The Santa Monica Academy of Music: Faculty Profiles

The Santa Monica Academy of Music faculty is diverse and able to meet the needs of every level of student-beginner through advanced, children through adults. Our youngest student enrolled in private lessons is 5 years old and our oldest is 85 years old. All of our instructors possess a passionate dedication to music education and are college, university, or conservatory trained.

Jessi Spike Gravelle (piano)

Jessi Spike Gravelle began her music studies at the age of four, in Chesaning, Michigan. Her many years of private study, various competitions and performance experience gained her admittance to Michigan State University's piano pedagogy and performance departments, where she studied with Ms. Yong Hi Moon. After transferring to UCLA as a music major in 1990 to study with Dr. Ick Choo Moon, Jessi continued her work in piano pedagogy by opening her own private teaching studio in Santa Monica. As her studio continued to grow, Jessi also earned her Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in English from California State University, Northridge in 1996. She is currently pursuing her Master's in Music Education from California State University, Los Angeles.

Buzz Gravelle (guitar, piano, mandolin)

Buzz Gravelle has over fifteen years experience as a music instructor. He is the founder, co-owner, and director for the Santa Monica Academy of Music, where he also functions as head guitar instructor. Additionally, he is an adjunct Professor of Music at California Polytechnic University at Pomona.

As a member of the Modern Arts Guitar Quartet (1990-1995) he performed regularly in Southern California, in addition to Germany, Austria, Italy, Mexico (16th Annual Festival of New Music, Mexico City, 1995), and the Pacific Northwest. He stays active performing and recording on classical guitar and classical mandolin.

Buzz has composed much music for the classical guitar. An area of special interest is the prepared guitar. His composition "They Go On Mumbling...(An Elegy for John Cage)" is one of the few pieces written for four prepared classical guitars. Buzz Gravelle is also one of the few classical fretless guitarists and composers. See myspace.com/buzzgravelle and buzzgravelle.com for more information about his professional activities.

Buzz holds both a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) and Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) degree from UCLA. His primary classical guitar instructors were Professors Peter Yates and the late Theodore Norman. He has also studied jazz guitar with Warren Nunes, composition with Manuel Enriquez, and lute and theorbo with Michael Egan.

Marco Chiovato-Rambaldo (piano)

Marco Chiovato-Rambaldo began his music career in Italy where he studied piano, cello, and theory at Padua Conservatory of Music. During his early musical exploration, he developed an interest in a variety of different styles, among them jazz, music of the Baroque period, and rock. He has played and performed in a Baroque ensemble, in addition to blues, jazz, and rock bands. Under the influence of his former piano teacher, Maestro Basso, he began composing, improvising, and teaching.

Since moving to Los Angeles, Marco has been active teaching and playing solo piano. Currently, he is the musical director and choir conductor at the Sepulveda Unitarian Church, "The Onion", in Northridge. In addition, he is currently working on recording his first album and composing a musical.

Wes Radlein (violin)

Wes Radlein began studying the violin at the age of thirteen, first with his father, then with Kurkan Vrouyr. At fifteen, in addition to the violin, he began the 'cello and studied with Lucien Laporte. He has played extensively in many ensembles and community orchestras throughout Southern California. He is a studio musician and has been active in recital work with various artists at UCLA and USC. Wes is also accomplished on the viola and the viola da gamba which he studied with August Wenzinger at the University of Southern California and in Italy.

Lois Starer (Suzuki violin)

Lois Starer received her Bachelor of Music degree from the State University of New York at New Paltz. She went on to receive Suzuki violin certification at the prestigious School for Strings in New York City, under the direction of Louise Behrend. Ms. Starer has taught and directed the Suzuki departments of many New York Schools including The Harlem School of Arts, the Bloomingdale House of Music, St. Hilda's and St. Hughes School and the Westport School of Music in Westport, Connecticut. In Los Angeles, she has taught at the Westwood Yamaha Music School, the Fine Arts Summer Day Camp and Temple Akiba.

Leah Driscoll (voice)

A native of Maine, Leah Driscoll began classical piano lessons at 8 years old, and started voice training at 14. In her later teens, she shifted her focus to contemporary styles, including jazz, r&b, pop, rock, and musical theatre. In 2003, Leah graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston, with a degree in vocal performance. She has been teaching Voice, Piano, and Music Theory lessons since. In addition to being a popular voice teacher, Leah is a sought after Los Angeles studio (session) singer and background vocalist. In 2008, she released her debut album, "Rising." Here's what students are saying:

"I just wanted to say that I am really enjoying my lessons. Leah is wonderful. We hit it off from the first lesson and I can see improvement in the quality of my voice already. Thank you for everything!" - Sharon K.

"Leah has been a wonderful, great and patient teacher!" - Kathleen K.

"Kali had so much fun with Leah and I think she learned a lot from her. My daughter loved the quality Leah had and shared with her." - Mari Y.

