Dan Welby
Drums/Owner

Dan moved to Los Angeles from Massachusetts in 1999 to attend Musicians Institute, where he studied percussion. After graduating from MI, Dan started teaching and building a solid student base throughout Los Angeles and Orange County. He has enjoyed a solid schedule with an average of 40 students per week for the last 12 years. Dan’s drumming career began back in 1992, where he was playing music with friends and studying with the local drum teacher. Since moving to Los Angeles Dan has been a part of several bands and projects. He has played live shows throughout the United States while on tour, has been involved in many music videos and has also been involved in many professional recording sessions with top notch producers in Hollywood. Dan is currently the drummer for: Electra, Time And The Dragon, and Colin Reid. His past bands include: Hostile Groove, Hell Hath No Fury, Time Out, Damn Hippie Freaks, and Black Moon Dog. Check Dan out on Youtube

Electra Barakos
Vocals/Piano
Owner

Electra Barakos was born in Los Angeles California, but raised in Athens, Greece. Influenced by her father who is a professional Bass player, Electra started her music career from a very early age.

Today Electra holds a Bachelors degree in Music – Opera, but has spent most of her performance career focused on her solo original rock pop project. She has released an EP titled “Problem Child”, and a full length album titled “These Times”. She has shared the stage with Lita Ford, Berlin, Missing Persons, Great White, Jared Lee, Dilana, and was part of the 2010 Sunset Strip Music Festival along with Smashing Pumpkins, Slash, Neon Trees, and more, and the 2011 SSMF along with Motley Crue, Public Enemy, Bush and more. Her album “These Times” recorded with renowned producer Mike Plotnikoff (Papa Roach, Kelly Clarkson, Halestorm), includes the song “I Can’t Breathe”, which features Phil X of Bon Jovi, on guitar and bouzouki.

Electra is also known for being a finalist on The Voice of Greece, Season 2. Electra has been teaching voice for over 15 years and is a certified Vocal Power Instructor. In 2016, she earned the title of Director of Vocal Power Academy, Los Angeles, founded by Elisabeth Howard. She has helped her students get on television singing competitions, accepted in prestigious music schools, and get signed to major record labels. As her students have stated “Electra works MAGIC! She helps you find your voice! A voice you never thought you had!!”

Josh Gilbert
Guitar/Bass
Ukulele/Banjo

Josh Gilbert is a professional guitarist with over thirty-five years of experience.  He has toured nationally and performed with established artists and groups such as Puddle of Mudd, Saliva, October Rage, Dead To Fall, Varna, Breaker, among others.  Josh has also made multiple national television appearances on NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and MTV.

With pop and rock music at his core, Josh is versatile in various genres ranging across blues, jazz, metal, R&B, soul, funk, country, folk, and fingerstyle.  His influences include Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Satriani, Nuno Bettencourt, Eric Johnson, Dimebag Darrell, Zakk Wylde, Steve Lukather, Guthrie Govan, and more.  Josh attended Musicians Institute in Hollywood and studied under renowned guitarists such as Allen Hinds and Dave Henderson.

Beyond his performance career, Josh works as a session musician, producer, and songwriter.  He also enjoys teaching and has been an instructor since 2000 mentoring students of all ages and skill levels.  He describes his teaching philosophy, “Music is my passion, whether I channel that through performing on stage or teaching in the lesson room. As a teacher, I still get to be creative in finding ways to reach my students. My lessons are fun, relaxed, and tailored to what my students want to learn. I guarantee immediate progress, and my goal is to mold my students into confident, disciplined, and creative musicians.”

Nick Ferrante
Guitar/Bass
/Ukulele

Nick Ferrante is a musical director, producer, and songwriter. While actively working in the industry he has a passion for teaching the next generation. From starting in garage bands to performing at the Pantages, the Soraya, the Libbey Bowl and countless other venues he has real world experience with every genre. Currently a fourth year student studying at Cal State Northridge under Steven Thachuk head of guitar studies. While he has played for over 7 years, Nick can relate to students about having humble origins and ambitions on the guitar. Just like many of his students he simply picked up the guitar for fun wanting to play along to green day songs without the intention of it being his career.
Along with playing in the band he has vast experience promoting other acts and putting together shows in the valley and Los Angeles area. He has a true dedication to the arts and his fellow artists trying to uplift the careers of himself and those around him.

