WHO WE ARE

About Rags School of Music

About Michael Ragonese

FOUNDER/OWNER

Michael Ragonese is an acclaimed jazz pianist, composer, and educator based in Los Angeles. Born and raised in LA, he began his musical training in classical piano before developing a deep commitment to jazz in his high school years. He went on to earn a degree in jazz piano from California State University, Northridge (CSUN), where he received top honors at major festivals including Reno and Monterey and was recognized as an outstanding soloist. Since graduating, Ragonese has become one of the most in-demand pianists of his generation, performing, touring, and recording with artists such as Barbra Streisand, Walter Smith III, Mark Turner, Charnett Moffett, Bennie Maupin, Ben Wendel, Dave Koz, Rick Braun, Norman Brown, Alphonso Johnson, John Daversa, Tierney Sutton, Stanley Jordan, Engelbert Humperdinck, Tom Jones, Shoshana Bean, Dave Binney, Bob Sheppard, and others.

Ragonese made his debut as a leader in 2019 with Day to Day, featuring Walter Smith III. His second album,
Stracci (2023), drew from his Italian heritage and classical background. In 2025, he released his third album, Chasing Calm, featuring his quartet with Walter Smith III, JK Kim, and Luca Alemanno. The album blends modern jazz language with classical textures and intricate rhythmic concepts, marking his most personal and reflective work to date. Chasing Calm received significant critical acclaim in the U.S. and Europe, including praise from DownBeat Magazine, which wrote in its December 2025 issue:
“Acclaimed pianist Michael Ragonese has created an album that celebrates the search for peace; the originals are striking—especially the title piece. A deceptively deep album... take time with it, it’ll pay you back several times.”

Following the album’s release, Ragonese completed a full U.S. tour in 2025. He continues to tour extensively with his band throughout 2026, including a major European tour
beginning in February, with appearances at leading venues and festivals. Highlights include performances at Camera Jazz Club in Bologna, sponsored by the Bologna Jazz Festival. Alongside his performing career, Ragonese is deeply committed to music education. He founded the Rags School of Music, a program for young musicians pursuing serious musical study. He is also the co-founder of Modern Artist, an advanced high school jazz program led with saxophonist Alex Hahn, which brings together some of the most outstanding young players in the state. In addition, Ragonese is a founding director of the Libretto Conservatory, a partnership with the renowned Libretto Jazz Club in Paso Robles, California—recognized as one of the Top 100 Jazz Clubs in the United States. The program works with high school and college-level combo ensembles and regularly hosts guest clinicians including Sullivan Fortner, Joel
Ross, and Taylor Eigsti.

Meet the Teachers

At Rags School of Music, our teachers are active musicians with a passion for both performance and teaching. They are skilled in various genres, including pop, classical, and jazz. During your consultation with Michael, be sure to share your musical interests, so we can match you with the best teacher to meet your goals.

OLIVIA KIERDAL | PIANO/VOICE/SONGWRITING

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Olivia is a classically trained pianist who completed 8th grade through the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Music and Media from Macquarie University. With over a decade of teaching experience, she brings a versatile background that spans classical piano, contemporary voice, and commercial songwriting.

In addition to her work as a piano and voice teacher, Olivia is an accomplished organist, singer, and music producer. She specializes in pop and electronic music, working primarily as a topline writer. Her original work has garnered over 30 million streams on Spotify alone. She is passionate about helping students develop strong musical foundations while exploring their unique creative voices.

JAMES RICHARDSON | GUITAR

James Richardson is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, educator, and touring musician with over two decades of teaching and performance experience. Best known as the guitarist for Grammy-nominated recording artist MGMT, James has performed on some of the world’s most iconic stages and at major festivals across the globe. His extensive career includes numerous international tours and significant contributions to studio recordings as a performer, producer, and engineer.
James holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied French horn. His classical foundation, combined with his deep involvement in contemporary music, gives him a uniquely versatile approach to both performance and instruction.
He offers private and group lessons in guitar, drums, bass, French horn, trumpet, and music theory, and has taught students of all ages and skill levels. Whether mentoring aspiring musicians or leading seminars and group lessons, James brings a wealth of real-world experience, technical knowledge, and a passion for music education to every lesson.

GREG SIM | PIANO

Gregory Sim is a multi-genre pianist residing in Los Angeles, with experience across classical, jazz, pop, rock, and funk. His performance history includes venues such as the Soraya, Gibson Amphitheater, Rose Parade, The Mint, Vitello’s, and The Baked Potato. He also performs frequently in small group settings, and was featured in a jazz combo in Downbeat magazine. At a young age, Gregory was initially focused on classical piano before picking up trumpet, where he was introduced to jazz. He continued to study both instruments before deciding to focus on jazz piano in college. Gregory has been teaching since 2015, with an emphasis on jazz piano, music theory, and ear training. From 2018 to 2021, he attended California State University Northridge under the Herb Alpert Foundation Scholarship, where he graduated with a BM in Jazz Studies/Piano Performance.

TATY RICHAUD | PIANO/FILM SCORING

Tatyana Richaud is a 20 year old film composer and singer/songwriter, currently studying screen scoring at NYU. She has arranged and scored numerous award winning short films, and has collaborated with top tier professional composers on TV series & features. She is currently studying at New York University where she's majoring in Screen Scoring. Taty has studied classical piano since the age of five and has written numerous songs and scores. An LA native, she has studied at Colburn Conservatory, Pasadena Conservatory, Riko Method and Silverlake Conservatory of Music. She was one of 5 musicians selected for KCRW's Young Creators Project, which spotlights the best emerging artists under 21 in Southern California. She is also the recipient of the prestigious Alan Menken Composition award, and a 2022 National YoungArts Foundation winner in Voice - Singer/Songwriter.

NICHOLAS ESCOBAR | PIANO/FILM SCORING/VOICE

Nicholas Escobar is a music composer, multi-instrumentalist and folk singer-songwriter. His composing credits include music for short films, plays, podcasts, a graphic novel, commercials and even an arboretum. He holds an undergraduate degree in music from the University of Pennsylvania, and a master's degree in composition for screen from the University of Edinburgh. He started playing piano at 7, flute at 11 and composed his first piece of music at 12. He started teaching himself guitar in 2020 and banjo and harmonica in 2022.

MEGAN SHULZE | VOICE

Megan Schulze has her MM in Vocal Arts from USC Thornton School of Music. She grew up singing in choirs and developed a love for opera and classical music. Now, she sings professionally as a soloist and in choirs throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Megan also has a passion for teaching and outreach. She teaches many genres of music to students of all ages. Megan teaches voice and piano at Monrovia Music Academy and is a Youth Program instructor for Pacific Opera Project. Her goal as a teacher is to provide a safe and fun environment for students to develop their musical abilities.

WHY CHOOSE RAGS SCHOOL

Get Personalized Attention

Private lesson curriculum is tailored to each student, and group classes are kept small so each student gets the support they need.

Find Relatable Teachers

At Rags School of Music, our teachers stay current with today’s music industry. For younger students, many have years of experience teaching at the elementary school level, scaffolding concepts for better understanding.

Gain Performance Experience

Recitals, showcases, and group performances are key opportunities for students to overcome stage fright, develop stage presence, and celebrate their growth as musicians.