Part-Time Faculty

James Ace received his Ph.D. in Musicology from UCLA in 2024. As a Lecturer in Music at CSUN, he teaches courses on music history and the Western art music canon. James’s scholarship focuses on representations of gender, sexuality, and race in nineteenth-century American music and mass entertainment. As a researcher of communities who are under-represented in traditional archives, James is invested in developing listening- and practice-based methods of studying the past and writing history.
In addition to teaching and writing, James is an Archivist at Sinai Temple in Westwood, where he has been processing and maintaining the music archive since 2019.

Allison Allport’s harp music is heard on many movie and television soundtracks including John Williams’ scores to Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Allison’s orchestral schedule includes performances with Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony and Pasadena Symphony.
Allison enjoys playing across many genres. She has recorded albums and performed with bands such as Weezer, The Used, and Lord Huron, and has performed the music of Pierre Boulez on Monday Evening Concerts, the longest-running contemporary music series in the world.
Allison loves to teach. She is on faculty at California State University, Northridge, Azusa Pacific University, and maintains a large private studio. Allison’s harp students consistently receive high marks in evaluation programs such as the ASTA Certificate Advancement Program and participate in ensemble programs such as Junior Chamber Music.
Allison studied harp with JoAnn Turovsky at the University of Southern California, earning a Doctorate of Music in harp performance with minor fields in orchestration, instrumental conducting and music education. At USC, Allison earned several distinctions including a full-tuition scholarship and Outstanding Graduate Award.
Allison’s other honors include winning first prize in the American String Teacher’s Association National Solo Competition. She was a featured soloist at Lyon and Healy Harptacular 2020 and has performed all over the world including at the World Harp Congress in Prague and on a five-city tour of China with Pacific Symphony.
In partnership with Los Angeles County, Allison launched a new harp ensemble class for youth in the summer of 2021. Harp in the Park provides a safe and beautiful natural environment for young harpists to make music together, learn new skills, and socialize with other harpists. Allison was awarded a grant from the American Harp Society to remove financial barriers and allow more students to participate.
Allison believes strongly in serving the musical community. She volunteers as 2nd Vice President in charge of educational programs for the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Harp Society, and is a member of The Claremont Young Musicians Orchestra advisory committee. She served on the Board of Directors of the Recording Musicians Association and American String Teachers Association for many years. In her spare time, Allison loves hiking, teaching her deaf dog, Chip, new tricks, and is working towards her pilot’s license.

Academic Site

More about Vahagni Aryan to be updated.

Virtuoso violinist Niv Ashkenazi has captivated audiences with his heartfelt musicianship and emotional performances. Praised for his “extremely colourful interpretations, characterized by maturity and authority” (Pizzicato Magazine), he has made several Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Center appearances, and has performed in Europe, the Middle East, and across North America. His conviction that the impact of music serves people beyond the concert stage motivates him to collaborate on projects that create a strong emotional bond with his audience.
Niv was the first ever Artist in Residence at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya). His debut album, Niv Ashkenazi: Violins of Hope, the first solo album recorded on one of the Violins of Hope, was released in March 2020 on Albany Records. It has received international critical acclaim and was named one of the 10 best classical recordings of 2020 by the Chicago Tribune. His performances and educational work with Violins of Hope led him to be recognized by the City of Los Angeles in 2021 for his humanitarian work and have been featured on ABC7, Good Day LA, Spectrum 1 News, Telemundo, in the Los Angeles Times, and other major news outlets. Niv was one of the featured soloists, alongside Yo-Yo Ma, for the soundtrack of the PBS documentary Harbor from the Holocaust.
Dyad, his innovative violin and bassoon duo with bassoonist Dr. Leah Kohn, recently gave a Kennedy Center debut and has performed on concert series throughout the West and East Coast, collaborated with dance companies, and frequently commissions and performs new works alongside traditional repertoire. Their arrangement of Bloch’s Prayer is published by TrevCo Music Publishing and they presented and performed at the 2021 Meg Quigley Vivaldi Symposium and the 2022 International Double Reed Society conference.
Niv has appeared as a soloist with the Long Beach Symphony, Culver City Symphony Orchestra, and Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra among others. He has been a guest artist and given masterclasses at La Sierra University, California State University Northridge, and Westmont College.
Niv is revolutionizing violin education with Eye for Technique, an innovative project that uses slow motion technology to develop decision-making and enhanced artistry. This work led to him being the recipient of Music Academy of the West’s 2023 Alumni Enterprise Award. Designed to help intermediate to professional musicians, Eye for Technique has helped students from Curtis, Rice, USC, and CSUN, among others.
MODIFIED VERSIONS MUST BE APPROVED BY NIV ASHKENAZI.
Niv has performed chamber music with members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Juilliard String Quartet, Cavani Quartet, and Ariel Quartet. Other performance highlights include solo recitals at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall, Terrace Theater, and Millennium Stage, The Soraya, the Granada Theatre, and the Perlman Music Program Alumni Recital Series.
Niv holds both a B.M. and M.M. from The Juilliard School, where his teachers included Itzhak Perlman and Glenn Dicterow.

Hailing from the green mountains of Vermont, GRAMMY® nominated Erin Bentlage writes, sings, and plays music in search of organic sound. Raised in a small town near the city of Burlington, she developed her love for emotional musical expression through ballet and classical piano lessons, and later found her space in the contemporary realm through jazz and improvisation as both a performer and an arranger/composer. Erin creates for the voice in all contexts and can be heard lending her sound on a wide variety of projects, from major motion picture film scores to singing (and often writing!) background vocals for artists such as Moonchild, Pomplamoose, Michael Mayo, Sara Gazarek, and more. She was recently selected for the Los Angeles Jazz Society’s ‘New Note’ project, for which she’s been commissioned to create a twenty-minute original piece to debut next year. As an artist, Erin has been featured on a growing number of projects including releases by Jacob Collier (Djesse Vol. 3), Christian Euman (Allemong), and a collaboration with Amber Navran (Golden Light), and will see her first solo release in 2021. In 2019, Erin co-founded a vocal super-group called säje alongside Sara Gazarek, Amanda Taylor, and Johnaye Kendrick, whose first original song earned the group a GRAMMY® nomination in 2020. Erin is currently on faculty at the Los Angeles College of Music and the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, teaching classes around the voice, musicianship, jazz, improvisation, and composition, and can be found performing and creating across the globe, from Iceland to Italy and beyond.

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Wayne Bergeron is enjoying a career as one of the most sought-after musicians in the world. Studio sessions, film dates, international touring, jazz concerts, guest appearances, and clinics keep him busy not only in his hometown of Los Angeles but worldwide.

Born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1958, Bergeron came to California at age one. He originally started on French horn but switched to trumpet in seventh grade where he found a natural upper register ability. Bergeron credits his junior high and high school teachers, Ron Savitt and Bob Smith, for molding his talent into practical working skills.

Bergeron first caught the ear of many when he landed the lead trumpet chair with Maynard Ferguson’s band in 1986. Bergeron can be heard on Maynard’s recordings of Body and Soul, Big Bop Nouveau, Brass Attitude, and The One and Only Maynard Ferguson.  Bergeron demonstrates daily why Maynard remarked, “Wayne is the most musical lead trumpet player I’ve had on my band.”

