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Amabile School of Music logoAmabile School of Music

Faculty

Meet the teachers behind 18 years of Amabile.

Over 30 instructors across both campuses, hand-picked, performance-tested, and trained at conservatories and universities around the world. Browse the full faculty list below and find the specialties that fit your student best.

Miriam Tayler faculty headshot

Miriam Tayler

Piano Faculty

Piano

Miriam is a classical pianist, teacher, and young composer pursuing her undergraduate degree at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She teaches piano to students from age 4 to adults. Her piano solo “Nostalgy” won the special “Golden Rose” prize, and she has performed Schumann's Papillons, Granados' Allegro de concierto, and works by Skoryk and Kosenko. She encourages students to play repertoire across all genres and makes music theory an essential component of every student's education.

Jason Aaronson faculty headshot

Jason Aaronson

Guitar, Piano, Voice, and Bass Faculty

Guitar, Piano, Voice, Bass

Jason has been teaching Guitar, Piano, Voice and Bass for over 16 years. He holds a MFA in Motion Pictures and Television Producing from Academy of Art University and a BA in Performing Arts and Social Justice from the University of San Francisco. As a lifelong performer he believes strongly in the educational and enriching power of music and in passing on his knowledge and experience with precision, care, and a joyful approach. He has played in numerous bands and pit orchestras throughout the state of California, and has performed as an actor on both stage and screen.

Audrey Wu faculty headshot

Audrey Wu

Cello and Piano Faculty

Cello, Piano

Audrey began studying piano and cello at age 5. She has performed in concerts and competitions around the world — Taipei, New York, Beijing, Hong Kong, Osaka, Vienna, and Frankfurt — and is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Arts at UC Berkeley. She understands the challenges of performing in front of an audience and aims to help her students build both confidence and artistry.

Amy Aguirre faculty headshot

Amy Aguirre

Piano, Voice & Violin Faculty

Piano, Voice & Violin

Amy Aguirre received her Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of California, Davis, with a minor in Education. She studied piano for three years under Dr. Dale Tsang at Laney College and continued her piano studies with I-Hui Chen at UC Davis, where she also trained in harpsichord with Dr. Faythe Vollrath and choral performance under Dr. Erick Peregrine. Amy studied voice with Lori Willis for two years and has taught piano for over three years and voice for two years, working with students from young children to adults. She also has experience directing middle school choir, focusing on helping beginners build confidence and joy in music-making. Currently pursuing a Master of Science in Library and Information Science, Amy is passionate about combining her love of music and research with the goal of working in an academic music library. As an ethnomusicologist, her teaching philosophy centers on cultural sensitivity and inclusivity, creating a welcoming environment where students feel encouraged to explore diverse musical styles and traditions.

Albert Vargas faculty headshot

Albert Vargas

Piano Faculty

Piano

Mr. Vargas has been playing piano since age 7. He's currently pursuing a bachelor's in Mathematics Education with a minor in Music, and has been teaching and tutoring across San Joaquin, Alameda, and Contra Costa County for 9 years. His true passion is piano, plus helping students with Math, English, and Music.

Barbara Schaefer faculty headshot

Barbara Schaefer

Violin & Viola Faculty

Violin & Viola

Barbara began Suzuki violin at age 5. A native Texan, she holds a Bachelor of Music from Indiana University and a Master of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She performs actively with many Bay Area ensembles and is a member of the Fresno Philharmonic and the Santa Rosa Symphony. Her teaching combines pedagogy from the Indiana University String Academy, the Paul Rolland method, the Orff Approach, Alexander technique, and Suzuki training.

Eli Eckert faculty headshot

Eli Eckert

Guitar & Ukulele and Piano Faculty

Guitar & Ukulele, Piano

Eli has been teaching guitar, drum, and piano lessons in the Bay Area for the past 14 years. He fosters joy for playing music that students will carry with them for life, and creates an enjoyable, encouraging, appropriately challenging atmosphere. He's also a songwriter and instrumentalist who has co-founded several bands, recorded multiple albums, and toured throughout the U.S. and Europe.

