School of Piano
Wanda Cook, (wcook@youngartistsconservatory.org) relocated to Vacaville in 1995 after starting a family in Southern Orange County. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, and a fourth generation piano instructor, Mrs. Cook learned the importance of technical artistry on the piano from her grandmother, Helen Spillenaar, a Julliard graduate. Mrs. Spillenaar's passion was passed down from her mother and teacher Bessy Lee Pinkstaff. Mrs. Cook received her teacher training from her mother’s piano studio "Ogden Conservatory of Music," where as a young adult she was able to put to practice the pedagogy that formed her musicianship. Later, Wanda tutored music at Simpson College while she earned a degree in Business Administration and Biblical Literature. With an extreme passion for excellence in music education, and a love of well presented music, Mrs. Cook gained a reputation as the Piano Teacher of Serious and Advancing Pianists. Without disregard for the necessity of strong and purposeful training for beginners, Wanda enforces a robust beginners and intermediate training program that defines and launches musicians into artistry.
Kristina Richmond (Krichmond.reg@youngartistsconservatory.org)is a conservatory-trained pianist. Her desire to create and mold musicians drives the excellence of her teaching. Mrs. Richmond graduated from Sacramento State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition. Mrs. Richmond is a highly requested conservatory instructor and is able to instruct beginner to early advanced pianists. Her students enjoy her enthusiasm and personal understanding of the literature she is assigning. As a featured pianist at the conservatory, Mrs. Richmond's personal repertoire includes music from Rachmaninoff, Grieg, Chopin, Beethoven and many more. As Assistant Discipline Director of the School of Piano Arts, Mrs. Richmond helps to provide organization and oversight to the conservatory's largest school.
Katie Anderson (Kanderson@youngartistsconservatory.org) has been teaching music since she was sixteen, and is currently a senior at UC Davis. She is an enthusiastic teacher who believes lessons should be fun, and her students enjoy coming to their lessons each week. She wants all of her students to develop a passion for playing their instrument, and teaches them the skills to play music for both personal enjoyment and for performance at recitals and shows. She especially enjoys working with beginning students and concentrates on improving their technique, as well as having the students learn songs that they like.
Marsha Keller (Mkeller@youngartistsconservatory.org)has been teaching piano and voice for over twenty-five years. Her experience expands from secular and traditional sacred music through popular and classics. She has traveled throughout the United States, Europe and Romania and Bulgaria with her performances in music and dance. Mrs. Keller has a strong discipline in theory, chording and encouraging students to explore new venues and experiences. Each student learns how to write their own compositions as well as participate in recitals. Music is for enjoyment first, beauty second, and performance if desired. With desire and practice, everyone can reach the level that they wish to reach. It is all up to you.
Nathan McFadden (nmcfadden.facility@youngartistsconservatory.org) is a student teacher with a focus to detail and a command of the technical requirements of good musicianship. Mr. McFadden has studied piano with the conservatory for 7 years. Committed to excellence and precision, his students enjoy a youthful and sincere lesson. Nathan attends Solano College and works as an administrative assistant and rehearsal assistant with the conservatory.
