Maria Manetti Shrem Mentors

Erin Alcorn (she/her) is an opera singer, vocal pedagogue, and arts administrator with over 14 years of professional performance and teaching experience. She joined ArtSmart as a vocal mentor in 2018 in inner-city Philadelphia and currently serves as both a virtual mentor to students in remote areas of the Adirondacks and as Manager of Individual Giving and Communications. 

Erin is passionate about vocal pedagogy and providing access to high-quality, student-centered, and gender-affirming vocal instruction. She currently provides vocal instruction to undergraduate students at Cleveland State University. Previously, Erin served as a private-lessons program provider for Philadelphia Futures and Ellis Trust for Girls and as an instructor to undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) as a graduate assistant on full scholarship. 

As a singer, Erin has completed young artist residencies with Music Academy of the West, The Song Continues at Carnegie Hall, and The Dallas Opera. She has performed as a soloist and ensemble member with Queen City Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Tri-Cities Opera, and the Dallas Opera. Erin holds degrees in vocal performance and opera from the Oberlin Conservatory and University of North Texas College of Music. She is a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate, having completed all coursework except her dissertation, at University of Cincinnati CCM. Erin currently resides in Columbus, OH with her husband, three cats—Ellafitz, Willow, and Ash—and many houseplants.

Administratively, Erin has worked in communications and fundraising for Tri-Cities Opera, the Philly POPS Orchestra, Jazz Attack: Philly’s Home for Lindy Hop, and as a board member for Voces Intimae: The Art of Song. 

Mentoring Philosophy:
A good mentor supports, guides, embraces, celebrates, and uplifts the mentee in a way that serves the mentee’s uniquely lived experience and personal goals. A good mentor asks more questions than gives answers, offers perspective, and opens doors, helping the mentee to adopt a growth mindset. They help the student realize and embrace themselves. They see the mentee as an equal, not to be created but to be freed.

“What the educator does in teaching is to make it possible for the students to become themselves.”
— We Make the Road by Walking by Myles Horton & Paulo Freire

“And the thing to do, it seems to me, is to prepare yourself so that you can be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.”
— Maya Angelou

Jade Blocker (she/her) is from Great Neck, NY. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in Voice from Westminster Choir College. Jade began teaching for ArtSmart in 2023. She is a professional ensemble member of the Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble and the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir, with whom she has regularly sung with the Philadelphia Orchestra and was featured in the Netflix film Maestro. Jade enjoys practicing yoga, meditation, and writing poetry.

Mentoring Philosophy

A good mentor is patient, adaptable, receptive, and kind hearted.

“All dreams are within reach, you just have to keep moving toward them.” – Viola Davis

Matthew Brennan (he/him) has been a proud ArtSmart mentor in his hometown of Chicago since the 2019-2020 school year. He holds a Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree from Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music. He works regularly as a soloist and ensemble singer in and around Chicago with ensembles including Chicago a cappella, Music of the Baroque, the Chicago Symphony Chorus, and Constellation Men’s Ensemble. His teaching is infused with the belief that growing as a musician means growing one’s sense of empathy, which serves us as performers and, more broadly, as humans.

Mentoring Philosophy
A good mentor creates a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment that lets a young singer blossom into their most authentic, expressive self. At the same time, a good mentor helps students set personal goals for growth and holds those students accountable to themselves.

“Practice makes permanent.”

Helena Fatima Colindres (they/them), who likes to go by “Mixti,” is a two-spirit, non-binary, versatile vocalist, educator, and activist of Nahua ancestry. As a rising opera vocalist, they have performed roles such as Thérèse in Poulenc’s Les Mamelles de Tirésias, die Königin in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, and Winnie in Beecher’s Sky on Swings with Opera Saratoga. Mixti graduated with a Master of Music in Voice and Pedagogy in May 2022 from the Peabody Conservatory. They also hold a Bachelor of Music in Voice and a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative American Studies with an emphasis on Identity and Diversity from Oberlin College and Conservatory. Additionally, they have an Associate of Arts in Latin American and Latinx Studies and an Associate of Science in Behavioral Sciences from City College of San Francisco. With over a decade of teaching experience, they are thrilled to begin their first year as a mentor with ArtSmart. Born and raised on Yelamu Ohlone land, Mixti is passionate about building community through their art, teaching, and daily organizing.

