Nick Alvarez, cellist, is a teaching artist for the Hollywood Program.

Tara recently completed a Master’s degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under the guidance of Alexa Still. While studying in Australia, she won the International Sydney Flute Festival 2007 Open Flute Competition and the First-Time Competitor Award at the Gisborne International Music Competition in New Zealand. She has also been a state winner in the MTNA Young Artist Competition in the Unites States. Her academic awards include scholarships for study at the Sydney Conservatorium, University of Colorado, and University of Maryland.

An avid performer of new music, Tara has appeared in the Dogstar Orchestra Festival at CalArts, the American Women Composers Series in Washington, D.C., the Pendulum New Music series at the University of Colorado, and the New Music at Maryland series in College Park, Maryland. 

With pianist Rory Cowal, she formed Uberflut, a duo dedicated to performing new and unusual repertoire for flute and piano. Her interest in new music by Japanese composers has led to solo recitals at the conference “Music of Japan Today 2007” in the US and at the Japan Foundation in Sydney.

Before coming to the Harmony Project in Los Angeles, Tara taught flute for the Washington D.C. Youth Orchestra Program and Instrumentos de la Libertad in Denver, Colorado. She is a regular contributor to Flute Focus magazine, and one of her articles appears in the book Music of Japan Today (Cambridge Scholars Press, 2008).

Erin Breen, clarinetist, is teaching artist for the Hollywood Program.

Jessica Cameron, percussionist, is a teaching artist for the EXPO/YOLA Program.

Sheryl Carruth is the assistant conductor for the Hollywood Program.

Jessica Catron, cellist, is a teaching artist for the EXPO/YOLA program.

Daphne Chen, violinist, is a teaching artist for the Hip Hop Orchestra.

Antoine Clifton, violist, is a teaching artist for the Hollywood Program.

Anthony Coleman, pianist, is a teaching artist for the New Designs Academy.

Rachel Coosaia, cellist, is a teaching artist for the Hollywood Program.

Claire Courchene, trombonist, is a teaching artist for the Hip Hop Orchestra and the New Designs Academy.

Rory Cowal, pianst and composer, is a teaching artist for the Glassell Park Program.

Derrick Davis, flautist, is a teaching artist for the EXPO/YOLA and Beyond the Bell Contemporary Music Programs.

Amos Delone, saxophonist, is a teaching artist for the Hip Hop Orchestra and the director of the Jazz Band Program.

Laurel Diskin, violinist, is a teaching artist for the Beyond the Bell Contemporary Music Program.

Oriana Falla, violinist and Harmony Project alumnus, is a teaching artist at the Eagle Rock Program.

A.J. Fanning, cellist, is a teaching artist for the Hip Hop Orchestra.

Larissa Fedoryka, cellist, is a teaching artist for the Beyond the Bell Contemporary Music Program.

Ken Fisher, bassoonist, is a teaching artist for the EXPO/YOLA Program.

Julie Fowells, violinist, is a teaching artist who provides private lessons to Harmony Project students.

Pam Gates, violinist, is a teaching artist who provides private lessons to Harmony Project students.

Sukari Reid-Glenn, flautist, is a teaching artist for the Beyond the Bell Contemporary Music Program.

Otto Granillo, trombonist, is a teaching artist for the EXPO/YOLA Program.

John Hanpadungvongs, trumpeter, is a teaching artist for the Hollywood Program.

Anna Komandyan, violinist, is a teaching artist who provides private lessons to Harmony Project students.

Tom Lea, violist, is a teaching artist for the Hip Hop Orchestra the EXPO/YOLA Program and the New Designs Academy.

Andrew Leonard, clarinetist, is a teaching artist for the Hollywood Program.

Diane Louie is the Music Director of the Hip Hop Orchestra.

Cosima Luther, violinist, is a teaching artist for the EXPO/YOLA Program.

Andrew McIntosh, violinist, is a teaching artist who provides private lessons to Harmony Project students.

Pablo Mendez, violinist, is a teaching artist for the Hip Hop Orchestra and the Glassell Park and Alexandria Elementary Programs.

Myka Miller, oboist and Harmony Project Executive Director, is also a teaching artist who works with a small group of aspiring oboists.

David Moyer is a musicianship instructor for the Beyond the Bell Contemporary Music Program.

Dean Mucetti, percussionist, is a teaching artist for the EXPO/YOLA and Beyond the Bell Contemporary Music Programs.

Brian Owen, trumpeter, is a teaching artist for the Beyond the Bell Contemporary Music Program.

Stephen Pfeifer, double bassist, is a teaching artist for the EXPO/YOLA Program.

Born into a musical family, David Pittel was exposed to a wide variety of music at a young age. A native of Austin, Texas, David moved to Los Angeles in 2007, and has maintained a busy performance schedule in a wide variety of musical settings. David can be heard playing with many symphony orchestras, jazz big bands, rock bands and Broadway style musical pit orchestras, as well as Brass Quintet and other chamber music settings.

An equally passionate music educator, David has the privilege of sharing his love of music with his students at YOLA at EXPO, Harmony Project, and his private studio. As a clinician, David works with students of all ages in styles from classical to jazz.

A graduate of the University of Texas Butler School of Music, David’s trumpet teachers include: Craig Morris, Bernie Nero, Raymond Crisara, Ray Sasaki and Jon Lewis.

