Welcome to Cascade Music with Dr. Jensina Oliver

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"Where words fail, music speaks." -Hans Christian Andersen

Cascade Music was founded by Dr. Jensina Oliver to provide high quality music education to area musicians of all ages. From beginning piano to advanced instruction and teacher training, as well as an expanding slate of teachers for a variety of instruments, Cascade Music can provide instruction from recreational to artist level and beyond. We prioritize helping students develop a deep love of music and a strong foundation so that music will be a life-long endeavor for each student.








Faculty



Founder and Director Dr. Jensina Oliver

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Known for her expressive and passionate performances, pianist Jensina Oliver has appeared as soloist and chamber musician in the United States, China, Canada, Costa Rica, Israel, and throughout Europe. Her performances with orchestra include appearances with the Hubei Provincial Orchestra of Wuhan, China, as well the Utah Philharmonia, Orchestra of Southern Utah, Intermountain Chamber Orchestra, University of Washington Symphony, and University of Utah Symphony Orchestra. She was a national finalist of the MTNA Chamber Competition, a resident artist at the Banff Chamber Music Festival, and has won several solo and concerto competitions throughout the United States. As a member of Duo Cascadia, Dr. Oliver performs with Dr. Kay Zavislak, exploring a diverse piano ensemble repertoire and concertizing throughout the Pacific Northwest region.

Ms. Oliver has been praised by critics as “highly talented,” with a “steely-fingered” technique and a flair for “panache and drama.” (SL Trib.) “Byington’s command of dynamic phrasing infused each note with elegant intensity in slower passages; in virtuosic sections, she played with assuredness and authority.” Ms. Oliver’s first CD, JENSINA OLIVER performs Chopin, Liszt, Brahms, and Rachmaninoff is available on CDBaby.com.

Ms. Oliver earned her Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) in Piano Performance at the University of Washington under the guidance of Mr. Craig Sheppard and has taught music courses at Shoreline Community College since 1998. As a National Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM), she has a thriving studio with students of all ages. Dr. Oliver travels and teaches around the Pacific Northwest, providing meaningful artistic instruction to students and teachers alike. She currently resides with her family in Seattle, where she is a well-known performer, instructor, clinician, and adjudicator.




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Dr. Nicholas Tagab, a native of Seattle, embarked on his musical journey at the age of eight, falling in love with the piano from the outset. His formal education in piano commenced with a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Washington, where he honed his skills under the guidance of Dr. Robin McCabe. Subsequently, Nicholas pursued a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, delving deeper into his artistry with Santiago Rodriguez, while exploring the intricacies of piano pedagogy with Dr. Naoko Takao. During his tenure at the University of Miami, Nicholas immersed himself in teaching as a Teaching Assistant for the keyboard department, providing group piano classes and private piano lessons for the Frost School of Music.

Eager to further his craft, Nicholas returned to his alma mater, the University of Washington, in pursuit of a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance, completing his degree program in 2023, under the mentorship of Dr. McCabe. During this period, he served as a Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant for the keyboard program, further solidifying his role as both a performer and educator. His dedication and expertise led him to be appointed as a Teaching Assistant for UW’s Humanities First Program, where he engaged with first-year students, fostering discussions in music, linguistics, and literature. His prowess as a pianist was recognized in 2022 when he performed with the Philharmonia Northwest Orchestra as the 1st alternate winner of the University of Washington Piano Concerto Competition.

Upon his return to Seattle in 2017, Nicholas made his mark in the Seattle piano scene by establishing a thriving private piano studio, where he imparts his passion for music to a diverse group of students. Through personalized lesson plans, emphasis on healthy practice habits, performance opportunities, and comprehensive theory instruction, he nurtures the next generation of musicians with care and dedication. Nicholas' commitment to music education extends beyond his private studio, as he also served as the collaborative pianist and vocal coach for North Creek High School’s choral program. During his tenure, the choral program consistently achieved top ratings in festivals and performances, solidifying his reputation as a multifaced musician and educator dedicated to excellence in all facets of his craft.




Associate Faculty



John Cuthbert | Piano

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Born in the Seattle area, John Cuthbert is an experienced piano teacher specializing in both beginner and advanced students. John grew up studying classical piano, studying under the Suzuki method with Janet Schweiger for over 11 years. He performed and competed in the Seattle Young Artist Music Festival held at the University of Washington from 1998 to 2002.

John has been teaching in the Seattle area since 2020. With a passion for jazz, popular music, and a deep understanding of all styles of music theory, he creates engaging, creative lessons tailored to each student's needs. Whether you're just starting or looking to refine your skills, John makes learning fun by blending technique with musical exploration, ensuring that students enjoy the process while mastering the art of piano play.






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Lingxi Zhao | Violin

Hailing from Hunan, Lingxi Zhao is a Chinese violinist pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She studies with Professor Nelson Lee of the Jupiter String Quartet and serves as the Violin Teaching Assistant in the UIUC string department. Lingxi obtained her Master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she studied with Dr. Fabian Lopez and served as a violin teaching assistant. Previously, she studied with Yue Xu at the Xinghai Conservatory of Music, where she received her Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance.

Deeply passionate about chamber music, Lingxi has worked closely with members of the Pacifica Quartet, Jupiter Quartet, and Time for Three (Tf3), among others. As a founding member of the Praxidike String Quartet, she is committed to promoting underrepresented voices and has helped bring classical music to new spaces and audiences. Lingxi has performed in diverse settings across the globe, including Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Krannert Art Center, Xinghai Music Hall, Haikou Music Hall, and Guangzhou Opera House. She has performed with distinguished artists including Lang Lang and Yundi Li. Additionally, she has performed with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia da Camera, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and Zhuzhou Symphony Orchestra. She has also served as guest concertmaster for the Cascade Symphony Orchestra and Illinois Lyrical Theatre.

Lingxi Zhao has received the Excellent Student Prize, Elite Student Scholarships, and the Excellent Academic Study Prize during her academic career. She has participated in various masterclasses, working with renowned musicians and pedagogues such as Yi Chen, Kevork Mardirossian, Renée Jolles, Nicholas DiEugenio, Felix Olschofka, Julia Bushkova, and Long Zhou. Lingxi has won fellowships from organizations including the Miami Music Festival and Texas Music Festival. As an experienced teacher, Lingxi has served as the primary instructor teaching non-music major college students at the University of Illinois, also a violin instructor at the Illinois String Academy. She was recognized on the List of Teaching Honors in 2024 and ranked as Excellent by students in 2021 and 2022 at University of Illinois. Lingxi holds a Graduate Teaching Certificate from the Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning at the University of Illinois.


Wilson Manis | Saxophone

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Wilson Manis is an accomplished young alto saxophone player studying music education with Jeff Kashiwa at Shoreline Community College. Wilson plays lead alto sax and flute in the SCC’s award winning jazz ensemble and also plays saxophone in the small jazz combo there.

Outside of class Wilson leads his own jazz combo that records and performs at street fairs, churches, and fundraisers throughout the Shoreline area. He has also marched in the University of Washington Husky Marching Band.

As a senior at Shorewood High School Wilson received the prestigious Louis Armstrong Award for outstanding jazz musician and earned Superior Soloist Awards at the Newport Jazz Festival and the Bellevue Jazz Festival.

In his various ensembles Wilson has performed throughout the Seattle area including the Edmonds Jazz Walk; Sheridan Market and Roadhouse; house band for Ronald Commons Neighborhood Night Out; Haller Lake United Methodist Church; Newport Jazz Festival; Bellevue Jazz Festival; West Side Band Festival; Western Washington University Band Festival; Spokane Lilac Festival.