The SOUNDS Academy Team

Kirk Johnson has been on a mission to provide the gift of music to lower income schools and children. As a musician, performer, and educator; Kirk believes that all children should have access to music education. Out of this belief, he founded SOUNDS Academy, a non-profit music education organization that teaches, mentors, and provides musical experiences and opportunities for...

Saxophonist Matthew Fox is an avid performer, educator, and administrator from New York who currently resides in the Phoenix, AZ area. Having shared the stage with performers such as Sean Jones, Roxy Coss, Robert Young, and others, Fox has performed with musicians of the highest level. Music education is a passion for Fox, and he is thrilled to join...

As a native of Detroit, MI, Danyelle Brown attained a Bachelor’s degree in Youth and Community Development from Western Michigan University. With nearly eight years of experience in various roles within the non-profit sector, Danyelle has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to community service and social impact. Her passion lies in building connections, advocacy, and empowerment. Danyelle’s work reflects...

Ethan Fox, originally from New York and now residing in Phoenix, AZ, is a dedicated administrator and percussionist deeply committed to expanding access to music education and nurturing a vibrant arts community in Phoenix. In his administrative roles, Ethan has served as a Project Manager intern with the Phoenix Symphony and as Percussion Manager at the Aspen Music Festival...

Areli Trapero is a Donor Experience Administrator at SOUNDS Academy with years of experience in the non-profit sector. She is deeply committed to building strong relationships, supporting community initiatives, and creating meaningful impact. Areli’s passion lies in fostering connections, empowering others, and contributing to causes that help people thrive. Her work reflects a strong dedication to community service and...

With over 15 years of experience in bookkeeping, Brandy Perez brings a wealth of expertise and a strong foundation in finance to every project. She previously worked as a Payroll Analyst at Barrett Business Services Inc., a Fortune 500 company based in Ontario, California, where she developed advanced skills in financial management, problem-solving, and process optimization. Brandy’s background allows her to deliver...

Jackie Marotta is a classical saxophonist and communications senior at Arizona State University. While attending high school in the Dallas, Texas area, Jackie was fortunate enough to receive world class music education and wants to give all students that kind of opportunity. As a performer, Jackie has had many opportunities to play on big stages, including Carnegie Hall. She...

Aleah Amundson is a dedicated freshman at Grand Canyon University, where she is pursuing her passion for Marketing and Advertising. During her high school years, she not only excelled in academics but also successfully managed multiple part-time jobs. Her enthusiasm for marketing and advertising, combined with her impressive work ethic, makes her a great addition to the SOUNDS Academy team....

Callie Worthen was born in the Twin Cities, Minneapolis-St. Paul. She relocated to Arizona in 2012 and now considers Phoenix her hometown. She is a homeschooled high school student who loves learning and helping others, which is why she joined the SOUNDS Academy team. Callie has been a student of SOUNDS Academy since 2018 when she started taking lessons...

Israel Kim is a cellist and pianist and is a member of SOUNDS Academy. He began his cello studies with SOUNDS Academy when he was 9 years old and became a student of Jamie Kellogg when he was 10 years old. He has also studied piano with Aejin Ham since 2020. As a soloist, Israel has earned several awards...

Avryana A. Clark is a SOUNDS Academy student studying piano and voice. She has been with SOUNDS Academy for about 8 years and deeply resonates with SOUNDS Academy’s values, mainly using creativity to freely express herself through art and resilience to pursue her dream of reaching and improving people’s lives through the performing arts. As a solo pianist, she...

Cindy Baker began her instrumental music studies in the public schools here in Phoenix. She earned a Bachelor’s of Music Education and a Masters in Violin Performance from the Indiana University (Jacobs) School of Music, where she also studied the harp. She has been a member of the Phoenix and Tucson Symphony Orchestras and the Sinfonia da Camera in...

Sandra Bassett is an engaging, entertaining, and gifted singer with a powerful vocal range and a smooth delivery. Originally from Detroit, MI and now based in Phoenix, AZ, Sandra embraces the musical history of her birthplace and enjoys performing in many styles, including Jazz, R&B, Motown and Blues. Sandra received a full scholarship in Music to attend Kentucky State University...

Kate started playing the violin in the fourth grade and holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Violin Performance at Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton, Wisconsin (2012). While at Lawrence, she developed a great love for world music and music traditions from many different cultures. She studied the tradition of Balinese Gamelan very intensely with a master musician...

Katie started playing the cello at six years old and was lucky to grow up in a public school system in Michigan that prioritized its music program. She went on to study at the University of Notre Dame, where she double majored in philosophy and music and studied cello with Karen Buranskas. Katie’s love of the humanities led her to...

Frederick Chao, a member of the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra and Quartet Sabaku was previously the Associate Principal Cellist of the Honolulu Symphony. An avid chamber musician, he has been a member of the Delmar Trio, Stonybrook Trio, and the Philharmonic String Quartet. Mr. Chao received his Bachelor of Music Degree from Indiana University, where he was awarded the coveted...

Janie is a pianist, teacher and composer from Los Angeles California. She began piano lessons at age seven and after receiving a full-ride music scholarship, continued her studies at Grand Canyon University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance under the direction of Dr. Juan Hernandez. Janie has performed live in over 300 concerts, toured the U.S....

