Meet Our Teachers

Debi R.

Founder & Voice

Allison L.

Voice & Piano

Allison L. is a dedicated vocal and piano instructor, cultivating a love for music for all students along their musical journeys! She teaches all styles of music, with a special passion for R&B, jazz, and soul. Allison can also show students how to play piano while singing, so they can accompany themselves with confidence. Also, for piano students, she can teach beginning through intermediate levels, and focuses mostly on classical music to build a strong foundation while making lessons fun and inspiring!

Andrew C.

Voice, Guitar, Piano, & Ukulele

My name is Andrew C. I have been playing music since the age of 7, starting on guitar. I was inspired to become a music teacher in middle school while I was attending a guitar class. Throughout high school, I was involved in marching band, guitar and jazz band. Around this time, I started learning about drums and really loved to sing. During my time at Fresno City College, I continued to learn more about drums and took courses on piano. Shortly after transferring to Fresno State, I got involved with Concert Choir, Mariachi and guitar ensemble. Currently, I’m finishing my music degree at Fresno State and hope to become a teacher and continue to perform in my band and other projects that may come in the future.

Ashley A.

Voice, Alto Sax, Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, & Piano

Ashley began her music journey playing Clarinet in 2007. Since that time she has learned and performed with several other instruments including piano, saxophone and Marimba. She also has a background in vocal performance and sang with the Advanced Chamber Choir at her high school. She currently sings with the choir at her college and in 2016 performed with them in France for two weeks. Besides her musical skills she has also displayed her leadership skills and is a former Drum Major for The Selma Black Bear Brigade. She looks forward to helping new students with their music advancement.

Astrid P.

Voice

Astrid has 20+ years of experience teaching voice to all types of singers. Genres include Rock, Pop and Musical Theatre. She also teaches songwriting. Her background includes having a top 10 worldwide hit in the mid 80s and she specializes in performance skills. She typically prefers slightly older students 12 through adult. She is also available on Zoom.

Burke L.

Voice & Piano

Burke L. is a vocalist with over 16 years of live performance experience across rock, pop, and jazz. In his early musical years, he performed in choir, chamber choir, jazz choir, musicals, concert band, percussion ensemble, and marching band. A former student of Debi R. for nine years, Burke previously served as a Vocal and Piano Instructor at Fresno Music Academy & Arts from 2019 to 2024 and has since returned to continue teaching. His musicianship is supported by coursework in music theory and vocal performance at Fresno City College. Drawing from both formal study and extensive live performance experience, Burke strives to help students build confidence, develop strong technique, and gain a deeper understanding of music while encouraging creativity and personal expression. Burke has performed for over 14 years as the lead vocalist for the 80s tribute band Max Headroom and the 90s/modern rock cover band One Hot Minute, and for more than 16 years as a jazz vocalist with the Joe Lenigan Band.

Cady M.

Voice, Music Funtime, & Art FUNdamentals

Cady M. has been employed at Fresno Music Academy & Arts for a year as a vocal coach and as part of the Rhythm & Rainbows program. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Arts from Fresno State and also minored in music. Cady enjoys and performs in musical theatre, and is the narrator of five audiobooks available for purchase on Kindle.

Caleb S.

Viola & Violin

Teaching violin for over 20 years. Have been playing for nearly 40. Has played in the Tulare Symphony Orchestra and the Fresno City College Community Center Orchestra, both for over 10 years. Have had students who graduated FSU with their bachelors in violin performance.

David A.

Piano

David A. has been playing piano for more than 50 years and has been teaching at FMAA for 10 years. He works with piano students from beginner to advanced, ages 8 and above. He particularly loves working with experienced piano students who want to learn jazz. He also works with advanced vocalists to create arrangements and build their repertoire. As a busy performer, he plays with the Jazz Composers Orchestra and the Latin Jazz Fresno Big Band, and is musical director for a number of gigging bands.

Debbie G.

Voice

Debbie G. is a professional vocalist with extensive experience in Mexican music, Latin, pop, jazz, and big band Swing, as well as a background as a competitive dancer and teacher. I specialize in private voice lessons, where I integrate movement with vocal training—especially for young singers—and prepare students for theater auditions and showcases. If you are looking to explore your singing voice in an intimate learning environment, please let me know how we can work together.

Gabriel F.

Piano, Viola, & Violin

Gabriel F. has been playing the Violin/Viola for 15 years and the Piano for 10 years. With a classical focused background, he is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. Since joining FMAA in 2021, he primarily works with students aged 8 and up, but is willing to work with younger students that have a focused interest in the instrument of their choice. He teaches Piano to students of a beginning to late intermediate level. He also teaches Violin/Viola to students of a beginning to advanced level. His teaching style focuses on fluency of music reading, scales, and technique. Gabriel is open to exploring any music that his students have an interest in.

