“I grew up in a small town, with little to no music education. Sure we had music class in elementary school, but all-in-all, nothing that furthered my personal growth as a musician.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Music Box is that it gives students the tools and personalized instruction to be able to speak the musical language.
I would have loved a program like Music Box as a kid, with their band program and all the opportunities to perform in the community.
So now I am extremely proud to be part of THIS educator team. ”
Alex Ovando. Owner.
Alex is the Music Box founder and most avid advocate. He is originally from Guatemala City, Guatemala, but his love for music & passion for teaching, rooted him in Memphis TN, where he has taught guitar, bass, piano & drum lessons for over 20 years.
Alex’s vision for Music Box is to teach music as a language, and assemble a team of like-minded educators who help evangelize Music Box’s mission: to help aspiring musicians become a happier, more confident version of themselves.
Outside of Music Box, Alex enjoys investing in local community and spending time with his wife Yelena and their two very musical children - Marco & Sofia.
Ana Cristina Soto.Vocal & Rising Artist Teacher.
Ana Soto is originally from Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, where her musical journey began in the San Juan Children’s Choir. Through singing and learning instruments such as recorder, guitar, hand bells, and flute, she discovered a deep love for music that has shaped her life ever since.
After graduating from high school, Ana moved to Nashville, where she earned a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the Vanderbilt University. Her studies eventually brought her to Memphis, where she is currently completing a Master’s degree in Voice at the University of Memphis. Ana is passionate about performing, and also studied and performed abroad in Italy, Germany, Spain, and England, which broadened her musical perspective and strengthened her commitment to helping students grow as expressive, confident musicians.
Outside of teaching, Ana enjoys reading, discovering new stories, and spending time with friends and family.
Vince Burns. Guitar. Bass. Ukulele. Keys. Band. Music Production Teacher.
Vince is a multi-instrumentalist, who started learning music at 7, and is now an educator, producer, composer, and performer. His recent work spans a diverse range of projects, including original solo releases, scores for student films, and soundtracks for indie video games. Vince studied music at Stax Music Academy, Visible College, and most recently, at the Frost School of Music in Miami, graduating with a Media Scoring and Production Degree, and minors in Composition and Creative American Songwriting.
Vince is a recipient of the Canes Festival Best Music Score Award.
Outside of Music Box, Vince enjoys playing and making video games, YouTube and writing.
Erin Smith. Vocal & Rising Artist Teacher.
Erin Smith, originally from Jackson, Mississippi, has been surrounded by music her entire life. Growing up, Erin took violin and oboe lessons from a very young age, and performed in school choirs, as well as marching band, after moving to Collierville, TN in 2012. She received a Bachelor's degree in Arts from the University of Southern Mississippi, where she fell in love with singing, specifically opera. This love of opera led to Erin pursuing a Master's in Vocal Performance at the University of Memphis, where she has the opportunity to star in operas in the Memphis area. Erin also studied and sang abroad, in Germany, as part of IPAI Bavaria Opera program.
When not teaching or performing, Erin enjoys reading, gardening, and spending time with her friends and family.
Sean Gary. Piano, Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Drums, Band Teacher.
Sean is originally from San Diego, California, where he grew up playing from a very young age and started taking formal lessons at 9. As a multi-instrumentalist, he played in various rock bands throughout high school then spent two years in Hollywood where he played with pop and rock bands at storied venues such as the Roxy and the Whiskey a Go Go, and was featured on the soundtrack of the MTV show The Hills.
Sean then returned to San Diego and began pursuing music at the college level, and at this time fell in love with teaching and sharing his passion for music with students of all ages. He earned a Bachelor of Music in professional studies and a Master of Arts in musicology/critical studies from San Diego State University in 2018 and 2021 respectively, all while continuing to hone his skills as a music educator and performer. Sean taught popular music history courses at San Diego State University on topics such as The Beatles, American music history, and country and folk music. In 2023 Sean was nominated for a San Diego Music Award in the category of Country/Americana album of the year, as a member and principal songwriter for the band Midway.
In 2024 Sean moved to Memphis to pursue a PhD in musicology at the University of Memphis and teach undergraduate history courses on popular and American music. Since being in the Memphis area, he has become a regular performer at venues such as the Tin Roof on Beale. While not performing or teaching music, Sean likes to hike, fish, cook, exercise, and spend time with his wife, their dog, and their two horses.
Lien Nguyen. Piano & Rising Artist
Teacher.
Lien Nguyen is a piano and a Rising Artist Program teacher at Music Box. She is from Hanoi, Vietnam, and her love for music began on a toy keyboard, which she used to play tunes she heard on radio and TV.
Lien earned her BA in Music from Goshen College, her MM in Piano Performance from the University of Mississippi, and is currently completing her Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA) in Piano Pedagogy, at the University of Memphis. She has a Orff-Schulwerk certification and enjoys teaching students of all ages and levels, with a focus on building confidence, curiosity, and lifelong love for music. Lien also currently teaches piano at the University of Memphis, and performs at churches and in musical productions around the Memphis area.