Elaine Kim (piano)

Elaine Kim began her piano studies in Chicago, Illinois at the age of seven under the guidance of Denis Moffat and Whe do Kim. Within two years, she was competing internationally, placing in prestigious competitions such as The Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, Young Keyboard Artists Association, and the Yamaha Piano Competition. She made her televised debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at age eleven, performing Rachmaninoff's First Piano Concerto. By age sixteen, Ms. Kim had the distinction of being the only pianist chosen from the Americas to compete in the Chopin International Piano Competition for Young Artists held in Moscow, Russia.

In 1998, Ms. Kim received a scholarship to the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music where she studied under John Perry and Anne Perry. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities with an Emphasis in Music in 2003. Though her formative years were spent performing and competing, Ms. Kim has found her true passion in teaching music to students of all ages.

David Babich (voice, guitar)

David began singing and playing clarinet at age 9. He has been active professionally as a vocalist, composer, multi-instrumentalist and actor since 1992 when he received his B.A. in Voice and Composition from UCLA. He spent 1994-2004 in the S.F. bay area where he performed in over 25 plays and musicals as an actor, musician or musical director. His favorite musical roles were the title role in "Woody” Guthrie's American Song", Max in "Lend Me A Tenor" (though he's really a Baritone!) and The Wolf from "Into the Woods". He is currently finishing his debut solo album, "Mind Aside", which blends pop, folk and Jazz. See davidbabich.com for more information about his professional activities.

Tamar Shengelia (piano)

Tamar Shengelia, a pianist of unique talent, trained at the Tbilisi V. Saradjishvili State Conservatory, one of the most distinguished musical institutions of the territory of the former Soviet Union. Tamar entered the conservatory after graduating two years early from the Georgian School for Gifted Children. She holds a Master degree in Chamber Music and ensemble accompaniment (with honors). Tamar has performed with several symphony and chamber orchestras in Georgia, as well as with recognized duets, trios and quartets. She has also accompanied renowned singers and given solo recitals in Georgia and the US. Throughout her brilliant career, she has gained recognition as an artist of tremendous versatility and won many prizes. Tamar is also a gifted teacher and has been teaching music since 1990.

Tim Dolinar (winds)

Tim Dolinar is a versatile saxophonist in the realms of both classical and jazz music. As a classical saxophonist, he toured various cities in Germany and Italy as both an ensemble member and featured soloist with the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony. He is a founding member and performer with renowned classical saxophone quartets such as The Northcoast Saxophone Quartet, The Cleveland Saxophone Quartet and Fresno Saxophone Quartet. Mr. Dolinar has also performed with various orchestras, including The Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra, The Baldwin Wallace Symphony Orchestra, and The Fresno Philharmonic. Mr. DolinarÍs ability as a jazz saxophonist has enabled him and varying quartets and quintets to perform at numerous jazz clubs throughout the United States. Mr. Dolinar holds a B.M. in saxophone performance from The Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory of Music and an M.A. in performance from California State University, Fresno.

Marina Kalantarova (piano)

Marina Kalantarova has an extensive background in piano performance, composition, and music education. She received her Master of Music degree in Composition, while attending the Moscow Conservatory in Russia, and her B.A. of Music in Piano Performance and Composition from Tashkent Conservatory. While in Russia, she worked at the Special Music School, where she taught piano, composition, and improvisation, also overseeing staff members as head of the Composition and Improvisation Department. Upon coming to the United States, Ms. Kalantarova was employed at the Lucy Moses School of Music and Dance in New York, NY. There she continued teaching piano, and also conducted a Music Education/Theory Workshop. Ms. Kalantarova has lived in Los Angeles since 1998 where she has been busy teaching piano at LeLycee Francais de Los Angeles and privately at her home studio, as well as composing music for films, animation, chamber and orchestral music. Ms. KalantarovaÍs publishers include Chant du Monde (Paris, France), and Composer Publishers (Moscow, Russia).

Veronica Surkhaykhanova (piano)

Born in Moscow, Russia, Veronika started learning piano at the age of four. Following the examples of her loving and dedicated teachers, she decided at an early age to become a music educator. After graduating with honors from Prokofiev's Music School No. 1 in Moscow, she studied with professors from Gnessin State Music College and the Moscow Conservatory at St. Tikhon University. Veronika was awarded a scholarship to study music in the United States, where she received her M.A. from St. Vladimir's Seminary in Crestwood, NY in 2000. Her continuing studies include Julie Jordan's piano class at the Juilliard School, and Marguerite Brooks's conducting course at Yale University. Veronika has over 12 years experience as a music instructor. She was the director of an a capella choir at St. Mary Magdalene Church in New York, and taught piano at the prestigious Connecticut School of Music. She relocated to California in 2008 and has continued being active as a music teacher.

Rebecca Kollatz (violin)

An accomplished violinist and vocalist, Rebecca Kollatz began studying music through her school music programs in her native Wisconsin, where, after completing her Bachelor of Music in Music Education at Butler University, she returned to teach both choral and instrumental music. Before deciding to move to the Los Angeles area, Rebecca held the position of Director of Orchestras for John Bullen Middle School in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and was a member of the Mastersingers of Milwaukee. She has a Master of Arts in Education degree from Viterbo University.