Private Lesson Staff

FLUTE

Catherine Moree

Phone: (970) 691-7449

Catherine Moree is a San Antonio based flutist and educator. Currently she teaches private lessons and master classes, plays with Fiesta Flutes and the San Antonio Wind Symphony, repairs flutes, and enjoys playing chamber music regularly with colleagues and friends. As an educator Ms. Moree has taught students ranging from kindergarten to college undergraduates. Ms. Moree loves teaching about the flute in any setting, however, she particularly enjoys being able to watch students make rapid progress when they take private lessons.

Ms. Moree graduated from Florida State University in 2017 with a Masters of Music in flute performance. Prior to that she graduated summa cum laude from the University of Northern Colorado with Bachelors degrees in music education and flute performance. Her primary teachers include Eva Amsler and Dr. James Hall.

CLARINET

Maleah Martin

Phone: 818-292-7807

Email: martinmusicnotes@gmail.com

Maleah Martin attended California State University, Northridge where she earned her Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance and Music Education under the instruction of Dr. Julia Heinen. During her time in college, Maleah earned the principal clarinet position with both the Wind Symphony and the Wind Ensemble. She also coached chamber music and helped teach undergraduate lessons. At the 2011 ClarinetFest, hosted by California State University, Northridge, she was named concertmaster for the Wind Ensemble’s prestigious concert series where she performed alongside Alexander Fiterstein, Bob Spring, Hakan Rosengren, Julian Bliss and the Vendome Quartet. Maleah has over 15 years of experience and currently teaches clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, flute, and piano. Most recently, she has been instructing students from beginner to high school levels in San Antonio, Texas and performing regularly with the Prickly Pear Clarinet Ensemble and the Heart of Texas Concert Band. Maleah performed with the Prickly Pear Clarinet Ensemble at ClarinetFest in Orlando in 2017 and Knoxville in 2019. Her private studio has produced several state musicians and future music majors.

CLARINET

Sara Braisted

Phone: (512) 773-8180

Email: sarabraisted@gmail.com

Sara Braisted has been teaching master classes and private lessons on all forms of clarinet in San Antonio since 2009, as well as lessons on piano, sax, and flute. Miss Braisted began her musical vocation playing piano at the age of seven before adding the clarinet in 5th grade. During her time at The Woodlands High School, Miss Braisted expanded her clarinet knowledge with the inclusion of the Eb clarinet, an instrument she would continue playing while at the University of Texas at Austin (UT). Miss Braisted received her Bachelor of Music with honors in Music Studies -Instrumental (Emphasis: Clarinet), and acquired an all-level teaching certificate for music education. In addition to the program’s requisite studies, Miss Braisted sought out supplementary coursework in conducting and all woodwind instruments, becoming a woodwind specialist. This background has enabled her to expand her teaching capabilities. While at UT, she played in numerous ensembles, including the Longhorn Band. Since graduation, Miss Braisted continues to be active in the music community. Her performance list includes the San Antonio Symphony, numerous private events as both a soloist and part of an ensemble, and as a proud member of the Longhorn Alumni Band. She has been a judge for various musical competitions and assists at local instrument drives. Her students regularly make region band and beyond. Miss Braisted hosts recitals twice a year for her students. She is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, attending their convention annually so she can implement the latest advancements and innovations in the music education field. Sara Braisted is passionate about music and improving the lives of her students.

TRUMPET

Celestino Rodriguez

Phone: 210-863-6885

Email: Celestino.Rodriguez@my.utsa.edu

Celestino Rodriguez is trumpeter and educator born and raised in San Antonio. He attended Southwest High School and was a part of the school’s first Texas Future Music Educators chapter. Celestino began giving lessons at the age of 17 and has taught students in Southwest ISD, Medina Valley ISD, and Alamo Heights ISD where he was also a marching band technician. He was Principal trumpet of the San Antonio Youth Wind Ensemble where he had the privilege to work with Larry Livingston and perform in Carnegie Hall. In 2018, Celestino applied to the UTSA Summer Band Institute and was given a full scholarship to attend the institute. There he was awarded Outstanding Brass and Outstanding Camper. While still in high school, Celestino has performed as a guest with the San Antonio Jazz Orchestra and Primetime Jazz Orchestra. He is currently a student at The University of Texas at San Antonio where he is pursuing a bachelor's degree in music education. During his time at UTSA, Celestino has performed in the UTSA Wind Ensemble and Orchestra as Principal Trumpet. He is also a brother of the Nu Eta chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. In 2021, Celestino was the winner of the UTSA Concerto and Aria Competition performing the Arutunian Trumpet Concerto. Celestino is now heading into his fourth year and UTSA and is a marching band technician and on the private lesson staff at William H. Taft High School.

