Music Academy of the Rockies

Meet the Teachers of the Music Academy of the Rockies

Our teachers come from all sorts of backgrounds, but they’re united by a common passion: Sharing the joy of music with children and families in Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree!

All teachers have successfully completed the live Music Together^® Teacher Training, which is built on research in early childhood and music development. We keep our skills fresh through workshops every semester and advanced trainings offered by Music Together Worldwide.

		Tamara Boeckers Director, Music Together®, Flute Director and owner of Music Academy of the Rockies, Tamara Maddaford began her musical journey at age eight taking flute and piano lessons. She went on to receive her BM from San Jose State University and her MM from the University of Iowa both in Flute Performance. While in undergraduate school, Tamara was introduced to the world of early childhood music and fell in love with teaching young children. She had taught on and off for years before her first child was born and she fell in love with teaching young children all over again. After teaching in Denver for three years, she decided to open her own center right where she lives, here in Castle Rock, opening Music Together of Castle Rock. Over the years, we expanded locations into Lone Tree and Highlands Ranch. Her vision for music was always one that reached beyond early childhood music and she has found a way to expand that vision with the Music Academy of the Rockies. Focusing on group lessons for students of all ages, Tamara is excited to bring on talented teachers to teach group voice and guitar lessons for older students in addition to her Music Together offerings and her own private flute teaching. Mrs. Maddaford is also principal flute of the Stratus Chamber Orchestra and has a private flute studio where students participate recitals, in the Royal Conservatory Music Development Program, become members of youth orchestras and are leaders in their schools. Her students have won the Colorado Flute Association’s Student Honors Competition, been selected for the All-State Bands and Orchestras, and have gone on to major in music performance and education. She performed and toured with Areon Flutes and their recordings can be found on iTunes and Amazon Music.

		Chandler Hoffhines Tidwell Chandler is just joining Music Academy of the Rockies, although they've been teaching Music Together groups for 18 months. Chandler grew up in a musical family in Elizabeth, CO and has loved singing and dancing since childhood. Chandler likes to play guitar, ukulele piano and drums. They joined Music Together originally as a parent— their son John enjoyed what we do so much that they signed up for our teacher training and soon came on board as a teacher! Chandler really believes in the power of music to connect us, to help us learn and grow, and to have a more full experience of the world.

		Sarah Canzonetta Flautist Sarah Canzonetta is a dedicated performer and educator with a wide range of experience teaching all ages and abilities. She was flautist with the Glasgow based Nevis Ensemble as part of their Fellowship program from 2022 -2023, and joined the OAcademy as a fellow in 2024. In addition to flute, she also teaches early childhood music classes and piano lessons throughout the Denver metro area. She is passionate about community engagement through music, and strives to bring a lifelong love of music to any age level and ability. Sarah received her Postgraduate Diploma and Master's degrees in Performance from the Royal Northern College of Music and a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance from the University of North Texas. Outside of music, she enjoys all of the outdoor activities that Colorado has to offer.

		Sophie Ferg Sophie Ferg believes that music is one of the best ways to connect, learn, and have fun together! With a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Music Education, she brings both an understanding of child development and a passion for music to every class. Sophie has been singing in choirs for as long as she can remember and loves strumming her ukulele to get little ones (and their grown ups) moving and singing along. When she isn’t playing music with her husband, she loves to hike, camp, read, and do yoga. With years of experience as a teacher and nanny, she creates a warm, welcoming space where families can make joyful music and lasting memories together.

		Michelle Bailey Swan With over a decade of teaching music across Denver, Michelle Bailey Swan has kept the power of play at the center of her classroom. She is an active live musician, a proud volunteer/curriculum director with Girls Rock Denver, and brings four years of early childhood classroom experience to her Music Together sessions. Families can expect a welcoming and integrated music experience, to find curiosity for musical sensations, and to marvel at how our humanity blooms when we make music, together.

		Tamara & Sophie Ms. Tamara and Ms. Sophie will be co-teaching these classes.