Woodwind Teachers
Mei Trill Zhou
Flute
Ms. Zhou earned her BM degree in flute performance from the Shanghai Conservatory Music and her MM from the University of Connecticut, Hartford. She taught flute for more than twenty-five years (15 years in the U.S.). She developed a unique, fun, and effective method of teaching the flute to ages ranging from five years old to retired adults. Many of her students have been accepted to the Junior/Senior High All-state Honors band as well as the North CA Honors band. Ms. Zhou is also an active performer and appears in the numerous concerts/recitals throughout the Bay Area. In addition, She was the first classical flute artist to record her performance on CD in China. Her CDs were sold not only in China, but also in Europe and the U.S. Ms. Zhou is well-known for her friendly manner.
shay Salhov
Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Jazz Ensemble Coaching, Jazz Theory, Jazz & Classical Piano
Shay Salhov was born in Hadera, Israel. Salhov started to explore music by trying to imitate his sister’s piano playing as well as making the sound of drums on pots and pans. After a number of years studying both piano and alto saxophone, Salhov decided at the age of 16 to concentrate his energy on the saxophone by improvising and playing jazz music. He began playing professionally in Israel at the age of eighteen. Salhov joined the Israeli Air-Force Band, where he collaborated with Israel’s top musicians and performed in the International Red Sea Jazz Festival as well as on television. After three years of army service, Salhov performed regularly in jazz clubs, festivals and concerts. He was a member in the Tel Aviv Big Band in addition to various jazz, rock, and experimental projects. He completed his diploma studies at Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music where he won the Jazz Player of the Year 2000 competition and went on to represent his school in the IASJ convention in Paris. After his arrival to the U.S. in September 2000, Salhov concentrated on his work as a performer, composer, and also as a music teacher in the greater Boston area and New York City. He completed a Bachelor’s degree at Berklee College of Music Magna Cum Laude and a Master’s Degree in classical saxophone at the Boston Conservatory (Summa Cume Laude), where he received merit scholarships and graduated. Among his teachers were George Garzone, Hal Crook, Ed Tomasi, Joe Lovano and Ken Radnofsky. Salhov has developed an intriguing personal performance style and he is a sophisticated composer of original and exciting jazz for mixed ensembles. Salhov moved to New York City in June 2005 and became active in the local jazz scene. He performed with many of New York’s top musicians and at venues such as the Jazz Gallery, the Jazz Standard, Cornelia Street Café and the NYC Winter Jazz Fest. Salhov performed live on “Transfigured Night”, a late-night radio show on WKCR New York, with the free jazz trio 202. He taught daily in the greater New York area at various schools and music studios. Salhov moved to the Bay Area in June, 2009. Before leaving NYC, he made his debut recording of his jazz trio project with drummer Ronen Itzik and bassist Gary Wang who both played Salhov original compositions. Salhov is currently performing and teaching throughout the California Bay Area such as Monterey Jazz Festival and San Jose Jazz Festival.
Nathan Villanueva
Oboe, English Horn
Nathan Villanueva is a versatile and enthusiastic oboist and music educator in the San Francisco Bay Area. His passion for music began at an early age when he was in his church and school choirs. Since elementary school he was given multiple opportunities to help and assist his peers in music classes, ultimately leading him to be the student director of both his high school choir and band, which sparked his passion for music education. Villanueva has given oboe and choral clinics and coaching at various schools in the Bay Area as well as teaching elementary band and woodwinds for San Jose Jazz Progressions. He strives to assist all of his students find themselves with and within the music they learn and play. He recently earned his Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from San Jose State University where he studied with Dr. Michael Adduci. He recently became premier oboist for the Chamber Music Silicon Valley Young Artist Roster. Villanueva is currently pursuing MA degree in oboe performance at San Jose State University.
BrennA Dickson
Clarinet
Brenna Dickson is a local Bay Area composer and clarinetist. Keeping music and the arts in her life was one of the most significant aspects of growing up, whether it was clarinet and bass clarinet in her school bands, playing bass guitar in jam sessions with friends, or playing music with her family. After graduating high school, Ms. Dickson continued her music studies at College of San Mateo where she immersed herself into the CSM Music Department studying with Mike Galisatus, clarinet/saxophone instructor Tim Devine, and jazz instructor Chuck MacKinnon. She also held an apprenticeship with San Francisco clarinetist and mouthpiece maker Clark W Fobes where she spent two years learning the manufacturing side of clarinet mouthpiece and barrel production. Ms. Dickson eventually moved to San Jose to begin her undergraduate studies at San Jose State University. She completed her Bachelor’s of Music in Composition from San Jose State University, studying under Dr. Brian Belet. Additionally, she has studied clarinet under Dr. Janet Averett at San Jose State University, and private instructor Mark Sowlakis. As a composer, her work The Night Lark was performed by the San Jose Chamber Orchestra by receiving the Allen Strange Memorial Composition Prize in 2019. She was a member of Chamber Music Silicon Valley’s Emerging Artist Fellowship for the 2019-2020 season. During this time she also developed her private teaching studio and curriculum for clarinet and music theory. She is currently a private instructor and educator in clarinet and music theory for a variety of schools in the Silicon Valley. Ms. Dickson’s approach to teaching involves detail-oriented instruction, thorough and adaptable communication for a diverse range of learners, exposure to a variety of musical concepts in addition to clarinet, and most importantly helping students to develop independent skills for learning, practicing, problem-solving, and critical thinking for all future challenges.