FMC instructors

Piano


Alex Lu

School Attended: Biola University
Degree: B.M./B.M.
Major: Piano Performance and Composition
Teaching Experience: Piano and Composition/Theory
Been teaching since: 1998
Music awards: Performing Arts Foundation for Asian-Americans (PAFAA): awarded Piano Scholarship, 2003
Biola University Awards:
Piano Faculty Scholarship: 2004-2005;
Composition Competition: awarded First Prize to Psalms for Voice and Piano, 2004; Piano Competition: awarded First Prize, 2004; Outstanding Musician in Composition: 2002-2003; Composition Competition: awarded Second Prize to Midnight Howl, 2002; Raynerd Brown Composition Award: 2002-2003; Raynerd Brown Award: 2001-2002
Performing Experience: Nordstrom, Biola University Jazz Band, Biola University Youth Theater



Catherine Tai

School Attended: Musician Institute
Degree: Certificate
Major: Piano, Vocal
Been teaching since: 1996
Performing Experience: Eight years of playing and singing in public restaurants



Cindy Yang

School Attended: Azusa Pacific University
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Major: Music Education
Teaching Experience: Music Teacher Academy, Azusa Conservatory of Music coach and school band conductor, pianist at local churches
Been teaching since: 2000
Music awards: Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music – Piano Performance Merit Honors 1996
Performing Experience: Several recitals and university concerts



Danni Tang

School Attended: UCSD, Mt. Sac
Degree: B.M.
Major: Computer Engineer & Music
Teaching Experience: Private instructor
Been teaching since: 1999
Music awards:
Performing Experience: A.M.E. Church accompanist & various university concerts



Jacob Lu

Mr. Jacob Lu majored in composition theory at the Culture University in Taiwan. He has performed in Taiwan and the U.S. as a professional pianist for gospel and popular music in churches and television stations for over 20 years. Encouraged by professor Shui-Long Ma, he has developed a unique technique for piano improvisation, which is fully described in his published two volumes of “Creative Folksong Piano”. Lu’s compositions include Christmas cantata “Behold! The Star”, Easter cantata “He Was Risen”, the volume of sacred piece “Songs of Psalms”, the volume of Taiwan folksong “The Egret in Grainfield”, piano solo “The Memory of Raining Home Town”, “Love Suite” for equal voice and SATB chorus. He also arranged for the volume of gospel music “The Pledge of Love”, Taiwanese folksong suite “Reminiscence” for woodwind quintet, Taiwanese folksong suite “Romantic Rendezvous” for string quartet, “Drinking Song in Village” for equal voices and SATB chorus. Some of the music has already been published on CDs or cassettes.



Jen Chan






School Attended: University of Cincinnati, Ohio
Degree: Master of Music
Major: Clarinet Performance
Teaching Experience: 2004 - Instructor for piano and clarinet in KMC Music Academy and Fountain Music; 1996-2004 - Instructor for piano and clarinet in Playtime music and Yamaha Music, instructor for clarinet section of Taipei Huis-Te Public Elementary School band and Tamkang University Summer Music Camp; Music teacher in Private St. Ignatius High School and also the conductor in Wind-Symphony band of same school
Been teaching since: 1996
Music awards: 2002 Pass audition to participate in International Clarinet and Saxophone Connection 2002 in Boston; 1999 First prizes in music category for both the Best Teaching Performance and Best Interview in Fu-Jen Catholic University Music Teacher Capability Training Camp
Performing Experience: 1997-2003 - Have clarinet solo recitals and chamber music recitals in Taiwan and U.S.A.; 2000-2003 - Performed in many famous master classes and studied with well-known musicians: Jonathan Cohler, Philippe Cuper, Thomas Martin, Luis Rossi and Ronald DeKant; 1994-2003 - Many concerts with Cincinnati Wind Symphony and Cincinnati Symphony Band in Corbett Auditorium, Ohio; Concert tours with Taipei County Teacher Symphony, Fu-Jen Catholic University at Tiere College and Youth Symphony band at Idyllwild School of Music and Arts



Jennifer Lin

School Attended: Chinese Culture University, Cal State Fullerton
Degree: Bachelor of Arts, Master of Music
Major: Piano performance
Teaching Experience: Private piano teacher; several music schools teacher
Been teaching since: 1997
Music awards: First & Third Award of Tainan (Taiwan) County piano competition, Top award of Chopin piano competition in Taiwan
Performing Experience: Minor in viola, play with school orchestra in National Concert Hall in Taipei; as a pianist joined a mobile troupe in Taiwan



