Excelsus works with the best teaching professionals in Southern California to provide the highest quality programs possible. Not only are our faculty members exceptional teachers but they pride themselves in being accomplished performers as well.
Please take a moment to meet our Faculty and Staff:
• Michael Abels, Director of Composition Studies
• Kristen Autry, String Faculty
• Deborah Avery, Woodwind Faculty
• Lori Beckwith, String & Piano Faculty
• Jimmy Cheesman, Guitar Faculty & Director of the Mind Institute
• Robyn Frey-Monell, Choral Conductor
• Matt Fronke, Brass Faculty
• Evan Marshall, String Faculty
• Pam Jacobson, String Faculty
• Rory Mazella, Woodwind Faculty
• Mariska Jen Miessler-Pratt, Founder, CEO & Opera Instructor
• Roger Przytulski, Composer & Conductor
• Donovan Raitt, Guitar Faculty
• Anthony Shadduck, Bass and Piano teacher
• Bill Steck, Pianist / Accompanist
• Elaine Tubinis, String Faculty
With a "keen ear for musical color and a deft ability to adapt structural elements from popular music into the symphonic idiom" (Houston Chronicle), Michael Abels has gained widespread recognition for his orchestral pieces Global Warming and Frederick's Fables. Global Warming has been given nearly 100 performances by orchestras including Chicago, Cleveland, Atlanta, Houston, Baltimore, Louisville, Columbus, Indianapolis, Dallas, Detroit, Nashville, Phoenix, West Virginia, New Mexico, Tucson, Savannah, Dayton, and Toledo as well as the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.
In addition to composing, Abels conceived of and teaches classes in Music Production and Technology for youth living in Los Angeles' public housing projects. This program, now in its third year, gives hands-on instruction in the technology which plays such an integral part of today's popular music. The class was featured on KCAL Channel 9 television.
His 40-minute opera Homies & Popz, was commissioned by Los Angeles Opera, and premiered in May 2000 at high schools throughout Los Angeles County. It tells the true story of the Compton Homies & the Popz, a cricket team organized by noted activist Ted Hayes to provide an alternative to gangs for inner-city youth and homeless adults.
Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Michael Abels grew up in rural South Dakota where he began piano lessons at an early age. He attended the University of Southern California, studying with James Hopkins and Robert Linn. In 1984, he was named Outstanding Senior among student composers for his composition Queries, scored for two pianos and prepared piano. In 1985-86, he studied West African music with Alfred Ladzekpo at the California Institute for the Arts. Aside from his activities as a composer, teacher and arranger, Abels is an amateur tri-athlete.
A native of Southern California, violinist Kristen Autry has traveled extensively in her music career to such places as Taiwan, Europe, Egypt and Central America. Kristen’s talents are versatile as she easily moves from her bluegrass roots, since the age of five, to classical, 20th century, electronic and rock music.
When not touring, she is busy teaching, recording, or contracting. Committed to a high level of public school music education, she and her flute quartet, Bella Musica, maintain a busy outreach schedule in addition to their recital season. Liquid Elbow, her photography website -- another passion in full force -- exhibits galleries of images in abstract, journalistic, and portrait content. In conjunction with her musical/visual career she recently co-designed a company that combines sight, sound, and creativity. V 3 Creative produces tangible ideas and visions, from concept to completion, from a variety of artistic services utilizing their skills, talent, experience, and network of other creative resources. Most recently, she and cellist Sarah O’Brien developed the music project, Kristarah, a fusion of acoustic instruments with an electronica groove in tandem with the beats of rock and pop. Kristen also enjoys working with and scouting young musicians and is the Special Events Music Coordinator for the Young Musicians Foundation, Los Angeles, CA.
Kristen received her bachelors in Music Performance and Telecommunications Production at Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA and pursued her Masters in Violin Performance at California State University, Long Beach, CA.
Deborah Avery began her musical studies at the age of 5 when her father introduced her to the drums. Soon she realized that her talent was in wind instruments and started on the clarinet. After performing the Mozart Clarinet Concerto at age 12, she began her orchestral career in the New York based Empire State Orchestra as the youngest wind player. Deborah received her bachelor of Music Degree from the Eastman School of Music in New York and her Master of Music Degree from the University of Southern California. Her awards include the National Foundation for the Arts competition, Filene Music competition in New York and the prestigious Performer's Certificate from the Eastman School of Music. Presently, Deborah is a free lance musician in the Los Angeles area performing all types of music including musicals, orchestras, church, studio and jazz.
Lori Beckwith is a performing member of the Bluegrass Brethren Gospel Band. The bluegrass group plays primarily gospel music for community and church groups as well as for private events and festivals. They have recorded several CD's and their music is heard on several radio stations. In addition to the Bluegrass Band, Lori has played violin with the Rio Hondo Symphony, Biola College string ensemble, Praise Symphony, Rio Hondo Jr. College Theater, Private event productions, Community events and Church orchestras.
