Meet the Faculty

Sami is an Arabic violinist, vocalist and rababa player from New York City.  He has performed with his ensemble Zikrayat (www.zikrayatmusic.com) since 2005, and has also performed and recorded with numerous Arab vocalists including Eden Zane, Zahra AlZubaidi, Youssef Kassab, Hamid Al-Saadi, Amir ElSaffar, Salma Habib, Gaida, Mona Miari, G

Sami is an Arabic violinist, vocalist and rababa player from New York City.  He has performed with his ensemble Zikrayat (www.zikrayatmusic.com) since 2005, and has also performed and recorded with numerous Arab vocalists including Eden Zane, Zahra AlZubaidi, Youssef Kassab, Hamid Al-Saadi, Amir ElSaffar, Salma Habib, Gaida, Mona Miari, George Ziadeh, Zafer Tawil, and Elizabeth Ayyoub. A noted educator on Arabic music, he is co-author of the acclaimed book Inside Arabic Music and creator of the Maqam Lessons YouTube series, and has taught Arabic music at Lark Camp, Alwan for the Arts, Wesleyan University, Yale University, the New School, the College of William and Mary, Labyrinth online, and through Brooklyn Maqam.

Johnny has been teaching music for thirty years. He is classically trained and graduated from Akron University with a Bachelor’s in Music Performance. Johnny spent twenty years in Las Vegas performing in resident shows for various artists. Johnny also spent over a decade making-magical-music at the happiest place on earth; Disneyland them

Johnny has been teaching music for thirty years. He is classically trained and graduated from Akron University with a Bachelor’s in Music Performance. Johnny spent twenty years in Las Vegas performing in resident shows for various artists. Johnny also spent over a decade making-magical-music at the happiest place on earth; Disneyland theme park and resort in Anaheim, California. Johnny worked for major music manufactures like Roland and BOSS as a demonstrator for ten years, where he received considerable notice for his videos which may be found on YouTube. Johnny will teach students: musicianship, music theory, and the ability to play 'by ear', giving kiddos the skills to perform various music genres of their choice and to compose music of their very own!  

Gloria is a cellist, instructor, and coach, with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Cello Performance from the California Institute of the Arts. As an instrumentalist, Gloria has performed with many professional symphony orchestras and chamber music groups in both the United States and various countries in Asia.

For over two decades, Gloria s

Gloria is a cellist, instructor, and coach, with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Cello Performance from the California Institute of the Arts. As an instrumentalist, Gloria has performed with many professional symphony orchestras and chamber music groups in both the United States and various countries in Asia.

For over two decades, Gloria served as chairperson in a wide range of competitions, such as the Musical Arts Club, State and Greater Los Angeles Solo Competition, and ones hosted by the American Strings Teachers Association (ASTA). She is currently the chairperson for the Chamber Music Ensemble, Certificate of Merit (CM), and VOCE, under the Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC). As chairperson, Gloria oversees event outreach and logistics and manages a team of volunteers. For her service, she received the Distinguished Service Award from ASTA (California State and Greater Los Angeles section) in 2016 and 2017.

Gloria has also been on the faculty of the Taiwan Theological College and Seminary, Music Department, and was for many years the music director at the Formosan Presbyterian Church of Orange County (FPCOC). She has coached at several summer camps around the world, including the International Summer Music Festival in the U.S. Additionally, Gloria has adjudicated at competitions such as CM, Southwestern Youth Music Festival (SYMF), Saddleback College Solo Competition, VOCE, and other prestigious festivals.

From 1988 to 2000, Gloria headed the Lyric Arts Studio, which she co-founded. Her roles at the studio included music and theory instruction as well as program and curriculum development, overseeing the skills development of students from across the greater Orange County, California, region, for over twelve years.

In 2015, Gloria founded the Kardia Cello Choir, whose mission is to share music with communities with special needs and with the elderly population. The Kardia Cello Choir provides musicians of all ages with opportunities to come together and express their artistry and creativity in acts of community service. In addition to being the founder, Gloria directs and shapes the vision and longterm goals of Kardia.

Gloria remains an active instructor of students of all ages and experiences. Her students have

won competitions at the local, regional, and state levels, and many of have continued on to become university music majors. She is currently a member of the faculties of Vanguard University, Orange County Music and Dance (OCMD), and Orange Lutheran High School. Gloria also coaches for Junior Chamber Music (JCM) and the All Southern California Honor Orchestra (SCSBOA).

Gloria is passionate about expanding the reach of music because she understands the transforming power of music and the positive, longterm impact it has on individuals and their wellbeing.

