Daniel de Jesús – Director of Music Education & Cello
Daniel de Jesús is an artist and educator based in Philadelphia, PA. Access to the arts for underserved communities is at the core of their work as curators, educators, and practicing artists in Philadelphia. They were the Visual Arts Manager from 2007 – 2011 and Youth Artist Program manager from 2015 – 2021 at the Taller Puertorriqueño. They are now the Music Education & Community Relations Director for AMLA at Esperanza, a Latin Music School in the heart of North Philadelphia. As an educator and administrator, de Jesús works to give youth access to experiences and opportunities to participate in the creative arts through inclusive programs in Philadelphia. As teaching artists, they work with organizations that uplift our community’s youth to provide high-quality arts education.
Mariano Medina – Percussion & Drums
Mariano has performed with artists such as Ray Sepulveda, Andy Montanez, NG2, Cano Estremera, Ismael Miranda, Grammy Award winner Ray DeLapaz, and many more. His versatility has allowed him to evolve from a Latin percussionist to an all-around musician of pop, rock, jazz, hip hop, and R&B. He is currently a member of La 95 and also works as an independent artist.
Stephen Lorek – Piano, Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Rock Band
Stephen Lorek is a singer-songwriter and an artist of rare form. He cut his teeth with modern Rock with his national touring band Shark tape and swooned audiences with his folk-influenced melodies and deep lyrics. Lorek has been featured on WXPN, performed with Phil Lesh, and won the John Lennon songwriter contest. Based in Philadelphia, he is a performer, teaching artist, and co-owner of the Doff and Tulip recording studio.
Emmanuel Lozada Mendez – Cuatro, Guitar, Piano, Vocals, Choir
Emmanuel Mendez, a native Philly artist and independent artist, wears multiple hats in music. With a degree in Music Education from Temple University, he’s a multi-instrumentalist, dedicated teacher, and producer. His musical journey is a fusion of genres, focusing on Latin and Caribbean styles like Reggaeton and Latin Pop.
Zyra Gonzalez Monterrey – Piano, Choir Accompanist
Zyra Maria Gonzalez Monterrey, born and bred in Havana, Cuba, has a storied career that spans continents and various musical disciplines. A proud alumnus of the revered Havana University of the Arts, Zyra possesses a Bachelor’s Degree in both Piano Performance and Music History. Her initial foray into teaching piano commenced at the Cuban Conservatory, and her versatile talent made her a sought-after accompanist for the Cuban Opera Company for over seven seasons.
Richard Tucker – Guitar, Bass Guitar, Jr. Ensemble
Guitarist Richard Tucker is a native Philadelphian. His father introduced him to the guitar at the age of nine. He went on to study with Ron Henderson and Calvin Harris. By the age of 15, he was playing professionally. Richard is an active musician in Philadelphia, on tour, and works part-time as an educator and mentor to Philadelphia’s inner-city youth. Since 2009, he has taught guitar, bass, and beginner music theory at the AMLA School of Music and the Esperanza Academy.
Suzette Ortiz – Piano, Vocals, Harp
Suzzette Ortiz, a passionate pianist, composer, choral conductor, and educator, has been serving her communities with the gift of music from her humble beginnings in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, to her many recent successes as a Pennsauken, New Jersey, resident. She earned an undergraduate degree in piano performance at the Music Conservatory of Puerto Rico and has studied piano with Cesar “Pupi” Pedroso (of the world-famous Cuban group Los Van Van) and Elio Villafranca, Orlando Fiol, Sumi Tonooka, and the late Philadelphia jazz phenom, Jimmy Amadie.
Chris Smirnov – Violin & Viola
Chris Smirnov, a talented violinist of Russian descent, resides in Philadelphia and holds a degree from Temple University. As a teaching artist with AMLA's after-school program for the past year, Chris has dedicated himself to nurturing young musicians. Beyond his teaching role, he is a skilled carpenter and a sought-after studio violinist, frequently collaborating with various artists in the Philadelphia music scene.