Robbie Davis
Instrument: Bass
Robbie Davis began playing bass in junior high school.
He was very fortunate to take part in the extraordinary music programs at Bonita High School in La Verne, and North Texas State University.
He continues a long membership with the Claremont Symphony Orchestra and coaches the bass sections of Claremont High School and the Claremont Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Though he considers jazz to be his favorite style, he has played all styles of music professionally. Robbie's first student was one of his own sons, who decided to play bass in his junior high school orchestra.
Today, Robbie continues to enjoy helping young musicians achieve their goals.
Jocelyn Francis
Instrument: Cello
Master of Music, California State University, Fullerton
Bachelor of Music, Cello Performance, Brigham Young University-Idaho
Jocelyn Francis started playing the cello when she was three, and music has been a big part of her life ever since. Being raised in a musical family, a love of music was instilled in her from a young age. She has seen the many benefits of her early exposure to music, and is a firm believer in the importance of music education for young children.
Jocelyn attended Brigham Young University-Idaho, where she earned her Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in cello performance. She then went on to earn her Master of Music from California State University, Fullerton. During the course of her studies, Jocelyn has devoted much of her time and energy to performing and teaching in her community.
She began teaching private lessons at the age of sixteen and has taught students of all ages and skill levels, in both group and private settings ever since. Jocelyn received her Suzuki Unit 1 and 2 training and has taught all of her students under the philosophy of Suzuki, which maintains that every child can learn, and that with support from loving parents and teachers, students can be taught to develop a beautiful heart through their musical journey.
Jocelyn currently lives with her husband, Tom, and five children, Carolyn, Tommy, Marvin, Sylvia, and DaNece in Upland, California. Aside from her musical pursuits, she enjoys attending her kids’ baseball games and dance classes, spending time outdoors, reading books, and spending time with her husband.
Matthew Keating
Instrument: Cello
Bachelor of Music, Cello Performance, California State University, Northridge
Staatliche Hochschule für Musik, Trossingen, Germany
Matthew Keating has 26 years of experience in solo cello performance, chamber music, orchestral performance, arranging, private teaching, and conducting.
Mr. Keating started his music studies at the age of 8 at the Claremont Community School of Music, where he studied with Ana Maria Maldonado. Over his ten years of study there, he developed a life long love of cello, chamber music, and performing.
Mr. Keating holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in orchestral studies and cello performance from California State University Northridge, where he attended on a full merit-based music scholarship. While at CSUN, Mr. Keating was part of the Honors String Quartet, played with the American Youth Symphony, the Debut Orchestra, and studied with notable cellists David Aks and Diane Rosetti. He continued his studies in Trossingen, Germany at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik, where he studied cello performance under renowned Japanese cellist Sadao Harada and orchestral conducting under the tutelage of Herr Manfred Schreier.
After his time in Germany, Matthew traveled to Hawaii and began performing as cellist in the Honolulu Symphony. While performing with the Honolulu symphony, Matthew toured to the various Hawaiian Islands working with the community and bringing live orchestral performances to unique, non-traditional public venues. Matthew also served as a full-time director of the orchestra program at the Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii, working with over 500 students in eight different orchestras, 5th grade -12th grade. He also founded the elementary orchestra program in the Moanalua public school district, taught K-6th grade music at the Hanahau`oli School, and worked as an adjunct professor at Hawaii Pacific University.
After Hawaii, Mr. Keating returned to Los Angeles, where he continued to perform and teach cello, with a particular emphasis in chamber music. During his time in Los Angeles, Matthew has recorded albums, recorded with artists, acted as a guest lecturer at California State University Northridge and was invited to be guest conductor for the San Bernardino County Honors High School Youth Orchestra. Mr. Keating’s cello can be heard in movies and network television shows as well. He continues performing throughout Southern California as a soloist and chamber music artist and is currently the adjunct cello instructor at the University of La Verne. Mr. Keating is also the recipient of the prestigious 2018 CSUN Volunteer Service Award recognizing his contribution to arts and service in the community.
In 2013, Matthew Keating was hired as the Executive Director of the Claremont Community School of Music, where he has served for over 10 years. As the Executive Director, Mr. Keating not only has a private teaching studio for cello, but also teaches group cello classes, conducts the Prelude Symphonic Ensemble youth orchestra program, and assists in the musical development of the 1,000 students that currently attend the school of music. During his tenure with the school of music, Mr. Keating has cultivated a jazz program, a chamber music program and tirelessly fundraised tens of thousands of dollars for the School of Music community fund to allow every child that wishes to study music the opportunity to do so.
Mr. Keating lives in Claremont with his wife Jessica and their two daughters, Colette and Clara.
Sophie Paek
Instrument: Cello, Piano
Bachelor of Arts, Music, Honors & Biological Chemistry, Honors, Grinnell College
Sophie Paek holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Biological Chemistry from Grinnell College, and has over 18 years of musical experience performing, teaching, and directing music programs for youth.
Sophie began her musical studies at the age of four and is a proud alum of CCSM, where she extensively studied with Ana Maldonado. Since her student days, Sophie has been an active musician, both as a soloist and an ensemble player, performing in various orchestras and chamber ensembles both in and out of state. After deciding to pursue music as a career, she graduated with a B.A. in music at Grinnell College and extended her performance studies in Vienna, Austria under the tutelage of Josef Luitz.
In addition to performing, Sophie developed a passion for working with youth from a young age. Giving her first private lesson at the age of ten, she has been committed to sharing her love and joy of music through not only private lessons, but also group lessons, and youth orchestra programs in Southern California, Oregon and Iowa. She is the co-founder and president of KidsMusic, an after-school music program established to make music education more available and accessible to more students. Since then, she has worked with over 150 preschool-high school students. A passionate advocate for music education, Sophie has also served as an elected representative in the Music Student Educational Policy Committee at Grinnell College.
An enthusiastic and sincere teacher, Sophie seeks to further share the joy of music-learning and playing with all individuals.