Training: Early Childhood Instruction
Brendaliz Cepeda and Saul Penaloza
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.
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Sarah Soller-Mihlek
No sleep ’til…Springfield! Hailing from Brooklyn, NY, Sarah Soller-Mihlek is a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC), multi-instrumentalist, performer, and music instructor with a decade of teaching experience on guitar, bass, drums, piano and voice. She has a classical background in guitar from the Aaron Copland School of Music at CUNY Queens College and a Bachelor’s in Music Therapy from Westfield State University. She was a one-to-one music instructor at Real Brave Audio community music school for 8 years in Queens, NY, where she taught a wide range of students from ages 4-82. During the pandemic, she was a band coach and songwriting instructor at Girls Rock! D.C. She continued her music education experience in inclusive preschool settings (at Fort Meadow Early Childhood Center), and developmental learning programs with high schoolers (at Westfield High School). With the opportunity to join the CMSS faculty in 2024, she became a teaching artist for the Prelude Preschool of the Arts, Music Exploration, and the Adaptive Music Program. She also teaches one-to-one lessons, tailoring them to meet students where they are at and utilizing client-preferred music.
As a proud first-generation Filipina-American and member of the LGBTQ+ community, she is a huge advocate for making music education accessible to everyone. Coming from a strong DIY background, she believes that music has the power to bring people together by providing a meaningful tool for advocacy, creative expression, insight, and empowerment.
Sarah performed in riot grrrl, alternative, and indie rock bands for over ten years in NYC. Since moving to Western MA, she continues to play in multiple projects, such as drummer of indie-rock band Ex-Temper, and guitarist/lead singer of punk rock band, Sunshine and the Rainbows. She collaborates frequently with local artists and musicians to provide all ages community and performance events. Because music was so impactful in her own life, Sarah hopes to inspire others by providing a welcoming space for anyone who wants to explore music.
Learn with me if…
If you want to express yourself through the power of music! Music isn’t about perfection – it’s about authenticity and connection. It is a way to reflect identity, convey emotion, and interact with the world regardless of level, background, or status.
Sarah’s Student Testimonials
“Sarah is so encouraging and positive, my son feels drawn to music and trying new things in the space she creates. She spots individuals’ interests and builds on those — and she adapts to group dynamics exceptionally well. She is amazing.” – Rex Pittman
“Sarah does a fantastic job of inspiring a lifelong love and appreciation of music. She really connects with Luka by finding his specific definition of fun and finds adjacent things to expand his palate.” – Luka Nowak
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Julia Urbank
Learn with me if…
If you want to build a healthy, sustainable vocal technique that lets you sing your favorite songs.
Julia’s Student Testimonials
“Julia es una profesora excelente y enseña canciones bilingues es muy linda. Nos encantan las clases se nota la planeacion y la transicion de las actividades de la clase es muy divertida . Julia has a great energy es muy alegre.”
“Always on time and keeps the class moving at a steady pace, We love the classes, they are so much fun with a variety of songs, instruments and props”
“Leora loves how Ms. Julia ” goes into the closet” and brings out all kinds of cool musical learning instruments. I love how she engages everyone and creates such a positive, uplifting and comfortable atmosphere perfect for fostering learning and making the kids feel safe to learn and participate!”
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Mae Cooke
Mae Cooke is a New England based Pedal harpist. They have a wide variety of experience with different genres such as atonal, classical, and jazz. A jack of all trades, Cooke enjoys performing, large ensemble, chamber and solo, as well as recording and teaching harp.
Cooke has done lots of large ensemble orchestral work, especially in the Connecticut and Massachusetts area. They have worked with Hartford Symphony on shows like their Sugar Plum Fantasy Cirque holiday performance and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One live film score performance. They have also performed with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, Hartford Independent Chamber Orchestra, the Foot in the Door Hartt Ensemble, and several local orchestras.
Mae Cooke also has extensive experience performing in chamber ensembles. They have collaborated with trombonists, flutists, piccoloists, vibraphonists, french horn players, and more. Cooke’s main professional duo is The Sunrise Duet, a collaboration with Flutist Allison Potanovic. The duo has been playing together since their studies at The Hartt School of Music, Dance and Theater. They challenge conventions by performing new music and original arrangements. They recently premiered the avant- garde work “Night Sayings”, commissioned by Talia Berenbaum in 2025.
In addition to performing, Mae Cooke enjoys teaching harp to students of all ages and abilities. At the collegiate level, Mae is the Adjunct Harp Professor at Westfield State University. They are building a program geared for students looking to study harp for music therapy. At Community Music School of Springfield, Cooke teaches harp to students from toddlers to adults. They are also teaching artist with the Prelude Preschool and continue to develop an accessible and fun harp curriculum for preschoolers.
They hold a Masters of Music in Harp Performance at The Hartt School and their Bachelors of Music in Harp Performance and Bachelors of the Arts with Studio Art from Eastman School of Music and University of Rochester. They studied with Kathleen Bride and Susan Knapp Thomas.
Learn with me if…
If you want to explore music with a fun, approachable instrument! Whatever your goals are, whether you want to play jazz, in an orchestra, or just want to create some music, I will work with you to accomplish your goals and while having a good time along the way.
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