California Music Festival
A True Side-by-Side Festival Model
The California Music Festival (CMF) is an immersive orchestral academy that brings together advanced students and distinguished faculty artists within a fully integrated ensemble. Rather than observing from the outside, fellows rehearse and perform as equal members of one orchestra, developing artistic leadership and collaborative depth through daily shared practice.
Program Structure
Four core components shape the festival experience, each contributing to artistic growth and ensemble integration.
Orchestral Rehearsals
Daily side-by-side rehearsals led by distinguished faculty artists
Chamber Music
Small ensemble collaborations designed to refine interpretive depth and ensemble awareness.
Masterclasses
Individual and group coaching focused on technical refinement and artistic development.
Public Performances
Culminating concerts that present the work of the integrated ensemble to the community.
About CMF faculty
The CMF faculty is made up of musicians from some of California’s most prestigious orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the San Diego Symphony, as well as renowned chamber musicians and mentors.
Conductor
An exceedingly accomplished musician and passionate advocate for youth music education, Andrés González is a dynamic force in the music world. His commitment to empowering young musicians has earned him accolades, including being named one of Yamaha Music USA’s “40 Under 40” outstanding music educators in 2023. González’s journey began under the guidance of his father, Antonio González, wielding a baton, cello, and trumpet from the early age of two. Trained in Venezuela’s well-known El Sistema program under the mentorship of Maestro José Antonio Abreu, he honed his skills and passion for music. Joining the trumpet section of the National Children’s Orchestra of Venezuela in 1994, González embarked on international tours across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Under the tutelage of esteemed mentors such as Gary Nuñez, Leonardo Mendez, Alfredo D’Addona, Thomas Clamor, Eduardo Manzanilla, Jairo Hernandez, Max Sommerhalder, Lukas Beno, Gabor Taerkovi, and as a conductor by Tarcisio Barreto, Mario Benzecry, Colin Meters and Luis Clemente, González flourished as both a trumpet player and conductor. He graced the stage for thirteen seasons with the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel and served on the faculty of the Venezuelan Trumpet Academy.
González’s musical leadership extended beyond performances, as he served as Music Director of the José Francisco del Castillo Youth Orchestra in Caracas and guest conductor for orchestras worldwide, including the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra of Chaco in Argentina and the YOLA National Festival Symphony Orchestra in collaboration with Los Angeles Philharmonic. His impact reverberated internationally when he assumed the role of Music Director for Play On Philly in 2018 and most recently as the Conductor of the Youth Orchestra at the prestigious Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
In recent years, González has captivated audiences with his debut performances with prestigious orchestras such as the San Diego Symphony and the Calgary Philharmonic, and more recently European debut with the Orquesta Clásica de Santa Cecilia in the Auditorio Nacional in Madrid, and the renowned international trumpeter Pacho Flores. Holding degrees in Orchestral Conducting from the Simón Bolívar Conservatory and in Education from the Santa Rosa Catholic University in Caracas, and additional training from the Atlantic Coast International Conducting Academy in Portugal, González continues to inspire and elevate the world of music education and performance.
Faculty
David Rejano Cantero has been Principal Trombone of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 2016. Before that, he served as Principal Trombone with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Navarra from 2002 to 2007, Principal Trombone with the Orquesta Sinfónica del Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona (Barcelona Opera House) from 2007 to 2010, and Principal Trombone with the Münchner Philharmoniker from 2010 to 2016.
He frequently works with Gustavo Dudamel, Valery Gergiev, and Zubin Mehta. His solo album Everything But Trombone was released in 2018.
Originally hailing from Dallas, TX, Taylor Eiffert recently joined the clarinet section of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In addition to his orchestral career, Eiffert serves as a dedicated clarinet instructor at California State University at Northridge, where he is a member of the woodwind faculty. Prior to his appointment to the LA Phil, Eiffert held tenured positions with the Milwaukee Symphony and Winnipeg Symphony. He has also performed extensively with Santa Fe Opera as well as the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival and Aspen Festival Orchestra. He is a distinguished alumnus of the University of Southern California and Northwestern University, where his music education was shaped by mentors such as Yehuda Gilad, Steve Cohen, J. Lawrie Bloom, and David Howard. Beyond his musical pursuits, Eiffert finds solace in woodworking and enjoys the great outdoors through camping and hiking adventures with his wife, Lauren, and dogs, Stella and Ember.
