Northwest School of Music Staff

Go directly to instructors for the following: Guitar, Bass, Piano, Drums, Violin and Viola Voice

Kathleen: Office Manager

Marie: Office Manager

Scott Cain: Guitar Lessons

Scott Cain is the co-founder of Northwest School of Music. He has been actively teaching guitar lessons in Texas since 1978, and has been teaching music in Austin, Texas since 1981. He is well versed in the pedagogy of Classical, Jazz, Rock, Funk, Rhythm and Blues, Country, Finger Picking, and Pop Styles.

Scott is a graduate of the University of North Texas State with a degree in Performance of Guitar, and he has won awards for both teaching and performance. Scott is also a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Honor Society. Many of Scott’s students have won scholarships and honors as well, and a number of them are now professional performers and teachers in the Central Texas area.

As an instructor, Scott was given the “Teaching Excellence Award” by Austin Community College in August of 2001, and has been actively teaching music courses at A.C.C. since 1986 and at St. Stephens Episcopal School since 1984. He has also been a guest lecturer at Texas State University, and a faculty member at Temple Junior College.

In addition, Scott has been asked to develop guitar programs at other community and junior colleges in Texas, along with Texas State University in San Marcos.

As a performer, Scott was chosen by audition to perform for Andre Segovia in Madrid, Spain during the summer of 1979. He received Austin Chronicle awards for best new band and best lounge act as a member of Casino Royal. Additionally, Scott has performed with Grammy Award winners Shirley Jones and Floyd Domino, The Austin Symphony Chamber Orchestra, Country artists Frenchy Burke, Wayne “The Train” Hancock, Beth Williams, and Austin Chronicle Hall of Fame Janet Lynn, jazz artists Mady Kaye, Mike Mordecai, Tony Campise, Kelly Grey, The Nash Hernandez Orchestra, The Groove Machine and many others. Scott can be seen as a frequent performer and featured soloist at Riverbend Church.

go to top

Carter Arrington: Guitar Lessons

Carter Arrington began playing guitar at the age of 12 and studying with various teachers in the Roanoke, VA area. At the age of 15, he earned one of 25 nation-wide scholarships from Berklee College of Music in Boston for the upcoming summer guitar sessions. Previously versed in rock and metal styles, his Boston experience led him to explore more avenues of music in an intense musical environment and a decision to pursue music as a career. At 17, he attended the Atlanta Institute of Music, a vocational performance music school specializing in preparing students to become successful working musicians. Atlanta also provided a large R&B and funk music scene, and opened up Carter’s musical doors to the likes of Prince, Earth Wind and Fire, and various other fusion artists that greatly enhanced his rhythmic sensibilities. Upon graduation, he taught various courses and levels at the Atlanta Institute of Music including scales, rock performance, jazz concepts, rock styles, and odd meter performance. Carter also taught private students independently, and as an instructor for Mars Music, teaching around 35 students weekly. He currently resides in Austin and recently completed his Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Texas at Austin.

Carter is versed in many musical styles ranging from rock, metal, funk, R&B, jazz, fusion, Latin, and some classical and finger-style guitar. Recent experience included a European tour that included performances at the North Sea and Montreax Jazz festivals, two of the most renowned in the world, various other gigs in Germany and Switzerland, and opening for The Headhunters. He gigs regularly in the Austin area and occasionally in Lubbock, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Local gigs have included groups such as the UT AIME ensemble, Groovin’ Ground, Larry, Apostrophe, The Palm School Choir, and currently enjoys various R&B projects. Carter has been teaching guitar for 7 years.

go to top

Rob Bentley: Guitar Lessons

Rob Bentley graduated Summa Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music and later began a Masters degree at the University of North Texas in jazz studies. He has studied with such notable teachers as, Mick Goodrick, Charlie Banacos, and Fred Hamilton, and has attended seminars with John Scofield, Mike Stern, and Pat Martino. Rob has performed in 26 states and six European countries, having played in rock bands, country bands, rhythm and blues bands, eighteen piece big bands, jazz combos and duos. Currently, he performs regularly throughout Texas in several different bands and styles.

Rob hopes to teach each student in manner that provides a well rounded musical foundation while catering to the interests of each individual student. Rob has been teaching professionally for the last twelve years.

go to top

Jesse Berkowitz: Guitar Lessons

Jesse Berkowitz began playing guitar at the age of 12 in his home town of Silver City, New Mexico after hearing Metallica for the first time and thinking "I wanna do that!" Deeply inspired by the do-it-yourself ethic of early 'Nineties bands such as Nirvana and others who were part of the increasingly popular grunge and punk scenes, Jesse picked up the electric guitar and began teaching himself to play. He started playing in his first punk-rock and metal bands and gigging around his home state at age 14.

