Our Instructors

Hannah Fuerst, Director

Hannah Fuerst (Music for Little Ones, Voice, Piano, Clarinet) has set herself apart as an exceptional music educator in private lesson settings, group classes, educational outreach, and as a curriculum developer. In addition to serving as the Director of AAM she serves as a consultant and guest teacher for Opera San Jose’s educational outreach department. Ms. Fuerst holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Classical Voice Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. Hannah relocated to San Jose in March 2020 after teaching music in New York City for 10 years. Her students have enjoyed top marks in the NY State music exams, admission to top pre-college programs, and have gone on to competitive music and drama university programs nationwide. A founding piano and voice teacher with the Royal Conservatory Achievement Program, she has also served as the Director of Early Childhood Education for the acclaimed Larchmont Music Academy since 2011. She has performed leading operatic roles with major companies such as Aspen Opera Theatre Center, Bronx Opera, and American Opera Projects, and she has been a featured soloist with the San Jose Chamber Orchestra and the San Jose Symphonic Choir. She appeared with Opera San Jose until the 2019-20 season was cut short, and she has extensive experience in musical theater and contemporary classical music. Ms. Fuerst encourages each student to develop their full potential through mindful practice, thoughtful repertoire choices, and by nurturing a fundamental enjoyment of expression through music. She created the Music for Little Ones curriculum along with Larchmont Music Academy and is passionate about constantly updating curriculum to best fit the needs and interests of tiny musicians and the grownups who accompany them. The in-school general music classes offered my AAM feature Hannah’s own elementary curriculum. This curriculum stands out among elementary music curricula with its instrumental focus and the breadth of musical styles/genres/cultures of origin represented. www.hannahfuerst.com

Hye Jeong Ahn, Piano (exam prep specialist, ABRSM & CM)

Pianist Hyejeong Ahn was born, raised, and studied in Korea. She studied at the Seoul National University College of Music, the best university in Korea, where she majored in piano and won the ‘Piano Concerto Competition’ within the university. She subsequently moved to Italy and entered the Verdi Conservatory in Milan, where her musical abilities were recognized and she earned her diploma by obtaining a grade 10, the highest grade, on her grade placement exam. She is has also worked as a collaborative pianist to many operas and vocal works, and she has performed on stage in recital with singers. From 1996 to 2023, she continued her teaching and performing activities as a professor at Jeju Tourism University, where she also served as head of the music department. She has continued to perform solo, with orchestras, as a collaborative pianist, and as a piano duo. In addition to her solo activities, she also likes ensembles where she collaborates with various performers, so she founded an organization called 'Jeju Piano Ensemble' and has been working to develop local music through various performances. Additionally, her interest in the impact of music on young children developed, leading her to obtain a master's and doctoral degrees in early childhood education. Hyejeong knows the characteristics of children well, and she is also passionate about helping children and adults grow through music. Hyejeong has been playing piano and teaching students for over 30 years, and she finds joy in seeing her students grow and being of help to them.

Chandler Beck, French Horn, euphonium, trombone, trumpet

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Chandler Michael Beck is an active french horn freelancer, chamber musician, educator, and new music advocate. Chandler has performed with the San Francisco Youth Orchestra, San Jose Youth Orchestra, California Pacific Youth Orchestra, Golden State Youth Orchestra, Santa Clara University’s orchestra and wind ensemble, and San Jose New Ballet Company. Chandler’s playing can be heard in the critically acclaimed film “A Wounded Fawn'' directed by Travis Stevens, with music composed by VAAAL.
Chandler has performed throughout North America and Eastern Europe, playing in venues such as Carnegie Hall. In 2019, Chandler attended the Pacific Region International Summer Music Association (PRISMA) festival in Powell River, B.C. Canada, where he studied with Fokke von Heele and worked with conductor Arthur Arnold. In 2022, Chandler attended the Indiana University Natural Horn Workshop led by natural horn specialist Richard Seraphinoff Recently was accepted to the Dunedin Consort Clinic, where he worked with historical horn pedagogue Anneke Scott.
Chandler’s past teachers have had a profound influence on his decision to teach, as they instilled a deep appreciation for the transformative power of music education, and their dedication has inspired him to teach and learn from his students.

