Staff
Brenda Eeds, Director
Founder of Pacific School of Music & the Arts in 1990, Ms. Eeds received her BM from Biola University in Piano Performance, followed by graduate work at USC, CSUF, UCI and E-Myth Academy in Piano Performance, Vocal Accompanying & Coaching, Piano Pedagogy, Arts Administration and Business Development. After leaving the music schools for a 2-year adventure in France, Ms. Eeds has returned to the directorship of the schools. “It’s a pleasure and privilege to work with our students and their families and with my talented and dedicated colleagues in the classroom and in the office. We look forward to expanding our programs and position in the arts community.”
Elizabeth Mejia, Assistant Director
Ms Elizabeth Mejia was born in El Salvador into a family with musical talent going back several generations. Her education in Business Administration, with emphasis in Pre-Law gave her a vast knowledge and in 1995, she followed an administrative career as Executive Assistant to the Senior Partner of a prestigious law firm in West Los Angeles. Excellent customer service, detail oriented and patient demeanor are just a few of the many positive qualities that describe Ms. Elizabeth. She enjoys attending musical concerts and theater and is looking forward to enriching her family’s next generation by teaching her own daughter the beauty of music and arts. We appreciate Ms. Elizabeth for keeping us organized and operating efficiently.
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Alla Shklovski, Piano & Theory
Ms. Alla received her Ph.D. in Musicology from St Petersburg Conservatory in Russia. In Kazakhstan, where she was born, Ms Alla taught piano classes and theory courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels. She designed course materials for theory courses and performed research in oriental music theory while serving as an associate professor at the Conservatoire in Kazakhstan. Ms Alla moved to the US in 1993 and has been on the faculty of Pacific Conservatory since 2001. She is beloved by her students for her delightful personality and superb teaching skills. Ms Alla is an avid skier and enjoys interior design, literature and traveling.
April Sigman, Musical Theatre
Ms. April made her stage debut at three years old, and is a professional actress, singer, dancer, model, stylist, and producer. April attended New World School of The Arts, a conservatory program affiliated with the University of Florida, on a full scholarship to study musical theater and acting. While at New World she was placed on the dean's list and national dean's list for eight consecutive semesters, and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2003 with her Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA). Ms. April, in her eighth year as a Musical Theater instructor, has an immense passion for the arts, pageantry, and the art of communication and adores sharing this passion with others. She is looking forward to working with you, and watching your skill and passion for these exciting, and addictive, art forms grow! Miss April joined the Pacific Conservatory faculty in 2011.
Carl Smelser, Drums & Percussion
Mr. Carl is an accomplished performer and teacher whose 35-year career has spanned all styles. He has performed nationally and internationally, and has played hundreds of concerts, theatrical productions and recording sessions, as well as television, radio and videos. He has studied with the United States Marine
Corp Band, L.A. Philharmonic, San Francisco Opera and Pacific Symphony, as well as Clayton Cameron (Tony Bennett), Rick Latham (Edgar Winter), Paul Kreibich (Ray Charles) and Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp). He has been a technical advisor in research and development to major drum companies,
and is a trained HealthRHYTHMS Facilitator for Group Empowerment Drumming. Mr. Carl specializes in
age-appropriate instruction, and also sings, directs music camps, and is sought-after as a competition adjudicator and a workshop clinician. Mr. Carl joined the Pacific Conservatory faculty in 1990.
Ellen Park, Voice & Piano
Ms. Ellen has been teaching voice and piano lessons in Korea, New York, Aspen, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Orange County since 1997. She earned a Master’s degree at Manhattan School of Music and a Bachelor’s degree at San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She has performed many opera roles from Don Pasquale, Cosi Fan Tutte, L’Elisir d’Amore, Cendrillon, Don Giovanni and Rigoletto. She has also won numerous competitions such as Palm Springs Opera Guild, Holt & Maria, NATS, LA Music Center, etc. She has been on the Pacific Conservatory faculty since 2010 and enjoys teaching music to children. Ms. Ellen wants to help people to express themselves through music.
Ezekiel Lanser, Drums & Percussion
Mr. Ezekiel graduated Cum Laude and received his Bachelor's of Music specializing in percussion performance from the University of North Texas. He also received a minor in music theory. Mr. Ezekiel has over five years of private lesson teaching experience, two years of school district teaching experience, conservatory teaching experience, and an extensive marching percussion background in performing and teaching. His main percussion instrument is drumset, but is proficient on the orchestral snare drum, marimba, xylophone, vibraphone, timpani, marching percussion, latin percussion (including bongos, congas, and timbales), and all forms of orchestral percussion. Mr. Ezekiel also studied piano and music theory extensively. He has studied many styles of drumset at the University of North Texas including jazz with world renowned jazz drumset artist and teacher Ed Soph.
