Changing Lives through Music
ViVO Youth Orchestras is a youth development program transforming lives through the power of music. Based in Sonoma, CA, we welcome K-12 students from all Sonoma Valley schools to explore creativity, build confidence, and find belonging through exceptional music education.
Meet the team
Landon Lemoine
Executive Director
When Landon LeMoine first picked up the saxophone in seventh grade, he discovered that music was more than notes on a page — it was a doorway to friendships, experiences, and opportunities that shaped his life. Music has remained central ever since; whether playing saxophone or clarinet with local and not-so-local musicians, it has served as his meditation, creative outlet, and a way to connect with others. Before joining ViVO, Landon spent eight years as a full-time educator, teaching high school, middle school, and university students while guiding ensembles and jazz programs, giving him a deep understanding of how to nurture musicians at every stage.
Today, Landon brings that same belief in the transformative power of music to ViVO Youth Orchestras, where he serves as Executive Director. He works closely with students and teaching artists to design ensembles, lessons, and performances that inspire creativity, exploration, and collaboration, while building partnerships across Sonoma and beyond to expand opportunities for young musicians. Landon holds a Master of Music from Northern Illinois University, with an emphasis in Jazz Pedagogy and Ethnomusicology, and a BA in Jazz Studies from Columbia College Chicago. For him, music is a way to nurture growth, inspire creativity, and connect people, and he takes pride in guiding ViVO as a place where students can explore, create, and have fun.
Phil Herrschaft
Pre-Orchestra and Art
Phil’s love for art and music has been a lifelong journey — from early days at Sunshine Daycare and Santa Rosa JC, to studying studio art at San Francisco State University, to performing and composing with bands like Magflies, Thinman, and Ragtag Sullivan. Along the way, he opened for Al Green, ran local Blues Jams, and created four original albums, learning as much from his students as from the stage. He has also pursued art abroad in Italy, bringing a global perspective to his teaching and creative practice.
At ViVO Youth Orchestras, Phil channels this wealth of experience into inspiring young musicians. He believes teaching is about more than technique — it’s about fostering community, self-expression, and joy. Every rehearsal and lesson is an opportunity to help students discover their voice, connect with others, and experience the transformative power of music and art, just as he has throughout his life.
Lupita Torrez
Strings Teaching Artist
For Lupita Torrez, music is home. Born in Santa Rosa and raised in Sonoma, she joined ViVO at age ten as a fifth grader at El Verano Elementary—and has been part of the program ever since. What began as a childhood spark has grown into a lifelong passion for music and teaching, shaping both her artistry and her purpose.
Through ViVO, Lupita has performed at UC Berkeley and the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, sharing the stage with Gustavo Dudamel, YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles), and orchestras from across the Bay Area. She has also performed with the Sonoma Philharmonic and SRJC Orchestra, and often played in the Sonoma Plaza during high school, sharing her love of music with her community.
At 19, Lupita began an internship with ViVO, transitioning from student to teacher-in-training, and by 21, she was leading her own class—an experience that confirmed her calling to guide young musicians through the same program that once inspired her. Now a senior at Sonoma State University, she is majoring in Early Childhood Studies with a concentration in Teaching and minoring in Criminal Justice, blending her love of education with her passion for advocacy and justice.
Grounded in faith and gratitude, Lupita brings warmth, dedication, and joy to her work each day, helping the next generation of musicians find their voice, confidence, and creativity through music.
Patricia Torres
Program Director
Patricia Torres is the Program Director at ViVO Youth Orchestras, where she brings a passion for educational excellence and equity to every student she serves. She holds a degree in Sociology from Sonoma State University and pursued advanced studies at the Universidad Veracruzana in Veracruz, Mexico, focusing on Spanish language and Mexican culture. Patricia is certified bilingual in Spanish and English, allowing her to connect with students and families across the Sonoma community.
