BEST MUSIC EDUCATION IN HOUSTON – LEARN FROM TOP INSTRUCTORS

Adriano Santos is at the epicenter of Houston’s contemporary drummers. A native of São Paulo Brazil, he moved to Boston in 1988 and earned a degree in Film Scoring at Berklee College of Music. In 1995 he relocated to New York City to study at City College of New York and has never turned back. As a professional he has performed with top international artists such as Gato Barbieri, David Binney, Bill Charlap, John Pizzarelli, Slide Hampton, Harry Allen, Steve Wilson, Brian Lynch, Astrud Gilberto, Bebel Gilberto, Vinicius Cantuária, Gal Costa, Leny Andrade, Maucha Adnet, Filó Machado, Romero Lubambo, Paulo Moura, Eumir Deodato, Claudio Roditi, Jovino Santos Neto and Antônio Adolfo to name a few.

Adriano’s playing style is typified by a natural clarity, swing and deep-seated groove in the tradition of Airto Moreira and Milton Banana. In addition to his extensive experience as a performer he has also shared his knowledge about Brazilian music teaching at Columbia University, New York University and for the past twenty one years at the renowned Drummers Collective School of Music in NYC. Founder of the Brazilian Drum Lab an online platform dedicated to Brazilian drumming. His 2010 debut album “IN SESSION”, his first as a band leader, has received outstanding reviews by the press and a nomination in three different categories for the Latin Jazz Corner Best of 2010 Awards; Best Brazilian Jazz Album, Next Generation Artist and Best Drum Kit Player. Adriano is an artist endorsed by Vic Firth sticks, Canopus drums, Remo drum heads and Istanbul Agop cymbals.

Bill Allison is a professional musician and instructor who has been performing and teaching since 1986. A graduate of the University of North Texas, he began his teaching career at Houston’s House of Guitars, where he taught for many years before joining Memorial Music in 2005.

In addition to teaching, Bill has collaborated with numerous professional musicians and bands, appearing as a guest artist and contributing to filmed performances. He is a featured guitarist and co writer on several tracks from the Sonny Boy Terry album Breakfast Dance and appears in the book Texas Blues by Alan Govenar. Bill has also performed on the soundtrack for the film Double Bayou, directed by Heather Kolb.

Bill is fluent in a wide range of musical styles including rock, blues, slide guitar, country, bluegrass, gospel, contemporary praise and worship, acoustic fingerstyle, classical, and flamenco. His teaching emphasizes strong musical foundations including technique, theory, reading, ear training, and performance skills, helping students build both confidence and musicianship.

Bill is an accomplished guitarist and educator with more than 30 years of teaching experience. His musical background spans a wide range of styles including classical guitar, jazz, fusion, blues, funk, and Brazilian music. He is particularly known for his work accompanying jazz vocalists across the country, including frequent collaborations with his wife, jazz singer Kim Prevost.

Throughout his career, Bill has performed at clubs and festivals around the world and has worked with many respected musicians including Arturo Sandoval, Terri Lynn Carrington, Bobby McFerrin, Bill Summers of the Headhunters, Amina Figarova, Dave Valentine, Stanley Jordan, Will Kennedy of the Yellow Jackets, and Allen Toussaint. His accomplishments include winning the Louis Panzera Scholarship in 1977, the Louisiana Composers Competition in 1994, and the B.E.T. Jazz Discovery Award in 1999. He was also featured in Fingerstyle Magazine and served as guitar instructor to actor Terrence Howard during the production of the film Ray.

Ellen Johnston is a Texas born violinist, performer, and music educator with a background in classical performance and chamber music. She began studying piano at the age of six and violin at the age of nine, developing a lifelong passion for music and performance.

Ellen studied violin performance at Loyola University New Orleans on a music scholarship, where she trained with Nadja Salerno-Sonnenburg and Amy Thiaville. She concentrated her studies in chamber music, solo performance, and piano, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2019 with a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance. During her studies she performed with ensembles including the Romero Quartet, the Loyola Strings Orchestra, and the Chamber Orchestra of Music in the Mountains.

As an educator, Ellen has taught students of all ages and believes music plays an important role in a well rounded education. While living in New Orleans, she worked with the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra and maintained a private teaching studio. She now lives in Houston, where she continues to teach and perform.

