New Mozart's experienced and caring teachers range from college professors with doctoral degrees to Suzuki Certified violin teachers to jazz teachers to classical teachers who help students win competitions to early childhood music specialists.
Our teachers bring their passion and expertise to our students at New Mozart. New Mozart teachers continue their pedagogical development to better serve our community of budding musicians. They also continue to inspire our students by actively performing and writing their own music for local and international audiences.
All of our teachers share the common goal of spreading the joy of music and ensuring that they can help you meet your personal musical goals.
We've included teacher bios here. Many of the studios are full or nearly full. We're enrolling students daily and today's availability may differ from what you see here. Contact our office for the latest schedule and to find out which teachers are perfect for your learning goals.
Call 650 324 2373 | Text 408 520-1585
Standard = Std
Senior = Sr
Distinguished = Dist
Director = Dir
PIANO (Jazz, Pop, Great w/Children)
These are some of our most popular teachers with a strong student following. They know how to make piano fun and teach students who pursue, jazz, improvisation and popular genres and beginning to intermediate level classical students. They are wonderful with children and some are trained early childhood music specialists.
Teacher Patrick has studied piano, guitar, voice and percussion through various schools, including School of The Arts High School and San Francisco State University, as well as piano lessons with jazz masters such as Mark Little, Smith Dobson, Carlos Federico, and currently John Calloway. He teaches all ages and truly believes that he's been teaching informally since his rock days as a teenager at age 15. Formally, he has been teaching privately for about ten years, and has been with New Mozart School since 2007. Also, he is a professional musician and has been playing with various groups for the last twelve years, including his own band, Mascabeza, and others such as Benny Belard's band, Avance, Los Rumberos, and many more.
Patrick (Sr)
Teacher Valerie is a dramatic mezzo-soprano whose passion is in singing songs that enrapture the heart and mind, especially in the classical styles of Old Europe as well as with modern music. She is the Director of Music at Coast Chapel in Santa Cruz and is also a singer-songwriter whose music is an inspired blend of different genres; She is currently in the process of recording her music. Valerie has extensive experience in working with children of all ages with music, and in other various capacities. Her private piano lessons follow the Alfred Piano Method and use the concepts of the Suzuki Piano Method for playing techniques. Her voice lessons are a flexible blend of the student's desired studies as well as proper vocal exercises and techniques that will encourage a healthy development of the individual's voice over time.
Valerie (Sr)
Teacher Robbie started playing keyboards at the age of 2, and now has over 20 years of musical experience, predominantly from being self-taught, playing by ear, private lessons and studying the work of jazz and pop pianists. He has had the pleasure of playing with the likes of Ron E Beck (Tower of Power), Myron Dove (Santana), Tony Lindsay (Santana), sitting in with Napoleon Murphy Brock (Frank Zappa), Clifford Coulter, and Danny Hull (Doobie Brothers) among others, as well as studying with world-renowned jazz artist Russell Ferrante (Yellowjackets). Sensitive to creative flows and other art mediums, he has written and created several international award-winning short films and soundtracks.Robbie is enthusiastic to share his knowledge with students of various ages and experience levels, ranging from basic piano, theory, jazz improvisation, writing/composition, and music appreciation.
Robbie (Sr)
Teacher Ai-Min is an active performer and teacher. She was a recipient of fellowships to Pacific Music festival, Brevard Music Festival and Summit Music festival and served as a sectional violist in China Guiyang Symphony Orchestra and Taiwan Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra during the past few years. Her orchestral performing experience includes working with world leading musicians including Valery Gergiev, Jahja Lin, Leonidas Kavakos, Shlomo Mintz, Nemanja Radulovic, NIng Feng, Joo & Igudesman and more.
Teacher Ai Min is a devoted teacher who has been teaching students of all ages and levels since her graduation from CIM. She loves working with students from diverse cultural backgrounds. She is committed to providing a nurturing learning environment for her students to help them achieve their musical potential and goals. She has taught at the Yamaha Music Studio as well as junior high schools as a sectional coach. Ai Min is excited to join the New Mozart School of Music faculty to continue her commitment to music education.
MM. Cleveland Institute of Music
BM. Taipei Municipal University of Education
Ai-Min (Sr)
Teacher Jonathan is a Bay Area saxophonist, composer and educator. Born and raised in San Francisco, he attended the SF School of the Arts, San Jose State University and the Manhattan School of Music for graduate work. Jonathan received honors as a California Arts Scholar, California Pre-Doctoral Scholar and was awarded scholarships from the Organization of Filipino educators, SJSU school of music, and the Manhattan School of Music. He has played in Paris for a special concert and has also performed at the San Jose Jazz Festival, the Stanford Jazz Festival, the SF Filipino Jazz Festival, and at the Great American Music Hall, Davies Symphony Hall, Kuumbwa and Kimble’s. Bautista has played with James Williams, Pete Escovedo, John Santos, and others, as well as with the Monterey Bay Symphony, the Monterey Wind Symphony and the San Jose Symphony. He has studied both classical and jazz repertoire with Melecio Magdaluyo, William Trimble, Dr. Paul Cohen and Bobby Watson. Bautista performs regularly throughout the Bay Area and is available for clinics, coaching, and lessons in his woodwind studio. Jonathan plays and teaches woodwinds specializing in saxophone, clarinet, flute as well as piano. Jonathan is trained in both classical and jazz repertoire and is equally accomplished in both. He also teaches music theory, jazz harmony, improvisation and is comfortable with all musical levels and ages. In addition to private lessons, Jonathan offers group classes including beginning woodwind ensemble, jazz combo and saxophone ensemble. He has taught at San Jose State University, the SF School of the Arts, the Jazz School in Berkeley, Redwood Middle School in Los Gatos, and schools in the Santa Clara Unified School District and San Jose Unified School District.
Jonathan (Std)
Teacher Robin is an active SF-Bay Area performer and music teacher. She holds her degree in Cello Performance from the Manhattan School of Music in New York. She appears regularly with orchestras such as Monterey Symphony, Santa Rosa Symphony, Santa Cruz Symphony, Fresno Philharmonic and many others. Teacher Robin has performed in Carnegie Hall with the New England Chamber Ensemble and has also appeared on various television shows, including The Tonight Show and Good Morning America. She was a four-year consecutive winner of the Kiwanis Competition in Los Angeles. In the past, she has performed and toured with many renowned musicians such as Andrea Bocelli, Kelly Clarkson, Smokey Robinson, Johnny Mathis and others. Teacher Robin has been teaching music, (piano, cello, beginning strings), for nearly 20 years working with students of varying ages and levels of musical accomplishment, from early childhood through college level.
Robin (Sr)
Teacher Maria is a singer/songwriter born and raised in Cali, Colombia (Latin America). She came to the US to follow her passion for music and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s in Music Industry from The College of Saint Rose. Growing up, she won various singing competitions and was an opener for big music festivals in Colombia. Now, under the artist name “Ria Carval”, Maria’s debut album “Ignorance” has more than 57k streams and her main singles have reached radio, blogs, magazines, newspapers and TV appearances worldwide. Her vocal training is very diverse after experiencing classes with remarkable opera, gospel, musical theatre and even rock singers. She also learned piano at a young age, was trained on jazz and contemporary piano techniques and it is now the instrument she uses to write songs on the daily. After being a music educator for almost 3 years, Maria has discovered a passion in teaching children the magic and welcoming nature of music. In everything she does her purpose “Feel To Heal” is what makes her a great teacher. “I want my students to learn that feeling is ok, and music can become a place for them to dream, grow and embrace their uniqueness and potential”.
