Brenda Bedell
Brenda Bedell has over 30 years experience teaching the piano privately and in groups. Since she was a little girl, it has been her lifelong love and ambition to share the gift of music with others. Her own teacher believed in her dream and provided her with the support and inspiration she wishes to pass on to her students. Brenda believes that music must be a part of every child’s education, but should also be fun, motivating, and inspiring. Her efforts to bring this about are shown in the development of lesson formats that include individual, duet, and ensemble playing as well as music theory. Brenda has helped hundreds of students to prepare for recitals, National Guild Auditions, and group ensemble playing. As the owner and Music Director of Dolce Music Studio, her desire is to create an atmosphere that will motivate each student to not only play music, but to love making music!
Monique McIntosh
Monique McIntosh has over 30 years experience on the piano studying various styles of music, teaching, and accompanying high school instrumentalists at competitions. She enjoys working with these students answering questions ranging from the basic fundamentals to the more advance questions of musicality. She also offers bassoon instruction and has enjoyed the experience of directing a hand bell choir. Monique received her B.S. degree in Elementary/Special Education from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Tx. While at SU, she was active in both the band and orchestra on bassoon, provided piano accompaniment for vocal and instrumental soloists, and studied piano under Artist-in-Residence, Drusilla Huffmaster. She also serves as the accompanist for the Dolce Youth Choirs. Monique believes in instilling a sense of music appreciation while at the same time teaching students about the basic fundamentals on the piano and music theory. As an avid learner herself, she hopes to pass on a love of music that will last a lifetime.
Grace Brooks
Grace Brooks is a consummate voice teacher, music therapist, choral conductor and theatre teacher. She has been a voice teacher and piano teacher at the Louisiana Academy of Performing Arts, the Allegro School of Music and the Stoneham Teacher. She has served as a member of the music ministry team in several churches and has taught acting lessons at Western Washington University. As a music therapist, Grace worked with developmentally disabled children at Human First in Brooklyn, New York. Grace graduated from Longy School of Music’s Graduate Performance Program in Opera Performance after receiving a Masters of Arts in Acting and Bachelors of Music in Sacred Music. During the 2009-2010 season, Grace was a member of the Opera New Jersey Studio and the Marion Roose Pullin Studio at Arizona Opera. Please visit
www.gracebrooks.com for more information.
David Pencil
David Pencil began studying music at an early age, becoming proficient in piano, percussion, and voice by the end of his high-school education. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Composition from Rice University and a Master of Music degree in Music Composition from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He has also studied film scoring at both the Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program and the Aspen Film Scoring Program. David is an experienced teacher of piano, voice, percussion, music composition, and music theory. While living in Cincinnati, David was a key instructor at the Center for the Arts, Wyoming, teaching privately as well as providing group instruction. David is currently the Music Minister and choir director of Lord of Life Lutheran Church in north Austin. He is also an active composer for film, games, and new media. To follow his compositional work or hear examples of his music, visit
www.davidpencil.com. David is now enrolling students at Dolce Music Studio for piano, voice, or percussion as private or group lessons.
Frank Linenberger
Frank Linenberger, Artistic Director of the Andante and Bella Voce Choirs, has been teaching and conducting for over thirty five years. He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Cincinnati College – Conservatory of Music in Ohio. He also holds an Associates Degree in Biblical Studies from Dallas Bible College. Over the years, Mr. Linenberger has been involved in over 30 theatrical productions. He has held various roles such as: Writer, Producer, Director and Actor. Some of his favorites have been: “South Pacific”, “West Side Story”, “Oliver”, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, “The Sound of Music”, to name a few. He has written over 45 songs and choral arrangements. Mr. Linenberger has been the Music Director for churches and enjoys teaching private voice lessons at Dolce. He has had students qualify for Texas State singing honors and was previously the first Head Choir Director for Hendrickson High School of Pflugerville, TX. He has also served as Assistant Choir Director for the Williamson County Community Chorus. Frank adds an element of commitment to excellence in vocal training at Dolce with his devotion to music and his students.
Natalie Burns
Natalie Burns is a violinist of over 20 years. Born and raised in Houston, she discovered at the age of three she had a love for the way the violin sounded. From then on it was history. She studied Suzuki violin in after school group lessons as well as private violin lessons. When she reached high school age she attended The High School for the Performing Arts, where she graduated with highest art honors. She also studied under the direction of her mentor and teacher, Kenneth Goldsmith, through the Rice Univeristy Shepherd School of Music preparatory program. She attended Loyola University in New Orleans as well as University of Houston, where she studied Music Education. In 2007 she became certified to teach Suzuki Violin. Ms. Natalie directs the Dolce Chamber Orchestra encouraging students to combine their instruments with rhythmic and harmonic accuracy. She has a wonderful husband and an adorable toddler daughter, who she hopes will have the same love for music as her mom.