Xinyi Chen, Guzheng & Piano

Cindy has been playing Guzheng for more than 20 years. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree of Guzheng performance from the Xinghai Conservatory of Music, one of the top music conservatories in China. Cindy started her teaching career in 2013 as an honored teaching assistant and acquired the High School Music Teacher Certificate and the Certificate in Psychology and Education. She also earned a Master’s degree of Music Education from San José State University which allowed her to invent even more strategies in synthesizing both the Eastern and Western cultures into her teaching.

Cindy enjoys playing Guzheng as it represents the beauty of Chinese culture. She also has a lifelong love of teaching music and devotes to help students to grow and accomplish.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMiOknMXyvYcudQwpbYGcQw

Gabriela Crolla, Voice, Piano, Music for Little Ones

Gabriela Crolla was born and raised in the San Jose Bay Area, and has studied vocal performance for over 10 years. She graduated from California Polytechnic State University in 2017 with a bachelors in music and then went on to obtain her masters degree in vocal performance from San Jose State University in 2021. As a vocalist and educator, she believes not only in the power of performance, but also in the power of possessing a strong vocal technique.

Joshua Doyon, advanced saxophone & clarinet, flute (beginner-advanced intermediate)

Joshua is an allround woodwind specialist versatile on the Saxophone, the Clarinet and the Flute. He is currently in his final semester pursuing his Bachelors of Music on Saxophone Performance degree at SJSU where he studies with Dr. Michael Hernandez. Joshua has placed 1st on the chamber music division of Charleston and Kingspeak International Music Competitions and has performed at the NAVY Band International Saxophone Symposium. Hitherto, Joshua has doubled on the Sax, the Clarinet, the Flute and the Piccolo playing in the SJSU jazz orchestra and also has recently attended the SJSU Flute Institute where he was exposed to the teaching of Marcel Moyse and the French Flute School. Finally, Joshua’s students have performed in San Jose Youth Symphony and California Youth Symphony. In his spare time Joshua enjoys listening to music of all genres and going to Aikido classes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyIOxYilXBs

Melodie Du, Guzheng

Melodie studied Guzheng from age 6 in an artistic family. Her mom played Pipa and her grandfather played Guzheng. She received a performance level certificate (Level Ten) from Nanjing University of the Arts. During her undergraduate study, she joined the Tsinghua Chinese Orchestra. She started teaching in 2020 with Professional Level Grade Guzheng Teacher Certificate from Central Conservatory of Music. Now, she is a Guzheng player and arranger at multiple Chinese music bands in the Bay Area. She loves Asian traditional music and she is enthusiastic in helping students find mindfulness and enlightenment from music.

Diego Granobles, Piano

Diego Granobles is a passionate and dedicated piano teacher and performer with over 20 years of piano playing experience and 10 years of private piano teaching. He is currently pursuing a music education major at San Jose State University and has previously completed music fine arts studies at College of DuPage, IL. With a wealth of experience in teaching private piano lessons to students of all ages, Diego is committed to providing quality instruction that musically enriches his students and inspires their love of music.

Diego has had the privilege of studying under several esteemed piano teachers throughout his career, including Samuel Del Real from 2001-2005, Marina Belitskaya in 2009-2010, Dr. Steve Havens from 2015-2017, and Dr. Namik Sultanov from 2021 to the present. Overall, Diego's extensive experience in teaching, performing, and music education, coupled with the guidance of his accomplished mentors, make him an exceptional choice for anyone looking for a dedicated and talented piano teacher (beginner-advanced). Instruction in Spanish available.

Isabella Grimes, flute (CM certified)

Professional flutist and educator Isabella Rosa Lee Grimes’s favorite thing to do in this world is teach. As a native of San Jose, she was a member of the Santa Clara County Honor Band and San Jose Youth Symphony throughout middle and high school, and now enjoys seeing her own private students go through such organizations themselves.

Part of the music making process is having a sense of joy and pride, and Ms. Grimes understands the importance of this for development in all ages. As such, her goal for her students is not only to make sure that they are well-rounded musicians in a technical sense, but that they continue to develop a love for music as well, which is one of her favorite things to help students mature.

