Amy Lui (pronounced Louie) teaches instrumental music, music technology and industries studies at Poly High School and hopes to enable her students with opportunities to pursue a career in the industry and provide tools to other educators to meaningfully incorporate technology into their music classroom. Amy stays up to date with the music industry and new business practices through networking in order to enhance her students' learning experiences and connection with the field.
"She can be annoying sometimes." 
-Jose Castaneda, ​Poly HS Assistant Band Director
"Ms Lui's our favorite teacher because she feeds us."  -Poly HS band
"Did you lock yourself out of your classroom again?"
-Ms Monica Chi, ​Poly HS choir director
"She's okay, I guess."  -Poly HS student
"She's the most awesome person ever!"  -everyone on Earth

education

MASTER'S IN MUSIC INDUSTRY ADMINISTRATION
Cal State University Northridge; Cohort 9, 2020 - 2022
Awards Received
  • Service Award: An individual who demonstrated strong initiative and selfless service by extending herself in exceptional ways to help her peers, the Music Industry Administration program, and the University
  • Networking Award: ​An individual who demonstrated exceptional networking capabilities by actively building and/or expanding her professional network both inside and outside the Music Industry Administration program for the betterment of herself, her peers, and the University
  • Professional Development Award: An individual who demonstrated the greatest amount of professional growth over the academic year by taking an active role in her education and embracing the learning opportunities afforded by the Music Industry Administration program​

​
TEACHING CREDENTIALS
​Career Technical Education (CTE), 2022
Single Subject in Music, 2019  |  Cal State University Northridge


MASTER'S IN MUSIC EDUCATION
Azusa Pacific University, 2013 - 2017
  • Wind Ensemble (principal saxophone)
  • Saxophone studies under the instruction of Dr Kenneth Foerch
  • Azusa Saturday Community Conservatory (graduate teaching assistant)​
  • Master's Thesis: "The New High School Band Director: Experiences of a Beginning Music Teacher's Tenure through Teacher and Student Perceptions"
    • Dr John Burdett as thesis advisor
    • Presented at the 2018 California All-State of Music Educators Conference (CASMEC) research poster session held in San Jose, CA


BACHELOR'S IN MUSIC PERFORMANCE
University of California, Davis, 2008 - 2012
  • Major: Saxophone Performance
  • Concert Band and University Saxophone Quartet; saxophone studies under the instruction of Dr Keith Bohm
  • Award: Olga Brose Valente Memorial Prize (2012) - Musical Excellence in Wind Performance​

professional experience

MUSIC EDUCATOR
John H Francis Polytechnic High School (Sun Valley) in Los Angeles Unified School District, 2019 - Present
  • Position: Music Teacher | Instrumental Music Director
  • Current Courses
    • ​Music Technology and Industry Studies
    • Pep Band (after school)
    • Orchestra (after school)
    • Drill Team
  • Past Courses
    • Marching and Concert Bands
    • Beginning Band and Strings
    • Piano Keyboard
    • Color Guard
    • Music Entertainment Student Association (after school club)
​
​
SECONDARY (GRADES 6-12) MUSIC EDUCATION REPRESENTATIVE
California Music Educators Association (CMEA), a division of the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME), 2022 - Present
  • In charge of connecting with middle and high school music programs throughout the state of California and being the voice of educators' needs
  • Contributing yearly to the organization's quarterly magazine 


SECRETARY
Los Angeles Secondary Music Teachers Association (LASMTA), 2021 - Present
  • Created the new website LASMTA.com
  • In charge of taking notes and keeping official minutes of each monthly meeting
  • Creating the monthly newsletter


EDUCATION & CONTENT CONTRIBUTOR
Asian American Collective, 2021 - Present
  • In charge of write-ups and captions for weekly posts highlighting Asian Americans and the communities in the music industry and creative spaces
  • Contribute to organizing career nights and facilitating mentorship programs​