Mentoring Philosophy

A good mentor is someone who inspires and leads by listening and understanding what the mentee’s interests, goals, and needs are. They create an environment where questions and feedback are encouraged, mistakes are welcomed, and advice is gently offered. A good mentor is committed to ensuring their mentee feels valued, understood, accommodated, and above all else, celebrated!

“When you get these jobs that you have been so brilliantly trained for, just remember that your real job is that if you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else. This is not just a grab-bag candy game.” – Toni Morrison

Lisa Gwyn Daltirus (she/her) has served ArtSmart since the 2019-2020 program year, providing one-on-one multi-genre vocal instruction. As an alumnus of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, where she majored in Voice and Opera Performance, Lisa has over 25 years of professional experience singing internationally with companies and orchestras, including Opera Philadelphia, the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Danish Opera in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Cape Town Opera in South Africa. She has also performed with the New York, Philadelphia, and Boston symphony orchestras, as well as the Radio Philharmonic of Amsterdam.

Lisa wholeheartedly believes that equipping young people with the skills, creativity, and cultural legacies that music imparts is vital for building a strong, stable world. Furthermore, teaching life skills and exploring the wide range of career opportunities that intersect with the music industry can broaden their horizons. As a naturally social person, Lisa thrives in activities that involve collaboration and sharing with diverse groups of people.

Mentorship Philosophy

An impactful mentoring relationship is characterized by a safe, encouraging, and positive environment where students feel free to develop and express themselves. It involves meeting students where they are and not imposing repertoire that does not resonate with them. As a mentor, my goal is to inspire and support students in a way that aligns with their needs, providing guidance and encouragement that helps them grow in their own unique direction.

“I come as one, but I stand as 10,000.” – Maya Angelou

Ryan Daly (they/him) has been an ArtSmart Mentor since 2022. Based in Chicago, they are an active performer and educator both in the Chicago area and across the country. Heard with companies like the Opera Festival of Chicago, Opera Omaha, and Shreveport Opera, some of Ryan’s favorite roles include Don José in Carmen, Tito in La Clemenza di Tito, and Tamino in Die Zauberflöte. Ryan holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Abilene Christian University and a Master of Music degree in Opera from Temple University. As a teacher, Ryan has had students accepted into conservatory-level programs for musical theater and voice, including Roosevelt University, Columbia College, and Temple University. Professionally, former students of Ryan’s have performed with regional companies like the Hershey Theater and the Maples Repertory Theater. When they’re not teaching, Ryan enjoys tending to their many houseplants.

Mentoring Philosophy
I believe the most important trait in a mentor is the ability to listen with empathy. Singing is a beautiful way to express and access emotions, and creating a safe space to experience that is incredibly important to me.

“Failure is an opportunity to learn, not something to fear.”

A native of West Chester, PA, Paul Giess (he/him) is a versatile trumpet player, producer, and educator. Since receiving a Bachelor in Music Industry degree from James Madison University and a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies from Louisiana State University, Paul has garnered extensive teaching experience while living in Philadelphia since 2013. As a performing artist Paul can be seen performing as a leader and a side musician with artists including Yolanda Wisher and the Afroeaters, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, and Kimpedro’s Nu Gruv. Paul has performed at festivals including the Lancaster Avenue Jazz Festival, New York City Jazz Festival, and the the Timitar Festival in Agadir, Morocco. Paul brings his performance experience into his lessons with Artsmart students encouraging them to search for their individuality through music.

Mentoring Philosophy 

Encouraging students and building their confidence and setting a good example they can look toward.

“What we play is life.” – Louis Armstrong

Sergio Gonzalez (he/him) was born in El Paso, TX. He has lived in San Francisco since 2006, and began teaching for ArtSmart in 2022. He graduated from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Cesar Ulloa. Gonzalez recently made his Opera San Jose debut as Tamino in their production of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. His students have gone on to prestigious vocal programs around the United States such as University of Southern California , University of California at Los Angeles, the Oberlin Conservatory, and Northwestern University.

Mentoring Philosophy
I believe communication, respect and understanding are essential to being a good mentor. 

