Faculty & Staff

Castro-Lima has taught a range of subjects at the college level, like Composition, Music Theory, Form and Analysis, Ear Training, Electronic Music, Orchestration, Songwriting, Conducting, Music Appreciation, Music of the World and Music Business. After appointments at the University of Texas at Tyler, Texas A&M Commerce, Texas Wesleyan University and Ohlone College, Castro-Lima serves as director of instrumental ensembles and chair of the Music Department at De Anza College in the San Francisco Bay Area.

As a professional musician in the Bay Area, Jay has done and continues to do ensemble and solo work, directing, composing, teaching and concert production. Working with ensembles, she became the assistant director and lead soprano to Downbeat Magazine’s Best Collegiate Vocal Jazz Ensemble Vocal Flight for two consecutive years. Shortly thereafter, Jay sang lead soprano with two-award winning a cappella groups +4db and SoVoSo. In her solo work, Jay sang in the soundtrack of Joel Mendias’ short film “I” and was commissioned to write the De Anza College jingle that was broadcast in radio stations throughout the Bay Area. 

Working with numerous organizations, Jay sang in Opera San Jose's production of Carmen and served as the assistant conductor to Barbara Day Turner's San Jose Chamber Orchestra. While completing her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance with Erie Mills at San José State University, Jay studied choral conducting with Charlene Archibeque, DMA, where she was assistant conductor to the concert choir and the Choraliers. Awarded a scholarship by the Northern California Association of Kodály Educators, Jay completed Levels I and II Kodály training from Holy Names University. She also successfully completed all the training sessions from The Contemporary Commercial Music Vocal Pedagogy Institute at Shenandoah University. And finally, Jay completed a Master of Arts in Music Education at San José State University. 

As an educator, Jay served as a fellow with the California Music Project, assisting music teachers in low-income schools. Working with the Alum Rock Jazz Band, her students were chosen by the Oakland Raiders organization to perform the national anthem. Jay also worked with Vivace Youth Chorus as an Associate Conductor where she directed their Adagio, Andante and A Cappella ensembles. 

As an active member of the Bay Area arts community, Jay served as the president of the Silicon Valley Arts Coalition and artistic director and founder of the Foothill Community Concert Series. Currently, Jay teaches music at Basis Independent Silicon Valley and De Anza College, and is the director of music at First Congregational Church of San Jose, where she and her team host the Concerts on the Corner Concert Series.

Lai holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in flute performance from the University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC). She has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the UMKC Women’s Council Graduate Assistance Fund, the UMKC Conservatory Women’s Association Anniversary Scholarship, the Yamaha Outstanding Musicians Scholarship and the Mu Phi Epsilon Foundation Merle Montgomery Doctoral Grant.

Castro-Lima has taught a range of subjects at the college level, like Composition, Music Theory, Form and Analysis, Ear Training, Electronic Music, Orchestration, Songwriting, Conducting, Music Appreciation, Music of the World and Music Business. After appointments at the University of Texas at Tyler, Texas A&M Commerce, Texas Wesleyan University and Ohlone College, Castro-Lima serves as director of instrumental ensembles and chair of the Music Department at De Anza College in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Jordan D. Mitchell is a multifaceted musician, composer, and educator whose work bridges performance, scholarship, and socio-political consciousness. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Composition and Minor in Education from University of California, Santa Barbara and earned his Master of Music in Music Education with an emphasis on composition from University of Southern California. Mitchell is a mentee of Victor Womack, Diane Fujino and Ronald C. McCurdy, and his research and creative work focuses on composition techniques of Afro-Latin Jazz, Mariachi, Cool Jazz and music education as a tool for restorative juvenile justice. As a professor, Mitchell is recognized for his innovative and inclusive approach to music education, integrating traditional theory with contemporary practices and culturally responsive pedagogy. As a performer and composer, his genre-defying work spans jazz, classical, hip-hop, mariachi and experimental music, often emphasizing narrative, identity and the exploration of sonic landscapes.

Pianist, woodwind player and composer Jim Schneider is a Bay Area native who has performed, recorded and taught jazz in the Bay Area for several years. He has performed with ensembles and artists such as Viva Brasil, Claudia Gomez, Ed Johnson, the late Smith Dobson, Pan Caribe and many more. Jim's teaching experience includes 25 years of Jazz Piano at De Anza, as well as Jazz Improvisation, Jazz Ensemble and other courses at De Anza and Gavilan College. 

Guitarist, composer and educator Benett Zussman earned his master’s degree in Improvised Music with an emphasis on Jazz and Flamenco guitar from San José State University. His Bachelor of Arts is in Classical Guitar Performance under the guidance of the late, Cuban classical guitarist Maestro José Rey de la Torre.