Our Founders
This page and all of our pages are dedicated to our co-founder and teacher Mr. Matt, (1983-2016). He left a legacy of love and a passion for music education that we will carry on forever.
Elexa Bancroft
Founder and Director of Atlanta Music Education
Education Director of Capitol City Opera Company
Summer Camp Director and Teacher
Children’s Chorus Director and Voice, piano, ukulele and acting teacher
Founder and director of Atlanta Music Education, LLC, Elexa Bancroft celebrated over 10 years of being a small business owner in early 2022 with her program of over 8 talented co-teachers and 100 enrolled students. Ms. Bancroft has dedicated her life to modern and groundbreaking education programming in both the public and private sectors. In 2019, Elexa was honored as an Atlanta Woman of Distinction finalist by the March of Dimes and in 2021 given the Notable Nole award, formerly titled 30 under 35, from her alma mater, Florida State University for her services to the community.
Florida native Ms. Elexa holds a bachelors of music in voice performance from Florida State University. There, she studied in Marcia Porter’s studio for four years and before that, she studied four years in the studio of Carla Connors in Tallahassee. Ms. Elexa performed in FSU Opera productions of Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Peaseblosson. At the Quincy Music Theatre she portrayed Belle in Disney’s The Beauty and the Beast and at the Tallahassee Little Theatre she performed Shelley in Bay Boy: The Musical and Wendy in Peter Pan.
Ms. Elexa then studied at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University in the studio of Phyllis Bryn-Julson for her masters of music in voice performance. Ms. Elexa portrayed Despina in the production of Cosi fan tutte in the Peabody Opera mainstage production.
Ms. Elexa made her debut with Capitol City Opera in 2012 as Lauretta in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi at Ogelthorpe University. She performed Despina, in English this time, in Cosi fan Tutte at the Conant Center for performing arts with CCOC in the fall of 2012 and in the spring of 2013 Ms. Bancroft was choir master for the children of Puccini’s La Boheme. She also sang one of her favorite musicals, Sweeney Todd, on the stage with Capitol City Opera.
She was honored to be a part of The Atlanta Opera’s children show and first commissioned opera, Rabbit Tales as the main character- Teenchy Duck. She and the cast traveled an entire school year to performance halls around Georgia bringing light opera to the ears of many young students.
Ms. Elexa founded Atlanta Music Education in 2011 along with her partner Matt Johnson. Their studio of students has performed at events all over the Atlanta area including the Tucker Farmers Market, Kavarna Coffee Shop, King’s Bridge Retirement home, the ARTLOT, San Francisco Coffee Shop, the Conant Performing Arts Center and The Corner Cup Coffee shop to name a few. Recently, her student booked the national Broadway tour of the King and I.
She is a former executive board member and Education Director at Capitol City Opera and a mentor and speaker at the Dekalb School of the Arts. She hosts the popular Kids Open Mic programs featured in the Decatur Focus, Decatur Dispatch and Tucker Times magazines.
Read her feature in Broadway World
Ms. Elexa also has a love for painting and re-uses old sheet music for her own popular art pieces. She is an active mixed media artist in Georgia art festivals and most recently, Broadwaycon in New York City, Dragoncon, New York Comic Con and Megacon Orlando. You can find her work online now.
In April 2019, Elexa won the Amber Grant for female entrepreneurs.
Ms. Elexa is on a waitlist for in-person and online lessons.
Our Teachers
Hila Isseks
Piano, Voice, Beginner Guitar, and Ukulele
Hila Brod-Isseks, originally from Maryland, moved to Atlanta to study her Master of Music in Vocal Performance at Georgia State University. There, she studied with well-known Voice Professor, Rick Clement. With the GSU Opera, Ms. Hila performed challenging Mozart roles such as Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni. She also participated in several partial roles such as Susanna from Le nozze di Figaro, Clorinda from La cenerentola, and Phyllis from Iolante.
Ms. Hila has traveled around the world performing opera in various summer festivals. She has sung the roles Monica from The Medium in Greece, Despina from Cosi fan tutte in Vermont, and Adina from The elixir of Lovein Austria. She continues to perform around Atlanta, and you can see her in Dinner and a Diva productions with Capitol City Opera, and has upcoming roles this summer with Atlanta Concert Opera.