Maria (Std)
Teacher Mark holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Humber College, where he studied jazz guitar and specialized in songwriting and music production. His academic journey deepened his understanding of music theory and composition, while also equipping him with the tools to effectively engage and inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities.
With over seven years of teaching experience, Mark has had the privilege of working with students across a wide spectrum of ages and skill levels. He has served as a music educator in school settings with organizations such as Music For Minors, where he designed and delivered engaging music curriculum tailored to the unique needs of young learners. Mark also loves working with students one on one in private lessons where he can provide personalized instruction to students seeking to develop their musical talents and express themselves through music.
Teaching Philosophy
“My teaching philosophy revolves around creating a vibrant and engaging musical journey for children, empowered, and inspired to explore the world of music. I believe in making lessons not only educational but also fun and motivating, infusing each session with creativity, humor, and interactive activities that captivate children’s imaginations and ignite their love for music from an early age.
My primary goal is to inspire a lifelong passion for music in every child, nurturing their natural curiosity and fostering a deep appreciation for the beauty and power of music. I aim to create a nurturing and supportive environment where children feel encouraged to explore and express themselves freely through music, building their confidence and self-esteem along the way.
In addition to fostering a love of music, I am dedicated to providing children with the fundamental tools and skills they need to succeed in their musical journey. Whether it’s learning to play an instrument, understanding basic music theory concepts, or developing their singing abilities, I strive to make learning accessible, engaging, and enjoyable for young learners.
Above all, I believe in creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment where every child has a chance to be heard and valued. I recognize the unique strengths and talents of each student and tailor my approach to meet their individual needs, interests, and learning styles. By encouraging collaboration, creativity, and mutual respect. By fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie, I aim to empower young children to discover their musical voice and unleash their creative potential in a safe and nurturing environment.”
Mark (Std)
Teacher Paul received his B.A. in Music from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon and studied with Vincent McDermott, a world music composer specializing in South East Asian opera and Gamelan Orchestras of Indonesia. He has studied piano with Jameson Trotter, son of Terry Trotter, the pianist for Natalie Cole; and Hiram Harvell. He has played keyboards in jazz, funk, rock, Latin and African influenced groups. In December 1997, he composed, produced, and performed a concert comprised of over 40 musicians, a mixed orchestral ensemble, a string quartet, a solo piano piece, a trio, a choir, two film scores, two jazz standards and three original fusion rock pieces. Paul has been teaching piano for over 10 years and works well with students age 5 and up. He is passionate about sharing his musical knowledge and incorporates classical, blues, Latin and jazz in his lessons.
Paul (Std)
Teacher Julia grew up in a musical family, studying violin and piano, and went on to receive a Bachelors degree at Biola Conservatory of Music , and Masters degree from Florida State University, both in Vocal Performance.
Julia performs regularly in opera and concert, most recently as the High Priestess in Aida, and as Oscar in Un Ballo in Maschera with Verismo Opera. She was also featured as the Soprano Soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Sequoia Symphony Orchestra last year, and is a member of the Opera San José chorus,
As a choral singer, she sung at the esteemed Tanglewood Music Festival in works including Falla’s La Vida Breve, Berlioz’ Damnation de Faust, and the world premiere of Harbison’s Koussevitsky Said. She also appeared with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Boston Symphony Hall.
.Julia is equally at home in the contemporary and commercial industry. While in Southern California, she worked as a session vocalist for radio and television, most notably a guest performance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Julia began teaching as a graduate assistant at Florida State University, where she worked with students in classical, broadway and contemporary repertoire. She maintained a successful private voice and piano studio for five years in Boston, and is a sought after coach and clinician for local California high school vocal ensembles. She believes in a strong technical foundation for her students, which stems from her classical background, but is also experienced in pop and contemporary music. Julia is also a superb choice for students wishing to combine piano and voice studies.
Julia (Std)
Teacher Mikaela is a talented singer whose musical journey began at the age of five. Her innate talent paved the way for incredible achievements throughout her musical journey. Starting at a young age, Mikaela has performed extensively at St. Anne's Church in San Francisco where she was also a cantor for over a decade. In 2017, Mikaela's vocal talent earned her the coveted Ms. Asian Talent crown. During her reign, she captivated audiences at galas, fundraisers, and parades. Mikaela was the Third Prize winner of the Charleston International Music Competition in 2024.
Mikaela received her Bachelor's of Art in Vocal Performance at San Jose State University under the tutelage of Christopher Bengochea. Sharing music is Mikaela's passion, and she is devoted to bringing joy to others through her voice and teaching. Her students can expect to learn the basic fundamentals of singing and develop a love for music under her expert guidance.
BA in Vocal Performance, San Jose State University
Mikaela (Std)
MM. San Francisco Conservatory of Music
BM. University of Washington
Teacher Young is dedicated to fostering a love of music in others through teaching and cultivating the next generation of cellists & pianists. With over ten years of experience teaching students of all ages and abilities, he finds immense satisfaction in sharing his knowledge to nurture their musical growth. He is also a passionate performer of both solo and chamber music.
Young began private cello lessons and joined the Hawaii Youth Orchestra at the age of 7, where he fell in love with music and embarked on his musical journey. He has continued learning ever since, and his dedication was recognized with honorable mentions in the Hawaii State Music Competition.
Teacher Young is a graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance under the guidance of award-winning cellist Saeunn Thorsteindottir. Young then honed his craft under the tutelage of renowned cellist Amos Yang at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Young (Std)
Teacher Alicia has over twenty years of experience working with children to create an inspiring musical experience and to help students achieve their musical potential. She teaches both piano and voice and is a stellar accompanist. Alicia brings her extensive background in music instruction and an innate ability to connect with students. She understands that children are emotional performers and channels this energy into great music. Alicia holds a BA in Music and a minor in Jazz from UC Santa Cruz. She has taught as a music instructor at the Montessori school in Santa Cruz and privately. She also accompanied numerous choirs at UC Santa Cruz and Cabrillo College. Alicia is acutely aware of her students’ unique personalities and their individual needs, and will develop a finely tuned plan to enrich and educate so that students can reach their highest potential! She enthusiastically welcomes parental involvement as she believes it is vital to students’ musical growth. She looks forward to creative collaborations for years to come!
Alicia (Std)
Teacher Eli is a performer, composer, and teacher with over twenty years of experience. After growing up in the SF Bay Area and developing a general musical background on several instruments and musical styles, Eli attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, then specialized in Solo Classical Guitar at San Francisco State University. Eli helps students identify their own interests and goals while ensuring a solid foundation in musical knowledge and instrument skills. Eli received Professional Diploma in Music from Berklee College of Music & Master of Music degree from San Francisco State University.
Eli (Std)
Teacher Victoria carefully crafts her lessons to each students’ needs, passing on her love of music to her students in an inspiring and engaging manner. With almost ten years of teaching experience, she brings a unique flare that is both motivating and highly successful in helping her students achieve their goals. Whether it be musical theater, pop, rock, jazz, or classical, Victoria prepares her students with healthy technique and performance skills for the stage or studio.
Alongside teaching, Victoria pursues her passion as an active classical singer, performing opera throughout the United States. She made her professional debut with Opera Southwest in 2016, playing the role of Amenaide in Rossini’s Tancredi. She holds a Master of Music degree in Voice Performance from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from the University of Arizona. Her most recent operatic roles include: Annina in Strauss II's "A Night in Venice", Susanna from Mozart’s "Le Nozze di Figaro", Esmeralda from Smetana’s "The Bartered Bride", and Lauretta from Puccini’s "Gianni Schicchi.” Over the years, Victoria has taken First Place at the 2014 Classical Singer Regional Vocal Competition and at the 2012 NATS Vocal Competition as well as Second Place at the 2012 Reiman Opera Competition.
