Guitar & Ukulele Faculty
Raul Quines
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Raul Quines is a composer and singer-songwriter and his main instruments are piano, guitar and voice. He received his formal training at the Manhattan School of Music in Composition and Bachelor of Music in Piano. At Hunter College, he studied Composition and Master of Art in Ethnomusicology. He had the good fortune of studying with Lazlo Cser, Dalmo Carra, Erik Lundborg, Giampaolo Bracali, Nils Vigeland and Mark Spicer. Mr. Quines taught Composition, Music Theory and Ear-training at the Manhattan School of Music Preparatory Division. His latest released works include Music for Lamentation, a 9/11 dedication piece for string orchestra, “There’s A Bridge” (for solo classical guitar), “Lilac Wine” (voice and telecaster), “Mesmerized” (voice, piano, electric guitars and strings) and MOONS & ARCHES (debut solo EP), which are available on all streaming platforms.
Mr. Quines is delighted to join the faculty at Amabile School of Music and looks forward to sharing his art, expertise and creative spirit. He believes that each music student has a unique voice and is eager to help cultivate that in each of his student. "Through this collaborative effort, as student and teacher, we can continue to build a vibrant community of confident and sound minds.” When not engaged in music, he enjoys cooking, reading poetry and playing golf. |
Ryan Gordon
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Ryan Gordon is a multi-talented musician and instructor. He has been playing musical instruments since age three. Ryan considers one of his strengths to be the ability to connect with children, and emphasize enthusiasm for the instruments. At age eight, Ryan was mentored by a professional drummer and sound engineer, and it developed Ryan’s love of songwriting, which ultimately proved to be a catalyst that would help Ryan to seek out more formal training in multiple instruments on alto saxophone, drum set, piano, electric bass, guitar, ukulele and upright bass. Since high school, Ryan has sought out music theory concepts, Bach voice leading techniques, to Gil Evans voice voice-leading techniques, which have all contributed to the piano style that Ryan uses today. Additional materials that Ryan has studied on piano include The Mark Levine Jazz Piano book, Oscar Peterson's Night Train’ transcription book, and Debussy's Children’s Corner’ and ‘Claire De Lune.’ As a bassist, Ryan has also played with many talented pianists, performing over 250 gigs, and has been able to observe and learn from great pianists, while collaborating with them. Ryan has studied piano formally with Ray Gallon, and Garrett Michelsen.
As a professional musician, composer, and producer, Ryan has worked with five Grammy winners. Ryan currently scores the film that peaked at the top seven on the US iTunes pre-order chart called The Bad Shepherd. Ryan is also a recipient of the San Francisco Arts Commission 23/24 grant - for a 13-piece big band double album for which Ryan will be composing and producing. |
Jonathan Shanley
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Jonathan is a Classical guitarist and pianist based in San Francisco originally hailing from the East Coast. He started playing the guitar at 11, studying jazz with Sandy Renda in Belleville, NJ.
He discovered classical guitar at 17 and pursued the study of it at Bloomsburg University with Dr. Matthew Slotkin where he earned a Bachelor of the Arts degree dual-tracking in Music Education and Guitar Performance where he taught piano and guitar to kids of all ages. Jonathan furthered his education by finishing a Master’s Degree in Guitar Studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music with Dr. David Tanenbaum. Along the way, he took part in lessons and Master Classes with many other notable performers such as Sergio Assad, Thomas Viloteau, and Jason Vieaux. Jonathan has been teaching guitar for over 5 years and his goal is to cultivate his students’ love for the arts and for life. Jonathan uses observations of what inspires his students to develop lesson plans that encourage enthusiasm for their art form, discipline in their study, and confident freedom of expression in their performance. Outside of playing and studying the guitar, Jonathan enjoys a meditation practice, hiking, reading, and distance running. |
Eli Eckert
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Eli Eckert has been teaching guitar, drum and piano lessons in the Bay Area for the past 14
years. He has taught students of all ages in both private lessons and at local music schools. Fostering a sense of joy for playing music that students will carry with them throughout their lifetime is one of Eli’s main goals as a teacher. He strives to create an enjoyable, encouraging and appropriately challenging atmosphere for his students. In addition to teaching new skills and emphasizing dedication, he also works to instill a sense of confidence and excitement to help students get the most out of their musical journey. Eli is also a songwriter, instrumentalist and singer who has co-founded and led several bands, recorded multiple albums and toured throughout the U.S. and Europe. He has been part of the local music scene for the past three decades and continues to perform in clubs and venues around the Bay Area. He lives in Oakland with his wife and two sons. |
Essie DeVille
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Essie is a contemporary-folk powerhouse with a sound that lends itself to greats like The Waifs, Janis Joplin, and Ani DeFranco. Essie’s unique form of contemporary folk incorporates soulful vocals, live looping, and transcendent guitar reminiscent of an age best not forgotten.