Alexander Knecht, a Southern California native, joined the San Diego Symphony in June 2025. Previously he served on the faculty of Riverside City College as a violin and viola instructor. As a freelance musician, he has performed with the Pacific Symphony, Redlands Symphony, Las Vegas Philharmonic, Long Beach Symphony, where he has been a member since 2018, Luis Miguel on tour, Paul Anka and Mariachi Sol de México.
He has performed frequently as a chamber musician at the Glendale Noon Concerts series, and as soloist in the Bach/Casadesus Viola Concerto with the La Sierra University Orchestra for Alumni Weekend 2026 and the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in 2023 at the Alhambra Performing Arts Center.
He has been active as a volunteer with CKC-Music, a community engagement program in San Bernardino providing free music lessons to local children, since its founding in 2008. In 2019 he founded a free violin class outreach program at the Los Angeles Chinese Seventh-Day Adventist Church. From 2020 until 2025, he worked weekly as a worship musician at his local parish, St. Joseph the Worker in Loma Linda.
In past summers he has served on the faculty at the Montecito International Music Festival and the Concordia University Summer Chamber Music Camp. In 2024 he studied in the master class of José Hernández at the Mariachi Nationals Workshop in Santa Ana. He has been a fellow at the Gonggeng Music Festival in Zhejiang Province, China, the Music Academy of the West, and the Aspen Music Festival. He comes from a musical family of Chinese, Korean and Caucasian ancestry and has three siblings, all of whom play and have taught string instruments.
He holds a DMA from the University of Southern California, a Master’s degree from Juilliard, and degrees in violin and mathematics from La Sierra University. His primary teachers in school were Brian Chen, Bing Wang, Masao Kawasaki, and Jason Uyeyama.
Ashoka Thiagarajan has been actively involved in the entertainment industry for the last 15 years. His versatile career in Hollywood includes performing in numerous recording studios, producing his own composition at the legendary Eastwood Scoring Stage at Warner Brothers with a fifty piece orchestra, and having his work, Rave Suite for Strings: a Godess’s Tale, premiered by the Hollywood Chamber Orchestra. He has been a part of countless scoring sessions including Straight Outta Compton, Oblivion, Aloha, Ride Along 2, Rio 2, Baywatch, and live performances with composers such as John Williams and Jeff Beal.
Ashoka was born in Dortmund, Germany, to an Indian father and a German mother. His passion for composing started at an early age, and he grew up making movies and creating music when he wasn’t practicing the violin or playing soccer. During his studies at the Mannheim University of Music and Performing Arts, he truly refined his skills as a composer and a violinist. In 1999, Ashoka moved to Los Angeles to continue his studies at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, and quickly immersed himself in the recording studios in addition to performing with symphony orchestras such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Pacific Symphony.
Ashoka demonstrates the ability to compose in any style – from classical string quartet, full orchestration, electronic dance music, symphonic trance, to video game music. He also incorporates the fusion of his own Eastern and Western heritage into the emotional depth of his music.
Ismael Ariel Guerrero Bombut is a multi-faceted, modern musician whose work spans disciplines. As a cellist, he has won international competitions and performed worldwide as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. Originally from Cuba, where he received a strong musical foundation over ten years, he later moved to the United States to pursue a professional career in cello performance. Guerrero is deeply grateful to Cecylia Barczyk and the Borowsky Family for their support in making this transition possible.