Upon graduating high school, Jesse decided to further pursue his musical interests in an academic environment (leaving the punk rock world behind!) and began studying music theory at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Here Jesse was introduced to the world of classical guitar, which became a consistent passion throughout his college career. Studying under renowned performer Mesut Ozgen, Jesse immersed himself in the classical guitar repertoire and discovered a fondness for somewhat avant-garde composers of the 20th century, particularly the colorful work of the Cuban guitarist/composer Leo Brouwer. While working towards his degree Jesse often performed as a soloist and as a member of the UC Santa Cruz Guitar Ensemble.

After receiving his Bachelor of Arts in music, Jesse decided to try his hand at composing and went on to recieve a Master's degree in composition, also from the University of California, Santa Cruz. During this time he composed music mostly for chamber ensembles, including several string quartet and guitar ensemble pieces. He also began to experiment with introducing rock and metal elements into the classical music environment (with varying degrees of success!), composing several pieces for ensembles of strings and woodwinds which also featured electric guitar, electric bass, and drum set. Jesse has also spent time studying the music of eastern Europe and the far east, and he has traveled to Asia and performed with local folk musicians there. A piece he composed for guitar and gayageum (a Korean string instument) had it's premiere performance at a national folk festival in Seoul, South Korea.

Throughout his academic studies, Jesse has continued to express his love of non-classical genres and has performed with countless rock, punk, metal, reggae and bluegrass bands throughout New Mexico, California and Texas. He currently performs in Austin as a member of the experimental rock/metal trio Vanished Clan, and also with Nefesh, an acoustic gypsy-folk ensemble.

go to top

Michael Hobson : Guitar Lessons

Michael Hobson has been playing guitar since 1999 and teaching since 2003. He performs and teaches on both electric and acoustic guitars in a variety of styles including rock, blues, jazz, country, funk, R&B, classical, and finger-style. He is experienced teaching students of different ages and skill levels.

Michael holds a Master of Music from the University of South Florida (Tampa, FL) and a Bachelor of Music from Hope College (Holland, MI), both with an emphasis in jazz performance. He also spent two years at Belmont University (Nashville, TN) and attended the National Guitar Workshop (Los Angeles, CA).

Michael has performed and recorded as a member of the South Florida and Hope jazz orchestras and combos. While in these groups, he has had the opportunity to perform with musicians such as Airto Moreira, Jamey Aebersold, Mark Taylor, Chuck Owen & the Jazz Surge, Fred Sturm, Mike Tomaro, Kim Richmond, Clay Jenkins, John Allred, and others. In high school, he placed 1st in consecutive years at the local battle of the bands. He has played professionally in the Austin, TX, Tampa, FL, Grand Rapids, MI, and Flint, MI areas, as well as been active in several rock bands with friends, including recording with the Travis Kingma Band.

Outside of guitar, Michael is an active composer, arranger, and songwriter, and plays some bass guitar, piano, and banjo. He enjoys a wide variety of music from different styles and generations. When students study with Michael, they can expect a qualified, friendly instructor who is personally invested in their improvement, as well as willing to teach to their musical goals.

go to top

Nick Kraus : Guitar Lessons

Nick Kraus started playing guitar at the age of fourteen. Influenced by the emerging Alternative and Punk Rock waves of the 1990's, he quickly started writing songs and playing in "garage bands" with other kids in his neighborhood. All through high school Nick studied both fingerstyle and standard guitar. He was in the high school jazz band his junior and senior years. His musical influences blossomed as he attended the Berklee College of Music summer guitar program in 1996, where he was introduced to many great guitarists he would later study with such as Jon Finn, Mike Ihde, and Mick Goodrick.

After graduating high school Nick attended Berklee College of Music, majoring in both performance and songwriting. Berklee allowed Nick to study and perform several styles. His ensembles consisted of Jazz, Rock, Bluegrass and Pop, where he also played electric bass guitar. He continued to study Country and Rock guitar with Mike Ihde, and also studied with Hendrix-style virtuoso Julien Kasper all four years at Berklee.

