Nicole Russo
(Sax & Clarinet)

Nicole Russo has a Master's degree in Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory and a Bachelor’s degree in Performance and Education from the Crane School of Music, New York. She also completed her multiple subject teaching credential at SF St…

Nicole Russo has a Master's degree in Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory and a Bachelor’s degree in Performance and Education from the Crane School of Music, New York. She also completed her multiple subject teaching credential at SF State University. Nicole is an energetic person teaching students of all ages throughout the Bay Area.

Noelle Lanser

(Clarinet)

Currently finishing up her degree in music education at San Francisco State University, Noelle has extensively studied classical, musical theatre, and jazz voice, as well as piano, clarinet, music theory, and choral/instrumental conducting. She has …

Currently finishing up her degree in music education at San Francisco State University, Noelle has extensively studied classical, musical theatre, and jazz voice, as well as piano, clarinet, music theory, and choral/instrumental conducting. She has sung in the Modesto Symphony Chorus, and currently sings in the SF State Chamber Singers, and the student acapella vocal jazz group, The Holloways. She also plays clarinet in the University Pep Band. Aside from performing, her main passion is education, and loves teaching all ages, from young beginners to adults. She specializes in teaching piano, voice, and clarinet

Sean Thompson

(Trombone/Trumpet)

Sean has been playing music for more than 13 years. Originally self-taught for a few years, he later began lessons with his local teacher while growing up in the mountains outside Chico, honing his own personal style of fingerstyle acoustic guitar.

Since picking up guitar, Sean furthered his hunger for knowledge in music, and has since studied musical composition at San Francisco State University, writing music for a variety of ensembles.

As an instructor, Sean has much experience, not only in guitar and composition/theory, but in piano, trumpet, trombone, drums, and bass, and has performed in a variety of styles and situations. With all of this experience, Sean has learned that teaching kids their instrument is only the first step.

Sean holds to the belief that each student should not only develop a familiarity with their instrument but be able to apply that familiarity to any situation. Ear training skills and theory are paired with a philosophy that one must always have their ears and mind open to the musical possibilities.

He currently plays lead guitar in The Silhouette Era, as well as a singer in The Holloways, an acapella vocal jazz group