Originally a rock musician, Ms. Hila discovered her passion for classical voice in undergrad but continued to study both jazz/pop. She also toured with a local band around the DC and Baltimore area. During her undergrad studies, Ms. Hila also taught as a music theory tutor at Towson University.
Ms. Hila grew up playing piano and has over a decade of formal classical piano training. She loves teaching beginner and intermediate piano students of all ages and incorporating her musical experience on and off stage to her unique lesson plans. In her years of being a music educator, Ms. Hila’s students have made great accomplishments in their school auditions, recitals and All State chorus.
Ms. Hila is well known to her student’s families for her individualized lesson plans over the last ten years. She believes in tailoring each lesson to a student’s strengths and improvising in a fun clever ways to help out with struggles students meet musically.
In her spare time, Ms. Hila enjoys spending time with her two dogs and going to see her saxophonist fiance perform at jazz concerts in the Atlanta area.
Ms. Hila is on a waitlist for in-person and online lessons.
Gabriel Jose Caballero
Private and Group Lessons in Voice, Acting, Ukulele, Guitar, Piano, and Audition Coaching.
Music has always been part of Mr. Gabriel’s life. From a very young age he remembers singing with his aunts and uncles in the car when taking long road trips. He grew up learning the songs that his grandmother use to teach her own children. At age 7, he started learning guitar and started playing in church groups and for his friends and family. As a child Gabriel took part of many different acting and vocal programs that helped shape his passion in music.
Mr. Gabriel completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance from Clayton State University. He is an active performer with Capitol City Opera, Atlanta Opera Fabrefaction Theater, Newnan Theather Company, Town and Country Theather, The Henry Players among others. . Mr. Gabriel has a deep passion for acting and musical theater, some of his favorite roles are, Jack (Into the Woods), Anthony (Sweeney Tood), Enjolras (Les Miserables) and Bernardo (West Side Story). He enjoys learning and teaching eclectic theatre roles and finding ways to relate to the characters and bring them to life on stage.
Mr. Gabe has taught private and group lesson for over 8 years and enjoys watching his students grow as musicians and turn into full blow performers. He has taught Voice, Piano and Guitar at Musicology Newnan and performed and taught for 4 years as a staff singer at Atlanta First United Methodist Church.
On his free time he enjoys taking road trips with his family, learning to cook new recipes, drawing and spending time with his little chihuahua Penny. His students are popularly known for their ukulele and singing duets of popular hits like Sweet Caroline to fun classics like You are my Sunshine.
Ms. Gabriel is on a waitlist for in-person and online lessons.
Brian Radock
Percussion, Drum Set and High School Master class leader
Adjunct professor, University of West Georgia
Brian Radock is a multifaceted percussionist/drummer with a Master’s Degree in percussion performance and over 20 years of experience in every music genre. Originally from Orlando, FL, Mr. Brian received his training from his mother and step-father Danny Gottlieb & Beth Gottlieb, who are both world famous drummers/percussionists.
Since moving to New York City in 2011, Mr. Brian has performed with 40+ musicals, 50+ bands of various genres, 3 record breaking tours of Italy (over 110 shows), several Symphony Orchestras (including the Manhattan Symphony in Lincoln Center), and in Carnegie Hall 9 different times.
In Summer 2019, Mr. Brian toured China as the drummer/percussionist/co-writer with the popular show Rhythm Boom Boom performing 32 shows in 24 cities for over 50,000 people
Mr. Brian has performed with world renown artists Kansas (Legendary Rock Band), Joe Hisaishi (Academy Award Winner for Spirited Away), Josh Young (Tony Award Nominee), Jenn Colella (Tony Award Nominee), Chilina Kennedy (Beautiful: The Carol King Musical), Andrew WK, Chris McQueen (Snarky Puppy), Lucy Woodward, Steven Curtis Chapman, Chris Martin (Chicago Symphony), & Casting Crowns.
Mr. Brian has been a music teacher for almost 20 years. Not only have his students frequently made all-state and All-County, many have gone on to perform with popular rock bands, received scholarships to music colleges, write film scores, and have famous performing careers with bands and orchestras.