“Work hard, have fun, and make it happen.” –Rafael Nadal

Robert “Bob” Halek (he/him) is a much sought after drummer, percussionist, clinician, teacher, and conductor from upstate New York. In addition to teaching as a public school band teacher. He is an adjunct music professor at Skidmore College and Schenectady County College School of Music. Bob keeps a very busy performance schedule, performing many diverse styles with diverse legendary and regional musicians. His current schedule includes performances with The Empire Jazz Orchestra, Keith Pray’s Big Soul Ensemble, and The Capitol Region Wind Ensemble. Bob was named District-wide Teacher of the Year in the East Greenbush School District where he teaches instrumental music.

Mentoring Philosophy
A good mentor is someone that loves helping others, will take the time to understand how each student understands and will teach to the student’s understanding level. The mentor will take time to patiently explain why, how, where, and when symbols appear in the music and how to respond to it. The mentor will also take the time to find appropriate music and materials to teach with but also to slowly expand a student out of their musical comfort zone to grow.

“It’s not hard; it’s new. It takes time to get used to something new. This is what growth is.”

Adam Hutcheson (he/him) earned both his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Jazz Saxophone Performance from the University of North Texas, where he played lead alto in the Grammy-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band and taught jazz saxophone lessons. While in Texas, he was named a finalist in the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) jazz saxophone competitions in 2010 and 2012. Recently, he performed as a featured jazz soloist with the Oklahoma State University Jazz Orchestra at NASA 2024 and judged the NASA Collegiate Jazz Competition in 2021. Adam is an active clinician, having taught at jazz festivals and camps nationwide, and was the featured jazz clinician at the 2024 U.S. Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium. He currently serves on faculty at Skidmore College and Ocean County College, where he teaches jazz improvisation-based courses. Adam is an artist for Conn-Selmer and D’Addario Woodwinds, playing exclusively on Yanagisawa saxophones and D’Addario Venn reeds.

Mentoring Philosophy
A good mentor encourages, motivates, and helps students grow in their musicianship. A good mentor also reminds students of the value of learning music as a powerful tool for self-expression and promoting creativity.

“All art is disguising work!” — Jerry Seinfeld

“Life is short, but art is long. Leave a legacy behind that will speak for you.” — Don Cheadle

Sirapat Jittapirom (she/her) is a Thai-American pianist based in Philadelphia. She received a Master of Music in Collaborative Piano from Temple University, where she trained with Lambert Orkis, and with Luke Housner and Elise Auerbach in opera coaching. She currently serves as Music Director for the undergraduate opera workshop at Temple University and as the pianist for Dr. Paul Rardin’s conducting studio. Additionally, she is a staff pianist at the University of Delaware and the Commonwealth Youth Choirs. Sirapat joined ArtSmart in 2021.

Mentoring Philosophy

A good mentor is able to meet students where they are and help guide them toward achieving their goals. They should always aim to foster independent thinkers and lifelong lovers of music.

“Without craftsmanship, inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind.” — Johannes Brahms

Maya Lassiter (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist who has been within the entertainment industry for over 18 years as a performer, composer, director, producer, and educator. She began her teaching career at 13 as a student instructor alongside her vocal coach Chrissie Loftus at the Music and Mentorship Program of Philadelphia. Once in high school, she started the school’s first glee club Vibrato. Maya spent the next eight years performing at dozens of venues around the city further mastering her performance skills. The Philadelphia native set her sights on Boston as she furthered her music education at Berklee College of Music. In 2018 she created Intertwined Entertainment LLC, an arts-centered holistic wellness company. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in curating safe environments for art and emotional expression.

Mentoring Philosophy

I listen. I specialize in whole-body wellness. As a vocalist, our instrument lives inside of us; whatever is not in homeostasis will show up in our performance. I pay attention to the individual, address their needs, give resources from my field, and show them love and respect. 

“I believe in myself, I got this, I’m talented, I am more than enough! Whatever happens, happens. It’s not the end of the world. It’s only a moment.”