Victoria (Std)
Teacher Susan has over thirty years of experience teaching privately to both children and adults of all ages and abilities. She has taught in the Classroom as an Elementary School Music Supervisor as well as Jr. College Music Instructor. Her degrees include a Bachelor of Music from Boston University College of Music and a Masters Degree. She is credentialed to teach Music both in Massachussetts and California and is trained in Classical and Jazz Piano as well. Besides being trained by first-rate Artists, she has performed in various venues including the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. As a professional Pianist and Teacher, she feels that good and helpful interaction between student and teacher is of utmost importance so that the love and joy of Music instills the desire to learn.
Susan (Sr)
PIANO (Exam & Competition Prep)
The following teachers are classically focused and approach teaching in more structured ways. Many of the students from these studios participate in exams, competitions and prepare for conservatory entrance. If you prefer a disciplined approach to piano learning, these teachers will be a great fit. Lessons follow the European tradition of piano pedagogy. Most require a minimum of 45 minute weekly lessons. For students participating in exams and competitions, 60-90 minute lessons are recommended.
Dr. Ilias (pronounced E-LEE-US) is a pianist, composer, and musicologist trained in Greece, England, and at Stanford University. A Stanford lecturer since 2005, he has also appeared as soloist and accompanist in local music theater productions, and has released four albums of instrumental music. He has been teaching the piano and music theory since his undergraduate years. He is joining the NMS after two years in Europe's musical capital, Berlin. His personal homage to Mozart is titled "Music Box":
Dr. Ilias (Sr)
DMA University of Minnesota | MM Cincinnati Conservatory of Music | MM Shanghai Conservatory
Dr. Wenshuai is an experienced educator and performer.
During his study, Wenshuai attended many piano festivals and music activities, such as Shanghai Conservatory of Music – International Piano Festival, Culture Exchange Performance Tour in USA and, The 1st and 2nd (Shanghai) China Russian School International Piano Festivals. Wenshuai received the Government Sponsored Scholarship for his master degree, Outstanding Teacher at The 2nd Russian School International Piano Festival in Shanghai and 22nd Annual MCAC Honorable Mention.
Besides performing, Wenshuai also loves teaching piano. He has been teaching for over 10 years since his undergraduate, and helps many students for ABRSM exam. Wenshuai is a very patient teacher, active member of MTAC, and is happy to teach students ranging from young children to adults.
Dr. Wenshuai earned DMA (Doctor of Music Arts) at University of Minnesota in 2022, his first master degree in piano performance at Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2015 and second Master’s degree at the College Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati. (CCM). He was a Teaching Assistant at University of Minnesota.
Dr. Wenshuai (Dist)
Post-Masters Performance Certificate, DePaul University
MM, Duquesne University
BM, Duquesne University
Teacher Hoa began learning piano at the age of six In 2014, she finished the 9-year secondary program in piano performance at Vietnam National Academy of Music under the instruction of Professor Tran Thuc Anh. From 2014 to 2018, she studied with Professor Natasha Snitkovsky as a student in the Bachelor of Music Performance degree program at the Mary Pappert School of Music, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, USA. In 2018, she graduated with the highest Summa Cum Laude honor. From 2018 to 2020, she studied under the instruction of Professor David Allen Wehr and completed the Master of Music degree under the full financial support from The Pittsburgh Foundation and Duquesne University. From 2021 until present, she has studied with Professor George Vatchnadze at Depaul University in the post-masters performance certificate program. She has also been under instruction of Dr. Susanne Baker for piano pedagogy at Depaul University.
Teacher Hoa was also a faculty at Vietnam National Academy and many music schools in Hanoi, Vietnam. She was named as the recipient of the Paul J. Baum Fund Scholarship and many other scholarships such as the EMF Young Artist Merit Award that had helped her participate in many of the international music festivals, namely the Eastern Music Festival, the Miami Music Festival and the Piano Loops Festival in Split, Croatia. In 2017, the Presser Foundation honorably selected her as a recipient of the Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award. Moreover, Hoa Pham has participated in master classes and summer festivals with Anton Nel (University of Texas at Austin), Lev Natochenny (Moscow Conservatory), William Wolfram, Alexandre Moutouzkine (Manhattan School of Music), Daniel Shapiro (Cleveland Institute of Music), pianist Barbara Nissman, among others.
Hoa (Sr)
Teacher Marcia—a professional pianist, composer, and dedicated instructor—shares New Mozart’s common goal of spreading the joy of music to students of all ages and levels. She likes to inspire young children’s interest in music through stories and games, and shows all her students how an understanding of music theory can help them make arrangements of songs and compositions of their own. Marcia has an M.A. in piano performance from Dominican University, and studied classical piano with Peggy Salkind and Aiko Onishi, jazz piano with Mark Levine, and composition and world music with W. A. Mathieu. She has taught piano for over 20 years in a variety of settings: in her private music studio (with many of her students taking part in Certificate of Merit), in music schools (at the Crowden Music Center in Berkeley most recently), and in colleges—at Santa Rosa Jr. College for 16 years, and Dominican University for 12 years, where she taught piano and music theory. A highlight of her time at Dominican was receiving a grant to stage her short chamber opera in which students and community members participated alongside faculty and professional musicians, making for an enriching collaborative experience. Since playing with other musicians can be so rewarding, she encourages her students to play duets and chamber music with friends.
Marcia (Sr)
DMA University of Iowa
MM. Manhattan School of Music
BM Tianjin Conservatory of Music
Dr. Yifan is an enthusiastic and creative piano instructor and active pianist. He has over 11 years of piano teaching experience and has effective approaches to piano learners of all levels and ages. He showed great talent before he started piano lessons at the age of five, with a deep interest and skill in both classical piano and improvised piano playing.
As a piano performer, he was admitted to the Tianjin Conservatory of Music (China) in 2011 with the first place in his major, won the first national scholarship for four consecutive years and obtained his bachelor’s degree with merit. He received his Master of Music in Piano Performance from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City in 2018, where he studied intensively with Steinway artist and Grammy Award nominee Dr. Joanne Polk, and performed two successful solo piano recitals in New York City during his studies.
He completed his doctorate at the University of Iowa in May 2023. He released a solo piano CD at the same year, premiering solo piano works by Ignaz Moscheles, which were well received by his professors in UI and the public. During his studies he gave four solo recitals and six chamber music concerts in Iowa City. He has also been involved in various public performances, such as charity concerts in hospitals, nursing homes, churches, museums, and local government institutions.
He has accumulated a wealth of experience as a piano educator, having spent long periods of time at Rome Piano School in New York City and Kirkwood Community College in Iowa, where he taught piano students of all ages effectively and professionally and helped them develop an interest and confidence in playing music through an approachable and creative teaching method.
As a member of the New Mozart School of Music, Dr. Yifan is excited to meet more piano students and work with them to learn about piano performance and musical theory in a joyful way, helping students to achieve greater success on their musical journey!
Dr. Yifan (Dist)
Teacher Ella is an accomplished teacher with over 30 years of teaching experience. Over the years, many of her students have successfully passed The Certificate of Merit exams and performed in MTAC Branch Honors Recitals, MTAC State Conventions, and won prizes in piano competitions. Teacher Ella believes that music is an indispensable part of life, necessary for proper development and growth in both children and adults. We are so constantly surrounded and immersed in music that it is necessary to become a part of it, whether one is creating his own magnum opus or playing along with the masterpiece of another. Teacher Ella received BM from State Pedagogical University of Moscow.
