Team

Jiye Hayden, born in South Korea, is a professional pianist, vocalist and music instructor based in the greater Los Angeles area. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from California State University, Northridge, as well as a Piano Teaching Certificate from Ewha Woman’s University in Seoul, South Korea.

Exposed to music from a young age, she received her first piano lessons at age six and later learned multiple instruments, including violin, saxophone and guitar. Over the years, she has performed in various roles as a musician in a variety of venues, including as: saxophonist in the Olympia Hotel in Seoul, bar pianist at Four Seasons Resort in Santa Barbara, pianist/keyboardist in numerous musical theater productions, and chorist at Carnegie Hall and in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at Walt Disney Hall. As a freelance collaborative pianist and staff accompanist at CSUN, she also has extensive experience with accompanying instrumentalists and vocalists in recitals and competitions.

Ms. Hayden’s career as a music teacher also began at a relatively young age – over the past twenty years, she has taught over a thousand students. As a result of this extensive teaching experience, she has developed a flexible method that adapts to and nurtures each child’s individual learning abilities, including children with ADHD and autism. Her greatest passion is teaching children and guiding them on their journey to becoming independent musicians and music lovers.

Jennifer Wydra’s theatrical credits include every type of performing arts, from TV and film to Broadway, national tours, commercials, industrials, & extensive voiceover work. She voices, casts, and produces v/o work in all genres, including videogames, podcasts, audiobooks, corporate narration, and animation. Jennifer achieved a BFA in acting with Honors from UT Austin and continued post-graduate studies at the AMDA in NYC.

She also fulfilled the teaching requirements for drama education while at U.T. She has directed shows all over LA and NYC, and coaches several successful young actors. In addition to her acting/voiceover career, she is/has been a Creative Consultant to Disney Channel Original Movies for 15 years, working on projects such as Teen Beach Movie, Descendants, Lemonade Mouth, and many others. More recently, she has become a Consultant for the Original Family Film Department at Netflix.

Mike Fandetti is a Los Angeles native and musician who has been teaching saxophone, flute, guitar, keyboard and bass guitar to students ranging in age from 7 to 70 since 2009.

He received his Masters Degree in Music Performance in 2015.

Mike is proficient in music theory and music history. He loves teaching and passing along the beauty of music to his students.

Sara Almasi is a passionate pianist and music instructor. Her method in teaching music is influenced by her studies and long time experience, working with students of all ages. She started playing the piano at the age of five. She received her Bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Tehran university with distinction and then continued her studies at Art university of Tehran under guidance of Gagik Babayan, Setare Beheshti and Tamara Dolidze, until she got her Master’s degree. She visited master classes in piano education, conducting, modern music and Alexander technique by Manuchehr Sahbai, Delbar Hakimova, Tollib Shahidi, Iradj Sahbai and Azin Movahed.

After moving to Vienna-Austria, the capital of classical music, she studied music pedagogy and piano under Hafez Babashahi in Wagner Konservatorium with a minor in ensemble conducting. She taught for many years in her native country both privately and in music schools such as Pars Institute. She also was a lecturer at art and architecture branch of Azad university of Tehran.

Sarah Salazar, is no stranger to the stage. After winning Miss Tustin in 2010 she was awarded the preliminary talent award at the Miss California Competition. In 2015, Salazar faced a life threatening illness, where it was projected she would not survive, let alone sing. After an extensive recovery period, she has never been more sure that she was put on this earth to use her voice.

She has sung with Opera Santa Barbara, Valley Opera and Performing Arts, Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera, Glendale Opera Company and The Pacific Opera Project. She also currently sings as a Fox Singer with the Verdi Chorus.

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.

Alex Brandenburg is a vocalist, pianist, composer, arranger, and educator based in the Los Angeles area. She was drawn to music from the beginning of her life, noodling at the piano and singing in the shower at every opportunity. Her unique combination of experience in classical percussion, jazz piano, and musical theatre fused to spark an interest in singing and songwriting professionally.

Alex is a two-time graduate of the University of Miami Frost School of Music, where she studied with Dr. Kate Reid, sang in the multiple Downbeat award-winning vocal group Extensions, and served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. Jazz and popular music luminaries she has performed with include Peter Eldridge, Darmon Meader, Donny McCaslin, Becca Stevens, Jo Lawry, Kathleen Grace, and Dena DeRose. Alex has performed in major concert series such as the Stanford Jazz Festival and Jazz Roots at the Adrienne Arsht Center. In 2019, she spent a week performing in Zagreb, Croatia as part of the International Association of Schools of Jazz. She can be heard as a backing vocalist on various projects, from star-studded concerts to educational material for children. As an arranger, her work has been featured at the New York Voices Vocal Jazz Camp.

In addition to performing, recording, and writing, Alex is an active music educator who is passionate about helping her students unlock their potential. She has worked with all ages and experience levels, from her own private studio to large student groups and choirs. One of her greatest joys is fostering joy and confidence in students through music.

Parker Trent is a Los Angeles based Drum Set player, Percussionist, and Composer. Having graduated with a bachelor’s degree from The New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in Manhattan he has an extensive knowledge of both performance as well as Music Theory and Ear Training. Parker has worked with such artists as The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Darcy James Argue’s “Secret Society” and many others, including multitudes of chamber and musical theatre groups. Parker has been playing for over fifteen years and has studied under some of the most prestigious and influential teachers in the world including Ari Hoenig, Gregg Bissonette, Lenny White, and Michael Carvin.