Ernesto Vega is a Cuban born musician, composer, and woodwind specialist who graduated from the Higher Institute of Art in Havana, Cuba with a Bachelor of Music degree in 2005. He also studied at the Music Conservatory “Jose M. Ochoa” in Holguin, Cuba. Known for his versatility across multiple instruments, Ernesto performs on clarinet, flute, saxophone, and piano while composing a wide range of original music.

Throughout his career, Ernesto has performed with renowned jazz musician Chucho Valdez and has collaborated with Joe Sample. His album Venir al Mundo highlights his abilities as both a performer and composer, showcasing his expressive style across several woodwind instruments. Ernesto founded the Ernesto Vega Quintet in 2011 and has performed at major festivals and events around the world, including the Trinity Jazz Festival in Houston, Jazz in Marciac in France, the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, and the Lausanne Jazz Festival in Switzerland.

Now based in Houston, Ernesto continues to write, record, and perform internationally. He also teaches piano, saxophone, and clarinet, offering instruction for students beginning at age five through adult musicians of all experience levels.

Gabe Bravo is a multi instrumentalist and performer with deep roots in Houston’s underground music scene. His musical journey began with singing in his church and a local boys choir, experiences that helped shape his early development as a musician.

Over the years, Gabe expanded his skills to include a wide range of instruments including guitar, drums, bass guitar, mandolin, ukulele, and various brass instruments. His work as both a solo performer and band member has earned him recognition in the local music community, including nine Houston Press Music Award nominations. In 2012 he won the Houston Press Music Award for Best Rock with his band and was also recognized individually as Best Drummer in both 2012 and 2013.

Irena Mitova began studying piano at the age of five in her native country of Bulgaria. In 2001 she was accepted to the Leipzig Conservatory in Germany, where she studied Music Theory and Piano for six years. She later continued her musical studies in the United States and earned a degree in Composition from the University of Houston in 2018, studying under Dr. David Ashley White, Rob Smith, and Marcus Maroney.

During her time at the University of Houston, Irena composed works for various ensembles, prepared recitals, and participated in numerous competitions. In 2017 she won second place in the Sarofim Composition Contest with one of her string quartets. While studying at the Moores School of Music, she also worked with several distinguished piano professors in their studios.

With more than ten years of teaching experience, Irena teaches piano technique, classical repertoire, composition, and music theory. She is dedicated to helping students develop strong performance skills while also building an appreciation for music history, form, and classical piano literature. Irena enjoys working with students of all ages and backgrounds and encourages a well rounded and thoughtful approach to learning the piano.

Israel Sanchez is a saxophonist and dedicated music educator originally from Monterrey, Mexico. He studied at the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, where he developed his musical foundation and passion for the saxophone.

Since 2008, Israel has been teaching students of all ages, from young beginners to adult learners. Drawing on more than 15 years of performing and teaching experience, as well as collaborations with respected artists in Mexico, he brings a thoughtful and encouraging approach to helping students grow as musicians.

J. Felix Melo is a professional pianist, musical director, composer, producer, and arranger from Havana, Cuba. As a pianist, he has performed with famous orchestras on various stages in countries such as Cuba, Portugal, Mexico, Kazakhstan, and the United States.

He began his piano studies at the age of 6 at the A. G. Caturla conservatory. He continued to study Piano and Music Theory at the National School of Music (ENA), and later, at the University of the Arts (ISA), he studied music composition with the distinguished Cuban composer Juan Piñera.

J. Felix Melo has been teaching piano, solfège, and harmony since 2005, and since 2016, he teaches orchestration, composition, and modern piano lessons. He also created a course called “Multitask Keyboard Performance” for students interested in production, composition, and live performance of different instruments, genres, and styles through a synthesizer.

He specializes in Jazz and Latin music performance. Within music production and composition, he has composed music for different musical pieces ranging from symphonic and chamber music to music for shows, short films, and musical theater plays, as well as his own and commissioned songs of different genres.

He values understanding the dreams and aspirations of his students to learn together and guide them toward the realization of their goals. Additionally, his teaching style is highly adaptable to the needs of each student, with a focus on making classes more fun, particularly for young children, to ensure their introduction to the piano and music is an engaging experience of both knowledge and enjoyment.

James is a multi-instrumentalist who performs on both piano and guitar. He regularly presents classical guitar programs at various venues and is also active in the rock and blues scene with his band, Kindred Spirits, which performs original music on both acoustic and electric guitar. The band recently released a new CD and continues to perform throughout the area.

