Woodwinds, Brass and Strings

Teaches in: English

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!

Violin

Teaches in: English

Andrew has established himself as an extraordinary chamber musician, soloist, and teacher throughout America. As a former member of the critically acclaimed Fifth House Ensemble, he has performed at Columbia University’s Miller Theatre on their Composer Portrait series, on Rush Hour’s yearly summer music series, and participated in many master classes at institutions such as the University of Wisconsin-Madison and New Music on the Point. As a soloist, he specializes in performing great contemporary solo violin pieces. At Ravinia's Bennet Gordon Hall (summer of 2012) he performed David Rakowski’s, When the Bow Breaks, a sonata for solo violin, for which the composer praised ‘Now I like the whole piece, for the very first time!’ In November of 2011 he performed Kevin Puts’ epic solo piece, Arches on a Rush Hour Encore which was broadcast live on Chicago’s WFMT. Considered a champion of new music, Williams has commissioned a number of works for the violin. He has also given seminars on composing for the violin at Roosevelt University and the Fresh Inc. festival.

Strings , Woodwinds, & Brass

Teaches in: English

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.

Violin & Viola

Teaches in: English & Japanese

Esme P. is a violinist, violist, fiddler, and educator based in the Phoenix area. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Peters holds a Master of Music in Violin Performance from Arizona State University with a specialization in orchestral studies, and a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Oregon.

Her professional career as an orchestral and chamber musician spans numerous ensembles throughout Arizona and Oregon, as well as international stages across Canada, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Italy, and Austria. From 2022 to 2024, Peters performed with the Eugene Ballet's Orchestra Next, the Eugene Concerto Choir, and the Rogue Valley Symphony. She currently maintains a position as a violinist with the Symphony of the Southwest.

Esme believes that instrumental instruction is invaluable in helping students develop a healthy relationship with their learning process. She wants her students to feel confident in their ability to work through difficult skills and enjoy the challenge that comes with it.

Esme is committed to meeting each individual student’s needs. Whether they are just starting out on an instrument, casually pursuing a hobby, or studying music with specific goals for the future, she believes she can help students develop strong technique while expanding their natural love for music.

Cello

Hannah received her bachelor’s degree in cello performance at the University of North Florida. She is a cello instructor, piano tuner, and chamber musician. She has over 15 years of musical experience and regularly performs in small and large ensembles with the Symphony of the Southwest and the Southwest Shakespeare Company. She has been teaching cello for over 5 years and is a current member of the Herberger String Quartet, who performs a range of classical and pop music at various venues in the Valley.

Violin, Viola, and Piano

Teaches in: English & Chinese

Iris is a violist and dedicated music educator currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts in Viola Performance at Arizona State University, where she serves as a Teaching Assistant and teaches undergraduate viola students.

She earned her Master of Music degree from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, where she also completed a concentration in Violin/Viola Pedagogy and taught pre-college students through the Peabody Preparatory. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from Arizona State University on full scholarship.

With extensive teaching experience ranging from young beginners to university students, Iris has taught through the Peabody Preparatory, Arizona State University's String Project, Northwood Elementary School, and Arizona State University. She is passionate about helping students build strong technical foundations while fostering confidence, creativity, and a lifelong appreciation for music. Her teaching emphasizes healthy technique, thoughtful practice habits, and expressive music-making tailored to each student's individual goals.

Guitar, Piano, Bass, Mandolin, Violin, and Music Theory & Composition

Teaches in: English

Jeff is a multi-instrumentalist with over twenty years of experience studying, playing and singing across a wide array of genres, from classical and jazz to pop and rock, and even barbershop. His teaching draws on a deep love of music theory, composition, and harmony to help students understand not just how to play but, when interested, why the music works the way it does.

His teaching spans the full range of musical development - from young beginners taking their first steps to adult students rekindling a lost love, and even students crossing from one genre to another. He's especially passionate about building structured, thoughtful curricula that meets each student where they are, so that every lesson moves them towards confidence and real musical fluency.

Violin

Teaches in: English

Josh T. is a native of Tucson, Arizona, and has been studying violin since the age of seven. A student of Dr. Katherine McLin at Arizona State University, Josh made his solo orchestral debut at the age of 11 with the Arizona Symphonic Winds. He has since appeared as a soloist with many other orchestras, including the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra, White Mountain Symphony Orchestra, Rocky Ridge Festival Orchestra, and the Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra.

Josh has also been a prize winner at many competitions, including the AZMusicFest Chamber Music Competition, WMSO Concerto Competition, RRMC Concerto Competition, COT Youth Concerto Competition, SASO Dorothy Vanek Concerto Competition, TPYO Scholarship Competition, and the Progressive Musicians Competition. As a recitalist, Josh has made appearances across Southern Arizona and Colorado and made his solo debut in Carnegie Hall.

Josh has performed in masterclasses for many internationally acclaimed musicians, including the Borromeo String Quartet, the Miro Quartet, the Harlem Quartet, Paul Kantor, Thomas Landschoot, Kristopher Tong, Carolyn Huebl, and Shannon Thomas. In addition to masterclasses, Josh has been coached by Paul Kantor, Annie Fullard, Janet Sung, Robin Scott, and Amy Beth Horman.

Violin, Viola, and Piano

Teaches in: English, Arabic, German & French

Mohamed-Aly F. (Dr. Mo), Composer Biography American-born Egyptian violinist and composer Mo started piano and violin at ages 5 and 7, and moved on to play professionally and compose original music in his teens.

After having completed his Bachelors and Masters degrees in violin performance and composition in Canada, Mo performed in Egypt as soloist and member of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra in 2010, which has premiered many of his orchestral pieces.

In addition, Mo has earned his doctorate in music composition from Arizona State University with a dissertation in the field of electroacoustic music composition and performance.