Mr. Brian’s students enjoy learning drum set, percussion, mallet percussion (marimba, vibraphone, xylophone), Latin percussion (congas, bongos, cajòn, timbales), and Drum Line instruments. Students can learn over 100 instruments from Mr. Brian from countries in almost every continent!
From 2009-2011, Mr. Brian taught the drum line and front ensemble for the University of Alabama Million Dollar Band. He assisted in composing works they still perform today. Mr. Brian marched drum corps with Boston Crusaders and won DCI timpani individuals with a self composed solo.
When Brian moved to New York City 2011, he gained real world experience and Broadway experience to bring to his students. His students flourish while he continues to be a full time freelance musician in shows all over the world.
During the pandemic, Brian was the drum line instructor for Dunwoody High School and most recently he accepted a position as an adjunct professor for the University of West Georgia where he also composed the 2022-2023 marching bands drum line performances.
In his free time, Mr. Brian loves going to farmers markets, visiting art museums and watching Star Wars movies. Every spring, you can find him performing at the Universal Studios theme parks and Disney Springs.
Mr. Brian is on a waitlist for in-person and online lessons.
Ben Dawson
Clarinet, Euphonium, Baritone, Trombone, French Horn, Trumpet, Saxophone, Flute, Tuba, Piano, Voice and Composition
Atlanta-native Ben Dawson is a Trombone/Euphonium player with 14 years of both classical and jazz performance experience. From a young age Ben has been an avid gamer and lover of musicals and credits video game music as the driving force behind his love for music. After learning Euphonium and Trombone in middle school, Ben picked up the Tuba in high school where he served as a section leader and Dunwoody High’s Drum Major.
Mr. Ben holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Composition from the University of Missouri-Columbia where he studied voice, composition, and Euphonium as well as played in many of the school’s different ensembles including choirs, jazz band, and Marching Mizzou, the university’s marching band. In 2019, he was commissioned to write The Hunter’s Dream for the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. In 2020, he was commissioned by The Sheldon Concert Hall | Saint Louis to write a piece for French horn and piano, God of Doors. Ben loves musicals and before returning home to Georgia enjoyed playing in his community theatre’s productions. In the summer of 2019 he even conducted Columbia Entertainment Company’s run of Hairspray as Orchestra Director.
As an educator, Mr. Ben’s teaching is based around the intersectionality of music theory, performance technique, and auditory skills. Whether you’re learning how to read notes, how to identify a V chord, or taking composition lessons, we will touch on aspects of solfege, interval training, and keyboard competency. As a proponent of catered teaching, Mr. Ben devises custom lesson plans and teaching strategies based on what and how the student wishes to learn.
Mr. Ben’s especially enjoy learning from his unique experiences as a full time published composer and enjoy having lessons in digital music production and modern approaches to composition. You can join his monthly studio class Mr. Ben’s Music Help Hotline to ask questions about his life as a composer and get tips on the latest digital programming out there.
In his free time, Ben enjoys playing video games, watching audio production videos on YouTube, and studying Japanese.
Mr. Ben is currently accepting online and in-person lessons on Tuesdays from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm and Thursdays before 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm.
Victoria Gendron
Violin, Viola, and Piano
Victoria is currently studying at Emory University with a Double Major in Violin Performance and plans to major in Music Performance and Business. She has been teaching one-on-one lessons for four years, and has a passion for teaching other strings and piano lovers!
Victoria was one of twelve individuals selected worldwide to attend BUTI’s Violin Workshop 2018, and was also selected for Curtis Institute’s Summerfest and Interlochen’s Summer Violin Institute. She has performed in master classes with many renowned musicians, such as Midori Goto, Robert McDuffie, Vienna Philharmonic members, and Chicago Symphony members.
Victoria is now a member of the Symphony Orchestra at Emory where she has been awarded Associate Concertmaster and Principal 2nd Violin for the Spring 2021 season, and has received 1st place in the Southwest Florida Symphony Society Scholarship Competition.
As an educator, Ms. Victoria’s students enjoy a well rounded curriculum whether they are young or experienced in music. With her strings background and foundation of piano skills, she enjoys bringing a unique perspective to the Atlanta Music Education team in her lesson plans.