Being raised in a musical family, Lori's musical background started with playing brass instruments in a family band. Taking tours to Mexico, they performed and taught music to the children. This is where her love for teaching children began. Through her experiences, one of her goals for teaching became to challenge the student to gain personal accomplishment through their musical experience. She has enjoyed teaching instrumental music in schools as well as private instruction. She has also directed children's choirs and musicals. Lori is pleased to teach for Excelsus and shares the mission to provide rich musical life experiences for young children.
Jimmy Cheesman is a Los Angeles based guitarist, composer and educator who joined Excelsus in the fall 2004 as the instructor for their After School Guitar Program. As a free lance guitarist and session player Jimmy has played and recorded many styles of music including jazz, blues, country, rock, pop, and folk. Jimmy can also sing and play banjo, bass, and mandolin. As a studio musician Jimmy has recorded his own solo jazz album and various sessions for producers and clients. His performances include work as a sideman, music director and band leader and include performances with Richard Carpenter, Kevin Tulius (LA Jazz Quartet), Matt Baldoni (Mindy Abair), and Erik Leckrone (Disney, Lou Rawls).
Jimmy received a Masters of Music in Studio/Jazz Guitar Performance from University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Music from California State University Long Beach, with an emphasis in Jazz Studies. Jimmy was a Department Assistant at USC where he taught private lessons, wrote the departmental new letter, and assisted professors with core music classes. He also was the President and Co-Founder of the USC Guitar Society where he helped organize clinics and concerts by guitarists that included Mike Stern, Ted Greene, Larry Koonse, Phil Upchurch and Jody Fisher to name a few. Jimmy has studied with many great musicians including Joe Diorio, Steve Trovato, Frank Potenza, Jody Fisher, John Prince, Shelly Berg and Ron Eschete.
As an educator Jimmy has been teaching music for over 10 years and has successfully directed ensembles and taught music for college, high school, and middle school. Jimmy teaches group and private guitar lessons and his instruction includes basic-advanced guitar techniques in all styles, composition and music theory. Jimmy is currently working on a seven string guitar CD project.
Matt Fronke, Brass Faculty
Matt Fronke’s trumpet playing, writing, and singing reflect his diverse musical tastes and experiences. He’s had extensive training in classical and commercial music, with significant professional experience as a section lead and solo trumpeter and vocalist. That experience includes funk, pop, jazz, New Orleans-style, swing, fusion, salsa, reggae, rock, and symphonic groups, and has enabled Matt to become a proficient, well-rounded musician and writer.
A native of Long Beach, CA, Matt graduated Wilson High School. While in school, he spent time in youth honors groups like the American Youth Symphonic Band, Southeast Youth Symphony, All-Southern Orchestra, Arrowbear Music Camp, and All-District Jazz Band; and was the principal trumpeter of the Long Beach All-District Junior and Senior High School Orchestras for six straight years.
Matt then attended CSU Long Beach, where he was section leader and soloist in the Wind Symphony, Brass Ensemble, and Jazz Ensemble #1. He had a wealth of private study throughout his schooling, including Charlie Shoemake (a top jazz artist and improv teacher), Boyd Hood (L. A. Philharmonic), Anthony Plog (classical trumpet recording virtuoso), Jeffrey Reynolds (L. A. Philharmonic), and Bobby Shew (jazz recording artist).
After several years in college, Matt left to record and tour with MCA recording artists The Untouchables, and began to work on a steady basis. This work included tours with Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, Tom Jones, and Boz Scaggs. Much of this work opened doors for TV and movie work. A few of these movies are “Mars Attacks!”, “What’s Love Got to Do With It?”, “The Rocketeer”, “In the Line of Fire”, “Salsa”, and “Mobsters”. His television experience includes work on “Seinfeld”, “Seinfeld On Broadway”, “Profiler”, “The Nanny”, “The Late Show With David Letterman”, solo trumpet work for Harpo productions, TBS Network’s “Live at the House of Blues”, “The Rippingtons--Live In LA”, various projects with Dick Clark Productions, and many commercial jingles.
Matt has had a large volume of CD recording and writing/arranging experience. Since recording three Untouchables albums, he’s played on such CDs as The Rippingtons - “Live in LA”, Gladys Knight – “Porgy and Bess”, A Jerry Hey session for “Chantz”, Common Sense - “Psychedelic Surf Groove”, Jeff Kashiwa - “Remember Catalina”, The Don Miller Orchestra - “This Swingin’ Life”, Christian rock CDs for Chrystal Lewis and Ken Tamplin, and several recordings with The Bayou Brass Band.
