Meet our teachers

Sofia Young is a musician from Atlanta, Georgia who found her way to Denver in August of 2022. Sofia grew up playing the piano, singing, and songwriting. She decided she wanted to make music her career in Middle School and has been pursuing it ever since. Throughout school, she pursued as many music programs and classes as possible, making her well-versed in music theory. Sofia has taken professional vocal lessons for over seven years and being a great technical vocalist is one of her main goals. She plans to spread her knowledge and experience to help others find, protect, and use their musical voices to their greatest potential.

Playing music and singing is a natural joy that everyone deserves in life. I believe sincerely and deeply that everyone is creative and consider it my life’s project to help spark that feeling in others.

Frankie is a classically trained opera singer who is well-versed in various genres, including rock and pop. She has been singing her entire life and is passionate about songwriting and music composition, which has also made her proficient in music theory. She has studied various musical disciplines and is knowledgeable in playing the guitar, bass, ukulele, and piano. Her educational journey brought her to Denver, where she is currently attending the University of Colorado Denver, continuing her music education, and eager to share her passion and knowledge.

Joia Hansen, colloquially known as Spru Digz, is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, DJ, vocalist, and audio engineer. Playing piano from age 9 and collecting music since 13, Joia's musical journey has seen many twists and turns over the years. Starting with Fruity Loops in 2011 and working his way through Logic Pro, Serato Studio and now Ableton Live, he has finished and released hundreds of beats and dozens of songs. With a formal education in digital production, mixing, and a background in jazz theory, Joia's eye is currently set on developing a style of music that seamlessly integrates gritty funk 'n soul with alternative rhythms and neo-electronic soundscapes. His top priority as a teacher is to help his students find their authentic sound, and to spark a flame of passion that will stay lit for years to come!

Sarah is a multi-instrumentalist from sunny San Diego. She began playing the piano over a decade ago, and teaches piano, vocals, cello, and electric bass. She fell in love with music at a very young age, and has a life goal of pursuing music performance, education, and recording arts! Her current favorite genres of music are rock, metal, classical, indie, and alternative. 

Connor Terrones is a Denver-based music teacher, singer, performer, songwriter and producer. He grew up in Colorado Springs and fell in love with the guitar as a teenager when he discovered rock music. Terrones went to the University of Northern Colorado to obtain a Bachelor’s in Music Performance in Jazz Studies. Since graduating from UNC in 2016, he has taught many students of various ages and experience levels and performed extensively inside and outside of Colorado. His favorite part of teaching is when he gets to show a student an incredible recording they've never heard before for the first time.

Rowan Blackwood (he/they) is a songwriter/composer and music teacher who writes indie pop as a solo artist and orchestral works for theater and film. They graduated high school at 15, completed a bachelor’s in Songwriting from Los Angeles College of Music and a master’s degree at BerkleeNYC in Writing & Design for Musical Theater by 21. He's performed at Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, Radio City Music Hall, and several Hollywood locations such as the Zephyr Theatre. He’s also been a part of the LA debut of Trans Voices Cabaret and self-produced shows for their very own nonprofit in the making, Respect All Love. When it comes to teaching, Rowan enjoys using their variety of experience to find the best individual approach for each student, and make music fun.

Garren is a versatile musician, adept at playing multiple instruments and passionate about sharing his knowledge as a teacher, DJ, and artist. Holding a bachelor's degree in music from Greenville College, Garren's musical journey began as a bass player at the age of 14. Recognizing the importance of catering to his students' preferences, he dedicated himself to mastering various instruments, including guitar, bass, piano, ukulele, and percussion.

In addition to his role as a music educator, Garren has been the lead singer and guitarist of the cover band "Glen," showcasing his dynamic skills in live performances. Not limited to covers, he further demonstrates his creativity as the bassist in a jazz fusion ensemble, contributing to the vibrant fusion of musical genres. Garren's artistic expression extends to teaching, songwriting and solo performances, where he helps students write their own original compositions, showcasing their unique musical voice and creativity.

Carly Howard is a theatre artist, director, and musician who has been teaching voice for 10 years.  She has degrees in psychology and elementary education from CU Boulder and has experience teaching age ranges from pre-school to adult.  She writes and performs music with her band, Unnamed Moons, and has released one solo album with another in the works!  She is a mama to two wonderful kiddos (ages 4 and 9) and is married to her drummer :).  When Carly is not with her two kids, she is probably at yoga, writing/rehearsing music, or camping at a hot springs!

Alec Doniger is a Denver-based musician and producer. He has played the drums for sixteen years and is actively playing in five bands in the Denver music scene (Horse B, Tomato Soup, Pink Fuzz, Augustus, and Little T). He has a bachelor’s degree from CU Denver in music performance. Having taught elementary, middle and high school students for three years, teaching has become a sincere passion and privilege for Alec. It is such a joy to teach and share music! He aims to foster a learning environment where students feel empowered to be themselves. Ultimately, Alec strives to create a fun and collaborative experience for music students of all ages.

Mitch Melodia is a musician, author, and Jenga enthusiast calling Denver, Colorado home. After picking up the guitar right before entering high school, he continued his studies of the instrument, music technology, and singing at Keene State College in New Hampshire. After developing a few friendships with Berklee students in Boston, he moved out to Colorado with two of them and was also quickly hired as a guitar teacher and music director.

Isaac Messerschmidt is a skilled film composer and dedicated music educator with a rich background in the industry. He studied Film Composition at Berklee College of Music and developed a deep understanding of scoring for various media. Isaac’s professional experience includes working on several films and a network television show, highlighting his versatility and expertise. Since 2021, he has been teaching piano, sharing his knowledge and passion for music with his students. In 2024, he expanded his teaching to include voice lessons, further broadening his instructional repertoire. Isaac also served as the music director for his college a cappella group, showcasing his leadership and creative talents. In addition to piano and voice, he offers instruction in Logic Pro, equipping students with essential skills for modern music production. Known for his engaging and interactive teaching style, Isaac makes learning music a fun and enriching experience for all ages. His diverse teaching offerings show his commitment to providing a comprehensive musical education. Isaac Messerschmidt continues to inspire and nurture the next generation of musicians with his expertise and enthusiasm.

Alex Golombek originally hails from Bellingham, Washington and has found a new home in Denver. His upbringing was immersed in the musical community from a young age. From being in a rock band called "Idell Drive," making a name in the bar circuit, to jazz bands, and solo classical wedding gigs, Alex explores a wide variety of genres and techniques. He graduated from Western Washington University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music, a minor in Jazz, and Arts Enterprise and Cultural Innovation. With impassioned years of teaching under his belt, Alex enjoys mentoring musical students of all levels and affinities to all genres.

DJ, sought-after producer, and wizard behind 'oyster band' déCollage, Reed Cameron Fox is a Denver based imaginator. Reed graduated from University of Colorado Denver in 2013 with a double major in Audio Engineering & Music Business. Reed began teaching guitar, piano, bass, ukulele, and music production lessons 10 years ago and has had a full roster of 35-50 students (1,500 lessons a year). Some of his students are learning to make beats and record their own songs using free and professional programs like Garageband, Ableton, and Logic Pro. Since 2009, Reed has been releasing music from his five* bands consistently, and loves coaching others through the music creation, release, and marketing process. 

Jamie is a professional vocal coach and music teacher, providing individualized instruction through one-on-one voice and music lessons. She has a background in music performance, education, film, songwriting, and engineering. As a musician and former student of the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, Connecticut, Jamie can offer a wide range of instruction, from preparing for auditions to performing on stage, to singing karaoke and recording original songs. She provides coaching for all ages and experience levels.