F HORN

Sean Holmes

Phone: 210-621-8586

Email: sholmes@tlu.edu

Dr. Sean Holmes is an educator and performer in the San Antonio Area. Currently serving as Assistant Professor of Horn at Texas Lutheran University, Dr. Holmes maintains a large teaching studio in the San Antonio, Seguin, and New Braunfels area with students ranging from the beginner to collegiate level. Dr. Holmes also currently holds the positions of 3 rd Horn with the Symphony of the Hills in Kerrville as well as Co-Principal Horn of the SAHarmonie Chamber Ensemble in San Antonio and performs regularly with the Musicians of the San Antonio Symphony, and Opera San Antonio.

Sean earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baylor University in 2015 studying Horn under Jeffrey Powers. As a member of The Baylor University Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra, Sean played in concert halls throughout the US as featured guests at CBDN, TMEA, and the Mid-West Clinic. Notable performances venues include the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville-TN, The Murray Arts Center in Atlanta-GR, and the Aycock Auditorium in Greensboro-NC. In 2017 Sean earned a Master of Horn Performance and in 2020 a Doctor of Musical Art from The University of Southern California. At USC Sean received The Vincent DeRosa Award for Outstanding Horn Performance twice in 2017 and 2018.

While Dr. Holmes was in Los Angeles, he held the position of 3 rd /Associate Principal Horn of the San Louis Obispo Symphony and performed regularly with the Santa Barbara Symphony, Burbank Philharmonic, and Downey Symphony Orchestra. An avid supporter of chamber music Dr. Holmes’ brass and woodwind quintets have presented concerts and masterclasses across the nation and abroad. In 2017 his woodwind quintet, The Kinetic Winds, were recipients of the Eastern Sierra Symphony grant to perform a concert series and teach masterclasses in Mammoth-CA. In 2019, as a member of Two-Button Brass Quintet, Dr. Holmes attended the Stockholm Chamber Brass Academy in Leksand, Sweden, and toured through Sweden and Denmark. As an educator Dr. Holmes has given masterclasses and privet lessons at USC, Baylor, and Pierce College. Dr. Holmes has also served as the Horn Instructor for the Baylor Summer Band camps, and several High Schools throughout Texas and California. Dr. Holmes students have achieved placement TMEA region, area, and state competitions, as well as going on to complete music degrees at prominent universities throughout the country.

TROMBONE

Robert Soto

Email: robert.soto@nisd.net

Phone: 210-397-5975

Trombonist and Educator Robert Soto is a native of El Paso, Texas. He has performed and taught across the United States, Mexico, Canada, England and Brazil. He has worked with such artists as Sir Neville Marriner, Dave Taylor, Gary Foster, Brad Leali, Bill Reichenbach, Tito Puente Jr and jazz legend Dave Brubeck as well as composers Alan Silvestri, Eric Nathan and Frank Ticheli. Robert has also recorded/performed with a variety of groups including the El Paso Wind Symphony, Long Beach Symphony, Golden State Pops Symphony Orchestra, Clare Fischer/Brent Fischer Jazz Group, Elliot Deutsch Big Band, Conjunto Oye and on the IFC series Comedy Bang, Bang! He has performed with the Yale Philharmonia at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Hungarian Revolution at Carnegie Hall in NYC, Birmingham and Wigan Jazz Festivals in England, the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) convention, the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) convention and the Music for All National Festival and Summer Symposium sponsored by Yamaha.

EUPHONIUM/TUBA

John Caputo

Phone: 478-213-8187

Email: thecapoots@gmail.com

Euphonium soloist and conductor John Caputo is a sixteen-year veteran of the US Air Force Bands Program, where he built an international reputation for excellence as a performer and educator. As a chamber musician and clinician for the Air Force, he traveled to top university programs throughout the US with the USAF Reserve Brass Quintet. The quintet is featured on Firepower, which has played on NPR’s Performance Today over forty times in the last ten years.

