Meet Our Instructors

(Guitar, Piano, Bass, Drums, Voice, Violin, Ukulele, Production) 

Donato McDermott has a background in playing music as well as teaching. Music is Donato’s life, which led him to be the founder of Evolution Music Conservatory. He has been involved in several successful bands (Legs on Sale, Royal Heist, Dondo and the Mothership). Donato is a graduate of Musician's Institute, where he studied a multitude of instruments extensively. He has over 15 years experience instructing at professional music schools and loves teaching anyone with a desire to learn. Donato developed his own teaching curriculum which is implemented here at EMC. He teaches guitar, drums, piano, and bass to beginners up to professional levels as well as songwriting, recording, theory, harmony, sight-reading, and ear training. 

(Guitar, Bass, Piano, Drums, Violin, Cello, Ukulele, Production)

Nick has been performing and studying classical, jazz, contemporary electronic music and production since 2007. As he splits his time between educating and being an active part of the music industry both on and off stage, Nick will easily be able to help guide you to achieve any musical goals you have. Whether it's picking up an instrument for the first time, carving out your own unique style, or just jamming just for the sake of jamming, he's got you covered. FSU, BA in Music.

(Guitar, Drums, Bass, Beginner- Intermediate Piano, Singing/Vocals, and Woodwinds)

Ian Uvas is an active LA musician currently playing for multiple rock and indie bands, Jazz combos, R&B/Funk bands, with recording, gigging, and session experience for drum set and guitar around the LA area. Ian has multiple seasons of experience playing marching snare drum and marching cymbals in the Drum Corp for groups such as Pacific Crest, Vessel percussion, Impulse, and Instinct percussion. Ian has also played guitar for various musical theatre productions such as Amélie, Hair the Musical, Grease, and Rent, during his time briefly studying in Santa Barbara, and actively teaching music in the Burbank area, where he also started his musical journey playing clarinet, saxophone, piano, and percussion. Ian currently teaches the Burbank High School and John Burroughs High School drumlines and is majoring in music at Pasadena City College

(Drums, Piano, Guitar, Ukulele, Rock Band, Violin, Cello, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Flute, Voice)

Raised in the suburbs of Chicago Zach Nazar picked up the drum-set at age 8 and took weekly lessons for twelve years before moving to Boston in 2004 to attend Berklee College of Music where he took up World percussion as his primary instrument. There he began finding a love for traditional music from around the globe. In 2013 Zach began teaching orchestral instruments with El Sistema through the Longy School of Music of Bard College’s Master of Arts and Teaching Program in Los Angeles. Since then, Zach has been teaching all instruments as the Music Director at the Muse school in Calabasas, Our Community Charter School, Guidance Charter High School, and Foothills Music Academy. Incorporating all of his previous experience into his teaching and curriculum, Zach has developed his own unique approach to education with an emphasis on fun! He is also teaching private lessons for all instruments, composing original music, performing, and is frequently called to “sit in” on recordings and performances of various styles. Through this experience, Zach has acquired a unique passion, perspective and ability to adapt his style, allowing him work with a vast range of individuals. 

(Drums, Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, Bass)

Matt Tucci is a professional drummer currently playing in multiple local and successful bands. His background is in audio engineering and music studies and loves to teach children of all ages how to play the drums, piano, ukulele, guitar, and bass. A true multi-instrumentalist, Matt is able to help students transition from any instrument they choose and will often utilize differing instruments to hone complex musical concepts. 

(Voice, Piano, Songwriting, Logic Pro X)

Elisa González is a Colombian singer/songwriter and performer based in Los Angeles, California. She is a professional vocalist with 8 years of music experience with a strong emphasis on lead/background singing, vocal technique and songwriting in contemporary styles. As a graduate from Musicians Institute (BM in Performance, AA in Vocal Performance, Independent Artist Certificate) she has been constantly involved in the LA music scene, working with world class musicians and studying under world class pop & jazz instructors, which has led her to be constantly performing with different bands in a variety of genres as well as leading her own personal projects, while also teaching students of all levels and helping them achieve their musical aspirations. As a working musician and music teacher, Elisa believes in cultivating a space where students can feel safe to explore, be creative and enjoy the process of finding their own musical abilities. Elisa teaches beginner to advanced voice and beginner to intermediate piano as well as songwriting, recording, music theory, ear training, sight-reading and music notation.