Flute
Christy Kim
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California-born flutist & pianist, Christy Kim, enjoys an active career as an educator, orchestral and chamber musician. Christy has over 15 years of training and background in piano. She has been trained as a pianist through the Music Teacher’s Association of California and completed the Certificate of Merit program. In 2008, she performed Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto in G Minor with the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic. She currently teaches piano and flute at the West Portal Lutheran School and Henderson Academy of Music. Her principal teacher is Ornela Ervin.
Between 2016-2018, she was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, becoming the Flute Fellow in 2017-2018. She has performed with the Chicago Symphony and the St. Louis Symphony, joining them on their International Tour in 2017. She has performed alongside Yo-Yo Ma, and under conductors Esa-Pekka Salonen, Riccardo Muti, David Robertson, Han-na Chang, Christoph Eschenbach, and Leonard Slatkin. Her chamber music appearances include performing in the Kennedy Center’s Conservatory Project. Christy has spent summers at the Aspen Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, and National Repertory Orchestra. Future engagements for the 2018-2019 season include performing with the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Christy holds a Master’s Degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Southern California. Christy’s principal flute teachers are Mark Sparks, Tim Day, Jim Walker, and Susan Greenber. Christy believes that freedom of expression is the ultimate goal of any musician. Students learn the mechanics of the instrument and fundamental building blocks of musicianship: scales, tonal exercises, and technical etudes in addition to theory, orchestral excerpts, and solo repertoire. In addition, she draws awareness to the physical demands of playing an instrument to help prevent injuries and ensure longevity in our musical journeys. Her ultimate goal is to instill a sense of curiosity and encourage a lifelong love for music. |
Flute, Saxophone & Clarinet
Lucas Bere
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California-native Lucas Bere is an active performer, composer, and educator based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Lucas teaches saxophone, flute, clarinet, and piano. Every student learns differently, and Lucas adapts his teaching style to best fit each student. Some of Lucas’ students have gone on to participate in regional honor bands, as well as perform and receive recognition at festivals across the country. Lucas’ goal as an educator is to instill a passion for music in all of his students, regardless of whether they become professional musicians.
Lucas graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston with a Bachelor of Music in Performance. Prior to attending Berklee, he was a Saxophone Fellow at the Dave Brubeck Institute - a highly competitive program which accepts just five musicians at a time. Lucas’ studies include training in classical, jazz, and contemporary disciplines. Lucas has studied under renowned artists including Stefon Harris, Ed Simon, Shannon LeClaire, Joe Gilman, Dino Govoni, Wendy Rolfe, David Henderson, Matt Krejci, and Mike McMullen. |
French Horn
Sophia Chen
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Sophia Chen is originally from Taiwan, where she started piano at the age of 3. She earned her Master's Degree in French horn performance from San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and Bachelor degree in both Piano and French Horn from Vanderbilt University. As a freelance musician in the Bay area, Sophia also teaches many piano students. She is currently teaching at West Portal Lutheran school as their piano teacher and has many private students.
As a piano teacher, Sophia has worked with students from the age of 3 to 12. She believes in cultivating students’ interest in music and providing all necessary knowledge to advance in piano playing. She likes to make her students’ learning environment fun while exploring students’ full potential in classical music. |
Oboe
Vivien Kong
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Oboist and Pianist Vivien Kong received her Master’s Degree from the San Francisco
Conservatory of Music, and her Bachelor’s Degree from the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music with the Ihnatowycz Emerging Artist Award. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Vivien has over twenty years of piano performance experience and nine years of orchestral experience playing the oboe. She teaches one-on-one lessons and group classes to children and adults from beginner to advanced level. She also teaches RCM and ABRSM examination materials. She speaks fluent Mandarin and English, and can teach in both languages. Vivien has a strong passion for teaching. She believes music helps children be more intuned with their thoughts and emotions, as well as broadening their minds, giving them a creative outlet to be themselves. Vivien deeply values each individual's unique learning style, and always develops a personalized way of teaching that best suits their strengths and weaknesses. It is her priority to make each student feel special, valued and encouraged. Vivien is driven to inspire her students to explore and appreciate the beauty of music, and to help them create their own. |
Trumpet & Bugle
Matt Funamura
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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. |