Outside of piano, Lien is an avid chess player and coffee enthusiast.
Ty Matthews.
Voice Teacher & Head of Academics.
Ty Matthews is a Voice & Piano educator at Music Box and Head of Academics at Music Box. From the age of 10 Ty started playing Piano at church and shortly after also became one of their lead vocalists. Ty holds a Bachelors Degree in Music performance (Oboe) from University of Texas at Arlington, a Masters Degree in Music Performance from Oklahoma City University, and is now pursuing a Doctorate in Music from the University of Memphis. Ty has sang as a lead vocalist in many bands and has toured on countless occasions around the United States. He also sang in many music festivals, such as South by Southwest (SXSW) and Warped Tour. Through the years Ty enjoyed leading various Musical Theater programs as an accompanist and a vocal coach, as well as helping other vocalists with audition prep.
Learn more about Ty
Will Steen. Piano. Guitar. Music Production Teacher.
Will is a dedicated piano teacher at Music Box, with roots in Germantown where he has lived his entire life. His musical journey began in 6th grade when he picked up the clarinet in his school band, sparking a lifelong passion for both music and teaching. Now studying Audio Engineering at the University of Memphis, Will is expanding his expertise in the technical aspects of music.
Beyond teaching, Will enjoys performing with various music groups at the University, including worship bands, pep band, and marching band. In his free time, you can find him on camping trips with friends and cooking BBQ.
Melissa Webb. Studio Coordinator.
Melissa is from Germantown, TN, and attends Houston High School. She was first introduced to music at a very young age when she started taking piano and voice lessons. She started playing the flute in sixth grade and continues to play in the Houston High School Marching and Concert Band. Melissa has participated in the Christian Brothers Honor Band and the Summer at the Scheidt band program. She has been on crew for multiple musical productions and performed as Matilda in the Germantown Community Theatre production of Merry Men. Melissa is a piano player in one of Music Box’s bands and performed at various locations all around the Memphis area.
In her spare time, Melissa enjoys hanging out with friends and family, reading, and traveling.
Meissa Garcia. Studio Coordinator.
Melissa is originally from Brooklyn, NY, where her love for connecting with people and exploring new experiences first began. With a background in healthcare and customer service, she brings a calm, supportive presence and a strong focus on communication, organization, and creating a positive experience for every student and family.
Melissa enjoys being part of a creative environment where students feel encouraged to try something new and grow with confidence. She takes pride in helping others feel comfortable from the moment they walk in and values being part of a team that supports both personal and creative development.
Outside of the studio, Melissa loves to travel, try new cuisines, and spend time exploring her creative interests through reading, painting, and photography. She is also a lifelong animal lover who has cared for everything from goats to hedgehogs, and now spends time with her two dogs.
Melissa is excited to be part of a community that helps students discover their creativity, build confidence, and express themselves through music.
Danny Negrete. Piano & Rising Artist Teacher.
Originally from Niles, Michigan, Danny has called Memphis home since the age of three. His musical journey began in sixth grade when he joined the middle school band as an alto saxophonist. Just a bit later, Danny started taking piano lessons at Music Box, and after several years, developed a passion for classical music and reached and mastered the advanced piano curriculum levels.
Throughout high school, Danny also was heavily involved in his school’s music programs. He performed with the varsity wind symphony, marching band, and jazz band. He also participated in marching competitions such as Bandmasters, attended All West and Concert Festivals, and played with Music Box’s own The Zoo band.
Danny is currently pursuing a degree in Music, and outside of music, he enjoys playing video games, creating art and spending time with friends.
Marco Ovando. Drum Set Teacher.
Marco has been studying music since he was 3 years old. He plays piano, guitar, bass, drums and orchestral percussion. He has been teaching at Music Box since 2024 and playing, recording and performing with one of the Music Box’s top Modern and staff Bands.
Marco spent the summers of 2022 and 2023, studying at the STAX Music Academy, and 2024 and 2025 - at the University of Memphis (Honor Band) and at the Tennessee Governors School For The Arts, as a percussionist.
Marco has placed in the All-West Honor Band for three years in a row, played for the Memphis Youth Symphony Orchestra in 2023 and 2024 and is currently a member of the Silver Note Collective Jazz Band, The Houston Marching Band and Houston High School Wind Ensemble.
In his spare time, Marco composes music, studies music production, and enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.
“For the time I’ve been at Music Box, the staff and students alike have been nothing but welcoming, encouraging, and always ready to learn (teachers included). I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working alongside colleagues that share the same love for music as I do and are eager to learn new techniques and styles to pass on to their students. Students at Music Box are unlike any students I’ve seen. They are always supportive of one another and excited about music. My vocal students are open-minded in every lesson and I’ve consistently seen immense progress in each lesson from every one of them. I couldn’t be prouder to have taught these wonderful musicians, and I know their hard work will help them grow in their musicianship incredibly. ”