2026 Faculty

Conductors

Thomas Wilkins

Principal Conductor, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra

Tyler Readinger

Conductor, Symphony Orchestra

Joseph Vranas

Conductor, Overture Orchestra; Brass, Winds, and Percussion Lead

Tammy S. Yi

Strings Lead Conductor

Flute

Meghan Bennett, New York University, Flute Faculty and Director of Woodwind Studies; The Juilliard School Music Advancement Program, Flute Faculty.

Oboe 

Geoffrey Johnson

Clarinet 

Saerom Kim, Norwalk Symphony Orchestra, Principal Clarinet.

Stephanie Zelnick, University of Kansas, Professor of Clarinet; Vandoren Paris and Buffet Crampon Artist.

Bassoon

Marissa Olegario, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Principal Bassoon; University of Arizona, Associate Professor of Bassoon.

Kai Rocke, Oregon Symphony, Contrabassoon/Bassoon

French Horn 

Elizabeth Linares Montero, Brass Connection, Horn; LA Phil Resident Fellow; YOLA at East Los Angeles, Teaching Artist.

Marie Lickwar, Freelance horn player; Lecturer in Horn, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa; Horn Instructor, Punahou Music School.

Trumpet 

Luis Cardenas Casillas, Dallas Brass; Brass Connection; YOLA at Torres Conductor.

JoAnn Lamolino, Montclair State University, Adjunct Professor of Trumpet; Founder, Mind.Music.Sanctuary.

Trombone 

Jose Leonardo Leon, Florida Atlantic University, Assistant Professor of Trombone and Music Entrepreneurship; Florida Grand Opera, Principal Bass Trombone; Bach Brass, International Artist and Clinician.

Tuba 

Dan Trahey, Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins, Tuba; Tuned In @ The Peabody Institute, Founder and Director; Academy for Impact Through Music, Faculty; El Sistema USA, Director of Youth Ambassadors; Tuba, The Archipelago Project.

Percussion 

Ruben Hernandez, San Diego Youth Symphony, Teaching Artist; OPUS Community Music Project, Teaching Artist.

Megumi Smith, California State University, Dominguez Hills, Music Faculty; Santa Monica College, Percussion Ensemble Director; Dragonfly Percussion, Educational Artist; YOLA at HOLA, Teaching Artist.

Violin 

Mariesther Alvarez, Boston String Academy, Director, Violin Faculty.

Francisco Diaz, Sunstate Orchestral Program-El Sistema, Director.

Mellasenah Edwards, Baltimore School for the Arts, Music Department Head and Violin Instructor; Peabody Preparatory, Violin Faculty.

Benjamin Hoffman, Webern Quartet, First Violinist; Brightfeather Duo, Violinist; Bowling Green State University, Professor of Violin.

Lauren Rausch, San Diego State University Community Music School, Director, Violin Faculty; San Diego Symphony High School Ambassadors, Director.

Viola 

Daniel Jacobs, The Ohio State University; ProMusica Chamber Orchestra’s Play Us Forward (PUF), Lead Teaching Artist.

Robin Fay Massie, Musicians of Mercy (MOM), Executive Director; Viola Clinician/Instructor, Pediatric Nurse, Atlanta, GA.

Cello 

Alan Mautner, Los Angeles County High School for the Arts; YOLA at EAST LA; YOLA Institute.

Terrence Thornhill, Chief Conductor at Paterson Music Project; Chief Conductor at New Jersey Symphony Youth Orchestras; Director of Instrumental Music at Kent Place School; Cellist for Hadestown on Broadway.

Bass 

David Connor, Houston Ballet Orchestra, Assistant Principal Double Bass.