A true born and raised Angeleno, Devin was birthed into his true musical identity in high school. An inner fire was lit after receiving a loaned drum set from his band director. Since then, Devin has been focused on learning from the many masters that have come before him and adopting elements from all styles of music. 

Devin is an alumnus of CSUDH where he earned a BA in music performance with emphasis in percussion. There he studied with Mr. Joseph Mitchell, and Dr. Stephen Moore. Devin Pruden’s sound is continuing to blossom and will be a strong force. He can currently be seen playing with various acts including The Urban Renewal Project, Valeree, Bootleg Orchestra, and Rudy Touzet. Devin is also a strong believer in passing down any knowledge he can. “You can’t take it with you, so you must put it in the right hands”.

Oscar is a talented musician and composer who has had a diverse musical journey. He spent his early childhood years in Brazil, where he was exposed to the rich and vibrant music culture of the country.

At the age of 14, Oscar began learning music and quickly discovered a passion for it. He dedicated his time during high school  learning various instruments and music theory, which eventually led him to study composition at Pasadena City College.

During his time at Pasadena City College, Oscar honed his skills in music theory, orchestration, composition, songwriting, classical and jazz guitar and classical piano. 

After graduating, Oscar began teaching private music lessons to students of all ages and skill levels. He has a patient and encouraging teaching style that helps his  students feel comfortable and confident as they learn.

Overall, Oscar’s diverse musical background and experiences have shaped his career as a musician and composer. He  is grateful for the opportunities and experiences that have led him to where he  is today and looks forward to what the future holds.

Lupe, a Long Beach, CA native, has been immersed in music since childhood. She began singing in elementary school, continued under Paula Pelton in middle school, and explored percussion, including steel drums. In high school, she played marimba in marching band, vibraphone in jazz ensemble, and snare/timpani in concert band while also performing in musicals. 

Initially focused on percussion, college shifted her path toward voice after hearing an inspiring choir performance. 

She earned her AA at Long Beach City College, studying under classical and jazz/pop instructors, then completed her Bachelor’s at Cal State Dominguez Hills.  

Lupe has taught piano, voice, drums, guitar, and ukulele at the Boys & Girls Club and now works as a coordinator and teaching artist for Grand Vision Foundation, bringing music education to underserved communities.

She has performed in cumbia and pop/funk groups and currently leads *The Villagers*, a pop fusion band, with her fiancé.

Mauricio, better known as Maurock, an accomplished Ecuadorian instrumental Rock Guitarist, Educator, Producer, Songwriter, and Multi-instrumentalist. He’s also the visionary behind Maurock Music Academy and Maurock Music Studio. With over a decade of diverse musical experience, his journey began at the prestigious Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, CA.

Maurock’s versatility shines through in various capacities:

• Teaching: He excels in private and group music lessons, composition, performance, and digital audio production.

• Session Player (Studio/Live): Maurock’s talents have graced both studio recordings and live performances, including touring experiences across the USA, Central America, and South America.

As a prolific artist, he unveiled the instrumental Rock EP “Magnetar” in 2014, followed by a string of singles in 2020, such as “El Gato Y El Vagabundo,” “Un Amor Asi,” “Only You,” and “Dime.” His production finesse has also significantly influenced the work of various artists, adding to his thriving solo career and collaborations with multiple bands.

With a soaring demand for lessons with Maurock, ensure you secure your spot on his waiting list. Don’t miss the golden opportunity to learn from this musical maestro.

Maurock Music

Takyra is a musician from North Long Beach, California. She graduated from Long Beach City College with a degree in Jazz trumpet performance. In addition to the trumpet, Takyra plays guitar, bass, and drums, with a background in multiple genres such as Jazz, Pop, Rock, R&B, and Hip-Hop. 

Among her performance experience includes drumline, marching band, jazz combos, big bands, and local small rock/pop groups. When Takyra is not performing, she produces original music with an R&B and alternative Rock flare. She hopes to form a band and be able to tour, sharing her music with the world. Takyra hopes to become the musician her younger self would be proud of.

Christian is a musician native to Southern California, he began playing guitar at the age of 14 and would eventually pick up playing bass, piano, and drums. He would later study jazz guitar at Cal State University Dominguez Hills under Julian Coryell. There, he would also become an up-and-coming bass player, with it becoming his secondary instrument playing as a hired musician and with various groups in the SoCal area.

