Meet our amazing and gifted staff!
Erin Roberts Hall, Creative Director & Owner
Erin Roberts’ history of learning and loving music has spanned the majority of her life. Growing up in Minnesota, Erin’s musical education began at the age of 5, studying classical piano, flute, and vocals during her elementary and teen years. She has had a wide range of choral education, including concert choirs, gospel choirs, a cappella jazz ensembles, the All-Conference Choir of Minneapolis, the nationally recognized All-State Women’s Choir of Minnesota (under the direction of MMEA), and the internationally touring Women’s Choir of the College of St. Benedict. Erin completed a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Minnesota, with concentrations in theory and vocal performance. Studying both piano and voice at the university level, Erin was able to study with masters including Axel Theimer at Saint John’s University, performer and composer Kevin Rotty at the MacPhail Center for Music, and international opera star John DeHaan at the University of Minnesota. Toward the end of her college years, Erin’s focus shifted toward jazz music, leading her to study jazz vocals and theory at the MacPhail Center for Music, culminating those studies in a Senior Jazz Recital with a self-directed quintet. Erin’s teaching career began in 2002 at Coon Rapids High School and Saint John’s University, with her roles as Vice President of the Concert Choir, Director of the Freshman Choral Ensemble, Musical Assistant to the Saint John’s Boys Choir, class theory instructor, and private voice and recorder instructor. Erin’s performing career has been diverse, including classical piano and voice competitions, opera roles at Saint John’s University, musical theatre roles at the University of Minnesota, and jazz lounge performances at such venues as Rick’s Cabaret, Rarig Center, and the Kitty Kat Club. Erin is now living and teaching in San Diego, California, where she founded Prodigy School of Arts. She has held teaching positions at four elementary schools in the San Diego area, where she has implemented her own program designed to combine all elements of musical exploration and theoretical understanding. She has led music classes for students with a wide range of special learning needs in classroom settings, as well as teaching for students who speak English as a second language. In addition to elementary school and private avenues, she has given music, acting and dance classes at Junior Theatre in Balboa Park, and private coaching for acting and voice dialogue. She is a certified Music Together teacher for infant and toddler classes, and worked as a coach for parent/toddler music and art classes at Gymboree in Solana Beach. Erin is a member of the California Association of Professional Music Teachers and the Music Teachers National Association, a guitar novice, an aerobics and yoga instructor, and passionate student of life, love, and the present moment.
Amy Vaughan, Art Department Head
Raised in a family where art was both appreciated and encouraged, Amy Vaughan has developed her early creative explorations along a few different avenues. Professionally, she solidified her emerging talents, earning accolades while completing her degree in studio arts. Subsequently, she has contributed her work to a variety of art shows and exhibitions. While Amy’s focus and passion as a working artist has been expressed mainly through painting and mixed media sculpture, she has gained expertise and acuity as a professional photographer for 9 years.
Along her creative journey, Amy felt drawn to teaching. Formalizing her inclinations for teaching, she went on to earn her MA in Elementary Education.
Through the process of making art and working with children, Amy continues to learn the meaning and value of patience. When she is not teaching art professionally, she also devotes much of her time, energy and love to nurturing the creativity of her two young sons.
Along her creative journey, Amy felt drawn to teaching. Formalizing her inclinations for teaching, she went on to earn her MA in Elementary Education.
Through the process of making art and working with children, Amy continues to learn the meaning and value of patience. When she is not teaching art professionally, she also devotes much of her time, energy and love to nurturing the creativity of her two young sons.
John Duczakowski, Martial Arts Dept. Head
John Duczakowski is co-founder and certified master instructor of X-FORCE martial arts system (X-treme Fusion of Real Combat Evolved). John has been featured on Planet X TV and FOX TV showcasing various self-defense seminars.
Master Duza is skilled in boxing, muay-thai kickboxing, aikido, jiu-jitsu, judo, ground fighting, grappling arts, wing chun, and street weapons. He has also instructed at the prestigious "Gathering of the Masters" and "Gathering of the Eagles," and a variety of other international martial arts seminars.
John is a certified personal trainer under NSPA, and has worked at LA Fitness, Frog's, Club La Jolla, and a variety of other gyms around San Diego. He has been training and teaching martial arts for over 24 years, with 13 of those years under Grand Master Greg Fraser's Jing Shen Kuoshu.
Master Duza is skilled in boxing, muay-thai kickboxing, aikido, jiu-jitsu, judo, ground fighting, grappling arts, wing chun, and street weapons. He has also instructed at the prestigious "Gathering of the Masters" and "Gathering of the Eagles," and a variety of other international martial arts seminars.
