Mr. Jammin

Ben Jammin loves teaching people who think they have no musical talent. He graduated with a degree in music from Sierra Nevada College. Ben has performed with legends Kenny Loggins and Mike Love of the Beach Boys. He currently plays acoustic guitar in the After Eights, bass guitar with the Emily Tessmer Band and acoustic guitar with Angele and the Wildwood Band.   He is the founder and Director of the non-profit Tahoe School of Music and runs the music program at the Sierra Expeditionary Learning School Academy in Truckee.

Emily Tessmer

Emily Tessmer just released “The Seven Sisters” which promises to be lush and lyrical. Emily has worked with the best in the music business on her previous solo releases, “Reach Toward The Sky” 2002, and “Luminarium” 2008. Emily has enjoyed working with many world-class musicians and magicians. Prior to her solo accomplishments Emily and her former band worked in studio on a production deal funded by MCA, headlined at the Veenhoop Festival (Holland), played Los Angeles’s Troubadour, and opened for diverse artists including Gilby Clarke (Supernova), and Blue Oyster Cult. Emily has been invited to sing the National Anthem for the San Diego Padres twice at PETCO Park. Additionally Emily was commissioned by Kristen and Mike Klink (Guns N’ Roses) to write an original song for their foundation, A Song of My Own, a charity enabling singer songwriters to connect with terminally ill children. Emily wrote Annie’s song and Annie went into remission from Leukemia shortly thereafter. “I consider that song and my experience with Annie as being the true healing power of music and that is why I am here.” 

Mark McCay-Moran

Mark McCay-Moran has been creating music his entire life.  Inspired by a musical and artistic family, Mark has a passion for music that permeates his being and he thrives sharing this joy with others through performing, recording and instructing.  While pursuing a design degree at UC Davis, he gained a reputation as a studio musician recording tracks on numerous of projects from jazz and rock, to bluegrass and country playing mandolin, steel guitar, dobro, and guitar among other instruments.  Always active in the musical community, Mark continues to perform as a solo artist and as a sideman for various groups regionally.  His community involvement doesn’t stop with music.  As an entrepreneur, small businessman, and an individual citizen, Mark been involved in many environmental, political, and community organizations, including a current seat on the board of directors for the non-profit Auburn Ski Club.  A Truckee resident, Mark finds a balance between his family life, interior design business, music career, and enjoying all the outdoor activities that the Tahoe-Truckee area has to offer.

From Truckee High for the Students Teaching Students Program:

Heather Schmitt

Fiona McMains