Voice

Carlee Abschneider is active in Austin and throughout Central Texas as a singer and teacher. As a singer, she has most recently performed with Opera San Antonio and Gillbert & Sullivan Austin. Carlee has also previously performed with One Ounce Opera, Hill Country Community Theatre, ATX Musical Theatre Collective,  Music On Site, Inc., Texas State Opera, Spotlight on Opera, Varna International Music Academy, Resonance Opera, TAMUC Opera Ensemble, and HBU Opera Workshop. Carlee enjoys teaching students of all ages and looks forward to joining the team at ACMS!

Piano and Composition

Keith Allegretti is a pianist and composer currently pursuing his DMA at the University of Texas at Austin. He has been an active educator in Ann Arbor, Santa Fe, Houston, and Austin, giving private lessons in piano, ear training, sight singing, music theory, and composition. A frequent performer, he regularly plays old and contemporary styles of music on the piano and accompanies vocalists and instrumentalists. Recently, he has been featured as a pianist by the Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium, and as a conductor for UT Landmarks Sound in Sculpture. His piano teaching focuses on musical expression, interpretation, and clean technique, with an emphasis on collaborative playing.

Voice, Piano, Early Childhood, Songbirds

Bethany Ammon is an actively performing mezzo-soprano and voice instructor. Bethany obtained her BA in music and in French in her home state of Mississippi from the University of Southern Mississippi, followed by a MM from Manhattan School of Music in New York City. Bethany has taught all ages: from developing pre-k choirs, to private voice lessons for adults, and everyone in between, in Mississippi, New York and Texas. While in New York, Bethany was on staff at the Young People's Chorus of New York City. Bethany has had the opportunity to perform around the country and abroad in Italy, and actively pursues a performing career in opera, musical theater, recitals, and choral opportunities. Enjoying all aspects of the theater, Bethany has experience as production manager for several operas and musicals, choreographer, hair and make up artist, event planner, diction coach, and even front of house manager on numerous occasions. Bethany believes that everyone can sing and invites anyone to explore their own voice. She aims to connect with her students by creating a dialogue about the sensation of singing. Understanding and flexible, she strives to create a teaching and singing environment that challenges, nurtures and communicates. Most recently Bethany developed curriculum for young singers to learn together in a program called Songbirds.

Violin

A native of Tokyo, Japan, Dr. Risa Ando earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts in violin performance at UT and received highest honors at Tokyo Gakugei University in violin performance as an undergraduate student. During the time of graduate studies, she achieved a position as a member of the Austin Lyric Opera by way of selective auditions. Moreover, she won the “Chamber Music International Competition” while performing with the Clarke Piano Trio and was presented the “Student Award” for her accomplishments at UT. In order to sustain a diverse musical career, she gives recitals in Germany, Austria, Italy, Taiwan, Japan, USA, and enjoys playing music of different genres.

Piano, Guitar, Ukulele, Early Childhood

Since 2017 Eric Baker has been a professional recording and touring musician not only as a songwriter in his eclectic rock outfit Wrongbird, but also as a staple keyboard player in several bands throughout the Austin scene, notably Tomar & the FCs and Shinyribs. He brings a positive and encouraging attitude to every student, and is comfortable adapting teaching styles to meet their needs. In addition to piano lessons, he offers beginner to intermediate guitar and ukulele lessons.

Guitar, Group Ukulele, Veterans Guitar Project, and We Are the Chorus, Too!

Anthony Basini is a musician in an all-encompassing sense. He is a guitarist, singer, composer and educator. He has been professionally performing since 2009, has recently finished his first two film scores and began teaching in 2015 with specialized experience in special education music instruction. Anthony is an enthusiastic and dedicated instructor whose fun and personal approach to teaching the guitar keeps his students engaged, excited and encouraged.

Anthony has spent his entire college career at a multitude of institutions studying music in many forms including music therapy, music composition/theory and music performance. He has spent the last few years in Boston, MA attending the world-renowned Berklee College of Music. At Berklee, Anthony studied under the likes of Walter Beasley, Don Lappin, Omar Thomas and Thaddeus Hogarth among others.

Anthony has performed all over the United States from the Carolinas to California and is well versed in many styles including jazz, funk, metal, pop, soul/R&B and rock. He has opened for notable international acts including The Bret Michaels Band, Apocalyptica and solo guitar sensation Angel Vivaldi.