Evan Mack (he/him), winner of the 2024 American Prize in composition, has devoted much of his compositional life to opera and song. His first major operatic composition Angel of the Amazon premiered in 2011 by Encompass New Opera Theatre at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City. Two years later, Fresno State Opera premiered The Secret of Luca, the first of several collaborations between Mack and librettist Joshua McGuire. In August 2016, Mack and McGuire’s American grand opera Roscoe premiered at Seagle Music Festival and received its orchestral world premiere with the Albany Symphony starring Metropolitan Opera star Deborah Voigt. Their multicultural Christmas show for children Lucinda y las Flores de la Nochebuena is quickly becoming a holiday standard. Other works include Beach and Moan, #IsOperaDead, The Ghosts of Gatsby, and Dragon’s Breath. Mack was named 2018 Professional of the Year by Musical America, and is a Senior Teaching Professor at Skidmore College. In 2020, Mack founded We Are Instrumental, an organization that supports better access to music in K-12 public schools in the Adirondacks. He lives in Ticonderoga, NY with his wife Kristin and two sons Carter and Henry.

Mentoring Philosophy
My life’s mission has been to provide access to music to as many people as I possibly can, and one of the ways to do so is by mentoring young musicians and opening their world to limitless potential.

“Music can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable.”– Leonard Bernstein

Andrew W. Monath (he/ him) earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Westminster Choir College and a master’s degree in Integrated Arts Education with a concentration in Musical Theater from Arcadia University. He has served ArtSmart as a vocal mentor since 2022. Andrew  has spent over 30 years as both a music educator and a church/ synagogue musician in the greater Philadelphia area. He is currently a choral music teaching artist and division lead with Play on Philly where he directs a choral program of 235 students in grades 1-12. Andrew is also the organist and choir director for High Holy Days at Congregation Rodeph Shalom and Director of Music Ministries at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Conshohocken. He is currently serving as the baritone section leader in the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus, and sings Bass with Singing City and the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir, the latter which performs regularly with the Philadelphia Orchestra. A Broadway connoisseur, Andrew spends most of his free time supporting the arts and the people who create it.

Mentoring Philosophy:

First and foremost we teach humans. Music is just a vessel. Everyone has an instrument within them that can be nurtured. 

“No one leaves here a worse musician.” – Bill Evans

Mezzo-soprano Katya Powder (they/them) hails from the suburbs of the great Motor City—Detroit, Michigan. They received their Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Oakland University and graduated with a Master of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music. Since 2005, Katya has been teaching private voice and piano lessons, adjudicating national competitions, hosting master classes, and working as an opera singer in both Metro Detroit and New York City. They are a classically trained mezzo-soprano; their most recent operatic roles include Zita (Gianni Schicchi) and Cléone (Pénélope), both of which received praise in Opera News and The New York Times, respectively. Recently, Katya has been working with Queer Opera in Portland and with Detroit Opera; past productions include La bohème, Faust, Aida, and Ainadamar. Katya’s first love is teaching, and they specialize in voice masculinization/feminization for trans artists. Katya has been working with ArtSmart since 2018 and currently lives in Detroit, Michigan as a vocalist and educator.

Mentoring Philosophy

A good mentor has the ability to meet the student where they are, provide compassion and empathy, and listen openly.

“Art is to comfort the disturbed, but it is also to disturb the comfortable.” – César A. Cruz

Scott Purcell (he/him), a baritone and Westville, NJ native, is recognized for his strong voice, receiving praise from the National Opera Association and Broadway World. Since joining ArtSmart in 2018, Scott has focused on helping students develop a love for music and achieve personal fulfillment through singing. His performance credits include multiple portrayals of Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia at Annapolis Opera, Tri-Cities Opera, Opera Louisiane, and Druid City Opera. Scott is also an accomplished interpreter of new works, including the title role in the world premiere of Evan Mack’s Roscoe at Seagle Music Colony, and Glory Denied by Cipullo at Tri-Cities Opera. He can also be heard on the live recording of Blitzstein’s The Cradle Will Rock with Opera Saratoga and Bridge Records. Scott holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from Louisiana State University and serves as an Artist Affiliate at Lehigh University.

Mentoring Philosophy

A good mentor is patient, honest, and constructive. Mentors lead by example, both in their professional and personal lives, and should embody everything they wish their students to be.

