Monina Sen Cervone is the founding director of the only hands-on multicultural music program in a public school setting. World Music at Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of The Arts (Asawa SOTA) grew from what started as an elective Japanese taiko drumming class in 2006, to become the first department in 2012 to accept all students including those with no formal music training. Cervone studied music in Japan, India, and Indonesia; and performed taiko drumming as a member of San Francisco Taiko Dojo’s ensemble led by Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka. She was also a member of Gamelan Sekar Jaya and Kulintang Dialect. Most recently, Cervone performed alongside her past and present students in Fogo na Ropa’s contingent as part of San Francisco’s Carnaval parade in the Mission district. She began her teaching career in 2004 at Dance Mission Studios instructing taiko to young girls, which led to an Artist-In-Residence position at Asawa SOTA teaching music theory and piano. 

Cervone expanded Asawa SOTA’s classical arts focus to represent more globally multicultural music and dance disciplines. Her curriculum began with old tires taped as drums, and now boasts over 100 instruments. In 2017, she worked with administration to form what is now the World Dance department offering a diverse curriculum of dance styles from India, West Africa, Polynesia, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian. 

Often referred to as “mama bear”, Cervone is dedicated to providing a safe, student-centered environment in her classroom, known as the dojo. Her classroom culture nurtures students to be their authentic selves. She creates space to meet students where they are, and mentors them in, and outside the dojo. In 2017, Cervone co-curated a 10-day cultural program exchange to Cuba with 26 World Music + Dance and Jazz Band students. Students were immersed in master classes, performances, and a day-long visit with sister school of the arts, Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana. 

As a culture bearer, Cervone’s curriculum is steeped in the study of ethnomusicology. She developed a team of Artist-In-Residence teachers who bring in culturally responsive teaching practices to her dojo. Her students study Japanese taiko, West African, Afro-Brazil and Afro-Cuban drumming, Balinese gamelan, Philippine kulintang, steel pan and ukulele.

Cervone received the 2020 SFUSD Visual And Performing Arts Department Dreamcatcher Award, recognizing excellent work provided by inspiring arts leaders, and the 2023 California Music Educator Association Ernest Yee Illuminating Culture Award, honoring excellence in connecting student talent while honoring culture and ethnic heritage. She earned a Masters in Music from SF State University. Cervone’s thesis, “Anything But Quiet: the effects of Japanese taiko drumming on self-esteem of adolescent girls,” helped pave the way for a percussion-based curriculum that breaks gender stereotypes. 

Cervone lives in San Francisco with her husband, two children and dog.