Percussion, Piano

Originally from Pearland, Texas, I was raised in a musical household with both parents being music majors. I began studying piano and drums at the age of five and grew up performing in church, jazz bands, orchestras, and wind ensembles. In high school, I earned All-State recognition in percussion.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from Sam Houston State University, where I was active in the jazz band, orchestra, wind ensemble, percussion ensemble, and jazz vocal group. I later earned my Master’s degree in Jazz Drum Set Studies from The University of Texas at Austin.

As a dedicated music educator and performer based in Austin, I primarily teach drums and percussion of all ages and skill levels. I also teach piano, and voice. I strive to create a supportive, engaging learning environment that helps students grow both technically and creatively.

Piano

Piano Pals

Amber Blue is an Austin native musician and songwriter specializing in kid-friendly concerts and educational programs. Growing up, she performed for thousands of children across Central Texas with her family band. Since then, she has discovered her passion for connecting early learners with music. As a teacher, Amber takes time to meet each student at their own level while maintaining a fun, encouraging, and curiosity-driven environment.

Early Childhood

Curriculum and Program Consultant

Jeane is a fourth generation musician and sang in her first choir at the ripe old age of three. An early childhood and children’s music educator for over twenty years, Jeane is passionate about the power of music to, not only enrich, but transform lives. Having led and directed education and music programs for infants through high school students in both secular and religious settings, Jeane currently teaches for St. Francis School.

Jeane helped to establish the Early Childhood Music Program for ACMS and worked in a variety of roles including summer camps, opera education programs, and music classes for SafePlace and The Housing Authority of Austin.

Jeane holds a Bachelors of Music from Baylor University, a Masters of Music from the University of Texas, is a member of TMEA, TCDA, NACCP, NACED, The Chorister’s Guild and is a certified Music Together teacher. Jeane presents music education workshops for teachers and parents and has presented at conferences for private schools including the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools and the Texas Association of Baptist Schools.

Executive Director and Voice faculty

Liz Cass is a producer, educator, arts leader, and active operatic performer based in Austin, Texas. She is the founder and executive producer of the award-winning opera company LOLA (Local Opera Local Artists), and executive director of the Armstrong Community Music School. A passionate advocate for the arts, Liz is president of the Seagle Festival Alumni Association, secretary of Austin Classical Guitar and a member of the community advisory board of KMFA 89.5, Austin’s classical music radio station.  

Equally at home in opera and beyond, Liz has appeared in the roles of Mrs. Lowe and Dora, the Bartender in Kevin Puts’ The Manchurian Candidate with Austin Opera, and as soloist in Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody with Chorus Austin. She has presented a program of French art song for Songs in the Skyspace, the monthly music series of Landmarks at the University of Texas, and was featured in Austin Chamber Music Center’s Blue Bash annual fundraising gala. In Guatemala, she appeared as soloist in Handel’s Messiah at Centro Cultural Miguel Ángel Asturias in Guatemala City and at Casa Santo Domingo in Antigua.  

Having appeared in several notable world premiere performances, Liz continually champions new vocal works. In 2019, she premiered the mezzo role in Graham Reynolds’ English and Spanish cross-border opera Pancho Villa From a Safe Distance, for which she garnered the Best Singer award from Austin Critics Table. She also performed Pancho Villa at the PuSh Festival in Vancouver and the PROTOTYPE Festival in New York City. Collaborating with composer Peter Stopschinski and playwright Terry Galloway, LOLA commissioned the opera Lardo Weeping in 2018, based on Galloway’s one-woman play. Fully staged in August 2022, Liz’s tour de force performance as Dinah LeFarge was nominated for the 2021-22 B. Iden Payne Outstanding Lead Performance award, while Lardo Weeping was nominated for an additional twelve awards. Also in 2022, Liz premiered Donald Grantham’s song cycle Love Songs Sweet and Sour, with pianist Carla McElhaney.  

Liz began her vocal studies with Dr. Rebecca Folsom. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri at Kansas City Conservatory of Music, where she received her degree in Vocal Performance with renowned professor Inci Bashar. 

Violin, Viola

Originally from Houston, Texas, Tyler is a multi-faceted music educator with many years of experience teaching in diverse settings. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from Baylor University with a major in viola, and he has taught in school districts across the state of Texas and in music programs across the country. Most recently, he has taught the beginner strings program in Austin ISD for schools on the eastside, such as Zavala, Sanchez, and Govalle, where he directed performances at the 6th Grade Extravaganza and STEAMfest. He has also taught at Anderson HS and in schools in Round Rock and Midway ISD, as well as in summer programs such as Interlochen and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. He is trained in teaching all orchestral instruments (violin, viola, cello, and upright bass) for students of all ages and backgrounds, and he uses a comprehensive, Suzuki-based approach, which involves not only ear training, but also note-reading and approaching music as a language. Additionally, he plays piano, guitar and sings. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, enjoying the outdoors, and watching TV.