As a sideman, Bergeron’s list of recording credits reads like a “who’s who” in contemporary jazz and pop, running the stylistic gamut from Ray Charles to Green Day. Other names include Katy Perry, Beyoncé, Barbra Streisand, Michael Buble, Indina Menzel, Leslie Oden Jr., Herb Alpert, The Jonas Brothers, Burt Bacharach, The Dirty Loops, Seth MacFarlane, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, Seal, Diana Krall, Tito Puente, Christina Aguilera, Dianne Reeves, Michael Bolton, Earth Wind & Fire, The Pussy Cat Dolls, My Chemical Romance, The Mars Volta, Chicago, Rosemary Cloony, Diane Schuur, Barry Manilow, Lee Ann Womack, Lou Rawls, Eric Marienthal, Kenny G., and David Benoit.

Bergeron has worked on over 500 TV & motion picture soundtracks. A partial list of film credits includes Red Notice, Turning Red, Soul, Bob’s Burgers, Ford vs. Ferrari, Toy Story 4, Frozen 1 & 2, The Lion King (2019), The Secret Life of Pets, Wreck it Ralph 2, Crazy Rich Asians, Sing 1&2, Moana, Frozen 1 & 2, Get On Up, Toy Story 3, Monsters University, High School Musical 3, Get Smart, Superman Returns, The Simpson’s Movie, Dreamgirls, Hairspray, Mission Impossible 3, Ice Age 2, Spiderman 1 & 2, Team America and South Park.

Bergeron’s featured trumpet solos can be heard on the motion pictures West Side Story (2021 Steven Spielberg), La La Land, Sing, The Incredibles 1 & 2, Rocky Balboa, The Secret Life of Pets 2, Rough Night, Jazzman’s Blues, Vacation Friends, Ted 2, Minions, Minions 2:The Rise of Gru, Spies in Disguise, Jersey Boys, The Green Hornet, The Interview, Despicable Me 1, 2 & 3, Duplicity, Princess & the Frog, The Perfect Game,, Hey Arnold (the movie), The Rat Pack, Child Star, Aladdin King of Thieves and High Crimes and  many others.

Numerous TV credits include Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, SAG Awards, NBC, ESPN & TNT sports themes, American Idol (2001-02), Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, Animaniacs Reboot, Family Guy, American Dad, Simpson’s, Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse, The Cleveland Show, Green Eggs and Ham,  Jeopardy, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Will and Grace, Phineas & Ferb, Emperor’s New School, Mouse Works, Have a Laugh, House of Mouse, King of the Hill, Futurama, Buzz Lightyear, Hercules, and Hey Arnold.

Bergeron’s greatest love is playing lead in big bands. He has recorded and played with some of Los Angeles’ most respected bands including Gordon Goodwin, Arturo Sandoval, Pat Williams, Sammy Nestico, Jack Sheldon, Chris Walden, Tom Kubis, John La Barbara, Bob Florence, Joey Sellers, Ray Anthony, Bill Watrous, Bob Curnow, and Quincy Jones.

After being behind the scene for so many years, Bergeron stepped out on his own with his first solo effort, You Call This a Living?  This debut project earned him a Grammy nomination in 2004 for Best Large Jazz Ensemble, as well as rave reviews from fans and press worldwide. Bergeron’s second CD, Plays Well With Others, released on the Concord Jazz label in 2007, was met with the same acclaim. Bergeron’s most current (and personal favorite) CD, Full Circle, was released in January of 2016.

Bergeron performs various events for the Hollywood Bowl summer season. He has done guest appearances with the L.A. Philharmonic, The New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Taiwan Symphony, and Tokyo Philharmonic.

Bergeron is a National Artist for the Yamaha Corporation of America and is co-designer of the YTR-8335LA trumpet and YFH-8315G Flugelhorn. Bergeron also designed a series of trumpet mouthpieces with Gary Radtke of GR Technologies that are available through Bergeron’s website.

Bergeron was mentored by legends Uan Rasey, Bobby Shew, Warren Luening, Gary Grant, Rick Baptist, and George Graham. Bergeron hopes to inspire a new generation of young players and enjoys his work as a clinician and educator. “Nothing makes me feel more accomplished than hearing a young musician say that I inspired them or had a positive influence on their life. For me, that’s the real payday.” Bergeron is currently on faculty at California State University Northridge.

Perhaps Grammy winning composer and bandleader, Gordon Goodwin said it best, “Wayne is a once in a lifetime lead trumpet player."

Academic Site

Ronald M. Borczon, MT-BC, founded the Music Therapy Department at California State University, Northridge in 1984 and retired in 2021. In 2022 he was awarded the status of Professor Emeritus in Music.
 
He has presented numerous papers at national and regional conferences, as well as given many public service presentations. In 1994, he received the Presidential Award from the President of the National Association for Music Therapy. This prestigious honor was given in recognition of Music Therapy work done following the 1994 Northridge Earthquake where he developed innovative music experiences to help school age children in the Northridge community deal with the earthquake trauma. In 1995, Borczon conducted a special workshop on Music Therapy and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder for therapists in Oklahoma City after the Oklahoma City bombing. He was asked to help in the planning of music therapy interventions for the students of Columbine High School in the aftermath of the Columbine tragedy and the Santee High School shootings.
 
In 2006 He was awarded the “Award of Merit” from the American Music Therapy Association at the National Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. This award is the one of the highest forms of recognition given by the national office for contributions to the field of music therapy. In 2007 he was awarded the “Outstanding Faculty Award” from California State University, Northridge. He has presented numerous workshops on the effectiveness of music therapy in the wake of a mass disaster. in 2015 he was awarded the Publication Award for the second time from the Western Region of the American Music Therapy Association.
 
He has published two music therapy books: Music Therapy: Group Vignettes; and Music Therapy a Fieldwork Primer. These texts have been used both nationally and internationally in the training of music therapists.
 
As a classical guitar instructor at CSUN, he has had several students win regional, national, and international competitions.
 
Ron Borczon has been interviewed many times for periodicals and venues such as LA Times, LA Daily News, Reader’s Digest, KNBC Channel 4 Los Angeles, and the Australian television show “What’s Good for You.” He appears on the Paul McCartney documentary DVD “The Space Within US” and has also been seen as the music therapist for Danny Bonaducci in the VH1 show, “Breaking Bonaducci.” He has been consulted for many projects that appear in television and film.

Ronald M. Borczon, M.M., MT-BC
Professor Emeritus of Music
Former Founder and Director of the CSUN Music Therapy Academic Program
Former Director of the CSUN Music Therapy Wellness Clinic

Dr. Annie Bosler wears many hats in her career as a Los Angeles freelance horn player. She has toured with John Williams' Star Wars in Concert and with Josh Groban, and performed on Dancing with the Stars, The Ellen Show, and PBS's Live from Lincoln Center.
Annie shared the stage with Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney on CBS's The Beatles: The Night That Changed America. She performed with Ariana Grande and Chance the Rapper at The Grammy’s, P-Diddy at The American Music Awards, and Wu-Tang Clan at Coachella. Annie can be heard on many motion pictures, video games, theme park rides, and TV shows as well as seen playing horn on Fox's TV show Glee.

Named a TED Educator in 2017, Dr. Bosler co-wrote How to practice…for just about anything. The video went viral receiving over 50 million views on social media. In May of 2015, Annie also gave a TEDx talk about facial rehabilitation and brain plasticity entitled Elissa’s Song: The Power of Face Exercises. She specializes in wind pedagogy, specifically teaching facial anatomy and symmetry as it relates to the embouchure, injury rehabilitation, creative ways to educate beginning students, and audition preparation for high school and college students.