Having taught since 2012 he has worked with students ranging from ages 5-30 in all facets of drumming and percussion, from early beginners to advanced players. He conducts group lessons as well as private one-on-one courses.

With a background in Jazz, Classical, and Contemporary music. His aim is to instill a deep foundation and connection with the artform for all students, as well as fostering a love for the act of playing.

A guitar player and educator with a keen interest in music academia and performing. Extensively trained in Jazz, session guitar playing, arranging, music charting & transcription. Arsh began his musical journey in India at Swarnabhoomi Academy of music where he played and learned with musicians from all around the world being exposed to different Latin, African and American styles of music. Arsh’s music education then led him to Los Angeles where at the Musicians Institute he got a more formal education in music and dove deeper into American styles of music. After performing and learning from many great musicians in India and Los Angeles, Arsh aims to do for his students what his teachers did for him, teach music as a language so it can be effortlessly spoken while incorporating the tastes and artistic choices of the individual playing it.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Theo has always been drawn to music.   Theo began piano lessons when he was only 4 years old and by the time he was 12, had competed in and placed in various classical competitions around Southern California.  Not to mention his affinity for playing coldplay covers that made him a favorite at family gatherings.  When he reached highschool he was introduced to Jazz and fell in love.  From then until college he would practice Jazz as much as he could until he eventually decided to apply to and attend Manhattan School of Music for Jazz Piano.  In New York, Theo would perform in many different Jazz clubs and venues such as Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Smoke Jazz Club, Smalls, Black Cat, and many more.  He performed with many different artists and even had the privilege of performing with one of his idols, the renowned Sean Jones.  Since his stint in New York Theo has moved back to Los Angeles as a music producer. With ghost writing credits on itunes charting songs, there is a lot of great music to come.

Emily Gilbertson is a pianist, singer, and teacher. She began violin lessons at the age of 4 and classical piano lessons at the age of 5. Most recently she completed her master’s degree in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy at the University of Oklahoma with Dr. Jeongwon Ham. She received her Bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College in Piano Performance with a Collaborative Emphasis with Dr. Kent McWilliams. Emily has studied classical voice since the age of 14. In high school she participated in the Colburn Concert Choir and the Colburn Chamber Singers, sang with the SCVA regional honors choir and performed with the Honors Choir Performance Series at Carnegie Hall.

At St. Olaf College, Emily was a piano tutor for group piano class where she taught undergraduate students on a 1-1 and 2-1 basis. She performed on the 2018 St. Olaf Piano Tour. In addition to her piano studies Emily was involved in choir and opera at St. Olaf College. She has been a member of the St. Olaf Manitou Singers, the St. Olaf Chapel Choir, the St. Olaf Collegiate Chorale, and the St. Olaf Chamber Singers. She was Marcellina in St. Olaf’s Scenes from the Marriage of Figaro in 2016 and an ensemble member of St. Olaf’s production of Die Fledermaus in 2016 and Ruddigore in 2017. Emily has experience accompanying vocalists, instrumentalists, and choirs in recitals, lessons, studio class, and juries. Emily also has experience as a church pianist accompanying services and performing with choirs.

During her time in Oklahoma, Emily taught private piano lessons online and in-person. She had several students perform in Zoom recitals and outdoor showcases. In addition to privately teaching piano, Emily was a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Oklahoma in Music Theory where she taught Aural Skills classes to undergraduate students. Emily enjoys presenting at national conferences. She was accepted to present at MTNA 2020 and completed a poster session for MTNA 2021. Recently she has been selected to perform piano in the Classical Music Festival in Vienna, Austria. 

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.

Having recently completed his Vocal Arts degree at California State University, Northridge, David McGarry is a promising young operatic tenor based in the Los Angeles area. He has sung in numerous productions with both CSUN and local opera companies, and highlights of his young career include singing the role of Jupiter in Offenbach’s Orphee aux enfers, singing the role of Malabarba in the North American premier of Domenico Cimarosa’s Li sposi per accidente, and making his European concert debut with the American Institude of Musical Studies in 2019. In addition to performing and training in opera, David has sung in numerous recitals and concerts around Los Angeles and has studied the art song, acting, and composition.

Marie-France Lévesque holds a Degree in Music and Dance from Old-Montreal College, Canada and she has studied piano, grand organ, composition, counterpoint, theory, solfeggio and music history among other music classes at the highly distinguished “Vincent d’Indy Conservatory of Music” of Montreal, Canada for 12 years and began teaching at age 17. She has now been a seasoned music and piano teacher for over 25 years in Los Angeles and she recently was teaching at the Middle and High School at Viewpoint Independent School. She loves to share her passion, experience and knowledge of music to inspire students of all experience levels to find and pursue their own passions and express themselves through music as a means of developing their creativity as well as to instill a positive, healthy and empowering attitude which will reflect in their schooling and their life. As a teacher, her pedagogical philosophy is to make the best of each student’s talent, to use and develop the qualities of each person to maximize each individual’s potential.

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.