Violin

Phil Davidson is a Suzuki violin teacher, with training registered through book 4. Phil’s teaching emphasizes development of functional instrumental abilities, including playing by ear, good practice habits, critical thinking, theory, history, observation and listening to a wide variety of music. Most of his new students have been adult beginners or kids ages 4-8. Phil received his B.A. in music from Drake University. Since moving to Austin in 2002, Phil has actively performed in several rock and Americana bands including the Invincible Czars, and he keeps one foot in the classical music world with the Chanterelle Duo.

Piano

Born and raised in Austin, Shane started studying classical piano here at ACMS when he was 4 years old. He later went on to study jazz and classical piano at the University of North Texas. After UNT, he went back to school at St. Edward’s University to study mathematics, and conducted a research project on the intersection between math and music theory. Shane is passionate about teaching all ages, skill levels, and musical styles. In addition to his teaching experience, Shane is an active participant in the music scene in Austin, regularly performing and recording with jazz and blues bands. This exposure allows him to bring real-world musical experiences into the classroom and share his passion for diverse musical styles with his students.  

Early Childhood Music

Scott Collin Gardner (a.k.a. Scott Collins, as his performance name) is a 30 year local Austinite with a Bachelor's Degree Majoring in Psychology and a Minor in Education from the University Of Texas at Austin. He has also been a professional recording, touring, and award winning Singer-Songwriter for 15 plus years. "My grandfather always said, do music, but do good with music. Help people. And that has been my honor and privilege ever since I played my first show."

Piano and Harp

Susan grew up in Texas where she began playing piano at the age of 4. Born into a long line of musicians, she was surrounded by music and the arts in her family. With later studies in violin, orchestral composition and guitar, she began playing the harp at the age of 16 and quickly fell in love, while continuing piano in a competitive studio. She also began teaching piano to early elementary students in Dallas at the age of 16. The greatest assets of her formal training were the masterful teachers she studied with both in high school and college. Their voices still ring in her ears.

While pursuing a science degree at the University of Texas, she continued to teach piano and perform on the harp. During those years, the harp became Susan's primary instrument for orchestral playing, solo performance and recording studio work. While leaning toward popular and jazz styles in her solo career, she has also shared the stage with Frank Sinatra, Jr, Peabo Bryson, Anita Baker, among others, while touring four times with Michael W Smith and Amy Grant on their Pacific Northwest Christmas "Friends" show. She released two albums, in 2016 and 2019. In her studio, students frequently hear that "music is meant to be shared." She is completing certification in Clinical Musicianship as a therapeutic harpist for healing and wellness. Susan recently relocated back to Austin from the Seattle area, where she was best known as the Seattle Airport Holiday Harpist, after over thirty years away.

Programs Manager, Piano and Percussion

Elayne Harris is an active performer and music educator. She has performed with a variety of large ensembles and chamber groups, including: Ensemble X, Massanutten Brass Band, the Mid-Atlantic Wind Symphony, Finger Lakes Community Orchestra, Harrisonburg-Rockingham County Concert Band, University-Shenandoah Symphony Orchestra, and the Staunton Music Festival. She has also been active in commissioning and performing new works for percussion in both solo and chamber settings. Elayne holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts from James Madison University, where she also received a Bachelor of Music, studying with Bill Rice, Michael Overman, and Marlon Foster. She received a Master of Music from Ithaca College, where she studied with Gordon Stout.

Elayne has taught private percussion and piano students of all ages in the Harrisonburg and Fredericksburg areas of Virginia, and Ithaca, New York. At JMU, she taught private percussion lessons to percussion majors, directed beginning steel band, and taught Percussion Techniques to future music educators. As a lecturer in music at Washington and Lee University, she taught private drum set lessons to non-music majors. Elayne currently teaches private piano, drum set, and percussion students in the Austin area. She free-lances in the community, works as an accompanist for kidsActing, and performs regularly with the Inside Out Steelband. 

Piano

Alex Hartley is a freelance pianist and music teacher. After moving to Austin, TX, Alex quickly gained respect in the community leading to a spot on the Top 10 Keyboardist List at the 2014 Austin Music Awards. A graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, Alex spent his collegiate years touring the Northeast before landing a gig with Carnival Cruise Lines performing nightly throughout the Caribbean. Currently, Alex regularly performs solo jazz piano at vineyards, country clubs and retirement communities throughout Austin and Texas Hill Country and can be seen performing with local indie-rock trio, Yuma.

