Our Instructors

Carly Barajas is a very talented young flutist. She has been performing throughout the Austin area since her first concert in 2007. During that time, she realized that she wanted to be a musician for life. Mrs. Barajas graduated with honors and received her Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance from Texas State University.

Mrs. Barajas’ f

Carly Barajas is a very talented young flutist. She has been performing throughout the Austin area since her first concert in 2007. During that time, she realized that she wanted to be a musician for life. Mrs. Barajas graduated with honors and received her Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance from Texas State University.

Mrs. Barajas’ first music lessons were on piano and viola at the age of nine in Pflugerville, Texas, and two years later, she fell in love with the sound of the flute. Her junior year of high school, she was asked by Thomas Waggoner, an alumnus from Texas State, to join the Austin Youth Symphony Orchestra, the highest and more professional orchestras for students of all ages around the central Texas area. Mrs. Barajas was a member of the Austin Youth Symphony Orchestra for two years.

While in college, Mrs. Barajas was a member of the Texas State Wind Symphony, the highest band at Texas State University, under the direction of Caroline Beatty and the Texas State Orchestra, under the direction of Carolyn Watson. Other musical affiliations include Texas State Flute Choir, National Collegiate Flute Choir, National Flute Association, and Austin Flute Club.

Mrs. Barajas has been working as a private lesson teacher in Pflugerville since 2012. She teaches flute and beginner piano, with students as young as four years old. She lives with her husband and their two dogs, Buster and Mickey.

Carlyflute4soul@gmail.com

Susan Douglas is well known in central Texas as a teacher, soloist and chamber player. She has appeared with the Austin Symphony, the Arts in Georgetown Festival Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, Mid-Texas Symphony, Corpus Christi Symphony, and Waco Symphony. She has also played in orchestras accompanying such organizations as the Austin Civi

Susan Douglas is well known in central Texas as a teacher, soloist and chamber player. She has appeared with the Austin Symphony, the Arts in Georgetown Festival Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, Mid-Texas Symphony, Corpus Christi Symphony, and Waco Symphony. She has also played in orchestras accompanying such organizations as the Austin Civic Chorus, Austin Vocal Arts Ensemble, San Gabriel Chorale, And Canto, a choral group based in Fredericksburg, TX. Her solo repertoire includes J. S. Bach”s Double Concerto, Aaron Copeland”s Quiet City, and Richard’s Strauss’s Oboe Concerto. She has also twice been a member of the Festival Orchestra of the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria.

For many Years, Mrs. Douglas has maintained a large and successful private studio including central Texas oboe students of all ages. Her students consistently receive high ratings at UIL events and competitions. Graduates from her studio have been accepted into such schools as The University of North Texas, The  University of Texas, and the San Fransisco Conservatory. Susan has also been Adjunct Instructor of oboe at Southwestern University since 1992. She holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Oboe Performance from the University of Texas. Her major Teachers were Rebecca Henderson and Richard Blais, both from The University of Texas, and Raymond Weaver, long-time Principal oboist in the Houston Symphony Orchestra.

512 423-4915     

susanoboe@icloud.com

Anna Carney, has been teaching clarinet in the Central Texas area since 1997 and has placed many students in Region Bands and All-State Band.  In addition to teaching at RRHS, Ms. Carney currently also teaches music at Southwestern University in Georgetown and Temple College.  Previous teaching assignments have included being a middle sch

Anna Carney, has been teaching clarinet in the Central Texas area since 1997 and has placed many students in Region Bands and All-State Band.  In addition to teaching at RRHS, Ms. Carney currently also teaches music at Southwestern University in Georgetown and Temple College.  Previous teaching assignments have included being a middle school band director for 7 years, and a clarinet professor at the university level for 20 years.

Ms. Carney received her Bachelors degree in Music Education from San Diego State University and her Masters in clarinet performance from SDSU.   Her Doctoral work in clarinet was at Florida State University.

As an active performer in Central Texas, Ms. Carney is a member of the Temple Symphony and a founder of the chamber ensembles Arte Musique and the Madera Trio.  In addition to her Central Texas performing career, she continues to perform nationally and internationally when possible.   Ms. Carney's major clarinet teachers were Kalman Bloch of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, James Kanter of the Pacific Symphony, and Frank Kowalsky at Florida State University.

carneya@southwestern.edu

Andrew Hasher is a music educator, saxophonist and woodwind specialist originally from Old Bethpage, New York. 

Andrew has competed and placed at statewide solo and chamber music competitions across the United States. As the winner of the Spring 2017 UNCSA Concerto Competition, Andrew appeared as a soloist alongside the UNCSA Symphony Orch

Andrew Hasher is a music educator, saxophonist and woodwind specialist originally from Old Bethpage, New York. 