Nick moved to Austin in 2006 and was the assistant director of music at Legacy Oaks Christian School from 2007 to 2010.He performs and records with his Americana band Nick Kraus and His Austin Torpedoes. He has toured the United States and has released two full length albums of original material.

go to top

Douglas Marcis: Guitar Lessons

Douglas Marcis has been studying and performing guitar for 17 years. Since 1995, Douglas has been teaching guitar to hundreds of students in all age groups. During this time, Douglas has developed fun and rewarding methods to learning the instrument. Douglas holds a bachelors in classical guitar from Lambuth University. While in Tennessee, Douglas acted as adjunct faculty for both Lambuth and Union University teaching beginning and classical guitar. Douglas uses teaching methods that incorporate a solid foundation of music theory, sight-reading, performance, composing, and ear training skills.

Years of Tennessee tutelage have influenced Doug’s musicianship to incorporate a wide expanse of stylistic variety. Doug has a Bachelor of Arts degree from which he studied under Tom Price, a former pupil of renowned artist/teacher John Johns. During these scholastic years, Doug performed in the university’s classical guitar ensemble, jazz band, and show choir. After college, Doug’s teaching and performing exposed him to meet and play with music legends Carl Perkins, Honeyboy Edwards, and Roubaix (Al Green’s band leader). These experiences along with an innumerable amount of regional club gigs melded the delta blues sound into Doug’s repertoire. Next, after attending a renaissance festival, Doug became inspired by the Celtic sounds, and began studying Celtic folk melodies. Now in Austin, Doug is performing and teaching his classical-country-blues-ragtime-Celtic mix.

go to top

Matt Read: Guitar Lessons

Matt Read began studying the guitar at the age of 12. At 16 he joined Dallas based band Blu Shale and recorded a guest guitar solo on their debut CD. Blu Shale would play gigs around Dallas and later with the shuffling of a few members became one of Dallas's top cover bands, Space Monkey.  Matt was in that band playing steady every weekend for over five years. Matt went to The University of North Texas and studied jazz under guitarists Fred Hamilton and Joe Lee.  During this time at the age of 19 he began his professional teaching career at The Master's Touch School of Music in Grapevine, TX where he taught for over five years.Following graduation from North Texas in 2006 with a bachelors of education Matt moved to San Diego, California for a change of pace.  He continued his teaching career for the next two and a half years at two local music schools and recorded his first CD, Solo Acoustic Guitar Vol 1.  He also played numerous gigs with local jazz musicians as well as solo guitar shows. In mid 2008 he decided to apply to Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. After auditioning he was accepted and given a scholarship to study.  While he was there he studied under some of his musical hero's including guitarist's Tim Miller and Julian Lage. Matt now lives in Austin, TX where he is enjoying furthering his love and passion for teaching, playing live, doing studio work, and songwriting.

go to top

Jordan Tarrant: Guitar Lessons

Jordan Tarrant was born in Texas and has studied guitar in the form of Country, Rock, Blues, and Classical since childhood. Jordan has played over 150 dates in the last year all over America, and is currently performing in Texas. Jordan received his College Diploma from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts where here studied guitar theory, songwriting, and music business. Jordan studied slide guitar with David Tronzo, country guitar with Mike Ihde and guitar performance technique/logic with Joe Rogers. Jordan has had extensive experience performing on stage as a singer, guitarist and writing/critiquing songs.

Jordan is currently teaching, performing and recording original material, and working as a studio guitarist in Austin, Texas.

go to top

Jessica Arnobit: Piano Lessons

Jessica started piano lessons at the age of 8. At the age of 12 her family relocated to another city where her love for music deepened. It was her new teacher who inspired her to work hard and develop her talent for music. During those years it was not uncommon for Jessica to spend hours at the piano only to have her mother interrupt her to get outside and get some fresh air! The obsessions with music continued into college and Jessica obtained her Bachelor of Music in 2002. That same year she began teaching private piano lessons in the Chicago area. At her busiest time she was teaching over 75 private lessons a week! She has worked with students of all ages and abilities and considers teaching piano to be a joyful, creative, and rewarding experience. She hopes that her students will grow to enjoy piano as a lifelong gift.

Jessica enjoys many musical endeavors including playing the keys with her church worship team, running the sound board, and accompanying for local theaters.

As a new resident of Austin she is also excited to get to know the local musicians and experience the culture the city has to offer!

go to top

Lisa Brewer : Piano and Voice Lessons

Lisa's background in music and arts is extensive. From Walt Disney World Epcot Center to the 25,000 member Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois, Lisa has enjoyed a music career for the last 25 years in both performance and teaching. Lisa's passion for music began at a very young age through exploration of the arts by way of piano and vocal lessons, singing and playing in her hometown church in southwest Virginia.

