Meet the Team

Catharina Jirjahlke

String Coach

Catharina Jirjahlke was born and raised in Germany, where her violin training began at the age of five. Her interest in travel has taken her via Australia and Indonesia and eventually to The Bahamas, where she has been residing and teaching since 1994. She received her M.S.Ed. from Nova Southeastern University. Catharina serves as assistant organist at Christ Church Cathedral, is Head of Department of Practical Studies at St. John’s College (where she has been serving since 2009), and is adjunct string faculty at the University of The Bahamas in the music program.

Lester Johnson

Brass Coach

Lester Johnson a native a of Nassau Bahamas has been involved in music for the past 20 years. After obtaining his B.A in Music (Trumpet) from Bethune-Cookman University located in Daytona Beach FL, he moved back home in 2018 where he began his teaching career after being posted as the first music teacher of R. N. Gomez All Age School located in Bullocks Harbor, The Berry Islands. Currently, Lester serves as the Subject Coordinator for Performing Arts at H.O. Nash Jr High School located Dolphin Drive, New Providence with responsibility for Band. Lester has a Diploma in Education and is in grad school working on his Master’s degree.

dr. alexandra chea

Woodwind Coach

Dr. Alexandra Chea is a classically trained clarinetist and dedicated music educator from Nassau, Bahamas. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Clarinet Performance from Arizona State University and currently serves as a Woodwind Faculty member at University of The Bahamas while also teaching music at The Meridian School.

An active performer, Dr. Chea appears regularly on local and international stages. She is the founder and featured artist of the annual Echoes from Home recital series and has performed with the Harrisburg Opera Association, Chandler Symphony Orchestra, Tempe Winds, and Harrisburg Youth Orchestra, as well as at the Festival International de Musique Saint-Georges.

Deeply committed to advancing Caribbean classical music, Dr. Chea champions the work of regional composers through performances, collaborations, and commissioned works that highlight the rich musical heritage and contemporary voices of the Caribbean.