Ella (Sr)
DMA, Piano Performance, University of Oregon | MM, Music Theory, University of Oregon | MM, Piano Performance, Cleveland Institute of Music |
BM, Piano Performance, Tsing Hua University (Taiwan)
A classical pianist, Dr. Ting Yu is an active solo performer and music theorist. She has been praised for the “various timbral nuances, sensitivity and artistry of her performance.” Her repertoire encompasses works from the Baroque era to 21st-century music. Dr. Ting Yu holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance from the University of Oregon, with a current Master of Arts degree in music theory. She received her Master of Music degree in piano performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and a Bachelor’s degree in piano performance from National Tsing Hua University. As an active performer, Ting Yu has performed solo recitals and concert series including the Liszt Birthday Celebration Concert by The American Liszt Society, the Laureate Gala at Carnegie Hall-Weill Recital Hall, etc. During her time at the University of Oregon, Ting Yu developed an interest in music theory. Her thesis, “Discussion of Schumann’s Musical Characterization in Carnaval Op. 9” focused on piano music with Schenkerian analysis. As a music educator, Dr. Ting Yu has a strong enthusiasm for piano education. She is involved in the Oregon Music Teacher Association and the OMTA-Eugene District, committed to providing musical education and performance. She will be continuing her passion and helping students experience the joy of music at the New Mozart School of Music.
Dr. Ting Yu (Dist)
Christine (Dir)
Associate Professor, National Music Academy of Ukraine
Visiting Scholar, Stanford University
Teacher Ludmila graduated from Kyiv Music College as a pianist and from Kyiv State Conservatoire as a composer with Prof. E.Stankovych, completing her post-graduate studies there.She attended workshops with composers and musicians P-H. Dittrich, Irvine Arditti, G. Stäbler, J. Durand in Rheinsberg as well as with Helmut Lachenmann and Wolfgang Rihm in Dresden (Germany).
She was the Music Director of the theatre studios Kolo and ARS , a member and a coordinator of the Organising Committee of the International Youth Music Forum in Kiev, artistic director of the Meta-Art Ukrainian contemporary art festival in Kyiv. Liudmyla Iurina is an organiser and co-director of the three festivals of contemporary Ukrainian music in USA – in Fort-Worth and in New-York( Ukrainian contemporary music festival aka UCMF).Now she works as Associate Professor of Department of composition at the National Music Academy of Ukraine specialising in composition ,orchestration, lectures about orchestra and new music.Yurina was a guest-composer at the flute master-course at the Rheinsberg Music Academy in Germany , was invited to give a lecture about contemporary Ukrainian music to Rheinsberg Music Academy,Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Stuttgart (Germany),Texas Christian University and to the City University New-York Graduate Center aka CUNY GC.Her creative residences includes art-houses and studios in Germany(Schreyahn, SWR Experimental Studio etc) and Sweden (Visby International Center of composers).L.Iurina participated in numerous international projects, concerts and festivals; her works have been performed in Germany, France, USA, Canada, Italy, Ukraine, Israel,Finland, Estonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Poland, etc.Her works were published by several music publishing houses in Ukraine, Canada, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands (Donemus Publishing House).
Awards and grants: Torneo Internationale di Musica TIM( Italy, 1999); Lyatoshynsky`s Award ( 2008, from Ministry of Culture) ; Kossenko Award ( 2014) ; Lyssenko Award ( 2016).
Ludmila (Dist)
MM. St. Pertersberg Conservatory
BM. Rachmaninov College of Music
Teacher Tatyana was born into a family of professional musicians. She began her music education at the age of five with her father who was a multifaceted performer, educator and composer. Tatyana’s passion for music was nurtured by an entire family tradition of music educators. At the age of 16, she was the winner of the festival program “New Names”. In 1994, she graduated with honors from Rachmaninov College of Music (B.M. in Pedagogy and Music Education), and went to obtain her degree from St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music (M.A. Diploma in Instrumental Performance – Piano).
In the Conservatory, Ms. Tatyana studied with world renowned professors Galina Fedorova (piano solo) and Elena Shafran (chamber ensemble) Tatyana was an active participant in “Holland Music Sessions” in 2000 with Lazar Berman (Italy) and Karl-Heinz Kammerling (Germany).
Tatyana is an active chamber musician in music recitals in the USA, Russia and Holland. She is a member of the Music Teacher Association of California and teaches chamber ensembles in San Francisco and the Bay Area.
Tatyana (Dist)
D.M.A. University of Southern Mississippi
M.M. Temple University
B.A. South China Normal University
Dr. Anqi, a pianist, collaborator, and educator, has been immersed in the world of piano for over two decades. Beginning her piano education career in 2013, her students are in all ages and levels, emphasizing a balance between piano technique foundation and nurturing a love for piano music.
As a performer, she has showcased her talents in diverse venues, ranging from China to international stages in Austria, Germany, and the United States, and earning accolades in numerous piano competitions.
Anqi completed her Doctoral of Music Arts in Piano Performance and Pedagogy with minor in Collaborative Piano at the University of Southern Mississippi in 2023. She holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance from Temple University and a Bachelor of Arts in Piano Performance as well from South China Normal University. During her time at school, she consistently earned recognition as an outstanding student and received scholarships.
Anqi loves animals, enjoys exploring delicious food, and cherishes moments spent with her family.
Dr. Anqi (Dist)
VIOLIN/VIOLA
Our violin and viola teachers are experienced in teaching children to professional musicians. Our students range from young beginners to students who excel in ASTA exams. Over the years we've helped many students successfully audition into ECYS, PYO, and CYS as well as universities and conservatories.
Teacher Kymber, violinist, arranger and teacher has a varied music career in opera orchestra, chamber music, new music, rock, and folk music. With the support of her teacher, Dana Mazurkevich (a student of David Oistrakh), she earned her master's degree from Boston University with an emphasis in performance. In addition to playing and recording in various musical styles throughout her home state of Illinois, she has played internationally in halls such as Schloss Mirabell, Wiener Musikverein, His Majesty's Theatre, and Boston Symphony Hall. She has also performed at the Ravinia Music Festival, Aberdeen Music Festival, and Schlern International Music Festival,where she had the honor of playing for Zhakar Brohn.
In recent years, Kymber has had the honor to work under and collaborate with composers such as Mike Stoller (from Leiber and Stoller “Hound Dog, Yakety Yak, Stand By Me”), Artie Butler (Barbra Streisand’s Here’s to Life, the arranger and producer of What a Wonderful World), and Mark Volkert (retired, long-standing Assistant Concertmaster of San Francisco Symphony). Additionally, she has explored and performed Balkan music, performed with the classic rock band KANSAS, and performed as concertmaster with Iranian-hit music singer MOEIN.
Currently, she is a Fellow at NorCal Music Festival and frequents playing with New Ballet San Jose Orchestra, Russian Chamber Orchestra, and Cambrian Symphony. For fun, she enjoys playing Irish music in local sessions and her Cretan Lyra.
As an educator, Kymber is a motivating, exciting and challenging violin teacher. She thrives on the challenge to help her students make connections with their instruments and music. While she loves the excitement that music gives each of us, she does expect practice at home and complete focus in her studio. That being said, she is proud of all her students from celebrating and new scale learned, mastering a bow stroke, to the completion of an audition. In addition to a skeletal Suzuki method approach, she includes building all types of musical knowledge such as technique and aural training through fun exercises and other outside resources based on the student’s age and level of playing. She encourages imagination and abstract concepts like speed, musical feeling, and weight in music to all her students. She is also very encouraging of parents becoming involved in the music making process with their child at home.
