Instructors

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    Roscoe Bussell

    Instructor of Piano, Guitar, Bass, Trumpet, Ukulele, French Horn, Music Theory and Songwriting

    Roscoe holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Composition from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music and is a recipient of the Patrick S. Gilmore Award and Texas Music Teacher’s Association Scholarship. He was a multiple-time finalist and winner of the National Federation of Music Teachers National Association’s composition contests. Roscoe has collaborated with and written for musicians including the Dorrington String Quartet, the Tales Ensemble, and most recently, the Grammy Award-and Pulitzer Prize-winning vocal group Roomful of Teeth. His varied performance experience includes playing piano and bass in the Rice Jazz Combo, performing and recording keyboards with artists including Deniz Love and Shama the Human, taking on bass and front man roles in the DFW-based band Pajama Party, playing trumpet in Latin-rock bands Los Skarnales and Ritmo Lokura, and holding the position of principal French horn for three years in the Campanile Symphony Orchestra at Rice University until 2022. Roscoe has been teaching music since 2017, having taught a wide range of students on piano, guitar, bass, horn, and trumpet, as well as in theory and composition. He has always loved teaching music and his passion for making and sharing it with others has only grown through the years.

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    Angel Hickerson

    Instructor of Voice

    Angel is a graduate of Sam Houston State University and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Voice Studies. A Houston native who has been singing most of her life, Angel is also an alumni of the Kinder High School of the Performing Arts. She has been singing classically for the last 14 years and is excited to watch, work, and educate her students through their musical journeys.

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    Aaron Houzvicka

    Instructor of Trombone, Trumpet, Guitar, Bass, Piano, and Ukulele

    Aaron studied Music Education at the University of Houston and had the pleasure of performing with a large variety of ensembles such as Houston Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees’ Los Skarnales, Bayou City Funk and Salmerum. He has a passion for learning new instruments and performing live, but believes that the most important aspect of music is sharing what one has learned with the next general of artists. Aaron enjoys empowering young students with knowledge and confidence so they can pursue any musical endeavor they choose.

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    Wuhyunn Jo

    Instructor of Trombone and Piano

    Originally from Katy, Tx, Wu completed his Bachelor’s degree in Trombone Performance from the University of Texas at Austin. He has completed formal instruction in Trombone and Piano Performance in his curriculum, and wishes to show young musicians how enjoyable playing music can be. Wu has performed across the country and in other nations, such as Switzerland and Mexico. His teaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of fundamental techniques and concepts, while preserving the joy and magic of learning how to play music.

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    Michelle Killgore

    Instructor of Piano

    Michelle began taking piano lessons when she was six years old. As a young adult she began teaching piano at Lo’eal Studio. She was on the dean’s list and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of St. Thomas. She enjoys performing as an accompanist to instrumentalists and vocalists while developing her own piano performance pieces. Prior to transitioning to the University of St. Thomas, Michelle received her Associates of Music degree at San Jacinto College. A scholarship student there as well, during her studies with Dr Zhung, she also played the keyboard as a jazz pianist for the Jazz Ensemble and served as a music theory tutor. Michelle is registered to teach piano curriculum from the Royal Conservatory of Music and prepares her students for Texas Federation of Music and All-State competitions. She is proud to have had students achieve All-State level and receive outstanding and superior ratings. Michelle is passionate about what she does: teaching music theory, offering diverse repertoire, establishing a foundation of good technique skills and practice habits, and most importantly, striving to bring out a love for the arts in each of her students.

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    Junha Lee

    Instructor of Percussion, Drums, and Piano

    Junha began playing drums in church more than ten years ago, eventually joining the worship team. From there, he became involved with other groups including his school’s wind symphony, stage band, and percussion workshops. In high school, he began his exploration of jazz music, and immediately fell in love with the works of John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, and Thelonius Monk. Currently, Junha is pursuing his studies in Sports Medicine and Health Sciences while also continuing to specialize in jazz drumming and percussion, enriching his music education with teaching and performance experiences.

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    Allyson Lopez

    Instructor of Saxophone and Piano

    Ally is a Baylor University alumni with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She pursued her passion for music and saxophone throughout high school and university, competing and performing at UIL State competitions for her high school marching band, solo and ensemble contests, and the Wind Ensemble Festival. Ally studied advanced improvisation under the instruction of the jazz director at Baylor U where she performed with jazz combos, the Baylor U Wayne Fisher Jazz Ensemble, and the Baylor Golden Wave Marching Band. She has traveled to Lima and Cuzco, Peru to perform with the Baylor Jazz Ensemble Mission team and has been on several tours across the U.S. with one of her Houston bands. Since 2019, Ally has been performing and recording professionally with various bands in a variety of genres, including classical, jazz, funk, Latin, and reggae. Ally understands the importance of continually learning and performing, having taken saxophone lessons herself for 18 years. Her education and professional performance background have given her the resources and real life experiences to understand her students and tailor lessons to their individual needs.

