Meet our Teachers!
Our MFM teachers bring a wealth of experience, training, and passion for teaching music to children. With advanced degrees and years of artistic experience, they share a deep love of music through thoughtfully designed lessons, inspiring creativity and joy in every classroom.
“Our teacher has amazing classroom management and a great base of understanding music. She has clearly taught music for years.”–Redeemer Lutheran
Marie Alberry-Hawkins has a BS from San Jose State University and extensive experience in planning and conducting educational programs for preschoolers through adults. She has held numerous leadership positions with the San Jose Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department, and was an MFM Volunteer Educator for several years. Marie sings with Schola Cantorum.
Alexis Wong Baird has been a dedicated choir singer since the age of 7 and currently sings with the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. She teaches music and movement classes for kids 0-5 years old with Peninsula Music Together and serves as a Conducting Intern with the Peninsula Girls Chorus. Alexis studied business and engineering at the University of Pennsylvania and worked in tech. Now, she’s excited to reconnect with her first love—music—through Music for Minors.
Sara Baldeschwieler has a BA in Fashion and Textiles, and is a former MFM Volunteer Music Educator. She has over 20 years of experience teaching in North and Central America, Europe, and Asia along with performance experience in singing, dance, and theater.
Melian has been immersed in the music and arts world from a young age, starting dance at age 3 and transitioning to music by age 8. Over the past decade, they have studied violin, piano, drums, voice, and guitar. For the past six years, Melian has shared their passion for the arts by educating youth in theater, voice, and music.
Mark Cabunoc has a BA in Contemporary Music from Humber College in Toronto. He has background assisting with school instrumental programs as well as teaching communication skills to young children.
Ariel Catanyag hails from the Bay Area and is a recent graduate of San Francisco State University. She is passionate about singing, enjoys exploring different vocal styles, and plays a variety of instruments, including flute, drums, and guitar. Ariel has experience working with children in both church and school settings as well as in after-school programs. She is excited to share her love of music with young students.
Charlene Chang-Grafilo began playing cello as a child and earned and a BM in Cello Performance from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an MM in Cello Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She has performed with several Bay Area ensembles (e.g., the Stockton Symphony, Sacramento and Santa Cruz Symphonies) as well as symphonies in Southern California. Charlene currently maintains a private studio of cello students.
Claire Collet is a French public school teacher, with more than 20 years experience in general education. She taught children from ages three to 12 years. Claire's musical background includes singing in choirs and in a band, as well as leading school choirs. Since moving to the Bay Area in 2016, she has volunteered as a music teacher with Music for Minors II in the East Bay and currently serves as a board member of Mission Peak Chamber Singers.
Janine is thrilled to join Music for Minors as an early childhood music teacher. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Professional Music from Berklee College of Music, graduating cum laude. During her time at Berklee, she was awarded a songwriting scholarship. After graduation, Janine founded and led a jazz band, wrote and produced an original musical, and taught early childhood music through Kindermusik and other programs. A talented pianist and songwriter, she has had several of her songs featured in commercials and TV shows. Janine is excited to bring her passion for music to the Music for Minors team!
Sandy Dunn earned her music teaching credential and audio engineering certification in Brisbane, Australia. She has 11 years of experience teaching elementary students in classroom settings and providing private lessons in keyboard and string instruments. Sandy also worked in the music industry in London, where she served as a music therapist, engaging clients in music-making activities like singing, dancing, and playing instruments.
Ariel Estebez has a Master's in Music (Vocal Performance) from the University of Redlands School of Music. She recently re-joined the MFM faculty, bringing five years of past kindergarten-fifth grade classroom music teaching experience, along with an extensive vocal performance background. Ariel also serves as Site Director for the Aim High summer program in Redwood City and has 15 years of experience directing choral summer camps and choirs. Currently she serves as the Level 1 Director for the San Francisco Girls Chorus and provides private voice lessons through Adscensio. Ariel is a soprano with numerous stage and concert appearances in major roles with the San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of San Jose and others.
Amy Fickenscher specializes in teaching choral, vocal, and general music to young students. She has worked in public schools in Oregon and California, nonprofit children’s choirs including the San Francisco Girls Chorus and Cantabile Youth Singers, and as a clinician. Amy also served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Oregon, and holds Level 1 and Level 2 Kodály Certifications as well as Level I Orff Schulwerk Certification. She has performed with Bay Area Women’s Vocal Ensemble, Musae, and the Peninsula Women’s Chorus. Amy earned a Bachelor and Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Oregon.