John is a seasoned soloist, having performed numerous times in front of both the Band of the USAF Reserve and the USAF Band of the West, including a premiere performance of Eric Frank’s Watercolors at the International Euphonium Institute. John was also a critical member of the Georgia Brass Band, where he performed as their Solo Euphoniumist from 2003-2010. He was featured as a soloist with that band many times, including a performance at the 2011 Southeast Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference. John has given additional solo performances at the Great American Brass Band Festival, the Mid West and Southwest Regional Tuba Euphonium Conferences, and the Northwest Big Brass Bash.

Since retiring from active duty in 2015, John has become an active teacher and clinician throughout South Central Texas and Louisiana. He is currently the Music Director for the Austin Brass Band and the British Brass Band of Louisiana. John plays Solo Euphonium for the San Antonio Brass Band, and is in demand as a soloist and clinician throughout the US. He currently resides in San Antonio with his wife Elizabeth Jones and their cat Lily.

TUBA

Aashish Mavani

Phone: 817-938-5939

Email: mav5826@gmail.com

Mr. Mavani is a tuba player who grew up in Grapevine, TX up near DFW and attended Colleyville Heritage High School. He was a 5A All-State Tuba player and for 2 summers he marched with The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps and 1 summer with The Santa Clara Vanguard. Mr. Mavani is currently attending The University of Texas at San Antonio where he is pursuing a degree in Music Education with a focus on Tuba under the instruction of Gary Poffenbarger. During his college time he has spent 2 years with the Spirit of San Antonio as a member and 1 year as the Rowdy Texan Tuba Section’s music staff, and has also joined the Nu Eta Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. This will be his 3rd year teaching in San Antonio, but his first year at Taft HS. In his limited free time he enjoys playing his guitar, hiking, rock climbing, motorcycle rides, and taking care of his new puppy Winter!

PERCUSSION

Chris Rosas

Phone: 210-896-1748

Email: chris.rosas10@yahoo.com

Chris Rosas is a recent graduate from Texas Lutheran University where he received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education (B.M – Spring 2022). He will be joining the Taft High School Band along with two middle school feeders as a Percussion Technician and Private Instructor to help drive the long history of success for the percussion program under Jeremy Chapman.

Mr. Rosas is no stranger to the San Antonio area for he is a native born and raised in San Antonio, Tx. His high school education comes from Karen Wagner High School where he had the privilege to be led by current director of Percussion studies at Taft High School, Jeremy Chapman. During his time as a high school student, Mr. Rosas was a member of 5points Percussion Independent for two seasons under the direction of Kris Hartman and Matt Ferry. During those two seasons the group received a gold medal for the TCGC Championships, TECA Championships, and placing as a finalist for the Winter Guard International Championships held in the prestige Dayton Arena every year.

In his college years, Mr. Rosas received a wide range of percussion education under Dr. Trent Shuey (Angelo State University), Dr. Gordon Hicken (Midwestern State University – Great Plains Percussion Group), and Adam Bedell (Texas Lutheran University – Line Upon Line Percussion). As a performer he played in his universities top Wind Ensembles as Principal Percussionist, Symphony Orchestra as Principal timpanist, and the percussion ensembles. Mr. Rosas was the assistant section leader and center snare drummer for the Angelo State University Ram Band (Marching band) in the fall of 2018 and was the lead drum set performer that toured with the Angelo State University Ram Horns pep band ensemble. Currently he is a substitute for the Central Texas Philharmonic located in Austin, Tx.

In the summer of 2021, Mr. Rosas won an audition to be a member of the 2021 National Intercollegiate Band that had some of the best collegiate musicians in the country from the undergraduate to doctoral level. In that ensemble the group premiered Alex Shapiro’s symphony “SUSPENDED” conducted by Dr. Cynthia Turner from Wilford Laurier School of Music. The performance was held at the 2021 Kappa Kappa Psi & Tau Beta Sigma National convention in Grand Rapids, Michigan where the concert was performed live in the DeVos Performance Hall.

Mr. Rosas has been an active educator for the past 3 academic years where he served as lead front ensemble technician, lessons teacher, and coach for percussion ensembles at Seguin High School in Seguin Independent School District.

Looking ahead, Mr. Rosas is eagerly awaiting the start of the year to begin his time with the Raider Band Program. Go Raiders!