Instructor Biographies
Rodin Akerman
Violin, Viola, Saxophone (soprano, alto, tenor) & Clarinet
Originally from Columbia, Rodin performed throughout his native country as a violinist as well as saxophonist and clarinetist before relocating to California at age 18. He attended universities in both Los Angeles and Puerto Rico studied privately with the two of the era’s greatest violinists, Noumi Fischer and José Figueroa. After graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree, Mr. Akerman performed with a wide variety of orchestras in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas and started teaching privately in southern California before moving to the bay area in 1995. Since then, he has regularly performed as a violinist with Berkeley Opera, the San Francisco Symphonietta, Contra Costa Musical Theater, Livermore Opera, Diablo Light Opera and the Tassajara Symphony. Rodin has directed music programs in public schools in the eastbay teaching clarinet, saxophone, violin and viola. He brings a wealth of performing and teaching experience to the academy.
Tony Bolivar
Saxophone (soprano, alto, tenor), Trumpet, Clarinet and Flute
Tony has been teaching and performing professionally for over thirty years. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force bands, and a graduate of the San Jose State University School of Music. Proficient in saxophone, clarinet, and flute, Tony is a highly sought after Bay Area live performer and recording artist. He is capable of performing and teaching many styles of music, including classical, jazz, rock, Latin, and R&B. He is currently teaching music and directing the bands at a private school in Fremont, and arranger and staff musician at Fremont Community Church. He also performs with the band Soul Review, as well as his own group The Tony Bolivar All-Stars. His style of teaching is personal and customized to the individual abilities, temperament, and musical direction of the student.
Leslie Meeks
Cello
Cellist Leslie Meeks began learning the cello at 13 after having started the piano at 7 years old. She quickly showed a great affinity for the cello and began lessons with Victor Sazer in Los Angeles. Upon entering the San Francisco Conservatory of Music at the age of 18, she studied under Margaret Rowell and later with Bonnie Hampton. Leslie won a full scholarship to study at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York where she studied under Paul Katz of the Cleveland Quartet.
As a professional performer, she spent 5 years with the Sacramento Symphony from 1980-1985. Leslie was then made principal cellist with the South African Broadcasting Company Orchestra in Johannesburg, South Africa. She then worked as principal chair with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra where she performed and worked full-time for ten years. At that time, she was made professor of cello at Cape Town College of Music for nine years before returning to the United States in 1997.
She currently performs throughout the bay area with various orchestras and chamber ensembles including the California Symphony and the symphonies of Oakland, Santa Cruz and Monterey. Leslie is currently the assistant principal cellist in with the Modesto Symphony.
We are excited to welcome Leslie as part of our academy.