Audrey began her musical journey at age 5 with choir and violin. She performed in national and state ensembles like CCDA’s honor choirs and NAFME’s national honor ensemble, the Peninsula Youth Orchestra. Audrey started teaching voice, violin, and music theory in high school, fostering her passion for working with students.
She graduated magna cum laude from Chapman University with degrees in psychology and general music. Audrey now serves as soprano section leader for The Choral Project and teaches voice at Artis School of Music. Her teaching philosophy centers on engaging students by meeting them at their level.
Nancy Godfrey is a retired breast cancer surgeon whose lifelong passion for music has brought her to a second career in music education. She brings extensive experience teaching general music and vocal performance classes for elementary and middle school students to her role as music educator. An accomplished pianist and singer, Nancy also has a background directing music for a children’s theater as well as her church choir for many years.
Trish Goity has a BA from Wesleyan University and a multi-subject teaching credential from San Francisco State. She has an extensive teaching background in grades K-5, including eight years as a first grade teacher. Trish also has 10 years of piano study and experience singing with choral groups.
Marisa Gonzalez is a skilled multi-instrumentalist, specializing in mariachi music. She currently plays in the armonia section of Mariachi Femenil Orgullo Mexicano, the Bay Area's first all-female mariachi group. With a BA in Music from SFSU, Marisa shares her expertise by teaching private lessons in guitar, piano, ukulele, and voice, nurturing the the next generation of musicians.
Eri Graffam has a BA from the University of California-Santa Cruz. She has 6 years experience teaching general music as a volunteer. Eri has received special recognition from the Castro Valley School District for her service and continues to provide high quality instruction to schools in the East Bay.
Nick Hein is a musician/music educator from Sacramento California. He received his Associate's Degree in Music from San Diego Mesa College and his BA in Humanities from San Diego State. Nick has toured the world playing bass. In 2020, he became a Lanikai-sponsored artist on ukulele and experimental bass uke. In addition to ukes, he collects and plays flutes, harmonicas, keyboards, saxophones, drums, guitars of every type, and even has a dulcimer. Nick is tech savvy as a software engineer with particular interest in machine learning and AI. His passion for music and education began with his parents who both worked in education as policy makers and teachers. Nick also volunteers in under-resourced communities as an organizer and educator.
Otto Koivunen is a drummer, guitarist, and vocalist. He holds a BS in Biochemistry from UCSC with a Minor in Education. After a decade in the health/tech industry, Otto decided to pivot to his true passion - music! Currently, he plays in live shows at local venues and creates music-related content and instructional videos on social media.
Christian Lester is a native Californian, born in Hollywood, and has lived most of his life in the Bay Area. A guitarist since age 10, Christian’s main instrument is voice, and as a second bass, he has extensive choir experience. He began singing liturgical music with the Armenian Orthodox Church and later performed with a Byzantine chorale that traveled. Currently, he sings with the Peninsula Musical Arts Association in Foster City.
For the past six years, Christian has worked as a classroom paraeducator for K-2 students with mild to moderate special needs. He believes music education is essential to every child’s learning experience.
Ceci Li, born and raised in Oakland, started playing the violin at age 10. As an active orchestral player, she regularly performs with the Stockton Symphony and Marin Symphony. Ceci has performed and worked with leading musicians such as Michael Bublé, Sarah Brightman, Yo-Yo Ma, Emanuel Ax, and Riccardo Muti. Ceci also maintains a full studio teaching violin. She received her B.M. and M.M. in Violin Performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Ceci teaches violin in the Instrumental Music Program.
Tammy Lin earned a BA in Music from the University of California-LA and an MM in Classical Piano from Manhattan School of Music. Her musical achievements include solo piano performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center of Performing Arts, and Kennedy Center of Performing Arts. Tammy also obtained a Substitute Teaching Permit from the California Commission for Teacher Credentialing. She has elementary classroom experience teaching a variety of subjects, including music, English, history, math, science, art, PE, Spanish, and computer science. Tammy currently teaches one-on-one piano lessons and is excited to join the team of MFM educators!
Winnie Liu graduated with a Master of Science in Communications Design from Pratt Institute and a BA in Economics from the University of California – Los Angeles. She has over 20 years experience teaching piano, and background volunteering in pre-school through 2nd grade classrooms in a variety of subject areas.
Dion holds a BM in Music Education from the University of the Pacific and is joining Music for Minors for the first time. Born and raised in the Bay Area, he has been a staff member for the LA Phil’s YOLA summer festival for the past few years. Dion currently serves as Ensemble D Director for the San Francisco Girls Chorus.
