Meet Our Instructors
Amira Fulton Jensen
CEO, Instructor of Piano, Voice, Harp and Music Theory,
Certified Teacher for Certificate of Merit Testing http://www.mtac.org
​
Mrs. Jensen has been playing piano since the age of 3. She picked up the violin at age 9, started voice lessons at age 12, and took up the harp at age 14. Amira holds Bachelor of Music degrees in both Vocal Performance and Piano Performance from Chapman University. Amira has been teaching privately around Orange County since 2011. In addition to teaching, she regularly performs at weddings, funerals, corporate gigs, and private events around Orange County. She frequently gives guest lectures for the music department at Chapman University and is a member of the Music Teachers Association of California.
Emily Morley
Piano Instructor
Emily has been playing the piano since she was six years old. As a teenager, she attended Orange County School of the Arts, where she gave numerous recitals. She is currently finishing up her B.M. in Piano Performance at Cal State Fullerton, where she is a part of various ensembles (including piano-vocal collaboration, piano duo ensemble, and concert choir). She has studied multiple genres of music including rock, pop, and musical theatre, although her emphasis is classical. Emily has played in multiple bands as a keyboardist and also enjoys playing both acoustic and electric guitar. Before joining our team, she worked at Mo's Music in Fullerton for two years where she learned to tune, restring, and repair instruments. Emily loves working with kids and enjoys seeing them progress as young musicians.
My Tran
Piano Instructor
My Tran is a classically trained collaborative pianist and piano teacher in Orange County, who earned her Bachelor's Degree of Music in Piano Performance from Chapman University. She started learning piano at 9 years old and discovered a natural love for it, especially performing. Ms. Tran has participated in masterclasses with renowned pianists from the USC Thornton School of Music, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and the New England Conservatory. She has collaborated and performed with multiple ensembles and won awards in piano competitions such as the CAPMT Sonata-Sonatina Festival and the MTAC Solo Competition. With over 14 years of experience in choral accompanying, Ms. Tran currently serves as a staff accompanist at both Vanguard University and El Dorado High School. Ms. Tran is a member of the Music Teachers' Association of California and has been teaching private lessons in Orange County since 2016. When not accompanying or teaching, she loves to perform at weddings and events across Southern California.
Crystaline Tran
Violin & Viola Instructor
Crystaline Tran began playing the violin at the age of 9. She earned both her B.M. and M.M. in String Performance at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach. A passionate and dynamic teacher, Crystaline has established a rapidly growing violin studio over the years. Her students have gone on to earn top chairs in their respective school ensembles including the Capistrano Unified School District, Saddleback Unified School District, and Irvine Unified School District. Ms. Tran regularly performs in various ensembles across Orange County and Los Angeles.
Yllary Cajahuaringa
Vocal Instructor
Yllary is a Southern California native and freelance artist. A graduate of Chapman University, she has performed in a variety of operatic and musical theatre roles including Mabel in Pirates of Penzance, Johanna in Sweeney Todd, Judas in Godspell, Adele in Die Fledermaus and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi. She also performed in collaboration with Pacific Symphony in their Opera for Kids in 2015, 2016, and 2017. In 2015, she won the Chapman University Vocal Concerto Competition which granted her the opportunity to be the first undergraduate student to perform solo in the new Musco Center for the Arts. In addition to teaching voice, she has musically directed several shows such as Willy Wonka, High School Musical, and Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. In 2019 she made her directorial debut at Huston School of music during their fall production of Honk! Jr.
Timothy Jensen
Instructor of Guitar, Piano, Electric Bass, Upright Bass, Ukulele, Violin, Cello & Music Theory/Composition
Tim started piano lessons at the age of 8 and continued to pursue his passion for music later in life by learning a variety of different string instruments. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at CSULB. Tim regularly performs with the Pacific Symphony & Redlands Symphony, and several other SoCal based orchestras. Tim also regularly plays at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim with the group "Five & Dime". He has been teaching privately since 2014. He also teaches Strings at Santa Ana High School and Walnut High. In addition to teaching, Tim regularly performs at weddings, corporate gigs and private events around Orange County, and is available for musical transcriptions and arrangements.
