Faculty
Molly Orlando
Studio Director and Piano
DC Pianist Molly Orlando is nationally recognized as a soloist, collaborator, teacher, and adjudicator. Praised by the Washington Post for her ‘great style’ and performances that are ‘searching’ and ‘edgy’, Molly is equally at home in traditional and brand-new repertoire.
An advocate for new music, Molly has premiered numerous works, including a performance as the soloist in the world premiere of Daniel Felsenfeld’s piano concerto The Curse of Sophistication. She has also premiered works by Douglas Boyce, Timothy Dusenbury, John Elmquist, Matt Curlee, and Nathan Lincoln-DeCusatis.... read more
Hannah Williams
Studio Coordinator
Hannah is Opal's studio coordinator. She loves being a part of our students' musical journeys, and believes music education lays a foundation for of lifetime of passion and creativity. When students learn to play an instrument, they are mastering a skill they will take with them as they navigate their life paths.
A drama major at Vassar College, Hannah has taught Kindermusik and Young Musicians, drama and public speaking, worked on scores for films, and led countless groups of children in scouting, caroling, and general adventures in Old Town. In addition to her work at Opal, Hannah produces... read more
Julia Aguayo
Piano
Spanish-born pianist Julia Aguayo began her career at age 16 at the prestigious Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid in 2005, as one of five candidates selected from a field of over 100 candidates.Following her success in Spain, Julia moved on to The Netherlands to pursue her Master's degree. In 2010 she placed in multiple competitions, one of them resulting in a seven-performance tour around The Netherlands that culminated with a performance in the De Doulen hall in Rotterdam – one of the country’s most prestigious performances venues. That same year, she won the chance to participate in a professional recording with Peter Arts... read more
Benjamin Altman
Guitar, Mandolin, and Ukulele
Benjamin Altman is an active concertizer, chamber musician, and concert soloist, having played with the Macon Symphony Orchestra, the Ocmulgee Symphony, the Colorado Guitar Quartet, and the Arvada Center Chorale.
In addition to his activities as a performer, Mr. Altman has been a dedicated teacher for nearly 10 years. Having served on faculty at Nazareth College, the Eastman Community Music School, and the Rocky Ridge Music Center, he now teaches guitar for Arlington Public Schools and teaches privately across the Washington, D.C. area. As a graduate assistant at... read more
Sarah Berger
Violin
Originally from Denver, Colorado, Sarah Berger is a violinist passionate about orchestral performance and contemporary music. She frequently plays with the Fairfax Symphony, Alexandria Symphony, New World Symphony, and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestras. As a Spoleto Festival USA Fellow, Sarah performed in the premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-Winning opera, “Omar,” and most recently, she served as the concertmaster of Spoleto’s featured opera, Vanessa.
Throughout her undergraduate degree, Sarah played with Eastman School of Music’s new music ensemble, Ossia. As a member of Ossia,.... read more
Natalie Chami
Piano, Voice, and Music Tech
With an unwavering commitment to music and the arts, Natalie Chami has dedicated her career to nurturing aspiring musicians. Holding a degree in Music Education from Northwestern University with a specialization in classical voice and choral music, Chami embarked on her professional journey as a founding faculty member at the Chicago High School for the Arts in 2009.
As Vocal Chair, Chami developed a comprehensive curriculum encompassing music theory, keyboard skills, vocal technique, choir, integrated arts, and music technology. Notably, she collaborated on spearheading the development and implementation of anti-racist and trauma-informed teaching methodologies at ChiArts, fostering an inclusive and empowering learning... read more
Marianne Cheng
Piano and Voice
Marianne has over twelve years of experience teaching music to students with wide range of styles, abilities, and ages. Her passion for student-centered, holistic teaching overarches everything she does, from teaching private lessons, directing community choirs, and coaching professional artists. As a vocalist, pianist, studio tech, arranger, and director, Marianne brings a passion for lifelong learning to the Opal Music family. With a keen sense of technique and an emphasis on progress over perfection, Marianne believes anyone... read more
Daphine Henderson
Piano, Voice, Bass, and all strings
Daphine Henderson, a double bassist and vocalist in the DC metro area, completed her Master's Degree in Double Bass Performance at the University of Maryland College Park in Spring ‘23, where she also received two Bachelor's Degrees in Music Performance with concentrations in Double Bass and Soprano Voice in Spring '20. Teaching herself the double bass at age 12, Daphine became extremely involved in music throughout her high school and college careers.
Daphine is taking steps in her musical career to create an impact and inspire younger musicians of color that would otherwise not have ample resources and opportunities to pursue their passion.....read more
Elizabeth Hill
Piano
A recognized leader in contemporary music advocacy, pianist Elizabeth G. Hill has led and performed in the D.C. area’s most prominent chamber ensembles, and is known for her work as a solo performer, educator, and lecturer. A highly-regarded artist, she has performed lecture-recitals and concerts across the United States and in Europe, including for the Embassy Concert Series in Washington DC, the Center for Jewish History in New York, and the Robert-Schumann-Haus in Zwickau, Germany. She currently performs in numerous ensembles within the Washington, D.C. area, and is the Collaborative Pianist for the National Philharmonic Chorale and Chamber Series... read more
Zoe Kushubar
Violin
Zoe Kushubar has been hailed by the Mittelbadische Presse as a violinist who “plays with a fiery spirit and top nuance.” She has been studying the violin for almost 20 years, and she has performed throughout the Eastern United States and in Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic. As a soloist, she has performed with the Piedmont Chamber Orchestra, the Converse Symphony Orchestra, and the Carolina Youth Symphony, with whom she made her orchestral debut at 15. She won first prize at the Young Artist Competitions hosted by the Carolina Youth Symphony (2014) and Converse University (2017), and she was one of three string finalists at the Florida State University Young Artist Competition in 2021... read more
Huixian (Emily) Li
Piano
Huixian Li is a distinguished Chinese pianist and educator, currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Piano Pedagogy at the Catholic University of America. With a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership in Music from Millersville University of Pennsylvania, she brings a comprehensive understanding of teaching methodologies, specifically tailored for K-12 students.
