Designated the Bronwyn and Jeffrey Lamont Longy Fund Scholar, Abimael began his musical studies in El Sistema, the community-based music program that began in Venezuela and has since inspired programs all over the world. In Venezuela, Abimael received a Bachelor of Music in violin performance from the National Experimental University of the Arts and a Doctorate in Educational Sciences from the Bicentennial University of Aragua. Abimael went on to receive his Master’s in Music Education from Bard College’s Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and comes to Homer OPUS after teaching in an afterschool music program in Boston public schools. Abimael continues his studies in orchestral conducting with maestro Eduardo Portal at Passion for Conducting Academy and continues to support young musicians in his home country by working with the Foundation for the Promotion and Development of the Arts in Venezuela.

Christina Whiting is a writer, photographer, artist and adventurer passionate about nurturing creativity, community, and connection. Since 2020, she and her Maine Coon cat, Sneaky have spent the off-season months driving across the country documenting everyday life through photos and recorded interviews for a personal art project.

In her nearly 25 years in Homer, Christina has brought her enthusiasm and energy to a variety of roles, including freelancing for the Homer News and KBBI, seasonally managing the Farmers Market and the Chamber’s Spit Visitor, and guiding locals and visitors on adventures across the Bay. She has also helped numerous organizations with their special events, marketing, outreach, volunteer, and fundraising efforts, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, Friends of Kachemak Bay State Park, Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival and the Pratt Museum, among others.

With a firm belief in the importance of encouraging creativity from a young age, she is excited to join Homer OPUS as our new Program Manager.

Lindsay is trained as an engineer and brings arts administration and nonprofit experience to the OPUS board. Lindsay is a Chapman Eagle Ensemble parent and is excited about bringing the communities together through the shared creative process of making music.

Urán Christensen is the parent of a current cellist/Preludes violinist as well as a former HYSOC violinist. Though she plays no instruments herself, she loves to listen and learn alongside her kids while witnessing the magic of the Suzuki method. She brings finance and administration experience to the OPUS board.

A retired Fireweed teacher and a founding member of Fireweed Frescoes, Kim Fine is enamored to say the least to be a part of OPUS and the growing youth ensemble movement taking place in Homer. As the Frescoes liaison, Kim is thrilled that OPUS offers group music lessons to Fireweed K-2 students and is delighted that Frescoes has joined the growing ranks of youth ensemble programs in Homer. Placing a violin in the hands of every one of their K-2 students has proved transformative and hugely rewarding for the Fireweed community.

Lyn Maslow, a retired teacher, helped start Paul Banks Preludes in 2016. She is delighted by the formation of OPUS, which has allowed the expansion and coordination of violin instruction in more local elementary schools and has provided continuity between the school programs and HYSOC. As the board liaison to the Paul Banks Preludes, she is committed to providing opportunities for every child to experience the joys and benefits of learning a string instrument. Lyn also enjoys playing with CODAS and learning to fiddle.

Daniel, an accomplished violinist, performs with the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra and the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra. He has concertized with many orchestral groups and well-known performers. He has also taught violin privately for over 20 years. In his spare time, he is a naturalist and sea kayak guide in Kachemak Bay.

Mattea Peters is a School Counselor in five KPBSD schools. Born and raised in Homer, she joined HYSOC on the violin in late elementary school and played with them until she graduated from Homer High in 2014. She continued her musical education through college orchestra and, later on, looking for a way to continue her musical involvement, joined the Codas in 2023. Fueled by her own experiences, Mattea continues to be passionate about the importance of music in a child’s life and education.

Linda was a founder of Paul Banks Preludes. She plays violin and viola and is an enthusiastic proponent of modern brain science which indicates that every student’s social and behavioral skills, as well as their academic ability, can be significantly improved by early instruction in playing a non-fretted string instrument.

With a Master’s degree in Music Education and extensive Suzuki method teacher training on both violin and cello, Lisa Schallock has been teaching strings for over 40 years and currently has a small private studio in Homer. Lisa was the music director of the Homer Youth String Orchestra Club for 10 years, co-founded the Anchorage Talent Education Association, helped organize and run Southcentral Suzuki Institute, and taught at various summer camps. As a cellist, Lisa has performed with many chamber groups and community orchestras throughout Alaska.

A science and nature writer, Miranda Weiss is a parent of two OPUS students, a violinist and a cellist. The cellist is also a Frescoes violinist! Miranda has seen firsthand the ways music can change kids’ lives–helping them learn in new ways and see themselves in a new light. And she’s seen how the experience of playing in ensemble lets kids be part of something larger than themselves–and, through busking on the Homer Spit–earn some ice cream money too! As a kid, Miranda was a Suzuki piano student, and she loves that her children play portable instruments, and that they get the opportunity to play with the regional orchestra and other ensembles through OPUS programs.