Elementary

Jeremy Preston

Mr. Preston was recently appointed Associate Concertmaster of the Oakland East Bay Symphony. Before moving to San Francisco last August, he was a violinist with the North Carolina Symphony for seven seasons. While in Raleigh, he was a member of the North Carolina Symphony String Quartet, Mallarme Chamber Players, and the Eastern Festival Chamber Players. Jeremy is a faculty member of the SF Community Music Center and the Eastern Music Festival.

Thingamakids! Summer Camp

Join Thingamajigs’ team of artists in a fun and engaging arts camp designed to expand the young creative mind. Through interactive workshops incorporating music, body movement, drama and visual art, campers will gain a unique and well-rounded experience in creativity, collaboration and experimentation. 

Nicholas Isaacs

Full bio and statement available at Community School of Music and Arts (www.arts4all.org). I have taught piano, accompanying, chamber music, theory, history, and been active as recitalist, chamber musician and conductor for 45 years. I supervised the development of all curriculum at CSMA from 1985-2010. I teach beginning through professional levels, using ABRSM syllabus as an excellent guide to standards and milestones.

Michael Graham

I am a cellist and a cello teacher, performing frequently with the Oakland Symphony, the San Francisco Ballet, the New Century Chamber Orchestra, in San Francisco productions of Broadway musicals, and on tour with singer/songwriter Van Morrison.

Clio Tilton

Using a curriculum ranging from the baroque/early classical era and fiddle tunes for beginners to a more advanced and diverse repertoire for intermediate and advanced students, I aim to give each student a solid foundation on the violin or viola. This prepares my students to be able to read music and to play by ear and take the violin in whatever direction they choose later on. Using a combination of scales, exercises, rhythm games, I teach my students how to be comfortable and facile on their instruments and to be over all well rounded musicians.

Deanna Said

I am a freelance violist and experienced teacher in the bay area. I offer lessons at my home in Alameda and in Mountain View. I am principal violist for the Susanville Symphony and I often play with many groups in the bay area- including Berkeley, Monterey, Sacramento, Modesto and Merced Symphonies.
I received my BM from the San Francisco Conservatory, working with Jodi Levitz and my MM from the University of Nevada-Reno as a graduate teaching assistant to Stephanie Sant'Ambrogio.

Nicola Gruen

A Bay Area native, Nicola Gruen performed for several years as a violinist in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and freelanced with the Halle Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony and English National Ballet. She is recorded on numerous film soundtracks, including "Moulin Rouge," and she played regularly in the award winning musical "Martin Guerre." An alumna of The Crowden School, Nicola's mentors have been Anne Crowden, Colin Hampton, Virginia Baker and Emanuel Hurwitz.