Registrar, and Piano and Music for Little Mozarts faculty

The joy of music surrounded Amy Herman from a young age. Her grandparents met playing in the Symphony and her mother was an accomplished violinist who enjoyed playing in local ensembles. Her father would accompany the whole family on guitar as they gathered to sing folk tunes. At age seven, when she began piano lessons, a new world of music opened up to her. Under the tutelage of Stephen Gibson, a Howard University alum, piano became a passion for her. Amy continues her journey with piano to this day, and is currently an active student at the Armstrong Community Music School studying with Dr. Keith Allegretti. Her family connection to music and her amazing teachers instilled a deep love of piano in Amy.

Amy’s teaching philosophy is to build confidence in her students by guiding them through level-appropriate challenges, allowing ample opportunity for students to experience success as they build their technique. Amy brings with her more than 25 years of varied musical experiences—from practical, such as playing in a chamber music group, to academic, such as music theory and history courses—but it’s the joy and connection that music can offer that she is most excited about sharing with her students. Above all, Amy strives to foster a love of creating music.

Lute and Guitar

Scott Horton studied lute with Nigel North at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He studied classical guitar with Wolfgang Justen at the University of St. Thomas in Houston. Further studies were with Pepe Romero, Paul O’Dette and Anthony Bailes. Mr. Horton has taught at the University of Texas, University of North Texas, University of St. Thomas and St. Mary’s College of Maryland. He has performed in productions of "Orfeo" and "Poppea" for Houston Grand Opera and "Ariodante" for the Dallas Opera. He is a member of the Austin groups La Follia and Texas Early Music Project.

Voice

Holton Johnson’s been performing in one form or another for over forty years. He grew up in Boston, MA, and while there he performed in many award-winning plays and musicals. From there he moved to Tucson where he received his bachelor's degree in voice. While at the university, he performed Tobias in a critically acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd. Holton then moved to southern California.

Some of his more memorable performances were: Tony in West Side Story at La Habra Depot Theatre; Albert Lennox in The Secret Garden with Yorba Linda Civic Light Opera; Frederick in The Pirates of Penzance, Jean Valjean in scenes from Les Miserables, Clifford in Deathtrap, Jimmy Powers in City of Angels, all with West Covina Playhouse. 

For the last twenty years, he’s lived in Austin. While here, he’s pretty much specialized in the works of Gilbert & Sullivan, performing all the major tenor roles in the canon with Gilbert and Sullivan of Austin. He’s also been fortunate to perform many varied roles with Austin Opera. He maintains a website at holtonjohnson.com

Flute

Classically-trained flutist Julie Koidin, arrived in Austin in 2020 from Chicago and is one of few U.S. scholars in Brazilian choro, earning her DM from Northwestern University. She’s authored 2 books on choro and in 2016 produced and hosted the WFMT Radio Network’s nationally-broadcast documentary, “A Joyful Cry: Brazil’s Choro Music.” She’s received 8 Fulbright awards including 2 to Brazil, and has performed throughout Brazil in 23 tours. Her CD, “Juntos” with Paulinho Garcia/Dois no Choro was in the first-round nominations for the 2003 Latin Grammy’s “Best Brazilian Roots” category. In 2010 she participated on Paulinho Garcia’s “My Very Life” CD which was in the finals for the 2010 Grammy Awards’ “Best Latin Album.”

Guitar, Ukulele

Evan Kolvoord’s musical journey began in 2nd grade when his teacher read a book about a traveling harmonica man.  As a teenager he began playing harmonica in country, rock and blues bands around Austin.  Evan has learned to play a dozen musical instruments including guitar, ukulele, violin, chromatic harmonica, Native American flute, french horn, and has released 3 full length albums of original material.  He has taught ukulele in afterschool programs around Austin and completed all 3 levels of the James Hill Ukulele Initiative (JHUI) Teacher Certification Program.  Evan's specialty is jamming with others and making up songs on the spot.  When he is not working as a professional ukulele performer, music teacher, and children’s musician, you can find him busking on South Congress, learning to play the trumpet he found at a thrift store or playing french horn in the Waterloo Wind Band.

