TAOS YOUTH MUSIC SCHOOL TEACHING STAFF

A school is only as good as its teachers! Great teachers inspire, challenge, nurture, and love their students. At TYMS our teachers set high musical standards, awaken students intellectually and creatively by drawing out original compositions and develop musical intelligence in our students.

 Valerie Davis

Born and raised in Arkansas, Valerie Davis grew up in a family of singers. She considers herself incredibly fortunate to have participated in high quality music programs – both choral and instrumental – in high school and college. Val received a Bachelor’s of Music Education and a classroom K-8 teaching certificate from the University of Missouri. In 2008 Val received her Master’s of Curriculum and Instruction. She has taught kindergarten, band, and general music in both public and private schools around the Taos area for the last 16 years.

Mary Bruschini

Mary Bruschini is a jazz pianist, vocalist, and educator. She received her BA in African American Music from SUNY at Old Westbury. Her graduate studies were in Ethnomusicology at Hunter College in New York. Mary is founder and director of the Taos Gospel Choir. She currently teaches Ear Training and Jazz Keyboard Skills at Northern College in Espanola. Mary continues to teach privately and performs regularly in Taos.

Scott Kesson

Scott Kesson is a performing musician who has been playing guitar for over 30 years. He has toured with bands as solo guitarist, playing many large venues and festivals, including the 1999 Woodstock Music Festival. Scott performed as session guitarist on 9 CDs and recorded 4 CDs of his own original music. He is adept at using the latest software sequencers and has a passion for electronic music creation and blending electronic music with traditional instruments. Scott is a big fan of self-publishing and has helped several local youths record their music and poetry.

Tara Somerville

Some telling early photos of Tara Somerville feature her donning an AC/DC sweatshirt, bow and fiddle in hand, brow furrowed as she tackles her latest Suzuki piece. As an adult her passion for diverse music has manifested in study of Turkish, Irish and Klezmer fiddle and in the perpetual singing and teaching of songs from around the world, as inspired by legendary song leaders Ysaye Barnwell, Nick Page and Melanie DeMore. A graduate of U.C. Santa Cruz with a B.A. in Psychology, she has worked with youth in a variety of creative and therapeutic settings and strives for a balance of joy and technique in her music teaching.

OTHER TAOS YOUTH MUSIC SCHOOL STAFF

Angela Pacheco Executive Director
Taos, NM
NM Department of Health
Parent of 3 TYMS Students