By the time she graduated high school, Lisa's love for music had taken deep root, and she began her college level studying at Radford University in Radford, VA, later transferring to Lee University in Cleveland, TN. While in college, she participated in honors recitals and special performances. She also traveled and represented Lee University in the summers with a performance ensemble. Lisa graduated with honors and a BA in Music.

After graduating, Lisa toured as a back up singer for Christian Artist, Larnelle Harris. The following summer, she married Stacy, her college sweetheart, and they began a career in arts ministry. Shortly thereafter, Lisa was hired to sing with Epcot Center Voices of Liberty as First Soprano/Swing Soprano. She has enjoyed many performance opportunities with churches, community groups and as a soloist.

In addition to performing, Lisa has always had a heart for developing young artists, and has coached, mentored and produced childrens music for much of the last 25 years.

Stacy, Lisa and their three amazing daughters relocated to Austin two years ago from Chicago, where Lisa served as the vocal director/coach for Willow Creek Community Church. Her husband, Stacy, currently serves as the Arts Director at Gateway Community Church in Austin.

Lisa enjoys teaching students of all ages in vocal performance and piano, helping each student find his or her unique contribution and expression of voice and song.

go to top

Grace Brooks: Piano Lessons

Grace Brooks is a consummate voice teacher, music therapist, choral conductor and theatre teacher. She has been a voice teacher and piano teacher at the Louisiana Academy of Performing Arts, the Allegro School of Music and the Stoneham Teacher. She has served as a member of the music ministry team in several churches and has taught acting lessons at Western Washington University. As a music therapist, Grace worked with developmentally disabled children at Human First in Brooklyn, New York. Grace graduated from Longy School of Music’s Graduate Performance Program in Opera Performance after receiving a Masters of Arts in Acting and Bachelors of Music in Sacred Music. During the 2009-2010 season, Grace was a member of the Opera New Jersey Studio and the Marion Roose Pullin Studio at Arizona Opera.

go to top

Anggraini Dinata: Piano Lessons

Indonesian pianist Anggraini Dinata graduated with Summa Cum Laude from Texas State University, where she received her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance under the guidance of Dr. Jason Kwak. Recent accomplishments including: performed successfully in her one-hour senior piano recital as a soloist, awarded as Council of Scholars at Texas State University, received scholarship from the Associated Student Government of Texas State, performed in a Master-Class for Dr. Enrico Elisi, and awarded Most-Improved Pianist at the School of Music Bravo! Award ceremony. A certified teacher by the Associated Board of Royal School of Music, she has maintained a private teaching studio in central Texas area for years. To accomplish her ultimate goal as professional piano teacher for student in all levels, Anggraini is planning to further her study with a Master of Music degree in Piano Pedagogy.

A member of Pi Kappa Lambda, a national music honor society, Anggraini is very dedicated in her studies in piano. Music has become a great part throughout her life; she loves and enjoys playing piano as well as becoming an enthusiastic piano teacher. As a piano teacher, she is devoted to help her students grow their love of music, helping them to know that making music from one instrument can be an enjoyable experience. She hopes to see her students develop their musical ability and skill as independent musicians, where they could enthusiastically making music with their own personal musical style throughout their life. To wrap things up, three words that could really describe her: friendly, enthusiastic, and fun!

go to top

Brian Donohoe: Piano, Flute and Clarinet Lessons

Brian Donohoe has been playing music since he was a toddler, and has been playing gigs since he was a teenager.  Throughout high school he studied classical clarinet and played with the Albuquerque Youth Symphony on tours of Europe and the United States while also playing bass, piano, and saxophone with rock and jazz bands. 

Brian earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of North Texas, where he studied clarinet with Dr. James Gillespie, piano and flute with various instructors, and saxophone with the renowned Prof. James Riggs.  While in school, Brian won two Down Beat Magazine awards in 2007 (as a college small-group leader and an outstanding soloist) and played saxophone in the prestigious One O'clock Lab Band, with whom he recorded four albums ("Lab 2005," "Lab 2006," "Lab 2007," and "Live at Blues Alley") and toured the United States and Europe.  He also served as a teaching fellow for the university, teaching saxophone lessons, jazz composition, and arranging courses to undergraduate and graduate students.

