Creative Roots offers quality programming in music and the arts, where people of all ages can experience the joy of creativity, the hope of community, and the inspiration of beauty.
We are located on the campus of Presbyterian Church of the Master, 26051 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, California
Art + Music Faculty
Harvest Riggio is a lover of creativity in all its forms, and is passionate about the positive impact creative activities can have on individuals and communities. She enjoys making art fun and accessible for people of all ages, and building community around the arts. Harvest holds a bachelor's degree from Azusa Pacific University in Sociology and Art, and a certificate from Brandman University in Art 4 Healing, a method of teaching art as a therapeutic practice. She has spent most of her career at the intersection of education and community, and has been teaching art for over 20 years to both adults and children in a variety of settings, including private and group lessons, corporate and special events, and elementary schools.
Traci loves teaching violin and working with students at all levels, beginner to advanced, from preschool to high school. She teaches classical violin technique imperative for beautiful playing in any musical style - classical, folk, fiddle, and pop. In addition to technique, her students will learn performance and audition skills necessary for acceptance to youth orchestras and college.
Traci began playing at the age of five and continued through a Master’s in Music from USC. She is Suzuki trained, with over 30 years teaching experience in both private & group settings, as well as 20 years playing experience in the greater LA area including Santa Bárbara Symphony & Opera, studio recording, as well as chamber and Early Music Ensembles. She loves teaching students of all levels, but is especially skilled in working with small children. Traci is passionate about providing opportunities for her students to share their musical gifts with others through group settings and performances.
Karen graduated from the University of the Pacific, Conservatory of Music with a bachelor's degree in Music Therapy and cello. While working as a Registered Music Therapist, Karen taught cello lessons on a very limited basis but in 1995 opened a full time studio. Shortly after that she began Suzuki Teacher Training courses and offered her students Suzuki Cello lessons. Many of her current students are taught using the Suzuki method. She also teaches traditional lessons. Karen was a member of Suzuki Strings of Orange County from 2005-2022 where she served as President and also Festival Coordinator. Karen is co-founder of Bellagio Strings Youth Orchestra of Dana Point (2012-2016) and was Administrative Director. Karen is also a member of MTAC and many of her students participate in the Certificate of Merit program.
A Bachophile with love for church modes and weirdly pretty melodies, California native Emily Valenzuela (née Wood) has inspired audiences across the United States as a soprano and composer. Her vocal accolades include Third Place in the NATS-LA Collegiate Competition and the Outstanding Member award of Baylor Opera Theatre. As a soloist, she has sung Poppea and Fortuna in L’incoronazione di Poppea with Baylor Opera Theatre, and she has sung concert solos in Bach’s Magnificat, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, and Bach’s BWV 150.
An avid and highly sought choral artist, Mrs. Valenzuela has sung professionally as a Voces8 US Scholar, a member of the Pacific Chorale, and a section leader at Idyllwild Arts Festival’s high school Choral Intensive. She is in demand as a church musician with an extensive track record in music ministry, having served as soloist, choral singer, worship leader, and children’s choir director.
Emily holds degrees from Baylor University, Concordia University Irvine, and Saddleback College with several awards and honors. She has studied voice with Amy Petrongelli, Karla Kniss, and Scott Farthing. Outside of music, Emily may be found reading, baking, gaming, or talking to her dog, Cashew.
Cayden Walters has been passionate about performing viola, violin, and piano since he was 8 years old. He writes, arranges, composes, teaches, and has been recognized to have perfect pitch, and is a master in music theory and sight reading. In his teens, he went on tour with the OCSA Symphony, playing in opera houses in Bratislava, Vienna, and Prague. He also performed with the OCSA symphony during a live Disney recording session. In May of 2023, after receiving a 4 year Academic/Musical Scholarship, Cayden graduated from Chapman University Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance and a minor in mathematics and statistical analysis. Cayden sat principal violist of The Chapman Orchestra and he won a scholarship position in the renowned Temianka Quartet. He won The Chapman Aural Skills Award, String Ensemble Award, and was chosen by the Conductor for The Orchestra Award. Cayden auditioned and was accepted into several ensembles including: The All-National Symphony Orchestra (co-principal position), the Pacific Youth Symphony, the Aspen Music Festival, the California All-State Symphony, and the California All-Southern Symphony. He has received lessons from many Masters, including a Masterclass from Roger Tapping, former violist of the Julliard String Quartet. Cayden is currently working toward his Master’s Degree in viola performance while teaching viola, violin and playing gigs. His goals are to get into a Philharmonic, do studio work, and/or use his music theory and aural skills to become a university professor.