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    Kiara Minotta

    Instructor of Violin

    Kiara brings a unique blend of academic excellence and musical passion to her teaching. With a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Political Science from the University of Houston, she offers a profound understanding of human behavior, communication, and the transformative power of education. Her lifelong love of music, particularly the violin, is the driving force behind her dedication to sharing its joy and beauty with others. With over 10 years of teaching experience, Kiara has guided students of all ages and skill levels, helping them build strong foundations while inspiring a deep appreciation for music. Known for her empathetic and patient teaching style, she tailors each lesson to the unique needs of her students, nurturing their musical growth while fostering creativity, confidence, and discipline. A passionate violinist, Kiara resonates with the words of Yehudi Menuhin: “The violin is an instrument that is played not by a musician but by the soul.” This belief underpins her approach, as she seeks to help students connect with the music on a deeply personal level, ensuring their learning journey is as enriching as it is inspiring. From beginners taking their first steps to advanced students refining their skills, Kiara offers personalized and supportive teaching, creating an environment where every student can thrive.

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    Carlos Pereya

    Instructor of Voice, Piano, and Musical Theater

    Carlos began his career with over 10 years of classical training at the esteemed Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida under the tutelage of the great Curtis Rayam where he received his degree in both Music and Theater Performance. He went on to perform for a year at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater before making the move to New York City where he performed with several professional choral ensembles and was featured in several off-broadway immersive theater productions. After returning to Orlando, Carlos transitioned to acting full-time in commercials, theater, and independent films (for which he won “Best Lead Actor” at the OIF Film Festival in 2021). He also became an acting coach, director, and writer. More recently, Carlos has followed his passion yet again and made the leap from Opera to Pop/Rock and Country, becoming the lead vocalist of Country Nights Live and a full-time dueling pianist, playing all across the state of Florida, the east coast, and Texas. Why learn from Carlos? In his words: “I want to instill not just in my students, but everybody who reads this, the courage to follow your passions, no matter what they may be. If you want to sing—then let’s sing! Want to play an instrument—let’s practice! If there is something in you that says, ‘I’d love to do_____’ or ‘I’d love to try_____’—then let’s figure out how to get you started on your journey!”

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    Valerie Perez

    Instructor of Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, and Piano

    Valerie is Texas School of Music’s very first intern! She is an entertainer and multi-instrumentalist with experience in songwriting, improvisation, and vocal performance. She specializes in teaching music lessons for all levels of guitar along with bass guitar and piano. Valerie’s love of music began as a young child, mimicking TV tunes on her toy piano. She went on to teach herself basic guitar before coming to Texas School of Music for formal lessons and training. Currently, Valerie is a performing guitarist publicly, and is pursuing a degree in Business at Houston Community College. She plans to further her knowledge in music by studying internationally in London, UK for Music Business at the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance. At only eighteen, Valerie has had the honor of learning from and working with world renowned artists and Houston Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. Her passion for music is rooted in the abundance of diversity Houston’s music scene has to offer and she seeks to continue that legacy as a local musician and future business owner in the music industry.

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    Noah Pujol

    Instructor of Clarinet, Saxophone, Flute, and Piano

    Noah is a multiple woodwinds performer, teacher, and improviser specializing in clarinet, flute, and saxophone with nearly nine years of performance and teaching experience. A native Texan, he received his Bachelor of Music degree in clarinet performance at Indiana University where he studied with Eli Eban, and his Master of Music from the University of Michigan where he studied with Daniel Gilbert, Chad Burrow, and Andrew Bishop. An active freelancer, Noah enjoys and has experience playing a variety of styles from classical to musical theater to jazz. He held the position of principal clarinetist in the Dearborn Symphony while pursuing his Master’s degree. During that time he also performed with the University Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Band, chamber ensembles, Creative Arts Improvisation Orchestra, and jazz ensembles. In his free time, Noah enjoys listening to jazz and being an amateur birdwatcher.

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    Charlie Rojas

    Instructor of Piano, Guitar, Trumpet, Ukulele, Songwriting, and Music Technology

    Charlie has been independently teaching in San Antonio, Texas and Memphis Tennessee for five years. She specializes in teaching piano and guitar but has had recent opportunities to strengthen her skills in songwriting, music technology, and trumpet. Charlie has learned from Blues musicians in Memphis and Grammy award-winning musicians in music technology and songwriting at the Mike Curb Institute in Memphis, TN. She also played trumpet in her college jazz band. She lives by the idea that you are never too young or too old to learn music.

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    Sal Velasco

    Instructor of Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone, Piano, Bass, Guitar, Percussion, and Tuba

    Sal has been teaching in the Houston area since 2012. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Houston. Sal specializes in brass instruments and drums, however his passion for music has allowed him to learn and teach piano, saxophone, guitar and bass. Over the years, several of his students have qualified for TMEA Texas All-State Band. Sal is also an avid performer, having played across the country and internationally in Mexico and Spain. In his own words, “Part of my teaching philosophy is respecting the roots. Regardless of what instrument or genre you prefer, you must respect where it came from. As the saying goes, ‘How can you know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been?’ A lot of musicians get ahead of themselves and want to ‘change the game,’ but I believe you must first respect the game, then master the game, then finally you can change the game.”