Kymber (Sr)
D.M.A. in Violin Performance, University of Texas at Austin
Dr. Lubo is a renowned violinist with considerable international experience. He studied violin in Belgrade, Sophia, and with teachers from Moscow, Japan, and in the U.S. He played in master classes for Max Rostal, Henry Roth, Isaac Stern, and Dorothy Delay. He has performed as a soloist and in chamber music groups in Yugoslavia, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Ireland, Canada, South Africa and Japan. He performed in the Broadway-bound production of La Boheme in San Francisco and in functions for Gregory Peck, Ladybird Johnson and Walter Cronkite in Austin, Texas. He was violinist for Smokey Robinson and Ann Murray in California and was violist with Mannheim Steamroller as well as for Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli in Sacramento. Velickovic participated in recordings at Willie Nelson Studios in Austin, Texas and at George Lucas’ Skywalker Sound Studios. He taught violin and strings at El Camino College, where he was artist in residence and performedBruch Violin Concerto as a soloist with El Camino College Orchestra in 2014. He performed and taught at the Beverly Hills International Music Festival and was a faculty member of Chico Chamber Music Festival. He was concertmaster of the Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra in Malibu in spring 2016, and was invited to be assistant concertmaster of the Bear Valley Festival in 2020/21. He is also invited to coach and perform at Interharmony International Music Festival 2023 at AcquiTerme Piedmont, Italy and 2021/22 Summer in AquiTerme Piedmont, Italy and Sulbach-Rosenberg Bavaria, Germany. Velickovic is assistant concertmaster of the Stockton Symphony and first violinist of the Sacramento Philharmonic. He is also the founder and director of Divertimento Chamber Group and Baroque Chamber Orchestra and El Camino Chamber Players. The Stockton Record wrote several articles about him and his performances.
Dr. Lubo (Dist)
Teacher Declan is a talented violinist from the Bay Area, currently in his final year pursuing a Violin Performance degree at San Francisco State University.He currently studies under Zakarias Grafilo of the Alexander string quartet, and serves as concertmaster of the San Francisco State University Orchestra and symphony.
Taking interest in not just classical but all genres of music, Declan has played and recorded with numerous bands in the San Francisco and Bay Area, working as a session violinist and core member of different groups. Declan brings a diverse range of musical influences to his performances.
In addition to his performance work, Declan is passionate about teaching. He has experience coaching chamber music and giving private lessons at schools like Borel Middle School. Through his teaching, he strives to inspire a love for music, emphasizing personal expression, positivity, and the joy of playing and performing.
Teacher Declan (Std)
Teacher Hyo-Jung is a native of South Korea who started playing the violin at age 7. She made her soloist debut as a rising star with Changwon Philharmonic orchestra just seven years later. Since then, she has appeared as an active soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States, Korea and Europe. Her performances have taken her to prestigious halls such as Musikverein in Vienna, Dvorak Hall in Prague, Vianden Castle in Luxembourg, Boston Symphony hall, Jordan Hall, Brown hall, Harvard University Sanders theater in Boston, Boston University CFA hall and KBS hall in Korea. She participated numerous festivals including Music Alp, Great Mountain, Vianden, Killington and Korean Chamber Orchestra summer music festival. As a passionate chamber musician, she has been closely worked with members of Borromeo string quartet and Muir quartet. Furthermore, she participated master classes of Paul Katz, Benjamin Zander, Mihaela Martin, Koichiro Harada, Victor Tretyakov and Ikhwan Bae. As an avid orchestra musician, she played under maestro Bramwell Tovey, Hugh Wolff, Ken David Masur, Benjamin Zander and she led Boston University symphony orchestra’s concert successfully as a principal violinist at Boston Symphony hall.
Hyo Jung attended Seoul Arts High School before moving to the US and subsequently attended and graduated from Walnut Hill School for the Arts. She received Bachelor of Music and Master of Music from the New England Conservatory of Music. She additionally received a Performance Diploma from Boston university. Her teachers include Nicholas Kitchen, Peter Zazofsky, Lynn Chang, James Buswell, Gahyun Cho and Bok Soo Kim.
Hyo Jung (Sr)
MM. Cleveland Institute of Music
BM. Taipei Municipal University of Education
Teacher Ai-Min is an active performer and teacher. She was a recipient of fellowships to Pacific Music festival, Brevard Music Festival and Summit Music festival and served as a sectional violist in China Guiyang Symphony Orchestra and Taiwan Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra during the past few years. Her orchestral performing experience includes working with world leading musicians including Valery Gergiev, Jahja Lin, Leonidas Kavakos, Shlomo Mintz, Nemanja Radulovic, NIng Feng, Joo & Igudesman and more.
Teacher Ai Min is a devoted teacher who has been teaching students of all ages and levels since her graduation from CIM. She loves working with students from diverse cultural backgrounds. She is committed to providing a nurturing learning environment for her students to help them achieve their musical potential and goals. She has taught at the Yamaha Music Studio as well as junior high schools as a sectional coach. Ai Min is excited to join the New Mozart School of Music faculty to continue her commitment to music education.
Ai-Min (Sr)
BA. Oberlin Conservatory & BM. Berklee College of Music
Teacher Miya is a talented violin instructor with a diverse background and extensive musical expertise. Holding a B.A. in Musical Studies and East Asian Studies from Oberlin College as well as a B.M. in Contemporary Writing and Production from Berklee College of Music, Miya's teaching approach is uniquely comprehensive.
Miya has served as Concertmaster at the Oberlin Art and Science Orchestra (2018-2020) and as the first violin in Quartet au Lait (Berklee^MIT). She has recorded over 50 pieces for screen scores, bands, and commercial songs, showcasing her versatility beyond classical settings. Having achieved the highest level of the Chinese Musicians Associations Violin Exam at the tender age of 11, Miya embarked on a journey beyond classical music, delving into the realm of composing and producing her own musical creations.
With over 6 years of teaching experience, Miya has guided students aged 5 to 18, nurturing their development from beginners to intermediate levels. Fluent in both English and Mandarin, she offers bilingual instruction and her proficiency in Korean and Japanese adds a multicultural dimension to her teaching, enhancing the learning experience. Her teaching style combines technical precision with a deep appreciation for musical artistry.
Teacher Miya is dedicated to nurturing emerging talents, fostering a deep love for the violin, and empowering students to develop their technical skills and artistic creativity.
Miya (Std)
DMA University of Minnesota
MM Peabody Conservatory
MM Shanghai Conservatory
Dr. Yang began studying violin at age four and switched her major to viola at age eighteen. She received her Master of Fine Arts at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where
she won the Chinese Music International Competition, the “Viva La Viola” Competition, and the Great Wall International Music Festival Competition in chamber music. Ms. Yang completed her Master of Music from Peabody Institute at the Johns Hopkins University with a high scholarship. She earned her doctorate degree at the University of Minnesota with a full fellowship and extra scholarship.
She was the principal viola of Shanghai Oriental Symphony Orchestra, Peabody
Symphony Orchestra and Peabody Chamber Orchestra, assistant principal viola of St.
Croix Valley Symphony Orchestra. She has played in South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, Shanghai Opera, Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra. She has performed with many of the world's top masters, including Joe Hisaishi, Shlomo Mintz, Kun-Woo Paik, Dun Tan, Haochen Zhang and so on.
Dr. Yang has over 15 years of teaching experience and is deeply committed to nurturing students of diverse ages and abilities. She empowers students at every stage of their musical journey through a personalized approach tailored to each individual student's unique needs and goals.
Dr. Yang (Dist)
CELLO
We teach beginning level students to students studying for conservatory entrance. Our experienced teachers have helped many students successfully audition into the local youth orchestras including ECYS, PYO, and CYS.