 Ryan has been teaching music since 2016. Ryan has successfully aided his students with a variety of goals. For example: acceptance into the music programs of his alma mater California State University Northridge, acceptance to all state orchestral programs on the east coast, and acceptance to honor orchestras on the west coast. Being a g

 Ryan has been teaching music since 2016. Ryan has successfully aided his students with a variety of goals. For example: acceptance into the music programs of his alma mater California State University Northridge, acceptance to all state orchestral programs on the east coast, and acceptance to honor orchestras on the west coast. Being a graduate of many prestigious summer music festivals such as the Idyllwild Arts Academy, Sounding Point Academy at the Colburn School, Emerald Coast Chamber Music Festival and Institute, and most recently the Online Solo Strings Intensive, Ryan has a great deal of experience with advancing students to a high level and helping them achieve their goals great or small. Ryan was issued his Certificate of Merit by the Music Teacher’s Association of California in 2017 and has been a certified teacher since the age of 17. Having created a personalized curriculum, Ryan will always tailor lessons to the individual needs of the student based on their experience whether they are a beginner, intermediate, or more advanced player. Ryan has a unique love for the instrument also having studied instrument maintenance and repair and provides instrument consultations to students advising them how to choose a proper instrument for them. Ryan Porchas is a violinist and graduate from California State University Northridge with his bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance/Orchestral Strings where he studied with Lorenz Gamma, head of strings at CSUN, Roberto Cani, concert master of the LA Opera, and Benjamin Jacobson, founder of the Calder Quartet. He has also studied with international artists Stefan Jackiw, and Nancy Zhou, and Mark Kaplan, professor of violin at the Indiana Jacobs School of Music. Ryan has been playing the violin for 17 years and has had a variety of performance experience, with notable performances at Carnegie Hall and Walt Disney Concert Hall with the Southern California Youth Philharmonic, and at the Soraya with the Northridge University orchestra. Accompanying these experiences are additional performances as a duet with two violins, playing with various chamber groups, extensive studio work, and playing as a soloist.

Saxophonist Kenyon Brenner is an acclaimed musician, composer, and educator. A native of Colorado, he was a member of the University of Northern Colorado highly-esteemed Jazz Studies faculty from 2015-2020 as an Artist Faculty in Residence. In addition to recruiting and maintaining a standing private studio of nearly 20 undergraduate

Saxophonist Kenyon Brenner is an acclaimed musician, composer, and educator. A native of Colorado, he was a member of the University of Northern Colorado highly-esteemed Jazz Studies faculty from 2015-2020 as an Artist Faculty in Residence. In addition to recruiting and maintaining a standing private studio of nearly 20 undergraduate, masters, and doctoral jazz saxophonists at UNC, he also taught courses in Jazz Theory, Jazz Improvisation, Advanced Jazz Improvisation, The Standard Jazz Repertoire, Jazz Methods and Materials, and The Pedagogy of Improvisation. 

As an active performer, Kenyon can also be heard on many recordings, including as a featured guest artist on UNC Jazz Lab Band I’s Romeo and Juliet project, as a leader on a grant-funded album with the legendary drummer, Louis Hayes, and most notably on his debut album as a leader, The Long and Short of It. Kenyon has also performed with such artists as: Benny Green, Jeff Coffin, Donny McCaslin, Jeff Clayton, Terell Stafford, Dave Pietro, Jeff Hamilton, Clay Jenkins, Don Aliquo, Christian McBride, Chris Potter, Alex Sipiagin, Louis Hayes, Deborah Brown, Benny Golson, Ingrid Jensen, Dick Oatts, and the New York Voices. Kenyon has performed across the United States, Canada, Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean, including a year-long tour with the Glenn Miller Orchestra in 2012. 

While earning his degrees in jazz performance and composition, Kenyon Brenner was a member of UNC’s prestigious groups: Jazz Lab Band I, Vanguard Combo, and Vocal Lab. All three ensembles won Downbeat Magazine Student Music Awards for Best Graduate Large Ensemble, Best Graduate Small Ensemble, and Best Graduate Vocal Jazz Ensemble while he was a member. In their 2014 Student Music Awards, Downbeat Magazine recognized his original composition titled, “Pensitivity.” He was also a semifinalist in the North American Saxophone Alliance’s 2014 jazz saxophone competition. 

Mr. Kenyon teaches all levels of sax, directs CTMP's brass quintet, our music theory  with an emphasis on improvisation. 

Evan is a trumpeter and instructor from Southern California with experience in both classical and jazz stylings. Evan has performed with the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra for two years, and has recently toured internationally in their European debut. He is a member of the Colburn School of Music’s Jazz Big Band. He has been the re

Evan is a trumpeter and instructor from Southern California with experience in both classical and jazz stylings. Evan has performed with the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra for two years, and has recently toured internationally in their European debut. He is a member of the Colburn School of Music’s Jazz Big Band. He has been the recipient of the Marine Corps Musical Excellence Award, and is a two time winner of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award. Evan has performed in multiple honor groups at both the state and national levels, including the SCSBOA All Southern Honor Band and the University of Nebraska Omaha’s All-Star Big Band. He looks forward to working with and inspiring students of all ages and levels in their musical journey.