TRACY BURKLUND

Voice & Piano

Tracy Burklund has been a faculty member for the Southwestern College Performing Arts Department since 2009. Currently, she is the Director of the SWC Jazz Vocal Ensemble and teaches Class Voice I, II, and III as well as Applied Private Voice Lessons. Recent credits include: Co-Music Director for Bring It On (Spring 2019) and Green Day's: American Idiot (Spring 2018), Music Director for Godspell (Spring 2017) and In the Heights (Fall 2015); Interim Director of SWC Concert Choir; Co-Director of SWC Gospel Choir; "Woody Guthrie's American Song" (Horton Grand Theatre). She is also a private voice instructor and voice-over artist for radio and television. Tracy holds a Master's Degree in Jazz Studies from San Diego State University, a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz Performance and Studio Music from the University of Miami, and an Associate's Degree from our very own Southwestern College. She is also a member of the award-winning SWC Concert Choir and has performed in several prestigious concert venues such as Carnegie Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and California Center for the Arts.

SCARLETT RALLS

Voice, Song Writing, Music Production

Scarlett Ralls is singer, writer, and music producer currently writing for Extreme Music/Sony Music ATV.  Her music can be heard on shows including Love Island and Too Hot To Handle.  She cares about investing in others and enjoys teaching the modern conventions of singing and writing.

ALEXA BUYSON

Guitar, Piano

Alexa is currently studying music education at Southwestern College in San Diego, CA.  She teaches guitar and piano at the academy and loves investing in her students.  When she's not teaching she can be found performing Latin Jazz around San Diego with the Los Guidos Ensemble and the Hugo Anche Trio.

KRIS APPLE

Violin, Music Composition, Sound Design

Kristopher Apple is a violinist, composer, performer, and improviser working at the intersection of music, dance, text, and digital media.  He is a highly sought after artist who provides music, dance accompaniment, and production support to numerous colleges, universities, dance companies, and theater companies.  He holds a Bachelor of Music and Master of Art degree from San Diego State University where he studied violin and interdisciplinary performance.

FRANK RALLS

Founder & Director

Frank holds a Bachelors of Arts in Music from Lawrence University.  He is a contributing composer and music producer for the Emmy award winning composer collective: Sony Music ATV/Bleeding Fingers Music (founded by Hans Zimmer and Russell Emmanuel).  He has written and produced music for Disney Parks world-wide (including STAR WARS GALAXY'S EDGE), and his film credits include "HOME: Hong Kong" (Apple TV plus), "Jane Goodall: The Hope" (Disney Plus), and popular tv shows including The Voice and Master Chef.  Working with his wife, Tara, the Coronado Arts Academy is his way of paying it forward by investing in the next generation of musicians and composers. 

SORAYA SHAMS

Piano, Voice, Theory

Soraya is a recent graduate of Berkley School of Music.  She has studied piano since she was 4 and voice since age of 7.  She speaks 4 languages including Spanish, Farsi and Portuguese.  She's passionate about teaching and helping students navigate through their own musical journeys.  

MARTIN MARTIARENA

Piano, Guitar, Drums

Martín Martiarena is a graduate from the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, focusing on Jazz performance as a student of the legendary Kenny Burrell. He is music director at the Coronado Playhouse and OnStage Playhouse, as well as bass player for theaters such as the Welk Resort Theater, San Diego Musical Theater, Cygnet Theater, and many more. Martín lead's San Diego’s top Beatles and 60s cover band, "The Rollers," and also teaches at the San Diego School Of Creative and Performing Arts.

LUISA RAMOS

Piano, Guitar, Voice

Luisa is currently at San Diego State University and has performance credits that include the TALENTOS ARTÍSTICOS SCHOLARSHIP (state grant given by the Instituto Cultural de Baja California) ; singer in Spring 2017 and pianist Youth division by semester until Spring 2020, Mexico, BC., CORO DE LAS AGRUPACIONES MUSICALES COMUNITARIAS DEL SNFM; National Children Choir, Mexico City, Concert series MÚSICA EN ARMONÍA, Auditorio Nacional, Mexico City, Teatro Degollado, Guadalajara, Jal., Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, Mexico City 2013, 2015, VOCAL ENSEMBLE REDES 2025, 5TO. FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE COROS DE CÁMARA TLAXCALA CANTA, 2016, Tlaxcala, and FINALE; Weill Reital Hall, Carnigie Hall, Nueva York. 2016

THOMAS HODGES

Drums & Music Production

Thomas is a music teacher, pianist, vocalist, and award-winning composer. He started teaching at the Scripps Performing Arts Academy in 2007, and has since worked with adults and children of all ages all around the country. His most recent role was Music Director of the York Preparatory School in New York, where he developed a performing arts program for 6th-12th graders. Thomas is a passionate educator and believes in the power of learning by doing. 

Thomas’ newest musical, Sonata 1962, was part of the 2018 New York Musical Festival and received three awards, including "Outstanding Musical Arrangements and Orchestrations." In 2015, his music song cycle The Things We Never Say won "Outstanding Original Score" at the San Diego Fringe Festival. The production was produced by Breakthrough Workshop Theatre, and a cast album is available on iTunes and Spotify. His score for Patricia Loughrey's Dear Harvey earned him a a commendation from the City of San Diego and performed over 50 productions internationally. His musical Underground was featured as part of the reading series in the 2019 New York Musical Festival. He is currently developing a new musical with Borough of Manhattan Community College that will premiere in Spring 2020 in New York City.

MEGAN NGUYEN

Drums & Music Production

Megan is a Singer, Songwriter, Pianist, Music Director, and Educator from San Diego, CA.

She finished her B.A. in Communications at UCSD in 2017, and has since been a sought after performer, session musician (piano and voice), music director, piano teacher, and vocal coach. She is classically trained in piano performance and music theory, completing her California Certificate of Merit Level 10 in 2011, and has experience playing many different genres including pop, rock, reggae, musical theater, jazz, and more. She has gained experience working in the music industry as a production manager, stage manager, emcee, and marketing director for music events and concerts. Megan has also spent time working in organizations that focus on increasing accessibility to music education at colleges, high schools, and in communities around Southern California.

MICHAEL JONES

Guitar

Michael has been teaching, playing and writing music for nearly 20 years.  He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts for Jazz Composition and finished his Bachelor of Music at Southeast Missouri State University.  He is currently working on his Masters in music composition at San Diego State University.  In addition to teaching, composition and music theory research, Michael is an active performer both in bands and as a solo act.

ALISSA MAUSHARDT

Piano, Clarinet, Saxophone, Flute

Alissa is a graduate of the University of California San Diego where she earned her BA in Music Performance.  She is trained in both classical and contemporary music.  She loves working with students of all ages and teaches piano and many wind instruments.  When she's not teaching she performs regularly with her Funk band, FSB-5.

HARLEY ESTRADA

Guitar, Piano

Harley is a graduate of SAE Institute of Technology in Hollywood, CA.  He is currently pursuing additional music degrees in Commercial Music and Recording Arts at Southwestern College.  He has a deep desire to invest in his students both as a music teacher and a positive mentor.