Brad Crawford
Brad Crawford has over 45 years of experience playing the guitar. He began his passion for music after his first guitar lesson at the age of 11, in St Louis, Mo. He continued his training throughout Junior High and High School in Detroit, Mi. He was the very first student in the history of the school to play the guitar for the high school choir and band. At the age of 13, he was afforded the opportunity to audition for Barry Gordy at Motown Records, yet he decided to continue his love and training for music in El Paso, Texas. While attending the University of Texas El Paso, he won several awards playing in local bands. One award was for being noted as the number one soul band in El Paso. He has also worked in the music department for Ysleta Independent School District teaching group guitar. For the past thirty plus years he has worked and played with several church choirs from the West to the East coast playing Contemporary Christian music with a jazz twist. He has also opened concerts for several National Grammy Christian artists such as Vickie Winans, John P. Key, Vanessa Bell Armstrong and many others. He especially enjoys the dynamic of group guitar lessons for first time students of all ages and sharing the basic concepts of the guitar. He guarantees that after your first lesson, you will be able to play at least one song.
Stephen Cobb
With a B.A. in Violin Performance from Sam Houston State University, Stephen enjoys giving group and private violin instruction at Dolce Music Studio. He previously gave violin lessons at Mark Twain Elementary in the Houston Independent School District. He has also lead and managed orchestral experiences as well as lead tour groups. His performance experience includes weddings, church events, and community musicals. As concert master with SHSU symphony, Stephen has toured China and Eastern Europe. His expertise does not end there. He also enjoys giving instruction at Dolce Music Studio for viola and guitar. His students love his character and passion for music demonstrated in his teaching style. Stephen is a talented performer who is equipped to provide beautiful music to his listeners at a moment’s notice. He serves as one of the directors of the Dolce Chamber Orchestra to further equip students for performance and artistry.
Michael Ross
Michael hails from the arctic land of Anchorage, Alaska, where he held the position of principal cellist in the Alaska All-State Orchestra for all four years of high school. At the age of 15 he won the Anchorage Symphony youth concerto competition, and enrolled in the University of Alaska Anchorage to lead the cello section in their Sinfonia. Mike has poked around the rest of the U.S. a little too, attending the Ithaca Violoncello Institute in NY, and sitting principal cellist at the Marrowstone Summer Music Festival in WA. Mike has also attended the University of North Texas and Sam Houston State University, where he earned his B.M. in cello performance. Mike is also a skilled pianist, electric bassist, and guitarist in many different styles, and enjoys teaching cello, piano, and guitar students of all ages at Dolce Music Studio. Whether private or in a group setting, Mike is eager to engage his students in a musical journey that will inspire and motivate excellence.
Phillip Fajardo
Phillip Fajardo is a Grammy Award Winning Musician, who began his professional career as a drummer and percussionist 38 years ago. Phillip has played drums on over 50 albums and several of them have been gold or platinum. Recording artists include: Jimmy Buffett, Larry Gatlin, George Strait, Dwight Yoakum, Willie Nelson, and many more. Phillip has played in many bands where he developed his style for many different genres of music. He studied music at Amarillo College and was fortunate to have accomplished musicians for personal tutoring such as Larry Londin (Nashville studio and Everly Brothers), Bart Elliott, Louie Belson and Ed Shonnesy (both from the Tonight Show Band). Phillip’s desire as a drum instructor is to teach students to keep a perfect beat and be able to lead an ensemble of musicians. This will include rhythmic challenges as the student develops skills in percussion. Phillip is passionate about teaching with creativity and heart while fanning the flame of an aspiring artist.
Robert Davis
After attending Temple University, Robert Davis received his Masters of Music Education and was a part of multiple instrumental and vocal ensembles, including performing in a Grammy award performance/recording of Carl Orff’s Catuli Carmina with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. He has taught orchestra and band from fourth grade through College, including a ten year stint as a High School Band Director. Staying active playing and conducting large and small ensemble events, he continued to teach at Austin Community College for 12 years while working at Dell. He is devoted to teaching all ages and levels of woodwind students in various school districts. As a Dolce instructor, Mr. Davis will offer instruction for saxophone, clarinet, and flute. He believes in using many avenues to inspire and motivate his students while actively demonstrating effective and beneficial playing techniques during each lesson.
