Meet Our Staff and Learn About Their Musical Journeys
"We love the approach to learning and the environment that NewSongs provides for our kids. It’s a positive and fun filled atmosphere that has produced great understanding of music in our kids!"
Juan C.
Get Inspired by Our Skilled Team of Teachers
At Newsongs School Of Music, the main goal is to inspire the young generation and help them cultivate their creativity. We offer the model and ideas to our students, and the creative freedom to make music. We call it "Inspire. Create. Learn."
Programs available in our music school includes:
- Piano
- Guitar
- Drums
- Voice
- Ukulele
- Bass
- Violin & Cello
- Woodwinds: Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone
- Brass: Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn
- Preschool music and preschool piano (early piano)
Contact us to learn more about our music lessons and programs. Schedule your FREE consultation today!
Meet Our Staff
and Learn About Their Musical Journeys
Mr. Michael Hemsworth - Director
Hi, my name is Michael Hemsworth and I created NewSong school 15 years ago with the sincere desire to see kids and families experience a better life through music. I have grown up as an Elk Grove native, I attended school here, got married here, and raised my own family here, so I love this community. I also had the privilege of studying music as a teenager and graduating from high school early to move on and get my music degree from UC Davis at age 18.
My wife Cealey and I have three children who inspires us every day. We have four dogs, love family trips to Disneyland, and are involved with our local church. Our desire is to help students at NewSongs be unique, creative, and confident music makers.
Mr. Roger Fandel, Music Director
I am a piano, drum, and guitar instructor with years of experience teaching students of all ages. I love ALL types of students and have worked with several blind students, those with ADHD, and autism. I feel a holistic approach to music education is the best way to encourage understanding and enthusiasm. This means looking at music from many angles: theory, reading, improvisation, arrangement, and composition. Then letting student interest guide lesson planning. I find the most satisfaction seeing students grow confident with their musical voice, learning to express themselves, and discovering their potential.
Piano Department
Mr. Jareth Culwell, Welcome Team
I first practiced martial arts before expanding my love of piano and ventured into a piano-teaching career. My favorite music is usually loud and dramatic! I love finding ways to approach the complex task of playing the piano into simple pieces, encouraging both discipline and creativity for students. In my spare time I also enjoy other creative disciplines such as painting and woodwork.
Mr. Juan Gonzalez
I graduated from Concordia University in Texas with a degree in Music Theory and Composition, and I continue to compose new music for the piano and for various groups. My goal is to assist in finding their passion, understanding who they are, and allow for all learners to feel that they can be successful. I want to create a space where people learn to accept, embrace, and respect the differences between us all. Each classroom comes with new learners from different backgrounds and each one with unique abilities and learning styles. Mistakes are not bad, they are an opportunity to learn. It is my job to provide the tools for the students to strengthen their own learning ability so that they may be successful and feel capable of showing their talents with people. "If you have ever made a mistake before then you haven't done anything new." - Albert Einstein
Mr. Maxwell Zarzuela
I have been a pianist for 12 years since starting at the age of 7. My favorite part of teaching is watching students learn something new because there is always something to learn when your practice and do your best. I also believe that learning and playing music takes determination and effort to perfect a song, or any musical technique. When I’m not playing the piano I also enjoy photography.
Ms. Annie Morrison
Bio coming soon
Mr Skylar Manzanetti
Bio coming soon
Ms. Hosna Alacozy
Bio coming soon
Ms. Susi Owens
I received my original piano training overseas and have played and taught on both the East and West coasts. Working with students brings me true joy as I watch them progress. My step-by-step approach builds good technique but also encourages students to listen as they play, making sure we perfect each step and prepare for the next. I also enjoy improvisation and various popular piano styles as well.
Voice Department
Ms. Michelle Kellmann
I am a NewSongs alumni, first as a student in the program and now as a college student I have returned to teach. When I am not making music with my band, I love caring for horses, so I guess you can call me a country girl at heart. My goal for students is to focus on safe fundamental singing techniques no matter what style of music you love to sing. Together we can enjoy music that you love, but also make sure we are using good habits for a lifetime of singing.