He studied with renowned cellists including Amit Peled, Ralph Kirshbaum, Antonio Lysy, and Marcy Rosen. Guerrero holds a Bachelor of Music from Peabody Conservatory and a Master of Music from USC Thornton School of Music. He is a recipient of the Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant and was the first Resident Fellow cellist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
As a multi-genre performer, Guerrero has collaborated with artists such as Bad Bunny, Kelly Clarkson, Mariah the Scientist, Laufey, Zedd, and Christina Aguilera. As a studio musician, he has recorded for numerous film and television projects, including the Oscar- and Grammy-winning film Sinners. He maintains an active presence across social media platforms, where he blends performance, creativity, and humor while expanding the reach of classical music. Through his content, he aims to highlight the versatility of the cello and bring greater awareness to its possibilities across genres and artistic contexts. Guerrero is also a dedicated educator and currently maintains a private studio at Pasadena Conservatory of Music. He has presented masterclasses at institutions including the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and George Mason University, as well as summer programs such as the Heifetz Institute.Beyond music, Guerrero is the founder of ismacello apparel, a fashion brand launched in 2024. Inspired by artists, the brand focuses on creative collaboration and expressive design, offering both ready-to-wear pieces and limited-edition custom garments. His recent work includes designs for artists such as Jon Batiste, Kelly Clarkson, and Gustavo Dudamel.
Seattle native Elizabeth Hedman received her Bachelors and Masters degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying violin with Donald Weilerstein. An active orchestral, chamber, and recording musician, Hedman is the Associate Concertmaster of The Santa Barbara Symphony, Assistant Concertmaster of the Pasadena Symphony, Principal 2nd of the Los Angeles Master Chorale Orchestra and has performed on recordings for film, television and records. She is also an active Producer for Jo – The Little Women Musical. Ms. Hedman teaches at The Pasadena Conservatory of Music and Pasadena City College. Additionally, Elizabeth is a recording artist for Buysoundtrax records; her discography can be found on iTunes, Amazon, and other retail music outlets.
Violist Dr. Sunwoo Lee recently acquired her Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California, where she pursued minors in music theory, musicology, and violin performance in addition to her studies in viola performance. As an active performer in both South Korea and the United States, Lee previously held a section position in Symphony S.O.N.G. and the Goyang Philharmonic as interim assistant principal. She currently works with several independent musical organizations in Southern California. Lee recently completed her studies under the tutelage of Karen Dreyfus. Previous teachers include Dimitri Murrath, Carol Rodland, and Masumi Per Rostad, for whom she served as Teaching Assistant. Lee actively participates in summer festivals as a student and as a performer, including the Aspen Summer Music Festival, the Heifetz International Music Institute, and Verao Classico. She was invited as a guest artist at the New Mexico Chamber Music Festival in Alberquerque and Musiktage Seefeld in Tirol. Lee has participated in masterclasses with notable musicians and ensembles such as Lars Anders Tomter, Glenn Dicterow, James Dunham, Hsin-Yun Huang, Jennifer Stumm, Jon Nakamatsu, the Danish Quartet, the Brentano Quartet, and the KLR Trio. She was recently in the semi-finals for the Ann & Charles Eisemann Competition. Lee holds both her Bachelor’s of Music (‘18) and Master’s of Music (‘20) from the Eastman School of Music with a strong focus in chamber music. She regularly participated in the Honors and Intensive Chamber Music Seminars, and her string quartet was selected to go on tour in the United States. She completed her Graduate Certificate and her Doctorate of Musical Arts (‘26), where she received an Honors Chamber Music Award and was invited as a guest lecturer.
While being an active performer, she’s also passionate about sharing her knowledge and experience with her students and her students have gotten into renowned schools like MSM Precollege and Crossroads School.
A passionate performer and educator, Chloé Tardif enjoys a varied career as an orchestral leader, chamber musician, and soloist. She has been the Associate Concertmaster of the New West Symphony since 2023 and the Principal Second Violinist of the Long Beach Symphony since 2019. Chloé has performed widely throughout Southern California with the Kaleidoscope Trio, and toured Seattle, WA as part of an award-winning duo during her time at Chapman University.