Sophie Qu
Piano & Violin Instructor
Sophie Qu is a dedicated musician and educator with extensive experience in nurturing students’ musical talents. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music at Chapman University, Sophie’s journey in music education has been enriched by various roles. During her time at Chapman University, Sophie was the associate principal of second violin and showcased in numerous piano recitals. She served as the associate Choir Director for Middle and High School Choirs at the Delphian school for three years, in addition to acting as the all-choir piano accompanist. Sophie is deeply committed to providing enriching and personalized lessons for each student, specializing in classical piano and violin. She fosters a supportive environment where students of all ages and skill levels can explore their creativity and cultivate a profound appreciation for music. Sophie’s teaching philosophy revolves around instilling confidence, nurturing creativity, and fostering a lifelong love of music, ensuring that each student receives a comprehensive and enjoyable musical education.
Jasmine Capitulo
Piano & Accordian Instructor
Jasmine is a musician and teacher based in Southern California. She started her musical journey playing the accordion at the age of 6 and later added on the piano at age 16. She competed and performed in competitions growing up, such as the Accordion Federation of North America (AFNA). Afterward, she studied piano pedagogy at Fullerton College. Currently, Jasmine performs with her band, Eva and the Vagabond Tales, playing various venues and events, such as Downtown Disney and NAMM. Jasmine began teaching in 2016 and has successfully prepared many students for RCM examinations. Her teaching philosophy revolves around patience and creating a safe space for musical exploration. Jasmine's ultimate goal is to nurture a genuine love for music in each of her students.
Anne Candela
Piano Instructor
Anne was born and raised in Orange County, CA. She attended Fullerton College, studying Piano Pedagogy in the Applied Music Program. She has studied many genres of music, including classical, pop, musical theater, and jazz. Anne started playing piano when she was six years old. Growing up, she performed in various piano recitals and knew from a young age that she wanted to be a teacher. She has always enjoyed helping people learn and grow and loves working with kids. She has several years of experience working with kids ages 3-18. She makes the lessons fun, implementing concepts that are easy for children to understand. Anne cares about her students’ progress and success. She knows that it is important to have patience and understanding, especially when they are first introduced to the world of music. Anne has also been a dance choreographer for Kids Musical Theater for about 4 years and has studied several forms of dance. If she is not behind a piano, she is dancing, listening to theater or classical music, or hiking and enjoying the outdoors.
William Mills​
Piano Instructor
Will Mills is a graduate of Chapman University, where he received a BA in Music. His primary instrument is piano, but he also plays guitar and accordion. Throughout his college experience, Will pursued many performances outlets, including playing guitar as part of Chapman University’s Mariachi Panteras and being a member of the Chapman University Choir. He has a strong passion for music as he feels it has played a significant role in his life. He enjoys teaching and sharing his knowledge of music with those seeking to fulfill their goals of becoming a musician.
Daria Muzanova
Piano Instructor
Daria Muzanova began taking piano lessons at the age of six at her local music school in Russia. Growing up, Ms. Muzanova participated in many performances and competitions, including a piano festival “The Muse '' in Santorini, Greece where she was awarded 3rd place. After moving to the US, she received Honors in Level 10 of Certificate of Merit. She has participated in festivals and competitions such as the MTAC Southern California Jr. Bach Festival (1st place) & the MTAC Sonata Competition (2nd place). In Fall 2023, she was awarded 3rd place in The Music Associates Student Concerto/Aria Competition at California State University, Fullerton. She is currently finishing her Bachelors of Music in Piano Performance, and will be entering a Masters Program at CSUF in the Fall of 2025 to earn her Masters in Piano Performance.
Madison Weiss
Piano Instructor
Madison Weiss received her Bachelors of Music in Piano Performance from Chapman University, alongside a Minor in Music Business. During her time at Chapman, she received several scholarships, piano program awards and was on the Provost list all four years. Miss Weiss began her piano studies at age 4 and honed her skill through participation in years of competitions, music festivals and masterclasses. Besides awards, Madison has had some amazing performance opportunities, including playing at Carnegie Hall in 2023, performing at several of former Chapman University President Doti's private events and participating in piano competitions in Sweden and France.
Miss Weiss also has a talent for singing. She was a member of two of the Chapman University choirs during her undergrad, as well as a featured soloist with the Chapman Jazz Combo, where she sang at the MUSCO Center for the Arts. Besides performing, Madison has a love of teaching young students. She has taught privately for about 2 years to students of all ages and levels. She is headed to Claremont Graduate University in the Fall of 2025 to earn her Master's Degree in Piano Performance.