In addition to his work as a performer, James has released several CDs and continues to write, record, and work in the studio on new music. As an instructor, he teaches guitar to students of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to advanced players. His lessons cover a variety of styles including rock, blues, jazz, classical, country, gospel, contemporary Christian, and fingerstyle acoustic guitar. His teaching approach includes technique, music theory, reading, composition, and performance skills, helping students develop strong musicianship and confidence.

Jordan Hudson has been teaching guitar at Memorial Music since 2002. He studied music theory at the University of North Texas and has been playing guitar for more than 20 years. Along with his teaching career, Jordan has been active in the local music scene, performing with several bands over the years.

He is a member of the rock and blues band Buffalo Bayou, which released an album of original music in 2010 featuring songs he composed and collaborated on. Jordan is proficient in a wide range of styles including rock, blues, pop, jazz, country, folk, fingerstyle, and contemporary praise and worship. As a teacher, he focuses on helping students develop their individual musical goals, whether that includes learning songs, improving technique, understanding music theory, composing, reading music, or preparing for performance.

Julian Marquez is a mathematics instructor and tutor who has been helping students build confidence and understanding in math since his undergraduate years. He began tutoring during his sophomore year of college and has continued teaching ever since, working with students from 1st grade through 12th grade as well as college level learners.

Julian has also served as an instructor at Sam Houston State University. While he enjoys teaching a wide range of subjects and grade levels, his favorite courses are Calculus I and Calculus II. Outside of teaching, Julian enjoys cooking new recipes, watching anime, and training for kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitions.

Karenia Garrido is a professional clarinetist and bass clarinetist with extensive orchestral experience in both Cuba and the United States. She is an honor graduate of the Higher Institute of Arts in Havana, Cuba. Early in her career she joined the Holguin Symphony Orchestra, where she was appointed Principal Clarinet in 2004 and performed as a featured soloist during the 2005–2006 seasons, presenting Carl María von Weber’s Clarinet Concertos No. 1 and No. 2.

From 2010 to 2012, Karenia performed with the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba, participating in major international events including the World Symphony Festival in Moscow and the International Ballet Festival of Havana. During this period she also took part in the orchestra’s first United States tour, performing more than 22 concerts at universities and major venues including the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, Symphony Hall in Allentown, Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Lehman Center for the Performing Arts in the Bronx, and the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg.

After moving to Houston, she performed with the Houston Latin-American Philharmonic from 2013 to 2017 and is currently a member of the Houston Repertoire Ballet Orchestra. Her international performance experience informs her teaching and allows her to bring a deep understanding of orchestral performance and musicianship to her students.

Lendys Diaz is a music educator who began her musical studies at the age of seven in vocational schools of the arts in Cuba. She studied for 15 years in the areas of piano, voice, and music theory before earning both a degree in Music Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Musicology from the University of the Arts in Cuba.

Her passion for teaching began early when she started helping neighborhood children learn music, which eventually led to her becoming a professor of piano and music theory at the Nola Saigh Sainz School of Music in Ciego de Ávila, Cuba. Since 2010, Lendys has been teaching music lessons and has worked with students in both Cuba and the United States.

In Houston, she teaches piano, voice, and music theory to children, teenagers, and adults in both public and private settings. Her teaching approach focuses on making lessons engaging and personalized by adapting instruction to each student’s interests, skill level, personality, and learning style. Lendys is fluent in both English and Spanish and enjoys helping students of all backgrounds explore and grow through music.

Onis Yissel Ruiz Hernandez is a singer, pianist, and music educator with an extensive background in both performance and music scholarship. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Musicology with honors from the University of the Arts (ISA) in Havana, Cuba. Since 2009, she has worked as a professional music teacher, teaching subjects such as Musical Analysis, Harmony, and Music Theory at the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory of Music in Havana, as well as teaching at the University of the Arts while pursuing graduate studies. She has also taught music in schools across Cuba, Mexico, and the United States.

Onis began studying music at the age of seven and has performed a wide range of international musical styles including salsa, cumbia, merengue, Cuban son, chachacha, bachata, bolero, jazz, bossa nova, samba, reggae, pop, country, blues, and more. Her musical influences include renowned artists such as Elena Burke, Elis Regina, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Freddie Mercury, Diana Krall, Christina Aguilera, and Beyoncé. As a teacher, she emphasizes personalized instruction that reflects the interests and goals of each student. Her approach encourages students to develop their unique voice and musical identity, helping them grow as confident performers both on stage and in their personal musical journeys.