She has performed in breathtaking venues with her friends from the Long Beach Symphony, including inside of the renowned Mount Wilson Observatory in September of 2023 under the artistic direction of renowned cellist, Cécilia Tsan. Chloé has enjoyed performing with colleagues in the LA area for private audiences of the Mason Home Concerts. In 2023, she performed Vivaldi’s Summer as a soloist with the Long Beach Symphony. In the same year, she was asked to perform Spring from Astor Piazzolla’s “The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires” with her students as a featured faculty member with the OCSA Symphony Orchestra.
Since 2018, Chloé has enjoyed teaching many classes at the Orange County School of the Arts, including violin, history, theory, appreciation, and chamber music. From 2018 to 2022, Chloé worked with her teacher, William Fitzpatrick, serving as the Assistant Director of his nonprofit organization, the MusiShare Young Artist Program (MSYAP). She was asked to return to Chapman University as a professor of violin in 2021, where she taught private violin students for two years. Although she is based in Orange County, Chloé also enjoys working as a recording musician in Los Angeles studios including Fox, Sony, and Warner Bros. A student of William Fitzpatrick and Paul Kantor, she received her Bachelor of Music from Chapman University and her Master of Music from Rice University.
Born in Los Angeles, Stephanie Pak leads an avid musical life in chamber music and orchestra. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California in Biological Sciences and Violin Performance, where she studied with Henry Gronnier. She then continued her graduate studies with James Buswell at the New England Conservatory in Boston and with Dr. Lina Bahn at USC, where she received her Master’s degree.
Stephanie is a tenured violinist with the Santa Barbara Symphony and a regular performer with the Pacific Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, and Candlelight Concert Series. She has served as Assistant Concertmaster with the National Repertory Orchestra in Colorado and has toured internationally as a violinist with Lincoln Center Stage, performing on board Holland America Line cruise ships. She has shared the stage with notable conductors and artists such as Michael Tilson Thomas, Ludovic Morlot, Andrew Litton, Karina Canellakis, Michael Stern, Teddy Abrams, Michal Nesterowicz, Emmanuel Ax, Bomsori Kim, Yefim Bronfman, and James Ehnes.
Stephanie currently plays on a 2007 copy of a Tommaso Balestrieri violin made by Los Angeles-based luthier Eric Benning. Aside from classical performance, she loves traveling, drinking espresso, and caring for her Jindo rescue pup, Cookie.
Haesol Lee is a Korean American violinist who began playing the violin at the age of three. After immigrating to the United States at the age of nine, she continued her studies at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, where she performed as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral leader, frequently serving as concertmaster. Lee earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Rice University, studying with Paul Kantor on full scholarship, and received her Master’s degree from The Juilliard School, where she studied with Li Lin and served as concertmaster of the Juilliard Chamber Orchestra. She later returned to California to pursue an active freelance career while completing further studies at the University of Southern California with Bing Wang, serving as principal violin of the USC Thornton Symphony. An active performer in both chamber and orchestral settings, Lee is a current member of the LA Opera Orchestra and has appeared as principal and assistant principal. She has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Long Beach Symphony, New West Symphony (assistant principal), and CMI Orchestra (associate concertmaster). Her playing can also be heard on film and television soundtracks for major streaming platforms including Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon, with credits such as Final Destination 5, The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender, and Disclosure Day. A dedicated chamber musician, her string quartet gave performances in Montreal Canada after winning the Ofiesh competition, which was then featured on KUSC radio station. She is also a member of the genre-crossing string quartet wholesoul, featured on Hozier’s album Unreal Unearth, as well as in Strings Magazine and WQXR. The quartet had the privilege of performing the national anthem at the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lee is also a passionate educator, and her students have gotten into renowned institutions including Rice University, Vanderbilt University, Indiana University, Manhattan School of Music Precollege, and Crossroads School.