John is a certified personal trainer under NSPA, and has worked at LA Fitness, Frog's, Club La Jolla, and a variety of other gyms around San Diego. He has been training and teaching martial arts for over 24 years, with 13 of those years under Grand Master Greg Fraser's Jing Shen Kuoshu.
Scooter Oyama, Instructor
Based out of San Diego and California born and raised, Scooter Oyama graduated with a music degree in jazz performance from UC San Diego and has performed in a variety of different contexts ranging from his own acts, GO YAMA and Scooter + Oliver Project, to funk, to hip hop, to strict jazz ensembles. Having studied under acclaimed jazz artists and composers such as Kamau Kenyatta, Mark Dresser, and Anthony Davis, Scooter prefers jazz guitar as his main field of focus, but also plays a variety of other instruments and other styles, including drums. In his free time he enjoys a nice surf followed by a hot cup of coffee. You can hear one of Scooter's original compositions below and check out more of his awesome music online at goyamamusic.com.
Alex Dausch, General Manager & Guitar Instructor
Alex Dausch has a unique background in both business and the arts, having managed a hotel, worked in a small art galleria and also being a multi-instrumental musician. Born in New Orleans, he has a diverse cultural viewpoint and had a very musical upbringing. Moving to Northwest Ohio at age 15, Alex attended high school and college in the Midwest and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Bowling Green State University. In 2008 Alex moved to San Diego and became an active member in the local music scene, including running a small recording business called Studio Studios out of his apartment when he is not working. In addition to being a studio musician and producer, Alex plays guitar, bass and keyboards in several bands and sings as well. Continuing to nurture his mixed musical and professional backgrounds has been his main motivation for joining the Prodigy family. When he is not working or recording, he enjoys cooking, writing and spending time with his friends. You can hear one of his original songs below!
Natasha Kozaily, Instructor
Natasha grew up on the small island of Grand Cayman in the Caribbean Sea, 180 miles south of Cuba and 195 miles west of Jamaica. Her parents being from opposite sides of the globe (her mother, a native Islander of Cayman, and her father, a Lebanese far from home) resulted in Natasha's deep love and curiosity for the world around which can be seen throughout her art and life.
A nomad and creative tour de force, Natasha embraces the arts in all its forms. Lover of the stage and theater, she honed her craft at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City where she graduated in 2007. She studied classical piano since the age of seven and graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Cardiff University in Wales specializing in Ethnomusicology. Her undergraduate ethnomusicology thesis entitled "An Island's Story: Told through the music of Julia Hydes" is celebrated and treasured as the first and only in depth writing on Caymanian folk music and drummer, Miss Julia Hydes.
After graduating, Natasha moved to San Diego, California to record her debut album with talented producer and musician Chad Farran. The exploration of her cultural identity is presented beautifully in her first debut album Between Shores, "a collection of Caribbean-tinged but world-aware songs that frame her engaging vocals stylishly...with melodies born from the sounds of the sea". Between Shores, was awarded Album of the Year by the Cayman Music and Entertainment Association.
When Natasha is not writing songs or performing live you can find her, volunteering her time to environmental activism and teaching, dancing Argentine Tango, writing her monthly music and travel column for the Cayman Compass or painting in her backyard. The same poetic imagery of her lyrics is translated to colour and canvas with her paintings that are full of spirit, passion and the colours of the world around her. She currently exhibits and sells her work in the Cayman Islands and San Diego, where she now resides.
You can find or purchase her art and music online at www.natashakozaily.com.
A nomad and creative tour de force, Natasha embraces the arts in all its forms. Lover of the stage and theater, she honed her craft at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City where she graduated in 2007. She studied classical piano since the age of seven and graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Cardiff University in Wales specializing in Ethnomusicology. Her undergraduate ethnomusicology thesis entitled "An Island's Story: Told through the music of Julia Hydes" is celebrated and treasured as the first and only in depth writing on Caymanian folk music and drummer, Miss Julia Hydes.
After graduating, Natasha moved to San Diego, California to record her debut album with talented producer and musician Chad Farran. The exploration of her cultural identity is presented beautifully in her first debut album Between Shores, "a collection of Caribbean-tinged but world-aware songs that frame her engaging vocals stylishly...with melodies born from the sounds of the sea". Between Shores, was awarded Album of the Year by the Cayman Music and Entertainment Association.