    ​
​PAST EDUCATION POSITIONS
  • Etiwanda High School, 2016 - 2019
    • Saxophone coach for marching and concert seasons
    • Formed a saxophone choir where some members were chosen to perform in China
    • Co-teach symphonic band and wind ensemble
  • Bonita Unified School District, 2016 - 2017
    • Long-term elementary beginning band substitute teacher - taught at 4 elementary schools​
  • Glendora Unified School District, 2015 - 2016
    • Saxophone coach for the two middle schools in the district for beginning, intermediate and advanced bands​​

connecting with the music industry

Caroline Yim 
​Music Executive, Music Agent
#LAUSDgrad #UniversityHigh
Get to know Caroline
"Caroline Yim is based in LA and is co-head of Hip Hop/R&B + partner at leading entertainment agency WME (world's largest talent agency). She represents many of the world’s leading musicians, including Anderson.Paak & The Free Nationals, Givēon, Gunna, The Internet, Rae Sremmurd, Future, Kehlani, Ella Mai, Jay Rock, Daniel Caesar, and Jhené Aiko. She began her career at MCA Records, moving on to agent roles at CAA and ICM, until joining the WME family in early 2021. She has been featured on Billboard’s “Women In Music” power list from 2015 - 2018, Billboard’s "40 Under 40” list, as well as Billboard’s Hip-Hop Power List from 2017 - 2020.

​For the past five years, she has also been involved as a “Big” for the Big Brothers + Sisters and was part of the Women In Entertainment Mentor Program, becoming a board member in 2018" (AsianAmericanCollective.org). Caroline is also a co-founder of Asian American Collective.
Ruby Ibarra 
Singer/Rapper, Songwriter
Get to know Ruby
"Born in the Philippines, Ruby spent the first 4 years of her life in Tacloban City before her family eventually settled in San Lorenzo, California. Submerged in the melting pot of the Bay Area, Ruby's adolescent years introduced her to a wide array of cultures, experiences, and most importantly: hip hop, which resonated at every corner of her neighborhood. Known for her sharp lyricism and rhythmic multi-syllabic flows, Ruby attributes her musical identity to being a child during the 90s-- constantly hearing Tupac, Eminem, and Wu Tang Clan play on the radio and television, she instantly knew rap was the best way she could express herself. As a teenager, Ruby began crafting her own rhymes until she began to develop her own style and became comfortable with sharing her story." -​RubyIbarra.com
Kev Luu
Recording Engineer, Producer
With Poly graduates in a recording session
Get to know Kev
Kev Luu is a music producer/engineer, artist and educator originally from Las Vegas, NV. After studying at the world-renown Berklee College of Music in Boston for music production / engineering and electronic production and design, Kev worked at the renown Studio at the Palms in Las Vegas from 2012 to 2017.

Though he started as a tea boy, Kev eventually worked his way up to becoming a staff engineering, where he has worked with Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Tyga, Cindy Blackman, Carlos Santana, Shaq, Joe Bonamassa, Eddie Kramer, Human Nature, and many other established artists and musicians. After relocating to Los Angeles in 2019, Kev has been working as engineer/producer at Atlantic Records, The Village Studios, and Woodshed Recording.

Kev most recently worked with Lil' Wayne and received credit on the song "Sunshine" by Latto, featuring Lil' Wayne and Childish Gambino.
Working on a collaborative project in the studio
Helena Ngo
Marketing Executive
Get to know Helena
"Helena Ngo is a strategic connector of dots - equal parts curator, brand storyteller, and leader of creative collaborations. Her specialties include artist/talent and music industry relations, music strategy and curation, campaign development and activation, partnerships, event programming, content licensing and production. Helena is also a solutions-oriented collaborator who thrives on organization and ingenuity. Her work spans 150+ projects for global brands like Fender, Dolby, Microsoft, Live Nation / Ticketmaster, Corona, Billboard, Cisco, General Mills, Jim Beam and MOSCOT eyewear." - Helena's LinkedIn
Poly 2022 graduates Demis Serrano, Brian Sierra and Dylan Miranda receiving Fender guitars to perform at prom and graduation, thanks to Helena!
James "Prohgress" Roh 
​Rapper, Lawyer, Music Executive
#LAUSDgrad #PalisadesHigh
Get to know James
One of the rappers of Far East Movement, this group became the first Asian American artists to ever top the Billboard Hot 100 chart with the song, Like A G6 in 2010, selling over 4 million copies. James then co-founded Transparent Arts, an artist management and label service that "takes the best of American and Asian entertainment business and applies it to our global platform" (TransparentArts.com). 