Guitar and Ukulele

Zachary Krahe is an instrumentalist, instructor, and composer from Erie, Pennsylvania. Beginning at the age of 12 he has studied under numerous guitar instructors including Dan Monacella and Joshua Karickhoff. He then went on to pursue higher education and studied guitar under Dan Wilson and Dave Sterner at Cuyahoga Community College before achieving his BA in Music Production and Engineering from Berklee College of Music’s Online program. Throughout the process of taking private lessons and earning his degree Zach discovered his passion for teaching and helping others achieve their goals. 

In addition to his studies Zach is a founding member and composer for the progressive metal band “Amavasya,” and has played numerous shows across the country with them. Zach also has begun a project which is completely self produced, composed, mixed, and mastered. Additionally Zach is also an active audio engineer and producer whose portfolio consists of metal, pop-punk, country, praise and worship, rap, pop, folk, and more.

Guitar, Ukulele, Beginning Piano

Jordan Lucero has been playing guitar since 2002, began performing in bands in 2006 and started teaching in 2008. He started in the Rock and Metal genres and then studied classical theory and composition before attending the Guitar Performance Program at Musician's Institute in Hollywood, Ca where he studied Jazz, Funk, Country, Bossa Nova, as well as Audio Production and Electronic music. He has spent the bulk of his career performing in clubs and on festival stages but has also recorded as a studio musician and scored music for video games. 

As an instructor he enjoys teaching students of all ages and emphasizes a solid technical understanding but always in service of creative expression and the incomparable joy of making music.

Voice and Musical Theater

Taylor has been performing for most of his life, starting in Musical Theatre at only 5 years old. He has experience in Musical Theatre, Pop Music, Choral Music, and Opera. He’s worked as an Assistant Coach for Chambers Stevens at his Acting Bootcamps in Los Angeles. Taylor loves sharing his passion for music with his students, and hopes to help each student view Music as a joyful way to express their emotions.

Piano

Dr. Marina Magazinnik received her Bachelors,  Masters, and Ph.D  from Moscow  Tchaikovsky  Conservatory. Upon completion of her Ph.D dissertation, she was invited to conduct a series of lectures at the Moscow Tchaikovsky  Conservatory as part of the course entitled  "History and Theory of Piano Performances". During her years in Russia she gave numerous solo and chamber performances and recorded for Moscow radio and television.

In 1992, Dr. Magazinnik moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where she became active as a teacher, accompanist, and chamber musician throughout  New England. She served as a Professor at the Northeastern  University  Music Department for sixteen years and was a faculty member at the Brookline Music School for twenty-two years. While in Boston, Dr. Magazinnik performed in a permanent duo with violinist Tamara Smirnova, Associate  Concertmaster Boston Symphony  Orchestra, and Concertmaster,  Boston Pops. Additional Performances included concerts for Graubart- Irving Concert Fund, Longy School of Music, New England Conservatory, and Martha's Vineyard Chamber Music Society.

In 2016, Dr. Magazinnik moved to New Mexico and became a faculty member at the New Mexico School of Music. She continued to frequently perform as a chamber musician and participated in the Faculty Spotlight  Recital Series at the University of  New Mexico, at "Chatter" Albuquerque, TGIF Concert series in Santa Fe, Faculty Recital Series at New Mexico School of Music, and "Musical Experiences " Concert Series at St. John's  College in Santa Fe. In December 2019 Dr. Magazinnik moved to Austin, Texas, and became a faculty member at Greater Austin Music Academy.

Piano

Born and raised in the New York area. Undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame. Upon finishing school, relocated to Chicago in 1994 and worked as a blues/rock sideman for several years, earning the opportunity to perform with multiple nationally touring acts. Returned to New York in 1998 to study jazz and Latin jazz with Bruce Barth and Delfin Perez, and to study classical piano with Martin Soderberg. Formed and was composer/lead vocals for the original Paul Matthews Trio, a rock/jazz/funk hybrid, which played regularly to hundreds in different venues around the New York area. Scored two films at this time. Moved to Austin in 2001. Graduate work in Composition with a Jazz Emphasis at the University of Texas at Austin. Has played with every major Latin jazz and salsa ensemble in Texas. Winner of Univision’s Premios de Texas 2006 award for Best New Artist and 2007 award for Best Salsa/Merengue. Has played with some of the biggest names in salsa, including legendary Puerto Rican singer Tony Vega, who said of Paul to a crowd one evening in San Antonio (in Spanish), “This guy may not understand a word I am saying, but he gets the soul of this music…” In 2010, formed Latin orchestra Timberos Del Norte. Producer/composer of their award-winning debut recording (Austin American Statesman — Top 10 Releases of 2014, others). Led Timberos for more than a decade, headlining jazz festivals, holding multiple residencies and sharing a stage with legendary Cuban band Los Van Van in 2016. In early 2020, completed the production of the second full-length studio album from Timberos, which remains unreleased due to the unfortunate timing of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, composed and recorded a jazz album with Janie Cowan and Danny Frankel while living in Joshua Tree, California. Director of the jazz program for the 2021-2022 school year at the Community School for Music and Arts in Mountain View, California. Recorded a Latin rock single with award-winning producer Nate “Trillionaire” Hendrix in Oakland, California in late 2022. In 2024, founded a music licensing company, assembling a team of award-winning composers, producers and recording artists to provide audio content across different media.