Having taught in the Colburn School for Performing Arts for nearly a decade. Annie has a 100% track record of helping students get into a school of their dreams. She co-authored College Prep for Musicians a book for high school students, parents, teachers, and counselors. Also, Annie produced and directed 1M1: Hollywood Horns of the Golden Years, a one-of-a-kind documentary film about the history of Los Angeles studio musicians told through the eyes of the legendary Hollywood horn players. In 2022, Annie has enjoyed working as a writer for Tianjin Juilliard’s Music Discovery curriculum and is excited to publish a book called In Tune: Exercises to Improve a Musician’s Performance and Quality of Life.
Annie is professor of horn at California State University, Northridge. She served as the secretary/treasurer of the International Horn Society Executive Board for five years. In addition, she cohosted the largest International Horn Symposium, bringing over 1,000 musicians to Los Angeles in 2015. Annie holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University where she played varsity tennis, and a MM and DMA from the University of Southern California. She is married to studio hornist Dylan Skye Hart. She has a love for teaching, writing, producing film projects, Instagram, agriculture, traveling, playing tennis, and watching college football.

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Received his BA in music from Queens College, City University of New York, and his Master of Music from California State University LA. Originally from New York, John toured internationally for sixteen years as keyboardist and musical director for John Phillips and the Mamas and the Papas. Over the course of his career he has performed with many other artists, including Cesar Rosas (of Los Lobos), Madonna, Chuck Berry, Rupert Homes, Lou Christi, Lesley Gore, and Chris Montez. His Broadway credits include keyboard of Les Miserables, Cats, and Leader of the Pack. After relocating to Los Angeles, John composed, orchestrated and conducted The Enlightenment, which debuted in 2007 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Long Beach. Since 2004, John has been a full-time lecturer in the music department at CSU Northridge, and continues to be active in the Los Angeles Music society.

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More about Phil Calvert to be updated.

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Acclaimed throughout the music world as not just a performer, but an “artiste”, violinist Roberto Cani has continued to bring his art to the highest of levels, captivating and delighting audiences in the United States and abroad, since his solo debut at the Gaveau Hall in Paris.

Beginning his studies at the age of seven, Mr. Cani has been a first and grand prize winner of numerous competitions, including the Paganini International Competition in Genoa, the Courcillon International Competition, and the Jeunesses Musicales International Competition in Belgrade, where he also captured a special award for the best performance of a contemporary work.  In addition, he has been the winner of the Minetti Prize and received honors at the Tchaikovsky Competition.

Throughout his successful career as soloist, chamber musician and concertmaster, he has established himself as a versatile and respected artist worldwide.

Mr. Cani has performed throughout the United States as well as in Italy, Spain, Austria, Germany, Russia, Croatia, Belgium, Poland, Serbia, France, Taiwan, Japan and South Africa. He has appeared as soloist with the Moscow Philharmonic, the RAI Symphony (Italy), the Belgrade Philharmonic, Zagreb Soloists, Orchestra Haydn of Bolzano, the American Youth Symphony, the Oregon Symphony, the Missouri Chamber Orchestra and Symphony of the Americas.

His performances have been televised nationally for PBS, RAI in Italy, RB in Yugoslavia, NHK in Japan, ZDF in Germany and in Taiwan.  He has been featured on several occasions in radio broadcasts on both KMZT and KKGO in Los Angeles.  Other notable appearances include his widely acclaimed performance of the first concerti of Paganini and Szymanowski in Italy and his premiere of a piece by Polish composer, Gorecki, for violin and piano.

Mr. Cani has performed as guest concertmaster for the La Scala Philharmonic in Milan under the baton of Riccardo Muti. He was also invited by Vladimir Jurowski to be a guest concertmaster for the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Mr. Cani has been appointed Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra in May 2011. As concertmaster of Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, Mr. Cani is closely working with Placido Domingo and James Conlon among others.

Actively involved in chamber music, Mr. Cani has had the pleasure of touring with conductor and pianist Justus Frantz. He has also performed alongside Lynn Harrell, Jeffrey Swann, Jason Vieaux. Presently, he is the first violinist of the New Hollywood String Quartet and has an active presence in many west coast chamber music series. He has also participated in Chamber Music Festivals in Berlin, Hamburg, Vienna, and the Canary Islands.

Mr. Cani has given master classes at many California Universities, among them those at the University of Southern California (USC), the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA),s as well as playing and teaching at Summer Music Festivals in Positano, Italy and Hvar, Croatia, Music Festival in Prague.

Mr. Cani has recorded the Vivaldi “Four Seasons”, sonatas by Respighi and Busoni with pianist Jeffrey Swann, and the solo sonatas of Bartok, Ysaye, Bloch, and Prokofiev under the Arkadia and Agora labels.  His other recordings include the Tchaikovsky violin concerto, and a CD of favorite encores.

Mr. Cani is a graduate of the Milan Conservatory, the Gnessin Institute in Moscow, and the University of Southern California.  He has studied with world-renowned violinists Viktor Tretiakov and Abrahm Shtern.

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Flutist Heather Clark is one of Los Angeles’ most sought after flute players. She earned her bachelor of music degree at USC in flute performance in 1990, and currently holds such prestigious positions as Principal Flute with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and the Long Beach Symphony.

Clark says some of her best memories of her experience at USC are of the time spent with fellow students. The many concerts played together, classes shared, and rehearsal sessions all contributed to her experience – not to mention the many discussions they had on campus in the pre-email and texting days!

“Little did I know at the time, that this was all part of my education and not to mention the lifelong friendships that formed from those countless hours of discussions and debates,” says Clark.

These connections, and the training she received at USC, have been invaluable to her career.

In the course of her career, Clark has performed with talented musicians in a variety of genres. She has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Music Center Opera, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and numerous other Los Angeles regional orchestras. In addition, she has played for movie soundtracks by film composers John Williams, Randy Newman, and Alan Silvestri among others; she can also be heard on the recordings of Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli and Barbara Streisand.

“I’ve been quite lucky to have such a variety of opportunities and to be able to work with such exceptional musicians,” says Clark.

Having begun playing the flute at the age of nine – after her older sister passed on the instrument – Clark has seen her career grow and flourish. One particular moment that stands out for Clark was winning the National Flute Association competition in 1994.

“I think musicians from the west coast get a reputation for being too laid back or not serious enough,” says Clark. “It felt good to be nationally recognized.”

In addition to performing, Clark has also begun an Audition Boot Camp to assist musicians with their audition preparation. Like a coach preparing for an athletic event, Clark works with her students to focus on the strengths and weaknesses to find the way for the student to give their best performance.

“I’ve always enjoyed the mental and musical preparation necessary for a successful audition and I find the audition process to be such a unique musical performance,” says Clark. “It’s very satisfying to help musicians in this way.”

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Connor Cook is a film composer/multi-instrumentalist living in Los Angeles. She grew up in North Carolina, playing bluegrass and Irish music, with an emphasis on accordion, mandolin, banjo, and guitar.  Connor got her BM in Music Theory and Composition from Appalachian State University, then attended Columbia College Chicago to get her MFA in Music Composition For the Screen (Connor frequently collaborates with Alexa L. Borden, her classmate at CCC.)  Her music has appeared on NBC, Hallmark, Prime, and film festivals all over the world.  Connor is a 3-time Sundance Fellow (2020, 2021, 2022).  In 2022, Connor was awarded a Sundance/MacArthur Foundation Journalism Grant for her composition project “The Act of Remembering”.  She was a mentee in the inaugural 2019 Alliance for Women Film Composers Mentorship Program, and now serves on the Board of Directors, running 3 committees.  Connor is a 2023 Keychange US Innovator, and a 2022 & 2023 Mentor in the ScreenCraft Works Cross Border program.   She is a 2024 Composing Fellow for the Vancouver International Film Festival Composer Filmmaker Accelerator Program.