​Along with members of Far East Movement, James co-founded Pacific Bridge Arts, a non-profit organization that aims "to provide a platform to support and celebrate Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in arts and culture" (PacificBridgeArts.com) and provides scholarships to Asian American college students pursuing music. Ms Lui was one of five grateful recipients of the 2020 Pacific Bridge Arts Scholarship.
Cathleen Cher
Producer, DJ, Fashion Designer
Get to know Cathleen
Cathleen is a music, tech and culture media professional and serial entrepreneur with 12+ years of US and Asia-based experience. She is passionate about community, emerging markets and technology, storytelling, and creating experiences.

Her past work spans production (live + content), brand strategy, culture marketing, talent management + relations, partnerships, creative strategy, and business development consulting.

Cathleen is the co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer for GYFTING, a company that consciously curates experiential gift boxes that embrace BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and female founded brands. She is also the co-founder of LION'S SHARE, a podcast and community (DAO) that uplifts emerging AAPI creatives. Cathleen is also the founder of Strita, LLC, a music centric creative consulting company that is responsible for creating, developing, managing, executing live event production and creation of digital content, establishing and managing strategic business partnerships and branded marketing campaigns.

Below is a list of current and past clients:
  • Kanye West
  • Megan Thee Stallion
  • Frank Ocean
  • Calvin Harris
  • HBOMax
  • American Express
  • Coachella
  • Twitch
  • Bumble
  • Soho House
  • DIESEL
  • Reebok
  • Nike

as industry panel moderator

In early 2022, Amy was asked by Cal State University Northridge's Music Entertainment Student Association (a student-led organization of the university's music industry studies program) to form and moderate a panel discussion with industry professionals about the Asian pop market.
Discussion topics include:
  • Music in Asian cultures (especially Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Indian)
  • How western influences affect Asian pop
  • Significant trends regarding diversity and inclusion
  • Asian culture representation in the US music industry - appropriation versus appreciation
  • Affects of COVID-19 on the music industry

​A recording of the session is available to view below.
VIEW BIOS OF PANELISTS
VIEW RECORDING OF SESSION

ASIAN AMERICAN COLLECTIVE

Amy is incredibly proud and honored to be a contributing team member of the Asian American Collective, where she has met and worked with many experienced and inspirational music industry professionals to improve Asian representation in the entertainment and creative fields while also chipping in to make our surrounding communities a more positive and nurturing environment for those in need.

"Asian American Collective is the brainchild of co-founders Grace Lee, Caroline Yim, and Zeena Koda. As music industry vets and first-generation Asian Americans, the trio was passionate about creating and cultivating a true community for Asian Americans in music, entertainment, and creative spaces.

Launched in January 2020, AAC has focused on building meaningful connections through mentorship and being a vocal presence through activism and education. In a space that has historically lacked Asian representation, the founders bonded over the need to build community and unity.

AAC is focused on building a strong community base through professional development and mentoring opportunities, as well as through building personal 1:1 relationships. The group has developed a strong cultural presence and focuses support on moving the Asian American creative community forward." - Asian American Collective
Ms Lui with AAC founders and a few members of the AAC team at Los Angeles events
ASIAN AMERICAN COLLECTIVE HIGHLIGHTING AMY
THE COMMUNITY
Asian American Collective community at a Los Angeles hangout in August, 2021
Amy with AAC community members and industry mentors
  • Frankie Yaptinchay (middle),  Senior Project Manager of Audience Development & Creative Partnerships at Amazon Music
  • Kev Luu (top right), recording engineer at Atlantic Records
  • Brian Khoe (bottom right) General Manager of EN Management for artists Epik High, Eric Nam and Tablo
  • Irene Yoon (bottom middle) Senior Consumer Insights Analyst at Mattel, Inc
  • Esther Yoon (bottom left) Chief Operating Officer at GYFTING
​ASIAN AMERICAN COLLECTIVE GIVING BACK TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES
AAC working with Bicycle Meals on Wheels to distribute warm meals, water and clean socks in Koreatown on March, 2022