IAJSD is very pleased to welcome to our roster of instructors the following active, in-demand musicians who have numerous years of experience teaching and performing.
As a multi-instrumentalist, educator, band leader, and producer, Tonga Ross Ma’u continues to develop his best musical self, as well as share his knowledge and experience to better educate the communities that surround him. With his college studies complete he returned to San Diego and continued in his endeavor to evolve. He would soon meet, study under, and then work closely with Kamau Kenyatta, a mentor that constantly challenges Tonga to push his limits in performance and teaching. During this time he would pursue his passion in education and would work with Kenyatta as a teacher’s assistant at UCSD (2009-present), an assistant to Jazz Band Director Will Parsons (2008-2013) and then Vladimir Goltsman (2014-present) at The Bishop’s School, and a faculty member in the Music Department for California State Summer School for the Arts program (2011-2012). https://www.tongarossmau.com/bio
Polish born bassist Evona Wascinski began her music education on the piano. In her early teens, she picked up the electric bass and guitar to pursue rock and pop genres, playing and touring with some of San Diego’s best-noted pop artists. Then she discovered the double bass, falling deeply in love with its sound and resonance, and began formally studying at age 18. Evona earned a B.A. in Music from UCSD and studied with world-renowned double bassists and composers Bertram Turetzky and Mark Dresser. She is a long-standing member of the La Jolla Symphony Orchestra and has played with big bands, duos, and combos in genres including Jazz, Latin, Brazilian, Classical, and Acid Jazz. http://www.allisonadamstucker.com/bio_evona.htm
We are very excited to offer a NEW class with these amazing music educators this Spring!