Continues to compose and produce quite a bit, and performs when he can. Member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Enjoys teaching all ages and skill levels, and has two sons of whom he is very proud.

Early Childhood Music

While in graduate school at the University of Texas in Austin, Kathleen McDonagh stumbled upon a group of students dancing international folk dances.  The dances were from all over the world, to music with all sorts of unfamiliar meters, and all were welcome to join the circle of dancers. That chance encounter began a more than thirty-year relationship with folk dancing and folk music as a dancer, singer, teacher and performer.

When she and her daughter first began attending Music Together classes, Kathleen was immediately drawn by the curriculum’s strong folk music influences and its emphasis on participation, not performance.  The more she learned about the program, the more she knew she wanted to be part of bringing Music Together to others. With her family’s support, she became certified as a teacher and has been leading Music Together classes since 2014.

Outside the classroom, you might find Kathleen singing Balkan tunes with Austin folk band Slavadillo, strumming her ukulele with local dance troupe Hawaiian Kona Isle or performing at folk festivals throughout Texas as a member of Csárdás Hungarian Folk Dancers.

Director of Finance and Administration, and Piano, Composition and Sound-Engineering faculty

Dr. McInturff holds degrees from the Conservatory of Music, University of Missouri-Kansas City (bachelors and masters in composition) and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition from the University of Texas at Austin. She taught university level courses in electroacoustic composition at UMKC, as well as UT, from 1988-1999. She has been on the faculty of the Armstrong Community Music School since its opening in 2000, teaching composition, piano, music theory and sight singing. She also serves as the school’s Director of Finance and Administration, assisting in strategic planning, financial tracking, and all logistical matters for daily operations.

Early Childhood Faculty

I am from Colombia. I love music, dancing and cooking. I love my family, traveling and camping. I belonged to a folkloric dance group in my city and I worked as a play therapist with Unicef and collaborated with other NGOs in community programs. I have experience working with early childhood projects and I am learning to play the violin (an instrument I always dreamed of playing).

Finance and Registrar Manager and Cello faculty

An Austin Critics Table nominee for best instrumental performance of 2013, cellist Terry Muir has performed as soloist, chamber musician, orchestral member, jazzer and rocker for twenty-five years. As a soloist, Muir has appeared with orchestras in the concertos of Schumann, Dvorak, Haydn, Saint-Saens and Victor Herbert. In 2004, he performed in three of the “Top Ten Shows of the Year”, as voted by the Austin Chronicle, and again reached the top ten list in performances in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007 and 2012. In collaboration with jazz great Tina Marsh, he performed dozens of concerts and recorded two CDs. Inside the Breaking was given four stars by Jazz Weekly and proclaimed by Jazz Times to be "Less an album than a multi-discipline art installation, requiring more introspection than inspection." 

Muir is well known to Austin audiences for his many appearances in warehouses, airplane hangers, in partially completed buildings and other unique locations with acclaimed choreographer Sally Jacques. As chamber musician, Muir co- founded the Hengst Studio Concerts in Seattle with visual artist Jeff Hengst, the Idaho Chamber Music Fortnight in Boise with the Langroise Trio, and the Charleston Eclipse Ensemble. Other chamber highlights include performing piano trios with the Stars of the San Francisco Ballet, live radio broadcasts from the Schubert Festival at Town Hall Seattle, and recitals at the Valyermo Monastery in Los Angeles. As an orchestral musician, Muir has performed with the Seattle Symphony, Tampa Opera, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Charleston Symphony, Boise Philharmonic, Austin Symphony and recorded many independent and Hollywood movies. On the road he has performed and toured with Elton John, Tears for Fears, Sarah McLaughlin, Billy Joel, Pavarotti, and Sheryl Crow, among many others. Muir is a committed teacher who has taught beginners, professionals, students preparing to enter music conservatories and students of all ages, including those well into their 80s. 

