Our Instructors

Hannah Fuerst, Director

Hannah Fuerst (Voice, Piano, Clarinet, Group class curriculum writer) 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 ABRSM exams, Certificate of Merit, 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 also served as the Director of Early Childhood Education for the acclaimed Larchmont Music Academy from 2011-2022. 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.

Enzo Beltramo, Guitar, Ukulele

Enzo is a fast-learning and passionate guitarist, entering his last semester at San Jose State University. Enzo has been instructed in many styles of guitar playing, with experience performing rock, jazz, funk, pop, blues, and mostly classical and flamenco guitar. He has studied with Dr. Steve Lin for 4 years and has taken masterclasses with renowned new-generation guitarists such as Alan Mearns, Marko Topchii, Jerome Mouffe, and Christopher Mallett. Enzo is currently teaching and performing solo, and with two duos in San Jose, Santa Cruz, and Watsonville while he plans for his master's program. His favorite thing about teaching is helping his students find lifelong joy in playing music.

Gabriela Crolla, Voice, Piano

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 has completed his Bachelors of Music on Saxophone Performance degree at SJSU where he had studied with Dr. Michael Hernandez. Joshua has also received chamber music instructions from renowned ensembles including the Rascher Quartet, the Catalyst Quartet and the Mana Quartet, and also studied jazz theory with Dale Mills. Hitherto, 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. More recently, Joshua has doubled on the Sax, the Clarinet, the Flute and the Piccolo playing in the SJSU jazz orchestra, played in gigs and private events around the Bay Area and attended the SJSU Flute Institute where he was exposed to the teaching of Marcel Moyse and the French Flute School. Joshua is an experienced teacher having taught students of age ranging from 8 to 60 guiding them through all stages of development. From time to time, his students have appeared in San Jose Youth Symphony and California Youth Symphony. In an additional note, Joshua is a native Japanese speaker and will be able to conduct lessons fully in Japanese if requested. In his spare time Joshua enjoys listening to music of all genres, attending African Drumming classes and going to Aikido classes.

Classical: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGVvLp089wzeiLIZSqAkPWjvvgYmXgSiT&si=RhIq0SwdAaA8vGoC

Jazz: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGVvLp089wzchARsngePRVCVoClCpx5wo&si=eKMNeLI__DGvJHPf

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 holds a music education degree from 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.

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.

Elizabeth Kraus, Trumpet

Born and raised in California, Elizabeth Kraus is currently pursuing a degree in Music Education at Arizona State University, with a focus in trumpet. She has always had a passion for music, and has played trumpet for ten years. She is also an accomplished saxophone player. Prior to attending Arizona State, Elizabeth performed with and held leadership positions within the California Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and Leland High School’s Wind Ensemble. An avid performer in many of Arizona State’s ensembles, Elizabeth has performed works by Maslanka, Orff, Respighi, and many others. Studying under Joe Burgstaller, Elizabeth wants to inspire others to achieve their potential in music.

Justin Ku, Guitar, Ukulele, Bass

Justin Ku was born and raised in San Jose, CA and loves playing ukulele, bass, and guitar. He is passionate about teaching and learning. Justin performs with several bands as the lead guitarist. As a guitarist, his favorite style of music to play is jazz, but he is also well versed in rock, fingerstyle and funk. On the bass guitar, his favorite is funk or rock. As a teacher, his goal is to be supportive and to move at the pace of each student while helping them challenge themselves. He is currently majoring in economics at West Valley before continuing to a four year university. While he is majoring in economics, he plans to minor in music and knows it will always be a core piece of his life.

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

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, Intro to the Instruments

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.

Jonathan Hieu Reed, cello

Jonathan Hieu Reed is a passionate cellist and music educator based in San Jose, California. With nearly a decade of experience on the cello and a lifelong involvement in music, Jonathan brings both technical skill and expressive depth to his playing. He has performed with several ensembles throughout the Bay Area, including the Cambrian Symphony, San Jose State University Symphony Orchestra, San Jose Wind Symphony, and San Jose Youth Symphony.

He is currently pursuing his music degree and previous teachers include Adelle-Akiko Kearns, an experience that helped shape his musical voice and refine his performance technique. Much of his foundational training and artistic growth came from participating in middle school chamber orchestras and setting ambitious performance goals throughout high school, where he worked closely with instructors Jelani Canser, Scott Krijnen, and Shelley MacAllister.

Alongside performing, Jonathan is committed to inspiring the next generation of musicians. He looks forward to sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm for the cello with students, fostering their growth and love for music through thoughtful, supportive teaching. His commitment to both performance and education reflects a deep love for music in all its forms.

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.