Solo, accompanied by multi-instrumentalists as Essie Thomas Trio or with a full band, she has been described as: “A songwriter who doesn’t mess with her words,” (Blank Magazine, GC) breathing roots, blues and bohemian gypsy jazz into every note. Essie has drawn crowds to Australian festival stages since the early 2000s, touring extensively In Australia, Canada and The USA. As a soloist or with her band, Essie Thomas owns a stage presence that leaves audiences aching for more. She has graced the stage of some of Australia’s favorite events: Woodford Folk Festival, Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Palm Creek Folk Festival, Seven Sisters, Kuranda Roots, Island Vibe, Earth Frequency Festival, Rainbow Serpent and The Dreaming. Essie has played alongside some of Australia’s finest including but not limited to Shane Howard, Archie Roach, Hiatus Kaiyote, Mojo Juju, Mia Dyson, John Butler, and Wolfmother. |
Elias Lozano
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Elias is a seasoned music educator with years of teaching experience. With a decade of guitar and bass playing under his belt and four years of live performance experience in venues across the Bay Area, Elias brings a wealth of practical knowledge to his students. His diverse background includes roles as a performance program music director, where he has honed his ability to inspire and develop budding musicians. Elias is passionate about fostering a love for music in his students, helping them develop their skills, and guiding them to express themselves creatively through their instruments. His teaching approach is rooted in real-world experience, ensuring that students not only learn the technical aspects of music but also how to perform with confidence and passion.
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Irene Cheng
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Irene Cheng is a musician, dancer, conductor, and educator. In 2022, she completed her Master’s of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Cal State East Bay (CSUEB) and in 2023 the Music Education Certificate Program also from CSUEB. She is currently the Assistant Conductor for The Dragon Singers community choir in the East Bay. Irene is also a concert percussionist for the West County Winds and for the Kensington Symphony Orchestra.
In the 2022-23 school year, Irene served as the Associate Conductor for the Cal State East Bay University Choir, as well as the Associate Conductor for the East Bay Youth Orchestra, led by Dr. William Harrington, where she also rehearsed and conducted one or two pieces per concert set. Since 2013 Irene has been teaching either group or private lessons for piano, singing, percussion/drum set, and ukulele. For ten years, Irene has also played keyboard, and drums, and sang for various church worship bands, and for a country band called Suzi and the Sidewinders. The fondest musical childhood memories began with the family watching The Lawrence Welk Show after dinner. They featured all sorts of musical acts, and Irene’s father held her in his arms and danced around the living room to old-fashioned polka music. Formal music training started with private classical piano at age nine, but a few years later, a different teacher taught Irene how to improvise with chords. By the time she got into a high school jazz band, those improvisational skills came in handy on the piano and vibraphone. In middle school and high school Irene started her journey as a percussionist too. Marching band, concert band, and drumline filled her early mornings, afternoons, and weekends. In college, Irene began singing with the Women’s Chorale at UC Berkeley, where she first became aware of how music performed well has the power to move audiences, even though they could not understand the words. As she got married and had children, Irene decided to be a homeschooler. While teaching her own children, she also volunteered to teach group classes with HEARTS Homeschool Coop one day a week for other homeschooled children: group piano, percussion, drum set, choir, partner dance, choreography, dance aerobics, long distance running, work working, machine sewing, art, creative writing, and more. Mrs. Cheng was the “Fun Mom.” People would say that they were surprised how these fun classes were actually not easy, but kids were willing to put in the time because they loved what they were learning. In those 18 years of volunteer teaching, Irene grew deeper in her calling to keep teaching even after her children grew up and left home. To prepare for becoming a professional music teacher, Irene went back to college later in life and studied music for 9 years. Music is one of the very best things in life, and there is nothing that brings more joy to Irene then shared it with others by giving them the tools to make music their own. |
Jake Kolpas
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Jake has been playing music since he was a child and has worked in education for over a decade. He has worked in public, private, and charter schools as a classroom teacher, physical education teacher, afterschool program director, summer program director, and one-on-one tutor, and he plays the guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, and violin in addition to working as a DJ and dabbling in music production. He has a degree in music from Hampshire College and a degree in education from Holy Names University. As an educator, Jake believes in always tying lessons to his students’ interests and collaborating together in creating interdisciplinary projects.
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Matt Funamura (online only)
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Matt Funamura is a trumpeter, guitarist, composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist raised in the Sierra Nevada Foothills near Sacramento. At the age of six, he picked up his first guitar and trumpet at the age of 8 beginning his musical journey. He majored in music performance and jazz studies at American River College in Sacramento, California for two years during which time he was a freelance musician throughout the west coast. He then went on to earn a Bachelor of Performance from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA.
Matt has performed with and studied under numerous musicians in a wide range of genres including: Angelique Kidjo, Ingrid Jensen, Tiger Okoshi, Gamble & Huff, Salvador Santana, Joe Gilman, Charles Haynes, Dontae Winslow, Jerry Martini, and Victor Mendoza. He currently plays with local legend Ed Ivey and the North Beach Brass Band, as well as a wide range of musical acts in Northern California. He teaches trumpet, guitar, bass, ukulele, and mandolin. |