Jason Aiello began teaching orchestra at Santa Monica High School in 2006, after graduating with honors from UCLA as the recipient of the Joyce Fahlman Fellowship. While at UCLA, he studied music education with Dr. Frank Heuser and cello with Antonio Lysy. In addition to his work at Santa Monica High School, Mr. Aiello teaches cello sectionals and conducts the Sinfonia Orchestra for Elemental Strings, a youth orchestra program for elementary school students in Santa Monica. In past summers, Mr. Aiello has served as the Senior Camp Orchestra Director at the La Honda Music Camp in Northern California. As a guest conductor, he has worked with honor orchestras sponsored by CMEA (California Association for Music Education) and SCSBOA (Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association).   Mr. Aiello is a Past President of the California Orchestra Directors Association and serves on its board.

Emily Taylor, a proud alumna of Santa Monica High School, graduated from UCLA with a degree in Music Education, where she studied violin with Margaret Lysy and pedagogy with Dr. Johanna Gamboa-Kroesen. She has taught strings and general music across elementary to high school levels throughout LAUSD, Manhattan Beach Unified, and Santa Monica, including work with Elemental Music, SOL-LA Music Academy, and Saint Anne School. Her experience includes leading ensembles, coaching sectionals, teaching private lessons, and developing inclusive, student-centered curriculum. As a Gluck Fellow at UCLA, she also brought chamber music outreach performances to diverse communities across Los Angeles. Ms. Taylor has presented at the California All-State Music Education Conference and contributed research on belonging and cultural identity in school music programs. She is passionate about fostering technical excellence, expressive musicianship, and a lifelong love of music in her students.