Alfonso Sanchez is a true believer of Art as a means toward the betterment of society. Active in both the artistic and musical world, he is constantly working on becoming an advocate for the Arts and bringing people and communities closer to them. Born in Mexico City, Alfonso made his international musical debut in the “Concerto per la Pace” concert in Turin, Italy. This event featured the European premier of “Alas”, a work by the Mexican composer Artuo Marquez dedicated to the Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai. As a painter, he won 2nd place in the National competition “El Niño y la Mar '', an annual event focused on ocean life and pollution, rewarding works done by kids that best raise consciousness about the damage done to the environment.

Alfonso played for one season as a section bassist in the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, the nationally acclaimed program of Northern Virginia. Prior to that, he acted as section principal in the Tlalpan Youth Orchestra and the Camerata Nuova Armonia, in Mexico City. He’s attended summer festivals such as the Summer Music Institute of the National Symphony, Bass Works, DCBass and Campamento Elevare, having performed in internationally acclaimed venues such as the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and the Teatro Degollado in Guadalajara, Mexico. He’s also been selected to perform in various masterclasses for world renowned teachers and performers such as Peter Lloyd, Sam Suggs, Nina DeCesare and Odon Racz.

Having worked as a concert hall usher and as a violin shop repair and customer assistant, as well as having performed in different community venues such as nursing homes and indigenous communities, Alfonso has experienced first-hand the impact the Arts can make on people. Many of his performances encouraged kids to sign up to community and school orchestra programs. In addition, he has and continues to nurture his passion for Art from both an academic and a practical standpoint, striving to use his skills towards connecting people. He participated in a high school 1-year-long project focused on recreating works by Marc Chagall, as well as studying his story. Some of his renditions were selected to participate in a school-organized auction to raise funds towards outreach artistic programs. Alfonso is currently pursuing a bachelor degree at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, as well as taking Art History courses at the Maryland Institute College of Art. He also attended Mexico’s National Autonomous University School of Music pre-college division for a year. Alfonso’s primary bass teachers include Ira Gold, Paul DeNola, Alvaro Porras, Mario Martinez and Javier Cruz. His current artistic mentors include Tru Ludwig and Barbara Baxter.

Windsor "Tito" Pediford holds a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from an education shared between Julliard and City College. Tito is proficient in acoustic and electric bass, piano, all African and Latin percussions, vibraphone, trap drums, programmable synthesizers, as well as writing and arranging for brass, reeds, strings, chorus, and rhythm sections. Coming from a family heavily involved with music performance locally, nationally, & internationally, Tito was afforded the opportunity to perform with people such as: Miles Davis, Mongo Santamaria, King Curtis, Mandrill, G.Q, Change, Jocelyn Brown, LeRoy Burgess, Amel Larrieux, and others. Tito has toured around the world and across the U.S. He has led 3 bands of his own, 2 of which were published, and he was a side man for a host of disco records in the 80’s. Tito loves to push his students to reach their full potential with music! 

Joseph Koenig, from Catonsville, Maryland, holds a B.M.E. in Instrumental Music Education and a B.M. in Double Bass Performance from the University of Maryland, where he studied under Rick Barber of the National Symphony Orchestra.  Joseph has participated in the National Orchestral Institute, the National Music Festival, and the DCBass workshop, and has performed in local orchestras such as the Symphony of the Potomac, the Prince George’s Philharmonic, and the Columbia Orchestra. Joseph is also a music educator in Howard County Public Schools, where he currently teaches at Glenelg High School and Glenwood Middle School.  

Joseph can teach upright bassists of any age or skill level, and will help each of his students establish healthy technique, efficient practice habits, a beautiful, resonant tone, and musical expressivity.