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Peter Thielen began teaching music at Ralston Middle School in 2002. He has taught band, orchestra, choir and jazz band. He has been on staff at the San Jose Symphony Youth Orchestra, California Youth Orchestra and Peninsula Youth Orchestras. With these organizations he has participated in many international tours, including a special Ralston trip to France and Belgium.
Mr. Thielen graduated from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 1985 with a degree in percussion performance. He then began freelancing with orchestras and other ensembles including the San Francisco Symphony, Ballet and Opera Orchestras, the San Jose Symphony, and the Monterey Symphony.
Teaching and connecting with students through music continues to be a very satisfying and rewarding passion for Mr. Thielen as he begins his 21st year at Ralston!
A Belmont native and Ralston alumn, Clare Marks is in her 7th year at Ralston teaching choir & orchestra! She received her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from New York University with a concentration in Voice and minor in Child Development and Social Intervention. During the summer of 2026, she completed her M.A. in Music Education degree from San Jose State University. Ms. Marks grew up in Belmont (attending Central Elementary, Ralston MS, and Carlmont HS), playing viola in school orchestras as well as the Peninsula Youth Orchestra and singing in school choral ensembles.
Ms. Marks holds a California Music Teaching credential as well as a Kodaly Level 1 & 2 certification from the NYU Kodaly Institute and an Orff-Schulwerk Level 1 & 2 completion from SJSU. During Summer 2023, Ms. Marks attended the International Kodaly Seminar at Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Kecskemet, Hungary. During her time at Ralston, Ms. Marks has worked with San Carlos Children's Theater as the vocal director for Ralston's production of "The Lion King Jr" (2022) and "Matilda the Musical, Jr." (2023). Ms. Marks has also been involved with the Belmont Redwood Shores Faculty Association, serving for as the Ralston Site Representative (2024-2026) and Vice President (2026).
Ms. Marks is dedicated to providing interdisciplinary choir & orchestra curriculums that emphasizes music literacy, exploration, and cultural context. She actively collaborates with other elective programs at Ralston to create performance and composition projects for the choir & orchestra students. She remains an active member of various music education associations (NAfME, CMEA, ACDA) to continue with her own professional development throughout her career.
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