Terry Muir's playing drowns the heart in Melancholy--Austin Chronicle

Violin and Viola

Originally from Ellicott City, Maryland, Meagan Peaco began studying viola in 3rd grade. She went to Carnegie Mellon University where she was able to double major in  Biology and Viola Performance at Carnegie Mellon University. After graduating college, she chose to follow her passion and attend the University of Texas at Austin to study with Roger Myers and earn her Master of Music in Viola Performance. Loving the warmth and the amazing music scene, Meagan decided to stay in Austin and begin teaching violin and viola. She was a teacher at the UT Austin String Project and has used that background to build a teaching program focusing on the overall growth of the student primarily based on the Suzuki methodology.

Guitar, and Ukulele, Bass, and Piano

Jon Peppin is from Fort Worth, Texas, and has worked as an elementary school teacher as well as a music instructor. In addition to guitar, Jon also teaches bass guitar, ukulele, and piano. He attended the University of Southern California and has degrees in Accounting and Economics with a minor in Chinese Language and Culture. He loves incorporating games into lessons and is very excited to work with students of all ages and levels

Piano

Yenisleidys Perez, of Cuban origin, is a pianist and music teacher trained in classical music. At the tender age of 7, she enrolled in her local music school, specializing in piano. After 11 years of study, she graduated from the National School of Music in Havana as an Instrumentalist and Piano Teacher and of Ensemble Practice.

Over time, she has worked as a soloist and accompanist in theaters, musical shows, hotel lobbies and restaurants, etc, both in and outside her home country performing works from the classical and popular repertoire. Yenisleidys has also performed as a music teacher in public and private schools.

She greatly enjoys passing on her knowledge to her students and helping them achieve the highest musical achievements.

Flute, and Ukulele, Early Childhood Music, and Community Partnership Programs

We are The Chorus - Director

A native of Northumberland, Pennsylvania, Trevor was born into a musical family and began performing at a young age. He went on to become a graduate of the University of North Texas’s College of Music. While still a student there, Trevor became fully immersed in church music. As Director of Music for the Denton Wesley Foundation on the UNT campus, he led choirs on singing tours throughout the U.S., the UK, and Ireland. It was also during that time his professional focus saw a shift towards composition. In 2013, Trevor relocated to Austin, Texas, where he has since been active as a composer, conductor,

church music director, private music instructor, and performer. He is well known for his love of new choral music, and as such is a founding member of Inversion, as well as its Artistic Director. Under Trevor’s leadership, Inversion has premiered nearly 200 original pieces of music and has grown as an organization to include a professional choral ensemble, a 50+ aged choir, and a treble-only choir. Trevor is also co-founder and principal arranger for Tinsel, an a cappella Christmas caroling company. Trevor has directed high school festival choirs, teaches Texas All-State preparation camps, and leads composition and music theory clinics for both youth and adults. His compositions and arrangements have been performed throughout the world and are published through See-a-dot Music, Musicspoke, and Kagarice Brass Editions.

Clarinet faculty, Piano Pals

Born and raised in El Paso, TX, Misty fell in love with playing music in the 5th grade while learning the clarinet. Misty continued playing clarinet through middle and high school as well as learned how to play other woodwind instruments. Misty received her Bachelors of Music with an emphasis in Marketing from the University of Texas at San Antonio.  She worked in the recording industry in NYC for 8 years while also continuing to perform on clarinet with a local wind ensemble. Misty decided on a career change and received her Advanced Certificate in Music Education from Brooklyn College. Misty moved to Austin in 2012 and focused on raising her two sons as a stay at home mom for a few years.  Most recently, Misty became trained in the Kodaly music method and now works as an elementary music educator. Misty is thrilled to be a part of ACMS where she brought her sons to music classes when they were babies.

Guitar, Mandolin, and Banjo

Bryan Sunderman began his enthusiastic pursuit of guitar at the age of 13. By 15, he was coordinating a band, collaborating with other musicians, and performing in church. As a young adult, he began his classical study at the Austin Orpheus School of Music under the instruction of Robert Gibson. During that time, Bryan was awarded first place in the Eastfield Collegiate Guitar Competition. He was then admitted to the prestigious Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied with the highly acclaimed “University Distinguished Teaching Professor” and world-wide performer, Adam Holzman. He has performed his classical repertory in and around Austin and abroad in Cervo, Italy and Morelia, Mexico. Bryan also is a member of the Austin soul/funk band KP and the Boom Boom.

