Our Faculty

Abby is a classically trained vocalist, pianist, and educator. Her musical The journey started very early as she came from a music-loving family of singers. Music was always playing in the house, and she sang in as many choirs as she could as a kid. She eventually started classical voice and piano lessons in middle school. Abby has since earned her degree in music education from Virginia Commonwealth University with a K-12 teaching license, performed professionally in multiple states, and taught elementary school music for years. Abby’s teaching philosophy is centered around building a life-long love of music and music making. She values enjoying the learning process and building a healthy and positive mindset in improving one’s musicality.

Adam is a 2024 BA-Music graduate from VCU where he studied cello under Dana and Jason McComb. He has been a cellist for eleven years but he has also been playing bass for almost eight years. He is a previous winner of the National Endowment of the Arts/American Theater Wing’s “Theater Songwriting Challenge” where he was under the mentorship of Pulitzer and Tony award winning playwright Michael R. Jackson (“A Strange Loop”). Adam is also a film composer. He studied under Felipe Leitao at VCU and helped pave the way for VCU’s film scoring program by piloting all of the classes before it became a major the summer after he graduated. He has scored two student films and his first feature documentary titled “Current (Part One)”, which may get a showing at the museum of African American history in DC.

Music has always been a big part of Alisha’s life. She started playing the violin when she was just 7 years old, and all through her childhood and high school years, she performed with the Junior Jammers, a fiddle group based in Idaho. Growing up, her home was always full of music — whether it was playing the violin, piano, or just singing together as a family. Alisha went on to study at Pensacola Christian College, where she earned both her Bachelor’s in Music Performance and Master’s in Music Education. While there, she was a dedicated member of the college orchestra and participated in several stage productions, including The Sound of Music. During her graduate studies, Alisha discovered her love for teaching while helping lead a group class of around 40 string students. In her own teaching, she focuses on building a solid technical foundation while also encouraging students to play by ear. Her goal is to help each student not just learn their instrument, but also find the same love for music that’s been such a special part of her life.

Anji’s music education began at a young age with piano lessons and later, guitar and voice. She grew up in a family where playing an instrument (or two) was valued and encouraged as both parents were musicians. They held many musical performances as a family which included playing a 3 octave handbell set. Her childhood years were spent in Paraguay, South America where some of her most vivid memories are of getting up on Saturdays at the crack of dawn to take the bus to the city two hours away. There, she and her siblings would have lessons on their various instruments throughout the day. Anji received her bachelor’s degree in performance (classical guitar) from the University of Richmond.She went on to get her master’s degree in music education from Virginia Commonwealth University. For many years, Anji taught private piano and guitar lessons for her family’s studio as well as Kindermusik classes for preschoolers and their caregivers.She eventually accepted a full-time teaching position with Chesterfield County Schools as an elementary music teacher. This year marks her 17th year teaching in Chesterfield. She considers it a privilege to have students come through her classroom and experience the joy of music.She hopes to extend that same opportunity to her students at The Music Tree.

Ben Eisenberg is an accomplished drummer and pianist in the Richmond area. After graduating from VCU Music in 2022, Ben has since continued to work all around Virginia and neighboring states. His talents have brought him to stages on cruise ships, local theaters, and venues around Richmond, Charlottesville, and DC. Starting on piano at a young age, his interest delved into percussion in middle school band class. He has continued to explore both instruments in contexts of jazz, classical, and rock amongst other genres. Ben plays drums in multiple groups based in Richmond, including his own jazz trio. He is also an active piano accompanist in local churches. Outside of teaching and playing, he enjoys traveling, the outdoors, and a good crossword puzzle!

Brad Gunson teaches and performs and practices on many instruments and enjoys helping others stay inspired to play music as well. After playing casually with friends and classmates at an early age, he studied formally in Baltimore, MD at Towson University and began a professional performing and teaching career. After graduating with a Bachelor of Music, he began a diverse performing career as a bandleader, sideman, teacher, and producer making music live and on recordings throughout the Washington DC, Baltimore, and Mid Atlantic. His career progressed beyond the region after moving to New York City, studying for a few more years at New York University, and joining various groups which toured the US, Europe, and Middle East, playing music on various broadcast mediums, teaching at the University level, and producing more recordings with musicians from around the world. He regularly performs with various bands and orchestras of many different styles and traditions and acclaim.