Ms. Victoria’s favorite teaching moments include hosting her Lion King Studio Class in Spring 2022 where students worked on rhythm, movement and heard a performance on live violin and she’s looking forward to hosting her new Music Drawing class combining both music with art for a fun studio class.
Ms. Victoria is currently accepting online and in-person lessons on Mondays from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm, Wednesdays from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm, and Fridays from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
Magda Roub
Voice, Piano, and Ukulele
Magda Roub is a recent graduate of Valdosta State University, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre, with a concentration in musical theatre. She has been singing, acting, and making music since before she could talk, and specializes in the musical theatre and pop styles of singing. Some of her favorite credits at Valdosta State include Agatha (Guys & Dolls), Beatrice and Ms. Violet Balfour (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), and Tantomile (Cats). She also served as the vocal captain for several musicals and cabarets during her time at VSU, assisting the music director.
Ms. Magda moved to the Atlanta area in May, and was working as a performer at the World of Coca-Cola for their 2021 summer, Fantastic Halloween, and Magical Holiday seasons. Other career highlights include her time working as a box office treasurer for Peach State Summer Theatre in Valdosta, Georgia, playing Little Miss Muffett at Stone Mountain Park’s PumpkinFest, and working as a performer at Wild Adventures Theme Park. At Wild Adventures, she performed in their children’s Halloween shows in 2018 and in their live nativity musical in 2020 as Mary.
Ms. Magda’s students always leave her lessons with a sense of confidence, knowing they are learning and growing their skills. Ms. Magda firmly believes that music lessons are for the student and teacher to work together to learn about the student’s abilities, and she is here to guide your student through learning their instrument with an individualized lesson plan that will help them learn best.
In her free time, Ms. Magda loves to spend time with her cat, named Freddie Mercury, or play Animal Crossing on her Nintendo Switch. She can also frequently be seen watching Disney movies like Frozen and Frozen 2, or exploring the Harry Potter universe through books, movies, or the Lego Harry Potter video games (she’s a Hufflepuff, btw).
Ms. Magda is on a waitlist for in-person and online lessons.
Aaron Kienstra
Piano, Guitar, Ukulele, Voice, and Acting
Born and raised in Melbourne Florida, Aaron Kienstra was introduced to music at a young age. He remembers hearing his music teacher mother’s students and hearing children plunking out notes in the living room until he graduated high school. It wasn’t long after being immersed in such a musical family that he began to fall in love with musical theatre and music education himself.
In 2021, Mr. Aaron graduated from The University of Florida with a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts with a specialty in acting and music. He moved to Atlanta the following Fall to pursue his performance career and education opportunities. Some of his favorite roles he’s performed include Orpheus (Eurydice), Howie (Speech and Debate), and The Baker (Into The Woods). Most recently Mr. Aaron can be seen on the big screen as well performing in both TV and movies filmed here in Atlanta.
Mr. Aaron loves sharing the beauty of music and performance with his students in ways that keep their musical spark alive while simultaneously creating a gifted performer. Everyone has their own relationship with music and he aims to strengthen that connection with every one of his student’s through personalized lesson plans and interactive exercises.
In his freetime, Mr. Aaron enjoys mountain climbing, shopping local farmer’s markets, playing video games like Fortnite, and jamming with friends. His students love working with him on some of his favorite musicals like Waitress and Les Miserables as well as modern indie and pop rock. He is excited to join the Atlanta Music Education team and get to know all the wonderful families and students!
Mr. Aaron is accepting online and in-person lessons on Sundays from 12:00 pm to 1:45 pm.
Jennifer Nicholas
Piano, Violin, Voice
Originally from Florida, Jennifer Nicholas is a licensed teacher with a deep passion for music education. She has taught music since high school and earned a Master of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University in 2020. Ms. Jennifer began learning piano in the classical tradition at five and started learning violin in Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Preparatory Program under Renata Guitart at seven. Throughout her middle school years, Ms. Jennifer began playing violin for the Treasure Coast Youth Symphony and pursued voice and theater with various programs that sparked her lifelong love of musical theater. Her favorite musicals range from recent hits like Hadestown and Pierre, Natasha and the Great Comet of 1812 to Sondheim classics Company and Sunday in the Park with George.
