Rainier Lessons offers an enriching one-on-one environment for budding musicians to learn from world-renowned faculty from The Juilliard School, New England Conservatory of Music, San Francisco Conservatory, and the Oberlin Conservatory.

Accepting all ages and abilities, our faculty believes that the study of music teaches life skills such as discipline, creativity, out-of-the-box problem solving, and self-fulfillment.

Be it classical or popular music, we are here to support your musical learning!

“We love what we do, and that’s why we want to help you or your child reach their full potential as a musician! College bound or ‘just for fun’, music lessons help us grow, learn, and explore the world around us through the unique study of music.”

Aria Cheregosha, The Juilliard School

North Carolina native, Aria Cheregosha made her debut in Carnegie Hall at the age of 13 as the youngest semi-finalist ever in the 2012 Viola Congress Competition. Aria continued her musical studies at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston under world-renowned violist and pedagogue Kim Kashkashian and under Roger Tapping at The Juilliard School where she worked with acclaimed artists such as Misha Armory, Atar Arad, Carol Rodland, Lawrence Lesser, Martha Katz, and Michael Tree.

Aria’s playing has been heavily influenced by her passion for collaboration and while at the New England Conservatory she studied chamber music under the guidance of Paul Katz and the Cleveland Quartet as a member of the former Ivani Quartet. The Ivani Quartet was awarded 1st prize at the Plowman Chamber Music Competition, was the fellowship quartet at Bowdoin Music Festival in 2017, and won 3rd prize at the prestigious Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. In addition to Aria’s extensive work with members of the The Cleveland Quartet, she has also studied chamber music under The Shanghai Quartet, The Ying Quartet, The Juilliard String Quartet, The Brentano String Quartet, The Borromeo String Quartet, and The Jupiter String Quartet. Professionally, Aria has performed with the North Carolina Symphony, The Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, and has collaborated with members of A Far Cry & the Thalea String Quartet.

Dedicated to collaboration, Aria appears regularly with renowned chamber ensembles such as Frisson & A Fry Cry.

Canadian violinist, guitarist, composer, and pianist Christopher Whitley is an engaging and versatile performer. From Baroque to electronic music, Christopher is committed to exploring and performing music of all styles.

Christopher has performed on period instruments at the Boston Early Music Festival and the Valley of the Moon Music Festival. An avid proponent of contemporary music, Christopher has performed as a member of NOVUS NY and as both concertmaster and soloist of the McGill Contemporary Music Ensemble. He is a regular guest of San Francisco jazz group Le Jazz Hot, performing music inspired by Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. As a composer, Christopher’s primary focus is on expanding the potential of the solo violin, incorporating technology, electronic music and interactive visual art. Blending classical music, popular music and a variety of improvised styles, he has performed across the United States and Canada, including at the 2009 CMJ Music Marathon in New York. He has been invited to create new works at residencies at the Banff Centre and at the Britten Pears Young Artist Program in Aldeburgh, UK.

Christopher received his Bachelor’s of music at McGill University studying with Mark Fewer and continued his studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music with Ian Swensen. Christopher is a dedicated pedagogue and until recently moving to Austin, maintained a full private studio in San Francisco.

Christopher performs on the 1700 “Taft” Stradivari, generously on loan by the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank. In his spare time, he can be found at record stores, libraries and coffee shops and does whatever he can to get into a canoe.

Born in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Kumiko Sakamoto is a devoted performer, chamber musician, and pedagogue. Her commitment to fostering human connection through art has led Kumiko to pursue a richly diverse career as a violinist, vocalist, and advocate. She is dedicated to sharing the power of music with audiences around the world.

A passionate collaborator, Kumiko has performed alongside members of the Emerson, Kronos, St. Lawrence, and Borromeo quartets, as well as Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw, Eighth Blackbird, Leila Josefowicz, Lawrence Power, and the Joe Goode Performance Group. As a founding member of the Thalea String Quartet, Kumiko has performed across North America, Europe, and China, including performances at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Massey Hall. The quartet’s commitment to community engagement has led Kumiko to develop a variety of unique educational projects, including virtual teaching residencies, and a strings program for young people with special sensory needs.

Kumiko is an award-winning solo artist, and has performed across France, Italy, and Poland, including performances at La Fenice in Venice, and St. Sulpice in Paris. Her debut album, featuring the first recordings of the works of composer Gino Gorini, was released under the Tactus (Naxos) label in 2015.

Kumiko’s love for musical theater, art song, and choral music led her to pursue conservatory training as a coloratura soprano. During her time in San Francisco, she was a member of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus.

As an educator, Kumiko is committed to fostering creativity, health, and well-being amongst musicians of all ages. She has facilitated strings programs for students in underserved communities in San Francisco, while maintaining an active private studio for beginner, advanced, and adult students.

A dancer for most of her life, Kumiko still enjoys attending ballet classes in her spare time, as well as cooking healthy meals and baking for her friends and family. She is a dedicated advocate for social justice, health, and food awareness.