It all starts with music.
“If the children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline, and endurance.
They get a beautiful heart.”
—Dr. Shinichi Suzuki
About David
CEO and Founder of After School Music Academy
David Chiorini has a B.A. in Music from U.C. San Diego, a Master of Music degree from the University of Colorado Boulder, and an M.Ed. from The University of the Cumberlands, where he specialized in Double Bass Performance and K-12 Integrated Music Education. After finishing his degrees, David took to the stage, performing with the Honolulu Symphony, Hawaii Opera Theater, Hawaii Ballet, Maui Pops, The Royal Hawaiian Band, The Hot Club of San Francisco, and the Shanghai Latin Project. He also served as the Music Director of Stars In Concert, Hawaii.
David’s passionate career in education began at Kamehameha Schools, Kapalama Campus, serving as the Orchestral Teaching Assistant. David also taught at Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton, and The Shanghai Community International School. David is currently the Director of Instrumental Music at The College Preparatory School in Oakland, consistently ranked in the top 10 private high schools in the U.S.
In 2015, David created After School Music Academy after witnessing a need for more music education in the after school enrichment space. By serving California’s schools through this shortage, David uniquely understands the challenges school districts face to onboard quality music and arts enrichment programs.
ASMA has grown in a decade to serve thousands of students each week with top-tier programming for school districts, non-profits, and PTA organizations. ASMA employs nearly 100 talented music and arts teachers and proudly provides this programming to students at all levels of the socio-economic spectrum. One of David’s top goals is to get more music into schools where kids do not traditionally receive an arts education.
Dr. Suzuki’s
Philosophy On Music
A big inspiration behind the founding of After School Music Academy is Dr. Shinichi Suzuki. Dr. Suzuki developed what is known as the “Mother Tongue” approach to musical instruction. This inspires music instructors to introduce music to children at a very early age.
This philosophy suggests that children pick up and excel at music more easily if they are taught well by loving instructors. He also believed in students aiming to capture the heart or essence of the composer who they played, aiming at values like compassion, empathy, and reverence for art.
Instead of viewing musical ability as a gift only bestowed on the special, Dr. Suzuki saw it as a faculty to expand in the hearts of children, through instruction, encouragement, and lots of practice. We honor Dr. Suzuki’s same spirit of instruction with students at After School Music Academy.
After School Music Academy’s Administrative Team
Arsh Sood
Arsh Sood is a guitar player and educator in the Los Angeles area. He is extensively trained in jazz, session guitar playing, arranging, music charting, and transcription. Arsh began his musical journey in India at Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music, where he played and learned with musicians worldwide. His exposure to different Latin, African, and American styles of music led him to Los Angeles for a formal education in music at The Musician’s Institute. Great teachers helped him find his musical voice, and Arsh naturally assumed the role of a teacher, aiming to do the same for his students. He has several years of experience teaching guitar, ukulele, bass, piano, and rock band classes to students in Los Angeles. His teaching methods emphasize creating an enjoyable learning environment filled with activities to encourage understanding of the music’s culture and history of origin.
Yadiel Casillas
Yadiel is a world-class educator in Riverside County, known for his collaborative spirit and ability to spark joy in his students. Now in his administrative and teaching role with After School Music Academy, he works closely with David to help students fall in love with music and movement. Yadiel understands the profound effect of music on others. Music gave him a voice from the very beginning, so it’s only natural he wants to share it with others.
Yadiel grew up in Puerto Rico, surrounded by keyboards and talented musicians. He started performing as an accompanist at the age of 11 and made his professional debut as a musician at the age of 16.
However, his path shifted 20 years ago when he discovered teaching. Since that moment, he has enjoyed balancing education, performance, and composing. 2017 was a pivotal year for Yadiel when Hurricane Maria devastated the island of Puerto Rico in September, prompting his move to Florida. Music remained a constant despite the setbacks, allowing him to move to California in 2019 when he joined After School Music Academy.
MUSIC
Yadiel Casillas
Arsh Sood
David Loving
Peter Petro
Sonya Wallace
Kian Stevens-Winston
Pedro Hernandez
Cole Brightbill
Frankie DeRosa
Tracey Singleton
Stephanie Finch
Daniel Alvarenga
David Wallace
Anna Lichtenberg
Sheena Dhamsania
Austin Jenkins
Melanie Reynolds
Erkin Abdulla
William Dai
Dror Marko
Leon Le
Enrique Lopez
Justin Nash Fisher
Ryan Gaughan
Jesse Griffith
Pam Severns
Jorge Sias
Mathew Jones
Julie Marner
Jacob Justus Men
DRUMS/PERCUSSION
Miguel Saldana
Lisa Marie Maestos
David Wallace
GUITAR
Harry Simmons
John Henry Bradshaw
HIP-HOP/DANCE
Kirstin Bangs
Jiyoung Kim
Yvette Vazquez
Kamryn Chadwick
Victoria Nguyen
Miria Nicoll
Holly Sood-Diehl
Sandrine Bouton
Cassi Coleman
Rolleen Myers
Shira Colliander
MARTIAL ARTS
Amber Alonso
Pedro Baumfeld
David Duran
Tylea Fuhrmann
Julian Scarbrough-Wilner
Vince Tran
Casey Ryan
Jay Lopez
Ozer Ozturk
PIANO
Ann Tung
Doris Harry
Rachel Phillips
John Henry Bradshaw
Harry Simmons
Somesh Das
Susan Jackson
Jon Yonts
THEATER
Bianca Alvarez
YOGA
Ellie Ghadimi
MUSIC
Yadiel Casillas
Arsh Sood
David Loving
Peter Petro
Sonya Wallace
Kian Stevens-Winston
Pedro Hernandez
Cole Brightbill
Frankie DeRosa
Tracey Singleton
Stephanie Finch
Daniel Alvarenga
David Wallace
Anna Lichtenberg
Sheena Dhamsania
Austin Jenkins
Melanie Reynolds
Erkin Abdulla
William Dai
Dror Marko
Leon Le
Enrique Lopez
Justin Nash Fisher
Ryan Gaughan
Jesse Griffith
Pam Severns
Jorge Sias
Mathew Jones
Julie Marner
Jacob Justus Men
DRUMS/PERCUSSION
Miguel Saldana
Lisa Marie Maestos
David Wallace
GUITAR
Harry Simmons
John Henry Bradshaw
HIP HOP/ DANCE
Kirstin Bangs
Jiyoung Kim
Yvette Vazquez
Kamryn Chadwick
Victoria Nguyen
Miria Nicoll
Holly Sood-Diehl
Sandrine Bouton
Cassi Coleman
Rolleen Myers
Shira Colliander
MARTIAL ARTS
Amber Alonso
Pedro Baumfeld
David Duran
Tylea Fuhrmann
Julian Scarbrough-Wilner
Vince Tran
Casey Ryan
Jay Lopez
Ozer Ozturk
PIANO
Ann Tung
Doris Harry
Rachel Phillips
John Henry Bradshaw
Harry Simmons
Somesh Das
Susan Jackson
Jon Yonts
THEATRE
Bianca Alvarez
YOGA
Ellie Ghadimi