About Us
Leilani Gjellstad
Toni Cortez-Aguilar
Leilani Gjellstad
My best childhood memories are of my Dad playing guitar and I remember feeling tingly when he and my mom would sing harmonies with each other or the radio. I wanted to make that sort of magic, too. Playing beautiful music still gives me goosebumps. I studied music and psychology at Vanderbilt University and am grateful for all the people and adventures music has brought into my life.
Valerie McElroy
Toni Cortez-Aguilar
Leilani Gjellstad
I have always been drawn to music's power to connect. Throughout my career, music has connected me with people, places, and ideas that I likely would never have known. After studying music at DePaul University, I was even more deeply resolved to use music as my means to eternally connect with the world around me.
Toni Cortez-Aguilar
Toni Cortez-Aguilar
Lionel Charles Avila
Music allows me to integrate my intersectional identities and connect to my community. Playing flute has taken me around the world. I am passionate about performing works by marginalized composers and exploring all genres of music. I studied music at California State University, Fullerton and recently completed my Master of Science degree
Music allows me to integrate my intersectional identities and connect to my community. Playing flute has taken me around the world. I am passionate about performing works by marginalized composers and exploring all genres of music. I studied music at California State University, Fullerton and recently completed my Master of Science degree with emphasis in student affairs in higher education from Colorado State University.
Lionel Charles Avila
Lionel Charles Avila
Lionel Charles Avila
Music has always been a constant for me. It’s there to preserve my spirit, connect meaningfully with others, and my form of expression. Music has taken me all over the country and I have been fortunate to share what I love to everyone. I have received a Bachelors and Artist Diploma from San Diego State University. Since then I am proactive in sharing my art with all the communities in San Diego.
Dr. Yana Zixuan Yan
Lionel Charles Avila
Dr. Yana Zixuan Yan
Since relocating to San Diego, I've been excited to explore opportunities to connect with the local music scene and collaborate with wonderful musicians here. I'm deeply passionate about my roles as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral performer and flute instructor. After receiving my Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University
Since relocating to San Diego, I've been excited to explore opportunities to connect with the local music scene and collaborate with wonderful musicians here. I'm deeply passionate about my roles as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral performer and flute instructor. After receiving my Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Miami, I enjoyed serving as flute professor and instructor at Augustana College and Black Hawk College and performing with Quad City Symphony Orchestra.