Jolee Miller White, Voice and Musical Theatre
Ms. Jolee Miller White has taught vocal students, directed choirs, musical theater and choral master works during her long and distinguished career. Her proven teaching techniques have resulted in many of her students attending OCHSA, Peabody and Eastman Conservatories and/or pursuing a career in the music industry. As a graduate of Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ, and a member of the famed Westminster Choir, she toured the country performing with such orchestras as the New York Philharmonic, Pittsburgh & Boston Symphonies under the direction of Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa and Andre Previn. As a soprano in the Choir in Residence, Festival dei Due Monde, she performed operas and concerts throughout Europe. Ms. Jolee Miller White has been on the Pacific Conservatory faculty since 2010.
Kevin Jellison, Guitar & Drums
Kevin Jellison is passionate about his music and being a music instructor. He brings a plethora of awards for his excellence in performing and teaching, including the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award. Kevin is a master of improvisation after years of performing with various blues projects. Kevin applied these skills while recording and touring with the pop/rock band Moisture. Kevin also recorded with legendary poet/songwriter Rod McKuen. Today, Kevin continues to write and record with Bob Gentry (Moisture). Their songs have been placed on TV’s “Bones”, and the movie “Hollywood and Vine” (2011) with David Spade. Kevin is constantly pursuing new avenues, and is studying classical guitar with John Schneiderman. We welcomed Kevin Jellison to our faculty in 2009.
Kim Le, Piano
A multi-award winning pianist, Kim Le has worked as a musician since the age of 16 when she began giving piano lessons and accompanying. She is the staff accompanist at Santa Ana College and performs throughout the region. She received her first training from her father, composer Le Van Khoa, at the age of four and recently performed in the Washington D.C. area with the Kiev Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, playing her father's music. Ms Kim is a dedicated artist who is totally committed to her student’s success. She is an educator who believes strongly in the effectiveness of the Pacific Conservatory curriculum and has been a proud member of the faculty since 2003.
Marcella Muller, Piano & Music Therapy
Ms. Marce, native of Oklahoma, came to California in 2008 to complete her Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy with an emphasis in Piano at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. She passed her board certification exam in August of 2009 and has worked as a Music Therapist and Piano Teacher the past 3 years. Ms. Marce has studied piano for more than 20 years and has participated in many competitions and recitals. She is an experienced accompanist for college choirs and instrumentalists. She draws on her Music Therapy experience to transform piano teaching to the needs of her students. She makes it fun, interactive, and positive so her students are more successful and feel empowered through their growing knowledge of music. Ms. Marce is passionate about teaching music to others and giving them the gift she was given at a young age that truly changed her life. Ms Marce has been on the Pacific Conservatory faculty since 2011.
Marko Ngego, Piano
Mr. Marko Njego received his B.A. in Piano Performance from UCLA where he studied under the renowned pianist and professor Vitaly Margulis. During his senior year, Mr. Njego performed in concert with Los Angeles Philharmonic concertmaster Mr. Mark Kashper and UCLA Cello Professor Antonio Lysy. Mr. Njego began his piano studies in Belgrade, Serbia where he attended the University of Belgrade, School of Fine Arts. During this time, Mr. Njego competed and received highest recognition in numerous international piano competitions throughout Europe. He continues to perform as soloist with southland orchestras including Saddleback College Symphonic Orchestra, Orchestra Filarmonica di Pietra Ligure and UCLA Symphonic Orchestra. Mr. Marko has been on the faculty of Pacific Conservatory since 2010.
Miodrag Martinovic, Piano
"Mr. Martin" studied with Dr. Dorian Leljak and Vladimir Ogarkov (People`s Honored Artist of Russia) in Serbia where he received his undergraduate degree and with Dr. Wei-Yi Yang in NY while earning his Masters’ degree. He has performed at many festivals and concerts throughout Europe and recorded many recitals for the national radio of Serbia. Mr. Martinovic received the Irene Crooker Award for excellence in piano performance and the prestigious Othmer Doctoral Fellowship at UNL. Mr. Martinovic has performed in numerous recitals, chamber concerts and concertos with orchestra. He is a member of American Liszt Society, European Piano Teacher Association and Music Teachers' Association of California. We are pleased that Mr. Martin has been on the Pacific Conservatory faculty since 2007.
Olga Samsonova-Jellison, Piano & Music Therapy
Olga earned her undergraduate degree in Education with a minor in Music Education at Nizhnii Tagil State Pedagogical Institute, Russia. Her Master’s degree was focused on the specialty of Applied Psychology in the System of Education. Olga worked as an English and Music Tutor at Golden West College, Huntington Beach, and as a music instructor at Lifetime Music Academy, Aliso Viejo. Olga is a Certified Kindermusik Educator. In 2008, Olga completed the Music Therapy Program at Chapman University. She presented the results of her research “The Trauma of Immigration” at the Western Regional Conferences of American Music Therapy Association in Sacramento (2005), and in Hawaii (2007), as well as the National Conference in Orlando, Florida (2005). Olga is a Board Certified Music Therapist and currently developing her own practice. Ms Olga has been on the faculty of Pacific Conservatory since 2004.
