
Staff

Todd Schultz
President & CEO
Todd Schultz

Leah Z. Rosenthal
Artistic Director LRosenthal@LJMS.org
Leah Z. Rosenthal
Artistic Director

Inon Barnatan
SummerFest Music Director
Inon Barnatan
Born in Tel Aviv in 1979, Inon Barnatan started playing the piano at the age of three after his parents discovered he had perfect pitch, and he made his orchestral debut at age 11. His musical education connects him to some of the 20th century’s most illustrious pianists and teachers: he studied first with Professor Victor Derevianko, who, himself, studied with the Russian master Heinrich Neuhaus; and in 1997 he moved to London to study at the Royal Academy of Music with Maria Curcio – a student of the legendary Artur Schnabel – and with Christopher Elton. This summer, Barnatan begins his tenure as La Jolla Music Society’s newest SummerFest Music Director.
Administration

Chris Benavides
Director of Finance CBenavides@LJMS.org
Chris Benavides
Director of Finance

Brady Stender
Finance Coordinator BStender@LJMS.org
Brady Stender
Programming

Allison Boles
Education and Community Programming Manager ABoles@LJMS.org
Allison Boles

Sarah Campbell
Programming Manager SCampbell@LJMS.org
Sarah Campbell

Serafin Paredes
Community Music Center Director
Serafin Paredes
Mr. Paredes earned his Bachelor of Music from San Diego State University in Music Education in 1998. After graduating from SDSU, he attended National University, where he earned his Master of Education in Cross-Cultural Teaching and his B-CLAD Teaching Credential. Mr. Paredes has been a music educator in the San Diego Unified School District since 1999 when started his teaching career teaching band, orchestra, and guitar at an elementary school. Aside from being an elementary music teacher, he also started teaching string instruments at La Jolla Music Society’s Community Music Center, where he has been the director for the past eighteen years. Since 2012, Mr. Paredes has been the mariachi director at the University of San Diego. Currently, he is working at developing the music program at Logan Memorial Educational Campus.

Xiomara Pastenes
Community Music Center Administrative Assistant
Xiomara Pastenes
Xiomara Pastenes has been a part of the La Jolla Music Society’s Community Music Center for about six years as an Administrative Assistant. She also teaches the string section of our LJMS Ensemble. She is currently working to finish her degree in Marketing Communications.

Pierre Blocker
Percussion Instructor
Pierre Blocker
Mr. Blocker earned his Bachelor in Music Education from San Diego State University, a Reading and Literacy Credential from the University of California San Diego, a Master’s degree in Best-Practices (Education) and Administrative Services Credential from National University. Mr. Blocker has taught in the San Diego Unified School District for many years teaching band, marching band, orchestra, and percussion ensembles. He is currently teaching in the Chula Vista Elementary School District as a music teacher (grades K-6). Mr. Blocker is a percussionist and has performed in various percussion ensembles. He is new to CMC and excited to work with our students.

Noila Carrazana
Vocal Instructor
Noila Carrazana
Ms. Carrazana is of Cuban origin (musician and performer). She is a teacher and vocalist of Latin musical genres with African influences (Bolero, Chachacha, Salsa, Rumba, Afro, Latin Jazz, and jazz improvisation). As a music professional, she visited Germany, Martinique, Japan, San Martín, Brazil, and Mexico. She teaches courses and musical workshops for vocal improvisation. She is currently studying Music and Acting at Grossmont College San Diego to transfer to the University of San Diego.
Sra. Carrazana es de origen cubano (Música e Intérprete). Es profesora y vocalista de géneros musicales latinos con influencias africanas (Bolero, Chachachá, Salsa, Rumba, Afro, Latin Jazz e improvisación de jazz). Como profesional de la música, visitó Alemania, Martinica, Japón, San Martín, Brasil y México. Imparte cursos y talleres musicales de improvisación vocal. En diciembre de 2014; se mudó a San Diego. Actualmente estudia Música y Actuación en Grossmont College San Diego para transferirse a la Universidad de San Diego.