Chris Finet is part of the faculty of NAU’s School of Music. He teaches double bass along with directing the jazz ensembles and teaching jazz improvisation courses. Originally from the Phoenix area, Chris attended NAU as an undergraduate studying under late professor, Joel DiBartolo. While in Arizona he worked with many of the state’s great jazz artists including Chuck...

Tessa Gotman, a native of St. Louis, MO, began her studies at age 5. She received her Bachelor’s degree from New England Conservatory of Music in 2008 studying with Lucy Chapman. She then received a Master’s degree in violin performance from Arizona State University under the instruction of Dr. Jonathan Swartz. In addition to being Dr. Swartz’s teaching assistant,...

At an early age Steve was very interested in music. Spending hours listening to records and the radio and occasionally sneaking into his sisters room to listen to her records when she wasn’t around. At the age of 12 he started playing guitar. A fast learner, Steve started performing in the Minneapolis area at the age of 16, as...

Annie is a pianist, accompanist, and teacher. Her mother introduced her to the music world. She started playing piano when she was 8 years old through a school program and later received private lessons. She fell in love with the sound of piano and used piano competitions to improve her playing. While in high school, she was the accompanist...

Addison is an artist, educator, vocalist, and composer from Phoenix, AZ currently studying music composition at ASU. She believes that every student should be given a chance to grow and views teaching as a collaborative experience. While teaching, her role is to empower students to make their own decisions about their musical ideas and goals, while guiding them through those...

I am Mahadevan Iyer pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry at ASU. I have been learning violin for over thirteen years, currently with Mr. Dana Pasely of the Phoenix Symphony. I also play the viola. Music is a very big part of my life. I am also trained in low brass – euphonium. I was selected to the Arizona Regional...

Loving to play music as a youngster, Jaime decided to dedicate her life to learning how to play the violin and viola as well as she could. After over 50 years of practice and playing, she is still learning and practicing. Jaime spent A LOT of time in college, earning three degrees in Music from Arizona State University. An…

Elizabeth Jones is a violinist and music educator hailing from the small community of Twin Falls, Idaho. She began her Fine Arts education at a very young age studying violin, piano, and voice in addition to dance and theatre. Elizabeth graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Music Education, a degree placing priority on both performing and teaching,...

Myles Kellerman is a composer currently completing his DMA in Music Composition at ASU. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri where he began both his music and composition career at a young age. Myles completed his undergraduate degree at Southwestern University where he studied composition under Jason Hoogerhyde and guitar under David Asbury. He completed his Master’s at...

Teaching people to play the cello has been Jamie Kellogg’s passion ever since she gave her first lesson at the age of nineteen.  She received her Master of Music degree in Performance/Pedagogy from Arizona State University and spent many summers in California studying with Irene Sharp, her principal teaching mentor.  Some of Jamie’s students have successfully auditioned into the nation’s...

Mrs. Knighton has been a piano instructor for 24 years through her studio – Knighton Music Studio (Michigan and Arizona, west valley) and Milford Music (Michigan). She moved down to Arizona to teach elementary music 12 years ago, and she currently is a K – 4 music teacher in the Peoria Unified School District. Mrs. Knighton earned her Bachelors...

Thomas started playing drums at age 13 in junior high band and continued his education after high school at Phoenix College studying with Cleve Huff and ASU, where he studied jazz performance with Dr. Mark Sunkett and Dom Moio. An active performer for over 35 years and teacher for over 25 years, Thomas has traveled to over 20 countries...

Violist Christopher McKay joined The Phoenix Symphony in 2008 as section viola and is currently the  Acting Assistant Principal Viola, a post he has held since 2009. From 2007-2008 he held a one-year  position with the Louisville Orchestra and from 2001-2007 he was Principal Viola of the Evansville  Philharmonic Orchestra (IN). His other orchestral experience includes positions with Central...

Charity Morrison is a horn player, composer & improviser, educator, and inquisitive creative whose work draws on a diverse life experience and multicultural upbringing. Charity is currently Artist-in-Residence at Mirabella, where she programs and performs weekly recitals, along with engagement events and educational lectures. As a freelancer, Charity has played recently with the Phoenix Symphony, Louise Baranger & Friends at The Nash, the West...

In 2015, Julian Nguyen earned a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance with a Business Minor from Rice University.  He currently studies with and serves as T.A. for Dr. Jonathan Swartz at ASU where he is earning his DMA in Violin Performance. Outside of his studies, Julian devotes his time to his students and his ensembles, giving back to...

Mimi Papp attended the New School of Music in Philadelphia where her principal instructors were Jascha Brodsky and Yumi Ninomiya Scott (members of the Curtis String Quartet).She received her violin performance degree from the Manhattan School of Music where she studied with Burton Kaplan. Mimi became certified to teach the Suzuki method at the School for Strings in New...

Taylor Simpson is a multi-faceted teacher, performer, and administrator in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. She teaches saxophone, flute, clarinet, jazz combo, and music theory at SOUNDS Academy. Originally from Boulder, Colorado, she began playing saxophone at eight years old and has gone on to complete undergraduate degrees in saxophone performance and music theory at Arizona State University, under the...

Deja Wilson is a cellist born and raised in Dallas, Texas. Starting cello at 10 years old, she quickly fell in love with music. With an unwavering commitment to the art form, Deja strives to bring diversity to classical music on and off stage. Deja’s goal is to use music to help heal the mind and body. Deja graduated...