Brian is currently an active performer with Nelo, a prominent Austin band, and he was a founding member of the award-winning modern jazz group Snarky Puppy.  He has been active as a private teacher for almost ten years, and has taught saxophone, flute, clarinet, piano, guitar, bass, theory, improvisation, and arranging lessons to students of all ages and skill levels.

go to top

Michael Gibson: Piano Lessons

I am originally from Snyder, TX. I attended West Texas A&M University in Canyon, TX on four classical piano scholarships. While there, I was also the pianist for the University Touring Jazz Band, and sang Tenor in the Collegiate Choir. I graduated Cum Laude in 2005 with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Composition. Before leaving the Canyon/Amarillo area, I played for half a season as a pit keyboardist for the Amarillo Little Theater, a local musical theater company. Since moving to Austin, I have maintained a living as a professional musician, playing on the road as a touring keyboardist for various country music artists, playing and singing a huge variety of styles out at the Uptown Piano Bar in New Braunfels, and playing in an original Austin-based progressive rock/pop band called Professor Shark, of which I am a founding member. I am also currently the principal accompanist for Saint John Vianney Catholic Church in Round Rock. I have done occasional work as a studio keyboardist within the past couple of years, and have also done some orignal composing for independent films, something which I aspire to do more of. Something I have also become skilled at, and aspire to do MUCH more of, is audio engineering. I've become quite fond of being the technician/producer behind original recordings.

go to top

Christie Jackel: Piano Lessons

Christy began playing piano at age six. After studying with Pierrette Mouledous in Dallas, she moved to Austin to study with Nancy Garrett at The University of Texas, where she earned her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees. In addition to piano performance, her coursework emphasized composition and music theory. Since her graduation, she has taught piano and music theory privately, has worked in the banking field and has also taught special education for Round Rock ISD. She also enjoys accompanying vocalists and other instrumentalists. Christy has lived in Austin for many years and has two teenage children. She is committed to developing each student’s talent in order to fully experience the joys of music for a lifetime.

go to top

Ee Lyn Lee : Piano Lessons

Born in Kuala Lumpur, Ee Lyn Lee began her musical studies at the age of five. She had earned her Masters of Music in Piano Pedagogy from Texas State University-San Marcos and her Bachelor of Music (HONS) in Piano Performance from UCSI University in Kuala Lumpur.

Ms. Lee had received numerous scholarships throughout her studies, which includes the Gina Whitlock-Bowles Scholarship, Clara Freshour Nelson Music Scholarship, Fine Arts Scholarship and Friends of Fine Arts Scholarship. Ms. Lee is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, Alpha Chi National College Honor Society, and the Golden Key International Honor Society.

As an educator, Ms. Lee has been teaching piano since 2005 starting in Malaysia and following at Texas State University in San Marcos. She has taught students from ages 4 through to senior ages from beginner to pre-college level. Many of her students have scored Distinctions and Merits in the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) in both practical and theory exams. She had also taught several diploma students for the Australian Guild of Music and Speech (AGMS). Ms. Lee was a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Texas State University, teaching class piano from August 2010 to December 2011. In July 2011, Ms. Lee was a presenter at the National Conference of Keyboard Pedagogy in Lombard, Illinois where she presented her research poster on the piano education system in Malaysia.

Ee Lyn enjoys sharing her love of music to others and is always thrilled see students get excited about their own musical accomplishments.

go to top

Rebecca Maze: Piano Lessons

Rebecca Maze studied piano under Charlotte Tull and Dr. John Paul at Sam Houston State University, where she received a BM in music theory and composition. She continues to study under Dr. Timothy Woolsey, and gives solo recitals periodically.

Rebecca has been the music director at Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church in Cedar Park for 13 years. She directs the adult choir and plays the piano for worship services, and has also directed children’s choirs and musical productions in church. She taught music at Lake Travis Elementary, and has 7 years experience in teaching piano.

go to top

Kay Salinas: Piano Lessons

Mrs. Salinas began studying piano at age six, organ at age twelve and by age fifteen, started teaching piano and organ lessons at a music school in the St. Louis area. Kay’s love for music was encouraged by her mother, a professional vocalist, whom she accompanied for years, as well as accompanying students auditioning at Butler University School of Music. Only in middle school, she started accompanying school choirs and continued through high school and college at Ohio Wesleyan University, where she majored in Piano and Music Education. While at Wesleyan, she tutored other piano majors in theory. Kay taught at Daarrud School of Music where at one time she had 68 private students. She has experience teaching music and piano to elementary and middle school children. In addition to teaching, Kay has played the piano and pipe organ in several churches over the years. Kay loves to teach students of all ages and has taught beginners as young as three and as “young at heart” as 78. With forty years of teaching experience, she believes in teaching music, not just how to play the piano. Kay teaches theory in her lessons in order for her students to use what they have learned to apply to other instruments or types of music. Kay recently moved back home to Austin and is excited to be able to share her love of music with students at Northwest School of Music.