Nick’s teaching philosophy is about maintaining a level of fun and interest in the instrument. His lesson plans consist of ideas gathered from years of experience in the field and is focused on practical advice and tools to get his students in the world and playing.

Dillon Diaz
Drums

Born and raised in Los Angeles California, Dillon started taking drum lessons at 11 years old. He participated in music programs from elementary through high school and played in bands with his friends and family throughout his childhood. From then on Dillon pursued music at Musician’s Institute where he received a bachelor’s degree in drum performance in 2017. After he finished his education he began teaching at Musician’s Institute and playing gigs as well as studio work all around LA.

Dillon mainly focuses on styles like rock, blues, funk, and hip hop but is also well versed in all styles of music making him a well rounded musician. Dillon is also a passionate educator who has been teaching students of all ages and skill ranges since 2018. Dillon went on to do the International Blues Competition where his band made it all the way to the finals out of 181 bands and got to play at the Orpheum Theatre in front of 2,000 people. Dillon began teaching private lessons at schools all over the Los Angeles area and has been developing his craft as well as his students to pull out their full potential and become the best players they can be. He is currently playing in multiple bands including The Conscious Outlaws, The Andy Vimar Band, as well as playing for artists like Olivia Junholm and Vedant Joshi while teaching lessons to further develop his craft and pass on his knowledge to the students who seek further instruction on what it takes to be a working drummer in the music industry today.

Jason Fahn
Drums

Jason has been an active drummer over the last 18 years. His passion for drumming and music led him to attend Musicians Institute in Hollywood CA. Upon graduating, Jason has remained busy with both studio work and playing with his current band, Awake Through Sleep. Other bands he has performed with include Portrait of Gray, Clarion Concept, Music By Show, and Corporate Villains. The bands he has played in range in styles from Rock, Pop, Punk, Alternative and Metal. Teaching has been an important part of Jason’s musical journey as well. His patience and ability to make the lessons fun while keeping them focused and productive have made him a valuable asset in the music community.

Rikki Valentina
Vocals

Rikki Valentina San Filippo discovered her passion for music at the young age of 5, captivated by the enchanting world of musicals and Disney soundtracks. Her journey began in a youth choir, and by 13, she was performing with youth bands, honing her craft and expanding her musical horizons. Over the years, Rikki has trained extensively in a diverse range of genres, learning from numerous esteemed coaches. One of her coaches being the owner SoundCheck, Electra Barakos herself.

In 2012, Rikki’s talent was recognized by producer Jonathan Kovacs (Jfive)  while working together she gained the knowledge for songwriting and production and has since then written and produced over a dozen original songs.

Her expertise spans vocal technique & diction, piano & music theory, songwriting & producing, and stage presence.
For the past 4 years, Rikki has channeled her love for music into teaching, working with students of all ages and abilities, providing tailored instruction that meets their unique needs and helps them thrive in addition to guiding students in technique and musical expression. Her greatest joy comes from helping her students discover and develop their voices, both literally and creatively, while fostering their overall musical growth.”

Charles Brunson
Piano

Charles Brunson is a San Diego native with a background in trombone and piano. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree and a Master of Music degree from Cal State Northridge and UCLA, respectively.

Charles is active as a music teacher, serving as an instructor of brass and piano students of all levels. Since 2020, he has worked with the Laby Harmony Project, and currently serves there as a brass instructor and Concert Band co-leader. As a performer, Charles has played with the Santa Monica Symphony, the New West Symphony, with the CSUN Symphony as a concerto soloist, as well as many other gigging opportunities in the Los Angeles area. He is a member of Westwood Brass, a quintet consisting of current and former UCLA students.

Emma Stuart
Vocals

Emma Stuart is a singer/songwriter/musician born and raised in Los Angeles. She has been a working vocalist for over a decade. She has a three-octave range, easily able to sing soprano or alto. Her ability to blend and harmonize has kept her in high demand for recordings across many genres of music.

In addition to recording, producing, and performing her own music, Emma has been invited to sing in music festivals in London, choir competitions around the U.S., background vocals for Coachella Music Festival, and charity events in Los Angeles. She loves sharing her experience and knowledge with her students. “Nothing is more rewarding than seeing my students feel confident in their gifts.”