The Artists Who Teach
Our Faculty
Every teacher at TOPmusic is a working artist, performer, or producer. They do not just know music — they live it. And they bring that aliveness into every lesson.
Elena Marchetti
Piano & Music Theory
15 years teaching
Juilliard School, M.M.
Elena graduated with honors from the Juilliard School, where she studied under renowned pianist Jerome Lowenthal. She has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and concert halls across Europe. Her teaching philosophy centers on building deep musical intuition — not just technical skill — so students can express themselves freely.
Highlights
- Carnegie Hall Soloist
- Juilliard Faculty Fellowship
- Winner — NY Young Artists Competition
Specialty
Classical & Jazz Piano
Marcus Rivera
Guitar & Bass
12 years teaching
Berklee College of Music, B.M.
Marcus Rivera is a session guitarist whose credits include recordings with five Grammy-winning artists. He has toured internationally and performed on Late Night with network TV. An equally accomplished bassist, Marcus teaches the full spectrum of fretted instruments with warmth, humor, and exacting precision.
Highlights
- 5 Grammy-Credited Sessions
- International Tour Artist
- Featured in Guitar World Magazine
Specialty
Rock, Jazz & Fingerstyle
Sophia Chen
Voice
10 years teaching
Berklee College of Music, B.M.
Sophia trained as a classical soprano before falling in love with contemporary musical theatre and pop. She spent four years performing Off-Broadway and as a session singer on advertising campaigns. Her approach to vocal training is deeply individualized — she works to find and amplify each student's natural voice rather than mold them to a template.
Highlights
- Off-Broadway Performer
- Published Vocal Method Book
- 3x "Best Teacher" — TOPmusic Alumni Vote
Specialty
Pop, Classical & Musical Theatre
Jordan Williams
Drums & Percussion
14 years teaching
Manhattan School of Music, M.M.
Jordan is a working jazz drummer and Latin percussionist who has collaborated with the New York Philharmonic, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and dozens of touring bands. He brings a rare combination of orchestral precision and street-level groove to his teaching, and has a special gift for making complex rhythmic concepts accessible.
Highlights
- NY Philharmonic Collaborator
- Jazz at Lincoln Center
- Latin Grammy Nominated Project
Specialty
Jazz, Rock & Latin Percussion
Aisha Thompson
Music Production
9 years teaching
Full Sail University, B.S. Recording Arts
Aisha is a producer, mixer, and sound designer whose music has appeared in Netflix originals, major ad campaigns, and platinum-selling albums. She teaches the full modern production workflow — from initial sketch to final master — and is passionate about helping students find their sonic signature without compromise.
Highlights
- Netflix Original Music Credit
- Platinum Production Credit
- Billboard-Charting Mix Engineer
Specialty
Hip-Hop, Electronic & Film Scoring
David Okonkwo
Guitar & Ensemble Director
16 years teaching
University of North Texas, M.M.
David grew up in the gospel tradition and spent a decade touring with soul and blues artists before transitioning to full-time teaching. He leads TOPmusic's ensemble program and brings a deeply soulful approach to guitar and music education — one rooted in listening, community, and serving the music.
Highlights
- Grammy Nominee — Best Gospel Album
- Ensemble Program Founder
- TEDx Talk: "Music as Community"
Specialty
Blues, Soul & Ensemble Performance