Paulo Cardozo was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela. He is a music historian and oboe player who is passionate about teaching and music. He is also a bookworm, avid moviegoer and dancer.

Venezuelan violinist Maria Gabriela Mendez has captivated audiences worldwide with her dynamic performances and expressive musical artistry. She is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Performance at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she serves as a String Quartet Teaching Assistant. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Performance from Florida State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude and receiving multiple scholarships, including the Latin American Caribbean Scholarship and the College of Music Scholarship.

Maria has performed with esteemed ensembles such as the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, the Grant Park Orchestra in Chicago, the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, and the Panama City Symphony Orchestra. She has held leadership roles as Concertmaster of the Montclair State Symphony Orchestra and Associated Concertmaster of the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional Juvenil de Chile, and currently serves as Concertmaster of the University of Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra.

Her international career includes performances as a soloist in the United States, Chile, and Venezuela, and tours across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, with appearances in Italy, Sweden, Portugal, and Germany with the Teresa Carreño Youth Symphony Orchestra. She has performed under internationally renowned conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Paolo Bortolameolli, and Gustavo Dudamel. An active chamber musician, Maria has participated in prestigious festivals such as the Grant Park Music Festival (as a String Fellow), Prague Summer Nights Music Festival (Associate Concertmaster), the Brevard Music Festival, and the International Music Festival of Patagonia. She has worked with distinguished artists including Augustin Hadelich, Ilmar Gavilán, Melissa White, Leon Spierer, and Wu Han.

Dedicated to music education, Maria has over a decade of teaching experience, mentoring students in the United States, Chile, and Venezuela.

Brendaliz Cepeda and Saul Penaloza are artists and educators passionate about cultural equity and community engagement. Together they co-founded Bomba de Aquí, an organization specializing in the performance and education of Afro-Puerto Rican music and dance, with a focus on the bomba tradition. Based in western Massachusetts and central Connecticut, the group is committed to preserving and promoting Puerto Rico’s African-rooted heritage through dynamic performances and interactive workshops. Bomba de Aquí brings the rhythms, movement, and storytelling of bomba to a wide range of audiences, delivering culturally responsive programming in Spanish and English. Bomba de Aquí celebrates the richness of Afro-Puerto Rican traditions and fosters cross-cultural dialogue, artistic expression, and a deeper understanding of Puerto Rican identity—particularly for Latino/a youth. At its core, Bomba de Aquí believes in the power of music and dance to build community, inspire pride, and connect generations. Brenda and Saul joined the Sonido Music staff in 2025.

Nicole Vega is a Chilean violinist and passionate music educator whose work bridges the worlds of performance and pedagogy. Originally from Santiago, she has dedicated her career to nurturing young musicians and expanding access to quality music education.

Nicole’s teaching experience spans private instruction, orchestral leadership, and community outreach. While living in Temuco, Chile, she served as the music coordinator at a local high school, where she taught violin, viola, and conducted the school’s beginner orchestra. Her holistic approach to teaching focused on both individual growth and ensemble collaboration. Later, during her graduate studies at Florida State University, she was a member of the university’s graduate string quartet, which collaborated with Sinfonia Gulf Coast to present interactive educational performances in schools across the Destin area—bringing classical music to life through storytelling and audience engagement.

As a performer, Nicole maintains an active presence in both modern and historical performance circles. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at Montclair State University, studying with Mary Ann Mumm, and her Master’s degree at Florida State University, where she was the teaching assistant to Corinne Stillwell. She has performed in festivals such as Campos do Jordão (Brazil), Brevard Music Center (North Carolina), and was recently selected as a fellow for **Sphinx Ignite 2025**.

Nicole has also developed a strong profile in historical performance practice, studying baroque violin with Theresa Salomon and Karin Cuellar, and performing at festivals including Música Antigua FEMUSC (Brazil), Tafelmusik (Canada), Clarion Collegium Week (NYC), Festival de Música Antigua de Medellín (Colombia), Berwick Academy at the Oregon Bach Festival, the Baroque Performance Institute at Oberlin, and selected as a fellow by ARTEK in NYC in 2025 and 2026. Nicole continues to explore the intersection of education and performance, believing that both are essential to building meaningful, inclusive musical experiences.

Learn with me if…

“You are looking for a way to express yourself other than with words.”

Andres Lopez Pozo, originally from Cuba, is a multi-instrument player who specializes in guitar. Andres graduated from the Esteban Salas Music Conservatory in Santiago de Cuba, where he studied the instruction and performance of guitar, Cuban tres guitar, and ensemble. He has over twenty years of experience teaching guitar, Cuban tres guitar, and Latin music to students of all ages. Songwriting, arranging, and composing are also within his repertoire. In addition to teaching music, he has performed professionally with a traditional Cuban music band, a classical guitar ensemble, in popular Cuban music festivals, and on tour in international festivals.

Learn with me if…

If you are looking for an excellent opportunity to learn different styles of guitar and music theory through beautiful songs, melodies, harmonies, and more. I work with beginners to professionals. Give it a try. Explore your artistic side and achieve your potential.

Andres’ Student Testimonials