MUSIC, ART AND ACTING INSTRUCTORS

OUR TEAM

Our team is made up of a diverse group of performing and visual artists. We are actively involved in the arts and have extensive experience within the industry. Each is an independent instructor with his/her own curriculum and method of teaching. We believe every student is different with a unique set of goals. It is our unified desire to help our students reach their specific goals allowing for fun and creative input.

DWAYNE TOLER Partner . Music Director . Producer . Vocals . Writer . Keyboardist . Guitar

DWAYNE is a retired San Antonio Fire Department EMS Lieutenant with 33 years of service. He has been a musician/vocalist for more than 35 years. He brings with him a rich resumé of experience in the music industry which includes over 14 years as a minister of music (for a 2,000 plus congregation) and a long list of local music connections. He is a self-taught pianist, keyboardist, guitar player and songwriter, gifted with the ability to play by ear. During his early years as a musician he co-founded and co-managed the groups “Friends” and “Master Jam” and performed on stage before large audiences as opening acts for a myriad of national artists such as Millie Jackson, James Brown, and Sybil.

Dwayne has an intimate knowledge of what it takes to make it as a performing artist. He released an EP entitled "Next Level" in 2018 and performed lead vocals for "When I Whisper" on the 2019 release RIZE ABOVE by local group Europa Jazz.

SUSAN A. TOLER Managing Partner . Visual Artist

SUSAN is a visual artist and an award winning graphic artist and creative director. She began her career early having completed training in Commercial Art at San Antonio’s Texas Vocational School at the age of 19. She migrated to the Art Institute of Houston where she earned her associates degree and went on to earn her bachelors degree from the University of Arlington where she focused her studies in the major areas of communications and business.

Her graphic work has appeared locally in the form of the Convention & Visitors Bureau, SAWS and San Antonio Water Authority marketing materials, as well as in national print publications such as Cooks Magazine, Essence Magazine, Ebony Magazine and Vibe Magazine. Susan’s AWARDS AND ACCOLADES include: APEX Award 1999 for Sensitivity in Advertising & Marketing in domestic destination print advertising; PRIMA Award1999 for Excellence in Marketing by the American Society of Association Executives; PRAME Award in 1998 and '99; Silver ADDY Award in 1997; 40 Under 40 Award in 1997 awarded by the San Antonio Business Journal; Voices Along the River San Antonio Poetry Fair 2002 Anthology Honorable Mention. She has served on a number of boards and committees during her career.

CHRISTIAN TOLER Vocalist . Pianist . Writer . Visual Artist . Theatre

Christian is a gifted artist, videographer, editor and lifetime musician and vocalist. As a child she attended the Vivace Music Academy of San Antonio with Vida Scott, where she trained in 'classical' piano and voice until the age of ten. As an adult, she has continued her training of classical and contemporary piano and voice through private instruction. Christian has studied vocals under the direction of local vocal coaches: Dwayne Toler, Anthony Modeste, Alisa Claridy and Sonya Folrie. She has also studied guitar under the tutelage of instructor, Wayne Gray at BlackBox Music & Arts.

CHRISTIAN released two singles in 2018 "Toy Soldier" and "Story of My LIfe". She also wrote and performed "The King" on Dwayne Toler's "The Next Level" EP.

During Christian's high-school and college years she took courses in art and acting and performed in a number of stage plays for church and school, as well as Sea World's Howl-O-Scream performances. Upon graduating high-school she was offered multiple scholarships including a performing arts scholarship from San Antonio College. She chose to major in Communications and minor in English at Texas A&M San Antonio.

Christian graduated from Texas A&M San Antonio with a Bachelors of Arts, Cum Lade. In addition to instructing at BlackBox, Christian continues to write music and work as a freelance writer while pursuing her Master's Degree in Music Production from Berklee College of Music.

ADRIAN TOLER Artist . Art instructor

Adrian is a lifetime student of BlackBox lead artist, Susan A. Toler. Over the years he has won numerous awards and recognitions. Adrain also works as freelance artist and has produced commissions for paintings, character development and logos. He is pursuing a degree in fine arts.

Kris Kidd . Theatre Instructor

Kris is a professional stage performer with 40 years of experience. Drawn to the arts at an early age, he first performed at the San Pedro Playhouse and stayed involved in stage productions through college. While at the Playhouse, he was a member of many casts on stage, but he also found a great interest and took on rolls in stage design, production and directing.

While studying Radio, Television & Film at UTSA and San Antonio College, Kris was recruited into television production as well as on-air radio. His videography skills have been on display in LoneStar Emmy nominated news packages and his clear, articulate voice has been broadcast on both AM and FM stations.