He would also teach himself to play the upright bass while in University. This led to him studying Classical and Jazz on the upright bass under bassist Trevor Wear. Christian has spent the last few years playing in the SoCal area with different groups in various styles such as Jazz, Cumbia, Funk, Pop, and Rock.

His playing takes heavy influences from genres such as Jazz Fusion, Bebop, Progressive Rock, Neo-Soul, and different styles of metal. He also takes inspiration from interacting with musicians of different backgrounds such as Classical, Flamenco, Gypsy Jazz, & Blues. 

Maria Fernanda is a talented singer and musician originally from Venezuela, who has found Los Angeles to be the perfect place to develop her skills as a musician and vocal coach. With years of teaching experience dating back to 2017, Maria has worked with students of all ages in three different countries: Venezuela, Colombia, and the United States.

In addition to her teaching career, Maria is also an accomplished performer. She recently participated in the Vocal Star Event 2022, where she competed for a spot as a professional singer. She has also won several awards for her performances, including first place in the UCAB Talent Show 2018 in her home country of Venezuela and a prize for singing at an event for the army in Colombia in 2019. In the United States, Maria has been auditioning for different shows.

Maria is a valued member of the Maurock Music Academy family and performs regularly as an artist on Santa Monica Pier. She is known for her patient, loyal, and friendly demeanor, and is dedicated to her work as a musician and vocal coach.

Mahane is a solo pianist with a deep dedication to the world of classical piano music. With a notable academic background, Mahane has successfully completed all levels of the Certificate of Merit Evaluations, including the prestigious Panel level.

Furthermore, Mahane holds an Associate of Arts degree from El Camino College and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at California State University, Long Beach.

Mahane boasts several years of experience, performing piano solos in various recitals and competitions. Beyond solo performances, Mahane has also ventured into the realm of piano duets and trios, showcasing versatility and musical prowess.

One of Mahane’s remarkable attributes is the ability to work with students spanning different age groups, from young children to young adults, all eager to embark on a fulfilling piano learning journey.

Mahane’s teaching expertise primarily revolves around piano, making them a valuable addition to our academy’s faculty.

Kimberly Caselin is a violinist from Los Angeles, California, who has performed in various genres such as classical, pop, mariachi, and jazz. She collaborated and performed with her fellow companions in projects that expanded her knowledge of musical performance and provided this knowledge to her students.

Her enthusiasm and determination allow her to explore opportunities along with different styles that can disclose various ways her violin can be showcased.

She specialized in violin, and many of her students learn the basics to advance music to enhance their playing ability. Kimberly is a California State University, Los Angeles college student pursuing her bachelor’s of music, specifically in music education.

She plans to teach at a private institution and continue to perform outside of teaching.

She desires to create a program to support students in their passion for music who acquire no funds or resources and aspire to accomplish their dreams without concerns about how she is inspired to stay in the education field with the influences of her past teachers, who guided her to fill this role to continue.

Kimberly’s collaboration with people and musical groups showcased her opportunity to participate in studio recordings with her colleagues at and out of school.

One of her most significant works is Fiesta Del Son, composed and arranged by James Ford at California State University by collaborating with the school’s Jazz Band. Another project is featured by one of her friends, Lucas Buck, who composes contemporary music for films under “Cruise Films” and Rachel Dominguez with Interstellar Medium, which features other musicians with unique sounds and highlights the concepts of contemporary music. 

Kimberly works with her mariachi group, Mariachi Corazon de Oro, which performs all over East Los Angeles.

Sometimes, she is invited to perform with other groups who travel far away from Los Angeles.

Rob recently graduated from California State University, Dominguez Hills, with a dual major Bachelor of Arts degree: in Music Program with a jazz guitar performance emphasis and in the Digital Media Arts program with an emphasis in tools and techniques in digital media production.

His Associate of Arts degree in Jazz Guitar Performance and Contemporary Media is from El Camino College.

He has worked with various L.A. bands, played local venues, and also recorded and toured with his progressive rock band, Phavian.

While he studied jazz guitar he is also well versed in straight-ahead rock-n-roll guitar, progressive rock guitar, and acoustic guitar.

He is a well-qualified teacher who is able to instruct a variety of ages at different levels of experience and interest.

He is also able to accommodate a variety of learning styles and student temperaments.

Among his beginning, intermediate, and advanced students, Rob is known for being patient and encouraging.

Los Angeles based musician Carlos Rodriguez is a rock, metal, pop and jazz guitar player, educator, composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist and producer.

