FACULTY

The faculty and staff of MPMA are passionate about music and music education. We believe that every student has the potential to learn, to play, to enjoy, and to grow. Our faculty are professional musicians who are provided ongoing professional development and excellent administrative support. Whether a student is interested in beginning lessons or perfecting their craft, at MPMA, we are dedicated to developing well-rounded musicians who will enjoy a life-long connection to and appreciation of music.

All of our faculty are available for virtual lessons. A few faculty, listed at the bottom of this page, are only available for virtual lessons.

SARAH SZEIBEL

MPMA Director

Voice, Piano, Ukulele Jam, Trombone/Trumpet

Sarah hails from Dubuque, Iowa where she grew up studying classical voice, piano, and trombone. She went to Oklahoma City University to earn her bachelors degrees in both Vocal Performance and Music Theater from the Wanda L. Bass School of Music. She came to the bay area to pursue her masters in Opera Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, which she completed in the spring of 2018. She has been teaching for 7 years and loves encouraging each student to learn multiple instruments and types of music to be the most well rounded artists they can be. When not teaching or performing, Sarah can often be found frequenting performances around the bay supporting her fellow musical artists.

Sarah’s studio is currently full. Contact Us to be added to her wait-list!

DAR MACKANI

MPMA Administrative Assistant

Piano, Group Piano, Composition

Darioush "Dar" is based in San Francisco, California. He is trained in classical composition and piano performance, having studied with instructors and professors in Northern California. He studied with West Coast composers Richard Cionco, Leo Eylar, and Elinor Armer at both Sacramento State University and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He specializes in composing vocal music such as art song cycles and opera.

Dar began teaching piano in 2018 as an assistant piano instructor as the Folsom Piano Academy in Sacramento County, after which he has continued to instruct both piano and composition to students of all ages. Since joining Mid Peninsula Music Academy in 2021, he has worked to expand the number of opportunities the community of Redwood City has to learn and perform music. Outside of music, Dar loves cycling, train-spotting, birdwatching, and picknicking.

JOEY KROHLOW

MPMA Manager

Piano, Voice

Hailing from Wisconsin, Joey (he/him), baritone, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Linguistics from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Joey has studied piano since age five, and voice since the eighth grade. He was a founding member of Aperi Animam, Milwaukee’s professional early music ensemble, who's performed around the Midwest—including Early Music America’s Emerging Artists Showcase and the Madison Early Music Festival’s Fringe series. Joey currently serves as the group’s resident linguist, reconstructing historical pronunciations of its Renaissance and medieval-era repertoire. He has performed with the Florentine Opera Company in Milwaukee, and he has performed, coached diction, and created new singable translations with Milwaukee Opera Theatre. Joey’s passion for performance is matched by his love for pedagogy. He teaches private piano and voice lessons and enjoys helping children and adults discover themselves through music of all styles and traditions.

JARRON CARLSON

Piano, Composition

Jarron Carlson is a composer and pianist based in San Francisco. He has been fascinated by the creative process from an early age. He began writing music at age 8 when he discovered a free online music notation program and taught himself to read music. His works as a composer have been performed across the United States and Europe. He currently serves as composer-in-residence for Old First Presbyterian Church and San Francisco City Chorus. In recent years he has also received commissions from top performers and ensembles including loadbang, San Francisco Choral Artists, and bassoonist Alex Eastley. In 2021, Jarron was awarded the 4th Annual Kristin Pankonin American Art Song Award for his collaboration with mezzo-soprano Lindsay Martin, an extended song cycle called Limb-Loosener. His major teachers include Erica Glenn, Elinor Armer, David Conte, and Koji Attwood. Jarron’s other passions include teaching, musical theater, and film.

ALISON SCIBIOR

Flute, Piano, Group Piano

Alison is a flutist based in San Mateo County. She recently completed her Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance at San Jose State University, where she studies under Catherine Payne. Alison grew up attending schools in San Carlos and Belmont, where she began playing flute and piccolo and found her love of music, including classical, opera, modern, and jazz. She has taught privately since 2017 and loves passing her love of music onto her students.