Dr. P. Blake Cooper; a proud native of Louisville, Kentucky; joined the California State University, Northridge faculty in the fall of 2012 and has since worked to provide the tuba students of CSUN with new opportunities and experiences. Dr. Cooper is also the recently appointed Principal Tubist of the New West Symphony Orchestra of the Greater Los Angeles area and has also had the honor of performing as guest tubist with orchestras such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, San Bernardino Symphony, San Luis Obispo Symphony, Downey Symphony among many others. Blake also served for one season as Principal Tubist of the American Youth Symphony of Los Angeles conducted my Maestro Alex Tregar.

Since 2010 Blake has taught as the Brass Faculty Head and Wind Ensemble Director for the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s premier El Sistema-inspired teaching site, Youth Orchestra LA, a partnership between the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Heart of Los Angeles Youth, known locally as YOLA @ HOLA. Also housed on the grounds of YOLA @ HOLA is the Longy School of Music of Bard College’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program where Dr. Cooper has the pleasure of working with aspiring El Sistemia teachers as their Mentor Teacher. Dr. Cooper also serves Bard College as a Field Supervisor for the MAT program where he enters the public school to observe, coach and evaluate MAT students in the classroom as they work toward their single-subject K-12 teacher credentialing in music.

Dr. Cooper can also be heard regularly on stage as a recitalist, guest soloist and lecturer throughout the United States. Recent engagements include a CSUN Faculty Concerto performance of the Bruce Broughton Tuba Concerto with the CSUN Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Larry Stoffel, solo recitals at the 2013 Southwest Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference in Redland, CA; 2011 Southwest Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference in Flagstaff, AZ; the 2009 South Central Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference in Corpus Christi, TX; the 2012, 2007 and 2003 Tuba Christmas’ of Tryon, NC and a lecture recital covering the compositional catalog of virtuoso tubist and composer, Roland Szentpali. He can also be heard all over Southern California in various musical groups ranging a wide array of musical styles, anything from Bavarian Polka to Progressive Modern Jazz Ensembles. Blake is also an emerging recording artist in the Los Angeles recording scene and has worked with such notable musicians as David Newman, Danny Elfman, Hans Zimmer, Bruce Broughton and Tom Holkenborg and well as collaborations with classical artist such as Gustavo Dudamel, Issac Perlman, Sir Simon Rattle and many more.

Blake has been published in the International Tuba Euphonium Association Journal where has presented “From the Back Row,” an on going column featuring interviews with professional orchestral tubists from across the globe.

Dr. Cooper holds a Bachelor degree from the University of Kentucky in Music Education with emphases in both jazz bass and tuba performance, a Master of Music degree in Tuba Performance from the University of Texas at Austin where he served for two years as the Graduate Teaching Assistant in applied Tuba and Euphonium. Blake then moved west to attend the University of Southern California where he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Tuba Performance with emphases in music education, jazz bass and instrumental conducting. Dr. Cooper is a member of the International Tuba Euphonium Association, American Federation of Musicians-Local 47, Recording Musicians Association of LA, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society.

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Dr. Lisa A. Crawford is an educator, composer, author, and researcher. She began playing the piano at age 3, writing music at age 6, and teaching piano at age 12. She has taught music education in a variety of public and private K-12 and university environments specializing in choral arts, creative music, composition, songwriting, and music production. Crawford has founded the International Alliance for Young Composers and Songwriters, and is a presenter at state, national, and international music education conferences. Crawford currently serves California Music Educators Association (CMEA) as Creating and Composition Representative and has launched the new CMEA Composition Meetups for music educators in California. Crawford also serves College Music Society through the Southwest Chapter as President (2022-2024), and serves on the Executive Board of the Institute for Composer Diversity. Dr. Crawford is published by Routledge with a chapter in the Oxford Handbook of Music Composition Pedagogy. Awarded a national grant by Society for Research in Music Education and National Association for Music Education, Crawford is a member of the Palmer Research Group focused toward culturally relevant and responsive pedagogy. Dr. Crawford is currently writing a collection of children’s songs and writing two books, Beginning with Composition and Music Tech Café, writes extensively for CMEA Magazine, and is author and co-author of articles and book chapters. Crawford holds a B. Mus., Composition, M.M., Music Education, M.Ed., Curriculum & Instruction, and D.M.A. in Music Education with minors in Choral Music and Conducting, Statistics, Composition and Music Theory, and Collegiate Teaching. (2023)

Mark Cross is an award winning Producer, Composer, Mixer, Educator and Author with an extensive discography in both film and television that spans over 2 decades.

As a Engineer / Mixer Mark has worked on numerous albums, film scores, and television episodes, including the Grammy-winning “I Am Shelby Lynne”, Randy Newman's Oscar-nominated and Grammy-winning “CARS” and “Meet the Parents” score and soundtracks, along with mixing hundreds of episodes of the NBC prime time series: ER. Additional film credits include: Alien Resurrection, Seabisquit and Beavis and Butthead Do America.

As a composer Mark has created over 1,000 registered tracks in use in hundreds of films and television shows worldwide. He was the lead composer for the NBC Prime Time Series: Last Comic Standing as well as contributing additional music for: American Idol, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The CBS Evening News, HBO’s: Getting On and Comedy Central’s: Key and Peele. Mark has created musical themes for Nickelodeon's Wow Wow Wubbzy, the Seinfeld Season 8 DVD, as well as producing and performing with Grammy winner John Legend on HBO's: Curb Your Enthusiasm.

As an educator Mark is a faculty professor at California State University Northridge and Berklee College of Music On Line teaching Composition for Visual Media, Audio Post Production, and Music Technology. He studied at Berklee College of Music earning a Bachelor of Arts in Music Production and Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. Further studies include Boston University anticipating a Masters Degree in Music Education in 2016.

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Kaelan Decman was appointed the position of Associate Principal Bass of the Los Angeles Philharmonic by Gustavo Dudamel in the spring of 2022. Prior to his appointment he was a member of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. He has been a member of the California State University, Northridge music faculty since the fall of 2023. 

Decman holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Double Bass Performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and continued his graduate studies at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California. He has since made appearances with the New York Philharmonic, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Decman regularly performs with the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Green Umbrella new music ensemble as well as their chamber music series. Outside of his work with the orchestra and university, he maintains a private teaching studio with an emphasis on orchestral audition preparation. He plays on an 18th-century bass made by esteemed Italian luthier Lorenzo Carcassi.

Helen Dolas, MS, MT-BC is a pioneer in the therapeutic application of creative arts for individuals with disabilities, and the Founder/CEO of Arts & Services for Disabled, Inc. in Long Beach, California, which she established in 1982 while completing a Masters degree in Special Education. A musician by training and a board-certified music therapist, Dolas adopted a personal mission to direct her considerable energy and creative attention to changing the therapeutic experience and quality of life offered to adults living with disabilities. Driven by Dolas’ life-affirming “Love Before Learning” philosophy, the nonprofit Arts & Services for Disabled (ASD) today serves more than 3,000 people annually through a variety of services including enrolled day programs, outreach programs, gallery shows and exhibitions, micro-enterprise initiatives and community partnerships.

As one of the largest employers of music therapists in the region, Ms. Dolas has been the Clinical Training Director of her American Music Therapy Association (AMTA)-approved music therapy internship program since 1984, and is currently on the music therapy faculty at California State University, Northridge. Previously, as an adjunct professor at Chapman University, she established several new music therapy clinical training sites: at a private school for youth with autism, at a center that serves traumatized at-risk youth, and at UC Irvine Medical Center's Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. Ms. Dolas also recently co-founded the International Foundation for the Healing Arts to promote the development of music therapy services and has traveled widely as a sought-after speaker and panelist, including participating as one of 15 U.S. delegates invited by Her Highness Sheikah Mozah of Doha, Qatar, to participate in the Third Annual International Forum of Children with Special Needs. She has received numerous awards including a National Model Program Award presented to her at the U.S Senate.