Gino A.

Voice, Piano, & Ukulele

Gino A. is a 4th year Music Major in Vocal Performance. He has taken part in the 5th, 6th, and 7th Fresno State Art Song Festival, National Concerts in Carnegie Hall (2024), the Classical Singer Competition (2023, 2024) and has won the Kristina Townsend Encouragement Award in 2022. Gino is on his way to graduating and aims to pursue a career in choral conducting.

Harley G.

Guitar, Bass Guitar, Ukulele, & Rock Lab

Harley G. is a multi-instrumentalist and performer, and has been teaching at FMAA for over 5 years. He primarily teaches guitar and bass, but gives ukulele lessons as well! He’s also the administrator for the recently launched “Rock Lab” program at FMAA. His areas of expertise: Rock, blues, pop, Latin fusion.

Ionemarie L.

Voice, Piano, Music Funtime, & Art FUNdamentals

Ionemarie is a passionate music educator who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music with an emphasis in Vocal Performance from California State University, Fresno. She has over five years of teaching experience at Fresno Music Academy and Arts, where she’s had the joy of working with students of all ages, from young children to adults. At Fresno Music Academy and Arts, Ione teaches preschool art and music classes as well as private voice and piano lessons. She strives to create a welcoming and encouraging learning environment where students feel comfortable exploring music, building confidence, and developing strong foundational skills. Her areas of focus include opera, musical theater, and beginning-to-intermediate music theory, along with a well-rounded understanding of both the voice and piano. Alongside teaching, Ione has been performing on stage since elementary school. Her performance experience includes participating in showcases at Fresno Music Academy and Arts, opera productions at Fresno State such as La Bohème, and musical theater productions including Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. These experiences shape her teaching by helping students grow not only in technique, but also in expression, confidence, and stage presence. Ionemarie is passionate about sharing her love of music and helping each student discover their own voice in a fun, supportive, and inspiring way.

Juliette F.

Voice & Piano

Described by Grammy-award winning artist Virginia Kelsey as a “truly stunning voice and generous performer,” and by baritone Daniel Bishop as “the greatest young instrument I’ve heard in all my decades,” Juliette F. is an up-and-coming performer and pedagogue. With over a decade of performance experience, Juliette has sung in venues including Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House. Juliette’s extensive experimentation in singing and teaching spans a multitude of genres, including classical opera, musical theater, r&b, jazz, gospel, pop, country, and even specialized techniques such as riffing, yodeling, overtone singing, and public speech. With her degree in Vocal Performance, Juliette finds joy in working with students of all ages.

Kaleah M.

Voice, Music Funtime, & Art FUNdamentals

Kaleah M. is a classically trained soprano and music educator currently pursuing her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at Fresno State University. Music and performing have always been a part of Kaleah’s life from an early age. Growing up, attending performing arts schools and singing in community choruses helped her spark her love for the stage and eventually inspire her to pursue music professionally. As a teacher, she loves helping students of all ages and experience levels feel more comfortable and confident in their voices. She believes that learning to sing should be encouraging, creative, and enjoyable, and that every student deserves the space to discover what makes their voices unique. Whether a student is brand new to singing, preparing for a performance, or simply looking to grow, Kaleah enjoys meeting them where they are and helping them work towards their individual goals. She also works with young children at Fresno Music Academy and Arts, teaching Music and Art Fundamentals to preschool aged students. This experience has helped her learn how to adapt her teaching to different personalities, ages, and learning styles while keeping music fun and approachable. Her performance background includes Opera, Musical Theater, singing festivals and competitions, and Choral activities. At Fresno State, Kaleah performed as Musetta in Puccini’s La Boheme, participated in Art Song festivals, and currently sings in the Concert and Chamber choirs. She has also participated in numerous Theater and Musical Theater, including performing the role of Bea in Kirkpatrick and O’Farrell’s Something Rotten. Her experience across different styles of music and performance has shaped her love for storytelling and helps her encourage students to become not only stronger singers, but more confident and expressive performers. Above all, Kaleah wants her students to enjoy making music. She hopes to create a space where students can learn new things, ask questions, build healthy vocal skills, and become more confident in themselves as singers and performers.

Larry L.

Accordion & Piano

Larry L. is a performer, instructor, composer, and arranger, and a fine art photographer as well as a musician. He has performed locally, playing accordion at DiCicco's Italian Restaurant, and has played with the band Alternate Roots. His photography portfolio is at https://larmusik520da0.myportfolio.com/home.