Lei Zhang

School Attended: Citrus Community College
Degree: A.A.
Major: Fine and performing arts
Teaching Experience: Group and private music teacher
Been teaching since: March 2003
Music awards: Certificate of Academic Achievement
Performing Experience: Jazz ensemble (piano), wind symphony (percussion), Orange County Performing Arts Center festival



Sarah Lo

School Attended: University of California, Irivine (UCI)
Degree: Bachelor of Music
Major: Piano Performance
Teaching Experience: 1999-2003 teaching as piano tutor, 2000-01 children’s choir accompanist, 2000-03 church choir accompanist, 2003-04 FMC
Been teaching since: 1998
Music awards: 1st place in 2000 Contemporary Competition of MTAC San Gabriel Valley Branch, 1st place in Piano Qualifying of 2000 Southwestern Youth Music Festival



Shirley Coddington

School Attended: Cal Poly Pomona, Yamaha graduate
Major: Piano
Teaching Experience: Group and private piano instructor for 9 years
Been teaching since: 1995



Sisilia Ong

School Attended: Cal Poly Pomona, Chapman University
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Major: Music education, Music therapy
Teaching Experience: Private piano lessons, group music lessons, music lessons for students with special needs (Special Education)
Been teaching since: 1998
Music awards: Outstanding graduate award in 2001 from Cal Poly Pomona Music Department
Performing Experience: Various piano solo concerts & recitals



Theresa Chen



School Attended: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Cal State Fullerton
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts
Major: Business-Economics, Piano Pedagogy
Teaching Experience: Private piano instructor, former Education Intern for the Pasadena Symphony, group music instructor for 3-5 year olds at Kinder-Keyboard, group keyboard instructor for Elements Music’s 21st Century Modern Keyboard Approach, taught group keyboard at Mira Catalina Elementary School in Palos Verdes & El Marino Elementary in Culver City
Been teaching since: 2000
Music awards: 2003 Performing Arts Foundation for Asian-Americans scholarship, 2001 Don Gunderson Music scholarship, 2000 All-Southern California High School Honor Band, 2nd place winner of the 2000 Southern Youth Music Festival in duo piano, 2000 Bank of America Award in Fine Arts, 2000 Louis Armstrong Music trophy, passed Advanced level & panel in Certificate of Merit, National Dean’s List in 2001, 2002, & 2003
Performing Experience: Clarinet player at UCLA Symphonic Band, various master classes including with the Contiguglia Brothers, several solo recitals, workshops, and concerts


Strings


Ariel Yeh

School Attended: Taiwan Soochow Unversity
Major: in Violin & piano at Taiwan Soochow University, USC Advanced Studies
Private instructor since: 1997



Corey Wilson

School Attended: Cal State University, Los Angeles, Cerritos College, University of Utah, Utah Valley Community College
Major: Violin Performance
Teaching Experience: Private violin instructor at Fountain Music, Wilson Music, Graham Music, Vibe P.A.S., and Sat. Conservatory of Music



Mark Lai

School Attended: University of S. California (USC), Rice University, Juilliard School
Degree: Certificate, Master of Music, Bachelor of Music, respectively
Major: Violin, minor in piano
Teaching Experience: Taught at the Chinese Community Center in Houston & private students
Been teaching since: 1995



Terry Lin

School Attended:
Major:
Teaching Experience:



Tan Gao

Professor Tan Gao, an accomplished violinist and violin instructor, graduated from the General Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor’s Degree. Gao pursued advanced studies under famous violinist Zhong-Guo Sheng, then graduated from Syracuse University and Indiana State University with a Masters Degree. With over 25 years of experience in teaching, he was the concertmaster of Livonia Symphony and the Detroit Chamber Orchestra in Michigan. Gao was granted the “Government Award for the Arts” in China and the Life Achievement Award by International Chamber Players (ICP) in the U.S.


