Del Sol Academy Orchestra

Del Sol Academy of The Performing Arts - What’s Your Fire?

Del Sol Academy of The Performing Arts - What’s Your Fire?

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Meet the Directors

  • Orchestra Director

    Marla Huizar graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2012 with a Bachelor in Music Education and in 2017 with a Master’s degree in the same field. During her undergraduate years, Ms. Huizar played the violin and was a member of the UNLV Symphony and Chamber orchestras. Furthermore, while attaining her Master’s, Ms. Huizar also took voice lessons in opera music.

    A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, Ms. Huizar has been deeply involved with the music community from a young age. In addition to being trained in classical music, Ms. Huizar has had a strong passion for mariachi music. Ms. Huizar personally witnessed, and participated in, the growth of the mariachi program in the Las Vegas community. Ms. Huizar has also performed at several major events, including the “Las Vegas Walk of Stars” and the Latin Grammys, where she performed for various famous Latin artists. Ms. Huizar is currently the mariachi instructor of the Foundation to Assist Young Musicians and a proud member of the Henderson Symphony Orchestra.

  • Assistant Director

    A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, and product of the CCSD, he earned a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from UNLV in the summer of 2023.

    His musical journey began in Las Vegas, where he played cello in the orchestras at Orr Middle School and Valley High School. It was Stephanie Bedker, his middle school orchestra teacher, who ignited his passion for music. Angel's dedication to music was further nurtured by the generosity of Harold "Hal" Weller and his Foundation to Assist Young Musicians (FAYM). After attending a FAYM summer day camp in 2015, he received a $1,600 cello donation and a $1,000 scholarship for private lessons, setting him on a path to excellence.

    Throughout his musical education, Angel had the guidance of dedicated mentors like Devon Zubka, Ryan Tingle, and Dr. Andrew "Andy" Smith during his time at UNLV. Andy's support, including financial assistance and securing scholarships, played a crucial role in Angel's journey. Angel's teaching experience includes substitute teaching for FAYM cello classes and private cello instruction, a teacher assistant at the UNLV/CSUN preschool, and student teaching at KO Knudson.

    Angel's ensemble background includes participation in the 2016 honor orchestra, LVYAO Symphony directed by Yunior Lopez, and the UNLV chamber and symphony orchestras. He showcased his talent through solo recitals, one in high school for IB Music fulfillment and another at UNLV during his junior year. With his diverse musical experiences and unwavering passion for education, Angel Scotch is poised to make a significant impact as a music educator at Del Sol Academy.

  • Assistant Director

    Multi-faceted musician Ryan Villahermosa strives to expand the boundaries of classical music to better connect to audiences, ensembles and students. He currently serves as the Instructional Assistant specializing in Orchestral Strings at Del Sol Academy of the Arts. He also teaches violin, viola, music theory, and guitar privately with multiple music schools in the Las Vegas area.

    Trained as a violist, violinist, and conductor, Ryan has performed in Nevada, California, Washington, Montana, and Hawaii. Ryan appeared as a soloist with the University of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra in 2018 and conducted the Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra for their 2019 cycle of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker ballet. As an orchestral violist, Ryan has performed with the Bakersfield Symphony, Bozeman Symphony, Henderson Symphony, and other ensembles on the West Coast.

    In between teaching and performing, you can find Ryan writing his contemporary singer-songwriter release, visiting specialty coffee shops, working on his golf game, or playing Magic: the Gathering.