Harold Caceres
About Harold
Harold Najarro-Caceres is a talented and experienced composer, guitarist and pianist. Born and raised in El Salvador, Harold began his study of music at the National Art Center (CENAR) in his native city of San Salvador. His studies focused on classical, acoustic and electric guitar. He made his musical debut at CENAR with his original musical compositions for classical acoustic guitar.
After moving to the U. S. he studied classical piano at the Montgomery College, in addition to conducting and the analysis of symphonic works. Always extremely versatile, Harold was the pianist for "The Real Deal Band", performing jazz, soul, R & B, pop and classical rock at local DMV country clubs and hospitals.
Having earned his associates degree from MC, Harold is currently studying music at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. He began teaching piano and guitar for Nancy Brownstein Music in 2016. Known for his nurturing and patient style, Harold continues to be one of our most requested teachers.
Meiling Yeh
About Meiling
Meiling Yeh is an experienced, dedicated piano teacher who is loved by her students. Born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, Meiling has had a unique musical journey starting at a young age. Starting piano lessons at age 5, she continued studying piano at National Taiwan University of the Arts. She then entered Eastern Arts and Music's program, studying ancient Asian instruments along with music theory, composition and classical piano.
After moving to the United States, Meiling continued piano studies at Montgomery College, then earning her music degree at University of Md, College Park. She is currently serving as the church pianist at the Gaithersburg Chinese Alliance. Meiling has taught piano for over twenty years for Brownstein Music. Blending her Asian upbringing and Western education, Meiling provides a unique way to engage young students in the early study of piano, as she tailors her lessons based on each student's individual strengths and learning styles. It is exciting to watch Meiling's shaping the musicians of tomorrow.
Meiling has been teaching for Nancy Brownstein Music since 1998! She has taught countless students and we are lucky that she has worked with us for so long.
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Amanda Smith
About Amanda
Amanda Smith has always been surrounded by music. With two parents who met in marching band in college, there was never a shortage of music in their house! Amanda began singing in church at a young age, eventually beginning private piano lessons in middle school. As Amanda grew older, she shifted toward the performing arts, earning a B.A. in musical theatre from American University, minoring in dance and business administration. She works at Ovations Studios, teaching dance and directing their annual spring musical. Her dance and piano students love her! Amanda has been working for Nancy Brownstein Music since 2011.
Brenda Brooks
About Brenda
Brenda Brooks is a native Washingtonian who studied music, specifically piano, at Montgomery College. She continues to study piano--in the jazz realm, and has added klezmer to her musical repertoire, as a keyboard player in a local group.
Brenda has always enjoyed working with children and was an elementary school reading tutor for many years. She delights in inspiring students' enthusiasm for music in addition to guiding them as they learn. Brenda began working for Brownstein Music in early 2023. Prior to that, she retired from a long career in the federal government at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Alex Alavi
About Alex
Alex Alavi is a working musician and teacher, born in the Washington, DC area. He has been playing and studying the guitar for over fifteen years, spending much of that time performing in bands, and as a solo artist. Alex is adept at both lead and rhythm guitar styles, including fingerpicking. He sings both lead and harmony vocals when performing, and has composed dozens of songs. In addition to piano and guitar, Alex can also teach the banjo, harmonica and trap set. His penchant for teaching is fueled by his desire to discover new skills and share his extensive knowledge of musical instruments.
After graduating from Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, MD Alex earned a BFA from the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. In addition to his tremendous musical talent, he is very sought after for his cartooning, and is currently working on anime.
Besides music and art, Alex’s other passion lies in working with children, having done so at seemingly every setting possible--including schools, summer camps, after-school programs, and private music lessons. He has been working with children for fourteen years. He currently works as a piano and guitar teacher, gigging musician, and a regular substitute teacher at the prestigious Lowell School in Washington DC.
Laura Kim Ortiz
About Laura
Laura Kim Ortiz studied piano and flute from elementary through high school. She holds degrees in both piano and music technology, being especially proficient in theory and composition.
Laura is quite a versatile instructor, teaching piano, voice, dance and musical production. Passionate about sharing the beauty of sound, Laura is dedicated to helping her students succeed by adapting to their individual needs. She strives to make her lessons both informative and engaging, ensuring that her students have an immersive experience creating beautiful music across various musical keys.
During high school Laura was taught by a strict classical teacher who focused heavily on rhythm, notation and speed. This particular musical instruction enabled Laura to develop a well-rounded skill set. Laura aims, whenever possible, to incorporate contemporary pop songs into her repertoire, in addition to the standard classical greats. This fusion also allowed her to nurture her passion for composition and sound.
Laura's varied background and years of experience, in addition to her patient and nurturing style, have resulted in her exceptional ability to foster a strong love of music! She is a dedicated instructor, guiding her piano, vocal and recording students in their musical journeys.
Henry Sheppard
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About Henry
Henry Sheppard is a freelance guitarist and electric/upright bassist native to the DC area. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park with a full scholarship after graduating with Bachelors degrees in Music Performance, While performing with the UMD Jazz Ensemble, he has performed with world-renowned guest artists and on stages like Blues Alley, MidAtlantic Jazz Festival, and the Calvin Jones Big Band Invitational.
Henry is proficient in music composition, theory, arrangement, recording, and performance within a broad range of styles drawing from diverse musical experiences from playing straight-ahead jazz to rock, soca, salsa, and bluegrass.
A passionate educator, Henry has taught private lessons since high school, and currently works at Terrapin Music Camp (the University of Maryland’s summer music camp) teaching guitar. Henry takes a holistic approach to teaching music with strong emphasis on developing general musical skills to nurture well-rounded young musicians.
Yueling Zhong
About Yueling
Yuelin Zhong is a lifelong pianist and music enthusiast. She has won top honors in many competitions, including the American Protégé International Competition of Romantic Music and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Youth Auditions. Yuelin played with the Harper Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Brian Groner, performed solo at Carnegie Hall and, in addition, appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and their Merit School of Music. Yuelin has taken master classes at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, among others.
Yuelin graduated with a Master’s of Music in Piano Performance from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University with a focus in pedagogy, where she studied with Marian Hahn and Steven Spooner.
On the side, she enjoys completing puzzles and binge-watching whatever catches her fancy! We are thrilled to welcome Yuelin to our team.
Contact Nancy & Let's Get Started
Have a question or interested in getting started? Simply complete our Scheduling Request Form and Nancy will get in touch with you within 1-2 business days. Questions? Find answers on our FAQ page.
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Additional Questions? Please do not hesitate to reach out! We can't wait to meet you.
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Phone: 301-775-1519
Email: Nancy@NancyBrownstein.com