SPENCER DODD

Voice

Spencer grew up in Davis California and got a late start singing in choirs in the 8th grade but this quickly expanded into performing in New York and then across the UK in an international choir competition. Upon realizing that singing was becoming much more than just a hobby he went to study vocal performance in Dallas at Southern Methodist University. After completing his undergraduate studies, he taught voice lessons in his home town and had students get accepted into local audition only choirs and also compete in a local battle of the bands concert series. Since completing his Masters in Vocal Performance at San Francisco Conservatory, he has performed everything from opera not seen since the 1600s, to 1980s film noire musical theater. He has sung in the chorus with San Francisco Opera and performed leading roles with local companies such as Pocket Opera, Berkeley Chamber Opera, and Opera On Tap.

He also has a passion for musical outreach and has worked with Opera à la carte and West Bay Opera to bring shortened Operas into schools from Santa Cruz to Santa Rosa. Despite performing around the Bay Area Spencer has always kept a firm focus on vocal technique and has a passion for helping students sing whatever style they love in the most healthy, expressive and creative way possible.

Spencer’s studio is currently full. Contact Us to be added to his wait-list!

GALIA BEDOLLA

Violin, Piano

Galia, based in San Mateo County, is a dedicated student at San Jose State University, pursuing a major in Music Education with a specialization in violin. Her passion for music and teaching has driven her to spend the past two years refining her skills and imparting her knowledge as a music instructor. During her first year at San Jose State, Galia actively participated in the San Jose State String Project, where she gained invaluable experience and insights into music education. This involvement not only deepened her understanding of pedagogy but also allowed her to contribute to the growth of aspiring young musicians. Additionally, she has been an integral part of the University’s Symphonic Orchestra, performing for notable events such as the Opera “L’ Amant Anonyme,” Pasquale Exposito’s Christmas Tour, and a masterclass solo performance for Madeleine Mitchell, the Violin and Chamber Music professor at the Royal College of Music in London. As a music educator, Galia strives to ignite the passion for music within her students and help them realize their full potential. She believes in fostering a supportive and nurturing environment where students can explore creatively and cultivate a lifelong love for music.

MICHELLE PAVLOVA

Voice, Piano

A native of San Francisco, mezzo-soprano Michelle Pavlova has been steeped in the world of music from an early age. Her journey began with the renowned San Francisco Girls Chorus, where she spent six years honing her craft, touring Germany, and performing for distinguished figures such as Nancy Pelosi and Mayor Ed Lee.

Her passion for storytelling through music flourished in high school, where she took center stage in productions like Urinetown and Chicago, while also helping bring original student works to life. She continued her musical exploration at San Francisco State University, earning a Master’s degree in Music while performing with the University Chamber Singers, embarking on a local tour, and even sharing the stage with The Eagles at the Chase Center.

Michelle’s operatic repertoire spans a diverse range of roles, from Menotti’s Amelia al ballo and The Consul to Jonathan Dove’s Flight and the title role in Handel’s Ariodante. Her professional credits include West Bay Opera’s Don Giovanni, the world premiere of By Georges! with Lamplighters, and Parallèle Opera’s acclaimed production of The Shining. She is also a proud member of Philharmonia Baroque and continues to captivate audiences through her own concert performances.

Beyond the stage, Michelle is a passionate and dedicated voice teacher. She believes in meeting students where they are, tailoring lessons to fit each individual's unique goals, abilities, and musical aspirations. Her flexible approach ensures that students—whether beginners or advanced vocalists—build confidence, technique, and artistic expression in a way that resonates with them. With a deep understanding of vocal development and a commitment to creating a supportive learning environment, Michelle helps students unlock their full potential and find joy in their own musical journey.

GRACE PURCELL

Voice, Piano, Guitar, Bass

Grace Purcell is a Bay Area based soprano, and graduated in May 2025 with a Bachelor’s in Music Education from San Jose State University. She began her musical journey in middle school where she joined choir, and continued with choir into high school. However, after graduating from high school in 2019, she decided to follow another passion of hers: psychology. She began her tertiary education at Arizona State University, pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology. After a year of studying without music, she realized that there was a huge hole in her studies and that she really missed music. She transferred universities in 2020 to go after her dream of being a music teacher and has been studying music ever since! She has gone on two international tours with the San Jose State Choraliers, performing across Europe with the school’s premier vocal ensemble. She is currently based in San Mateo, teaching private voice, piano, guitar, and ukulele lessons and loves sharing her passion for music with her students.