Fall Registration Now Open!
About Us
Dr. Melissa Lesniak, President
Wendy Chen Gunther, Director of Educational Programming
Wendy Chen Gunther, Director of Educational Programming
Highlights
- PhD Music Education- Frost School of Music University of Miami
- Bachelors of Violin Performance, business minor- Indiana University Bloomington
- Chair of Performing Arts and Industry at Miami Dade College Kendall Campus
- Lecturer- Frost School of Music
For more information- visit here
Wendy Chen Gunther, Director of Educational Programming
Wendy Chen Gunther, Director of Educational Programming
Wendy Chen Gunther, Director of Educational Programming
Wendy Chen Gunther is a doctoral student in Music Education at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami, where she is a graduate teaching assistant, research fellow, and university student teaching supervisor. She holds degrees from the University of Miami (Master of Music) and Wheaton College, IL (Bachelor of Music Education). She
Wendy Chen Gunther is a doctoral student in Music Education at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami, where she is a graduate teaching assistant, research fellow, and university student teaching supervisor. She holds degrees from the University of Miami (Master of Music) and Wheaton College, IL (Bachelor of Music Education). She was the recipient of the Frost School of Music’s Outstanding Graduate Student award in 2020 and the Presser Foundation Grant in 2022.
An experienced music educator with over twenty five years of teaching experience, Wendy previously taught K-5 elementary general music in Aurora, Illinois. During that time, she earned National Board Certification and completed three levels of Orff-Schulwerk certification. She performs regularly as a vocalist with local community choirs, as a pit musician for community theater productions, and has held positions as a church organist and pianist. She maintains a private studio, teaching voice, piano, violin, and viola to students of all ages.
Board Members
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
Early childhood music instructor
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.
Ukulele/Guitar Club instructor
Alexa Marsellos, Music Therapist and Music Educator
Alexa Marsellos is a Miami-based music therapist and has been board certified since 2022. She is currently a music therapist for Miami Cancer Institute. 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.
Keyboard (Group Piano) instructor
Emily Nourishirazi, Pianist and Pedagogue
Emily Nourishirazi started piano lessons at seven in Texas and later in Florida with Russian-American pianist Irena Kofman. She is a winner of numerous competitions including the silver medal at the International Keyboard Odyssiad Competition in 2015. She has had the honor of performing with orchestras across South Florida as a soloist. In addition to her performance career, Emily is an active teacher. She has been teaching at the Frost Preparatory Program for over 8 years now, working with children of various ages.
Emily received her B.M. degree in Piano Performance in 2016 at the Frost School of Music, where she studied with Santiago Rodriguez. In 2018, she received her M.M. degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, also at the Frost School of Music, studying with Kevin Kenner and Naoko Takao. During her studies, she was the piano fellowship recipient of the Henry Mancini Institute.
Consultants
Pinecrest Elementary Orchestra Teachers
Michelle Sanchez