Meet Our Teachers

All of our teachers are passionate about music and the development of children. They create a fun, informal, social setting that spurs engagement and supports each child's musical development.

All Music Together® Teachers have...

* learned about the research-based Music Together curriculum design
* learned how to assess children's music development
* learned developmentally appropriate practice and music
* practiced using child-development observation tools during the demonstration class
* learned to design lesson plans that result in classes with artistic energy and flow
* learned more about parent education and the importance of involving adult primary caregivers

photo Jeanina Quezada, Center Director

Jeanina, center director of Foothills Music Together, has performed in Europe and the USA both as an accompanist and soloist. She has taught Music Together since 1997 and is an accredited Suzuki piano teacher. Jeanina did her undergraduate work at USC in piano accompanying. She enjoys working with children and has taught the Suzuki piano method since 1981 in Los Angeles and Milan, Italy.

photo Audrey LaVelle

Audrey discovered Music Together classes with her one-year-old daughter in 2002, having been attracted to the program because it reminded her of happy times singing in Camp Fire Girls. She earned a Masters of Fine Arts from the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago, and has more than two decades’ experience working as an actor, writer, director and coach in theatre, independent films, commercials, and voiceover.

photo Angie Donkin

Angie graduated from the Los Angeles Music Academy in 2001 and toured Costa Rica as a representative for LAMA. She was working as a singer, songwriter, vocal coach and arranger when her mother and brother (both Music Together teachers and music educators) referred her to the Music Together workshops. She fell in love with the program, one which she feels is a fun, free, and inspirational way for children to learn about music. She was raised with music and it continues to be a huge part of her life.

photo Daniel Epstein

Daniel Epstein has enjoyed teaching Music Together in the Bay Area since 2008. Music has always played a vital role in his life; his earliest and fondest memories are of his mother coming to his pre-school to play guitar and lead songs. He has an MM in Opera/ Vocal Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and has performed with various Opera and Theatre Companies around the Bay Area.

Daniel also holds a BA in music from Emory University. While at Emory, Daniel studied voice, sang in the Concert Choir, and was the musical director of an acapella R&B singing ensemble.

photo Kelly Whitworth

Kelly is both a professional musician and a grown-up kid. She received a B.A. in Music from Wheaton College, and a B.M. from Berklee College of Music. Originally from New England, she moved to Los Angeles in 1999 to pursue scoring for film. While she has scored a few projects in the past decade, it's this same decade that brought her a love of teaching, and what's more, a love of that unabashed zeal for life that children bring. In 2007 she was blessed with the birth of her own daughter Ruby, and a couple years later, the two of them discovered Music Together classes. Kelly continues to teach piano lessons both at private homes and with Graysons Tunetown in Montrose, is a music director for New Life Church in Burbank, and is a Preschool Children's Leader for the Bible Study Fellowship organization.

photo Stephanie Monroe

Stephanie has been teaching Music Together since 2001. Following her undergraduate work at UCLA, it struck her that teaching Music Together was a great opportunity to serve her community. Her aim is to foster in other families the unique musical bond that she and her son enjoy. Stephanie is thrilled to be sharing her skills and experience; she particulary loves singing along with her classes to gentle lullabies strummed on her well-worn guitar.

photo Gretchen Weiss

Gretchen Weiss has worked as an actress and singer in Los Angeles, New York, Japan and many, many places in-between. Off-Broadway, Gretchen recently recreated her role as Sophie in The York’s production of “Camille”. Other New York credits include Gia in The York’s “Carmelina” and the soloist in “The Golden Voices Series” at The Symphony Space. Gretchen’s favorite roles include: Luisa in “The Fantasticks”, Lili in “Carnival”, Audrey in “Little Shop of Horrors”, Hodel in “Fiddler on the Roof” and Mabel in “Pirates of Penzance”. Gretchen is a member of “The Wonderelles”, performing 50’s music all around So Cal. Her voice can be heard on various albums and TV and Film soundtracks. Gretchen’s greatest accomplishment is motherhood.