Guitar, voice

Voice, piano

Voice, piano, ukelele

Saxophone, flute, oboe

Guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, violin, banjo

Emily H. is a music major finishing up her degree in vocal performance at Virginia Commonwealth University. She gained her background in musical theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. With a strong background in ballet and other dance forms, she likes to focus on the physical aspects of singing technique, meshing practices from dance, musical theatre, and classical singing. Her goal is always to combine physical technique and emotional connection to make singing as effortless and enjoyable as possible. She has performed around the country, including off-Broadway and local productions. Some of her past performances include Papagena (The Magic Flute), Dorothée (Cendrillon), Cinderella (Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella), Alice (Alice in Wonderland), Wendy (Peter Pan), Belle (A Christmas Carol), and roles in Oklahoma!, Carousel, Murder Nation (HLN), several short films, and national commercials. When she’s not studying or performing, she likes to spend time with her mini dachshund, Louie, lift weights, do yoga, ballet, run, and watch documentaries.



Ethan has been a passionate and dedicated drummer and guitarist since elementary school. Growing up in Richmond, Virginia, he studied both drums and guitar at school and in private lessons, and earned a teaching degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Ethan’s unique teaching approach nurtures creative individuality and students' interest while also incorporating traditional musical theory practices. In his free time, Ethan enjoys writing and performing original music, touring the country in his numerous bands, and making nature-centric, musical- performance videos that he posts on his Instagram account, brother_rutherford.

At the age of 7, Gretchen began piano lessons and found them magical. Learning to make music and progressing steadily led her to the French horn in fifth grade. Gretchen studied continually on both instruments through college and graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. After teaching elementary vocal and instrumental music in the public schools for several years, she decided to focus on performing and teaching privately. Gretchen enjoys accompanying on the piano whenever the opportunity arises, but performs regularly on the French horn throughout the Richmond area. She currently perform with the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra, University of Richmond Orchestra, Commonwealth Winds, Richmond Symphonic Winds, and the Chamber Chicks woodwind quintet. She can be found playing with Classical Revolution RVA at various events.

Heidi is an Instrumental Music Education Major at Virginia Commonwealth University where she studies violin under Susanna Klein. She grew up in Chesapeake, Virginia with a family who encouraged musical activities, such as singing in church choir and starting an instrument through the public school system. After a few years of playing the violin in her middle school’s orchestra, her love for music and the truly unique connections one can make through it began, and she decided to take music performance more seriously. She auditioned for her local orchestra program, Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia, which she would perform in until she graduated from high school, and participated in the Orchestra Project and Hampton Roads Chamber Players’ summer camps.

Voice, piano, guitar

A music teacher for over 15 years and a performer for 24, Ian began playing piano at an early age. The melodies to his favorite movie and game soundtracks inspired his love for music. From a family of diverse musicians, he learned to play music by the likes of Elton John, Billy Joel and Ben Folds from his talented father and brother. He joined his school band as soon as he was able, at the same time learning guitar from his brother and mother. His true instrument calling came the year he joined marching band and saw the drumline perform. After receiving a drumset his sophomore year of high school, he dedicated himself to the art of percussion. Ian attended the Virginia Commonwealth University school of music and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music performance. He has performed with countless classical musicians, formed his own rock group, provided percussion for several flamenco ensembles, all while composing works for solo and ensemble performances all across the city of Richmond. On any given day you can find Ian teaching and performing on piano, guitar, bass, mandolin, drumset, percussion, and even marimba.

Isaac Miao is currently studying at VCU as a Jazz Studies major. He has a strong passion for several music genres, including rock, funk, hip-hop, jazz, and fusion, all of which he applies to his band MISC. Isaac’s really interested in making a connection with his students and creating the same passion for music that he has.

Voice

Jay Skatoff is a student enrolled in the Jazz Studies program at VCU School of the Arts, studying jazz guitar under Professor Trey Pollard, alongside working with Professor Filipe Leitão in pursuit of a Film Scoring and Sound Design Minor. Jay has experience as a composer, performer, and educator, and focuses on a rich understanding of musical ideas and improvisation. Based in RVA, Jay has been a part of several jazz and classical ensembles including VCU’s Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, VCU’s Small Jazz Ensembles, John Patykula’s Classical Guitar Ensemble, and has done fundraiser performances for non-profits such as the Pauley Heart Consortium and The Richmond Cemetery Collaboration with a yet- to-be-named Jazz quartet. They have performed at many renowned venues in Richmond including The Broadberry, The Camel, The VCU Singleton Center’s Vlahcevic Hall, The Reveler, and The Altria Theater. They have experience with a variety of genres such as Classical, Jazz, Samba, Folk, Pop, Funk, and many more. Jay’s passion for teaching offers their students an opportunity to not only build repertoire, but develop a musical understanding that empowers them to play songs by ear, on sight, and write music on their own. They hope to provide a unique approach to teaching that is based in problem-solving and self Expression.

