Know your teachers/Conoce a tus maestros

Mr. Jackson Guillen - Coda Program Director 

Besides his work with the Coda Program, Honduran violinist and violist Jackson Guillén is the Conductor of the HYS Debut String Orchestra. Additionally, Dr. Guillén serves as Conductor of the Creekside Civic Orchestra, a collaboration between two Lone Star College Campuses.

Mr. Jackson has performed in venues across the United States, Mexico, Honduras, Colombia, and Chile, and toured several countries of Latin America with the Orchestra of the Americas. He has served as Principal Second Violin of the Gulf Coast Symphony, Lubbock Symphony, and the Symphony of Southeast Texas, and is a regular guest concertmaster of the Shreveport Symphony. 

As an arts entrepreneur, Mr. Jackson plays an important role in the yearly organization of the Encuentro Anual de Cuerdas, a string-focused festival that takes place in Honduras. In 2016 he co-founded the Terra Nostra Ensemble, a group that focuses on promoting and performing music by Latin American and Iberian composers.

Dr. Guillén has also performed as guest artist at the International Music Festival in Medellin, Colombia; the International Music Festival in Naolinco, Mexico; the Victoria-Bach Festival; the Quartz Mountain Music Festival; the Texas Music Festival; and the Masterworks Festival Orchestra, among others. 

Mr. Jackson enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids and playing and watching soccer and basketball

Mr. Omar Escobedo - Lead Teacher, Jefferson Campus

Native to Houston, Tx., Omar began his musical journey playing violin at the age of 10 followed by cello at the age of 15. Omar went on to receive a scholarship to pursue his musical studies at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music. During his undergraduate degree, Omar performed in masterclasses for Istvan Vardai, Suren Bagratuni, Escher String Quartet and the Aizuri String Quartet. He was also selected to be an orchestral fellow at the Immanuel and Helen Olshan Texas Music Festival in 2019. Omar received his Bachelors of Music from the University of Houston and is now an active freelancer in and around the Houston area. He has performed as a substitute in the Galveston Symphony, Texas Medical Center Orchestra, Symphony of Southeast Texas and the Victoria Symphony. 

In his free time, Omar loves reading, playing his Nintendo Switch, and spending time with his niece and nephew. 

Mr. Luis Gutierrez Fonseca - Lead Teacher, Ketelsen Campus and Assistant Teacher, Hunters Glen Campus

Luis Gutiérrez Fonseca, originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, is a violinist based in Houston, TX. He received his Bachelors in Music Performance from the University of Houston and Suzuki Violin Teacher Training from the Greater Austin Suzuki Institute in Austin, TX. Luis performs year-round with the Symphony of Southeast Texas, Galveston Symphony Orchestra, and the Brazosport Symphony Orchestra. Luis also teaches group and private lessons in the Houston and League City area.

Ms. Nora Henschen - Coda Assistant, Hunters Glen and E. A. Jones Campuses

Nora Henschen received her Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston. As a four-year old, she decided to become a violinist after hearing Yo-Yo Ma perform on ​Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood​, and after some pleading, she began violin lessons the next year. Ms. Henschen received childhood instruction in the Suzuki Method and would go on to obtain Suzuki teacher training as an adult. She is a member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas, and has participated in numerous Suzuki Institutes around the country.

 In addition to placing in solo competitions, Ms. Henschen has been a member of the Texas Music Educators Association All-State Orchestra. She now performs and teaches in the Houston area. Some of Ms. Henschen’s favorite things include growing plants, working in her garden, taking nature hikes, going for bike rides, not wearing shoes, swimming and exploring nature. She has one younger brother, who is also a professional violinist.

Ms. Larysa Horichenko - Assistant Teacher, Clemente Martinez Campus 

Larysa Horichenko-Balema is a Ukrainian professional cellist who graduated from Lviv National Music Academy named by M.Lysenko in 2003 and has MD in Art. In 2006 she graduated from Khmelnytskyi Pedagogical Institute and received a Master’s degree in Pedagogy. During that period, she took part in many competitions and festivals and performed as a soloist with orchestras.

Her professional career in Ukraine has included work with many Ukrainian composers and she was the first interpreter of some music. The most well-known composers with whom she was connected are Yuri Laniuk (the cello professor), Myroslav Skoryk, Arvo Pärt, and Toto Cutugno.

During her orchestra career, she worked with European well-known conductors such as Mykola Balema, Volodymyr Sirenko, Michael Scherbakov, Woytec Mrozek, Saulus Sondeckis, Roman Rewakowicz, and others.

In Ukraine, till 2017 Lara worked as a professor of cello class, taught music theory and reading of orchestra scores, and chamber ensembles; was on a jury team of some youth competitions; and published some science articles.

Since 2018 she has performed in Europe, Turkey, and Middle Eastern countries with different chamber ensembles, groups, bands and show orchestras.

Lara moved to the USA in October 2022 because of the war in Ukraine to start a new life and help her family and people as much as she can. She continues performing and teaching.

Ms. Natalie Mann - Lead Teacher, Looscan and Sherman Campuses 

Natalie Mann is originally from Oklahoma. She started playing violin at age 6. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Houston in 2015. She currently plays with the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra and is an active freelance performer in the Houston area. Natalie has been teaching privately for 7+ years and operates a private lesson studio out of her home. She has been a Coda lead teacher for 1.5 years. 

Teaching Coda students is one of the highlights of her music career. Natalie and her husband have a 7 year old puppy named Halle who they enjoy training and being active with. Natalie also loves to travel and hike at National Parks, weight lifting training, bubble tea, and bike riding.

Mr. Julian Montez - Intern, Looscan Campus

Julian Montez is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in music education from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston where he studies cello with Dr. Eunghee Cho. While at the Moores School of Music, Julian has performed with the Moores School Symphony Orchestra, the Moores School of Music Cello Ensemble, along with various forms of chamber music. In addition, he also works in the healthcare field being a Pharmacist Technician. After completing his degree, Julian plans to pursue a career as a member of an orchestra alongside teaching younger students cello.