Currently, Ms. Grimes is pursuing her Masters in Music in Flute Performance at San Jose State University under the tutelage of Dr. Ray Furuta. She received a Bachelor of Music degree from Sonoma State University, also in flute performance. Recent performing engagements include a solo concerto competition performance as winner of the Sonoma State Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition and a fellowship with Chamber Music Silicon Valley. Current engagements include residency as principal flutist in San Jose State University’s Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra, two of the university’s premier ensembles. In addition, she holds an appointment as a graduate teaching associate, teaching classes such as Music Appreciation and Woodwind Fundamentals. In her spare time, Ms. Grimes enjoys reading, swimming, and making meaningful memories with her family.

Jill Hirsh, cello, violin/viola

Jill Hirsh is a graduate of San Jose State University where she earned her BM in Music Performance. Jill is a versatile multi-instrumentalist; having performed in a wide variety of ensembles on multiple instruments, she is fluent on cello while also plays violin and viola and is learning bass. She performed with SJSU’s Symphony Orchestra as principal cellist and on viola, with Disrupt New Music Ensemble on violin and cello, and with Mariachi Oro Azul on violin while also playing local gigs and events. She currently performs with the Peninsula Symphony Orchestra on Cello, and numerous small gigs and concerts. Originally from Southern California, she had performed in multiple countries before the age of 13. For the past six years, Jill has been actively teaching strings throughout the South Bay; during the summers she works as cello faculty at Cazadero Music Camp where she instructs cello masterclasses, orchestra sectionals, and the cello choir and mariachi ensembles. During the school year, she teaches beginning fifth grade orchestra at all 9 of the Mountain View elementary schools. Jill’s extensive knowledge of string pedagogy and experience teaching all ages uniquely qualify her to be a string educator. She loves and enjoys being a music educator because of the people she gets to meet, and because she loves getting to share music with others and witness their progress and love for musical expression grow.

Teaching Philosophy: I aim to help my students expand their interest in music, help them develop a healthy private practice and to inspire them to continue their pursuit of music as a form of self expression. I strive to create a classroom that is a safe place for students to grow and express themselves, where all are treated with respect and equity. I maintain an enthusiastic and focused energy in the classroom while prioritizing musicality, technique, listening and independent thinking within the curriculum. I am a patient and passionate musician who is committed to the growth, wellbeing and success of my students.

Miss Kaya, Voice, Piano, Guitar

Kaya was born and raised in Santa Cruz where she studied vocal performance and music technology before moving to New York to continue her studies. Kaya has taught music for over seven years on the East and West Coast. Kaya has taught private voice and piano lessons for the last four years on the East coast and prior to that she taught several after school enrichment programs in the Bay Area. She has developed and implemented curriculum for the Happy School in Queens, New York. Kaya is finishing her degree in vocal performance at San Jose State University.

Kaya says: "Over the years teaching children in the Arts and in STEM, I learned something I take with me into every lesson I teach, which is, a confident child is a successful one. A child who believes in themself is limitless. I structure my lessons around building self confidence. It is vital to me that my students not only reach their goals, but they do so with joy. Enjoying what you do opens doors and new possibilities. I have learned many methods to teach in ways that foster joy and I am passionate about sharing them with my students. Every person has a different way of processing information; I love figuring that out for each of my students to tailor lessons to their individual needs. Music teaches many skills that apply to other areas in life and I feel honored that I get to help people develop or improve some of them."

Mi Kim, Piano (ABRSM specialist)

Mi has been teaching piano for over 35 years. She is experienced with instructing children and adults and enjoys teaching both beginner piano foundations and advanced piano performance. Her students have excelled in performance preparation, Certificate of Merit, and ABRSM exams. She prides herself on the ability to motivate and inspire students. She teaches with patience and positive encouragement while maintaining high standards and expectations for her students. Mi's approach to teaching is to maintain strong standards for lessons while creating a lifelong love of music. Mi is a member of MTNA and holds a B. A. in Piano Performance from Chung Ang University in South Korea.

Miguel Ledezma, Trombone, Trumpet, Low Brass

Miguel Ledezma is a product of public music education. He started music at Castillero Middle School in 2006 on trombone and has not put the instrument down yet. Throughout his educational path he has represented his school in honor bands multiple years. Ledezma studied music at West Valley College and the University of Puget Sound, where he earned a Bachelors in Music Education emphasizing instrumental music and Masters of Arts in Teaching in Music Education.