Elias Lozano faculty headshot

Elias Lozano

Guitar & Ukulele, Piano, and Drum Faculty

Guitar & Ukulele, Piano, Drum

Elias is a seasoned music educator with years of teaching experience, with a background in guitar, bass, and piano and four years of live performance experience in venues across the Bay Area. He's served as a performance program music director, honing his ability to inspire and develop budding musicians. His teaching is rooted in real-world experience: technique plus performing with confidence and passion.

Ethan Lin faculty headshot

Ethan Lin

Piano Faculty

Piano

Dr. Ethan Lin earned his Master of Music in Percussion Studies from NYU and a Professional Studies Diploma from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied with the SF Symphony's principal percussion Jack Van Geem. He earned his DMA in Percussion Performance at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Recently he was invited to perform Steve Reich's Six Marimbas with members of the San Francisco Symphony at Davies Symphony Hall. His teaching philosophy: make music enjoyable at all times, and help students feel the joy and peace music brings.

Fiona Cheng faculty headshot

Fiona Cheng

Piano Faculty

Piano

Originally from Hong Kong, Fiona is a pianist and a singer. She started piano at 12 and completed her ABRSM grade 8 exam. She holds a Bachelor of Music from San Francisco State University and a Master of Music Education from Holy Names University. Fiona sings in the San Francisco Choral Society and the San Francisco City Chorus. Her teaching focuses on music theory, piano technique, and musical expression.

Hilary Thompson faculty headshot

Hilary Thompson

Piano and French Horn Faculty

Piano, French Horn

Hilary holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from UC Santa Cruz with an emphasis on piano and performance. She has taught piano privately and at the San Francisco Community Music Center for over 24 years, and was a church music director in Point Richmond. In 2007 she picked up French horn and now plays in the Community Women's Orchestra and several concert bands. She offers an individualized approach tailored to each student's learning style and loves fostering enjoyment of music-making by encouraging students to help select repertoire.

Jeremy Wheat faculty headshot

Jeremy Wheat

Guitar, Piano, Voice, Songwriting & Bass Guitar Faculty

Guitar, Piano, Voice, Songwriting, Bass Guitar

A San Francisco native and second-generation music teacher, Jeremy Wheat has been motivating students from kindergarteners to adults on guitar, bass, voice, keyboards, ukulele, music theory, and songwriting for nearly twenty years. He has studied Rock and New Orleans music with Jimi Finley, Jazz with his late father David “Buck” Wheat (Chet Baker, the Kingston Trio) and the great guitarist Jimmy Wyble, Ska/Reggae with Joey Altruda (Jump With Joey, Ernest Ranglin, Seu Jorge) and anything else to Country with cult hero Bay Area guitarist Jim Campilongo (Norah Jones, Martha Wainwright). His patience and kindness are legendary, and his thoughtful notes on musicality and technique accelerate the progress of any student. Beginners and long-time players have all made breakthroughs under Jeremy’s tutelage, and we hope you are next to level up!

Matthew Gaspar faculty headshot

Matthew Gaspar

Piano Faculty

Piano

Matthew started piano at age 5. After graduating from UC San Diego with a degree in General Biology, he discovered his joy in piano teaching and has pursued it for 14 years. He guides students ages 5 and above to discover the fun of playing the piano by focusing on a solid foundation of note reading, rhythm, and finger and hand positions, and constantly building students' confidence.

Megan O'Brien faculty headshot

Megan O'Brien

Voice Faculty

Voice

Megan is a classically-trained soprano with experience leading song in churches across the United States and at European festivals. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance from the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at Catholic University of America and continued her studies in New York with the Amalfi Coast Music Festival. She has been a member of the St. Patrick's Cathedral choir in New York, the Baltimore Symphony choir, and recently led the men's Catholic choir at San Quentin Prison.

