ABOUT US
Our Story
What started as occasional coaching in school music outreach programs from 2000-2006, turned into the 'Latin American Music Project' with two all-age ensembles: a Mariachi and an Afro-Cuban Ensemble (ACE). In 2010, the LAMP became the 'City Heights Music School' as more instruments and levels were required to meet the demand for music education in City Heights. In 2016, CHMS was adopted by the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and continues to flourish under the direction of Victoria Eicher.
Victoria Eicher, Founder/Artistic Director
I grew up in Minneapolis and studied at MacPhail Center for the Arts, starting at the early age of 3 in its Musical Trolley program and continuing to the age of 14 as a student of Suzuki Violin. With three siblings also enrolled at MacPhail, I spent a lot of time in its huge lobby area surrounded by musicians and dancers coming and going to class, and in the upper floor hallways outside of the studios of private lesson teachers. My mother, a small-town girl from northern Minnesota, played piano and always loved the violin. So there I was, at the age of 4, with a chopstick for a bow and a ruler taped to a tissue box for a violin! That’s how it all began...
OUR ARTISTIC STAFF
Victoria Eicher, Artistic Director
Victoria Eicher, Artistic Director
Victoria Eicher, Artistic Director
Violin, Piano, City Strings, Mariachi Victoria
Victoria Eicher grew up in Minneapolis and began playing violin at the age of 4 in the Suzuki program at MacPhail Center for the Arts. She has performed with the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus, Orquestra de Baja California, Mariachi Champaña Nevin,
Caprice Strings, and in chamber ensemble programs
throughout San Diego.
In 2010, Ms. Victoria founded the City Heights Music School and opened her home studio for private lessons in violin and piano.
Lorelei Garner, Assistant Director
Victoria Eicher, Artistic Director
Victoria Eicher, Artistic Director
Piano, Voice, BeatVox, Ukulele and Music123
Lorelei Isidro-Garner is an accomplished vocalist, as well as a proficient pianist and ukulele player. She joins the artistic leadership team as a visionary in vocal arts and teacher training. Lorelei studied Voice Performance at SDSU and has taught music enrichment programs for over 20 years. She is the Choir Director of the Swing Choir and Concert Choir at Mission Bay High and a private instructor for voice, piano, and ukulele.
Lorelei is the composer and creator of the “ZipZapZoogle Music Enrichment Program”.
John Academia
Piano
John Academia holds a Master's degree in Music Theory and Composition from SDSU. He is a Music Teacher in the Sweetwater Union High School District and a Piano Teacher at Southwestern Community College. We are excited to have John join our artistic staff for group piano and private piano lessons!
Tomás Acosta
Voice, Las Voces de Mariachi
Tomás Acosta is a choral conductor, piano teacher, and vocal coach with over 20 years of experience. He holds a Master's degree in Choral Conducting from the Universidad Veracruzana, where he was invited as a guest conductor and collaborator in concerts and festivals. His areas of expertise include opera, recital, sacred, barbershop, musical theatre, Mexican folk, and modern music.
Christopher Behrens
Mariachi
Bio coming soon!
Chris Amaro
Drums
Chris Amaro holds a B.A. in Music from CSU Long Beach. He is the Percussion Coach for the Community Youth Orchestra of Southern California, a Teaching Artist for Harmony Project; Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA), and a Drumline Club Leader for South East High School. With a Music Education degree from SDSU, he directs the Mariachi program at Wilson Middle in City Heights.
Kyle Callan
Guitar
Kyle Callan is studying music education at SDSU. His primary instrument is guitar. He mainly plays jazz, although his interests stretch to every style of music. He has a passion for teaching and wants to eventually become a conductor.
Sandra Camarena
Music123
Sandra Camarena taught elementary school for 30 years. The last six years as a music educator. Ms. Camarena is trained in Orff and First Steps. She has also worked as a singer in the San Diego Opera Chorus for 30 years.
Diego Cardenas
Mariachi
Bio coming soon!
Charlie Chávez
Afro-Caribbean Ensemble
Charlie Chávez is a virtuoso percussionist whose performances are a fusion of his exquisite talent, his passionate spirit, and his rigorous study of the history of Latin music. He studied music at the Conservatory of Music, University of Xalapa in Veracruz and performs extensively in Tijuana and San Diego. He heads his own salsa group, Afrotruko, performing at major venues in Southern California. He currently teaches percussion in Tijuana and San Diego.
German Corrales
Art
Bio coming soon!
April Drury
Daisies of April, Music123
April Drury has been teaching and creating Early Childhood curriculum for nearly 20 years throughout the San Diego area. As Singer/Songwriter ‘Daisies of April’ and a multi-instrumentalist she brings her fun upbeat songs and love for young children right to the classroom each and every day.
Hector Gonzalez
Mariachi
Bio coming soon!
Hannah Lentz
Jazz and Pop Piano, Music Therapy
Hannah Lentz has played jazz piano for 10 years and discovered how to arrange her favorite Disney songs on piano as a kid. She now shares her joy by teaching jazz, pop, arrangement, and composition. With a degree in Music Therapy from Colorado State University, Hannah has experience teaching adaptive lessons to people with a variety of needs - autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, learning disabilities and traumatic brain injury.
Isaac Lewis
Drums, Keyboard, Music123
Isaac Lewis works as a music educator and professional musician. A native San Diegan, he grew up listening to all styles of music. Isaac was attracted to the beat of Brazilian music, specifically samba music, and studied it in Brazil. He has toured extensively in Mexico and the United States with his band, The B-Side Players. Isaac teaches Music123 classes and private lessons in drums and piano for CHMS.
Joseph Marquez
Ballet Folklorico
Joseph currently dances with Ballet
Folklorico Callicoatl and recently performed in two major events, “Raices de Nuestro Mexico” and “Tepeg Notu” at the main cultural center in Tijuana (CECUT).
He has explored different ways to learn and teach dances. Continuing his work in choreography, Zapateado skills, and teaching kids to express their creativity through music and dance, Joseph joined CHMS for the Summer 2023 multi-arts camp for two days of Ballet Folklorico workshops.
Shayne Oseguera
Art
Shayne Oseguera is a Chicano visual artist who specializes in murals. He creates artwork aimed to educate and inspire. Shayne is an advocate for the preservation of indigenous culture, natural landscapes, insects, and our oceans. These themes are continually present in his work. www.quetsmo.com
Briana Perez
Piano
Bio coming soon!
David Rodriguez
Mariachi
David Rodriguez has more than 21 years of teaching and performing experience in Mariachi. He plays guitar, vihuela, guitarrón, guitarra de golpe, violin, trumpet, and some harp. David is the Mariachi teacher at Southwest High, with one of the largest programs in CA, reaching over 250 students. He is enthusiastic about arranging songs and helping students develop musicianship.
Auburn Williams
Music123, Special Needs Music
Auburn Williams is a Special Education Paraprofessional Educator who brings the joy and structure of music to special ed classrooms through our Music123 program. An ad hoc children’s teacher, children’s music leader, choir member, choir accompanist, and church organist, Auburn has also served in leadership roles for youth and women’s organizations.
OUR AMAZING STAFF
Erika Monroe, Program Development Assistant
Erika Monroe, Program Development Assistant
Erika Monroe, Program Development Assistant
Armando Castillo, Administrative Assistant
Erika Monroe, Program Development Assistant
Erika Monroe, Program Development Assistant