Ledezma has instilled himself in the musical community all over the Bay Area with performing groups regularly. Though Ledezma has been known as a trombonist, his passion is in music education. From volunteering and coaching in schools, to student teaching and running his own band program, he places emphasis on community building. Music education is not just about learning to play an instrument; it’s about creating lasting friendships and bonds through music. Ledezma has a knack for fostering teamwork and collaboration, encouraging students to support one another both musically and personally. Through group rehearsals, performances, and social events, he cultivates a sense of belonging that is vital for the emotional and social development of young musicians. Ledezma also teaches through the incorporation of diverse musical genres to broaden the repertoire and expose students to various cultural influences. This inclusive approach not only enhances students' musical skills but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the arts. By encouraging students to explore different styles and genres, Ledezma is preparing them for the ever-evolving landscape of music.

Fred Munic, Trumpet

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Fred Munic is an orchestral and freelance trumpet player, chamber musician and teacher. He performs with local orchestras, wind ensembles, jazz bands and pit orchestras for musicals and operas. Recently Mr. Munic was named as the principal trumpet of the Mill Valley Philharmonic, has been a featured soloist with the West Valley Jazz Band and has been the principal trumpet of the San Jose State Orchestra. Fred has performed as a member of the SJSU Wind Ensemble, Disrupt (a modern music ensemble), Collegium (baroque music on natural trumpet). He has also appeared with the Mission Chamber Orchestra, the Peninsula Symphony and the San Francisco British Brass Band. Fred has played in numerous shows such as “Little shop of horrors”, “Sweeney Todd”, “Into the Woods” and “La Curandera”.

In 2018, he retired from his 37-year career as an engineer to undertake a formal music education. In May of 2023, Fred Munic received his Master of Music in trumpet performance from San Jose State University. He also holds an AA in trumpet performance from West Valley College. Fred is a member of the West Valley College faculty as their trumpet instructor and he teaches at the Almaden Academy of Music in San Jose.

La Luz En Ti – Flugelhorn soloist with the West Valley Jazz Band: https://youtu.be/uPlVHOdZxmU

Goedicke Concert Etude: https://youtu.be/FKIzs9TNkmY

Christopher Nicklin, Guitar, Ukulele, Theory & Composition

Christopher’s relationship with music started at the age of 14 when he took over his sister’s guitar lessons. That ignited a passion that took over his life and led him to get his bachelors and masters degrees in classical guitar performance at California State Northridge. While there he won numerous awards including Guitarist of the Year, Junior of the Year, and 1st place in the Andy Summers Guitar Competition (Guitarist of the Police). Since then he has been spending his time teaching college classes, arranging music, recording, and playing at weddings all around the Bay Area.

Christopher works with students to first and foremost connect with what makes a song great, create passion, and reveal those qualities with technique and personal intuition.

Eli Orque, Drums & Bass, Guitar (Rock/metal/jazz), Ukulele

Eli was born and raised in San Jose, he is a versatile musician with years of experience playing multiple instruments. He started out on bass before quickly developing skills on guitar and drums. His main genres of interest are rock, metal, and jazz, but he has experience playing and teaching a variety of other styles.

As a musician, Eli has performed at the Santa Cruz Jazz Festival, showcasing his musical abilities and passion for the craft. In addition to performing, he has also taught private drum lessons in the past, sharing his knowledge and experience with aspiring musicians.

Currently, Eli enjoys teaching beginners and helping them develop a passion for music. His patience and understanding make him a valuable instructor for anyone just starting out on their musical journey. In addition to teaching, he can also be found filling in for bands that need drummers or guitarists, while also working on his own music. He is currently completing his undergraduate degree in Jazz Studies.

Ginger Piersol, Voice, Piano, Music for Little Ones

Ginger came from the San Joaquin Valley to pursue her love of music at San Jose State University, where she completed her bachelor’s of music in music education with a focus in choral studies. She has been playing piano for 19 years and singing for just as long. Her interest in teaching music blossomed in high school, where her choir teacher inspired her to pursue teaching. Ginger enjoys singing in a choral setting and previously sang in San Jose State’s Concert Choir and Choraliers, travelling with the latter in 2022 to perform in the Western Region ACDA conference. She now sings with Peninsula Cantare.

Ginger has taught music lessons for 4 years and particularly enjoys working with students to develop and understand their individual learning styles. She believes that exploring music at any age has a profound effect on an individual’s self-confidence, creativity, and expression, and loves to foster that growth in her students.

