Teaching Artists
Alexis Chae is a violist from New York City. She began studying violin at the age of three and transitioned to viola at thirteen. During high school, Alexis attended the Juilliard Pre-College Division, where she studied with Elizabeth Chang. While at Juilliard, she participated in the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival and had the opportunity to serve as a chamber music mentor to younger students.
Alexis earned her Bachelor’s degree from the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, where she studied with Weijing Wang Michal of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. During her undergraduate studies, she attended Le Festival Cordes en Gascogne in France and had the opportunity to perform with the Black Oak Ensemble. She has also participated in the Zodiac Music Academy & Festival during multiple summers. In addition to her performance experience, Alexis worked as an orchestra library assistant at Northwestern and interned with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Library.
After graduating from Northwestern University she received her Master’s degree at Penn State University under the guidance of Dr. Timothy Deighton. At Penn State, Alexis served as a graduate assistant to the viola studio, acting as a section leader, assisting with studio classes, hosting guest artists, and teaching undergraduate students. She was the second chair violist of the Altoona Symphony Orchestra, a member of the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra, and a substitute violist with the Billings Symphony Orchestra.
Following graduation, she moved to San Francisco and is now in her first year of the Advanced Certificate program at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she studies under Jonathan Vinocour. In her free time, Alexis enjoys crocheting and spending time with her dog, Loki.
Recently retired from a 30-year career teaching band, orchestra and jazz band at Presidio Middle School in the San Francisco Unified School District, Diana Wyneken Gomez is currently off the podium and performing on flute and piccolo. She received her Bachelor of Music from San Francisco State University in 1976, and continued studying at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, under Paul Renzi and Lloyd Gowen of the San Francisco Symphony, with masterclasses under Jean-Pierre Rampal, Julius Baker and Marcel Moyse.
Her most recent work in large performing groups includes the Golden Gate Symphony Orchestra, Oakland Municipal Band, San Francisco Civic Symphony, Golden Gate Park Band, San Francisco Wind Ensemble, and various freelance work around the Bay Area. She spends time playing chamber music with Zephyrus Woodwinds, and maintains musical relationships with churches and choirs around the Bay Area.
Catherine Heusner is a member of the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra and for 10 years, she was Assistant Concertmaster of the Stockton Symphony Orchestra. She currently maintains an active private violin studio in the greater Sacramento area.
Her education includes studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the University of Southern California where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance. Her private teachers at SFCM and USC included Eudice Shapiro and Isadore Tinkleman.
Catherine is the proud mother of two sons; both graduates of the University of California-Santa Barbara. At Music Mission San Francisco, Catherine teaches violin.
Cuna Kim is an accomplished violinist and chamber musician based in San Francisco. Known for dynamic performances and a deep collaborative spirit, she holds a Master of Music in Chamber Music Performance and a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM).
An avid chamber musician, Cuna has performed at the Valley of the Moon Music Festival as an Emerging Artist, the Hawaii Chamber Music Festival with the Kaimana Quartet, and the Music on the Hill Concert Series with the Alora Quartet. She has also performed in high-profile collaborations for Chamber Music Tuesday alongside distinguished artists Kim Kashkashian, Jonathan Brown, and Nicholas Phan, and has shared the stage with the New Century Chamber Orchestra and the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players.
Throughout her career, Cuna has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Colin and Sam Murdoch Chamber Music Scholarship, the William S. Howe Chamber Music Scholarship, and the Vincent Constantino Scholarship. She was also named a finalist in the SFCM Violin Concerto Competition. Her artistic growth has been shaped by studies with renowned teachers Wonhee Bae, Ian Swensen, William van der Sloot, and Irene Cheng.
In addition, Cuna has performed in masterclasses for legendary artists and ensembles, including Emmanuel Ax, Stefan Jackiw, Robert McDonald, the Calidore String Quartet, and the Miró Quartet.
Hailing from Northern California, Jessica Li is a soloist, chamber ensemble member, and orchestral cellist. She has worked with many chamber ensembles including the Cavani String Quartet, Alexander String Quartet, and the Esme String Quartet. She has also competed with her piano trio, winning 1st place at the Music Teachers' Association of California (MTAC) VOCE
chamber competition in 2018 and 2019. Awards include receiving the California State Legislature Certificate of Recognition.
Jessica holds a Bachelor of Music degree from New York University and a Masters in Music degree in Cello Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Her teachers include Amos Yang, assistant principal cello of the San Francisco Symphony. In addition, she has studied cello in New York, Germany, and the Czech Republic.
Aside from competing solo and with her chamber ensembles, Jessica has hosted multiple benefit concerts to support building schools and supplies for children in Uganda. Outside of music, she likes to knit, crochet, sew her own clothing, and other various hobbies in the arts.
Trombonist Miriam Snyder lives in San Francisco, California, where she recently
completed a master’s degree in trombone performance at the San Francisco Conservatory of
Music. Before moving to San Francisco, Miriam lived in Rochester, New York, where she earned a bachelor’s degree and performer’s certificate from the Eastman School of Music. Her primary teachers have included Dr. David Hamilton, Larry Zalkind, and Paul Welcomer.
Miriam currently teaches private lessons and freelances in several Bay Area orchestras
including symphonies in Stockton, Santa Rosa, Marin, and Monterey. As a passionate solo and
chamber musician, Miriam has succeeded in several competitions, with the most recent
including being a finalist in the 2023 SFCM Winds, Brass Percussion, and Harp Concerto
Competition, runner-up in the 2022 SFCM Wind Ensemble Concerto Competition, placing first
in the 2021 American Trombone Workshop’s Quartet Competition, and placing third in the
national level of the 2017 MTNA Senior Brass Competition.
As an educator, Miriam holds positions as instructor of brass and piano at Vibo Music School, brass instructor at Music Mission San Francisco, and general and instrumental music teacher at Sunset Elementary School. Throughout spring 2024, Miriam will be performing in elementary schools across San Francisco as a member of Gusto Winds for the San Francisco Symphony’s Adventures In Music program.