Mikaela Telesforo faculty headshot

Mikaela Telesforo

Violin Instructor

Violin

Mikaela has performed as a soloist with the New Century Chamber Orchestra in the premiere of Ta If by internationally acclaimed composer Ishmael Wadada Smith at the 20th Century Composers Festival, as well as with the New Millennium Chamber Orchestra and Lincoln Chamber Orchestra. She has collaborated with renowned artists including Christian McBride, Patti Austin, Quincy Jones, Peter Erskine, John Clayton, Billy Childs, Dave Grusin, and Grammy-winning composer Patrick Williams. Her international performances include prestigious venues in Spain, Japan, Taiwan, and the United States, such as Okayama Symphony Hall, the Alcázar in Madrid, Stanford University, and UCLA’s Henry Mancini Concert Series. Mikaela began studying violin at age four, earned her undergraduate degree from California Institute of the Arts, and attended the Henry Mancini Institute on a full scholarship. She has taught violin throughout Northern and Southern California, inspiring young musicians to develop their individual voices, creativity, and love of music.

Monica Chan faculty headshot

Monica Chan

Piano and Voice Faculty

Piano, Voice

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Monica is an experienced music educator with a Bachelor's in Music Education from The Education University of Hong Kong, ABRSM grade 8 piano, ABRSM grade 5 vocal singing, and 13 years teaching in public elementary and middle school. She has coached students for ABRSM piano examinations to excellent results and led public performances. Fluent in multiple languages.

Raul Quines faculty headshot

Raul Quines

Guitar, Piano, Voice & Bass Guitar Faculty

Guitar, Piano, Voice, Bass Guitar

Raul Quines is a composer and singer-songwriter whose primary instruments are piano, guitar, and voice. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano and trained in Composition at the Manhattan School of Music, plus a Master of Art in Ethnomusicology from Hunter College. He taught Composition, Music Theory, and Ear-training at the Manhattan School of Music Preparatory Division. His released works include Music for Lamentation, There's A Bridge, Lilac Wine, Mesmerized, and his debut EP Moons and Arches. Each music student has a unique voice, he says.

Renata Norcia faculty headshot

Renata Norcia

Violin & Viola and Piano Faculty

Violin & Viola, Piano

A Berkeley native, Renata studied with Rafael Bronstein, a student of Leopold Auer, at the Manhattan School of Music. She freelanced and played on Broadway with tours in Florida, Virginia, and Connecticut, then moved to Amsterdam and toured the world for three years with the Heidelberger and Köln chamber orchestras. She freelanced across Holland, Sweden, and Norway, and taught violin, viola, and piano at Vestby and Hobøl Cultural schools for 21 years before returning to the Bay Area.

Rupali Sharma faculty headshot

Rupali Sharma

Piano & Voice Faculty

Piano, Voice

Rupali is a versatile pianist and instructor with over a decade of experience teaching pop, rock, and classical to students ages 4 to adult, including students with dyslexia, chronic illness, and autism. Many of her students have stayed with her for years. Her teaching covers ear training, music theory, sight-reading, and solid technique. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music from San Francisco State University.

Sarah Jaegers faculty headshot

Sarah Jaegers

Online Piano, Clarinet & Saxophone Faculty

Online lessons only: Piano, Clarinet & Saxophone

Originally from Holland, Michigan, Dr. Sarah Korneisel Jaegers teaches piano, clarinet, and saxophone at Amabile. She earned her DMA from The Ohio State University, MM from Michigan State University, and BM and BA in Spanish from Iowa State. Her dissertation focused on Turkish classical clarinet repertoire. She believes each student has a unique voice and creates a fun, welcoming studio that engages students and inspires joy and creativity.

Taylor Compton-Phelps faculty headshot

Taylor Compton-Phelps

Guitar, Ukulele, Drum & Piano Faculty

Guitar, Ukulele, Drum, Piano

Taylor is a versatile guitarist and dedicated music educator with over eight years of teaching experience. Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, he holds a Bachelor of Music in Studio Music and Jazz from the University of Tennessee. He's taught students of all ages and skill levels across guitar, piano, bass, drums, and ukulele, from jazz combos to rock bands. His teaching philosophy emphasizes patience, curiosity, and joy.