Luke Santonastaso is a versatile musician, instructor, and mentor presently based in Los Angeles, CA. He currently serves as the principal 2nd violin for the Santa Cruz Symphony as well as tenured member of the New West Symphony and the Sarasota Opera Orchestra. His musical collaborations extend to various orchestras on the west coast, including the Long Beach Symphony, Santa Barbara Opera, San Bernardino Symphony, and Redlands Symphony, among others. Luke has collaborated with renowned artists such as Midori Goto, Maxim Vengerov, Osmo Vänskä, Lynn Harrell, Gilbert Kalish, Kim Kashkashian, and Augustine Hadelich. He has been a fellow at the National Repertory Orchestra, National Orchestral Institute, and Incontri in Terra di Siena music festivals. Santonastaso maintains a private studio, along with serving as coach and instructor with Junior Chamber Music. He is also a member of the Scottish Fiddlers of Los Angeles and enjoys folk music in all forms. He holds degrees from the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.
Born and raised in Mexico City, Fernando Arroyo Lascurain has embraced the multicultural experiences his career in music has provided. Traveling the world, immigrating to the United States seeking out the highest level of music making, collaborating with and befriending people across the globe. These experiences have defined his musical language as one who seeks to connect with audiences across the globe through the lens of a Mexican composer. He has been described as someone whose “musical impulses are essentially those of a profoundly Romantic composer…” Fernando believes exploring musical genres across every spectrum is the role of the modern composer and thus his music ranges from solo instrumental works, chamber music and large symphonic works to film, theatre, folk and contemporary popular music. Fernando Arroyo’s concert music has been performed throughout the Unites States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Spain, France, and South Korea on the world’s most renowned stages such as Carnegie Hall (NYC), Symphony Center (Chicago), Palacio de Bellas Artes (Mexico City), The Soraya (CA), and the Royal Albert Hall (London). Recent premiers of his music include the concerto version of Novel Voices (2022) by the Carr-Petrova Duo and the Reno Chamber Orchestra, Trio Tres (2023) commissioned and premiered by the Barclay Trio. Recently, his ongoing relationship with New West Symphony has resulted in the premiere of a large number of new arrangements and original music ranging from mexican folk music to musical theater. As a film composer, Fernando has collaborated with film directors like Roland Emmerich, Matt Shrader, Jose Sierra, Trent Kendrick, Phil Donlon, Gerardo Emmerich, and John Hahn. In the fall of 2013 Fernando wrote the music for “Any Given Tuesday”, a PSA featuring Elton John and Jamie Foxx. His film collaboration highlights include work on Independence Day: Resurgence (2016), Pet Fooled (2016), Survivors (2018), Midway (2019), Moonfall (2022), The Last Manhunt (2022), and Miller’s Girl (2023) . Following his belief of exploring music in every genre Fernando composed the soundtrack to “Blockbuster: The Story of James Cameron”, and award-winning cinematic podcast considered to be the most immersive podcast to be released. After writing hours of orchestral music for the ten-episode season, Fernando’s music became the first ever podcast soundtrack album to be released by a label, Lakeshore Records, one of the three leading film music labels.
about jennifer
Dr. Jennifer Jo is an award-winning flutist and educator based in Los Angeles. She currently serves on the faculty at Cal Poly SLO and Cuesta College.
An active orchestral and chamber musician, she serves as the Principal Flutist of the Civic Orchestra of Los Angeles under the direction of Anthony Parnther. She has also performed with many prestigious ensembles, including the LA Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel, the Pacific Symphony, the Modesto Symphony, Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra, Festival Napa Valley, the New York Flutists, American Youth Symphony, and the Talis Festival in Switzerland. In addition, she records for film and TV shows in studios and remotely.
Jennifer has appeared as a concerto soloist with the Orchestra Santa Monica, the Southern California Philharmonic, and the Carnegie Mellon University Wind Ensemble. She is a member of The Coalesce Duo, which she founded with fellow UCLA alum and harpist, Ginger Rose Brucker.
She has also appeared on the Main Stage at Coachella with artists Giveon, Snoop Dogg, Kehlani, Teddy Swims, and she will be on stage with Jeezy in Las Vegas.