With nearly a decade of experience, Carlos has received his Bachelors in Jazz Performance at CSU Dominguez Hills studying under Julian Coryell as well as his Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance at the California Institute Of The Arts studying under Larry Koonse. 

All of which has allowed Carlos’s sound, knowledge and love for music to develop and mature.

Carlos is regularly gigging with various artists and organizations around Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Pomona and San Pedro, most notably with his Jazz Fusion band The Zulu Ali Group, his Progressive Metal band Teot, his Progressive Rock band Lydian Arrow, and his Pop band The Villagers.

Carlos strives for each of his students to reach their goals and grow their passion and love for music, with a strong emphasis in attention to detail, patience and discipline.

Evelyn Guzman is a senior majoring in Music Education with an emphasis on classical saxophone and minoring in Anthropology.

She is currently the Historian for Mu Phi Epsilon, Gamma Sigma Chapter, a co-educational, international music fraternity on campus. 

Other extra curricular activities involve being a member of NSLS (The National Society of Leadership and Success), Lambda Alpha National Anthropology Honor Society Nu Chapter, and being part of musical ensembles such as the Southland Wind Ensemble, Southland Jazz Ensemble, and the Loyola Law School Orchestra (LLSO). 

She strives to continue building experiences that would benefit her career as a future educator, performer, and leader.

Danica has been sharing the joy of music since 2021 at Maurock Music Academy. Specializing in voice, piano, and guitar, she embraces a student-led teaching approach, tailoring lessons to the individual needs and interests of each student in addition to focusing on techniques, music theory, and sight-reading.

This personalized method helps students build confidence, foster creativity, and develop a love for learning.

Danica has an Associate’s degree in Classical Voice from El Camino College, often referring to classical techniques as fundamentals that can be used in all genres of music.

She has been involved in music her entire life, singing in Zion Lutheran Church’s children’s choir (K-8th) and playing guitar and singing in various church groups throughout high school.

She has performed in ECC’s concert choir/chorale since 2015 and travelled to perform with them for events at USC, Chapman, and Carnegie Hall. She has also performed with an LA cumbia band called Los Marcams in 2022 and is known to perform at local open mics in the South Bay.

Whether guiding beginners through their first chords or helping advanced students refine their technique, Danica is committed to making music an enjoyable and empowering experience for all.

Matthew Burman is a dedicated music teacher at Maurock Music Academy, bringing six years of experience to his role. He is passionate about nurturing young musicians and leverages his diverse musical background to enrich their education.

Matthew studied under renowned instructors such as Chris Peterson, Bruce Foreman, and Joe Jewell, experiences that significantly shaped his approach to both teaching and performing.

During his academic journey, he actively participated in theater productions, including Anything Goes at the Covina Performing Arts Center, and had the remarkable opportunity to open for the legendary group The Fifth Dimension.

Music has always been a driving force in Matthew’s life, and he is committed to sharing that enthusiasm with his students, guiding them in their growth as both musicians and individuals. He currently resides in Torrance, where he continues to teach, perform, and inspire the next generation of artists.

Mario Martinez is a Trumpet player with an emphasis in Jazz Performance.

He is pursuing a degree in Music Education at California State University, Dominguez-Hills.

Beginning his path of Music Performance at School of Arts and Enterprise, his teacher exposed him to areas of Jazz such as Jazz Big Band and Jazz Combos, Classical exposure such as Wind Ensembles and Wind Symphonies, and Pop/Rock Ensemble for more popular/modern compositions seen around the world. 

After reaching the finish line of High School, he immediately applied to CSUDH’s Music Program under the guidance of Dr. Kathleen Janert. 

He currently represents CSUDH’s Jazz Combo playing in various events for the school, and is a part of Southland Wind Ensemble’s Trumpet section along with Southland Jazz Ensemble’s trumpet section. 

In addition, he has had the wonderful opportunity to be part of Loyola Law School’s Orchestra under Simona Grossi where they hold glamorous performances of music and even more wonderful opportunities for their musicians.   

Dave Astro is an artist, guitarist, composer, and instructor based in Los Angeles, CA, and Bern, Switzerland.

He has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Jeff Hamilton, Bob Reynolds, and Bob Mintzer.

Since 2020, Dave has released 14 singles as a solo artist.

He earned his master’s degree in Studio Guitar from USC’s Thornton School of Music, where he studied with esteemed musicians including Paul Jackson Jr., Frank Potenza, and Bruce Forman.

Most recently, Dave was featured in an interview with VoyageLA Magazine.