Faculty

PIANO Donald Dillard, Michael Farnsley, Diane Keller, Mila Ovsankin, Deb Sanfilippo, Dennis Schade, Kirk Tamura, Anna Turkova

STRINGS Matthew Leung

WOODWINDS Margaret Collar, Lisa Evans, Anthony Urbina

BRASS Craig Hirotsuka

PERCUSSION Shota Otaguro, Peter Wallack

GUITAR Jason Keiser, Juliana Tarter

VOICE Robin Costa, Adam Lee

CLASSES & CAMPS Nancy Whitecar, Nick Patton, David Garcia, Lauren Kato, Jo Smith-Nilsson

DIRECTOR Chantelle Urbina

TEACHING ASSISTANTS / SUPPORT / ADVISORY BOARD

Margaret Collar (she/her) Flute, Piccolo

Music Education and Flute Performance from California State University Fullerton
Has taught group keyboard, preschool music, flute and piano at many local schools
Has performed with Fullerton Civic Light Opera and Orange County repertory Theater
Students are known to receive high scores and honors at youth competitions and performances
Certified in CPR & First Aid

Robin Costa, Voice

Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of California, Santa Barbara
Master of Arts Degree in Music from San Jose State University
Master of Science Degree in Communicative Disorders from San Francisco State University
Currently works as a Speech-Language Pathologist for Cupertino Union School District
Has sung as a member of the Opera San José chorus, and performed with Lamplighters Music Theatre, San Jose State University Opera Workshop, and Ohlone Chamber Orchestra
Has been teaching voice lessons at The Music School since January of 2006

Jess

Jesse Denny (she/her) Classes

Bachelor’s of Music in Education, Voice from Chapman University
Master’s Degree in Vocal Pedagogy
Completed San Jose State Credential Program
Teaches elementary school music and middle school choir and orchestra in Palo Alto Unified School District
Works as a clinician with Mountain View High School Choirs
Previously worked at Monta Vista High School as a student teacher in the choral program, directed Chorus at Regnart Elementary School

Donald Dillard (he/him) Piano

Awarded a Philadelphia Board of Education scholarship to West Chester University, West Chester, PA, where he majored in Piano and Voice
Graduate studies at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, Princeton, NJ
Has received numerous awards and accolades, including an honorary Doctor of Music from the National Association of Negro Musicians for his various contributions to music
Active composer of over 100 works for chorus, instruments, piano, organ and voice. His music has been performed throughout the United States and in Europe, including a premier performance at New York’s Carnegie Recital Hall
Has been a choral director and teacher of music on all levels, including positions as instructor of music theory, aural activities and music appreciation
Is married to concert pianist Yoko Nagashima-Dillard
Orchestral works performed by Detroit Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Delaware County Symphony and Orchestra Society of Philadelphia.

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Lisa Evans (she/her) Woodwinds

Began teaching at The Music School in 1993
Bachelor’s of Music in clarinet performance and her Professional Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from San Jose State University
Clarinetist for Paul Price’s Society Orchestra which performs for vintage dances held by the Varsity Dance Club at the Masonic Lodge in Palo Alto
Plays woodwinds and sings for Encores on Wheels and the Continental Harmony Singers
Several of her students have gone on to study music in college and play in local youth symphonies
Certified in CPR & First Aid

Michael Farnsley (he/him) Piano, Pathways/Young Musicians, Adventures, Camps, Accompanist

Bachelor’s of Music from the Conservatory of Music at University of The Pacific in 1998
Completed a Music Therapy internship in Hayward
Began working at The Music School in January 2000
Accompanist for The Music School’s Singing Children and Entertainers, as well as the choirs at Mountain View High School and Oak Elementary

David Garcia (he/him) Pathways/Young Musicians, Kaleidoscope, Office

Graduated from Chapman University

Craig Hirotsuka (he/him) Brass

Studied music at Foothill College, graduating with his AA in 1997
Has been teaching music in the Bay Area for over twenty years, including band, private lessons, and marching bands
Teaches private trumpet lessons at The Music School
Professional photographer

Lauren Kato (she/her) Music & Dance Camp

Currently the dance teacher and director of Mountain View High School’s dance program, Dance Spectrum.
Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Minor in Biology from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City.
Has had opportunities to work under esteemed artists and choreographers including Cheryl Copeland, Katie Langan, Shellie Hutchinson, Lorna Ventura, Sheila Barker, Cindy Salgado, and Flavio Salazar.
Served as the Teen Summer Intensive Coordinator at NYC’s Peridance Capezio Center in 2016, where she organized and ran a 3 week dance program for young dancers from all around the globe.