Chris Hornung is an active double bassist and teacher based in Orange County. He is the principal bass of the Dana Point Symphony and Symphony Irvine, and performs regularly with a number of other orchestras in the region. Chris is active as a chamber musician and solo recitalist, and has been featured twice as soloist with the Orange County Symphony. He is a faculty member at Concordia University Irvine, Orange Coast College, Chaffey College, Mira Costa College and Coastline College, where he is chair of the Visual and Performing Arts department. Chris also teaches bass sectionals at a number of local high schools and private students of all ages. Chris received his Bachelor of Music degree from Western Michigan University and his Master of Music degree from Michigan State University. In the summers he is a faculty member at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake MI, where he teaches double bass and Music History and performs as principal bass of the Festival Orchestra.
Erin Theodorakis is a music educator and performer who is passionate about exploring music as a form of storytelling and as a way to bring people from all walks of life together. She holds a Master’s degree in Operatic Voice Performance from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where she was a recipient of the Shepherd School’s Provost Award. Originally from Southern California, Professor Theodorakis graduated from Chapman University with a Bachelor of Music degree in both Vocal Performance and Music Education.
Theodorakis has been working with and around singers for as long as she can remember. Currently, she serves as a staff singer in the Grammy award-winning Pacific Chorale under the direction of Robert Istad, is a part of the vocal music staff at the Tesoro High School, and has the privilege of conducting the University Treble Choir at Chapman University.
On the opera stage, Theodorakis has played roles ranging from Jo March in Little Women to La Vecchia Zita in Gianni Schicchi. Most recently, she joined the Parnassus Society as La Marquise in their production of La Fille du Régiment. Theodorakis's engagements on the concert stage have included solos in Bach’s Magnificat, the Vivaldi Gloria, Handel’s Messiah, and Mendelssohn's Elijah, to name a few. For four years in a row between 2014 and 2017, Theodorakis was awarded first place in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Los Angeles Competition in her division. In 2021, Theodorakis was recognized as a district winner in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition for the San Diego District. She went on to win an encouragement award at the Regional Competition in Los Angeles.
In addition to her classical music credits, Theodorakis has spent over a decade in the world of contemporary a cappella. She began as a member and eventually the Music Director of Chapman Soundcheck, who she led to the finals of the International Competition for Collegiate A Cappella in 2016 - an honor awarded to only ten groups from the United States and the United Kingdom annually. She has gone on to lead Titanium, Tesoro High School’s award-winning a cappella ensemble. In 2023, Titanium was selected as a finalist in the International Competition for High School A Cappella, and placed fourth overall. Theodorakis is also an accomplished vocal arranger.
Outside of the classroom, Theodorakis has been running her own private voice studio since 2015. She strives to teach her students to use their whole body as their instrument, while simultaneously instilling in them a detailed knowledge of the vocal mechanism - empowering them with the confidence to be in control of their own voice. Students of hers have gone on to study music at NYU, UCLA, San Francisco Conservatory, Oklahoma City University, and Chapman, among others.
Theodorakis lives in Los Angeles with her very cool cinematographer husband Austin, and their very cute cocker spaniel, BamBam.
April is a trained Music Together Teacher & licensed Director with a background in Voice & Saxophone. A graduate of Claremont McKenna College, April delights in making Music Together with families. Singing, moving, and playing with instruments for all ages, our children learn naturally through immersion, imitation, and play. She loves creating vibrant mini-communities of adults who enjoy the freedom of ‘playing’ with music together. The magic years of early childhood hold so much joy and challenge for caregivers. Building the family language of music is fun, freeing, and helpful. She believes music connects all generations and is truly a gift for a lifetime. You might find her consulting on software, asset management, or organizational development when she isn’t teaching or singing for fun in the tunnel on Oso Creek Trail.
Discover the JOY of Family Music!
www.musictogether.com
Bio coming soon
Kjersten loves creativity, connection, and helping students ignite a lifelong interest and passion for music and the arts. As Conservatory Director, she works to foster an encouraging and collaborative environment for musicians and artists in our community. As a music teacher, she meets students where they are, using classical technique to help musicians grow and meet their goals in many styles of music. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Business from Central Washington University, where she studied piano and voice. She has experience as a producer in entertainment design for Universal Studios Creative, as a studio manager for an architectural design firm, and in music as a soloist, choral singer, worship leader, vocal director for youth musical theater, directing music ensembles and choirs, studio recording, accompanying, writing and arranging, and teaching private lessons.
