OUR STAFF AND EDUCATORS

Meet the dedicated hearts and talented minds that drive A Child’s Song, a cornerstone of the Denver Metro area since 1999! 

Our team shares a deep passion for the transformative power of music and is wholeheartedly committed to nurturing its many developmental, healing, and social-emotional benefits for children and adults in our community.

Founder & executive director;
Educator

Sandy Taylor

In addition to leading the organization, Sandy also serves as a Piano Educator and Certified Interactive Metronome Specialist.

Learn More About Sandy Here

Sandy has taught private piano lessons for children for over 30 years and Early Childhood for over 16 years. Her educational background is in early childhood and music. She and her husband were licensed foster parents and fostered over 30 infants. They are the proud parents of eight adopted children ranging in age from five to 30-years, and grandparents to six adorable grandsons. Their life purpose statement reflects their goals personally and professionally – to minister to children. Sandy is a Piano Educator and Interactive Metronome Therapist.

Assistant director, program director, educator

Kristin Orlando

Kristin also serves as a Piano Educator, Reach and Teach Coordinator, Certified Interactive Metronome Specialist, and Fitlight Trainer.

Learn More About Kristin Here

Kristin has been with A Child’s Song for over 20 years. She is the Assistant Director who oversees and provides Outreach programming, Reach and Teach Coordinator, Licensed Interactive Metronome Therapist as well as piano.  Her background includes early childhood and neurodevelopment.  Kristin studied piano under Carolyn and Bernard Shaak and Sandy Taylor and implemented the method with her own students. She continues to participate and further her education with professional development courses and training. She works with schools and programs throughout the Denver metro area to bring necessary and therapeutic music programs to students and clients of all ages and abilities.  She strives to find a perfect fit for every individual, school, or program and customize a program that will reach and connect with every unique individual.

Client relations director; educator

Leslie Burczek

Leslie also serves as an Early Childhood Coordinator & Educator and Certified Interactive Metronome Specialist.

Learn More About Leslie Here

Leslie is Director certified and is an experienced Early Childhood Educator with nearly 25+ years of Early Childhood experience. Leslie has taught children ranging in age from birth through Middle School.  Leslie has always enjoyed watching children learn through new experiences, and music has always held a special place in her life.  Leslie grew up playing the violin and piano and participated in her school choirs from Elementary through High School.  In her free time, Leslie enjoys spending time with her children, going to movies, going to concerts, and spending time with her family.

Administrative assistant; educator

Kirsten Storms

Kirsten also serves as a Piano, Violin and Early Childhood Educator. She also provides outreach support and teaches specialty programs for our community partners.

Learn More About Kirsten Here

Kirsten has an Associate of Arts in Music from Front Range Community College. Kirsten has played the violin for 12+ years. She has performed with her High School Honors, Concert, and chamber orchestras.  She has performed in numerous quartets, both in solo and ensemble positions. In her spare time, Kirsten enjoys crafts and coloring, especially periers (melting art), taking care of animals, concerts, spinning poi, and just hanging out with family and friends.

educator

Trista Prinzler

Trista teaches Piano to all ages and abilities. She also provides outreach support and teaches specialty programs for our community partners.

Learn More About Trista Here

Trista Prinzler attended Midway High School in Waco, where she had wonderful teachers. She went on to study Music Education at Southwest Texas State University and ultimately graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Board Certification in Music Therapy. She moved to Colorado in 2001 and began building her own piano studio with students of all ages. Since 2022, she has been employed part-time as an Activities Director at Bonaventure Senior Living in Thornton and is now excited to be a piano teacher at A Child's Song! Her hobbies are singing, volunteering, cooking, reading, walking her dogs, hiking, and bike riding. Also spending time with her 18-year-old son and husband.
 
educator

Cassie Draper

Cassie teaches Voice and Musical Theatre to all ages and abilities. She also provides outreach support and teaches specialty programs for our community partners.

Learn More About Cassie Here

Cassie started professionally teaching six-month-old to ten-year-old children as a physical therapist and elective teacher (fitness, music, dance, skill progression, preschool prep, etc.) for two years. During an uncertain time, while immersing herself in the classroom and perfecting her teaching, Cassie continued her studies as a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Metropolitan State University of Denver, studying Musical Theatre, Music Theory, Music History, and Dance. Her passions in the classroom include active play-based learning and a differentiated curriculum based on the child's age and experience. Ms. Cassie is often found playing the piano or the drums, singing like no one is listening, and dancing like no one is watching. She is a fun, patient, and kind teacher and encourages her students to commit to structured lessons to drive positive results, while maintaining communication with students and parents to ensure comfortable, happy children during lessons and after-lesson instruction. Ms. Cassie loves to teach and makes learning fun for everyone. Although she is well-versed in big group classes, her one-on-one teaching has proven to be most effective in the classroom. Cassie hopes to teach our younger generation the fundamentals and importance of music and movement for our minds, bodies, and souls.

educator

Evan Knapp

Evan teaches Guitar and Bass to people of all ages and abilities. He also provides outreach support and teaches specialty programs for our community partners.

Learn More About Evan Here

Evan originates from Colorado and focuses every bit of his spare time on music. He has studied music at Front Range Community College and is working towards an Associate of Arts. While primarily a guitar player, he knows his way around a ukulele or bass and is working on figuring out the mystery of the mandolin. He plays rock, pop, and basically all other types of music, with a special place in his heart for Irish folk. When he isn't playing music, he is either figuring out what makes it tick... or sleeping. 

educator

Kham-Shem Toure

Kham teaches Drums and Percussion to people of all ages and abilities. He also provides outreach support, teaching specialty programs for our community partners.

Learn More About Kham Here

Kham has been playing the drum set for over 10 years and has close to 15 years of experience, including his time in concert and marching band, and he grew up surrounded by West African drumming long before then. He is currently the drummer for the pop punk cover band The Flannel Sheets and the original metalcore band Ebony Dark'ness, both of which practice regularly and are actively playing shows around the state. He cares a lot about the local music scene (often being found discovering new bands at 7th Circle and D3) and wants to do his part to help shepherd the next generation of local rock stars.
educator

Jared Abrahamson

Jared teaches Piano and Guitar to people of all ages and abilities. He also provides outreach support and teaches specialty programs for our community partners.

Learn More About Jared Here

Jared is a published writer, orator, musician, and lover of all arts. He taught at ACS across multiple instruments for four and a half years before taking a short hiatus to focus on other pursuits. During that time, he completed two manuscripts and many short works of fiction and poetry, edited a novel written by a friend, and performed as a bass-playing rat in a live musical directed by fellow ACS educator Cassie. He holds an Associate of Arts degree from Front Range Community College, and he is thrilled to be back teaching music while still pursuing a career in the world of the written word. His primary instruments are piano and bass, though he also has a background in guitar and orchestral strings.

educator

Jay Cunningham

Jay teaches Drums and Percussion to people of all ages and abilities. He also provides outreach support and teaches specialty programs for our community partners.

Learn More About Jay Here

Jay Cunningham is a local percussion performer and educator. Professionally, Jay performs with the ODESZA Drumline, as well as Ball Arena’s Skyline Drumline and Celly Squad. Since 2016, Jay has worked with several High School, WGI, and DCI percussion programs, as well as given consistent private lessons. Outside of playing the drums, Jay enjoys playing hacky sack, going to concerts, and cheering on the Denver Nuggets. 

“A Child’s Song believes that a student’s ability to excel depends deeply on their passion and commitment to their music… Which is why it is so crucially important that their teacher inspires them to unlock all of their hidden potentials!”

Sandy Taylor

Founder & Executive Director

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