go to top

Rebecca Sanders: Piano and Voice Lessons

Rebecca Sanders has enjoyed tailoring each piano or voice lesson to the individual students musical goals and needs for seven years. Although her background is primarily classical, she enjoys offering lessons for any musical style: pop, musical theater, jazz, country, etc. A country girl through and through, she grew up in the small town of Canyon, Texas, impressing family and friends with her Reba McEntire impersonations. Once in college, Rebecca developed her musicianship and stage presence through her involvement in numerous productions of the Amarillo Opera. She spent her summers serving as a youth mentor for AO, working with at-risk students in day camps across the Panhandle area. Wishing to combine her love for music as well as children, Rebecca moved to Austin and completed her degree in Music Studies with Teacher Certification at the University of Texas in 2009. She has passionately worked with children in the music classroom for three years.

Her favorite solo musical memories include performing the role of Cosette in Amarillo Area's Student Edition of Les Miserables and Zerlina in the Final Scene of Don Giovanni for the opening of the Amarillo Globe News Center for the Performing Arts. Rebecca has also toured and soloed with various choirs, and had the privilege of singing in St. Peter's Basilica in 2006 with the Amarillo Diocesan Choir.

She actively contributes to the music ministry program at her church through singing with the choir every Sunday and cantoring regularly. Rebecca is excited to share her love of music with the students at Northwest School of Music.

go to top

Kirk Sonnenberg: Piano Lessons

Kirk Sonnenberg grew up in a small Texas town just south of Dallas. He began playing drums and piano at age eight in church, and played his first professional gig at age fifteen. In college, Kirk studied drums, piano, and guitar. In addition to playing all three instruments in a number of Rock, Folk Rock, Heavy Metal, Jazz, Trip-hop, Funk, Country Rock, and Alternative Rock bands over the years, Kirk has been teaching all three instruments since 1995. He played Classical recitals on piano at his alma mater, The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), while obtaining his degree in Music Media. At UTA, he studied piano under Dr. John Solomons and Dr. Larry Wiley and played drums in two different Jazz bands. One of the Jazz tunes that Kirk played both keyboard and drums on was even voted #1 Jazz MP3 on the MP3 website. After spending five years in Chicago, IL, where he taught music at Truman College, Flatts & Sharpe Music, and Northside Catholic Academy, Kirk has returned to Texas. He now lives in Austin with his beautiful wife and daughter. All three are pleased as punch that they will never have to endure subzero temperatures for an entire winter ever again.

go to top

Marianna Tanguy: Piano Lessons

Marianna began playing piano at the age of five after begging her parents for piano lessons. They agreed (thank heavens) and she enthusiastically studied formal, classical piano from age five through college in 1985. She attended North Texas State University, majoring in Jazz Studies for three years and graduated with a major in psychology and a minor in music. Since the age of 15, she’s played, in rock, funk R&B, and blues bands. Marianna currently plays keyboards in four Austin based bands, two of which are original projects and has been teaching for over 15 years and love it. Before returning to Texas, Marianna played, recorded and taught piano in Santa Barbara California. She also holds a Ph.D. in Psychology.

go to top

Lisa Brewer : Voice and Piano Lessons

Lisa's background in music and arts is extensive. From Walt Disney World Epcot Center to the 25,000 member Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois, Lisa has enjoyed a music career for the last 25 years in both performance and teaching. Lisa's passion for music began at a very young age through exploration of the arts by way of piano and vocal lessons, singing and playing in her hometown church in southwest Virginia.

By the time she graduated high school, Lisa's love for music had taken deep root, and she began her college level studying at Radford University in Radford, VA, later transferring to Lee University in Cleveland, TN. While in college, she participated in honors recitals and special performances. She also traveled and represented Lee University in the summers with a performance ensemble. Lisa graduated with honors and a BA in Music.

After graduating, Lisa toured as a back up singer for Christian Artist, Larnelle Harris. The following summer, she married Stacy, her college sweetheart, and they began a career in arts ministry. Shortly thereafter, Lisa was hired to sing with Epcot Center Voices of Liberty as First Soprano/Swing Soprano. She has enjoyed many performance opportunities with churches, community groups and as a soloist.