Since beginning her piano studies at the age of six, Huixian has performed in solo and chamber recitals, as well as on prestigious stages such as Carnegie Hall. Her extensive performance background enriches her teaching, offering students valuable insights into professional piano artistry. Huixian has over six years of teaching experience in China... read more
Sean Mahon
Piano
Sean Mahon is a highly accomplished pianist, composer, and music educator, with an extensive career rooted in the DMV. With over two decades of experience, Sean has mastered a diverse range of musical styles, from classical and jazz, to tango, rock, and contemporary music.
Sean earned his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Maryland, where he studied under the distinguished mentors Dr. Cleveland Page, Santiago Rodriguez, and the legendary André Watts. His academic excellence was recognized through numerous accolades, including winning the prestigious Homer Ulrich Piano Competition, being a finalist in the UMSO Concerto Competition, and...read more
Madalyn Navis
Violin, Viola, and Suzuki Violin/Viola
Madalyn Navis is a violinist, music educator, and chamber musician currently residing in Alexandria, Virginia. She began studying violin at the age of 4 years old and quickly discovered the power music has to bring people together and to express and heal our emotions. She earned a double Bachelor’s Degree in Instrumental Music Education and Violin Performance while studying with Mihai Craioveanu at Hope College. She went on to complete her Master of Music Degree in Violin Performance at Bowling Green State University, where she was a member of the Graduate String Quartet and studied under Dr. Penny Thompson-Kruse. During her Master’s degree, .... read more
Allysa Packard
Voice and Piano
Allysa Packard, soprano, has sung all over the world including China and Italy, with various choirs and study programs. This last summer, her travels took her to Prague where she sang Countess in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaroin the Estates Theater with Prague Summer Nights. Allysa has performed various roles and scenes from both opera and musical theater repertoire. Musical Theater roles include Belle from Beauty and the Beastto Marian the Librarian in The Music Man.She has participated in other shows such as Show Boat, Pirates of Penzance, and Trial By Jury. Opera roles include, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, and Madame Lidoine in Dialogues des Carmelites. ... read more
Mark Sylvester
Guitar, Ukulele, Mandolin, Banjo, and Bass Guitar
Composer and multi-instrumentalist Mark Sylvester regularly performs around the Washington, DC, area as a solo guitarist, as a singer/songwriter, and with numerous folk, world, classical, rock, and jazz groups. His recordings of original compositions include music for solo acoustic guitar, chamber music for classical banjo, and scores for live theater productions. Mark's primary musical influences and interests include folk and world music, cool jazz, prog rock, minimalism, American primitive and contemporary guitar music, and J.S. Bach.
Mark teaches individual and group lessons on guitar, ukulele, mandolin, banjo, and bass guitar. Drawing on his broad performance and compositional background...read more
Olivia Thompson
Piano and Voice
Coming from North Carolina, Olivia has achieved her Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies, and she is about to graduate with her Master of Arts in Music Education this December. She has had 14 years of classical vocal training, and had pursued that in her undergraduate degree. She has performed in many musicals, choir ensembles, solo vocal performances, as well as the opera Pirates of Penzance. Her vocal training allows her to perform languages such as French, German, Italian, English, and Russian. Olivia has also had 12 years of classical piano training while pursuing her musical career. She has had the opportunity to perform in numerous years of piano competitions and recitals. Going into her third year of teaching...read more
Joan Wolfe
Cello
Joan Wolfe is a cellist living, teaching, and performing in Northern Virginia. She earned her Masters in Music Performance from Ball State University and her Bachelors in Music Performance from the Conservatory of Shenandoah University. Joan has attended various summer music festivals including the Idyllwild Summer Music Festival and the Chautauqua Summer Music Festival where she furthered her love of performing and attended professional masterclasses and performances on a near daily basis. She performs around the region as much as possible and serves as Principal Cellist with the Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra. During the summers she enjoys putting together local chamber music concerts with family and friends...read more
Alicia Woodberry
Voice and Piano
Soprano Alicia Woodberry has been praised as an insightful musician and captivating performer. Her most recent successes in opera include performing with the Genesius Guild Theatre Foundation as Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, for which the River Cities’ Reader praised her for “shining vocally.”
Ms. Woodberry is an active performer, and some of her recent roles include La sorella cercatrice in Suor Angelica (Peabody Opera Theatre), Echo in Ariadne auf Naxos (Miami Music Festival), Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi (Genesius Guild), and Papagena in Die Zauberflöte (Genesius Guild)... read more