Our Instructors
Angelita Ponce | Drum Set & Percussion
Angelita Ponce is a Phoenix based performer, educator and clinician. She received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Master of Music in Percussion Performance under the instruction of Dr. J.B. Smith, Dr. Michael Compitello, Simone Mancuso, Dom Moio and Shaun Tilburg. Angelita has regularly played with a variety of ensembles including Samba de Cavalo, Grupo BombAzo, BOOM! Percussion, Phoenix Jazz Girls Rising, The West Valley Symphony and Viridian. She also plays regularly at several local churches, musical theater organizations and jazz clubs. Angelita is a highly sought after educator. She has worked with over a dozen music programs in the valley as a technician, clinician and director. A few of these programs include the Arizona State Sun Devil Marching Band, Breakthrough Indoor Percussion, Corona del Sol High School, the Kyrene Digital Academy, the East Valley School of Music and Tempe Elementary School District. She is also a clinician and adjudicator through ABODA and AMEA.
Roman Rivera | Violin / Viola
Roman Rivera is a violinist and educator from Tucson, Arizona. He earned his B.M. in Violin Performance from Arizona State University in 2024 under Danwen Jiang and is currently pursuing an M.M. in Violin Performance Pedagogy. With over six years of teaching experience, Roman has worked with ASU String Project and Harmony Project Phoenix, instructing students of all ages. He emphasizes healthy technique, fosters students’ musical passions, and advocates for accessibility in music education. As a performer, Roman is a member of the ASU Symphony Orchestra and has played at ASU Gammage, Orpheum Theatre, and more. He has held leadership roles in the ASU Philharmonia, participated in ASU’s Visiting Quartet Residency Program, and worked with ensembles such as Brooklyn Rider, Brentano, and Borromeo String Quartets. His collaborations extend to Scottsdale Community College, Phoenix Children’s Chorus, and Symphony of the Southwest.
Yian Shen | Flute
Yian Shen started on the flute at eight. She received private lessons in China and came to
the States for professional trainings at college level. As a soloist, Yian is always recognized for
her powerful tone and colorful musical ideas. Currently finishing her Doctoral degree with Dr.
Elizabeth Buck at Arizona State University, Yian is also a recipient of the K Herberger Music
Award and Special Talent Awards from the music school. Yian was the Teaching Assistant of the
flute studio. Yian has teaching experience with various age groups, for young children to elder
people. Besides orchestral works and classical repertoires, Yian is also an active performer of
contemporary works. Yian recently commissioned three new piccolo works, for her DMA
dissertation and the purpose of extending current piccolo repertoires.Contact us
Interested in a trial lesson or enrolling? Simply fill out your details and let us know your desired schedule or availability, and we’ll get back to you soon. We look forward to hearing from you!