Jason Keiser (he/him) Guitar

Bachelor of Arts in Bluegrass, Old-Time, & Country Music Studies from East Tennessee State University, Class of 2018
Studied, recorded, and has collaborated with legendary bluegrass guitarist and original member of The Tony Rice Unit, Wyatt Rice.
Studied with Ardeshir Farah of legendary fusion guitar music band, Strunz & Farah.
Masters of Music, San Jose State University, Class of 2020
Professional guitarist, multi-stylist, composer, recording artist, & Band Leader of professional Bay Area New Acoustic Music string band; The New Acoustic Collective.
Specializes in string instruction and is a multi-instrumentalist specializing in Guitar, Mandolin, Tres Cubano, Banjo, & Ukulele.
http://www.jasonkeisermusic.com/bio.html

Diane Keller (she/her) Piano, Classes

Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Organ Performance and Pedagogy
Active member and former dean of the San Jose Chapter of the American Guild of Organists
Organist at First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto since January 2015
Has worked as an accompanist for numerous groups in the Bay Area since 1999
Began teaching at The Music School in 1999
Teaches private lessons, both organ and piano, in her studio in Sunnyvale

Adam Lee (he/him) Assistant Director, Musical Play, Musical Treats, Music Box, Adventures, Kaleidoscope, Voice Class, Strum Class, Voice

Bachelors of Music in Music Education from Westminster Choir College
Performed with New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Princeton Symphony Orchestra
Sang on professional choral CD’s: Lumina by Westminster Kantorei, Silence Into Light by Westminster Williamson Voices, and Sunrise Mass by Westminster Williamson Voices
Has directed and sung with numerous choir ensembles
Previously served as Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church Director of Children’s Ministry
Sings with and works as Managing Director for the Mission Peak Chamber Singers in Fremont
Certified in CPR & First Aid

Matthew Leung, Violin

Graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music in 2017
Performed in the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of Hong Kong, including performances in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Hong Kong City Hall
Has served as a traditional and contemporary hymn pianist for Crosspoint Chinese Church and New Life Church of Cupertino since 2014
Fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese

Shota Otaguro (he/him) Percussion

Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from San Jose State University
Has won top awards in Fremont Symphony’s Young Artist Competition, California’s PAS competitive festival SJSU’s concerto competition, and the Great Plains International Marimba competition
Currently a member of the San Francisco Brass Band playing timpani
Directs percussion sectionals at San Jose Youth Symphony and coaches at Monta Vista High School Marching Band
Has worked with Homestead High School Marching Band and Winter Percussion and Fremont High School Concert Percussion
Works as a videographer for Symphony San Jose at the California Theater

Mila Ovsankin (she/her) Piano

Was raised in a musical family in Moscow, Russia, where her grandfather was a professional violinist at the age of 17 and her father was a performing musician, teacher and Mila’s piano teacher
Multi-linguist, who graduated in Music Education at the Moscow Music College
Has taught music to children for 20 years in 3 different countries
Fluent in Russian and Hebrew
Certified in CPR & First Aid

Nick Patton (he/him) Assistant Director, Music Box, Pathways/Young Musicians, Adventures, Kaleidoscope, Theory, Spotlight Theater, Preschool classes

Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Notre Dame de Namur University, Masters of Education from National University
Taught High School Choir and AP Music Theory for five years at California High School in San Ramon, CA
Has performed throughout the Bay Area in Musical Theatre, Opera, and Operetta, along with Featured Vocalist and Soloist performances
Started at The Music School at 7 years old in Singing Children
Plays a wide variety of instruments, but is known for his stylings on random percussion instruments (especially the cajon!)
Certified in CPR & First Aid

Deb Sanfilippo (she/her) Piano, Classes, Music & Art Camp

Grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where she received piano instruction from Wally Hornibrook, a professor at Indiana University
Graduated from Fremont High School in Sunnyvale
Received her degree from Santa Clara University
Has been teaching at The Music School for over thirty years
Has written and directed student operas at Stockelmeir Elementary School
Started a new music program for grades 1-5 at Noddin Elementary in San Jose
Has served as president of the Music Teachers’ Association of California, Santa Clara County Branch, and is the Recitals Chair for Improvisation and the Regional Chair for Composers Today at the state level
Certified in CPR & First Aid

Dennis Schade Piano, Accompanying

Bachelor of Music – Piano Performance, Western Washington University, Bellingham
Bachelor of Science – Electrical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Master of Science – Mechanical Engineering/Manufacturing Systems, University of Wisconsin
Still active in Bio-Process Equipment & Controls Engineering with Thermo Fisher Scientific
Experienced in choral conducting, pedagogy, the recorder family, and accompanying

Jo Smith-Nilsson (she/her) Camps, Classes

Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies from Long Island University’s Global College
Teaching Credential in Music from San Jose State University
Masters of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from University of San Francisco
Teaches Intro to Music and Orchestra at Los Altos and Mountain View High Schools
Directed elementary, middle, and high school choirs
Has worked for the Santa Clara Chorale as Business Manager
Has worked with Mountain View High School choirs as rehearsal accompanist and teaching assistant