Ms. Jenna Magaziner
My musical background includes years of lessons in piano, voice, and music theory. With a particular love for singing, I earned a degree in Jazz Studies with a concentration in vocal performance. I also spent 4 years singing with a national award-winning vocal jazz ensemble and have been hired locally as a studio musician and live vocalist
Guitar Department
Mr. Dustin Goodrich, Department Leader
My philosophy is to encourage students to build the skills to learn on their own. I seek a balanced curriculum that incorporates instant gratification through short and simple accomplishments along with more difficult, long term challenges. The overall goal is for students to maintain a consistent level of progress throughout their learning experience.
Mr. Logan Vicars
I have been immersed in music, acting, street performing, and tutoring since high school. I am passionate about promoting artistic values in the community. I come from a deaf / non-hearing household, and developed a strong interest in music as a teenager and taught myself music theory and took to the streets to perform as a guitar-playing circus clown. Professionally, I also has provided behavioral therapy services to children on the autism spectrum for the last five years, so I enjoy combining my passions for both music and teaching by passing on a legacy of love for music.
Mr. Christian McLaurin
Bio coming soon
Mr. Zac Gosser
Bio coming soon
Ms. Karina Records
I am an NewSongs alumni, first studying piano and then ultimately finding my love of guitar. I also enjoy sound engineering and recording. As a teacher, I love seeing my students master skills step by step so they can can take pride in what they have accomplished. I enjoy representing the girls who play guitar and seeing my students succeed!
Strings (Violin, Viola and Cello) Department
Ms
. Brittany Thorne, Department Leader
I hold a masters degree in violin performance from CSUS. I have several years of experience coaching with the String Project at CSUS as well as teaching private lessons. My style blends some of the classical Suzuki approaches with other techniques that help students prepare for other opportunities such as orchestra and ensemble playing. My goal is to inspire students as I coach and play with them to help them reach their fullest potential!
Mr. Luis Lugo
My teaching philosophy is to make sure the student is confident in using the instrument before reading music and playing at the same time. The student must have good technique so that they don’t grow up playing with tension and causing symptoms such as tendonitis or carpal tunnel. There lesson must continue to be filled with other music activities and not just songs to learn.
Ms. Olga Tatar
My name is Olga Tatar. I mainly play the violin but also enjoy singing and playing guitar and flute. I am a part of an orchestra, string ensemble and choir, which I all enjoy very much. I also come from a very musical family, some of which were NewSongs students when they were younger as well! I have been playing violin for most of my life, including performing at church with my siblings, who also study music. My goal is to get the students to think critically for themselves in violin practice. This makes them own up to their own progress and also allows this kind of discipline to be developed in other areas of their life, not only in music. I believe reading music, in addition to good technique, prepares students to play a wide variety of music when needed and I want to prepare them for a lifetime of making music. Besides music, I like to skate and play sports.
Drums Department
Mr. Soren Castaneda
I am a drum enthusiast and music creator! I enjoy sharing my passion for rhythm with new drummers by making the steps clear and easy--there are a lot of drums but they don't have to be overwhelming. I also enjoy making digital music and being creative with many of the tools we now how have for making and remixing music.
Mr. Roger Fandel, Mr. Christian, Mr. Sky
Multi-talented teachers! See other Departments
Brass and Woodwinds
Mr. Jason Elmore, Department Leader
I studied music composition at the University of Utah and Cosumnes River College. I had several of my own original pieces performed there. I have played the trombone since 2005 and have been composing since 2007, with nine years total marching band experience--including five years as a member of the Pride of Utah Marching Band--and was a part of concert bands, jazz bands, and orchestras at every school I attended. I hope to pass along my array of knowledge and experience to a wide range of students, while always refining the skill sets that I already possess. I also work with the Music Bus and serve local elementary school campuses with elementary band and general music programs.
Ms. Angela Flanery
Hi! I am Ms. Angela and I LOVE making music. I play piano and woodwinds (saxophone, clarinet, flute and more!). Learning one instrument just ignited my passion to learn more, and allows me to play with others in a variety of different styles of ensembles. I am crafty, love Disney and look forward to having fun together!
Abyee Hemsworth
Office Assistant
Nancy Smith
Bookkeeping
Jennifer Williams
Office Manager