Jazmin Rivera, clarinet & saxophone

Jazmin is a pursuing her undergrad degree in Music Education at San Jose State University, School of Music! Raised in the Monterey Bay area, Jazmin picked up her first instrument, Clarinet, in the 7th grade. As she continued her studies throughout high school, she eventually also learned the Saxophone during her junior year in her high school’s jazz band. Since then, she has been an active member in ensembles at San Jose State, including the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Spartan Marching Band, and Pep Band on both clarinet and saxophone.
Her love for music grew in high school, as she became the Clarinet Section Leader in her senior year. Throughout her journey, she participated in multiple San Jose State held events, such as the “High School Honors Wind Ensemble”, and “Summer in the City”, a week-long music camp held on campus. Not only that, but she was also conducted by the SJSU Assistant Director of Bands, Dr. Craig McKenzie in her high school district’s Honor Band. To add to that, she was also conducted by the Director of Bands, Dr. David Vickerman at the CMEA-CCS performance in early 2020. After doing more research into the music program at SJSU, she ultimately decided that was where she belonged.

Currently, she studies clarinet under Professor Steve Sánchez, and enjoys working as both an educator and performer. She performs Clarinet in the Wind Ensemble, and Alto Saxophone in the Spartan Marching Band. Her ultimate goal is to share her love for music with those around her, in whatever ways she can. She also has experience working as a Woodwind Specialist for a high school concert band, Notre Dame High School in San Jose. She loves to pass down knowledge from her profound professors and express that love of learning to anyone who shares the same passion or curiosity for music.

Liam Shaughnessy, violin, viola

Liam Shaughnessy is an experienced violinist who has studied under Alex Eisenberg, and then with Igor Veligan at the Conservatory of Music at University of The Pacific. Liam also participated in University of The Pacific’s Mahler at Pacific Festival, mentoring selected high school students from around California through Mahler’s challenging orchestral works. He has a vast repertoire that includes most standard violin works. He is an active gigging musician and is preparing auditions to join a professional orchestra in addition to teaching. He enjoys teaching children of all ages and skill levels (and adults) and is passionate about his craft and musical pedagogy.

Will Schneider, piano

Will Schneider is a San Jose native who studied piano with Veronica Vitale, Dr. Anna Poklewski, Dr. Gwendolyn Mok, and Dr. Namiq Sultanov, music theory with Dr. Paul Setziol, composition with Dr. Pablo Furman, and choral directing and education with Dr. Jeffrey Benson. He has taught piano for fifteen years across all skill levels, all genres, and nearly all ages as well as conducted San Jose State’s Concert Choir and Choraliers, taught piano, music theory, and music history at San Jose State University, toured Europe, published compositions, and once won a talent show in middle school. Will earned an associates in music from De Anza Community College, a bachelors of music in composition from San Jose State University, and a masters of music in choral conducting from San Jose State University.

Will’s teaching philosophy is simple: music is here to give you whatever you need from it. Music can give you self esteem, purpose, joy, the ability to express yourself, community, drive, and nearly anything else you could ever need. It’s an honor to be able to be a supportive guide to students on their musical journey, and to share in the joy of their exploration, growth, and success.

Lou Sullivan, Piano, Voice

Lou’s love of music began at age seven, after being gifted piano lessons by their grandparents. From there, Lou continued to seek out more musical opportunities throughout their childhood, participating in musical theater and choir both as a singer and an accompanist.Their passion led them to begin attending San José State University in pursuit of a degree in Music Education, where they are now. Their passion lies in teaching and helping others find joy in both the practice and performance of music. Lou has worked with students ranging from age four to age seventy, and they teach all of their students with a focus on setting clear goals and developing a confident practice process.

Rafael Zepeda, Double Bass, Electric Bass, Onsite@ Orchestras

Rafael was born and raised in San Jose, CA and has studied Double Bass performance for over 10 years. He began his instruction locally here at Castillero Middle School. Rafael graduated from Chapman University in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in Double Bass performance and went on to also earn his masters degree in Double Bass Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 2020. He has a passion for teaching that he has inherited from many of his great teachers such as Scott Krijnen, Kate Francis, and Bruce Moyer. Rafael regularly performs with groups in the Bay Area such as the Cambrian Symphony, San Jose Dance Theatre, Palo Alto Players, and UC Davis Symphony Orchestra.