Jennifer has won First Prizes in many prestigious competitions, including the San Francisco Flute Society Competition, South Carolina Flute Society Comp., Southern California Philharmonic Concerto Comp., the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music Concerto Comp., and the Sacramento Flute Club Comp.
She has also won Second Prizes in the National Flute Association Piccolo Competition and the Berkeley Piano Club Winds and Brass Comp., as well as top prizes in the Yamaha Young Performing Artists Comp., National YoungArts Comp., Florida Flute Association Young Artist Comp., New Jersey Flute Society Young Artist Comp., and the Redlands Bowl Concerto Comp.
Jules Levy is a Los Angeles-based studio musician and classically trained double bassist. He can be heard performing throughout Los Angeles with ensembles including the Hollywood Chamber Orchestra, Redlands Symphony, Long Beach Symphony, and Orchestra Santa Monica.
In addition to his live concert work, Jules is an active film and television recording artist, with credits including Disney’s Onward, Eddie Murphy’s Coming 2 America, Parasite Live to Film, Star Trek: Discovery, and Netflix’s Green Eggs and Ham. He has collaborated with artists such as Camila Cabello, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Erica Campbell, Kenny Burrell, Augustin Hadelich, and Nicola Benedetti at venues including the Hollywood Bowl, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Royce Hall, and Carnegie Hall.
Jules is the recipient of four consecutive full scholarships to the Aspen Music Festival (2016–2019), where he served as Assistant-Principal Bass of the Aspen Festival Orchestra and Principal Bass of the Aspen Philharmonic Orchestra. A former student of LA Philharmonic Principal Bass Chris Hanulik and LA Opera’s former Principal Bass David Young, Jules brings exceptional musicianship and versatility to every stage.
Laura Robb Martín is a cellist with an international background. Born and raised in Madrid, Spain, her love for music came from her father who is a musician and her mother who is an actress. She attended the Carmen Conde Conservatory in Spain from age eight to sixteen under cellist Tatiana Sapiña, where she participated in orchestra and chamber groups. In 2015, she received a Distinction in the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music grade 8 Performance exam.
In 2016, Laura went to Manhattan with a grant to study at the Steiner School for her junior year of high school. There, she was also awarded a scholarship to join the top-level ISO Symphony Orchestra in the Inter School Orchestras program of New York, which performed in Lincoln Center under conductor Jeffrey Grogan. While in New York, she studied cello with Dr. Marta Bedkowska-Reilly.
She then completed her high school education at Verde Valley School in Arizona, where she was an alternate cellist for the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra while studying with Dr. Mary Ann Ramos. She received her undergraduate degree in Cello Performance in May 2021 with Juilliard alumni Dr. Vicky Wang from the University of the Pacific Music Conservatory in Stockton, California, where she was a recipient of the Conservatory’s Excellence in Performance scholarship.
In the fall of 2019, Laura completed a semester abroad in Milan, Italy where she studied in Civica Scuola di Musica Claudio Abbado and was part of multiple orchestras and chamber groups. Laura teaches private cello lessons and performs at many events either as a soloist or in ensembles in Europe and in the United States. She completed her Master’s degree in Cello Performance at Sacramento State’s School of Music in 2024 magna cum laude. She also completed her Performer’s Certificate in Cello Performance at Sacramento State’s School of Music in 2025.
She is currently a cello sub for the Sacramento Philharmonic and often performs with them. She also performs with the Stockton Symphony while private teaching in the Sacramento area.
Megumi Smith, a native of Tokyo, Japan, is an accomplished percussionist and educator. Her musical journey began at the age of three when she started studying piano. In 2006, she moved to Southern California, where she earned a Master’s degree in Percussion Performance from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). She also holds a Level II certification in Orff Schulwerk, further enhancing her teaching expertise.
Passionate about education, Ms. Smith teaches piano and percussion to students of all ages while maintaining an active freelance career as a percussionist in Southern California. Her notable performance credits include appearances at the Hollywood Bowl with Los Tigres del Norte and participation in the LA Phil Neighborhood Concerts series under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel.