In addition, Matt has enjoyed playing live shows, nightclubs, and freelancing in general with artists such as The Temptations, The Four Tops, John Tesh, The O’Jays, Mel Torme, Eddie Money, Dana Carvey, Diahann Carol, Bob Newhart, The Dells, Suzanne Somers, and Lou Rawls.
In recent years, Matt has spent much of his time as a bandleader/frontman/vocalist/arranger for his Martini Lounge Quintet, the Eddie Reed Swing Orchestra, and Disneyland’s Tower of Terror Bellhops Quartet. Currently, he spends three days a week writing and performing with Disneyland’s Bayou Brass Band.
Violinist Pam Jacobson, received her bachelor of music degree in violin performance from Chapman University in 1992. Since then, Pam has worked with Pacific Symphony, Opera Pacific, Pasadena Symphony, Redlands Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, and the Riverside Symphony. Pam also performed on multiple world tours with Yanni and Michael Crawford.
Currently Pam performs as a violinist and violist with various orchestras throughout California, such as the Long Beach Symphony, the Fresno Philharmonic, the Mozart Classical Orchestra, and the Cabrillo Music Festival orchestra. Pam also enjoys working on recordings, playing in numerous chamber groups, and coaching local student string orchestras. She considers herself blessed to perform with her church's orchestra under the direction of her husband, Joseph Jacobson.
Rory Mazella, Woodwind Faculty
Rory Mazzela began his studies of the clarinet in the 3rd grade and quickly became known as a young prodigy. His family is musically gifted and helped inspire his early interest in music. Rory has diverse tastes in music, from early jazz to the classical masterpieces. Rory excels under pressure situations and as such won many local and national awards. Some awards include the Louis Armstrong Award, John Phillip Sousa Band Award, Pepsi Board of Education awards and numerous solo competitions. Rory was first chair clarinetist in county and area honor bands and orchestras and also principal clarinetist of All-State Honor Band for three years and principal clarinetist of the All National Orchestra in Washington D.C. conducted by Michael Tilson-Thomas. Under the baton of Michael Tilson-Thomas Rory performed the Pines of Rome. In addition, Rory was a member of the prestigious McDonalds All-American Band.
Rory attended the University of Southern California and earned his Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance and his Master of Clarinet Performance. While at USC, Rory studied and performed in master classes with many world renowned performers and teachers such as: Yehuda Gilad, Mitchell Lurie, Michelle Zukovsky, David Howard, Guy Chadash, Merrit Buxbaum, and many others. Rory was principal clarinetist of the American Youth Symphony under the baton of Maestro Mehli Mehta and also Zubin Mehta. Rory also performed with the YMF Debut Orchestra and continues to freelance with many local orchestras including, Antelope Valley Symphony, Downey Symphony, LA Philharmonic Institute Orchestra and others.
Rory is a freelance musician in the Los Angeles area and frequently tours internationally on saxophone with the Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Bobby Caldwell. Rory performs all types of music including classical, jazz, church music, musicals, studio work and electronic music using the EWI (electronic wind instrument). Rory is part of the Music for All Seasons Foundation, a group that brings musical performance and education to those individuals in situations where they could not otherwise have exposure to music. Rory is featured on movie soundtracks and continues to perform solo recitals.
In addition, Rory can be seen on Lifetime television every Sunday morning performing in the Hour of Power Orchestra at the Crystal Cathedral.
Anthony Shadduck, Bassist
Anthony joined the Excelsus Faculty in the Summer of 2006 where he taught the Summer Music Camp afternoon program.
Anthony Shadduck is a contrabassist currently living in Long Beach. He has recently completed his Master of Music in Jazz Studies and Performance from California State University Long Beach. Active in the both standard jazz and the free improvised idiom, he has performed and recorded with such LA based musicians as bass clarinetist and composer Lynn Johnston; sound artist and guitarist Chris Schlarb and the Create! Collective; Joe Biaza and the Universal Congress Of; trumpeter Ron Stout, as well as guitarist Nels Cline of Wilco. His own trio and quartet performs original compositions and the early music of Ornette Coleman.
Elaine Tubinis, String Faculty
Elaine is the founder and active member of the Naples Chamber Ensemble. Founded in 1980, Naples Chamber Ensembles is comprised of experienced professional musicians, who can provide either background or featured entertainment. All of the 15 musicians are full-time, professional studio players with training in various conservatories including Julliard, Eastman, and the Manhattan School of Music. Naples Chamber Ensembles can offer everything from strolling strings to quartets to fanfare trumpets. In the past year, Naples Chamber Ensembles performed at over 200 wedding ceremonies and receptions, as well as showcased their talents on Good Morning LA, The Mondavi Food and Wine Center, and High Tea at The Ritz Carlton.
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