MM. Peabody Conservatory
BM. Royal Northern College of Music
Teacher Catarina is an Internationally-acclaimed and award-winning Portuguese cellist. She has presented herself as a solo, chamber and orchestra cellist in venues across four continents, in countries such as the United States of America, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Catarina holds a Master of Music degree in cello performance from the Peabody
Institute of Johns Hopkins University, where she studied with the famous Israeli soloist Amit Peled. Before coming to the USA, Catarina completed a Bachelor of Music degree in cello performance at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), in Manchester, UK, where she studied with a famous pupil of Mstislav Rostropovich: Karine Georgian. Alongside performing, teaching has always been Catarina’s passion; she has given masterclasses in Portugal and Malaysia, and has taught privately as well as in music schools in the USA, Portugal, and the UK.
Catarina (Sr)
MM. San Francisco Conservatory of Music
BM. University of Washington
Teacher Young is dedicated to fostering a love of music in others through teaching and cultivating the next generation of cellists & pianists. With over ten years of experience teaching students of all ages and abilities, he finds immense satisfaction in sharing his knowledge to nurture their musical growth. He is also a passionate performer of both solo and chamber music.
Young began private cello lessons and joined the Hawaii Youth Orchestra at the age of 7, where he fell in love with music and embarked on his musical journey. He has continued learning ever since, and his dedication was recognized with honorable mentions in the Hawaii State Music Competition.
Teacher Young is a graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance under the guidance of award-winning cellist Saeunn Thorsteindottir. Young then honed his craft under the tutelage of renowned cellist Amos Yang at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Young (Sr)
Teacher Victoria carefully crafts her lessons to each students’ needs, passing on her love of music to her students in an inspiring and engaging manner. With almost ten years of teaching experience, she brings a unique flare that is both motivating and highly successful in helping her students achieve their goals. Whether it be musical theater, pop, rock, jazz, or classical, Victoria prepares her students with healthy technique and performance skills for the stage or studio.
Alongside teaching, Victoria pursues her passion as an active classical singer, performing opera throughout the United States. She made her professional debut with Opera Southwest in 2016, playing the role of Amenaide in Rossini’s Tancredi. She holds a Master of Music degree in Voice Performance from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from the University of Arizona. Her most recent operatic roles include: Annina in Strauss II's "A Night in Venice", Susanna from Mozart’s "Le Nozze di Figaro", Esmeralda from Smetana’s "The Bartered Bride", and Lauretta from Puccini’s "Gianni Schicchi.” Over the years, Victoria has taken First Place at the 2014 Classical Singer Regional Vocal Competition and at the 2012 NATS Vocal Competition as well as Second Place at the 2012 Reiman Opera Competition.
Victoria (Std)
GUITAR (Acoustic & Electric), Electric Bass, Ukulele
We have an excellent guitar teaching staff and teach guitar lessons in everything from rock to jazz, classical to pop, Spanish to chording. Many of our guitar graduates have gone on to study music in colleges and universities.
Teacher Mark holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Humber College, where he studied jazz guitar and specialized in songwriting and music production. His academic journey deepened his understanding of music theory and composition, while also equipping him with the tools to effectively engage and inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities.
With over seven years of teaching experience, Mark has had the privilege of working with students across a wide spectrum of ages and skill levels. He has served as a music educator in school settings with organizations such as Music For Minors, where he designed and delivered engaging music curriculum tailored to the unique needs of young learners. Mark also loves working with students one on one in private lessons where he can provide personalized instruction to students seeking to develop their musical talents and express themselves through music.
Teaching Philosophy
“My teaching philosophy revolves around creating a vibrant and engaging musical journey for children, empowered, and inspired to explore the world of music. I believe in making lessons not only educational but also fun and motivating, infusing each session with creativity, humor, and interactive activities that captivate children’s imaginations and ignite their love for music from an early age.
My primary goal is to inspire a lifelong passion for music in every child, nurturing their natural curiosity and fostering a deep appreciation for the beauty and power of music. I aim to create a nurturing and supportive environment where children feel encouraged to explore and express themselves freely through music, building their confidence and self-esteem along the way.
In addition to fostering a love of music, I am dedicated to providing children with the fundamental tools and skills they need to succeed in their musical journey. Whether it’s learning to play an instrument, understanding basic music theory concepts, or developing their singing abilities, I strive to make learning accessible, engaging, and enjoyable for young learners.
Above all, I believe in creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment where every child has a chance to be heard and valued. I recognize the unique strengths and talents of each student and tailor my approach to meet their individual needs, interests, and learning styles. By encouraging collaboration, creativity, and mutual respect. By fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie, I aim to empower young children to discover their musical voice and unleash their creative potential in a safe and nurturing environment.”
Mark (Std)
Teacher Eli is a performer, composer, and teacher with over twenty years of experience. After growing up in the SF Bay Area and developing a general musical background on several instruments and musical styles, Eli attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, then specialized in Solo Classical Guitar at San Francisco State University. Eli helps students identify their own interests and goals while ensuring a solid foundation in musical knowledge and instrument skills. Eli received Professional Diploma in Music from Berklee College of Music & Master of Music degree from San Francisco State University.
Eli (Std)
Teacher Larry is an accomplished music educator with over 20 years of teaching experience. His diverse musical background and extensive musical experience make him an ideal teacher. Larry has signed with/recorded for Warner Bros., Rounder, and Rhino record companies. As a published songwriter (ASCAP) he has had his music placed in film, television, with Pandora, with MUZAK, and recorded by various artists. He has written, recorded, and produced, 6 indie CDs, has toured extensively throughout the U.S., and has shared the stage with a long list of popular recording artists. He enjoys teaching students of all ages, from beginning to advanced, tailoring lessons to each individual’s needs and goals. Larry has also recently written and teaches two comprehensive courses in songwriting. He has taught guitar students and songwriting students who have gone on to play professionally, record and perform their own original music, and has worked with students who were signed recording artists. Larry is currently teaches at New Mozart School of Music as well as Sf. Community Music Center.
Larry (Sr)
Teacher Patrick has studied piano, guitar, voice and percussion through various schools, including School of The Arts High School and San Francisco State University, as well as piano lessons with jazz masters such as Mark Little, Smith Dobson, Carlos Federico, and currently John Calloway. He teaches all ages and truly believes that he's been teaching informally since his rock days as a teenager at age 15. Formally, he has been teaching privately for about ten years, and has been with New Mozart School since 2007. Also, he is a professional musician and has been playing with various groups for the last twelve years, including his own band, Mascabeza, and others such as Benny Belard's band, Avance, Los Rumberos, and many more.
Patrick (Sr)
Teacher Paul received his B.A. in Music from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon and studied with Vincent McDermott, a world music composer specializing in South East Asian opera and Gamelan Orchestras of Indonesia. He has studied piano with Jameson Trotter, son of Terry Trotter, the pianist for Natalie Cole; and Hiram Harvell. He has played keyboards in jazz, funk, rock, Latin and African influenced groups. In December 1997, he composed, produced, and performed a concert comprised of over 40 musicians, a mixed orchestral ensemble, a string quartet, a solo piano piece, a trio, a choir, two film scores, two jazz standards and three original fusion rock pieces. Paul has been teaching piano for over 10 years and works well with students age 5 and up. He is passionate about sharing his musical knowledge and incorporates classical, blues, Latin and jazz in his lessons.