Currently, Ms. Smith is on the faculty at Santa Monica College, California State University, Dominguez Hills, and Youth Orchestra Los Angeles at Heart of Los Angeles (YOLA @ HOLA), where she teaches beginning percussion classes, percussion ensemble, music fundamentals, and private lessons. Her teaching experience also includes guest faculty positions with the Longy School of Music of Bard College’s MAT program and previous teaching roles at Loyola Marymount University.
Hawaii-born clarinetist Michael Yoshimi is an active performer and educator based in Los Angeles. He joined the faculty at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) in 2022 and was appointed Assistant Professor in 2024. He also teaches at Claremont Graduate University. Michael has appeared as a guest player with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and has performed with ensembles including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (UK), Pacific Symphony, Los Angeles Opera, Jacksonville Symphony, Boise Philharmonic, and Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, among others.
Since 2013, Michael has served as a clarinet instructor at the Colburn Community School of Performing Arts, where he has developed one of the most successful private studios in the country. His students come from across Los Angeles and have been accepted into top conservatories and universities, including the Colburn School, University of Southern California, Rice University, Eastman School of Music, The Juilliard School, Cleveland Institute of Music, Northwestern University, Columbia University, Stanford University, Harvard University and Brown University. His students have earned numerous accolades, including top honors at prestigious competitions such as the International Clarinet Association’s High School Solo Competition, the National YoungArts Foundation Finals, and the Music Center’s Spotlight Awards. They have also been featured on National Public Radio’s From the Top and have participated as principal players in renowned summer festivals such as the Verbier Junior Festival Orchestra, Yellow Barn Young Artists Program, Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra/National Youth Orchestra 2 (NYO/NYO2), Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and Interlochen Arts Camp.
Michael holds a Doctor of Musical Arts and a Master of Music degree in clarinet performance from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, as well as a Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University. His principal teachers were Yehuda Gilad and J. Lawrie Bloom.
Michael’s teaching philosophy emphasizes the role of teachers not only in building a strong musical foundation but also in shaping the lives of their students. He focuses on cultivating solid fundamentals that enable students to express themselves freely through their instrument. He looks forward to connecting with and mentoring new students from around the world.
Guest Artists
Dr. Andrés Jaramillo is an internationally recognized pianist and conductor, serving as Director of the Piano Department and faculty member at the Collinsworth School of Music at California Baptist University (CBU). At CBU, he teaches Applied Piano, Chamber Music, Music Theory, Senior Recital Class, Musicianship, Music in Global Cultures, Analysis of 20th- and 21st-century Music, and Formal Analysis. Dr. Jaramillo maintains a dynamic performance career, giving solo and collaborative recitals, premiering contemporary works, and presenting masterclasses and lectures worldwide. His programs are distinguished by their integration of standard classical repertoire with 20th-century compositions, contemporary music, and Latin American works. He has performed across South America, South Africa, Europe, China, and the United States, including prestigious venues such as the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, Russia and the Chopin University in Warsaw, Poland. Dr. Jaramillo has been honored as the Leonard Stein Resident Artist for Piano Spheres in Los Angeles for 2024–2025 and was selected for a second consecutive year as resident artist for 2025–2026, where he premieres newly commissioned solo piano works. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Piano Performance, with emphases in Theory, Instrumental Conducting, and Collaborative Keyboard Arts, from the USC Thornton School of Music, studying under Daniel Pollack. He also holds a Master of Music from Eastern Washington University and a Bachelor’s from Juan N. Corpas University, where he studied with Jorge Zorro Sánchez, Pilar Leyva, and Ludmila Weber.
Formed in 2022, Brass Connection is a dynamic chamber quintet based in Los Angeles. The ensemble emerged from a collaboration of brass artists who met while serving as Teaching Artists for the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s YOLA program. Coming from four different countries, they unite to use brass music as a connective thread between diverse audiences and communities worldwide.
Members have performed at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Hollywood Bowl, Pasadena Playhouse, and in film and television productions. The ensemble offers concert programs, educational workshops, and masterclasses.
