Fernando Valdivia
Director of Music Education
A renowned Bolivian singer and musical educator based in Naples, Florida, Fernando Valdivia specializes in music pedagogy and vocal performance. His extensive training includes studies at Bolivia's National Conservatory of Music, Toccoa Falls College, and under the guidance of his vocal mentor, Steve Gathman.
Valdivia's musical journey has taken him across the United States and internationally, performing in Germany, Austria, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, and Mexico. Highlights of his career include performances with prestigious institutions such as Opera Tampa, the Württemberg Philharmonic of Reutlingen, the Washington Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra of Bolivia, American Idol, Festival de Cosquín (Argentina), and Festival de Ipacaraí (Paraguay). His exceptional talent has also graced the stages of world-renowned venues including Carnegie Hall, Arena Stage, Wolf Trap, the Kennedy Center, and the U.S. Congress.
His most recent performance was as a cast member in Opera Tampa's production of The Shining, scheduled for February 2026.
Beyond his accomplishments as a performer, Valdivia has passionately dedicated himself to education and performing arts direction. As an Educator and Performing Arts Director for various groups, he has directed more than 70 musical productions in Virginia, Atlanta, Washington D.C., and Florida. In recognition of his exceptional talent and valuable contributions, he was honored in 2023 with the Broadway Star of the Future Award for Best Musical Director and Set Designer. His students, beneficiaries of his mentorship, have achieved notable professional success, performing on Broadway and in major international theaters.
With 23 years of experience as an educator, including 20 years dedicated to students with special needs, Valdivia has established himself as a deeply committed mentor. The achievements of his students have earned him a solid reputation for his ability to foster talent and help each individual reach their full potential.
Elizabeth “Lisa” Braren
Piano and Music Versatility Instructor
As a classically trained music educator and pianist, Lisa Braren has always been a true advocate for her students. Her enthusiasm and joy of teaching comes to light through her skills using differentiated instruction while presenting a rigorous and engaging curriculum.
She is originally from New York, where she was a teacher and an administrator in the private school sector. Upon moving to Florida, she worked for Collier County Public Schools as a music specialist.
She has been honored for her accomplishments in music education and performance numerous times. Among these awards are: Graduate of Distinction for Adelphi University; Golden Apple Recipient; county-wide Teacher of the Year; Educator of Excellence by a veterans association; and recognition by the Naples Philharmonic. She graduated Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education, and completed post-graduate study at Long Island University.
She holds a number of certificates in teaching neurodivergent students, and is a member of Delta Omicron, a national music honor society.
Dorian Gabriel Méndez Quitón
Bass Guitar Instructor, Ensemble Instructor, Music Instructor
Dorian Gabriel Méndez is an Argentine-born musician, music producer, arranger, composer, educator, and production manager whose career spans more than two decades across Latin America and the United States. Raised in a musical family and later establishing his professional career in Bolivia, he developed a reputation for musical excellence while building an international profile as a performer, producer, and educator.
His academic training includes studies in jazz, orchestration, choral conducting, and vocal jazz at Georgia State University; music production at California State University, Chico; professional music, composition, and arranging through EMC (Berklee Network) in Argentina; audio engineering and recording at TECSON; and postgraduate studies in Music Education at Universidad Martín Lutero in Nicaragua.
Throughout his career, Dorian has collaborated as a producer, arranger, composer, bassist, and session musician with numerous acclaimed Latin American artists and organizations. He has performed with legendary Argentine artist Nito Mestre, Uruguayan singer Carlos Darakjian, and El Divo, while also producing music for Grammy Award-winning group Take 6. His work has included television productions, orchestral projects, educational initiatives, festivals, and large-scale live performances.
For fourteen years he served as professor and later Academic Director at Instituto CanZion, while also holding leadership positions with Bellas Artes, EMA, Fundación Smart Life, Camerata del Oriente, and several national music education and cultural initiatives. He has worked as a musical director, artistic advisor, festival judge, and producer for television and international educational programs.
Now based in Naples, Florida under an O-1 visa for individuals with extraordinary ability, Dorian is the founder and musical director of Sudamérica Latin Groove (SLG), inactive performer, producer, and educator. He also serves as Assistant Director at School of Rock Naples and currently is the Production Manager at Naples Church, where he oversees production, worship technology, and live event operations.
Dr. Teresa Herrero TaylorPhD · BCBA-D · LABA · IBA · CCTP-II
Mental Health and Program Consultant
Dr. Teresa Taylor currently serves as ICON's Mental Health and Program Consultant. She is the current President of the Southwest Florida ABA Chapter (Lee & Collier Counties) and is in private practice as a Licensed Psychologist, Doctoral Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D), and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional-II and the owner of Pathways Behavioral Health, LLC in Fort Myers, Florida. She holds a doctorate in Professional Psychology: School, Community and Clinical Child Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and a Masters of Education in Counseling Psychology and a Masters of Arts in Multicultural Counseling from Teachers College/Columbia University. She also holds a graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Penn State University.
Dr. Taylor has 25+ years of public-school experience including more than 12 years as a Director of Special Services and/or Special Education Supervisor with several years as a high school Music Supervisor as well. She has earned school administrator, principal, supervisor, and school psychologist certifications in Florida and New Jersey. She served as the Chair of the Special Education Committee for the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association for eight years. She was an invited member of the NJDOE Autism Advisory Panel-School Age throughout 2022-2023, where she collaboratively developed the NJDOE Autism Program Quality Indicators-Revised (2023). In addition to running her private practice, she has served as an expert witness representing schools and/or parents as well as on a national level representing both state organizations (i.e., Florida Applied Behavior Analysis) and individuals with trauma and/or disabilities in civil lawsuits.
Dr. Taylor has a significant amount of experience working with neurodivergent and uniquely-abled adults with IDD and their families, including prior experience consulting with music schools who specialize in meeting the needs of neurodivergent adults. She has extensive experience developing social skills programming, writing social skills curricula, and overseeing mental health and behavioral services across school districts and individual programs in her prior school psychologist and administrative roles. In the past, she also served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor for eight years in the Masters in ABA Program in the Department of Psychology at Rider University where she taught the graduate-level course Social Skills Assessment and Intervention. She is currently a Certified UCLA PEERS Social Skills Provider (School-Based, Adolescents & Young Adults), a Certified QPR Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Trainer, and holds certification in PREPARE-2 School Safety and Crisis Preparedness.