Woodwinds, Brass and Strings

Alicia is an Elementary Band and Strings teacher in the Cartwright School District. Originally a Pennsylvania native, Alicia received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a concentration on flute and piccolo. During her time in Phoenix, she has taught students who have participated in the ASU String Project, Greater Phoenix Honors Music Festival, and has led performances at two Phoenix Suns NBA games. She enjoys teaching band instruments as well as strings to beginners, preparing them for further studies as they enter high school. Without outstanding teachers like Ms. Berasi to foster an early love for these instruments within the children who pick them up for the first time, we wouldn't have older kids flourishing in their musical studies. She has a reward system that she uses to encourage excellence and a great personality!

Band Instruments

Cory is a native of Crowley, Louisiana. He received his Bachelor of Music from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and his Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Grand Canyon University. He has a DMA from Liberty University. He has served as a music director for various religious organizations in the Southwest Louisiana, Houston, and Hawaii regions. He has served as a counselor at many summer camps and loves working with children of all ages. He has taught general music, choir, and band to grades ranging from Kindergarten to High School for over seven years. He now serves as a General Music and Piano Instructor at the Academy of Math and Science Desert Sky. Cory has mentioned one of his reasons for teaching involves him experiencing the unforgettable moments when his students discover their gifts and abilities with their own voice or on the instrument of their choice. He enjoys teaching students that have an eagerness to learn and have fun.

Cory’s educational philosophy and overall focuses are to teach the entire individual, student, and child. He truly believes that he possesses a unique quality to instill hope in children who have been surrounded by negativity. This ability has allowed him to access the one tool students need to activate their self-motivation. This ensures that the student develops a belief that they can overcome any obstacle that presents itself as an opposition. He ensures that meeting the students where they are and bringing them up to speed with precision and passion will most likely help them overcome all academic limitations and barriers. As an educator, Cory always strives to do everything possible to surpass the obstacles that students face by sacrificing personal needs to meet the needs of all students by surrounding them with professionalism, positivity, and compassion.

Strings - Woodwinds - Brass

Daniel Greene is a woodwind, brass and strings musician who has been teaching for 30 years in schools as well as private instruction. He has taught all over the United states as a band, strings and music instructor at Eagle’s Erie Charter (Chicago IL), Carmel Integrated Arts School (Caroline County, VA), Weitzel Elementary (Flagstaff, AZ), as well as elementary, middle school and high school band, chorus and drama director at Mammoth Schools (Mammoth Lakes, CA).

Daniel received his B.A. in Music Education with a minor in Music Performance at NAU, and his M.A. in Music Education at GCU. He often performs around the valley at various churches, venues and has played with the North Valley Symphony (second chair), Promusica Orchestra (second chair), as well as the All State Southern California Band (principal chair) and many others. Currently, Daniel is the lead band instructor for the Cartwright District, directing the 4th and 5th grade bands and strings programs in addition to clinics and mentorships all around the valley.