Felix Pollard, violinist, is a teaching artist for the New Designs Academy.

Anne Rardin, violinist, is a teaching artist for the Hollywood Program.

Melinda Rice is a violinist, violist, teacher, and improviser. She works with students in the Los Angeles area, using a pedagogy that approaches learning as a playful, joyous process, as well as one that requires commitment. As an instructor, she teaches students in Harmony Project group and private lessons, in her own private studio, and in classrooms across Los Angeles as a teaching artist for the LA Philharmonic. Her students have worked in improvisation, have composed and premiered their own pieces, have created scores that follow a story, and have given recitals of solo and chamber music from the classical cannon at churches, department stores, nursing homes, and community colleges.

As a performer, Melinda works in a few worlds. She is a founding member of the improvising trio, A-Tribute Ensemble, giving improvised concerts as well as working in collaboration with artists in dance, poetry, and visual art. She has performed new music at Walt Disney Concert Hall, RedCat, Sound in Space, Microfest, Maybeck Studios, and other venues, working with groups like inauthentica and New Century Players. Her orchestral life includes American Youth Symphony, San Bernardino Symphony, and Santa Cecelia Orchestra, among others. Melinda holds a graduation certificate from The Evan Thomas Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential, a diploma from the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts, a BA in Liberal Arts from Sarah Lawrence College, and a MFA in Violin Performance from the California Institute of the Arts. Melinda is receiving a graduation certificate from the Arts for All Teaching Artist Training Program in June 2009. She highly values and draws on the Conflict Resolution Theatre training she was immersed in through high school and college, and the wisdom of her chiropractor, inspiring her to continually look at playing and teaching from a physical perspective.

Under the careful guidance of her Venezuelan father, completely devoted to steering the musical impulses of his daughter, and his son Otmaro, a pianist and composer; Orlena Ruiz began her extensive musical studies in Caracas, Venezuela. Her efforts have awarded her a Bachelor of Arts from the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, and a Masters Degree in Arts and Music Education, from New York University.
She has taught Music Theory, Solfege, Choral, and Piano Instruction, and served as a Mentor to students in preparation of their own musical careers in three different countries, continuously working towards her intense desire to be the most professional, and competent Music Educator she can possibly be. Throughout her own educational pursuits, she has also served as Piano Accompanist to churches of various denominational affiliations. Ms. Ruiz remains an active member of The American Orff-Schulwerk Association, Organization of American Kodaly Educators, and The Music Educators National Conference Organizations.

Audrey Salmon, violinist, is a teaching artist for the Hollywood and Charles H. Kim Elementary Programs.

Shigeru San, violist, is a teaching artist for the Hip Hop Orchestra.

Amy Sanchez, french hornist, is a teaching artist for the EXPO/YOLA Program.

Dayren Santamaria, violinist, is a teaching artist for the EXPO/YOLA and Beyond the Bell Contemporary Music Programs.

Irina Sarkissian, violinist, is a teaching artist for the EXPO/YOLA Program.

Henry Shin is the Conductor of both the Harmony Project Orchestra and the Hollywood Youth Orchestra.

Julius Sposato, trumpeter, is a teaching artist for the Hollywood Program.

Shelly Suminski, trombonist, is a teaching artist for the Hollywood Program.

Amy Tatum, flautist, is a teaching artist for the EXPO/YOLA Program.

Lesa Terry, violinist, is a teaching artist for the Hip Hop Orchestra.

Amy Tori, flautist, is a teaching artist for the Hollywood Program.

Monk Turner is the music appreciation instructor for the EXPO/YOLA and Beyond the Bell Contemporary Music Programs.

Chris Votek, cellist, is a teaching artist for the Glassell Park Program.

Sarah Wass, flautist, is a teaching artist for the Hollywood Program, where she is also serves as a Co-Program Manager and the Manager of the Mentorship Program.

Mike Whitson, violinist and violist, is a teaching artist for the EXPO/YOLA Program.

Alcea Willis, violinist, is a teaching artist for the ICEF Program.

Christopher Wilson, pianist, is a teaching artist at the New Designs Academy.

Vivian Wolf, violin teaching artist, has been with the Harmony Project for the past seven years. She graduated from Boston University school of Music with a Bachelors Degree in Violin Performance. Among her teachers was renowned Boston Symphony Concertmaster Joseph Silverstein.
Ms. Wolf then pursued her career in Europe, becoming a tenured member of the State Orchestra of Tyrolia, Austria. Upon her return to the U.S., Vivian became a member of the Pasadena Symphony, the Opera Pacific Orchestra and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the latter since its 1990 debut. Additionally, she has performed often with the Pacific Symphony and the Long Beach Symphony. She has been a member of the touring New York City Opera National Company and has performed with the Los Angeles Opera and the American Ballet Theater, as well as the occasional film and television score.
Vivian enjoyed success as the interim orchestra director of the Villa Park High School orchestra and the principal guest conductor of the Santa Clarita Young Artist Symphony. Working with the students of the Harmony Project has become a rewarding extension of her private teaching schedule.

Elizabeth Wright, cellist, is a teaching artist for the Hollywood Program.

Michelina Wright, violinist, is a teaching artist who provides private lessons to Harmony Project students.