Our Story
as told by our founder Liana Salinas
I never thought I’d start a business. In 2017, I was teaching chorus and music theory full-time at a performing arts middle/high school. After five years in the classroom, I was burnt out. I loved teaching and I adored my students, but the school environment just wasn’t for me. I left at the end of the school year with no plans other than to rest and reset.
Before I knew it, I was flooded with messages from former students asking if I’d take them on for private lessons. I said, “yes!” and within a couple of months I had a thriving studio of over 50 students. Being the perfectionist that I am, I created systems and processes to track scheduling, payments, and communication. Essentially, a business was born!
Just a few months later, my schedule was packed, yet more students were calling looking for lessons. I decided to do what I do best: connect people. I’ve always been a matchmaker of friends, professional relationships, and I’ve even matched couples who are now married (true story!)
So, I gathered a team of trusted music teachers and started matching them with students. I had so much fun considering all of the factors that would make a student and teacher compatible. What instrument, subjects, and styles does the student want to learn and which teacher specialized in these? Where should the lesson take place for everyone’s convenience? What’s the student or parent’s budget and what is a fair rate for the teacher? Eventually, these questions led to the creation of our famous matching quiz.
Now, eight years later, I’m so proud of what My Music Match has become: a community of students, parents, teachers, schools, event organizers, and administrators who have a passion and appreciation for music and want to be connected to like-minded people.
I hope you join our amazing community and experience the difference yourself. Welcome to My Music Match!
Liana Salinas, CEO + Founder
Meet the Team
Liana Salinas
CEO + Founder
Liana’s ability to bring people together through music has been the driving force behind her career. Whether leading choirs, mentoring students, or collaborating with renowned artists, she is dedicated to building strong musical communities. A music educator for 17 years, she has directed choirs and guided students of all ages in their musical growth. In her private studio, she has taught hundreds of students, helping them develop their skills, find their unique voices, and build lasting connections through music.
A few of her students have gone on to do incredible things—Ashley Pezzotti has toured with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Melinda Rodriguez won the Ella Fitzgerald International Competition and competed on The Voice, Stefania Parli has become a Latin pop icon performing at international music festivals, and many of her students have been recognized as National YoungArts winners. The impact of her teaching extends beyond performance; many of these talented musicians have gone on to become teachers with My Music Match, continuing the cycle of mentorship and connection.
With a deep passion for education and a strong network of musicians, Liana has dedicated her career to creating meaningful opportunities for young artists. As the Artistic Director of the Miami Children’s Chorus, she fosters a love for choral music in young singers. A sought-after conductor, she has led honor choirs across the country, including the ACDA Eastern Region Middle School Honor Choir (2023) and the Miami-Dade Superintendent’s Middle School Honor Choir (2024), with an upcoming engagement conducting the ACDA Western Region Youth Unchanged Voices Honor Choir in 2026. She has commissioned works from esteemed composers such as Rollo Dilworth, Maria A. Ellis, Cristian Grases, and David Brunner, and has collaborated with artists including Manuel Turizo, Juan Luis Guerra, Juanes, Paquito D'Rivera, Willie Chirino, and Emilio and Gloria Estefan.
Her vision in founding My Music Match is to create a vibrant network of students, parents, and teachers who share a love for music and a commitment to growth. Through meaningful connections, she empowers people to discover their voices, inspire others, and carry the joy of music into every stage of their lives.
Courtney Fernandez
Director of Operations
Courtney grew up immersed in music, singing in choirs and taking private lessons throughout her childhood and college years. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Marine Science from Florida Gulf Coast University and spent three years as a middle and high school science teacher at a fine arts charter school. Later, she pursued a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Florida to become a registered nurse.
Her experiences as a musician, educator, and nurse have all shaped her approach to organization, efficiency, and systems management. Having both taken and taught private lessons, she understands the impact of a great teacher-student match. Courtney returned to My Music Match in 2025 as Director of Operations and is passionate about ensuring that our students, teachers, and school partners have the best possible experience.
Ariella Salinas
Matching Director, Miami
Ariella has always been a music lover, singing in choirs and playing viola in orchestras throughout elementary, middle, and high school. Her passion for connection and service led her to a career in the hospitality industry, where she managed restaurants, and later to working as an emergency medical technician. No matter the role, Ariella has always been dedicated to helping others.
As part of the My Music Match team, she brings together her love for music, her deep understanding of people, and her commitment to exceptional service. She takes the time to get to know each student and teacher, ensuring every match is the perfect fit.
Karina Parker
Matching Director, NYC
Karina is a musician, director, and educator with a deep love for music and connection. Her experience spans opera, musical theater, and choral music, and she has served as both a director and associate director in various productions. As a vocalist, she has performed leading roles under world-renowned conductors and has had the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall, sharing her artistry on one of the world’s most celebrated stages.
In addition to performing, Karina is a dedicated teacher who has worked with organizations such as Young Audiences New York, Pittsburgh Festival Opera, and the National Children’s Chorus, helping students of all ages grow as musicians.
Her experience in directing, conducting, and vocal performance gives her a deep understanding of both students and teachers. At My Music Match, she combines this expertise with her passion for mentorship to create meaningful connections that inspire confidence, creativity, and a lifelong love of music.
Laura Fernandez
Programming Director
Laura has been a My Music Match teacher since 2020 and is thrilled to step into her new role as Live Music Director. With a Master of Music in Voice Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, opera has been a cornerstone of her musical journey—but her love for music spans across genres. You might find her listening to old-school operatic recordings and jam rock back-to-back on the same playlist!
With experience in education, concert production, and community outreach, Laura thrives on meeting new people and tackling challenges. She is passionate about connecting incredible musicians with performance opportunities and growing the My Music Match live music community. She believes in the power of live music to bring people together and is dedicated to fostering a vibrant live music scene in South Florida.
Our team is ready to
find your match
Take the quiz and schedule a call. Talk soon!