Our Teachers
Monica Williams, Flute and Beginning Piano
Monica Williams is a graduate of the esteemed Eastman School of Music.She is also a member of the Contra Costa Performing Art society, National Flute association, and the California Music Educators Association. As a teaching artist she teaches the ‘whole’ musician and encourages her students to find their voice through music. Her students have been selected to play at Carnegie Hall through the Honor’s Performance Series as well as All state and county honor bands. Students frequently win awards such as command performances at the CMEA solo and ensemble and Gold awards at the Royal Conservatory Music assessments. As a performer herself she has won awards such as the silver award at the Global Music Awards and Best World album at One World Music. Her music is frequently played on analog, satellite radio, and airlines around the world. Her latest album ‘Within us All’ debuted at #3 on Billboard top ten charts for New Age Albums.
www.bayareaflutist.com
415-200-6617
private music lesson, music lesson, flute
Stephan Betz, violin, piano, voice, drums, guitar, music therapy
Stephan Betz is an award winning composer and jazz musician with 36 years of experience. He currently teaches individual, group and school classrooms in Walnut Creek and Vallejo. He holds a Ph.D. in Community Education and earned his Board Certification as Music Therapist in 1996. In 1987, he earned first prize in the Boswil International Composition Competition. Since then he performed his works in Europe, Australia, and the U.S. He has been teaching music in these countries for 36 years as well as providing music therapy services in private practice. His work to support people with disabilities earned him awards for professional excellence as well as Honorary Recognitions by the U.S. Congress and California Senate / Assembly. As Health Director, he designed and co-directed an award-winning Trauma-Informed Education program in Vallejo for 14,500 students, and for 15,800 students in Santa Rosa. Since 1996, Stephan has been teaching piano, violin, drums and guitar as well as music therapy at Walnut Creek Community Arts. He is the author of several books on music therapy for people with disabilities, treating trauma, self-care, and the Music of Physics. He owns two companies and coached dozens of therapists in launching their businesses. Currently he serves on the Boards of Connections For Life and Vallejo Teaching Artists.
Contact at: sbetzmtbc@gmail.com
Private music lesson, piano lessons, violin lessons, viola lessons, drum lessons, guitar lessons, voice lessons
Steven Evans, Piano and Cello
Steven Evans has a BA in Cello Performance - University of Texas, Austin | MA in Orchestral Performance - University of London, Goldsmith's College
Stephen has played with many groups in the Bay Area and beyond. He has a string quartet that plays for weddings and parties, and he is also currently part of a Scottish fiddle group called Soul Weaving. He was the accompanist for Diablo Women's Chorale until 2015. He has been a member of Stockton Symphony, Fremont Symphony, Monterey Symphony, Santa Rosa Symphony, Vallejo Symphony, and the San Francisco Choral Society.
(415) 596-7778
private music lesson, piano lessons, cello lessons
Rem Djemilev, violin, viola, piano
Education: BA and MA from Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory
Rem studied violin at the Moscow Conservatory under the great virtuoso, Professor Leonid Kogan, and viola under professor Feodor Druzhinin. In 1988 he toured the United States as a member of the American-Soviet Youth Orchestra, conducted by Zubin Mehta and Dimitri Kitaenko. After graduating from the Moscow Conservatory, Rem moved to the United States. He has toured extensively throughout Europe and the America with the Arlekin String Quartet. Along with teaching private viola and violin lessons, Rem teaches at the Crowden School and at Black Pine Circle School in Berkeley. In addition to Young People’s Chamber Orchestra, he conducts the Community Arts Youth Orchestra in Walnut Creek, and plays in many orchestras and chamber groups in the Bay Area, including the Sor Ensemble and the Arlekin String Quartet.
(510) 299-7246
private music lessons, viola lessons, violin lessons, piano lessons