Kirk Tamura (he/him) Piano

Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music from San Jose State University in 1992
Active performer, jazz piano
Gigs at the Tabard Theater and other local events and venues
Certified in CPR & First Aid

Juliana Tarter (she/her) Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Strum Class

Bachelor of Arts in Music in Guitar Performance from San Jose State University
Style is very versatile, ranging from classical and jazz, to indie rock and metal
Has been performing lead guitar and backing vocals with original band Crimes of Passion for over 10 years, and has opened for many major artists including the Doobie Brothers and Steve Miller Band

Anna Turkova (she/her) Piano

From Riga, Latvia
Graduated from the Odessa Conservatory of Music, and has a Master’s degree in Art
Worked in Riga-Latvia as a piano teacher and Concertmaster at Elgava’s Music College
Elected President of MTAC Golden Gate branch since 2018
Students consistently place well in piano competitions
Works full time in San Francisco
Started working at The Music School in 2002
Speaks Ukrainian and is fluent in Russian
Certified in CPR

Anthony Urbina (he/him) Saxophone, Sound Engineer

Majored in Music Business & Administration at the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music, with a concentration in Alto Saxophone.
Has been supporting Music School events as sound and audio engineer since 2000
Has been teaching at The Music School since 2009
Works a full-time management job, and as a sound engineer for school productions, local rock bands, and community events
Fluent in Spanish
Certified in CPR & First Aid

Chantelle Urbina (she/her) Director, Singing Children, Entertainers, Spotlight Theater, Summer Musical Theater, Preschool classes

Bachelor’s of Music in Education, Vocal Concentration from University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music
Began working at The Music School in 1991
Serves on the Board of Directors for the Santa Clara Chorale, having previously worked as Business Manager and Concert Manager
Has worked as clinician and program support for Mountain View High School Choirs and local middle school choirs
Certified in CPR & First Aid

Peter Wallack (he/him) Drums

Has been supporting The Music School for over 20 years
Studied snare drum and drum set in New York with Joe Vasile, Gary Chester, and Bay Area jazz legend Jason Lewis
Plays drums for musicals with The Music School, several local high schools, and Sunnyvale Community Players
Plays every style of music including jazz, big band, funk and punk

Nancy Whitecar (she/her) Kaleidoscope, Pathways/Young Musicians, Accompanist

Graduated from the University of Illinois
Instructor and accompanist at the Music School since 2015
Instructor and accompanist with Ragazzi Boys Chorus
Accompanist with the Fremont High School choral department
Served as accompanist/assistant director for 20 years with the Beckridge Chorale in Michigan
Staff member and musical collaborator with several church music departments
Collaborates with student soloists and ensembles for contests and auditions
Member Music Teachers National Association
Serves on the Board of Directors for the Santa Clara Chorale
Certified in CPR & First Aid

TEACHING & OFFICE ASSISTANTS

Kiren Balakrishnan (she/her), Maryland Institute College of Art

Sydney Chao (she/her) Lynbrook High School, Senior

Sophia Christensen (she/her) Fremont High School, Sophomore

Allison Gregory (she/her) Michigan State University

Aaron Johnson (he/him) San Jose State University

Grayson Kunz (he/him) De Anza College/Homestead High School, Middle College

Kailash Menon (he/him) Emory College

Aaron Montes, Fremont High School, Senior

Sara O’Connor (she/her) De Anza College

Tessa Prodromou (she/her) Los Altos High School, Junior

Mira Sumant (she/her) Los Altos High School, Freshman

Nakoa Urbina (he/him) Cupertino High School, Senior

Peyton White (she/her) UC Berkeley Graduate

Lahari Yallapragada (she/her) Monta Vista High School, Junior

Hee Chan Yang (he/him) Homestead High School, Junior

ADVISORY BOARD

Karen Filice

Ellen Kitchen

Garrett Kuramoto

Suz McFadden

Charlie Neuhauser

Robin Rosenberg

SUPPORT

Debbie Czyzewski

Jill Denny

Jim Vaughn

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Doris Harry, Founder

Doris Harry served as director and teacher at The Music School since its beginnings in 1977 until 2017. Doris earned her Bachelor and Masters of Music at The College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati in Ohio. She has additional hours in the M.B.A./Arts Administration program at Golden Gate University. Doris began her work in Cincinnati in the 1970’s in research, development, and curriculum writing for Baldwin Music, a company developing pianos for group lessons. Doris has taught students from preschool through the university level. She has made two educational music television series and multiple recordings for children. Her published works focus on music curriculum and songs for children. Doris directed children’s choirs for many years and still does workshops across the country. She continues to write music and record CD’s, and she remains on the cutting edge of music education today.