About Us
We help your teen learn and hone skills that they will use for a lifetime.
As an educator who specializes in college bound students, my goal every year is to find the absolute best of the best to guide and inspire all of my clients. I reinforce great habits, create opportunities to grow in performance, personal presentation and practice. I assist all of my students and help them understand that through dedication and education, they can become the person they envision.
Meet the team.
We are all musicians here and our stories begin the same way your story begins. Everyone of us needed to get the education that would enable us to get to the next level of our playing, practicing, performing and professional endeavors. We reached our goals and now we are here to help you reach yours!
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If you have ever wondered what it would be like to study with the best of the best, here is your chance. In my 6 month program, you will not only work with your colleagues but you will have a chance to study one hour a month with each of these superstar educators. We offer an hour Masterclass session on Zoom beginning in September of 2025! Sign up soon as spots are limited.
Susan Monteiro
Founder & CEO
Susan Monteiro has been a professional violinist and educator for over 30 years. After attending the University of Cincinnati, Cleveland State University and Graduating from ~ her all time favorite school ~ Northern Arizona University, she performed in many symphonies across the United State. She has run a non-profit music program as well as worked as a teaching artist at the San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory. She has created this program to help young musicians bridge the gap between high school and college. Her students have gone on to attend Yale, UCLA, Cal Poly, Oberlin, the University of Notre Dame, and more. Her main goal is to inspire young people to reach their top goals in performance and in life.
Noa Kageyama Ph.D
Performance Psychology Coach
Dr. Noa Kageyama is on the faculty at the Juilliard School of Music and is the performance psychology coach for the New World Symphony. Dr. Kageyama has degrees from Oberlin (BA psychology) and Juilliard (MM, violin performance).
He received his MS and PhD in counseling and counseling psychology from Indiana University. Dr. Kageyama has helped people all over the world gain confidence and win professional orchestra auditions from regional orchestras to the
Los Angeles and New York Philharmonic.
Mark Bowden
Body Language and Behavioral Expert
Mark Bowden is a world-renowned body language expert, keynote speaker, and bestselling author. Voted Global Gurus’ #1 Body Language Professional in the world, Mark’s unique GesturePlane™ system of nonverbal communication helps audiences maximize the power of using their own body language to stand out, win trust, and gain credibility every time they communicate. He has worked with G7 leaders, Fortune 500 CEOs and is a regular on the Dr. Phil Show.
Dr. Renée Paule - Gauthier
Practice Strategist
Renée-Paule Gauthier Ph.D is a passionate performer, coach, and teacher. She performs in the second violin section of the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra,
is a member of some of Chicago’s finest ensembles, including the Joffrey Ballet Orchestra, Elgin Symphony, and Chicago Philharmonic, and is a substitute with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Renée loves to inspire young people to reach for their dreams and has developed a Music Mastery Method to insure well being and focus during the audition preparation process.
Christopher Still
Audition Strategist
Christopher Still joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2007. Before coming to California, he was the Principal Trumpet of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. He has also held the positions of Associate Principal Trumpet of the Dallas Symphony and Principal Trumpet of the Charleston (SC) Symphony. He works with students all over the world to prepare, strategically, their orchestra and university auditions and to win them.
This group of experts works solely with my 6 month "Get In!" program. Get In! is a half year of intense college prep audition "boot camp" in which you will study audition prep, practice strategy, weekly meetups and mock auditions with colleagues hosted by Susan Monteiro. Have a procrastination problem? You need accountability and by working with us, you will no longer be able to fall back on excuses. There will be no more "I'll do it tomorrow or next week." as EVERY WEEK you will be meeting with your practice and accountability partners. You need icing on that cake? You will also have access to each of these experts via Masterclass.