In addition to performing, Lisa has always had a heart for developing young artists, and has coached, mentored and produced childrens music for much of the last 25 years.

Stacy, Lisa and their three amazing daughters relocated to Austin two years ago from Chicago, where Lisa served as the vocal director/coach for Willow Creek Community Church. Her husband, Stacy, currently serves as the Arts Director at Gateway Community Church in Austin.

Lisa enjoys teaching students of all ages in vocal performance and piano, helping each student find his or her unique contribution and expression of voice and song.

go to top

Grace Brooks: Voice Lessons

Grace Brooks is a consummate voice teacher, music therapist, choral conductor and theatre teacher. She has been a voice teacher and piano teacher at the Louisiana Academy of Performing Arts, the Allegro School of Music and the Stoneham Teacher. She has served as a member of the music ministry team in several churches and has taught acting lessons at Western Washington University. As a music therapist, Grace worked with developmentally disabled children at Human First in Brooklyn, New York. Grace graduated from Longy School of Music’s Graduate Performance Program in Opera Performance after receiving a Masters of Arts in Acting and Bachelors of Music in Sacred Music. During the 2009-2010 season, Grace was a member of the Opera New Jersey Studio and the Marion Roose Pullin Studio at Arizona Opera.

go to top

Daniela Salcedo : Voice Lessons

Daniela Salcedo, a Mezzo-Soprano graduated from the University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music with a degree in vocal performance pedagogy. While at the university, Daniela performed in operas and in the choir. She also taught university level, private voice lessons for non-music majors.

Daniela has been teaching for four years and is currently working as a Pre-K piano teacher in the Austin Metro area as well as teaching voice at Northwest School of Music. Daniela is also working as a Music Coordinator for a local church where she teaches theory and voice to fellow church members. Daniela teaches any style of singing, and loves to work with children and adults.

go to top.

Rebecca Sanders: Voice and Piano Lessons

Rebecca Sanders has enjoyed tailoring each piano or voice lesson to the individual students musical goals and needs for seven years. Although her background is primarily classical, she enjoys offering lessons for any musical style: pop, musical theater, jazz, country, etc. A country girl through and through, she grew up in the small town of Canyon, Texas, impressing family and friends with her Reba McEntire impersonations. Once in college, Rebecca developed her musicianship and stage presence through her involvement in numerous productions of the Amarillo Opera. She spent her summers serving as a youth mentor for AO, working with at-risk students in day camps across the Panhandle area. Wishing to combine her love for music as well as children, Rebecca moved to Austin and completed her degree in Music Studies with Teacher Certification at the University of Texas in 2009. She has passionately worked with children in the music classroom for three years.

Her favorite solo musical memories include performing the role of Cosette in Amarillo Area's Student Edition of Les Miserables and Zerlina in the Final Scene of Don Giovanni for the opening of the Amarillo Globe News Center for the Performing Arts. Rebecca has also toured and soloed with various choirs, and had the privilege of singing in St. Peter's Basilica in 2006 with the Amarillo Diocesan Choir.

She actively contributes to the music ministry program at her church through singing with the choir every Sunday and cantoring regularly. Rebecca is excited to share her love of music with the students at Northwest School of Music.

go to top

Chris Carroll: Drum Lessons

Percussionist Chris Carroll has been called a musical chameleon. He brings a wide range of experience and knowledge to share with the students of the Pfluger-Rock School of Music. In an eclectic 20 year playing career, Chris has been fortunate enough to perform orchestral music under the batons of Robert Shaw, Keith Lockhart, Benjamin Zander and Pierre Boulez as well as the Austin Symphony musical director, Peter Bay. He has been a percussionist for over 40 professional musicals including: Les Miserables, Jesus Christ Superstar, Oklahoma, Sweeney Todd, The Sound of Music, Into The Woods and RENT. As a member of bands in a wide range of genres, he has opened for what can only be described as a wildly random group of artists including: Fishbone, Taylor Swift, Toots and the Maytals, Lady Antebellum, Blues Traveler, Josh Turner and Great White. (Yes that Great White!) He has toured extensively in the United States and internationally and once played at Carnegie Hall and CBGBs in the same week!