Paul (Std)
FLUTE/CLARINET/SAX
Teacher Jonathan is a Bay Area saxophonist, composer and educator. Born and raised in San Francisco, he attended the SF School of the Arts, San Jose State University and the Manhattan School of Music for graduate work. Jonathan received honors as a California Arts Scholar, California Pre-Doctoral Scholar and was awarded scholarships from the Organization of Filipino educators, SJSU school of music, and the Manhattan School of Music. He has played in Paris for a special concert and has also performed at the San Jose Jazz Festival, the Stanford Jazz Festival, the SF Filipino Jazz Festival, and at the Great American Music Hall, Davies Symphony Hall, Kuumbwa and Kimble’s. Bautista has played with James Williams, Pete Escovedo, John Santos, and others, as well as with the Monterey Bay Symphony, the Monterey Wind Symphony and the San Jose Symphony. He has studied both classical and jazz repertoire with Melecio Magdaluyo, William Trimble, Dr. Paul Cohen and Bobby Watson. Bautista performs regularly throughout the Bay Area and is available for clinics, coaching, and lessons in his woodwind studio. Jonathan plays and teaches woodwinds specializing in saxophone, clarinet, flute as well as piano. Jonathan is trained in both classical and jazz repertoire and is equally accomplished in both. He also teaches music theory, jazz harmony, improvisation and is comfortable with all musical levels and ages. In addition to private lessons, Jonathan offers group classes including beginning woodwind ensemble, jazz combo and saxophone ensemble. He has taught at San Jose State University, the SF School of the Arts, the Jazz School in Berkeley, Redwood Middle School in Los Gatos, and schools in the Santa Clara Unified School District and San Jose Unified School District.
Jonathan (Sr)
VOICE
Our voice teachers work with beginners to professional singers. We include healthy singing techniques in every lesson so that students can successfully sing any genre of music. Our students have appeared on national TV, numerous musical theatre and opera productions.
Teacher Diane teaches students who range from beginners to professional singers. Her students have received awards from NATS, and have gone on to professional acting and performing careers. She has also been teaching with New Mozart School since 2004. On top of her busy teaching schedule, Diane maintains a full performance schedule in the Bay Area. She made her Solo Opera debut as Monica in The Medium and later appeared as Lucy in The Telephone and Laetitia in The Old Maid and The Thief. She appeared with Mission City Opera as the soprano soloist in Handel's Messiah and as Dorabella in Cosi fan Tutte. Her past performances include Olympia in North Bay Opera's Les Contes d'Hoffman, Frasquita in Bay Shore Lyric Opera's Carmen and the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor with Capitol Opera of Sacramento. She was a winner in the 2002 San Jose Opera Guild vocal competition and appeared as a guest artist with the SJSU symphony as the Queen of the Night in a program of excerpts from The Magic Flute!
Diane (Dist)
Teacher Valerie is a dramatic mezzo-soprano whose passion is in singing songs that enrapture the heart and mind, especially in the classical styles of Old Europe as well as with modern music. She is the Director of Music at Coast Chapel in Santa Cruz and is also a singer-songwriter whose music is an inspired blend of different genres; She is currently in the process of recording her music. Valerie has extensive experience in working with children of all ages with music, and in other various capacities. Her private piano lessons follow the Alfred Piano Method and use the concepts of the Suzuki Piano Method for playing techniques. Her voice lessons are a flexible blend of the student's desired studies as well as proper vocal exercises and techniques that will encourage a healthy development of the individual's voice over time.
Valerie (Sr)
Teacher Victoria carefully crafts her lessons to each students’ needs, passing on her love of music to her students in an inspiring and engaging manner. With almost ten years of teaching experience, she brings a unique flare that is both motivating and highly successful in helping her students achieve their goals. Whether it be musical theater, pop, rock, jazz, or classical, Victoria prepares her students with healthy technique and performance skills for the stage or studio.
Alongside teaching, Victoria pursues her passion as an active classical singer, performing opera throughout the United States. She made her professional debut with Opera Southwest in 2016, playing the role of Amenaide in Rossini’s Tancredi. She holds a Master of Music degree in Voice Performance from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from the University of Arizona. Her most recent operatic roles include: Annina in Strauss II's "A Night in Venice", Susanna from Mozart’s "Le Nozze di Figaro", Esmeralda from Smetana’s "The Bartered Bride", and Lauretta from Puccini’s "Gianni Schicchi.” Over the years, Victoria has taken First Place at the 2014 Classical Singer Regional Vocal Competition and at the 2012 NATS Vocal Competition as well as Second Place at the 2012 Reiman Opera Competition.
Victoria (Sr)
Teacher Maria is a singer/songwriter born and raised in Cali, Colombia (Latin America). She came to the US to follow her passion for music and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s in Music Industry from The College of Saint Rose. Growing up, she won various singing competitions and was an opener for big music festivals in Colombia. Now, under the artist name “Ria Carval”, Maria’s debut album “Ignorance” has more than 57k streams and her main singles have reached radio, blogs, magazines, newspapers and TV appearances worldwide. Her vocal training is very diverse after experiencing classes with remarkable opera, gospel, musical theatre and even rock singers. She also learned piano at a young age, was trained on jazz and contemporary piano techniques and it is now the instrument she uses to write songs on the daily. After being a music educator for almost 3 years, Maria has discovered a passion in teaching children the magic and welcoming nature of music. In everything she does her purpose “Feel To Heal” is what makes her a great teacher. “I want my students to learn that feeling is ok, and music can become a place for them to dream, grow and embrace their uniqueness and potential”.
Maria (Std)
MM. San Francisco State University
Teacher Tristana is a mezzo-soprano who holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from San Francisco State University and a Bachelor of Music in Choral Conducting from Universidad Católica Argentina. She worked as a professional musician in Argentina and Finland and is continuing her musical projects here in California. She considers the voice to be a beautiful instrument which is unique to everyone. It is her passion and honor to give her students the tools to achieve vocal freedom and ease in performing on stage.
Tristana (Sr)
Teacher Christine is an accomplished professional soprano who has won and been a finalist in many national, regional and local competitions, including the Metropolitan Opera Auditions, The San Francisco Opera Center Auditions, The San Francisco Opera Merola Auditions, and the Zachary and McAllistar Awards. She won a prestigious appointment to the Glimmerglass Opera/ New York City Opera Young American Artists program where she sang Violetta in La Traviata under the direction of Sir Jonathan Miller, as well as Adina in L'elisir d'amore and The Female Fan in William Schumann’s The Mighty Casey.
Christine has been a Fellow at the Music Academy of the West where she performed Alice in Verdi's Falstaff and Gilda in Rigoletto. In Austria, she studied Mozart performance practice with Dr. Joseph Wallnig, of the Universität Mozarteum, Salzburg.
Christine has performed many of the Romantic and bel canto heroines, the leading Mozart ladies, and more recently has expanded into the luscious works of Richard Strauss and Samuel Barber & German Romantic Lieder and contemporary Art Song and Orchesterlieder. She sings in German, Italian, French, Latin and English, and several dialects.cent project was a spoken recording of Oscar Wilde’s Complete Stories for Children.
Christine is a member of NATS and the National Recording Academy. A specialist in teen and young adult singers, Christine keeps a busy studio. She enjoys directing opera, set dressing, & working as a super-titlest.
Christine received her BA in Music from Sonoma State University with departmental honors and a minor in Humanist Psychology. Christine’s MFA from NDNU came with honors from the college of Arts and Sciences.
Christine (Sr)
Teacher Mikaela is a talented singer whose musical journey began at the age of five. Her innate talent paved the way for incredible achievements throughout her musical journey. Starting at a young age, Mikaela has performed extensively at St. Anne's Church in San Francisco where she was also a cantor for over a decade. In 2017, Mikaela's vocal talent earned her the coveted Ms. Asian Talent crown. During her reign, she captivated audiences at galas, fundraisers, and parades. Mikaela was the Third Prize winner of the Charleston International Music Competition in 2024.