World renowned guitarists that he has studied under through private lessons and master classes include Andrew Zohn, Richard Todd, Jeffery McFadden, Lorenzo Micheli, Matteo Mela, Ana Vidovic and Elliot Fisk. In 2012, Bryan received his Master’s Degree in Classical Guitar Performance, and continues to perform and teach in Austin.

Voice

Native Texan Nicole L. Taylor, hailed by the American Recording Guide for her “full, rich soprano voice,” enjoys a diverse singing career that includes opera, sacred music, and the promotion of music by African American composers. She performs for events in the Houston and Austin, Texas areas including those of professional organizations, corporations, and churches. 

Nicole’s operatic roles include Lady Billows in Britten’s Albert Herring, the Queen of the Night and the First Lady in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Lidoine in Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites, and Lia in Debussy’s first opera L’Enfant Prodigue. Her voice can also be heard on the recording of the newly rewritten opera by Duke Ellington called Queenie Pie. Nicole has commanded the stage in San Jose, Costa Rica and Mazatlan, Mexico as well as in Houston, Galveston, and Austin. 

In March of 2007, she produced and performed a concert of works by African American composers. The following year, a much grander sequel became the first-ever Black History Music Celebration of The Butler School of Music at The University of Texas at Austin. This celebratory concert is now an established annual event, creating opportunities for not only the musicians onstage but also those in the audience to be introduced to a rich and largely unfamiliar repertoire by African American composers. This concert was last celebrated in February 2025. 

Nicole received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Houston Moores School of Music, and both her Master of Music degree in Opera (2006), and her Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance and Opera (2011) from the Butler School of Music at The University of Texas at Austin. 

Currently, Nicole is the soprano section leader at University Presbyterian Church. She has continued to educate the public on the contributions of Black American Composers to the classical music landscape while performing in various productions, concerts, and recitals.

Piano and Accompaniment

Ben Tibbetts is a professional pianist and composer working in the area of Austin, Texas. As a piano accompanist, Ben specializes in both collaborative performance and high-level improvisation. He worked at UMass Amherst as an accompanist from 2016-2020. Every semester he performed with students there on dozens of recitals, classes, masterclasses, and private lessons. He also worked as a pianist at Orchard Covenant Church in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he wrote and performed original arrangements and accompanied weekly church services.

As an active composer, arranger, and audio producer, Ben's work has been featured in films, video games, and broadcast radio performances. For more information about Ben's music visit www.bentibbetts.net. There you will find a large library of original creative content including audio, sheet music, interviews, podcasts, and other media.

Piano

My name is David Urrutia.  Here at Armstrong Community Music School, I will be teaching Music for Little Mozarts, a structured program for young children ages 4 to 6. I grew up in the United States and have been receiving continuous education in music for as long as I was able to. When I was heading into college, I realized that music was the route I wanted to take! I graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from Concordia University, TX. My favorite composer to listen to is Joseph Haydn, who was in fact a primary musical instructor for Mozart and Beethoven, two historical figures we get to know in Music for Little Mozarts. What brought me to Armstrong Community Music School is my passion for teaching music.

Violin, Guitar, Piano, Ukulele

Michael Vybiral is a professional musician and songwriter based in Austin. After starting violin at the age of 6 on a macaroni box and a painting dowel, he quickly picked up and learned to play the instrument itself, eventually performing at various places like Carnegie Hall, Gruene Hall, and the Shanghai World Expo. He has been trained in classical violin, orchestral performance, jazz, improvisation, fiddle, and rock by a wide variety of eccentric teachers. Over the ensuing 20+ years, he has learned up a constantly-expanding set of other instruments, including guitar, piano, ukulele, drums, electric bass, and, most recently, theremin. He can be seen regularly popping up in the area as a frontman or sideman in various jazz, rock, folk, or folk-inflected jazz-rock bands, usually on guitar, violin, or vocals. He also regularly music directs and performs in the theatre and film scenes, and has composed and recorded several scores for live shows. He’s also currently working on 3 different albums simultaneously (one jazz, one folk, one hard rock) and is somehow also writing a musical.  

Piano

Karen White brings thirty years of varied teaching experience and collaborative music-making to the school. She received her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Piano Performance from Texas Christian University under the tutelage of Lili Kraus. She went on to continue her studies in New York City where studied with Nina Svetlanova and taught at the Community Music Center under Dr. Robert Pace at Teachers College, Columbia University. She then moved to Madrid, Spain for three years where she taught in a private music academy and performed. She has spent several years exploring specialized work in the area of performance-related injuries including Alexander Technique and the work of Dorothy Taubman.