Meet Our Team
Amanda Haag
Program Manager / Choral Director
Amanda Haag studied at Northeastern University in Boston, MA where she majored in Music and minored in Psychology and Health Science. At Northeastern, Amanda served as Musical Director, Band Director, Producer, Private Vocal Instructor, and Private Musical Theatre Coach for several musical theatre productions and other performance groups. It was through this involvement that Amanda discovered her passion for teaching and music directing. Amanda also spent six months living in Barcelona, Spain where she taught daily music and ESL classes to young children. During her education, Amanda began a career in music production as a sound and recording engineer, recording and producing with hundreds of musicians in the Boston area. As a professional vocalist, Amanda has performed as a soloist and ensemble member in renowned venues across Europe and the United States including multiple concerts at New York City’s Carnegie Hall and The Alice Tully Hall. Amanda now resides in Macungie, PA and absolutely loves working with the team of talented teaching artists and students at El Sistema Lehigh Valley!
Margaret Medina
Operations Coordinator | Orchestra Conductor
Margaret Jackson is a native of Lancaster PA, where she has been performing as a violinist for over a decade. She is a recent graduate of Muhlenberg College, where she earned a degree in Music with a Concentration in Violin Performance. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and was the recipient of the Seena Marcus Art Award, as well as the winner of the Class of 1969 Competition for her performance of J.S. Bach’s C Major Violin Sonata. Margaret also plays viola and piano. She is passionate about teaching and loves working with young children. She also works as a teacher for SWAN4kids, a nonprofit in her hometown of Lancaster, where she is the primary strings teacher. Margaret plans to continue working both as a teacher and performer in the future, and is looking forward to her fourth year with El Sistema Lehigh Valley.
Samuel Higgins
Teaching Artist
Samuel Higgins studied music education and double bass at Ithaca College and is from Kingston New York. He has been playing bass for almost 15 years and also plays cello, violin, and viola. Sam loves working teaching and with children. Sam enjoys playing a variety of styles including classical and folk. When not playing bass Sam enjoys sports, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.
Zachary Raphael
Teaching Artist
Born in the Philadelphia area, Zach Raphael has always had a huge passion for music. An avid cellist and singer, Zach grew up singing and touring in the Keystone State Boychoir and is a graduate of Ithaca College’s Anthropology department. While at Ithaca, Zach performed in the Sinfonietta and founded Ithaca College Strings. Currently performing in both orchestral and choral ensembles, he hopes to pass on his enthusiasm for music of all types to his students. In addition to cello and voice, Zach plays piano and trumpet. Outside of music, Zach loves going on hikes, cooking and reading.
Leah McCann
Teaching Artist & Interim Sheridan Site Coordinator
Leah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Spanish from Gettysburg College. She is classically trained in violin (advanced/professional level) and piano (late beginner/intermediate level). During her collegiate career, Leah was active in music in the Gettysburg community. She performed with the Gettysburg Community Chamber Orchestra, Crossroads Contemporary Band at Christ Lutheran Church in Gettysburg, and EnVaGe Faculty Ensemble at Gettysburg College.
She has a wide range of private and group teaching experience in classical genres with students of all levels, in both English & Spanish. While studying abroad in Madrid, Spain, she assisted with the Grupo Talía youth orchestra’s rehearsals and interned at WikiUp Las Rosas language academy. She also interned as a teaching artist intern with El Sistema Lehigh Valley, and is thrilled to now be returning as a teaching artist!
Brianna Herrera
Teaching Artist
Brianna Herrera is a musician that started her career with the ESLV program back in 2011. With a focus on violin, and incredible drive, she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in music education at Kutztown University. While at Kutztown, she has been a part of their marching band (KUMU), Orchestra (KUO), NAfME, and is now a sister of their SAI (Sigma Alpha Iota) chapter. In addition to Brianna playing violin, she also plays flute and is on her way to learning all of the instruments for her degree. In 2021, Brianna was accepted as an ambassador for The Ensemble newsletter where she worked with other El Sistema inspired programs around the world, advocating for music education. As a previous ESLV student she has seen the program grow and she is excited to finally be on the teaching side of the program and give back to her community!