Mikaela received her Bachelor's of Art in Vocal Performance at San Jose State University under the tutelage of Christopher Bengochea. Sharing music is Mikaela's passion, and she is devoted to bringing joy to others through her voice and teaching. Her students can expect to learn the basic fundamentals of singing and develop a love for music under her expert guidance.
BA in Vocal Performance, San Jose State University
Mikaela (Std)
Teacher Julia grew up in a musical family, studying violin and piano, and went on to receive a Bachelors degree at Biola Conservatory of Music , and Masters degree from Florida State University, both in Vocal Performance.
Julia performs regularly in opera and concert, most recently as the High Priestess in Aida, and as Oscar in Un Ballo in Maschera with Verismo Opera. She was also featured as the Soprano Soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Sequoia Symphony Orchestra last year, and is a member of the Opera San José chorus,
As a choral singer, she sung at the esteemed Tanglewood Music Festival in works including Falla’s La Vida Breve, Berlioz’ Damnation de Faust, and the world premiere of Harbison’s Koussevitsky Said. She also appeared with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Boston Symphony Hall.
.Julia is equally at home in the contemporary and commercial industry. While in Southern California, she worked as a session vocalist for radio and television, most notably a guest performance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Julia began teaching as a graduate assistant at Florida State University, where she worked with students in classical, broadway and contemporary repertoire. She maintained a successful private voice and piano studio for five years in Boston, and is a sought after coach and clinician for local California high school vocal ensembles. She believes in a strong technical foundation for her students, which stems from her classical background, but is also experienced in pop and contemporary music. Julia is also a superb choice for students wishing to combine piano and voice studies
Julia (Sr)
Teacher Mark holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Humber College, where he studied jazz guitar and specialized in songwriting and music production. His academic journey deepened his understanding of music theory and composition, while also equipping him with the tools to effectively engage and inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities.
With over seven years of teaching experience, Mark has had the privilege of working with students across a wide spectrum of ages and skill levels. He has served as a music educator in school settings with organizations such as Music For Minors, where he designed and delivered engaging music curriculum tailored to the unique needs of young learners. Mark also loves working with students one on one in private lessons where he can provide personalized instruction to students seeking to develop their musical talents and express themselves through music.
Teaching Philosophy
“My teaching philosophy revolves around creating a vibrant and engaging musical journey for children, empowered, and inspired to explore the world of music. I believe in making lessons not only educational but also fun and motivating, infusing each session with creativity, humor, and interactive activities that captivate children’s imaginations and ignite their love for music from an early age.
My primary goal is to inspire a lifelong passion for music in every child, nurturing their natural curiosity and fostering a deep appreciation for the beauty and power of music. I aim to create a nurturing and supportive environment where children feel encouraged to explore and express themselves freely through music, building their confidence and self-esteem along the way.
In addition to fostering a love of music, I am dedicated to providing children with the fundamental tools and skills they need to succeed in their musical journey. Whether it’s learning to play an instrument, understanding basic music theory concepts, or developing their singing abilities, I strive to make learning accessible, engaging, and enjoyable for young learners.
Above all, I believe in creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment where every child has a chance to be heard and valued. I recognize the unique strengths and talents of each student and tailor my approach to meet their individual needs, interests, and learning styles. By encouraging collaboration, creativity, and mutual respect. By fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie, I aim to empower young children to discover their musical voice and unleash their creative potential in a safe and nurturing environment.”
Mark (Std)
HARMONY ROAD
All of our Harmony Road teachers are experienced in working with young children and have Harmony Road Certification. They were trained at Juilliard and Mozarteum among others. Check out the Harmony Road schedule to enroll in this internationally acclaimed piano foucsed group program for children 3-6 of age.
Christine (Dir)
Teacher Valerie is a dramatic mezzo-soprano whose passion is in singing songs that enrapture the heart and mind, especially in the classical styles of Old Europe as well as with modern music. She is the Director of Music at Coast Chapel in Santa Cruz and is also a singer-songwriter whose music is an inspired blend of different genres; She is currently in the process of recording her music. Valerie has extensive experience in working with children of all ages with music, and in other various capacities. Her private piano lessons follow the Alfred Piano Method and use the concepts of the Suzuki Piano Method for playing techniques. Her voice lessons are a flexible blend of the student's desired studies as well as proper vocal exercises and techniques that will encourage a healthy development of the individual's voice over time.
Valerie (Sr)
Teacher Alicia has over thirteen years of experience working with children to create an inspiring musical experience and to help students achieve their musical potential. She teaches both piano and voice and is a stellar accompanist. Alicia brings her extensive background in music instruction and an innate ability to connect with students. She understands that children are emotional performers and channels this energy into great music. Alicia holds a BA in Music and a minor in Jazz from UC Santa Cruz. She has taught as a music instructor at the Montessori school in Santa Cruz and privately. She also accompanied numerous choirs at UC Santa Cruz and Cabrillo College. Alicia is acutely aware of her students’ unique personalities and their individual needs, and will develop a finely tuned plan to enrich and educate so that students can reach their highest potential! She enthusiastically welcomes parental involvement as she believes it is vital to students’ musical growth. She looks forward to creative collaborations for years to come!
Alicia (Std)
Teacher Maria is a singer/songwriter born and raised in Cali, Colombia (Latin America). She came to the US to follow her passion for music and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s in Music Industry from The College of Saint Rose. Growing up, she won various singing competitions and was an opener for big music festivals in Colombia. Now, under the artist name “Ria Carval”, Maria’s debut album “Ignorance” has more than 57k streams and her main singles have reached radio, blogs, magazines, newspapers and TV appearances worldwide. Her vocal training is very diverse after experiencing classes with remarkable opera, gospel, musical theatre and even rock singers. She also learned piano at a young age, was trained on jazz and contemporary piano techniques and it is now the instrument she uses to write songs on the daily. After being a music educator for almost 3 years, Maria has discovered a passion in teaching children the magic and welcoming nature of music. In everything she does her purpose “Feel To Heal” is what makes her a great teacher. “I want my students to learn that feeling is ok, and music can become a place for them to dream, grow and embrace their uniqueness and potential”.
Maria (Std)
Teacher Mikaela is a talented singer whose musical journey began at the age of five. Her innate talent paved the way for incredible achievements throughout her musical journey. Starting at a young age, Mikaela has performed extensively at St. Anne's Church in San Francisco where she was also a cantor for over a decade. In 2017, Mikaela's vocal talent earned her the coveted Ms. Asian Talent crown. During her reign, she captivated audiences at galas, fundraisers, and parades. Mikaela was the Third Prize winner of the Charleston International Music Competition in 2024.
Mikaela received her Bachelor's of Art in Vocal Performance at San Jose State University under the tutelage of Christopher Bengochea. Sharing music is Mikaela's passion, and she is devoted to bringing joy to others through her voice and teaching. Her students can expect to learn the basic fundamentals of singing and develop a love for music under her expert guidance.
BA in Vocal Performance, San Jose State University
Mikaela (Std)
Our Current and Formal Instructors Have Studied at the Following Top Music Institutions
Juilliard School of Music
Yale University
Oberlin Conservatory
Manhattan School of Music
New England Conservatory of Music
Guildhall School of Music
Cambridge University
Indiana University
Eastman School of Music
Northwestern University
Carnegie Mellon University
Brown University
Moscow Conservatory
St. Petersberg Conservatory
Royal Academy of Music
Princeton University
Trinity College of Music
Cleveland Institute of Music
University of Southern California
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Berklee College of Music
Mozarteum, Salzburg
Royal Conservaotry, The Hague
Musik Akademie Basel