Cultivate your innate creativity with a dedicated, expert mentor.
I work with composers and the creatively-curious of all ages, whether you’re just developing your creative voice, honing your craft, or preparing for the next professional chapter.
As a teacher, I believe that every human being is innately creative. I help students overcome internal barriers and cultivate the techniques and artistic mindset needed to realize their creative projects.
Who I teach:
- young composers exploring their creative expression
- students preparing portfolios for college, graduate school, or festivals
- adults returning to music or rediscovering their creative selves
What does a lesson look like?
Depending on your interests, we might dive into a work-in-progress, look at a favorite piece together, explore strategies for working through creative blocks, or develop technical skills like orchestration, pacing, motivic development, or harmony. Each lesson moves you forward on your creative journey, fueling productive independent work between sessions.
My Background
I hold a PhD in Music Composition from the University of Pennsylvania, where I studied under Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Tyshawn Sorey. My music has been performed by TAK Ensemble, Yarn/Wire, and the Bergamot Quartet. My work has earned recognition through awards such as the Morton J. Gould Young Composer, the Helen L. Weiss Music Prize, and a Fulbright Fellowship, as well as artist residencies from Millay Arts, Blue Mountain Center, and the Kimmel Nelson Harding Center. I have composed for orchestra, choir, mixed ensemble, string quartet, short film scores, dance, fixed media, solo instruments, and various electroacoustic formats. In the past, I have taught composition and theory at Temple University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Oregon, and the University of the Arts, as well as the Wildflower Composers Festival and the All-City Orchestra Summer Academy. My artistic research focuses on extended techniques, notated improvisation, and live electroacoustic performance.
Student Testimonials
“It’s a great pleasure working with Cerulean on my graduate school portfolio. They’ve helped me make sense of my ideas and nurture them into compelling compositions. The guidance they share, both in composition and in preparing for graduate school, has been invaluable, and I highly recommend studying with them.” – Abegail, BA De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde 2023
“Cerulean is an exceptionally perceptive instructor. They have an incredible instinct for identifying what I am trying to say, often helping me articulate musical or verbal ideas I was struggling to express. Their teaching style combines unwavering patience with the tools and structural guidance I need to refine my process, creating an environment where I am encouraged to take risks and grow.” – Whitney Sheng, 2026 precept.concept.percept XV Resident and Heidelberg New Music Festival participant
“Studying with Cerulean has been nothing but an excellent experience. They are not only extremely helpful and knowledgeable as a teacher, but also extremely supportive of me as a student in such a way that has allowed me to really find my own sound as a composer, while still pushing me to experiment more. I also find that I am really able to dive into subjects with them beyond composition itself, such as planning for the future of my education and career, music theory, and aural skills.” – Quinn Orellana-Segura, 2024 Wildflower Composers Festival participant and 2025 Cleveland Institute of Music Young Composers participant
Interested in Studying Together?
I offer two lesson formats:
- Private Lessons: $90/hour (or $100/hour with pre-lesson materials review) available as weekly/biweekly lessons or as one-off lessons.
- New Student Lessons: I offer new students a special 50% discount for their first lesson when space is available.
- *NEW!* Creative Cohorts launching June 2026. These are small group sessions designed for creative musicians looking for accountability, community, and creative mentorship. For more information, check out the Interest Form.
Reach out: [email protected] for more information.