Born and raised in Sonoma with deep family roots — her grandparents immigrated from Ireland to the area in the 1930s — Patricia lives locally with her family and is deeply committed to building strong connections with parents and families. She recognizes that ViVO’s work would not be possible without the support of the community, and she works tirelessly to engage families, ensuring they are partners in their children’s musical journeys. Her leadership helps create inclusive, engaging programs where students can thrive, explore, and discover their potential.
Jose Hernandez
Winds Teaching Artist
Born and raised in Yuba, Jose discovered his lifelong passion for music in sixth grade when he joined band class. By ninth grade, he taught himself guitar, which became his primary instrument. He went on to earn a double Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Guitar Performance from California State University, Sacramento, where he deepened both his musicianship and his commitment to inspiring young musicians.
Since 2020, Jose has taught private lessons, small group ensembles, and full classrooms. He currently teaches at Sonoma Valley High School, Creekside, and ViVO Youth Orchestras, where he encourages students to explore their creativity, build confidence, and discover the joy of making music together. For him, teaching winds is about helping each student find their voice and the sense of community that comes from performing as part of an ensemble.
Jeffrey Alcaraz
Strings Teaching Artist
For Jeffrey Alcaraz, music is both a lifelong craft and a way to celebrate his community. A Sonoma State University graduate, Jeffrey has studied violin for over 20 years and performed in mariachi ensembles for more than a decade, blending classical training with rich cultural tradition in his teaching. He has held principal and first violin positions with both the Sonoma State University Orchestra and the Santa Rosa Junior College Orchestra, studying under Bernard Chevalier, Gail Hernandez Rosa, and Ivy Zenobi. Proudly born and raised in Santa Rosa, Jeffrey is dedicated to helping young musicians at ViVO find joy, discipline, and confidence through the art of string performance.
Max Link
Percussion Teaching Artist
Max Link’s musical journey began deep in Germany’s Black Forest, where he started formal drum training at the age of five. By sixteen, he was performing in rock and metal bands, developing both his technical skill and creative drive. His international travels later expanded his musical horizons, inspiring him to explore percussion traditions from around the world.
Drawn to the expressive power of global rhythms, Max immersed himself in instruments of African, Asian, and American origin—particularly the Udu, Djembe, and Frame Drum—which he now plays regularly. Over the years, he has collaborated with internationally renowned artists including Mark Seelig, Loren Nerell, and Byron Metcalf on projects within the ambient and world music genres.
Alongside his career as a performer and educator, Max is training to become a licensed psychotherapist, integrating music as a tool for mindfulness and self-compassion. At ViVO, he shares his passion for rhythm and percussion with students, inspiring joy, curiosity, and connection through the universal language of music.
Alex Garcia
Winds Teaching Artist
Alex Garcia’s love for music began in Sonoma Valley and has taken him on a journey across instruments, genres, and stages. A versatile musician, he teaches saxophone, flute, guitar, piano, and music production at ViVO Youth Orchestras, sharing his passion and curiosity with the next generation of artists. Over the years, Alex has performed with high-level Bay Area groups including Pete Floyd, Teals Afterparty, Invincible Star, and T Luke and the Tight Suits, and has taken the stage at Crystal Bay Tahoe, BottleRock Music Festival, Napa Blue Note, Sweetwater Music Hall, and the Mystic Theater.
For Alex, teaching is an extension of his performing life — an opportunity to inspire creativity, nurture confidence, and spark curiosity in young musicians. When he’s not on stage or in the classroom, he enjoys hiking, traveling, cooking, and following the Golden State Warriors, bringing the same energy and enthusiasm to his teaching as he does to his music.
Vivo Success
Students Served:
More than 90 young musicians each year, with a vision to reach 160 by 2029.
Musical Literacy:
Students gain independence in reading and interpreting music, building a language they can carry for life.
Performances per year:
Over 10 opportunities for our students to share their music and spirit with the community.
Ensemble Collaboration:
Our orchestras teach listening, empathy, and trust — the same qualities that strengthen our community.
Instructor-to-Student Ratio:
1 mentor for every 6–8 students, ensuring every child is seen, supported, and inspired.
Skill Development:
Students receive up to 12 hours of weekly instruction that cultivates discipline, creativity, and joy.