Psalm 23: 4-6: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Danette E. Sheppard-Vaughn (she/her) is a native New Yorker and currently resides in Jersey City, NJ. She began as a vocal mentor with ArtSmart in 2023. Danette is also the Ringmaster of Omnium Circus, making her one of only eight female Ringmasters in world history to date. In 2024, she performed on Broadway with Omnium. She made history as the First Featured Female Vocalist in the 150-year history of Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. Currently a member of Actor’s Equity Association, Danette began singing at the Memorial Baptist Church in Harlem at the age of 14. Since making her professional debut, she has amassed an impressive list of musical theater credits, including sharing the stage with legends like Patti LaBelle, Freda Payne, and Debbie Gibson, just to name a few; a three-month European tour of Jesus Christ Superstar (Soul Girl/Mary u/s), a tour of the musical revue Smokey Joe’s Café with Gladys Knight, a leading role in the Off-Broadway production of Red Hot Broadway starring BJ Crosby, and regional theater productions of Pippin (Berthe), In the Heights (Abuela), Sister Act (Mother Superior), Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Jewel), The Last Session (Tryshia), Chicago (Mama Morton), Nunsense (Sister Mary Herbert), and Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Nell, for which she was awarded the Connecticut Critics Circle Award). 

Danette is commonly described as having infectious energy, and loves bright colors, glitter, and sparkles! In her freetime, she can be found cooking, listening to music, dancing, swimming, and spending time with her sixteen-year-old daughter, Bree (her pride and joy), who sings and performs as well. Danette holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from New Jersey City University with a concentration in Musical Theater.

Mentoring Philosophy
My approach to teaching involves lots of encouragement, positive reinforcement, and confidence building. I think a good mentor is fun and inspiring, listens and provides support, and encourages growth and accomplishment, while enriching the life of the mentee with useful knowledge, positive role-modeling, and patience.

“You may not control the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” –Maya Angelou

Kansas City native Aaron Short (he/him) has been an ArtSmart Mentor for three years. Aaron has sung leading and featured roles with many national and international opera companies and symphonies, including Dallas Opera, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Lyric Unlimited, Knoxville Opera, Knoxville Symphony, and the Festival Lyrique-en-Mer in Belle-île, France. Aaron is an alumnus of Wichita State University and Manhattan School of Music and is finishing a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Voice & Opera Performance at Northwestern University. Aaron has taught private voice lessons since 2016, most recently at North Central College in Naperville, IL. His goals as a teacher revolve around the individuality and uniqueness of every student and their vocal instrument. He endeavors to foster good instincts and build confidence and self-sustaining habits that his students can rely on outside of the studio and into the future. 

Mentoring Philosophy
A good mentor should always meet the students where they are, and strive to demonstrate the value of setting specific goals both within and outside of singing. The voice is a gift, and I want to help all my students cultivate that gift, and never forget the joy that brought them to music in the first place.

“Those who wish to sing always find a song.” – Swedish Proverb

Erica Thelen (she/her) is a young dramatic soprano from Andover, Minnesota. Erica holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin Conservatory and a Master of Music degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Most recently, Erica made her role debut as Ma Zegner in Proving Up by Missy Mazzoli at her alma mater and performed the role of the “First Lady” in Die Zauberflöte with the Santa Rosa Symphony. Erica has also sung in master classes for Christine Goerke and Lester Lynch. Growing up in a musical family, Erica has fond memories of watching her parents on stage in community theater productions, as well as listening to her mother teach voice lessons and sing in the Minnesota Opera Chorus. Erica’s greatest goal is to inspire others with music, as her parents inspired her. This is her first year as a mentor at ArtSmart, and she is very excited to help young singers in the spirit of her own mentors.

Mentoring Philosophy
A good mentor is able to meet a student where they are and guide them toward progress, whatever that may mean in a particular scenario. Life is full of good and bad, and a good mentor is able to establish principles to help guide someone through all of it. Whether it be music, school, work, or life in general, most of those lessons apply equally.

