voice

Artistic director of Tri-M Productions, Marilyn holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Idaho and a Master’s in Opera Performance from the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, Connecticut. Settling in New Mexico 30 years ago, she taught for 15 years at the College of Santa Fe. She founded and directed the Zia Singers.

voice

Travis Bregier, baritone, has his musical roots in West Fargo, North Dakota, appearing in numerous musical and theatrical productions, choral concerts, and recitals from middle school through university.  He earned his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in vocal performance at North Dakota State University (Fargo). Presently, he is Assistant Choir Director at First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe.

saxophone

Michael Goldstein is currently a freelance musician and music educator with diverse experience in full group, small group, and individual music instruction with students of all ages. He graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Music Education in 2015 and has since lived in Santa Fe, NM, where he has continued to perform with various local bands.

oboe

The Santa Fe Symphony’s Principal Oboist, Elaine Heltman, hails from Saddle Brook, New Jersey, and graduated from Ithaca College School of Music. While leading a high school marching band in New Jersey, she also studied with Joseph Robinson, former Principal Oboe of the New York Philharmonic. In 1981, Heltman’s career as a professional oboist was ignited when she was appointed to the Filarmónica de Caracas, Venezuela.

violin, viola

Haley Lovelace holds a Bachelor of University Studies in string pedagogy and educational psychology from the University of New Mexico. She graduated with her Masters in Instructional Design in 2021.

bassoon

Leroy Medina is a Mexican native and a bassoonist who studied Music at the New Mexico State University and The University of Texas at El Paso. He is a dedicated music educator and performer in Santa Fe.

clarinet

Liz Ramirez is a New York City native clarinetist/musician and passionate educator with over twenty years performing experience and over fifteen years of teaching experience. She loves teaching and learning, and believes in the power of music to enrich our lives. Many of her students have been accepted to high-level music programs (including the All-American D-Day Band 2023 and the Juilliard Music Advancement Program) and consistently receive top placement in Solo and Ensemble and All-State auditions.

Guitar

Puerto Rican by birth and a New Yorker shortly thereafter, Edgard Rivera has always been involved in music. From his childhood, Rivera has organized and performed in rock bands, Salsa and Andean ensembles, and folk duos and solo performances.

violin

Hilary Schacht was born in the Chicago area and began studying and performing music around the world at the age of six. She graduated from the pre-professional Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan and continued her music education at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania and the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico.

flute

Vicki Bell Schaevitz has recently moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico from Sacramento, California. She holds a Master of Music degree in Flute Performance from the University of Colorado and is a certified Suzuki Flute instructor. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Boston University under the tutelage of James Pappoutsakis.  She has performed with the Sacramento Philharmonic, Folsom Lake Symphony, and Auburn Symphony, as well as with numerous chamber groups, duos, and trios.

violin

Sitara Schauer is an interdisciplinary multi-instrumentalist musician, composer, teacher, and performer.  She has orchestrated numerous compositions for theatre, operas, festivals, art installations, schools, and film.

trombone

David Jennison a music educator of thirty-four years and a 1980 graduate of Santa Fe High School. In addition to teaching privately, he is the conductor of the Youth Concert Orchestra of the Albuquerque Youth Symphony. Mr. Jennison is the former Director of Instrumental Music for the Round Rock Independent School District (RRISD). During his sixteen years with RRISD, he taught at Westwood High School where he conducted the Wind Symphony and the Concert Band, and was Associate Conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra. During his tenure at Westwood, these ensembles were consistent UIL sweepstakes winners. and performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. The Warrior Marching Band qualified for the 2014 Texas State Marching Band Contest for the first time in the school’s history.
David’s photo:

violin 

Christine has been playing violin since she was six years old. She grew up in New York, and loved to play music with her younger brother and friends in string ensembles, chamber groups, and orchestras. In college, she was a member of the Berkshire Symphony Orchestra. She has been teaching violin and viola in Santa Fe since 2013 and was a teacher for Santa Fe Youth Symphony’s Elementary Strings, an afterschool program in the Santa Fe Public Schools, for eight years. She believes in the potential of all students and enjoys working with students of all levels, from beginner to advanced.

percussion

Playing drums has been Cal’s passion beginning at an early age when he studied with Charlie Wilcoxin. His long career followed touring with the United Service Organization and attending Memphis State, and has included performing with some recognizable names including Diahann Carroll, Bob Hope, Danny Thomas with the St. Jude’s Telethon, Clark Terry, Yul Brenner in the “King and I”, Michael Anthony, and Bobby Shew. Since returning to New Mexico in 2006, Cal is probably best known for creating the 9-piece band “SuperSax New Mexico” and being a member of the Tribute Trio and Longshot Trio, both earning NM Music Awards for their original CDs. For the past 14 years, Cal has mentored middle and high school percussion students in Albuquerque and Santa Fe schools. He also gives private lessons and takes immense pride in the accomplishments of his students.

Clarinet

Woodwind specialist Jerry Weimer has been a part of the Santa Fe music scene for over 20 years. He began teaching while pursuing his BFA in Performance/Composition from the College of Santa Fe. Since then, he has worked with countless school programs and youth organizations, coaching aspiring musicians and helping them find their voice. 

Recent performances include Le Carnaval des Animaux (NDI NM), Amane (Joe Hay), C.M. von Weber Clarinet Concerto No. 1 (SFCO), Silent Cry of a Heron (Marty Regan), Words in the Wind (Melanie Monsour), Discovering the Music of Paintings (Oliver Prezant), I Pagliacci; Cavalleria Rusticana (Opera West), Music from the Deserts (Chris Jonas), and Ghostlight Sessions (Lensic).  