San Francisco-based flutist Jessie Nucho holds an MM from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She is passionate about sharing both traditional and contemporary music as a chamber musician, soloist, and educator. She performs regularly with the new music ensembles After Everything and Ninth Planet, where she also serves as Co-Artistic Director. Jessie is a founding member of Siroko Duo, a flute duo dedicated to commissioning and presenting new works in creative spaces.
Lidia Orduña-Ruiz has a BA in Music Education from Saltillo Coahuila, Mexico, as well as extensive experience working with children individually (tutoring) and in groups. She was an MFM Volunteer Music Educator for eight years in several Redwood City elementary schools, before joining our professional teaching staff in 2014. Outside of the classroom, Lidia has advised in the development of MFM’s curriculum in the area of Spanish-language songs and cultural learning. She currently leads production of our online music lessons in Spanish. Lidia also performs with several choral groups and plays piano, guitar and mandolin. Winner of the 2019 G.G. Fitzmaurice Award for Exceptional Leadership and Professionalism in Music Education.
Renee Padgett is an early childhood educator with nearly three decades of experience, having started in 1995. In 2005, she founded the early childhood music program Walking Sideways, where she creates original music to support gross motor development milestones. Renee is also an advocate for building self-esteem in young learners and has led workshops for preschool teachers on integrating music into the classroom. As an author and illustrator, she recently published a counting book titled Life on the Pond is Wonderful, blending her love for storytelling with education.
Mary Ellen Pense has a Bachelor's of Music and a single subject teaching credential in music from San Francisco State University as well as an Orff levels certificate from Mills College in Oakland. She has been a general music teacher for thirty-four years, servicing a variety of schools with a wide range of socio-economic standing. She has also built her own private teaching business over the last 11 years. Winner of the 2014 G.G. Fitzmaurice Award for Exceptional Leadership and Professionalism in Music Education.
Lisa Perry has a BS in Engineering from the University of California-Davis. She began teaching with Music for Minors in 2009 as a volunteer. In 2015, she received the MFM Grace Johnston Award--In Recognition of Exceptional Service--and joined the professional educator team in 2019. Lisa loves working with kids and is active in her community, serving as a BSA Troop Committee member, on the Girl Scout Redwood City Service Unit Team, as a Troop Leader, and has also been recognized by Girl Scouts of Northern California as an outstanding community leader.
Bradly Pupa is a classical guitarist holding a Bachelor’s ‘16, Master's ‘18, and Professional Studies Diploma ‘19 from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. As a competitor, Bradly won first prize in the 2017 Sierra Nevada Guitar Festival. His professional endeavors have recently taken him on a tour through China and various performances throughout the Bay Area such as the Peninsula Guitar series, and the Palo Alto Guitar Competition and Festival. Bradly is a passionate teacher who is also on faculty at the California Conservatory of Music.
Jamie Sauveur found his passion for music at a young age, having played the violin since he was eight years old. He has been singing and serving as a worship leader for the past 10+ years and plays a variety of instruments for worship bands, including guitar, drums, and bass. Throughout the years Jamie has also performed in many university and community events in the Bay Area in group choir and orchestra settings -- such as the Saigon Chamber Ensemble and The Red Hot Peppers. He is an experienced violin teacher for young children, and currently serves as a youth leader at his local church.
Aaron Sears has a degree from City College of San Francisco and extensive experience as a singer-songwriter. He has proficiency on both piano and guitar, and his teaching background includes cooking classes for children in K through 5th grade.
Johnny Selmer is a classical saxophonist and music educator. Featured previously on NPR Live Sessions and Classical KING FM 98.1 in Seattle, he holds the baritone chair of the award-winning Zelos Saxophone Quartet. Johnny has performed throughout the US as both a soloist and chamber musician, including regular recitals at the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference and the International Saxophone Symposium. Johnny earned his MM in Music Performance from San Jose State University.
Al Simpkins is a music educator, performer, and industry professional from Napa, California. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Ethnomusicology, he has performed with several university ensembles, including the UCSB Chamber Orchestra, Brass Quintet, and Wind Ensemble. Al has also participated in the practice of Balinese Gamelan and Middle Eastern music. With experience in radio DJing and artistic administration, he aims to promote a worldly approach to music education, inspiring the next generation of well-rounded and open-minded musicians.
Guitarist Grady Sloan has been instructing children and adults of all ages since 1991. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from California State University, Northridge and a Master of Music degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He has been a registered Suzuki Guitar instructor since 1998.
Melissa Walls earned a Bachelor's degree in Music from California State University-Stanislaus, with an emphasis in Vocal Performance. She is proficient in piano and has experience teaching voice and piano.