Andrew has competed and placed at statewide solo and chamber music competitions across the United States. As the winner of the Spring 2017 UNCSA Concerto Competition, Andrew appeared as a soloist alongside the UNCSA Symphony Orchestra. Most recently, Andrew received 2nd place at the 2019 Rosen-Schaffel Competition. In addition, Andrew has appeared as both a soloist and ensemble member with the University of Michigan Symphony Band as well as an ensemble member with the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra. He was the alto saxophonist in the Sapphirus Quartet, a quarterfinalist ensemble at the 2019 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition.   

As an active educator, Andrew is passionate about teaching students of all ages and abilities. He has appeared as an instructor and guest clinician for high school and middle school programs across the country including the Interlochen Center for the Arts, and has taught masterclasses at collegiate institutions such as Lynchburg University and James Madison University. Andrew is also passionate about Marching Band, having coached throughout Michigan. Currently, Andrew teaches a private lesson studio of saxophone and clarinet students from around the Austin Metro area. His students have received superior ratings at Solo & Ensemble Competitions and at the All-State level across Michigan and Texas.   

Andrew holds a degree in saxophone performance (BM) from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and a Master’s degree (MM) and Music Education Certification from the University of Michigan. Andrew has studied saxophone with renowned saxophonists Timothy McAllister and Robert Young.

516-477-7938

ahasher@umich.edu

Alonzo Ellison grew up in the small town of Cameron, Texas where he was a constant top 3 finisher at region auditions beginning in 7th grade. In high school, Alonzo was awarded a scholarship from TMEA for achieving the milestone of being an all-state band member in both jazz and classical for three years in a row. Alonzo was able to make 

Alonzo Ellison grew up in the small town of Cameron, Texas where he was a constant top 3 finisher at region auditions beginning in 7th grade. In high school, Alonzo was awarded a scholarship from TMEA for achieving the milestone of being an all-state band member in both jazz and classical for three years in a row. Alonzo was able to make 1st and 2nd chair as an all-state student along with being the first musician on his High School’s Wall of Honor. It was during this time that Alonzo found his deep love for music and made the decision to be a lifelong musician.

Alonzo attended Temple College and received an Associate of Arts degree in Music while being a member of the Temple College Symphonic Band and lead trumpet in the Temple Jazz Ensemble. After leaving Temple, Alonzo spent a brief period at Texas State University before embarking on a professional career where he played with numerous bands in the Austin area covering several genres including Funk, Hip Hop, Rock, Blues, Latin Jazz/Funk, and R&B. Alonzo attributes his versatility to growing up listening to a variety of music.

While working at the prestigious Austin School of Music in Austin, Texas, Alonzo wanted to help his students on a larger scale by improving himself as an instructor. As a result, Alonzo enrolled at Texas A&M University Central Texas where he completed a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies with Music and Fine Arts concentrations. Alonzo then spent one year at the University of Texas at Austin as a graduate jazz student where he played lead trumpet in the University of Texas Jazz Orchestra. While at UT, Alonzo wanted to improve as an instructor once again and decided to pursue a Master of Music Education degree at Tarleton State University where he will be graduating in December 2023 magna cum laude.

Alonzo is a strong believer in Bloom’s Taxonomy and uses Spiral Curriculum to promote a positive learning environment where students are comfortable and able to successfully reach their goals. Alonzo has studied with Keith Fiala, Lee “Sparky” Thomason, Tom Fairlie, Keith Winking, Mike Sailors, Vicky Johnson, and Gary Westbrook.

Alonzo’s hobbies include systematically trading the stock market, barbecuing, watching Baki and Dragonball Super, and traveling. When things get tough always remember to bloom where you are planted!

512-720-9805

alonzo.ellison470@gmail.com

Jonathan Pereira is an Austin-based percussionist and educator. As a classically trained percussionist, he feels equally at home performing classical, jazz, or popular music. Mr. Pereira holds degrees in music education and percussion performance from Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY (BM 2013, MM 2016). He spent several years teaching instrumen

Jonathan Pereira is an Austin-based percussionist and educator. As a classically trained percussionist, he feels equally at home performing classical, jazz, or popular music. Mr. Pereira holds degrees in music education and percussion performance from Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY (BM 2013, MM 2016). He spent several years teaching instrumental music in New York State public schools and private percussion lessons before relocating to Austin in 2018. He has extensive performance experience in wind ensembles, orchestras, and pit orchestras for musical theatre productions, and currently performs with FlecHaus, an indie folk band based in Austin.

(585) 402-8520

jjpereira@rochester.rr.com