Teachers

Joey was born in Valencia, California as the youngest of 5 children. At age 6, he began learning how to play his favorite music from movies, television, and video games on the piano. He especially excelled at creating his own unique compositions.

During middle school, Joey taught himself to play the electric guitar. He then taught himself to play the alto saxophone in high school after joining the marching band. To further aid in his musical journey, he also took a college-level music theory class. At the age of 18, Joey helped form a rock band with several friends as the lead guitarist.

Joey put himself through school and earned his bachelor’s degree in Media Composition at California State University Northridge. He found his passion for teaching during college when multiple friends asked him to teach their children different instruments and music theory.

During his time at CSUN, Joey gained skills teaching, composing, arranging, conducting, playing multiple new instruments, and performing. He uses these skills to help students learn their favorite songs from media alongside classical pieces and fundamentals they need to grow. His teaching philosophy is that music should be as fun as it is difficult, and that every student requires a unique approach to keep them on the right path.

Joey now plays and teaches 10 different instruments and has performed at world-renowned venues such as the Whisky A Go Go, Disneyland, and even the Hollywood Bowl.

Agnese Gallenzi is an Italian American Soprano. Award-winner of the 2022 District at the Metropolitan Laffont Competition, she made her international debut at Opera Stara Zagora with the role of Adina in L’Elisir d’Amore, in April 2022. She started singing at a very young age and she has always performed in choirs since she was 10 years old. She graduated in vocal performance 2016 at Conservatorio G. B Pergolesi di Fermo (ITA) with high honors and pursued her Master of Music at California State University Northridge.

At CSUN she performed a variety of lead roles including the role of Mimi’ last March 2023 for which she received much acclaim for her interpretation. Other roles she performed include Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Musetta in La Bohème, Micaela in Carmen, Anna Maurrant in Street Scene, Fiordiligi in Cosi’ Fan Tutte. Agnese has received many accolades and much critical acclaim for her warm sound, her crystalline clear coloratura, accompanied by soaring high notes and her poignant interpretation of the operatic female characters.

Agnese has been a voice teacher since 2016. Her main goal as teacher is on giving her students the instruments to trust their voice and allow them to master it and deploy it to its full potential. She mostly focuses on breathing “grounding” exercises to connect body and voice to allow its full and natural release.

Alex, from Cleveland, Ohio, is a passionate voice instructor and theatre/acting educator dedicated to inspiring the next generation of performers. He earned his degree at the University of Miami, where he studied theatre arts, film, and musical theatre in a conservatory-style training environment. With a background in voice, acting, directing, screenwriting, and technical theatre, he brings a well-rounded understanding of both the creative and technical aspects of performance.

With over a decade of experience in the performing arts, Alex helps students develop strong vocal technique, stage presence, and storytelling skills. His warm and encouraging approach allows him to tailor instruction to each student’s unique needs, ensuring they grow into confident and expressive performers.

Having discovered his love for music, acting, and performance at the age of five, he understands the importance of nurturing talent in a supportive environment at any stage of life. Whether coaching students in vocal techniques, refining acting choices, or shaping stage performances, he strives to help every performer find their artistic voice and reach their full potential.

Ana Paula Farano is a Brazilian-Guatemalan soprano whose work spans classical and contemporary styles, including opera, musical theatre, and studio recording. Her diverse performance background, ranging from the concert hall to the stage and studio, has equipped her with the versatility, discipline, and real-world insight she brings to her teaching.

Grounded in healthy classical technique and informed by years of performing, Ana Paula offers students the tools they need to meet the demands of today’s vocal performance landscape. She specializes in audition preparation, and her students have gone on to earn lead roles in musical theatre productions and gain acceptance into top collegiate music programs.

Ana Paula received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and has worked with respected music organizations such as the Kodály Association of Southern California and the Los Angeles Master Chorale’s education program.

She is committed to creating a supportive, focused learning environment where students are encouraged to take creative risks, build consistent technique, and grow into expressive, confident musicians.

Andrew Greenberg is a freelance percussion educator, performer, and composer based in the San Fernando Valley. He attended Pasadena City College before getting his Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance at California State University, Northridge.

Andrew has worked and continues to work with multiple schools, including Chaminade College Preparatory, Simi Valley High School, Burbank High School, and John Burroughs High School. He is also the principal percussionist for Mission Opera.

He currently teaches mallet percussion, drumset, timpani, and beginner piano.

Anzhela Davtyan is a pianist, music educator based in Los Angeles. She was born in Yerevan, Armenia, where she received her first piano lessons at age 6. Anzhela made her concerto debut at the age of 9, playing Haydn’s D major piano concerto along with Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C-sharp minor. She went on to complete her musical education at the Arno Babajanyan Musical Pedagogical college in Yerevan, where she obtained a Bachelor degree with honors in solo performance, ensemble performance, accompanying and pedagogy.

