PRIZM arose from hibernation in spring 2021 ready to play on. This year, we are thrilled to expand our reach to students interested in other facets of music, beyond chamber music, through a variety of new virtual music courses running July 6-9, from 1-2 pm CDT. Now, it’s time to meet our incredible instructors. Have you signed up for our online courses yet?

Leslie DeShazor

Named one of 30 “Professional Movers and Shakers in the Performing Arts” by Musical America in 2019, violist and violinist Leslie DeShazor is a talented and diverse musician. She is a freelance artist who performs and has performed with major ensembles in Michigan, including The Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra, Michigan Sinfonietta, Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Flint Symphony. Jazz ensembles she’s performed with include the Leigh Daniels Ensemble,  Musique Noire and Straight Ahead. She has performed and recorded with Grammy Award-winning R&B stars, including Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and Aretha Franklin, as well as Grammy Award-winning gospel artists Fred Hammond, Michael W. Smith and Donnie McClurkin. An experienced instructor, she currently teaches Detroit students through the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Sphinx Organization and her own private studio. 

Leslie will lead our Music Video Recording for Social Media virtual course on July 6.

Alexa Smith

Alexa Smith is the chief of staff and assistant vice president for special initiatives at Manhattan School of Music and oversees special projects for the office of the president and leads the Cultural Inclusion Initiative. She is a frequent guest speaker, clinician and consultant for arts institutions including Project 440, Opera America, New World Symphony, Boston Lyric Opera, Heartbeat Opera, Spire Norland Festival, Emory University, Ithaca College, Governor’s School for the Arts, Royal College of London and others. 

Alexa will lead our virtual course on Music, Social Justice, and Activism on July 7.

Ty Boyland 

Ty Boyland is a veteran music producer, social entrepreneur and educator from Memphis. Ty is the electives department chair at Crosstown High School, where he also teaches music production and entrepreneurship. He is a board member with the Memphis Youth Symphony Program, a former senior fellow with the Memphis Music Initiative and has consulted for many nonprofits and organizations in the field of modern music education.

Ty will lead our course on Music Technology for Beginners on July 8 and Music Production for Beginners on July 9.