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...

Dominic Braham has created and supported programs that helps individuals become economically empowered for several years. He served as a Peace Corps advisor in the Dominican Republic (DR) for over two years, leading sustainable projects and building lasting relationships. Building relationships to gain support, he was able to lead efforts in the construction of a water aqueduct and health…

Mat is a singer/songwriter native to the Phoenix area. His introduction to music came at an early age through piano lessons and playing the trombone in his grade school band. But it was later as a teenager, playing guitar and singing at church, that he discovered a passion for performing. In 2004, he began writing, recording, and performing music...

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....

Rishab Kohl is an international student from India that attends Arizona State University. He is majoring in Supply Chain Management and Finance at the W.P. Carey School of Business where he is on the Dean’s List. When he is not working hard in the classroom, he is a regular volunteer in community activities. His hobbies include cooking and Hiking....

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...

Talya’s musical career began at the age of ten, when she picked up the cello for a school project and never put it down. Growing up close to New York City, she attended the Mannes and Juilliard pre-college programs under cellists Barabara Mallow and Bonnie Hampton, and soloed with the Juilliard Preparatory Orchestra. She received her undergraduate degree from...

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...

Vivi Erickson is an active teacher and performer in the Phoenix area. In addition to teaching at Sounds Academy, Vivi performs as Assistant Principal Viola with the Arizona Opera Orchestra, substitute viola with the Phoenix Symphony and teaches strings at Desert Marigold School and at the Scottsdale Neighborhood Arts Place. Vivi attended Boston University, studying under Walter Trampler and...

Michael is a community musician and educator who has been teaching since 2011. He holds a bachelor of science in communication and a master of music in music education from Arizona State University. Michael began playing guitar when he was 14, and has studied and performed many styles including pop, blues, rock, folk, jazz, classical, and Brazilian. In addition...

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,...

Grace Flores, an Arizona native, is a current intern at SOUNDS Academy. She in her junior year at Arizona State University. Though her experience with playing instruments is limited to the flute, drums, and a little bit of ukulele, she is passionate about helping out within her community. Having been a part of community programs as a child, she...

Brandon Hebner began studying guitar in middle school and has never put it down since. He has experience as both teacher and performer in several styles including Classical, Jazz, Latin, Pop, and Rock. Brandon has performed with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet as a member of The Arizona Guitar Orchestra, and played in several master classes for artists like...

Mrs. Kendra Jack is a native of Arizona and has been teaching piano since 2013. Her teaching career began at Prestige Music Academy in Phoenix, AZ where she taught privately for 3 years before moving to Rhapsody School of Music in Anthem, AZ. While at Rhapsody, she continued teaching privately with occasional group lessons. Her teaching experience has equipped...

Amanda Romani is a native of Phoenix, Arizona where she has performed a variety of solo, chamber, and orchestral music in various groups and at multiple venues. Since beginning classical training at a young age, Ms. Romani has broadened her musical genres and frequently performs genres including classical, pop, jazz, country, and tango. Ms. Romani has also attended a...

Cortez Sanchez is a Development Intern for SOUNDS Academy. Before arriving at SOUNDS Cortez has held a variety of positions both inside and outside of the nonprofit sector. From facilitating art workshops in the District of Columbia, to being a first responder, to managing multi-family housing in the Phoenix Metro Area. The Washington Peace Center has awarded him with...

Ashley, an Arizona native, grew up extremely involved in the community from playing softball to volunteering with her Girl Scout troop. She graduated from Mountain Ridge High School in 2017 as Student Body President, Varsity Softball Captain, and with an unweighted GPA of 3.8. She is now obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations with an emphasis in Political...

Elena, a native of Portland, Oregon, started dancing at the age of 3. She graduated with honors from Lakeridge High School in 2016 and moved to Florida to be a trainee with Orlando Ballet. There she performed with Orlando Ballet School in productions like The Nutcracker, and excerpts from Le Corsaire and Don Quixote. She also performed in outreach...