Originally from San Pedro del Rio, Venezuela, Gaudy’s musical training began through Venezuela’s El Sistema program, which shaped his early development as a musician. He subsequently performed as a trumpet player with the renowned Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra.
Gaudy has established himself as an internationally recognized guest artist, performing with prestigious orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, Radio France Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Toluca Philharmonic, and Bogota Philharmonic Orchestra. His performances have taken him to major international festivals and concert halls including the Lucerne Festival, Salzburg Festival, Royal Albert Hall in London, and Carnegie Hall in New York.
He completed his music degree in Paris under maestro Eric Aubier and earned recognition as a laureate from the Maurice Andre International Competition.
Leadership Roles
Current Artistic Director of LA Phil’s YOLA program (since 2019)
Co-founder of the Simon Bolivar Trumpet Ensemble
Former Artistic Director of the International Trumpet Festival in Caracas
Former National Trumpet Academy of El Sistema Director
Member of El Sistema’s Musical Artistic Academic Council (2015–2018)
Former Artistic and Music Director of El Sistema Tachira
Artist Affiliation
Gaudy is an exclusive artist representing Schagerl, an Austrian brass instrument manufacturer.
Elizabeth is a Venezuelan horn player whose musical foundation was built through Venezuela’s renowned “El Sistema” program. She currently serves as a LA Phil Resident Fellow, bringing her international experience and artistry to one of the world’s leading orchestras.
Elizabeth has performed under the baton of some of the most distinguished conductors in the world, including Sir Simon Rattle, Gustavo Dudamel, and Esa-Pekka Salonen. Her orchestral career spans ensembles across the United States and Germany, including the San Diego Symphony, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, Badische Staatskapelle Karlsruhe, Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
She has collaborated with acclaimed musicians including Noah Bendix-Balgley, She-e Wu, Clive Greensmith, and Andrew Bain.
Luis is a versatile trumpeter based in Los Angeles with an extensive performance background. He is currently a member of the Dallas Brass.
He has collaborated with notable artists including hip-hop duo Camp Lo, Mexican Norteño legends Los Tigres del Norte, and jazz vocalist Barbara Morrison. His recording credits include the Super Bowl LVI performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” His work spans multiple mediums: streaming services, television, radio, and studio albums.
Dr. Gwang Kim currently serves as second trombone of the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra. He is on faculty at Concordia University Irvine, Loyola Marymount University, Ventura College Schwab School of Music, Pasadena Conservatory of Music, and YOLA Torres, a program of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
As a performer, Gwang has appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, New West Symphony, Seocho Philharmonic, and Daesan Philharmonic. He has performed at Coachella with 88 Rising artists and recorded for ABC’s “The Fosters” and Netflix’s “The Chef’s Table.”
Originally from Cape Town, South Africa and now based in Los Angeles, California, Möller is a freelance tubist and educator with an active performance career throughout Southern California. He performs as an orchestral musician and recording artist on television, video game, and commercial soundtracks.
“I have always wanted to build the festival I would have loved to attend as a student — a true side-by-side experience, a place that becomes a musical hub, and a community where young artists feel a real sense of belonging.”
Founder
The California Festival Orchestra
At the heart of California Music Festival (CMF) is the creation of the California Festival Orchestra — an ensemble built from its very first edition by students and faculty performing side by side.
More than a seasonal project, the orchestra is conceived as a living artistic journey.
It begins as a professional-level festival ensemble, grows organically as participants advance into their careers, and gradually evolves into a fully realized touring orchestra rooted in shared artistic foundations.
Its repertoire is curated not only for excellence, but to shape a distinctive voice — one that reflects the creative energy of Los Angeles while engaging in dialogue with an international artistic perspective.
Eligibility & Participation
Applications are open to advanced students and emerging professional musicians. For the inaugural edition, participation is limited to local and national applicants.
Institutional Support
Institutional support through partnerships and sponsorships strengthens CMS’s ability to fulfill its mission, providing financial and logistical backing.