Today, Ms. Dolas continues to expand the reach and prominence of creative arts therapies, launching in 2014 both a new Creative Health & Wellness Clinic for children with autism, and a new Mobile Arts Program to bring therapy sessions to homebound adults with disabilities.

Academic Site

James Dorsa is an American harpsichordist and composer. He teaches at California State University at Northridge and is regarded as a leading proponent of contemporary harpsichord composition and performance. He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 2007 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Dr. Dorsa joined the faculty at California State University Northridge in 2008 where harpsichord he teaches harpsichord performance, as well as courses in general music and music appreciation. He has become well known for his virtuoso interpretations of rarely performed modern harpsichord repertoire. Dr. Dorsa compositions are almost exclusively for the harpsichord, and are frequently performed by harpsichordists around the world. Twice the winner of the Aleanor Prize for composition, his suite Jupiter’s Moons has entered the modern canon and now regularly appears as required repertoire at harpsichord competitions. Dorsa acknowledges Gyorgy Ligeti as an important influence, and describes his own compositional approach as “maximalist”—a naturally heterogeneous style drawing upon a wide array of outside influences that indulges freely in motivic and harmonic complexity. Dorsa’s work, often characterized by pounding ostinatos, explosive arpeggios, brilliant tremolo, and crushingly dissonant tone clusters, is evocative of the more aggressive trends in modern rock music.

Academic Site

A man of varied talents, whose musical career has spanned four decades, David Edelstein is an accomplished bassist and jazz piano player. At the age of 21, he began his professional music career as the electric bassist for the legendary Buddy Rich Big Band. He then joined the ranks of top-flight recording musicians in Los Angeles where his bass lines were heard daily on television shows, radio and TV commercials and in movie scores. 
As the first-call bassist for producer/arrangers such as Don Costa, David recorded with Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka, the Osmonds, the Fifth Dimension, Steve Lawrence and Edie Gorme, Kenny Rankin, Tom Jones, Gloria Trevi, Wayne Newton, and others. As the pre-record bassist for the television show “Solid Gold” David played with a wide range of notable musicians including David Foster, Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Andy Gibb, Natalie Cole, George Duke, Billy Ocean, Johnny Mathis, Conway Twitty and many more. David’s TV credits also include “Madame’s Place,” Webster,” “B.J. and the Bear,” and “Knight Rider.”  David’s freelance bass work led to live concerts with jazz artists including Peggy Lee, Harry James’ Orchestra, John Klemmer, Phil Upchurch, Ray Pizzi, and Frank Strazzeri.
Having achieved success as a recording and performing bassist, David turned his attention to the art of jazz piano. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Studies (Piano Performance) and a Master’s Degree in Music from California State University and has trained with some of the finest jazz pianists in Los Angeles.  He regularly performs in the Los Angeles area.
David’s many years as a professional musician provided an invaluable “reality-based” musical background. He is an active educator currently employed as a lecturer in the music department of California State University Northridge. David is compiling a jazz piano instruction method and has recorded his first jazz piano CD. Additionally, he has completed a suite of big band and nine-piece jazz ensemble arrangements.

Academic Site

Originally hailing from Dallas, Texas, M. Taylor Eiffert has recently joined the clarinet section of The Los Angeles Philharmonic. In addition to his orchestral career, Taylor serves as a dedicated clarinet instructor at California State University Northridge, where he is a member of the woodwind faculty. Prior to his appointment to The LA Phil, Taylor held tenured positions with The Milwaukee Symphony and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestras. He has also performed extensively with The Santa Fe Opera as well as The Santa Fe Chamber Festival, and Aspen Festival Orchestras. Taylor is a distinguished alumnus of both The University of Southern California and Northwestern University, where his musical education was shaped by mentors such as Yehuda Gilad, Steve Cohen, J. Lawrie Bloom, and David Howard. Beyond his musical pursuits, Taylor finds solace in woodworking and enjoys the great outdoors through camping and hiking adventures with his wife, Lauren and dogs Stella and Ember.

Academic Site

Dr. Bryan Fasola grew up in Los Angeles. From the ages of 18 to 21, he composed and published music through BMI that has been used by television shows around the world. After receiving his  Performing Arts Diploma under Hubert Kaeppel Germany, he returned to Los Angeles in 2007 to take a position as lecturer of music at California State University, Northridge while completing the Doctorate of Musical Arts degree at USC. As a teacher, Bryan has adjudicated numerous local programs as well as guitar competitions. In his solo performances, Bryan has entertained audiences at numerous universities and arts societies, as well as radio stations such as KUSC  91.5 in Los Angeles, and was featured on “Inside the Classical Guitar” RAF 107.3 in St. Louis.  Bryan’s classical guitar project, LADuo, focuses on developing new music for the genre and has performed as soloists at recent music festivals such as The Cabrillo Festival with conductor  Marin Alsop, and the Southern Guitar Festival in South Carolina.

Academic Site

Gary Fukushima is a pianist, composer, educator and writer in Los Angeles. He is on the faculties of California State University, Northridge, Pasadena City College, and the Pasadena Conservatory of Music. He has performed throughout the United States and in Asia with Alphonso Johnson (Carlos Santana, Weather Report), and Chester Thompson (Frank Zappa, Genesis, Phil Collins), Blue Note singer/songwriter Priscilla Ahn, actresses and singers Mia Maestro, Marilu Henner and Renee Olstead, and acclaimed ensembles such as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the Sabella Consort, and many others.
He is a freelance writer of jazz events for LA Weekly, LA Jazz Scene and other publications.A native of Seattle, Washington, Gary started formal piano lessons at age eleven, eventually graduating from the University of Washington with degrees in classical piano, jazz studies, and psychology.  Upon graduation, he accepted a faculty position with Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA, where he taught jazz piano and musicianship. In addition to his jazz performances in the Seattle area and abroad, Gary was active in the Pacific Northwest arts community, with performances with the Tacoma Symphony, Choral Arts Northwest, and ArtsWest, and he was the musical director for the first Asian-American production of West Side Story by the Northwest Asian American Theatre.
In 2003 Gary relocated to Southern California to continue graduate studies with David Roitstein, Wadada Leo Smith, and Charlie Haden at California Institute of the Arts, receiving a Master of Fine Arts in 2005. In addition to his faculty commitments, Gary enjoys an ongoing working relationship with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz as a clinician/performer, and as a teacher in its educational program “Jazz in the Classroom” sponsored through the Los Angeles Unified School District Beyond the Bell program. In addition to performing, teaching and writing about jazz, Gary continues to support jazz in Los Angeles through his role as cofounder and artistic director of the Los Angeles Jazz Collective, a nonprofit organization that seeks to promote improvised jazz music and a stronger community among Los Angeles jazz musicians.

Gary has recorded and performed with many esteemed musicians including Mike Stern, Leon “Ngdugu” Chanceler Anthony Jackson, Mike Shapiro, Walfredo Reyes, Jr., Gilad Hekselman, Walter Smith III, Mark Ferber, Steve Cotter, Jeff Clayton, Mike O’Neill, Joe La Barbara, Larry Koonse, Sara Gazarek, Matt Otto, Darek Oles, Carl Saunders, John Daversa, Kathleen Grace, Dontae Winslow, Abe Lagrimas, Jr., Ben Wendel, Roy McCurdy, and Gary Pratt.