Marcus Cortez
Piano Instructor
Marcus Cortez

Armando Solo Hernandez
Guitar Instructor
Armando Solo Hernandez
Music Teacher/Performer
Self-taught in guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, and more since 1963. Mr. Hernandez performed in Germany and Vietnam while in the U.S. Army 1969-1971. He studied music at San Diego State University and graduated with a multicultural-bilingual teaching credential. He completed his Master of Arts in Education from Azusa Pacific University along with other certificates, including California Community College in Guitar 1 & 2, Music Appreciation, Gifted and Talented Education, Visual and Performing Arts. Lastly, Mr. Hernandez is very proud to state that he is the only CMC instructor that has been an active member since its very beginning. VIVA CMC!

Michelle Maynard
Woodwind Instructor
Michelle Maynard
Ms. Maynard has been playing saxophone throughout San Diego and the rest of the world for over 15 years. She is an endorsing artist for Bari Woodwinds and is passionate about helping young people achieve their goals through music. She currently plays and teaches saxophone, clarinet, flute, bass, voice, and piano and looks forward to sharing her skills with others.

Eduardo Ruiz
Brass Instructor
Eduardo Ruiz
Eduardo Ruiz has been the brass instructor of La Jolla Music Society’s Community Music Center since 2015. Born and raised in San Diego, he has worked hard to bring music to San Diego and its surrounding areas for over 10 years and is currently pursuing a degree in Music Education. He plays trumpet and enjoys composing and arranging.

Rebeca Tamez
Strings Instructor
Rebeca Tamez
Rebeca Tamez has been working as the violin instructor with the La Jolla Music Society Community Music Center (CMC) since 2016. Ms. Tamez has a Bachelor of Arts in Music with an emphasis in music theory from the University of San Diego. She is currently working on her Master of Science in educational counseling. Ms. Tamez enjoys working with and teaching the CMC string students.

Eric Bromberger
Program Annotator
Eric Bromberger
Development

Ferdinand Gasang
Director of Development FGasang@LJMS.org
Ferdinand Gasang
Director of Development

Landon Akiyama
Development Coordinator LAkiyama@LJMS.org
Landon Akiyama

Nicole Flores-Slavik
Special Events Coordinator NSlavik@LJMS.org
Nicole Flores-Slavik
Marketing & Ticket Services

Adam Thurman
Director of Marketing AThurman@LJMS.org
Adam Thurman
Director of Marketing

Rachel Cohen
Marketing Coordinator RCohen@LJMS.org
Rachel Cohen

Hayley Woldseth
Marketing & Communications Project Manager HWoldseth@LJMS.org
Hayley Woldseth

Angelina Franco
Graphics & Web Designer AFranco@LJMS.org
Angelina Franco

Shannon Bobritchi
Ticket Services Manager SBobritchi@LJMS.org
Shannon Bobritchi

Nina Paganucci
Assistant Ticket Services Manager NPaganucci@LJMS.org
Nina Paganucci

Patrick Mayuyu
Ticket Services Representative PMayuyu@LJMS.org
Patrick Mayuyu

Shaun Davis
House Manager
Shaun Davis
Production

Hannes Kling
Director of Theatre Operations HKling@LJMS.org
Hannes Kling
Director of Theatre Operations
Hannes Kling’s work in arts management is driven by a sense of wonder, which he hopes to inspire in audiences of all ages. He studied Music and Technology at UCSD, beginning a career in theatre production that spanned from the tiny La Paloma Theatre to being on the inaugural team at Legoland California and overseeing the installation of sets nationally with the award-winning Devlin Design Group. He is thrilled to return to La Jolla Music Society, overseeing operations at The Conrad.

Verdon Davis
Technical Director VDavis@LJMS.org
Verdon Davis

Abby Viton
Production Manager AViton@LJMS.org
Abby Viton

Anthony LeCourt
Events Manager ALeCourt@LJMS.org
Anthony LeCourt

Jonnel Domilos
Piano Technician
Jonnel Domilos

Erica Poole
Page Turner