St. John’s School hosts a variety of after school instrumental instruction opportunities throughout the year. Students can study a variety of orchestra instruments taught by a faculty of professional musicians and educators.
The fee structure is based on the amount of lessons per quarter.
$35 for each half hour lesson.
When instructors need to be absent they will contact families and the school as soon as possible. The instructor will make an effort to make up any missed lessons before the end of the quarter.
The fee structure is based on the amount of lessons per quarter.
$35 for each half hour lesson.
When instructors need to be absent they will contact families and the school as soon as possible. The instructor will make an effort to make up any missed lessons before the end of the quarter.
Norman Babia | Piano, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Ukulele, Drums, Flute, Drums, Trumpet, Saxophone, French Horn | nbabia@stjohnsguam.com
Norman was born and raised in the Philippines, and has been working at St. John’s School for 6 years. He is the music director and holds the following degrees and awards:
Masters in Education - 2008, Masters in Management -1994, Bachelor in Industrial Education -1991, KUAM Touch Of Class Nominee - 2016, Outstanding American Teacher Nominee - 2005, CitiBank Innovate to Educate Awardee – 2003, Gawad Ulirang Pilipino Awardee (Music, Arts & Entertainment) – 2017
Norman was born and raised in the Philippines, and has been working at St. John’s School for 6 years. He is the music director and holds the following degrees and awards:
Masters in Education - 2008, Masters in Management -1994, Bachelor in Industrial Education -1991, KUAM Touch Of Class Nominee - 2016, Outstanding American Teacher Nominee - 2005, CitiBank Innovate to Educate Awardee – 2003, Gawad Ulirang Pilipino Awardee (Music, Arts & Entertainment) – 2017
Molly Olah | Violin, Viola | molah@stjohnsguam.com
Molly Olah began her violin studies at the age of five in North Muskegon, Michigan. She won a viola scholarship to attend Interlochen Arts Academy and spent her junior and senior years there. After her college years, she became certified as a teacher and spent almost twenty years teaching gifted students and small strings classes at the elementary level in North Carolina. She also maintained a large teaching studio of both violin and viola students from the elementary level through adults. During this time she played violin and viola professionally in many regional orchestras and also ran her own musician booking agency for weddings and corporate events.
She and her husband Dr. Dean Olah (a professor in the School of Education at UOG) relocated to Guam on Christmas Day, 2015. She began teaching at St. Johns in the fall of 2016. She is the principal violist of the Guam Symphony and the Musicians’ Representative to the Guam Symphony Society Board and continues to play professionally on Guam for weddings and other events. She currently teaches Introduction to Philosophy and IB Environmental Science and Societies in the Upper School, conducts the String Orchestra of the Lower School and assists Mr. Babia with the Upper School Orchestra strings, as well as serving as the advisor to the Tri M music honor society.
Molly Olah began her violin studies at the age of five in North Muskegon, Michigan. She won a viola scholarship to attend Interlochen Arts Academy and spent her junior and senior years there. After her college years, she became certified as a teacher and spent almost twenty years teaching gifted students and small strings classes at the elementary level in North Carolina. She also maintained a large teaching studio of both violin and viola students from the elementary level through adults. During this time she played violin and viola professionally in many regional orchestras and also ran her own musician booking agency for weddings and corporate events.
She and her husband Dr. Dean Olah (a professor in the School of Education at UOG) relocated to Guam on Christmas Day, 2015. She began teaching at St. Johns in the fall of 2016. She is the principal violist of the Guam Symphony and the Musicians’ Representative to the Guam Symphony Society Board and continues to play professionally on Guam for weddings and other events. She currently teaches Introduction to Philosophy and IB Environmental Science and Societies in the Upper School, conducts the String Orchestra of the Lower School and assists Mr. Babia with the Upper School Orchestra strings, as well as serving as the advisor to the Tri M music honor society.
Judy Nicholson | Violin, Cello, Piano | jnicholson@stjohnsguam.com
Lifelong musician and Oregon-certified substitute teacher.
Played the cello in orchestras and small groups all my life; started piano at age 6 and studied through college. I spent most of my working life as a freelance writer, and the last few years have been lucky enough to find my second career at St. John’s, teaching music. Lessons can include a variety of methods and activities to find the music in each student, from Suzuki to Mark O’Connor fiddle to YouTube videos on technique. I believe that learning to read music is an important cognitive skill that can benefit any young mind, regardless of talent or ultimate technical development. I particularly enjoy beginning students.
Lifelong musician and Oregon-certified substitute teacher.
Played the cello in orchestras and small groups all my life; started piano at age 6 and studied through college. I spent most of my working life as a freelance writer, and the last few years have been lucky enough to find my second career at St. John’s, teaching music. Lessons can include a variety of methods and activities to find the music in each student, from Suzuki to Mark O’Connor fiddle to YouTube videos on technique. I believe that learning to read music is an important cognitive skill that can benefit any young mind, regardless of talent or ultimate technical development. I particularly enjoy beginning students.
Hazelle Ko | Piano, Violin, Drums | hazelle.ko@gmail.com
A St. John's School alumna, Hazelle was very active in the music department during her time at SJS. She was a part of many performance arts humanitarian tours in elementary school, and in high school was a part of the Orchestra and Glee Club.
She graduated from St. John's School in 2013 as a member of Tri-M and NHS, and was awarded the Tri-M Music Award at graduation.
She recently graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2017 with a BA in Natural Sciences and a minor in music. Musically talented, Hazelle plays piano, violin, drums, guitar and also sing. She played piano at Blessed Diego church with the Una Voce Choir under the direction of Mr. Babia, played violin with the Guam Symphony, and have competed in the Young Artist's Competition (Piano: Finalist) and Tumon Bay Music Festival (Piano: Gold, Violin: Gold, Glee Club: Gold, Orchestra: Gold)
A St. John's School alumna, Hazelle was very active in the music department during her time at SJS. She was a part of many performance arts humanitarian tours in elementary school, and in high school was a part of the Orchestra and Glee Club.
She graduated from St. John's School in 2013 as a member of Tri-M and NHS, and was awarded the Tri-M Music Award at graduation.
She recently graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2017 with a BA in Natural Sciences and a minor in music. Musically talented, Hazelle plays piano, violin, drums, guitar and also sing. She played piano at Blessed Diego church with the Una Voce Choir under the direction of Mr. Babia, played violin with the Guam Symphony, and have competed in the Young Artist's Competition (Piano: Finalist) and Tumon Bay Music Festival (Piano: Gold, Violin: Gold, Glee Club: Gold, Orchestra: Gold)
Rendo Facun | Trumpet | facunrendo@gmail.com
Over the years, Rendo has been affiliated with many bands, but most notably, the Guam Territorial Band, the Tumon Bay Youth Orchestra, the Guam Army Band, and most recently, University of Guam's band. He looks forward to teaching your child the knowledge he has gained from his experience with these groups, and to a good semester!
Over the years, Rendo has been affiliated with many bands, but most notably, the Guam Territorial Band, the Tumon Bay Youth Orchestra, the Guam Army Band, and most recently, University of Guam's band. He looks forward to teaching your child the knowledge he has gained from his experience with these groups, and to a good semester!