After moving to Los Angeles, she continued her piano studies at the California State University of Northridge under the direction of Dr. Dmitry Rachmanov, Professor Edward Francis and engaged in pedagogical activities and ensemble performing. Anzhela holds both Bachelor of music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy and Master degree in piano performance from the California State University of Northridge. Her teaching experience includes maintaining a private piano studio for the past 16 years. She has an extensive experience in performing on stage and teaching classical piano lessons to students of all ages and skill levels. Besides teaching privately, she also has much experience working at the major music studios in Los Angeles, such as Knauer Music School, Musonia Music School, Angeles Music academy.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Brandon is from a musical family and started learning piano at the age of 6. He started learning drums in middle school and immediately found the kit to be some of the most fun there is. Furthering his musicality, he began composing, which brought him to graduate from UCLA with a degree in composition. While at UCLA he joined the student choir and conducted several small ensembles.

Currently a church music director and organist, Brandon also has been a part of his church’s handbell choir in addition to several local bands over the years. Having taught piano and drums for about 6-7 years, and part of that time being remote, he has learned how to connect with and engage students in many ways for them to enjoy the process of learning music. He greatly enjoys being able to inspire people of all ages, whether it be through teaching, performing, or composing.

Dana Lewis Howell holds degrees in music composition from UCLA (PhD), San Francisco Conservatory of Music (MM) and Carnegie Mellon University (BFA).  His teachers included Leonardo Balada, William Critser, Nancy Galbraith, Paul Chihara, David Conte, Roger Bourland and Ian Krause. He grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and pursued dual degrees in composition and clarinet performance before moving to California to continue studies. 

Dana Howell currently serves as Instrumental Music Director at Highland Hall Waldorf School.  Since coming to Los Angeles in 2004, he has been an active composer, performer, conductor and teacher, previously holding positions as Music Director at St. John Eudes Church and organist at Echo Park United Methodist Church.  He taught composition and theory at the Brevard Music Center summer festival from 2008 to 2012 and studied at the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau.

Eran Scoggins is professional Singer and Actor who currently resides in Los Angeles, CA. He was born and raised in Inglewood, California where he began performing at a very early age.

Eran took on every performing opportunity you could think of – from church to competing in competitions all around California. This led him to being in numerous professional settings allowing him to perform with many of the world’s greatest, like Stevie Wonder and David Foster. In high school, Eran developed a love for Musical Theater. He decided to hone in on his craft by attending AMDA: American Musical and Dramatic Academy receiving his Bachelor’s in Fine Arts, studying both in Hollywood and New York City.

Over the years, Eran has learned to tap into the depth and rawness of any material-  making sure to live “truthfully under imaginary circumstances” while maintaining vocal health and technique. When not on stage, Eran has the hunger and passion for sharing his professional knowledge as a Vocal Coach. As a seasoned professional, with over 10 years of experience, Eran is dedicated to nurturing each student’s unique voice and helping them reach their full potential – providing tailored guidance with both precision and joy.

Evan is a professional drummer currently residing in Los Angeles, CA. He has been playing drums for over 20 years. Evan graduated from the University of Louisville in 2006 with a degree in Music Performance, and since 2004 he has taught drum set, classical and rudimental snare drum, and guitar.

While living in Louisville, Evan was a founding member of Louisville groups Paradigm, The Deloreans, and The Pass. While a member of the fusion rock and jazz group Paradigm, Evan toured across the United States and opened for such groups as the Benvento/Russo Duo, Charlie Hunter, Club D’Elf, and the Lee Boys. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2009, Evan has recorded and/or played with The Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra, the Sean Stackpoole Quartet, West LA Fadeaway, Jay Stapleton, and June Aja.

Evan strives to instill the fundamentals of music in his students in a fun, creative, and engaging way. He believes it is important for students to develop the ability to solve musical problems from a place of creativity and positive contribution. If a student can learn to do so early, she can take that ability with her throughout her career.

Kevin Breeding teaches violin and viola in the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas. He teaches all levels. Kevin started playing violin at the age of ten. He has received both his Bachelors and Master’s degree from California State University Northridge. He has participated in many competitions.

Kevin Breeding has performed in Los Angeles, New York, Switzerland, France, and Italy. In his free time, Kevin enjoys video games after a long day of practicing, teaching, and working.

Kristen Simpson is a graduate from Berklee College of Music in Boston, having studied contemporary guitar performance and the business of live music. She loves playing R&B, funk, rock, and pop music. Kristen grew up in Southern California and started playing music at a young age, having grown up with a guitarist father and grandfather. During school she fell in love with gigging and recording for local artists and now wants to share her knowledge and lifelong love for music and guitar.

