Founder & executive director;
Educator
Sandy Taylor
In addition to leading the organization, Sandy also serves as a Piano Instructor and Certified Interactive Metronome Specialist.
More about Sandy
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 our goals personally and professionally – to minister to children. Sandy is a Piano Educator, and Interactive Metronome Therapist.
Assistant director; educator
Kristin Orlando
Kristin also serves as Programming Director, Piano Instructor, Reach and Teach Coordinator, Certified Interactive Metronome Specialist and Fitlight Trainer.
More about Kristin
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 a Early Childhood Coordinator & Instructor and Certified Interactive Metronome Specialist.
More about Leslie
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 is also a Violin, Piano and Early Childhood Instructor.
Kristin also serves as Programming Director, Piano Instructor, Reach and Teach Coordinator, Certified Interactive Metronome Specialist and Fitlight Trainer.
More about Kirsten
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 Chambers 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.
fundraising manager
Cheyenne Johnson
Cheyenne serves as Fundraising Manager.
More About Cheyenne
Cheyenne Johnson is a lifelong Philanthropy Director with almost 20 years of experience in non-profits such as education, conservation, and environmental philanthropy. Born and raised in Austin, Texas, she has centered her professional career on her passion for people, land & water conservation, environmental education, and cultural and historic preservation. Previous to A Child’s Song, she had been a Philanthropy Officer for Colorado Open Lands and History Colorado. Johnson holds a Bachelor degree in Geography specializing in Natural Resource Management from the University of Texas at Austin. She has additionally held Director of Development positions at Hill Country Conservancy in Austin and the Cibolo Center for Conservation in Boerne, Texas. She loves all things nature, live music, getting her hands in the dirt, and traveling with her partner Chad and Bernedoodle, Ernie. Cheyenne deeply believes that music changes lives and is excited to expand ACS's mission to bring the love of music to everyone.
Director of Donor Business Development
Marc Trost
Marc also serves on the ACS Board of Directors as an Emeritus Member and is a former Piano Student.
More about Marc
Marc Trost has been Director of Donor Business Development at ACS since August 2022. Marc works closely with the Administrative and Fundraising committees of ACS to enable them to pursue ACS’ mission of sharing a solid musical education experience with everyone, regardless of their ability or financial need. Marc has held various senior positions since 1985 as a past board member of a hospital, a senior center, a foundation, and a homeless charity. He is past Board Chair and head of ACS’ Strategic
Planning Committee. He has advanced finance, accounting, and social sciences degrees from Denver University and the University of Colorado. He is President of a real estate investment company that manages properties in two states.
Marc is committed to leveraging the power of donor relations to enable ACS to succeed as the “go-to” organization for high-quality musical instruction. Marc is a strong believer that ”Music Changes Lives”.
Program Development COordinator
Mary Van
Mary is the Program Development Coordinator.
More about Mary
Mary is Board Certified Music Therapist and graduated with a Bachelor of Music Therapy from Loyola University New Orleans. She is currently working on her Master of Business Administration to learn how to make music services more financially accessible to the community. Mary's background includes work as a music therapist in early childhood, teenagers, and seniors with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health concerns. In addition, Mary also has experience working in early intervention services as a coordinator. In her free time, Mary enjoys getting out in nature for hikes and runs and likes training her puppy. As a native New Orleanian music has always played a major role in her life, and she is excited to be apart of A Child's Song as the Program Development Coordinator.
EDUCATOR
John Olsson
John teaches Drums and Percussion to all ages and abilities.
More about John
John attended Berklee College of Music as well as the University of Colorado. He has over 20 years of experience teaching. He also has experience teaching special needs children.
educator
Cassie Draper
Cassie teaches Voice to all ages and abilities. She also provides outreach support in community partner locations as needed.
More about Cassie
Ms. Cassie started professionally teaching six-month-old to ten-year-old children as a physical therapist and electives teacher (fitness, music, dance, skill progression, preschool prep, etc.), for two years. During an uncertain time, while submerging herself in the classroom and perfecting her teaching, Cassie continued her studies as a Bachelor in 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 teachings have been proven to be most effective in the classroom. Ms. Cassie hopes to teach our younger generation the fundamentals and importance of music and movement for our minds, bodies, and souls.
educator
Jared Abrahamson
Jared teaches Guitar, Bass (electric & standup bass), and Piano to all ages and abilities. He also provides outreach support, teaching specialty programs at community partner locations.
More about Jared
Jared Abrahamson has been playing stringed instruments for 12 years. His primary instrument is bass, and in 2016 he was awarded the National School Orchestra Award for his dedication to his high school music program. Over the years he has played in the orchestra, pit, jazz, worship, and rock ensembles.
educator
Evan Knapp
Evan teaches Guitar and Bass to all ages and abilities. He also provides outreach support, teaching specialty programs at community partner locations.
More about Evan
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
Sarah Canzonetta
Sarah teaches Flute and Intro To Winds to all ages and abilities.
More about Sarah
Flautist Sarah Canzonetta is a dedicated music instructor and performer with a wide range of
experience teaching all ages and abilities. In addition to flute, she also teaches early childhood
music throughout the Denver metro area. Her experience encompasses performances
internationally in orchestras, chamber, and solo recitals. She was a member of the Glasgow
based Nevis Ensemble as part of their Fellowship program from 2022 -2023 and joined the
OAcademy as a fellow in 2024. She is passionate about community engagement through music and strives to bring a lifelong love of music to any age level and ability. Sarah received her Postgraduate Diploma and Master's degrees in Performance from the Royal Northern College of Music and a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance with honors from the University of North Texas. Outside of music, she enjoys all of the outdoor activities that Colorado has to offer.
educator
Michael Steiner
Michael provides outreach support, and teaching specialty programs at community partner locations.
More about Michael
Michael was born in Denver and started learning violin at the age of 7, which he played in orchestras and string ensembles. Soon after, he learned to play guitar, bass, piano, and drums, as well as beginning to write songs and develop his singing voice. He led the worship team at his church, and in 2009 completed the Calvary Chapel School of Worship music program. Since then, he’s had the opportunity to perform, record, and tour nationally– both as a solo act and as a member of several bands. In 2015 he started working as a music instructor and musician full-time, and since then has performed and taught a wide variety of instruments and styles. Michael likes to see students connect with their favorite music and express themselves by refining and expanding their abilities as a musicians.
educator
Ingrid Valadez
Ingrid teaches Violin to all ages and abilities.
More about Ingrid
Ingrid graduated from CU Boulder with a psychology major and a music minor. Throughout her career, she has seen the healthy benefits of learning music firsthand. Her goal is to integrate music to support the mental health and well-being of others. She hopes to help spread the joy and positivity that music has brought her to the next generations of students. She started her musical journey with the violin at eight and has not stopped learning new instruments ever since. She enjoys learning and experiencing new things and spending time with friends and family.
EDUCATOR
Jay Cunningham
Jay teaches Drums and Percussion to all ages and abilities. He also provides outreach support in community partner locations as needed.
More about Jay
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.
EDUCATOR
Kham-Shem Toure
Kham teaches Drums and Percussion to all ages and abilities.
More about Kham
EDUCATOR
Jim Griffis
Jim teaches Brass and Student Rock Band to all ages and abilities.
More about Jim
Jim Griffis is an experienced Performer, Arranger, and Music Educator. He has taught individual, small, and large group lessons for over 35 years. As a performer, Jim has performed with rock, pop, jazz, soul, r & b, and classical ensembles throughout the US. He currently performs and teaches throughout the Denver Metro Area.
“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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