.

Tell us about your experience of learning music at New Mozart and how it has impacted your life. I have been a student at the New Mozart School of Music for as long as I can remember. I am so grateful to all of the teachers and staff who in many ways have watched me grow up. Teacher Alexander has been a real treasure. He was able to make piano lessons fun with his jokes and life advice, and always prepared me to play my best and win competitions. I grew so much thanks to him as a pianist, a musician, and even as a person, and I will always remember him with gratitude and love. To my family, he was much more than just a teacher, he was a dear friend. I have learned so much at New Mozart starting from the Harmony Road class where I was singing and playing my first notes on the piano to Teacher Alexander's advanced music theory lessons which were instrumental in my getting a top score on the AP music theory exam. Most importantly I learned how to touch others with my music. I know for certain that whatever I do in the future, music will remain an integral part of my life. I am so thankful to my parents for connecting me to this musical world and to New Mozart for giving me the foundation to truly become a musician.

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