Guitar

Born in the Czech Republic, music has been my constant companion since childhood. My passion for classical guitar led me to study at McGill University and then pursue a Master’s degree in guitar interpretation at Université de Montréal.

In 1980, I embarked on a new chapter, immigrating to Canada. While raising five wonderful children, I continued to play and share my love of music by teaching guitar.

In 2002, I relocated to Santa Fe, bringing my skills and enthusiasm to the vibrant artistic community. Here, I’ve had the privilege of teaching guitar at the Waldorf School and Ortiz Middle School, while also substituting at the New Mexico School of Mine. However, my true passion lies in fostering a love of guitar through private lessons.

Beyond the classroom, music continues to inspire me through collaborative projects. I was a member of the Sol y Luna guitar duo, and recently formed a dynamic cello and guitar duo. When winter paints the mountains white, I trade my guitar for skis, becoming an instructor at Ski Santa Fe.

Teaching is more than a profession; it’s my calling. I believe that with the right approach, music can be accessible to everyone. My mission is to find the perfect learning materials for each student and ignite their musical spark.

Violin

Nicole Taylor joined the Santa Fe music community after relocating from Austin, TX. There she was active in the vibrant local music scene as a private strings teacher and co-founder of the Sienna String Quartet. A multi-faceted participant in the musical world, Nicole earned a BA in Viola performance from the University of Kansas as well as a trade certificate from the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery. For over a decade she has worked in string shops, making music and making musical experiences possible in communities across the West and Midwest.

choral director

Brian DeLay has performed throughout the United States, and in Canada, Asia, and Europe. He has appeared with the San Antonio Ballet, Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, Santa Fe Pro Musica, Santa  Fe New Music, the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Desert Chorale, the Cincinnati Symphony Chamber Players, the Cincinnati Opera Orchestra, the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, and 20th Century Unlimited. DeLay studied at Indiana University, Mannes College of Music, City  University of New York, and the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

band director

After changing her major from science, to art, to drama, and finally, to music, Suzanne Birrell finally earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Webster University with additional coursework at the University of Missouri at Columbia.  A professional electric and upright bass player/singer-songwriter-composer whose forte is her ability to play many styles, she has performed at venues coast-to-coast as well as in Mexico and Thailand.  A professional actress (SAG/AFTRA) who has years of experience on stage as an actress, singer, dancer, and more recently as a director, she has written and directed a couple of short films.  A multi-disciplinarian, she has taught vocal and instrumental music, acting, speech, intro to opera, intro to Shakespeare, script writing, and art K-Junior college in Missouri, California, Kentucky, on the Navajo Nation, and here in New Mexico.  She especially loves working with middle school-aged students.

string orchestra director

Juan Aniceto was born December 9th, 1988, in Lima, Peru. At the age of 5, he moved to California with his family and grew up in Los Angeles County. After graduating from high school in California, he worked and attended state and community colleges and discovered his passion for music. He completed a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Redlands. He plans to go back to school for a Master’s degree in Performance and Composition. Juan can be seen around Santa Fe performing with various music groups and bands.

choir director

Caiti is a singer, songwriter, performer, and DJ on 96.9 FM KMRD. Originally from New York, she drove west after receiving her BFA from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She began studying voice at 8 years old and is so grateful to get to share her love of singing and music with her students. With a passion for musical theater, she performs with the Santa Fe’s Tri-M Productions. She recently appeared in Spring Awakening, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and A Grand Night for Singing.

horn

Ricardo A. Hernandez is currently in his seventh year as Director of Bands at Capital High School in Santa Fe after teaching for 22 years in Brownsville, Texas. Next year will mark his 30th year as a music educator. Upon graduation from East Texas State University in 1982,  Mr. Hernandez served for 10 years as Associate Principal Horn in the United States Marine Band, “The President’s Own”, in Washington DC, and earned his Master’s degree in Music Performance from The Catholic University of America. 

String Orchestra Director

Zachary McGee earned his Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance at UC Santa Barbara and Master of Music in Cello Performance at California State University Sacramento. After starting cello at the age of 14 in his public school orchestra programs in Santa Barbara, CA.  Zach began serious private studies after hearing a life-changing performance of the slow movement from the Rachmaninoff Cello Sonata when he was 17 and went on to be able to study with many phenomenal mentors (Geoffrey Rutkowski, John Sant’Ambroggio, Andrew Luchansky, Richard Slavich, Jeffrey Solow, and Richard Webb for baroque cello) and be able to attend the Meadowmount School of Music.

curriculum writer and trainer

Janine Sammeth is a music educator with Santa Fe Public Schools. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music and Elementary Education from Whitworth University (1987), and her Master’s Degree in Creative Arts in Learning from Lesley College (1993). Having completed Levels I and II in Orff Schulwerk elementary music education training, as well as Music Together Level I certification in early childhood music, she dedicates her time and energy to creating amazing, transformative musical experiences for young people.

support staff

Jeong Young Hong is the Program Coordinator for the Dream Big Private Lesson Program at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, where she manages free private music lessons for youth throughout Santa Fe. Bringing nearly a decade of teaching experience, Jeong previously taught at Santa Fe Public Schools (SFPS) and is a National Board Certified Teacher, with certifications in Kodály and Orff methodologies. In 2018, she received the Teacher Who Inspires Award from SFPS in recognition of her dedication to teaching excellence.