Academic Site

Karo is a versatile drummer, performing regularly with vocalist Maria Schafer (Glenn Miller Orchestra), focusing on elements of straight-ahead and Brazilian jazz styles. They perform at venues across the greater Los Angeles area, including Campus JAX (Newport), The Grape (Ventura), Oeno Vino (Atwater Village), and more, frequently featuring pianists Jeremy Siskind and Andy Langham. They went on a West Coast Tour in 2023, performing at venues and radio shows including Mr. Tipples (San Francisco, CA), Boxley's, Mood Indigo, and Jefferson Public Radio (Bend, OR), and KNKX Public Radio (Seattle, WA). In the contemporary jazz vein, Karo regularly performs with saxophonist Nick Gomez, featuring Zack Caplinger (Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra) and David Reynoso. Karo also performs with Dave Stephens' Band, performing in the style of New Orleans jazz, swing jazz, and jump blues. They're seen regularly at The Drake (Laguna Beach), Pendry Hotel (Newport), and the Ahmanson Theater (Los Angeles). Karo has performed with a diverse roster of artists including Josh Nelson, Francisco Torres, Lia Booth, Marlon Martinez, The Jazz Cartel, Danny Janklow, Ido Meshulam, Andrew Renfroe and more. Karo has performed as a hired ember of Long Beach City College's vocal jazz ensemble, performing at the 2020 Jazz Education Network conference in New Orleans.

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Karo has been busy recently as a recording artist, where he can be heard on Kenneth Brown II and Joshua Childress’ 2022 contemporary jazz album “The Rise”, Nick Gomez’s 2023 album “Patience” featuring Zack Caplinger and David Reynoso, and recently recorded an upcoming album with Maria Schafer featuring pianist Jeremy Siskind in 2024.

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Karo Galadjian’s path of education explains how he developed these qualities. Karo was introduced to jazz music as a late-comer in his early twenties at Los Angeles City College from 2016-2018, under the direction of Tina Raymond, where he received a deep understanding of classical percussion and jazz brushes, being shown how elements of sensitivity are paramount for jazz vocabulary. Raymond instilled an early sense of humility in him, preparing him for the beginnings of a creative music career. When Karo transferred to CSULB for his undergraduate study from 2018-2021, these qualities were amplified as a member of the Concert Jazz Orchestra led by director Jeff Jarvis and studied with world renowned drummer Chad Wackerman (Frank Zappa, Allan Holdsworth), who both taught him the importance of confidence and responsibility in the music business. During his studies at CSULB, Karo was an annual recipient of the KJazz scholarship. 

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While steadily working in the Los Angeles music scene and between his studies, Karo had also built a rapport with jazz legends Jeff Hamilton and Joe La Barbera, who both serve as constant sources of inspiration and kindness for him. In 2023, Karo began his masters in jazz study at CSUN, where he is currently working again with director Tina Raymond and studying privately with Jason Harnell (Maynard Ferguson) in order to deeply exercise his ongoing abilities as an educator and performer. In addition to regular private students at his in-home studio, Karo also teaches private students at Cal State Northridge. He is currently a recipient of the Herb Alpert scholarship.

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Regardless of the musical scenario, Karo is on a never-ending journey of personal and musical mastery and can’t wait to share the experience with musical partners.

Iran Garcia has established himself as a versatile composer in today's filmmaking world by fusing his classical training with his ongoing experiences with electronic and non traditional music landscapes. Now being a multi instrumentalist, Garcia grew up in Florida, where he picked up the guitar and started building his repertoire by the age of six. While pursuing his Music degrees in Business and Education, he was simultaneously producing and recording himself alongside local music talents in hopes of building a professional knowledge of the recording and creative arts. He has won awards in "Best Film Soundtrack", in 2017 at the California International Film Festival Scoring Competitio, in 2018 at the Festigious Film Festival, and in 2019 at the Los Angeles International Film Festival.

Godin's theatre career has taken him from coast to coast across Canada where he has appeared in the major theaters of almost every province, including the Shaw Festival and the Stratford Shakespearean Festival, where he garnered critical acclaim for his portrayal of Arturo Ui in Bertolt Brecht's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui.[1] Some of his numerous theatre credits include Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, d'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers, Constantin in The Seagull, Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Rochester in Jane Eyre.

Godin has also performed extensively in musical theatre most notably in the roles of the Emcee in Cabaret, the Master in Godspell, Joey Evans in Pal Joey, Herschel Blackwell in Fire and in an award-winning performance of Screamin' John in John Gray's Rock and Roll. He also portrayed Edmund in King Lear, starring Christopher Plummer. He was a cast member of the Broadway show, The Farnsworth Invention, written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Des MacNuff.

Among his many television credits, Godin has guest-starred on Still Standing, The Practice, Ally McBeal, Friends, The Outer Limits and Seinfeld. He has also played recurring characters on Poltergeist: The Legacy, 3rd Rock from the Sun, First Monday and Spin City. He has been a series regular on Café Americain, Life with Roger, and Working. His feature film work includes such Canadian films as White Room, Salt Water Moose, and Double Take. He played the flamboyant role of Hector in the film Boat Trip (2003), followed by guest roles on Medical Investigation, House, Las Vegas as well as a comic turn as Wesley the bumbling burglar in the film Chestnut (Hero of Central Park). He has also portrayed the French composer Georges Bizet in Bizet's Dream.

He also guest starred in Disney Channel shows Wizards of Waverly Place as Ronald Longcape Sr. and Good Luck Charlie as Mr. Walsh.

Godin is working on a novel inspired by a childhood raised in an Acadian household.[citation needed]

Godin is on faculty at California State University, Northridge, where he teaches performance technique and opera scene study in the opera division of the music department. He is also the director of the annual spring or fall operas.

Academic Site

Shai Golan is a Los Angeles-based saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator. He 
has performed with numerous distinguished jazz artists, including Billy Childs, Walter Smith III, 
Louis Cole, Chris Potter, David Binney, John Beasley, Matt Brewer, Nate Wood, Dan Weiss, and 
John Daversa. He has also performed with popular music artists like Ali Shaheed Muhammad, 
Adrian Younge, Carlos Santana, Estelle, and Black Thought, and actively tours with Saint Motel. 
Professor Golan has performed at international music festivals across the globe, including various 
countries in Europe and North America, as well as Brazil, Ecuador, Thailand, Taiwan, China, and 
Russia. He has studied with Donny McCaslin, Gary Smulyan, Rich Perry, Katisse Buckingham, 
Rob Lockhart, Michael Mull, Josiah Boornazian, and Gary Pratt. He graduated with a Master’s 
Degree in Jazz Arts from the Manhattan School of Music in 2017 and earned a Bachelor’s Degree 
from California State University, Northridge, in 2015. 
Currently, Professor Golan teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in improvisation, 
composition, arranging, and musicianship, while also leading a jazz combo and offering private 
lessons, as part of CSU Northridge’s jazz department.

Since winning 1st Prize at the 2003 Eduardo Mata International Conducting Competition, conductor and composer Tomasz Golka has appeared with orchestras in North and South America and Europe to great critical acclaim.

He has appeared with the symphony orchestras of Seattle, Fort Worth, Buffalo, Spoleto Festival USA, Xalapa, Jalisco, Warsaw Philharmonic, Baden-Baden Philharmonic, Sinfonia Varsovia, as well as the OFUNAM in Mexico City, and he has collaborated with some of the world’s top soloists, including Susan Graham, Alisa Weilerstein, Gary Hoffman, Inon Barnatan, and his pianist-brother Adam Golka.

Golka has served as Cover Conductor for Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Cleveland Orchestra. He was a semi-finalist in the 2010 Solti International Conducting Competition and the 2005 Malko International Conducting competition, where he conducted the Frankfurt Radio Symphony and the Danish Radio Symphony, respectively.

