RPA Kids

meet the teachers

Amanda Eckerman

Amanda Eckerman earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education under the direction of Dr. Eric Hammer and Dr. Ruth Brittin of the Conservatory of Music at the University of the Pacific in 2012. Mrs. Eckerman, a National Board Certified Teacher, is the full-time general music teacher at John C. Bohach Elementary School and teaches private lessons for flute, ukulele, and piano. In addition to her work as a music mentor teacher and technology chairperson for the WCSD music department, Mrs. Eckerman is a graduate of Northern Nevada’s Teachers Leading Change Cohort and is a WCSD trainer for Social and Emotional Learning. Outside of school, Mrs. Eckerman volunteers with the Reno Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota and the Nevada Humane Society. Mrs. Eckerman teaches note reading classes at Mathews Elementary for RPA Kids and enjoys spending that time deepening her students’ understanding of music and building a musical community at her school.

Manuel Orozco

Manuel Guillermo Orozco is a violinist based in Reno, Nevada and has taught violin privately for the past 7 years. He began his studies in middle school where he immediately fell in love with the violin. Once he started high school he began taking his studies to a whole other level by studying violin under Dennis Butterfield. In his junior year he got the chance to perform with the Reno Philharmonic Youth Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall.

Manuel Orozco graduated with his Bachelor’s of Music in Education degree from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2022 while studying under Stephanie Sant’Ambrosio. Mr. Orozco did his teaching internship at Depoali Middle School and McQueen High School. After finishing his internship he taught at Pine Middle School for a brief time where he was able to make a huge impact in his students lives. He currently teaches violin privately along with subbing in the Washoe County School District.

In recent years Manuel has performed with the University of Nevada, Reno Symphony Orchestra, Faith Alive Christian Fellowship, Holy Cross Catholic Community, the Renegade Orchestra, and with the Susanville Symphony Orchestra.

Hyeyoung Choi

Hyeyoung Choi was born and raised in Korea.  She started playing cello at age 8 and won a 3rd place at Korean National Youth Competition 3 years later.  She received her Bachelor’s degree from Chong-Shin University in Seoul, Korea.  After receiving Bachelor’s, she had played in a few professional orchestras in Seoul as a substitute cellist before she came to the states to study.  She completed a M.M and professional studies in cello performance with Jeffery Solow who is a professor in Temple University, PA.  Hyeyoung had been principal cellist with Temple Symphony, Opera and Chamber Orchestra as well as Germantown Academy Orchestra where she had played for 5 years.  Hyeyoung moved to Reno in 2009 due to husband’s ministry.  She joined RPA Kids program in 2012. She teaches both violin and cello in the program.  She is married with two children and they both enjoy playing in RPA Kids.

Jeffrey Lindhorst

Jeffrey Lindhorst received his B.S. in Education in 1986 at the University of Missouri-St. Louis under the instruction of Dr. James R. Richards. He studied violin for four years with Mr. Silvian Itcovici who was the Assistant Concertmaster of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Lindhorst received a Master of Music Education/Performance in 1993, from the Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville where he studied violin with Dr. Kent Perry and workshops with John Kendall. Lindhorst currently enjoys performing Violin with the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra. Lindhorst is currently enjoying his 38th year of teaching Orchestra in the Public Schools. Mr. Lindhorst is the Orchestra Teacher and Director of Orchestras for Edward C. Reed High School. He currently has 120 students in the Reed Orchestra Program and 80 students in the Ukulele Program. Mr. Lindhorst received the St. Louis Suburban Orchestra Teacher-Hall of Fame Award in 2015.

Maya Dimitroff

Born and raised in Reno, Maya Dimitroff studied under the guidance of Dr. Dmitri Atapine and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Cello Performance from the University of Nevada. After moving to the Houston area, she built a thriving cello studio and found a love for teaching. Her students have earned top chairs in all levels of Region Orchestras as well as received full scholarships to universities and colleges in the area. Maya also frequently performed with the Brazosport Symphony and served as Principal Cellist for Baytown Symphony, while also providing clinics and workshops to multiple schools in the Humble and Klein school districts. She is excited to be back in her hometown and aspires to make a positive, educational impact in the community that first sparked her interest in music. In addition to playing cello and teaching, Maya loves to cook and explore hiking trails and parks with her beagle, Maisel.

Kiarra Mariani

Kiarra Mariani started studying the violin at the age of six with the prestigious Preucil School of Music. During her time in Reno, Nevada, she studied with Dr. Ruth Lenz, concertmaster of the Reno Chamber Orchestra and the Reno Philharmonic. In 2023, Kiarra earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). She studied with violinist Stephanie Sant’ Ambrogio, the UNR Professor of Violin and concertmaster of the Fresno Symphony Orchestra, while she was earning her degree. Kiarra has performed with a variety of ensembles, such as the Reno Philharmonic, Northern Nevada Strings Serenade, along with the Susanville Symphony Orchestra. Kiarra has a private violin studio where she shares her pedagogical skills with young violinists. She enjoys reading, writing, and hiking in her free time (when she is not practicing, that is). She is excited to share music with RPA Kids!