Sarah Vay Kerns, Flute & Recorder
Ms. Sarah received her Bachelors degree in Flute Performance from Utah State University studying with Leslie Timmons. She played with the Symphony Orchestra and the Caine Woodwind Quintet among other ensembles. She received a Masters degree from Brigham Young University, studying with April Clayton. She played with the West Winds Woodwind Quintet and the Wind Symphony. While spending a year in interim study with Jill Felber, she fell in love with Southern California. Sarah now freelances with various groups in the area, and is a member of the Orange County Flute Quartet. Her students regularly participate in Certificate of Merit and have placed at the Southern Youth Music Festival competition. She joined the faculty of Pacific Conservatory in 2010.
Jimmy Packes, Guitar
Jimmy is a unique artist with over 20 years in the music industry. He has worked with such artists as Zebra, the Good Rats, Steve Morse and producers Nile Rogers and Tom Werman. Jimmy has been courted to play guitar for Ozzy Osbourne, Guns N Roses, Never the Bride, Faith No More, David Lee Roth and others. Touring has carried him across the country and around the world and he is also the co-owner of Azimuth Jag Records (New York and London). The UK press declared him one of the leading instrumental guitarists on the globe following the release of “Axxe to Grind” and he was also invited to the Montreaux Jazz Festival. Jimmy has recently relocated to So.Cal, bringing real world experience to teach students how using all the available tools (different forms, techniques, expression, improvisation) facilitates originality in composition. Jimmy has experience teaching guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, beginning drums, song writing and composition, vocal coaching and audio recording and production. Once students reach a certain stage in their education, he teaches them how to deal with other musicians, band politics, and the business end of music. He joined Pacific Conservatory faculty in 2012.
Serge Bueso, Piano, French & Spanish
Mr. Serge graduated with the highest honors from the National Music Conservatory in France as well as graduating from the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris in Philosophy and Foreign Languages. Serge became the youngest tenured professor of Piano at the National Conservatory in France while also maintaining a very active soloist and chamber recitalist career, mainly in France and Spain. After moving to the United States, Serge performed at the Music Festival of the Hamptons in East Hampton, New York, where he also performed as an accompanist for the Harlem Opera. Later that same year, Serge moved to Southern California where he quickly established himself as a performer and teacher. Serge joined the faculties of several local music conservatories and was the coach and accompanist for the Opera Programs at the University of California, Irvine and California State University, Long Beach. In addition, he was the Assistant Music Director to Scott Harlan conducting and directing The American Girls Revue in Los Angeles. Serge teaches Music and Foreign Languages (French and Spanish) and performs frequently with vocalists/choirs and in musical productions. Mr. Serge joined the faculty of Pacific Conservatory in 2011 and teaches at both our Orange and Costa Mesa facility.
Wendy Sahagen, Art
Ms. Wendy has enjoyed a lifelong passion for all visual and fine arts, including black and white and color photography. She has studied oil painting since the age of 8. Her other studies include life drawing, graphic design and illustration, lettering, animation and screen cartooning, acrylic painting, watercolor, and ceramics. Ms. Wendy has been teaching art in elementary school throughout Orange County and the Long Beach Unified School District since 1998. She has been teaching Discovery Arts camps and KinderARTS at Pacific Conservatory since 2006.
"I would teach children music, physics, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for in the patterns of music and all the arts are the keys of learning."- Plato
…where students of all ages reach their maximum artistic potential
in a friendly atmosphere guided by enthusiastic professionals.
1990 - 2012
Costa Mesa & Orange
(714) 545-1217
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151 Kalmus Drive G-1 Costa Mesa, CA 92626 1311 E. Katella Avenue, Orange, CA 92867 714-545-1217 Admin@pacificconservatory.com
Michael Finnican, Guitar
Mr. Finnican studied music at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a concentration in Jazz studies. He has been playing guitar for 20 years and teaching professionally for 10. In 2002, Mr. Finnican became the Music Director at Dore Academy in Charlotte, North Carolina where he developed two highly successful Classical Guitar and Jazz Band programs. From 2002-2006 he was a Jazz instructor at the University of Wisconsin –Madison Summer Music Clinic. With a passion for Jazz and a dream of performing in a world class city he relocated to San Francisco in 2006 where he performed between 50-60 Jazz gigs a year and continued to teach. In 2011 Mr. Finnican also wrote, and produced a 10 track concept album based on Yoga music called “Sounds From The Mat” in which he plays all the instruments on the album. Mr. Finnican joined the faculty of Pacific Conservatory in 2012.