When Natasha is not writing songs or performing live you can find her, volunteering her time to environmental activism and teaching, dancing Argentine Tango, writing her monthly music and travel column for the Cayman Compass or painting in her backyard. The same poetic imagery of her lyrics is translated to colour and canvas with her paintings that are full of spirit, passion and the colours of the world around her. She currently exhibits and sells her work in the Cayman Islands and San Diego, where she now resides.
You can find or purchase her art and music online at www.natashakozaily.com.
Samara Rice, Instructor
Samara Rice is very excited to be a violin and piano teacher at
Prodigy School of Arts! A life-long musician, Samara started training
with the Suzuki method at the age of five, and is currently a music major
with an emphasis in composition at the University of California, San
Diego. In an effort to introduce even infants and toddlers to the joys of music, Samara also became a certified Music Together instructor for parent-child music and movement courses. In addition to her violin and piano expertise, Samara has sung and performed in numerous choirs throughout Southern California over the years, including The Southern California Children’s Choir, Saddleback College’s Women’s Camerata and Modern Masterworks Choral, and UCSD’s Concert Choir and Gospel Choir.
Samara studied piano performance/pedagogy, composition, and music theory at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA under the tutelage of Dr. Rebecca Rollins, Pamela Worcester and Dr. Norman Weston. At UCSD she has studied with Dr. Chinary Ung, Dr. Rand Steiger, Dr. Lei Liang, and Dr. Philippe Manoury.
Prodigy School of Arts! A life-long musician, Samara started training
with the Suzuki method at the age of five, and is currently a music major
with an emphasis in composition at the University of California, San
Diego. In an effort to introduce even infants and toddlers to the joys of music, Samara also became a certified Music Together instructor for parent-child music and movement courses. In addition to her violin and piano expertise, Samara has sung and performed in numerous choirs throughout Southern California over the years, including The Southern California Children’s Choir, Saddleback College’s Women’s Camerata and Modern Masterworks Choral, and UCSD’s Concert Choir and Gospel Choir.
Samara studied piano performance/pedagogy, composition, and music theory at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA under the tutelage of Dr. Rebecca Rollins, Pamela Worcester and Dr. Norman Weston. At UCSD she has studied with Dr. Chinary Ung, Dr. Rand Steiger, Dr. Lei Liang, and Dr. Philippe Manoury.
Clare Hutchinson, Instructor
Clare Hutchinson-Sanders was born and raised in Julian, CA. She began piano lessons there at the age of seven and continued her formal studies through her senior year of high school. Her teacher, Garnette Welch, a graduate of the music department of SDSU, was a diverse and talented musician who emphasized exact, technically solid performance and a strong classical repertoire.
At eighteen, Clare left Julian to study at UC Berkeley where she earned a degree in Fine Art. As an artist Clare explored technology, gender roles, and the tenuous line between art and craft. Clare also studied music briefly at UC Berkeley in the form of a sight singing and theory class. Upon completion of her undergraduate degree Clare taught art for the Marvegos Fine Art School in the Bay Area where she prided herself in her ability to encourage curiosity, confidence, and innovation in her students.
As a music instructor for Prodigy, Clare is excited to combine her skills in arts education with her love for the piano.
At eighteen, Clare left Julian to study at UC Berkeley where she earned a degree in Fine Art. As an artist Clare explored technology, gender roles, and the tenuous line between art and craft. Clare also studied music briefly at UC Berkeley in the form of a sight singing and theory class. Upon completion of her undergraduate degree Clare taught art for the Marvegos Fine Art School in the Bay Area where she prided herself in her ability to encourage curiosity, confidence, and innovation in her students.
As a music instructor for Prodigy, Clare is excited to combine her skills in arts education with her love for the piano.
Jennifer Wu, Instructor
Jennifer Wu began her piano and violin studies at the ages of 5 and 6 respectively, continuing in the studios of Dr. Jed Galant and Nathan Rubin through high school. She also toured extensively as a chorister, including concerts at the Sydney Opera House, the National Concert Hall in Beijing, St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Carnegie Hall, and Davies Symphony Hall. Jennifer began coaching and accompanying young musicians in 2003, and has since taught vocal arts to solo artists, chamber choirs, small ensembles, and numerous collegiate a cappella groups. She recently completed her vocal studies with honors at UC San Diego, where she studied with Dr. Stephanie Aston and Philip Larson, and now performs regularly throughout Southern California.
Ms. Wu is currently a soprano in the San Diego Opera Chorus, an avid performer of chamber music, and a soloist within various choral ensembles.
Ms. Wu is currently a soprano in the San Diego Opera Chorus, an avid performer of chamber music, and a soloist within various choral ensembles.
