Tim Thomas Program Coordinator & Orchestra Director
Tim Thomas is a graduate of Boise State University where he performed with the University Symphony, Vocal Jazz, and Jazz Improvisation ensembles while earning his Bachelor's degree in Music Education. During that period he started his professional playing career performing with the Boise Philharmonic, Boise Baroque Orchestra, Oregon East Symphony, and Grande Ronde Symphony. After graduating in May of 2007 he moved to Las Vegas, NV to take an orchestra director position at Burkholder Middle School before taking his current position at Basic Academy of International Studies in 2013. Mr. Thomas currently serves as Chairman for the CCSD Honor Orchestra, Chairman of the NVASTA Las Vegas Bass Workshop, Principal Double Bass for the Henderson Symphony Orchestra, Red Mountain Music Company, Las Vegas Mens Chorus, and a frequent musician at Tuachan in St. George, Utah. Mr. Thomas also performed with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, Nevada Ballet, and his string quartet "Strings on Occasion". He returned to the Pacific Northwest on several official visits to direct the Boise Junior High Fall Clinics, the Oregon East Symphony Summer Camp, and perform for various concerts. Mr. Thomas also holds a masters degree from Touro University in the field of Education Administration.
Candace Chun Violin Group & Private Instructor
Candace is the current director of orchestra and at Eldorado High School. She has led a variety of programs including an eleven-year stop at Valley HS where she the orchestra & band director and cheer coach. Her students have consistently received high rankings in competitions and performances. Candace is currently pursuing her masters at UNLV and received her bachelor’s degree in music education from Loyola University New Orleans. Candace has been playing violin, viola, cello, bass, piano, and ukulele for 20 years.
Alex Dzyubinsky Violin Private Teacher
Alex is a native of Russia and has spent his life in pursuit of violin excellence. He came to the US to study at The Julliard School (New York) where he studied with Sylvia Rosenberg, Massao Kawasaki, & Eduard Schmieder. Upon receiving his Bachelors of in Violin Performance (2008) and then a Masters of Music (2010), he competed in several competitions while finishing runner up in the 2012 Buenos Aires Violin competition and also the International China Violin Competition. From 2009-2013 he was the Assistant Concert master of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and in 2013 accepted the position as Principal Second Violin in the Aalbord Symphony Orchestra in Denmark. He recently moved to Las Vegas, NV with his wife and children and has been an active member in many of the professional performance ensembles locally.
Faride Acosta Violin Instructor
Ms. Acosta has been teaching private lessons since 2005. She is currently completing her degree in Music Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and has attended the College of Southern Nevada [CSN]. She has performed with such names as Natalie Cole at the Latin Grammys 2013, Los Tigres Del Norte, Los Tucanes de Tijuana, Conjunto Primavera, Juan Gabriel, José José, Jenni Rivera, Lupillo Rivera, Tatiana, El Chapo de Sinaloa, Christian Castro, and El Gordo y La Flaca. Currently she performs with Mariachi Franco and was the first principal chair violin with the CSN Orchestra.
Marla Huizar Advanced Mariachi Director, Violin Instructor
Marla Huizar is currently the orchestra director at Del Sol Academy. Marla Huizar graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2012 with a Bachelor in Music Education and in 2017 finished her Master’s degree in the same field. During her undergrad, Ms. Huizar played the violin and was a member of the UNLV Symphony and Chamber orchestras. Furthermore, while attaining her masters, Ms. Huizar also took voice lessons in opera music.
A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, Ms. Huizar has been deeply involved with the music community from a young age. In addition to being trained in classical music, Ms. Huizar has had a strong passion for mariachi music. Ms. Huizar personally witnessed, and participated in, the growth of the mariachi program in the Las Vegas community. As a mariachi musician, Ms. Huizar has performed with countless mariachi groups throughout the Las Vegas valley. Ms. Huizar has also performed at several major events, including the “Las Vegas Walk of Stars” and the Latin Grammys, where she performed for various famous Latin artists.
Anthony Rodriguez Cello Instructor
Anthony C. Rodriguez holds a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. During his studies with Dr. Andrew Smith, he was awarded the Music Grant in Aid, Devos Fine Arts Scholarship, Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship, and performed as one of the concluding members of the esteemed Liberace Scholars String Quartet. In early 2015, he made his Las Vegas Strip debut performing in The Elvis Experience at Westgate Hotel & Casino and has since performed regularly at Steve Wynn’s ShowStoppers at Wynn Las Vegas. Most recently, Rodriguez had the privilege to play alongside Seth MacFarlane during his two-night engagement on the Encore Theater Stage. Mr. Rodriguez is a Suzuki certified instructor.
Brigido Galvan Mariachi Instructor
Brigido Galvan has been involved in Mariachi music from an early age. Growing up in a musical family he started specializing in the guitaron but is proficient on several instruments. After graduating from Desert Pines HS, where he was a 4 year member in their top mariachi, he began to play with other groups in town. This led him to the idea of teaching students and has become a staple in the CCSD schools and FAYM to develop young talent.