Following broadcast radio and video editing, Kris entertained the crowds at Sea World for 30 years. Most notably, as the voice and stage host for the ski show.

During the theme park off-season, Kris works in film as both, an actor and a producer. He has been integral in bringing many award-winning movies to life and continues to be active in the film community today.

PAUL PFAFF guitar . bass . ukulele . piano
Paul Pfaff is a classical/finger-style guitarist from Long Island, New York. In high school Paul began playing in rock and metal bands while studying electric guitar with Jeff Denny. Paul studied classical guitar with Michael Belajonas and earned his associates degree in Music from Suffolk County community College. Paul then moved to Las Vegas to attend UNLV and obtain his BA in Music composition, studying with Virko Bailey and Ricardo Cobo. Paul has been teaching piano, guitar, and music theory for over 12 years as well as continuing to perform at various venues.

He has also worked for Ipiano Lab for over 10 years and has been awarded the "Teacher of the Semester" award for positive feedback from students and parents three times.

.Paul has also received a certificate of achievement in music business and technology from the College of Southern Nevada and has given masterclasses for the Long Island Classical Guitar Society at Long Island University . Besides teaching, composing and performing Paul also enjoys reading and playing hockey.

MICHAEL MADISON Drummer . Percussionist instructor

Michael Madison is a life long musician. Drumming is his passion. He played and taught djembe for the Drum Café in San Antonio for over 24 years. He also played and performed in Tokyo, Japan in corporate, educational, and private party settings. Michael earned a Masters of Science in the Management of Technology from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

RENE FORD Saxophone . Composer . Ensemble Coordinator

RENE's work as a Composer and Performance Artist seeks the common truth that dwells in each of us through collaborative improvisation.

As Collaborating Artist: Holy Ghost Dance, 1995 Walker Arts Gallery 8; Punic Wars, 1995 Walker Arts Center Auditorium; Monday Morning Body Count, 1996 Hennepin Center for the Arts; Porch Swing, 1997 Southern Theater; Theology, 1998 Southern Theater; Father, Sons and Brothers, 1999 African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, Miami FL; An Isolated Incident, 1999 Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Winston-Salem, NC; An Isolated Incident, 1999 Lorraine Hansberry Theater, San Francisco CA; Memory Dances, 2000, Southern Theater; O Black and Unknown Bards, 2000, Buetow Music Auditorium; Stigmatism, 2001, Intermedia Arts; 2704, 2004 Capri Theater, Mpls. MN; Cactus in the Desert, 2005 Pillsbury Theater, Mpls. MN; Pork Chop Wars, 2006 Oscar Brockett Theatre, Austin Texas; Draptomania, 2007; As Producer: Reunion 2001 Artist Quarter; The American Dream, 2002 Intermedia Arts; As a Composer: Unsentimental Released by the American Composers Forum on the Innova Label 2004

Photo of Embroidery teacher Lauren McAlister

LAUREN MCALISTER Textile Artist . Embroidery Instructor

Bio to come.

instructor Susana Espinosa holding violin

SUSANA ESPINOSA Violin . Viola . Cello . Double Bass
Certified Strings Instructor

SUSANA is a Certified music teacher EC-12 and a variety of string instruments. She has taught 5 years privately for the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio and 7 years in public education.

Susana is a motivated and dedicated Orchestra educator. In her twelve years of teaching she has raised the standard in her program to emphasize music literacy and performance excellence in private and public education. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio and during her time there she held the Associate Directors position for the String Project Program. She received a Master's in Educational Leadership from the University of North Texas. Her experiences range from piloting an orchestra program for underprivileged students ages 4-13 in partnership with the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio, to teaching middle and high school Mariachi and Orchestra in public schools across TX, most recently including NISD.

Susana has a love for sharing her knowledge and passion for music with others, allowing them to unveil their musical potential.

ABOUT

Founded in 2015, Family owned and operated by retired
San Antonio Fire Department EMS LT. Dwayne Toler, and his wife, visual artist Susan A. Toler. BlackBox Music & Arts is a creative space where performing and visual artists gather to learn, collaborate, celebrate and contemplate; are encouraged to reach their full potential; and are challenged to a higher standard.

CONTACT US

EMAIL: admin@blackboxmusicarts.com
PHONE: 210.748.5599
1401 Dezarae #6
San Antonio TX 78253

News and Updates

ART SERVICES

Paint Parties
Custom Art
Digital Images
Graphic Design