Born and raised in the Chesapeake/Virginia Beach area, Jo Santos was enrolled in piano lessons at the age of four. From then, through high school, he would complete a 14-year classical education under Elizabeth Sjolund. Believing that the work was over, Jo picked up jazz piano lessons at VCU as a way to unwind. Under the tutelage of Wells Hanley, however, Jo quickly realized his passion lived in the realm of the improvised (jazz, funk, R&B, etc.) and would change his major to Jazz Studies. Jo would then graduate VCU Jazz in 2022 with a focus in Performance. Other than enjoying teaching, he also has experience playing music with a number of different groups in Richmond. Lulu: Lulu (she/her) is a senior in the VCU music department. She studies jazz piano along with composition, performance and trombone. Lulu hopes to continue her studies after undergrad by pursuing music production as well as musical composition at the graduate level

Guitar, piano, violin

Kenny Delevante is a multi instrumentalist whose primary instruments are guitar and voice. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Studies with a primary focus on solo classical guitar performance. He started playing guitar at 13, and in his formative musical years was mostly self taught in learning various styles of guitar playing such as folk, jazz, fingerstyle, blues, metal, and solo guitar compositions. He enjoys creating musical compositions to this day, often fusing various styles to come up with innovative musical ideas and songs. His approach to teaching music involves instilling a foundational knowledge of the building blocks of music such as musicianship, rhythm, and music theory, while also encouraging his students to discover their own creative and unique ways to approach music. His favorite aspect of music lessons is getting to witness his students grow in confidence in their musical abilities, all while enjoying the process and having fun.

Kevin Granados is a currently at VCU studying music education as well as Performance, jazz, and saxophone. On some weekends Kevin like to drive up to Alexandria and play with his band The Outcasts BrassBand. He is also very enthusiastic about getting with friends and just making music and having a great time. In his free time Kevin like to Skateboard, dabble In film making, exploring fashion and exploring new instruments.

Drums

Piano

Maia is a Music Education Major at VCU studying under Susanna Klein. A Chesapeake native, Maia has extensive experience in music education and performing through opportunities with Hampton Roads Chamber Players, the Bay Youth Symphony Orchestra, and her Alma mater, Grassfield High School. Maia started the violin at age 8, and played piano throughout her childhood. In addition to commitments with VCU, Maia plays for her church’s worship band in Midlothian, honing improvisation and musicianship skills. Maia is incredibly passionate about teaching skills in music that can be used for life and instilling a passion for music of all genres. She loves getting to build relationships with students and teaching them to be confident and assertive with their musical interests and talents. Ricardo: No biography yet.

Mamie Lue Anderton is a passionate and versatile multi- instrumentalist with a deep love for music education and performance. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance and a Bachelor of Arts in Commercial Music with an emphasis in Jazz Bass from Jacksonville University. Mamie is trained in a wide range of instruments, including violin, viola, upright and electric bass, and piano. Her diverse musical background allows her to connect with students across styles and skill levels, nurturing both technical growth and creative expression. She is excited to share her love of music with the next generation at The Music Tree! Chase: No biography yet.

Mikiyas is an Ethiopian-American musician that has been a regular in the Richmond music scene since 2012, playing in bands such as Deer Eat Birds, Benet, Closet Space, and amongst other projects. Mikiyas started playing guitar at the age of 13 after an obsession with the game Guitar Hero quickly became a deep passion for Guitar and music. Eventually making his way to Virginia Commonwealth University where Mikiyas had the opportunity to hone his skills on Classical Guitar, Jazz Guitar, and Piano studying with Dave Robinson and Mike Ess. Mikiyas also spends time as a music producer with his style blending together Funk, Jazz, RnB, Soul, Rock, Hip Hop, Math Rock, and Indie. With over 15 years of musical experience and over 6 years of teaching experience, his goal is to create an environment where each student can find a love for music and have the tools necessary to express themselves through music. Justin: Justin H is a lifelong musician and music lover. He began playing the piano at 5 and the violin at 7, and he picked up the mandolin and guitar along the way. He studied music composition at the College of Charleston with Edward Hart and Yiorgos Vassilandonakis, where his senior project “Memory” won the Phi Kappa Phi Undergraduate Research award. He studied piano with Martin David Jones at Augusta University and with Robin Zemp at the College of Charleston. He also holds graduate degrees in anthropology from the University of Sussex and theology from Beeson Divinity School (Samford University). He currently serves as Music Director at Church of the Incarnation, an Anglican Church plant in Richmond’s West End. Besides music, he enjoys reading, traveling, climbing, baseball, and basketball.