Mark G.

Guitar, Bass Guitar, & Harmonica

Mark G. has been teaching guitar for over 20 years, helping teens and adult students develop their skills, confidence, and love of music. As a performing, recording, and touring musician, Mark brings real-world experience into his lessons while creating a fun, encouraging, and supportive learning environment. With a background as a school psychologist, Mark understands that every student learns differently and adapts lessons to fit each student’s goals, interests, and learning style. He specializes in rock ’n’ roll from the 1950s–2000s, country, reggae, ska, jazz, and modern pop, and also teaches bass and harmonica. Whether a student is just starting out or looking to grow as a musician, Mark makes lessons accessible, engaging, and rewarding.

Michael F.

Voice & Piano

Michael F. knows how to do funny, as he’s shown again and again while serving up comedic gems on theater stages across the Valley. But he’s equally capable of giving audiences emotional depth that reflects his reality as a soulful actor. F. is a character actor – and proud of it – with a backstory of courage and resilience. He’s appeared in 14 shows since the summer of 2019, and in one of those years, Covid turned out the lights on live theater. So however you look at it, that’s a lot of performing. (Excerpt from an article by Doug Hoagland)

Shawn T.

Viola, Violin, Guitar, Double Bass, Cello, & Piano

Shawn earned his B.A. in Instrumental Performance, as well as his M.A. in Music Performance from California State University, Fresno, where he studied with former principal of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Bruce Bransby. He currently works as a section coach at several intermediate and high schools throughout the Fresno and Clovis Unified School Districts, where he teaches both group and private lessons. He also coaches bass players as young as elementary school with the Youth Orchestras of Fresno, where he also serves as librarian. He continues to perform regularly with several orchestras throughout the Valley.

Steve O.

Guitar, Banjo, Ukulele, & Mandolin

Guitarist Steve O. has extensive knowledge of, and experience in, jazz, folk, rock, funk, blues, country, and world music honed over a 50-year professional career. He can play all guitar-like instruments as well as being a singer/songwriter/composer, arranger/producer and guitar teacher. I am a musician, teacher and producer. I sing and play guitar and bass guitar. I work solo, in a variety of duos and freelance. I read music and play by ear. I can also transcribe, arrange and compose music. I teach my instruments at the Fresno Music Academy and Arts. I write and record my own songs and instrumentals and produce other artists for Fresno Folklore Records. Steve O.’s first solo public performance was at the 1971 McLane High School Talent Show. The first paid performance was in 1973 in a coffeehouse in Steenwijk, the Netherlands. Steve played bass guitar in the Fresno progressive rock band Folly’s Pool and co-wrote several songs on their 1976 debut album. He went solo at that time and began to study jazz guitar. Moving to LA he became a 1980 graduate of the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood, managed at that time by Tommy Tedesco of the Wrecking Crew. Steve moved back to Fresno in 1985 and added guitar teaching, home recording and studying computer music to his activities. At this time he began a musical partnership with harmonica master Eddie Gordon, veteran of late vaudeville and early TV. Songwriting took on new importance in November 1993, with the release of "The Maximus Sessions," a compilation CD of Fresno area songwriters and artists. Steve’s song: "Serious Man," received airplay and was mentioned as a standout by the Fresno Bee. In 1995-96, Steve appeared on the CSUF Production, "Works in Progress", with Thomas Witt-Ellis for broadcast on KVPT channel 18. In 2004 Steve appeared with Eddie Gordon on the CSU Summer Arts /KVPT/Comcast live broadcast of the “Blues in the Tower” show at the Tower Theater. Steve can compose or improvise original music in any style for any situation and/or mood on demand, copy almost any style of music by ear and transcribe it to create sheet music, read musical notation and chord symbols and change the key of the music to whatever is needed. He can record any of the above with the live instruments, samples and loops or he can recruit, contract, and rehearse a group of musicians for a studio recording. Steve O.’s solo set includes playing acoustic, bass, and electric guitars into a loop recording device and creating a full multitrack background live. The music styles can range from traditional country to modern jazz with rock, Latin, and blues thrown in.

Trent A.

Piano & Drums

For drums — I have been playing for 16 years. I am very proficient in rock/hard rock, metal, funk, pop and odd time. Can play and teach jazz but not as experienced in it. I can read, play, and teach marching snare but don’t know anything about the actual footwork for marching. I’m comfortable with teaching students of any level. I focus heavily on reading and writing of sheet music. For piano — Did 4 years of piano for my major in college and took some lessons as a child. Proficient in theory, ear training, and reading of sheet music. Comfortable with students of beginner and intermediate. For higher level students I believe there are better suited teachers here.