Ms. Jennifer is passionate about community-based arts outreach and remained highly involved in local organizations while pursuing B.A.’s in History and Anthropology at the University of Florida. She continued to perform and teach violin and piano with Arts in Health, played Princess Merida for Royal for a Reason, and acted and directed with the local Shakespeare in the Park. Her favorite Shakespeare roles were Cassandra (Troilus & Cressida) and Juliet (Romeo & Juliet).
Ms. Jennifer first taught piano and violin as a high schooler at music studios in her hometown of Stuart, FL. She has taught music in elite sleepaway summer camps, local summer camps, in-home, in-studio, and in groups. Her experience teaching the arts led her into the public schools, where her experience ranges from Title 1 to award-winning charters. She is a Teach for America-Baltimore 2018 alumnus and most recently served as the Program Director for St. Petersburg College’s Collegiate High School in Tarpon Springs, FL. She loves helping students realize their goals and build lasting and transferable skills.
Ms. Jennifer loves to travel and has been to 30 countries and 35 states. She is currently working towards the goal of visiting all 63 national parks. She also scrapbooks and loves spending time with her dog, Barksdale.
Ms. Jennifer is accepting online and in-person lessons on Tuesdays at 2:00 pm and Thursdays at 4:00 pm.
Madie Hendrix
Online Voice Lessons
Madie Hendrix is a blind coloratura soprano originally from Birmingham, Alabama, currently based in Atlanta, Georgia. Ms. Madie has sung solos at churches in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, and has sung major works as Carmina Burana and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Notable operatic highlights include her portrayal of Jenny in Street Scene by Kurt Weill, one of the “Due Donne” in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, and Fanchette in Marriage by Lantern Light by Jacques Offenbach.
In 2020, Ms. Madie completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Voice at the University of Montevallo. Where she performed with the top vocal ensemble, Concert Choir, in their 2018 tour throughout London and Paris.
Most recently, Ms. Madie was invited for masterclasses with soprano Lisette Oropesa, and in 2021 she sang for acclaimed voice teacher David Jones. Ms. Madie is a Master’s candidate in Voice Performance at Georgia State University, studying with Rick Clement.
Lessons with Ms. Madie will focus on developing a healthy technique through vocal exercises and finding music that is not only appropriate for students’ age and skill level, but also fun for them to sing. Students will also learn musicianship and performance skills, as well as good practice habits.
Students who are blind will be encouraged to learn Braille sheet music in order to be strong, independent musicians. Madie strives to create unique, fun, individualized lesson plans for each student so that they can be prepared and confident for every performance.
In her free time, Ms. Madie enjoys reading, playing with her dog Sophie and cooking with her mom and twin sister- especially pasta, and her favorite desserts: chocolate milkshakes and chocolate chip cookies.
Ms. Madie is currently accepting online and in-person lessons on Mondays after 6:00 pm, Tuesdays after 7:00 pm, Wednesdays from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Courtney Justice
Administrative Assistant
There has been one constant in Courtney’s life, and that is music. Growing up in a house full of music lovers, she heard a wide variety of music that left Courtney wanting more. That want turned into a passion for creating sounds and feelings through performing and writing. Courtney took every chance she could get throughout grade school to be a part of the fine arts; whether it was playing clarinet in the band, singing in a chorus, taking voice lessons, working tech for shows, or playing a lead or ensemble role in musicals.
Courtney realized at a young age that she wanted to have a career in music and that is why she went on to major in Music Management at Georgia State University. During her time at GSU, Courtney wrote, recorded, and released original music for the first time. She was a member of the top choir at GSU, the University Singers, and worked as a Stage and House Manager at GSU’s Florence Kopleff Recital Hall. Courtney made it her goal to understand all sides of the performing arts from business, behind the scenes management, performance, and finally, she discovered another aspect that would lead to her future career path. Courtney interned at a music nonprofit called Georgia Music Partners, and that’s when she realized her love for nonprofits.
Once she graduated Summa Cum Laude from GSU in 2018 with her Bachelor’s degree, Courtney made it her goal to find a job at another music nonprofit. Her prayers were answered when Courtney was offered a job at the nonprofit professional opera company, Capitol City Opera Company. Through her work with the opera, her work expanded in the private sector with Atlanta Music Education where she has assisted in programming and administrative duties for almost five year.
Atlanta Music Education 