Tracina Bertolami faculty headshot

Tracina Bertolami

Piano Faculty

Piano

Tracina is a graduate of Saint Mary's College of California, where she earned her B.A. in Psychology. Based in the Bay Area and raised in the Lamorinda area, Tracina has developed a strong passion for both music and personal growth throughout her life. She plays piano and sings, having started music lessons at a young age. She performed in several advanced choirs through her sophomore year of college and continued expanding her musical education by attending two music camps at Berklee College of Music in 2018, focusing on piano and songwriting. In addition to her musical background, Tracina enjoys songwriting, music production, traveling, and martial arts. She has trained in Kung Fu for 11 years and has extensive experience working with children. Known for being gentle, kind, honest, and patient, she enjoys encouraging others to work hard and reach their full potential. Bringing positivity to others and seeing them succeed are among the things she finds most rewarding.

Zachary Uzin faculty headshot

Zachary Uzin

Violin, Viola & Guitar Faculty

Violin, Viola, Guitar

Mr. Uzin started violin at age 5. He graduated from Sokolovky's Musical College in Gomel, Belarus in 1977 and taught violin at Gomel's Tchaikovsky Music School from 1975 to 1983, where his students placed in many competitions and festivals. He worked as concertmaster of violins at the Gomel Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. After moving to the United States in 1989, he has continued to teach violin and also performs as a guitarist with The Best Russian Music Band and The Caesar's Empire Jazz-Rock Band.

Samuel Mason faculty headshot

Samuel Mason

Piano Faculty

Piano

Sam is an educator, pianist, and composer based in San Francisco. He teaches with the San Francisco Symphony’s Music and Mentors program, serving students in the San Francisco Unified School District. A recent graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Sam has performed original music in venues including Feinstein’s/54 Below in Manhattan and for Young Adults Institute (YAI): Seeing Beyond Disability. As a composer, his recent honors include runner-up in SFCM’s Kristin Pankonin Art Song Award and second prize in Sparks & Wiry Cries’ 8th Annual SongSLAM in Minneapolis. Sam’s teaching is individualized, student-centered, and play-oriented. He encourages students to develop their ears alongside their reading skills through listening, improvisation, and playing by ear, with a strong emphasis on rhythmic confidence and fluency. He aims to meet students at their individual level and interests while helping them develop the skills to become confident, independent musicians.

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Teresa Yu, Founder & Director

Founder & Director

Teresa Yu

Teresa Yu is the Founder & Director of Amabile School of Music in San Francisco & Moraga, California. She enjoys her life-long career as a musician, an educator, an entrepreneur, and a mother of two beautiful children. Ms. Yu started playing the piano when she was 5 years old and never stopped.

She had gone through rigorous musical training and programs in Taiwan, Japan, and throughout the US where she has won several competitions including first prize at the New England Piano Teachers Association, the San Francisco Young Pianists Competition, and the Berkeley Piano Club Competition, and the first prize in Mu Phi Epsilon Competition.

Ms. Yu has performed the Bach Double Piano Concerto in Jordan Hall at the New England Conservatory of Music and Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 at the Colorado College Summer Music Festival. As the winner of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s Concerto Competition, she performed Saint-saëns Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Conservatory Orchestra. She was invited to perform the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 with Symphony of the Redwoods and the Liszt Piano Concerto No. 1 with Redwood Symphony.

She performed in many masterclasses that were conducted by world-famous artists such as Mstislav Rostropovich, Leon Fleisher, Richard Goode, Stephan Hough, Murray Perahia, and more. She was invited to perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. as a part of the Conservatory Project. She also participated in Music@Menlo International Music Festival as a chamber music institute coach and the judge of the Chopin Competition in San Francisco and the Hawai'i State Music Competition.

Between 2010 to 2012, Ms. Yu toured Europe and America with her piano trio, The Aleron Trio, and gave numerous outstanding performances to people from all over the world. Previous teaching experiences include Notre Dome de Victoires, West Portal Lutheran, Old Mill School, and the Nueva School.

Ms. Yu has earned her Master’s Degree in Piano Performance and the prestigious Artist Certificate in Chamber Music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where she studied with Professor Paul Hersh.