It's Miami. It's Music. It's Community. It's a Center.

Melissa Lesniak

Wendy Chen Gunther

Ruth Wiesen, Artistic Director Armour Dance Theatre

Rhonda Smith, Executive Director Fit Kids of America

Tinder Burris, Retired M-DCPS Music Teacher, Cello Instructor

Lakeisha Frith, Director of Education Arsht Center 

Vivian Gonzalez, Orchestra Director Miami Arts Studio

Carissa Sweet, Digital Associate University of Miami

Bernarda Reyes, Senior Manager Audience Development at Sony Music Latin 

Suzanne Suris, Preschool & Elementary Music Teacher at Westminster Christian School

Mrs. Suzanne Suris has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Florida International University and a Florida Professional Teacher’s Certificate in Elementary Education.  She has taught ages birth through grade 8, both in the general education classroom as well as in dedicated music classrooms for 28 years. She has directed numerous children’s and youth choirs and bands, and has also presented at conferences for organizations such as the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. Suzanne served as the Southeast Regional Representative for the Early Childhood Music and Movement Association for 3 years, and has her certification in the Musikgarten curriculum, utilized in a variety of music education settings.

Suzanne currently is the Preschool and Elementary Music Teacher at Westminster Christian School. She has been a member of the Fine Arts Department faculty at Westminster for 12 years, and is also the Director of Worship at Redland Church of the Nazarene.

Suzanne believes that exposure to music and musical activities is critical to every child’s intellectual, physical, and social development. As the mother of a special needs child, she has seen first-hand the effect of music in the lives of challenged children and adults. 

Isabella Herrera, Music Teacher at St. Philips Episcopal School

Isabella Herrera is an experienced pianist, violinist, guitarist, and educator.  She is currently the violin and music teacher at St. Philips Episcopal School in Coral Gables, and taught both piano and violin at the Frost School of Music for 7 years prior where she got her Bachelors in Music Education.  Her primary instrument of study in college was piano, but she also played violin in the Chameleon String Ensemble.  As a college student, she fell in love with the art of teaching music, and is driven by the social and emotional connections of music-making.  

Alexa Marsellos, Music Therapist and Music Educator

Alexa Marsellos is a Miami-based music therapist and has been board certified since 2022.  A Miami native, she has almost a decade of experience as a vocalist, music educator, and interventionist. She completed her undergraduate studies at Florida International University, where she received a bachelor's degree in Music Education. She completed her music therapy clinical training and graduate coursework at the University of Miami.  After graduating with her master's degree in 2021, she completed her 6-month music therapy internship at Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care in Miami, Fl.

As a music educator, Alexa has worked with students of all ages in private or group lessons, choral, and general music settings teaching a variety of music genres. As a classically trained soprano, Alexa has performed as a soloist and in ensembles for church services, weddings, family or business events, and fundraisers. In her music therapy clinical work, she provides individual and group sessions for clients diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Delays, Learning Disorders, Neurological Conditions, and more. Alexa is passionate about music's ability to foster connections with others and creating opportunities to share her love of music with others.

Besnik Hashani, Orchestra Director Gulliver Middle

Vivian Ventura, Orchestra Director Southwood Middle