Past positions include Chief Conductor of Colombia National Symphony in Bogotá as well as Music Director of the Lubbock Symphony and the Chamber Orchestra at St. Matthew's in Los Angeles. He is currently Music Director of Riverside Philharmonic.

A composer of both film and concert music, he recently scored the short film "Shaking Cup" (2019) and was named Composer-in-Residence of the 2018 Boulder International Chamber Music Competition. His concert works have been performed by the symphony orchestras of California, El Paso, Williamsport, Boca del Rio, and the Suffolk County Festival Orchestra.

At the 2006 Tanglewood Music Festival, Golka conducted a historic performance of Stravinsky's Soldier's Tale with composers Milton Babbitt, Elliott Carter, and John Harbison as narrators – a recording that is now available for sale through the Boston Symphony’s website bso.org. He has also recorded Ciranda das sete notas by Heitor Villa-Lobos for Melo Records.

Born in Warsaw, Poland in 1975, Golka’s family emigrated to Mexico in 1980 and to the United States in 1982. His conducting teachers were David Effron at Indiana University and Gustav Meier at the Peabody Conservatory. He holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in violin from Rice University, where his teachers were Sergiu Luca and Kenneth Goldsmith. He also studied violin with Tadeusz Wroński and Marina Yashvili. He holds a Certificate in Film Scoring from the prestigious UCLA Extension, where he was the recipient of the coveted BMI/Jerry Goldsmith Scholarship.

Academic Site

Beto González is a musician, ethnomusicologist and a professional woodworker. He has been involved in the performing arts for over 20 years as a musician and producer. Beto is the founder of the Los Angeles-based Brazilian musical collective, Samba Society. He holds Masters degrees in Latin American Studies and Ethnomusicology from UCLA.

More about Benoit Grey to be updated.

Originally a Honduran/Argentinian violinist, Nelly Guevara received her Bachelor's Degree at the National Institute of Music in Costa Rica,  where she studied with J. Castillo.

She also earned her Artist Diploma at the "Reina Sofia School of Music" in Madrid, where she studied with Rainer Schmidt and Marco Rizzi, and at the International Institute of Chamber Music of Madrid with Prof. Ralf Gothoni.

She was honored as a member of the “Albeniz Quartet”, the top string quartet at the Reina Sofía School of Music, receiving the award from Her Majesty the Queen Sofía of Spain.

She also won the gold medal at the “Young Soloists Competition” of the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica and subsequently performed with the orchestra as a soloist.

She attended several international music festivals in America and Europe such as the Ibero-American Orchestra, Youth Orchestra of the Americas, World Orchestra, and the Santander Music Festival.

She participated in violin master classes with Leon Spierer, Ana Chumachenco, Oleh Krysa, and Mauricio Fuks. She received chamber music lessons with members of the Alban Berg String Quartet members and Menahem Pressler.

Guevara has had the privilege of working under the direction of multiple renowned conductors and artists including Charles Dutoit, Zubin Mehta, V. Ashkenazy, Carl St. Clair, Eiji Oue, Lawrence Foster, Jordi Savall, P. Zukerman, Midori, Joshua Bell and M. Maisky, among others.

She has held positions with orchestras such as the National Symphony Orchestras of Costa Rica and Colombia, a position as assistant concertmaster at the Gulbenkian Orchestra in Portugal, and recently at the Teatro Colón with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Buenos Aires in the position of assistant principal 2nd violin.

She graduated with a master’s degree in music performance at CSUN where she served as an assistant to Dr. Lorenz Gamma. She is now a violin faculty member at CSUN. 

Jason Harnell is a highly respected jazz drummer, composer, and educator based in Los Angeles. He has performed and recorded with numerous jazz luminaries such as Larry Goldings, Walter Smith III, Ben Monder, Maynard Ferguson and is a member of the Los Angeles Jazz Quartet, showcasing his dynamic playing style and inventive compositions. Harnell has been teaching for almost 40 years currently lecturing at University California Irvine, California State Northridge and previously on faculty at Musicians Institute for 15 years. He has also conducted master classes around the world, including in Australia, Germany and Japan. Harnell launched his most creative and ambitious endeavor in 2017, The Jason Harnell Solo Drum Experience. Jason's live solo drum concerts and master classes are consistently sold out, multi-media events that tantalize the senses and explore rhythm, sight and sound in a completely unique and personal way. For over two decades, Jason has held a monthly residency at the world famous Baked Potato jazz club. His contributions to the music world continue to inspire aspiring musicians and captivate audiences around the globe.

Academic Site

You may not know Dylan Skye Hart by name, but you have definitely heard him play horn. Proud Latino and Los Angeles native, Dylan is a busy freelance musician. Depending on the day, he can be found recording for video games, motion pictures, theme parks, albums, or television shows.

He has recorded films with many great composers including John Williams, Hans Zimmer, John Powell, Randy Newman, Alexandre Desplat, James Newton Howard, Bruce Broughton, David Newman, and Alan Silvestri. Some movie titles on which Dylan can be heard playing principal horn include: Top Gun Maverick, Avatar 2, Indiana Jones 5, Hocus Pocus 2, Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker, Jungle Cruise, Onward, It 2, Call of the Wild, Ready Player One, Deadpool 2, Suicide Squad, and The Jungle Book. Dylan has also recorded albums and appeared on television with music legends Quincy Jones, Lady Gaga, John Legend, Michael Bublé, Sting, Stevie Wonder, Wu-Tang Clan, M83, Gladys Night, Yo-Yo Ma, Neil Young, and The Beatles. His solos can be heard on his namesake Bob Dylan’s albums Shadows in the Night and Fallen Angel.

Dylan has toured with John Williams’ Star Wars in Concert, Eden Espinosa of Wicked, and The Who, doubling on horn, trumpet, trombone, Wagner tuba, and mellophone. In the orchestral world, Dylan is principal horn of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and recently won a one-year position as associate principal horn of the Minnesota Orchestra. He also performs regularly with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, and San Diego Symphony. Dylan is a member of the Los Angeles Horn Quartet and Modern Brass Quintet.

In addition, Dylan co-produced the 75-minute film documentary entitled 1M1: Hollywood Horns of the Golden Years which recounts the history of the Los Angeles film studios told through the eyes of the legendary horn players of the golden era. Dylan also translated and published a book for musicians called In Tune: Exercises to Improve a Musician's Performance and Quality of Life. Dylan is known for making French horn music videos as seen on his YouTube Channel and specializes in giving masterclasses on a variety of topics ranging from physics and anatomy to motivation and mental health.

As an alumnus of the University of Southern California, he studied with Vincent DeRosa, James Thatcher, and Richard Todd. Dylan also received a Masters of Music at UCLA while studying “The Breathing Gym” with Patrick Sheridan. Dylan currently teaches horn at California State University, Long Beach. When not performing, Dylan, a “foodie”, enjoys cooking, playing ice
hockey and soccer, golfing, and hanging out with his wife and fellow hornist Annie Bosler.

Dylan owns several vintage Conn 8Ds and currently plays on a C-series that his friend and fellow instrument junky Noah Gladstone helped him find.

Academic Site

Jory Herman joined the double bass section of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in the summer of 2017. He was a member of the San Diego Symphony from 2010–2017 and has previously performed with the National Symphony in Washington, D.C., and the New World Symphony in Miami Beach. A native of Houston, he received both Bachelor and Master of Music Performance degrees in a five-year honors degree program at Rice University. Mr. Herman regularly performs on chamber music and new music series such as Green Umbrella, Art of Élan, Camarada, Ojai Music Festival, and Camera Lucida. An ardent educator, he is the professor of bass at California State University in Northridge (CSUN), maintains a private teaching studio for all ages, and is the founder and clinician at the annual San Diego Bass Fest. As a recording artist, The Union-Tribune praised his debut album of music by J.S. Bach, stating, “You’ll never think of the bass the same way again.” He performs on a double bass made by luthier Ludovico Rastelli in 1848.  For more information, visit JoryHerman.com.