Winds


Dan Perkins

School Attended: Arizona State University
Degree: Bachelor Degree
Major: Music Performance
Teaching Experience: 1993-94 woodwinds teacher at St. Gregory middle school, 2000-01 Band Director in Taipei, Taiwan
Been teaching since: 1992
Music awards: Attended Arizona State University under a full talent scholarship Performing Experience: Freelance musician in all styles, including recording studios, concerts, TV, big bands, orchestras, and theatres



Jen Chan






School Attended: University of Cincinnati, Ohio
Degree: Master of Music
Major: Clarinet Performance
Teaching Experience: 2004 - Instructor for piano and clarinet in KMC Music Academy and Fountain Music; 1996-2004 - Instructor for piano and clarinet in Playtime music and Yamaha Music, instructor for clarinet section of Taipei Huis-Te Public Elementary School band and Tamkang University Summer Music Camp; Music teacher in Private St. Ignatius High School and also the conductor in Wind-Symphony band of same school
Been teaching since: 1996
Music awards: 2002 Pass audition to participate in International Clarinet and Saxophone Connection 2002 in Boston; 1999 First prizes in music category for both the Best Teaching Performance and Best Interview in Fu-Jen Catholic University Music Teacher Capability Training Camp
Performing Experience: 1997-2003 - Have clarinet solo recitals and chamber music recitals in Taiwan and U.S.A.; 2000-2003 - Performed in many famous master classes and studied with well-known musicians: Jonathan Cohler, Philippe Cuper, Thomas Martin, Luis Rossi and Ronald DeKant; 1994-2003 - Many concerts with Cincinnati Wind Symphony and Cincinnati Symphony Band in Corbett Auditorium, Ohio; Concert tours with Taipei County Teacher Symphony, Fu-Jen Catholic University at Tiere College and Youth Symphony band at Idyllwild School of Music and Arts



Jonathan Dickerson

School Attended: Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State LA
Degree: B.A. in Music Education, B.A. in Philosophy
Major: Currently working on M.A. in Ethics (Moral Philosophy)
Teaching Experience: Studio teacher for 7 years privately and at Gard Music and Fountain Music
Been teaching since: 1997
Music awards: Several music scholarships
Performing Experience: Performed with Cal Poly Jazz Band for 5 years from 1998-2002



Mandy Brown

School Attended: Biola University
Degree: Bachelor of Music
Major: Flute performance
Teaching Experience: Private flute teacher for 5 years and at FMC for 1 year
Been teaching since: 1999
Music awards: Winner of Albuquerque Flute Association Young Artist Competition for 4 years; winner of 2002-03 Albuquerque Youth Symphony Concerto Competition; 1st in state in New Mexico Allstate Orchestra
Performing Experience: Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program – 7 years; New Mexico Allstate Band/Orchestra, 4 years; Albuquerque Youth Symphony Woodwind Quintet – 3 years; 2002 Tanglewood Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra; 2002 Tanglewood Woodwind Quintet; currently a member of the Biola University Symphonic Winds and Chamber Orchestra; freelanced in New Mexico and the LA area; performed in master classes


Percussion

Philip Chen

School Attended: Blue Bear Art School, Dick Grove School of Music
Major: Percussion
Teaching Experience: Taipei Communication Art School music teacher
Performing Experience: Performed in jazz clubs, Las Vegas, TV shows, movie soundtracks, etc.



Ryuta Fukaya

School Attended: Musicians Institute
Degree: Percussion Institute
Major: Drums
Teaching Experience: Private drums instructor for children and adults


Guitar


Antonio Nabong

School Attended: Mt. San Antonio College, Musician Institute
Major: Bass & Music Production & Engineering
Teaching Experience: Private lessons



Louis Yao

School Attended: Cal State Los Angeles
Degree: Bachelors of Music
Major: Jazz Studies
Teaching Experience: Private guitar teacher at Fountain Music Center since 2000
Been teaching since: 2000
Performing Experience: Lots of performing experience, including bands, gigs, concerts, and university concerts



Johnny Chao

Johnny started playing guitar at the age of 13. Throughout high school and college, he has played with numerous band in L.A. and began playing professionally at the age of 21. After graduating from California State University, he decided to further pursue his music education and attended Musician’s Institute in Hollywood and majored in guitar. In the same year, he began playing as a session guitarist, playing two to four nights a week at local clubs and Las Vegas Casinos such as MGM’s Grand Garden Arena, and Mandalay Bay’s Events Center. Today Johnny spends most of his time teaching and recording, while remaining as an active session guitarist.



Ryan Hsiao

School Attended: Berklee College of Music, Musicians Institute
Degree: Short-terms (3 semesters at Berklee, 2 quarters at MI)
Major: Guitar performance (currently a business major)
Teaching Experience: Taught at ATB Music in Taiwan, taught privately in Singapore, taught at Fountain Music
Been teaching since: 1998
Performing Experience: Played in various schools gigs in Singapore and Taiwan, played at Berklee and Musicians Institute, playing in a band in LA.
 



Michael Olsen

School Attended: Musicians Institute
Degree: Journeyman, Professional Certificates
Major: Guitar
Teaching Experience: Guitar instructor for private lessons