Sonny Boy Terry is a blues harmonica performer and educator who has spent more than four decades performing, recording, and teaching. Over the course of his career he has toured and recorded with Houston blues legends including Johnny Clyde Copeland, Grady Gaines, Joe Guitar Hughes, and Calvin Owens. His work as a session musician has appeared on more than 27 albums, and he has also released two well received CDs on Doc Blues Records that introduced him to international blues audiences as a frontman. Terry is also featured in the 2007 book Texas Blues: The Rise of a Contemporary Sound by Alan Govenar.

In addition to performing, Terry has dedicated much of his career to music education. Since 1984 he has taught private harmonica lessons and has worked with colleges, public and private schools, community organizations, and corporate retreats throughout the Houston area. As founder and former president of the Houston Blues Society, he helped develop the Blues ‘N’ Kids Blues in Schools education program, bringing blues music and harmonica instruction to community centers, schools, and cultural institutions such as Project Row Houses, the Eldorado Ballroom, and the Shape Community Center. During his final year as president, the Houston Blues Society received the Blues Foundation’s Keepin’ the Blues Alive Award for the world’s best blues organization.

Terry enjoys teaching students of all backgrounds, from beginners to experienced performers. His lessons cover a wide range of musical styles including blues, folk, soul, country, gospel, and classic rock, helping students build confidence and add new musical expression to their playing.

Steffany Johnston is a vocal coach and piano instructor, as well as a graduate of the University of Houston and a signed performing artist. Proficient in many styles of music, she brings a wide range of musical experience to her teaching and performing. Steffany has spent 25 years working as a choral conductor at the high school, middle school, elementary, and junior college levels, where she has participated in and overseen UIL and Solo and Ensemble contests while directing and preparing students for musical theater auditions and performances.

In addition to her work as an educator, Steffany is an active performer. She is a Houston jazz vocalist and the international lead singer for the symphonic metal rock band Masqued. As a songwriter and composer, she enjoys sharing the full spectrum of music with her students, from classical traditions to contemporary styles. Her teaching focuses on helping students learn to read music, perform confidently, understand theory, and when interested, develop their own songwriting and composition skills while encouraging them to become the best musicians they can be.

Violinist Thien-Truc Nguyen is recognized as both a dynamic performer and a passionate teacher. She earned her Master of Music degree in Violin Performance from the University of Houston under the guidance of Kirsten Yon. She also holds a Bachelor of Music and a Certificate in Music Performance from the University of South Florida, as well as a Violin Performance degree from the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music.

As a performer, Thien-Truc has appeared internationally in Italy, Korea, Vietnam, and throughout the United States, presenting solo recitals and chamber music concerts. She represented Vietnam as a solo performer at the 14th International Youth Fellowship World Culture Camp in Korea. In 2016, she served as first violinist for the string quartet featured on the recording “Light of the Midnight Sun” by the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay. She has also collaborated with composers to record music for film soundtracks produced in both Vietnam and the United States.

An active orchestral musician, Thien-Truc has performed with numerous orchestras including the Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera, Ocala Symphony Orchestra, Imperial Symphony Orchestra, South Shore Symphony Orchestra, and Brazosport Symphony Orchestra. While at the University of Houston, she served as concertmaster of the Moores Opera Orchestra and principal second violin of the Moores Symphony Orchestra.

Thien-Truc maintains an active teaching studio working with violin and piano students of all ages and skill levels. Her teaching focuses on developing strong musical foundations while nurturing confidence, concentration, patience, and dedication. Through individualized instruction, she prepares students for recitals, orchestral seating auditions, and competitions, while encouraging expressive and joyful music making.

Zane Armstrong began playing music at the age of 10 in his school band program, starting on the trombone before expanding to other instruments. His early interest in jazz band and keyboards soon led him to begin writing music and performing with friends outside of school.

Zane later studied music at Sam Houston State University and returned to Houston to continue performing and sharing his musical knowledge with students. His musical interests span a variety of styles including pop, rock, jazz, and hip hop. Zane currently performs on synth and keyboards with the band Mantra Love.

As an instructor, Zane enjoys working with students of all ages and experience levels, from young beginners to adult learners. He teaches piano, guitar, and several band instruments including trumpet, trombone, baritone, and euphonium, and is comfortable teaching music ranging from classical repertoire to modern popular styles.