Lucas Heininger is a drummer and percussionist who has a background in jazz drum set, marching percussion, and classical concert percussion. He attended Cal State University, Northridge where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in percussion performance under the tutelage of Aaron Smith and John Magnussen. While obtaining his education Lucas studied more extensive areas of music, such as music theory, keyboard percussion, auxiliary percussion, and world percussion.

Lucas has performed in a wide variety of musical settings, including the musicals Fiddler on the Roof, The Little Mermaid, Les Miserables, and Once on this Island; three tours in the U.S. to Seattle, Pennsylvania, and Hawaii; various wind ensembles, orchestras, and studio sessions; as well as performing with several bands as a drum set player, including his own combo where he is the lead singer and drummer. In addition to his performance career, Lucas teaches drums, percussion, piano, guitar, and bass as a private instructor.

Marisa Lifquist is currently a student at California State University, Northridge, pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance. Within the piano department, she has been a student leader as president of the CSUN Piano Club from fall 2021 to spring 2023. She also has been the recipient of multiple CSUN music department scholarships including the Colburn Classical Music Scholarship, Samuel John Swartz Memorial Scholarship, and most recently the Joan Thompson Scholarship. Additionally, she received the award of outstanding piano department student in the spring of 2022.

Marisa has had the pleasure studying and performing at summer festivals such as Adamant Music School in 2019 and 2022, and the Amalfi Coast Music Festival in July 2023.

Mike Fandetti is a Los Angeles based multi-instrumental musician who has been teaching saxophone, guitar, and bass professionally since 2015. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at CSUN in saxophone performance, and began teaching private lessons after graduate school.

Since beginning his teaching career, he has also included ukulele, flute, clarinet, and piano to his roster of instruments he teaches. In addition to teaching private lessons for over 10 years, he also works with larger groups (including rock bands and classical ensembles) of students at a time, getting bands ready for concerts and competitions. 

He teaches all ages, and has had two students get accepted into the music colleges of their choice! Mike specializes in many different genres of music, but has taught mostly jazz music, latin, classical, and rock (for guitar, bass and ukulele).

Nathan is a multi–instrumentalist & vocalist born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Nathan’s love for music started at an early age, where he tuned into what was on the radio and played any instrument he could get his hands on starting with piano lessons in elementary school. He started taking an interest in the rhythm instruments in junior high school and then picked up guitar in high school. Between church, high school Jazz band, singing in choir, and finding time to jam with friends Nathan developed a keen ear and diversity of playing styles, he also picked up the bug for teaching lessons.

After high school he went to Cal State Northridge where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Studies and embarked on a career in touring while teaching lessons on the side. Traveling around the world playing drums in the stage band on cruises while also performing guitar as a solo artist.

Nathan has taught guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and voice students as well as directing bands. He taught at the Claudia Roberts music studio, Pali Rockstar Camp, California Arts Program, Sound Check Music School, and the Guitar Merchant. His love of teaching relies on finding creative and new ways to teach concepts meeting each student where they are at. His focus is on utilizing your ears to learn concepts while applying the theoretical side of music. His skill set in multiple instruments makes lessons with him dynamic since he is easily able to back a bass or guitar play on drums, or use piano as needed to lead instruction always keeping things fun, but focused on progressing.

Tiffany is a performer, composer, and educator based in Los Angeles. She received a Bachelor’s of Music from Cal State Northridge, where she studied film scoring, classical trumpet performance, vocal performance, and jazz arranging. While earning a Master’s in Fine Arts from California Institute of the Arts, she continued her compositional and performance practice in the styles of jazz, salsa, contemporary, and North Indian classical music.

Currently, Tiffany is working as a composer, arranger, and orchestrator on a musical, she’s singing as a soloist and section leader at a church in Pasadena, and teaches students in voice, piano, guitar, ukulele, trumpet, and composition.

Una Sung is an innovative music-media composer, piano teacher, and performer from South Korea. She earned her bachelor’s degree for Music in Commercial and Media Writing from the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication at California State University Northridge.

Using the skills and knowledge she gained while studying at CSUN, Una has been teaching children as young as 2 years old how to play piano and understand music. Her approach to teaching is shaped by her diverse experiences as not only a musician, but also as a babysitter, allowing her to incorporate creative techniques that inspire students to explore their musical expression.

Her extensive work with children has further enhanced her skillset by allowing her to connect with young learners, foster patience, empathy, and it has given her a deep understanding of how to tailor lessons to each student’s unique needs and learning style. Una focuses on nurturing a love for music in her students while honing her ability to inspire creativity and instill discipline.