Voice Instructors

After teaching music for over 10 years I’ve learned that musicians are their most creative selves when feeling relaxed, confident, and free. That’s why I focus on overcoming insecurity and tension along with the details of piano and vocal technique. Music is a wonderful and life-changing integration of our technical and emotional experiences!

I have a BA in Vocal Performance from Texas Christian University, where I sang in the Concert Chorale and was a founding member of the TCU Opera Society. Before TCU, I earned my Associate’s degree from Weatherford College where I was involved in musical theater and choir. I’m also a singer-songwriter and recording artist. You can listen to my work on all the major streaming services.

Voice Instructors

Zoe Vandermeer has been teaching voice to children and adults for more than two decades. She is a prize-winning graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, has taught voice at the Hartt School, is a recipient of numerous grants and scholarships, is a recording artist, and sings professionally in the US and abroad. She is a California native, lives in Connecticut, and is a member of the New York Singing Teachers Association. Zoe is dedicated to providing her proven and reliable method of vocal training to all ages that results in vocal ease, removal of vocal strain, increased stamina, power, vocal range, flexibility, and balancing of the registers for all vocal styles.

Voice Instructors

Hi! My name is John El-Jor and I’m a voice teacher at the San Ramon Academy of Music, specializing in musical theater and pop/rock vocals.

Having a safe space to learn, explore, and discover your talent is everything I want for my students. That way you’ll get a fundamental toolbox of techniques to apply to your vocal journey for the rest of your life!
I earned my BFA in Musical Theatre from Penn State University, while simultaneously studying under the MFA Musical Theatre Voice Pedagogy program. That’s where I found my love of voice science and teaching.

Post-collegiate life hasn’t meant an absence of learning for me as I’ve continued practicing Estill Voice Training. I believe in the concept of being a “forever student.”

I’ve worked with creatives such as Andre Braugher, Michele Pawk, Kathryn Gallagher, Zoe Lister Jones, as well as appearing on American Idol with judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan. I’ve also been a part of a variety of Off-Broadway shows, and major upcoming feature films.

Voice Instructors

Hi! It’s nice to meet you. My name is Jillian and I’m a voice and piano teacher at the San Ramon Academy of Music.

Don’t we all learn best when we’re having fun? You know you do! I incorporate games, art, movement, song-writing, literature and improvisation to make my lessons fun for all students, no matter how old. With 16 years of experience, I have tools to customize lessons for each student’s learning style, personality, favorite musical genres, and specific goals.

After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Western Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education, I taught in Quito, Ecuador where I directed an internationally-traveled a cappella choir. I’ve performed at weddings, cafes, church services and Quinceañeras, and even presented one of my compositions on Ecuadorian T.V!

Piano Instructors

Rhea has a BA in music and an MA in Piano Performance Studies from the University of Sheffield, England. She also has over 7 years of teaching as well as performing experience. Her passion is making sure music is enjoyable and tailored to her students’ personal needs and goals!

To Rhea, piano lessons are always more than piano. Besides the fundamental piano technique training and music theory, singing, ear training, and stage performance are part of her class as well, along with games, even drawing, and workout sometimes. She believes the process of learning piano is a process of knowing how to coordinate your whole body, build up perseverance and who you can become.

Outside of the piano, Rhea likes hiking, reading, and muay thai (kickboxing). Being part of nature and activities teaches her how to keep going forward when she’s facing difficulties, and the most important thing is, don’t say “I can’t do it” easily.

Piano Instructors

Crystal has a BA in Vocal Performance from Texas Christian University, where she was a founding member of the TCU Opera Society and sang in the Concert Chorale. Before TCU, she received her Associate’s degree from Weatherford College where she was involved in musical theater and choir. She is also a singer-songwriter and recording artist, with original music on all the major streaming services.

Crystal has over ten years of experience teaching singing, piano, and music theory lessons to students of all ages and levels. She also worked at the International Newcomer Academy in Fort Worth, TX, teaching ESL music to newcomers and refugees from all over the globe.

Crystal enjoys spending her free time with her husband and her two dogs, Angelina the elderly Chiweenie and DJ the Belgian Malinois and retired officer. She also enjoys cooking, spending time in nature, the occasional video game, and reading nonfiction.