Our Staff

Sarah Lopez is a music educator and performer currently pursuing her Master of Music in Kodály Music Education at Colorado State University. She holds a Bachelor of Music Business from University of Northern Colorado with concentrations in classical voice and violin. Sarah teaches voice, violin, beginner piano, and early childhood music. She has worked with […]

Diego has been playing Drums, Guitar, and Bass for over a decade. Through years of gigging experience throughout Colorado and participation in many musical projects, he has developed a well-rounded repertoire that he deeply enjoys sharing with students of all ages. While specializing in Funk, Soul, and Punk, Diego has played and taught nearly every […]

Julisa Cross is a dedicated and passionate educator who has been playing music for over 13 years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Throughout her career, Ms. Cross has focused on creating inclusive, engaging, and student-centered classrooms that foster a love for learning. She specializes in voice […]

Hi, my name is Corey Fant, and I am a composer, performer, producer, and recording engineer who moved to the Fort Collins area almost three years ago from Nashville. Beyond taking private lessons in guitar for a number of years from the wonderful Mike Hutchens in Nashville, I studied at Belmont University earning a Master […]

Angelo Theofanous grew up in central Florida, where his curiosity for music quickly grew into a lifelong passion. That journey began when his high school alma mater needed help with their percussion section. From there, he branched out to other schools, giving private lessons, working as a clinician for the all-county band, and serving as […]

Zack is an award-winning drummer, percussionist, and educator, living in Greeley, Colorado. He has been playing music for 20 years, and has been teaching for the last 8. He actively performs and teaches throughout Northern Colorado and the Denver Metro area, playing at local venues and festivals, giving clinics at local high schools and universities, […]

Elyse Miller is a Colorado-based musician, visual artist, and educator who has been performing music for over 15 years. She has taught music and performing arts in a variety of settings, working with students of all ages. Elyse brings an interdisciplinary approach to her teaching, drawing from her background in theatre, dance, poetry, and visual […]

Chris Weist is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and sound engineer born and raised in the Appalachian hills of Pennsylvania. While his musical foundation began with drums, his journey has taken him across the country as a touring musician, most notably with Colorado’s Wood Belly—a nationally recognized bluegrass/Americana quintet winning the 2018 Telluride Bluegrass band competition and […]

Lilah Vener is a born and raised California musician. Her love for music started as a young girl discovering her love for jazz and R&B vocal pursuits. She has been live performing and devoting her entire life to music studies for over 15 years. Her devotion to vocal performance, guitar and piano have given her […]

Colin is a Fort Collins native who went to Fort Collins High School, Colorado State University, and the Manhattan School of Music. He studied classical voice and has a masters degree in opera! Colin has been teaching at the Loveland Academy of Music since 2017 and teaches voice, piano, and guitar. Outside of the Academy, […]

Jason Hunt is a recent transplant to Fort Collins from Chicago, Illinois. He is a graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in classical guitar. He Has been teaching around the Chicagoland area for the last 23 years prior to coming to Fort Collins. In addition to teaching, Jason has also been performing solo and […]

Valerie is a vocalist and pianist based out of Northern Colorado. She’s taught at Loveland Academy of Music since 2019, helping her students become deep music appreciators, find joy in playing, and incorporating her vast performance experiences into her teaching methods. Valerie graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree […]

Tanner has been playing drums for over 12 years and has performed in bands for about half of that time. He has performed in several band competitions and played all around Colorado, even performing in Wyoming during Frontier Days. He spends his free time listening to music or practicing, but outside of music his favorite […]

Brayden is a Colorado Native that studied classical guitar, voice, and piano at SUNY ACC in New York, along with playing in a couple different bands. Before that, he grew up playing mostly rock, blues, and metal guitar. He comes from a family of musicians and has a wide range of musical tastes. He has […]

Liam Hughes is a Colorado native who has been playing music for over a decade, with a primary focus on guitar, voice, and bass guitar. He also teaches mandolin and ukulele. Outside of music, Liam enjoys playing video games, and when it comes to performing, he gravitates toward rock and metal. His formal training, however, […]

Zack is a percussionist, performer, and educator located in the Northern Colorado area. He received a degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Northern Colorado and has played percussion for over 15 years. Currently, he teaches private lessons, the Loveland High School Drumline, the Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble, and performs with various bands in […]

Katie Folse is a Fort Collins native who has been playing music for over 20 years. She received an Art History degree from Colorado State University and has been teaching guitar for over 15 years. Her professional goals as a musician are to continue to expand her knowledge on teaching and music in general. Her […]

Vanisha teaches piano, ukulele, violin, and voice! Originally from California, Vanisha has over 35 years of experience in playing music and 25 years of experience as a music educator ranging from teaching instrumental music in a Montessori classroom, band and orchestra at public and charter schools, music for after schools programs, as well as managing […]

Hey everybody! My name is Kathryn and I love teaching voice and piano here at the Academy! I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, with a degree in Music Education. After college, I taught choir and general music for 3 years in St. Louis, Missouri before pivoting into private voice and […]

Liz is a dedicated music teacher who loves helping her students build confidence, creativity, and a lifelong love of music. Having taught at the Academy since 2018 and having served as its previous general manager, Liz is passionate about sharing the many benefits of music, including its positive impact on mental well-being and brain development. […]