“And at last, you’ll know with surpassing certainty that only one thing is more frightening than speaking your truth. And that is not speaking.” – Audre Lorde

Greek American soprano Ioanna Tsakalakos (she/her) started as a vocal mentor with ArtSmart in 2023 at East Side High School in Newark, NJ, and is an elementary (PK-8) Music teacher nearby. She holds a Master of Music in Classical Vocal Performance from New Jersey City University, a Diploma in Monodia from the Athens Conservatory, and a Bachelor of Music in Music and Comparative Literature from Rutgers University. Ioanna has performed the roles of Suor Angelica (Suor Angelica), Liza (Pikovaya Dama), Mimì (La bohème), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Miss Pinkerton (The Old Maid and the Thief), Poppea (L’incoronazione di Poppea), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), and Madame Goldentrill (The Impresario). She has also partially performed the roles of Liu (Turandot), Cathy (Wuthering Heights), Cio-Cio-San (Madama Butterfly), Margeurite (Faust), Floria Tosca (Tosca), and Violetta (La Traviata). In addition to performing classical vocal music, she sings Greek songs, and is a sound yogini and sound healer. Ioanna loves to dabble in other genres such as musical theater, pop, and rock. Her compassion-based approach to teaching is influenced by her yoga teacher training, and she includes mind-body techniques in her vocal teaching.

Mentoring Philosophy
A good mentor leads by example, approaches students with compassion, and learns just as much from their students.

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde

A native of Sacramento, soprano Christine Moore Vassallo (she/her) is a versatile performer and sought-after teacher, having trained numerous competition winners. She has been a proud ArtSmart mentor in NYC since 2019, working at Brooklyn Tech, East New York Family Academy, and, since 2021, her current assignment at Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music. Christine is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music and has trained at Tanglewood, Chautauqua School, Central City Opera, and Santa Fe Opera. She was a Regional Finalist (Pacific) in the Metropolitan Opera Guild Competition and has sung Mimi in La Bohème (with Oper Leipzig, where she performed for several years), Micaëla in Carmen, the title roles in Madama Butterfly, Suor Angelica, and Aida, Alice Ford in Falstaff, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, and Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro. Her recordings include Christine Moore–Arias and the recently released From Al Andalus to the Americas–An Odyssey of Spanish Song. Christine speaks five languages fluently.

Mentoring Philosophy

“Patience, dedication, skill, and passion are the four most important ingredients for making a good mentor. You have to love the idea of having an effect on a young person that could change their view of themselves, and even their lives.”

“You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness. For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.” — Kahlil Gibran

Alyssa Vieau (they/she) is a musician and actor from Chicopee, Massachusetts, with a wide range of experience in various styles of music such as classical, musical theater, pop, jazz, and songwriting. They hold both a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and an Advanced Music Studies Certificate in Voice from Carnegie Mellon University, and a Master of Music degree in Voice from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM). From an early age, they participated in various local gigs, community theater, and even music-directed their collegiate a cappella group. Alyssa has performed in the Bay Area with Pocket Opera, Cinnabar Theater, and SF Salon Music. Their recent performance highlights at SFCM include Gherardo in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi (2024), Miss Shingle in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (2024), Armelinde in Viardot’s Cendrillon (2024), and La tasse and La libellule in Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges (2023). In addition to performing, they also teach music at Songbird Studios in downtown San Francisco.

Mentoring Philosophy
A good mentor is an honest and empathetic person who establishes a safe space for productive conversation and growth. It requires knowledge, vulnerability, open-mindedness, and the willingness to learn with and from others in the process. Specifically in music creation, even more so because making music is one of the most vulnerable things someone can share with another person. There must be trust on that journey. In my one-on-one teaching, I promote a safe space for any emotions to arise and for my students to share anything with me as we work creatively. Creating spaces for openness promotes the exploration of authentic creativity, which is most important to me in my teaching.

“Creativity comes with being human. It’s in all of us. It’s just a matter of how we find it and express it.”

Stephen Walley (he/ him) is a professional baritone, voice teacher, and artistic director located in Gladstone, NJ. Stephen holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and a Masters of Music in Voice Performance from University of Florida.

Mentoring Philosophy

A good mentor instills confidence through encouragement, while also giving necessary constructive criticism. Creating a trusting environment is crucial for the relationship to thrive.

“You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”—Christopher Robin, Winnie the Pooh (A.A Milne)