Guitar, saxophone

Nick’s method focuses on teaching the fundamentals of musicianship to students of all backgrounds and skill levels. He will help you create a solid foundation for musical progress and achieve any of your unique goals as a musician.

Drums, piano

Rinatt Montoya is a guitarist, composer, and educator based in Richmond, VA. With a broad background in rock, jazz, funk, gospel, R&B, and classical guitar, he brings a wealth of experience to his performances and teaching. Rinatt frequently performs locally in Richmond and has also performed in major cities such as Cincinnati, Chicago, D.C., and New York. Rinatt’s goal is to help each and every one of his students reach their full musical potential on their instrument. He teaches a highly individualized curriculum allowing for great flexibility depending on what topics and genres the student is interested in. Right now, Rinatt is wrapping up his Bachelor of Music with a concentration in Performance/Jazz Studies at VCU.

Music has always been Sara's calling. She has studied many instruments including violin, piano, french horn, flute, guitar, and handbells. She has been singing her whole life in church, school, university, and community ensembles. At age 12 she wrote her first song, and continued to write and perform locally in her hometown of Lexington, VA. She earned her degrees in Music Composition & Theory at JMU (Bachelors) and Wichita State University (Masters) under the guidance of noted American composers Dr. James Hilliard and Dr. Katherine Murdock respectively. Her Master's thesis work was her first symphony, "Pictures Of The Blue Ridge ". Sara has taught music for all ages from "itty bittys & quot; to adults for private schools, public schools, universities, and as a private tutor and teacher. In her various jobs she has helped direct and lead community, church, and school extracurricular ensembles. Her teaching philosophy is for each and every student to be better than her and go after their dreams. She is so happy to join the Music Tree School!

Sydney is an instrumental Music Education Major at VCU, where she studies violin with Susanna Klein. She grew up in a very musical family, and often performed with them at church services. She also sang in choirs and took several years of piano lessons as a child. Her dedication to music really blossomed her senior year of high school, where she was Concertmaster of her top orchestra group. She was also principal cello in the intermediate orchestra group where she would often direct the class. This gave her experience leading an ensemble, which led her to conduct a pit orchestra for the school musical. At the end of the year she was awarded the National Orchestra Award from her previous director, Taryn Wood. Sydney’s goal is to instill a passion for music within her students, and to ensure that they find joy in playing their instrument. Christina: Christina is a singer-songwriter known for her authenticity. She grew up in a very musical community yet surprisingly had a major fear of performing and sharing her music with people. Nevertheless, she overcame this fear with much work and dedication, because performance and music are where she feels most at home.

Drums

Thomas is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University where he studied music with a concentration in performance/jazz studies. He’s been playing guitar since age 12, starting with rock music before a fascination with improvisation led him to jazz. In addition to performing on his instrument, Thomas has enjoyed studying composition, be it writing original music or arranging existing works for small groups or big bands. As a teacher, Thomas believes it is important to promote well-rounded musicianship, as a broad base of knowledge to draw upon is what allows a musician to expand upon their own voice and be a more versatile player.

Wesley Castle is a student currently enrolled in the Music Performance program at VCU School of the Arts, studying jazz guitar under Professor Trey Pollard. Based in the DMV, Wes has experience as a performer, song writer, and teacher. Having engaged in ensembles such as the Blues Alley Youth Orchestra, VCU’s Jazz Orchestra, and VCU’s Afro-Latin Orchestra, he has plenty of experience with performing jazz, pop, rock, folk, and many other Western genres. Wes has had the opportunity to play alongside and take masterclasses from many prolific musicians, such as Rory Stuart, Dave Douglas, Doug Richards, members of Snarky Puppy, Margaux LeSourd, and many more. He has also played at many popular DMV venues like The Broadberry, Blues Alley, The Camel, The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and The Singleton Center for the Performing Arts.