He has been teaching privately since 1993 and his private percussion students have gone on to study at the Berklee School of Music, Boston University, the New England Conservatory and the Julliard School. He has been a guest artist/ lecturer at his alma mater (University of New Hampshire, BA Music Performance) as well as at New York University, Bates College, Dartmouth College and the Boston Conservatory. In addition, Carroll has worked as the coach of the percussion section of the Greater Boston Youth Symphony and as a member of the faculty of the world renowned Interlochen Summer Arts Camp.

Chris enjoys working with students of all ages and abilities in developing their drumming skills. While focusing on developing proper technique, reading ability, development of good practice habits, critical listening and transcription skills his curriculum is as diverse as his influences, and he strives to tailor lessons to encourage students interests while imparting his enthusiasm and love of music. In his spare time Chris is an avid reader and lifelong Red Sox fan.

go to top

Kirk Sonnenberg: Drum Lessons

Kirk Sonnenberg grew up in a small Texas town just south of Dallas. He began playing drums and piano at age eight in church, and played his first professional gig at age fifteen. In college, Kirk studied drums, piano, and guitar. In addition to playing all three instruments in a number of Rock, Folk Rock, Heavy Metal, Jazz, Trip-hop, Funk, Country Rock, and Alternative Rock bands over the years, Kirk has been teaching all three instruments since 1995. He played Classical recitals on piano at his alma mater, The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), while obtaining his degree in Music Media. At UTA, he studied piano under Dr. John Solomons and Dr. Larry Wiley and played drums in two different Jazz bands. One of the Jazz tunes that Kirk played both keyboard and drums on was even voted #1 Jazz MP3 on the MP3 website. After spending five years in Chicago, IL, where he taught music at Truman College, Flatts & Sharpe Music, and Northside Catholic Academy, Kirk has returned to Texas. He now lives in Austin with his beautiful wife and daughter. All three are pleased as punch that they will never have to endure subzero temperatures for an entire winter ever again.

go to top

Hannah Lee: Violin and Viola Lessons

Hannaha Lee has received training from The Boston Conservatory, San Francisco Conservatory and received her M.M. in Violin Performance from Northern Illinois University where she was invited to study with the internationally acclaimed Avalon Quartet on a full scholarship. She has also received scholarships to attend the prestigious Tanglewood Music Institute where she worked with artists such as Joseph Silverstein and Raphael Hillyer, Icicle Creek Music Center, and the Lydian String Quartet Chamber Music Festival.

Most recently, she has appeared in Italy and San Francisco for performances of solo and chamber works. She is also an avid supporter of new music and has worked with and performed the works of Wet Ink-a NYC-based new music collective. Most recently, she premiered the works of Sydney Knowlton this summer in Italy. In addition to performing, Hannaha has had extensive teaching experience and enjoys sharing her love of violin to students of all ages from children to adults.

go to top

Shawn LeSure : Violin and Viola Lessons

Shawn LeSure, a recent graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory, has been playing the violin since the age of ten. He comes from a musical family; his older brother, a cellist, is a recent Juilliard graduate. Shawn was the winner of the MENC all-USA High School Musicians' Competition and also has many scholarships to his credit: Sewanee Music Festival, Apple Hill Chamber Music Festival, and the Dean's Talent Award at Oberlin, where he studied with Marilyn McDonald. In his time at Oberlin, Shawn played in master classes for sought after artists like Anner Bylsma, Jennifer Koh, and Rachel Barton Pine. Through his playing Shawn has participated in chamber music and symphonic tours on four continents. He has even had the opportunity to concertize in venues such as Carnegie Hall, and the Walt Disney Concert hall.

An avid chamber musician, Shawn has worked with artists such as Leonard Matczyznski, Miles Hoffman of the American Chamber Players, and Andras Fejer, of the Takacs Quartet. He plays on a violin by Gary Rickman, on generous loan from Neil Rickman and the Rachel Elizabeth Barton Foundation. Shawn loves to teach students from all backgrounds, experience levels and ages. He adapts his teaching style towards the needs of the student to ensure the greatest rewards for each pupil. Other interests are romantic music, baroque violin and sports.

go to top

Kristen Randolph: Violin and Viola Lessons

Kristen Randolph began studying violin at the age of 8 in Austin, Texas. Growing up in Austin, Kristen studied classical music and participated in many chamber and orchestral performances. She moved to Brooklyn, NY to pursue a music degree at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. While living in Brooklyn, she studied with Roumi Petrova and Masao Kawasaki. She has taught both private and group lessons to students of all ages for over 5 years. Kristen returned to Austin after graduating, and has continued to pursue teaching as a career. She has begun to explore other genres of music and plans to continue her music education.

go to top