Yeon Choi received her Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of California, Irvine, and her California Teaching Credential from California State University, Fullerton. Her main instrument is flute and piccolo, and she has been a dedicated music educator for over 20 years, teaching at all scholastic levels, including elementary, middle school, and high school. She began her career at Arroyo Vista Middle School, then taught at Niguel Hills Middle School, where she was selected as the 2014 Capistrano Unified School District's Teacher of the Year.
Ms. Choi's groups are known on a local and regional level for their attention to detail and the quality of their musical performances, consistently earning unanimous superior, Gold, and Mastery PLUS ratings at festivals. During the 2021-2022 school year, Ms. Choi performed with her students at the International Band and Orchestra Festival at Carnegie Hall, receiving the highest rating of Gold. During the 2022-2023 school year, the Chamber Orchestra was chosen as the representing ensemble group at the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association Music Educators Conference. Since then, her ensembles have continued their festival travels, performing in San Diego, Hawaii, and San Francisco.
In addition to her work in the classroom, Ms. Choi has also been invited to serve as a clinician for numerous orchestra programs throughout Southern California, sharing her expertise with fellow educators and their students. She maintains professional affiliations with the California Orchestra Directors Association, the American String Teachers Association, and the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA). Her service to SCSBOA includes roles as All-Southern Honor Group String Orchestra Manager, All-Southern Honor Group Full Orchestra Manager, Middle School Honor Group Audition Panelist, Conference Clinician, Orchestra Music List Committee Member, Vice President of Middle School Education, and Vice President of String Education.
Ms. Choi has also created an extensive student leadership program that gives students firsthand, real-world experience, preparing them with the skills and confidence to succeed beyond the classroom. She believes music education allows students to develop a lifelong appreciation for music and encourages the discipline necessary for achieving musical success. Through their shared work in ensemble, her students learn the value of cooperative effort in accomplishing common goals.
Natalie Do graduated with a double Bachelors of Music in Music Education and Cello Performance in 2019 and teaching credential in 2020 from California State University, Long Beach, followed by a Masters of Arts in Music Education in 2023 from San Jose State University.
Beginning her teaching career during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Miss Do has taught multiple sections and levels of string orchestra, concert band, jazz band, guitar ensemble, music technology, and special education general music in her time as instrumental music director at Vista View Middle School, as part of Ocean View School District in Huntington Beach, CA. At Vista View, Miss Do established a multi-level orchestra, guitar, and band program with over 200 middle school music students by the 2023-24 school year, competing and performing in various festivals and events such as Angels Stadium, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Music in the Parks. Miss Do served as the Visual and Performing Arts lead teacher at Vista View, as well as co-director for the Ocean View Honor Orchestra and Jazz bands.
Prior to her time at Vista View Middle School, Miss Do has coached a number of middle and high schools in both strings and the marching arts across Orange County. She has coached and coordinated with youth ensembles including Orange County Youth Symphony, University of Redlands Cello Camp, and CSULB Honors Festival. Student teaching in Los Alamitos Unified School District, Miss Do also worked extensively with the jazz bands, orchestras, and concert bands at Los Alamitos High School and Oak Middle School.
Outside of school teaching, Miss Do continues to perform and record as a professional cellist in addition to teaching her private studio of piano and cello students. Upon finishing her Masters program at SJSU, Miss Do presented at the California All State Music Educators Conference (CASMEC) on her thesis research, “Establishing Orchestra at the Title I School Site,” in 2023 and at the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) Southwest Conference as a part of the “Young Educators Panel,” in 2022.
Miss Do believes that music education helps create an outlet for students to grow into the best versions of themselves. Students not only develop a passion for the arts, but are also given the opportunity to practice leadership, teamwork, and camaraderie through music.