Academic Site

More about Richard Hofmann to be updated.

Academic Site

Timothy Howard is a member of the music faculty at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), and Director of Music and Organist at Pasadena Presbyterian Church (PPC). He holds degrees from the University of Southern California (Doctor of Musical Arts), Westminster Choir College (Master of Music) and Biola University (Bachelor of Music). Recognized as a soloist, collaborator and conductor, he is featured regularly on American Guild of Organists (AGO) chapter, community, and church performance series. He has appeared with such groups as the Corona Del Mar Baroque Music Festival, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Green Umbrella group.

At CSUN Dr. Howard teaches organ, music theory, musicianship, and keyboard classes. At PPC, he leads two adult choirs and is artistic director of the church’s concert series, in which capacity he plays for and leads performances of such major works as Ein Deutsches Requiem (Brahms), Passion According to St. John (J.S. Bach), Concerto for Organ, Harp and Strings (Howard Hanson), and many others.

For two seasons Dr. Howard arranged and led the choral music for the HBO series Big Love. He is an active member and leader in the AGO, and he is a member of the board of the Ruth and Clarence Mader Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Timothy Howard, DMA
Lecturer in Music
California State University, Northridge

Academic Site

More about Wilber Ibarra to be updated.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Dr. Erick Jovel is an active freelance musician with versatility ranging from orchestral to jazz and other commercial music. Erick is second trumpet with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and principal trumpet of Downey Symphony. He has also performed with orchestra such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, San Diego Symphony, Malaysian Philharmonic, Long Beach Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, Pasadena Symphony, Pacific Palisades Symphony, Los Angeles Valley Symphony, Glendale Philharmonic, Riverside Philharmonic, Culver City Chamber Orchestra, Culver City Symphony, Marina Del Rey Symphony, Centerstage Opera, Pacific Opera Project, Long Beach Municipal Band and several Musical Theatre companies. He has also worked on various TV and Motion Picture Soundtracks such as Disney's Encanto and Disney Pixar's Lightyear. Star Trek Lower Decks, Star Trek Discovery, Gremlins, Batman The Caped Crusader and various others. Erick has performed as featured soloist for The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Capitol Ensemble, Corona Symphony, Masters University Wind Ensemble, Symphony Irvine, UCLA Philharmonia and UCLA Wind Ensembles.

He also performs with various international latin artist such as Andy Montañez, Tony Vega, Yari Moré, Jungle Fire, Sonora Dinamita, Sonora Caliente and Orquesta Tabaco y Ron. Erick has participated in the Banff All Star Brass Festival where he performed with world class musicians: Jens Lindemann, Ryan Anthony, Marty Hackleman, Mark Gould, Phil Snedicor, Alain Trudel, Alstair Kay and Pat Sheridan. Erick earned a Bachelor degree in Music Performance from CSUN under the mentorship of David Washburn and a Master of Music Degree from UCLA under the mentorship of Jens Lindemann. Erick is completed his Doctoral of Musical Arts at USC's Thornton School of Music under the mentorship of Thomas Hooten. 

Mercedes Juan Musotto, a seasoned conductor and pianist, boasts a distinguished career highlighted by numerous accolades and leadership roles within the realm of classical music. She is the recipient of the 2012 Solti Foundation Award and the 2011 Mozarteum Argentino, and was honored as the winner of the 2021 National Opera Association College Opera Production. Currently serving as the Music Director of the Orchestra and Opera at Santa Monica College, as well as the Music Director of the Opera at California State University Northridge, Mercedes's expertise and passion for musical excellence shine through in her extensive body of work.

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Hailing from Argentina, Mercedes embarked on her musical journey with piano studies at the esteemed National University of Cuyo’s School of Music, later earning a Bachelor of Music degree in Orchestra Conducting from the National University of La Plata. She continued her academic pursuits at the Teatro Colón Art College, where she attained a Master of Music degree in Opera Conducting. Mercedes's dedication to her craft was further evidenced during her tenure from 2008 to 2012 as a coach, pianist, and Assistant Conductor for the opera season at the prestigious Teatro Argentino in La Plata, Buenos Aires, as well as her role as accompanist at the Teatro Argentino’s Opera Studio.

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Since relocating to Los Angeles in 2013, Mercedes has made indelible contributions to the local music scene. As the Conductor of the Santa Monica College Orchestra and the Musical Director and coach for the Opera Program at California State University Northridge, she has garnered acclaim for her exceptional leadership and artistic vision. Under her guidance, the CSUN Opera Program received prestigious awards from the National Opera Association, for her productions of L’enfant et les Sortilèges by Ravel and Gianni Schicchi by Puccini. 

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Mercedes's artistic endeavors extend beyond the realm of academia, as evidenced by her collaborations with renowned institutions and artists. Notable highlights include leading the Hollywood Orchestra for ""Lettres & Mémoires Maria Callas"" alongside Monica Bellucci in December 2022, and premiering the musical ""The Everywhere of Her"" by Velina Hasu Houston & Carla Lucero at The Ebell of Los Angeles in March 2023. This groundbreaking production, which explores the lives of three women intersecting at an event celebrating Amelia Earhart, underscores Mercedes's commitment to innovative storytelling and artistic expression.

In addition to her performances and productions, Mercedes is a passionate advocate for gender equality in music. She curated an all-female composers’ program with the Culver City Orchestra and continues to champion the works of female composers, aspiring to reshape the landscape of classical music through diverse and inclusive programming.

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Mercedes has held esteemed positions as Music Director of several orchestras, including the Youth Symphony Orchestra of San Martin, and Center Stage Opera, among others. She has also served as a guest conductor for esteemed institutions such as the Culver City Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestral Academy of the Teatro Colón Art College, and the Hollywood Orchestra, the La Plata Chamber Orchestra, the Canadian Arts Academy, the Accademia Europea Dell’Opera, the UNC Symphonic Orchestra, the Wordless Music Orchestra, the Hollywood Orchestra, showcasing her versatility and leadership prowess on an international stage.

Academic Site

Larry Kaplan is one of Southern California’s most versatile and sought-after flutists. He has performed extensively with the Los Angeles Philharmonic for over twenty years, including three domestic tours and nine international tours to 22 countries. Larry has also appeared numerous times on the LA Phil Green Umbrella Series. He has collaborated with such iconic conductors as Gustavo Dudamel, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Zubin Mehta, Simon Rattle and Leonard Bernstein. Larry has also played Piccolo with the Minnesota Orchestra, and he has played Principal flute with the Bolshoi Ballet, American Ballet Theater, and with many local orchestras including the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Pacific Symphony and Long Beach Symphony. For 12 years, Larry was a member of the 2-time Grammy Award winning Southwest Chamber Music with whom he recorded, performed locally, and performed on tours to New York, Vienna, Mexico City, and also to Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Hanoi, Viet Nam. These tours included teaching residencies at UNAM in Mexico City, Royal Cambodian Conservatory and Hanoi Conservatory.
Early in his career, Larry played saxophone in several local rock and jazz groups, and he is a past recipient of the Outstanding Jazz Soloist Award at the Chaffee Jazz Festival. Additionally, he played in the pit orchestras for Wicked and The Lion King at the Pantages Theater, and over 600 performances of The Phantom of the Opera at the Ahmanson Theater. He also has numerous other recording credits including movie and television soundtracks as well as commercial jingles.
His past faculty positions include 11 years at UC Irvine, where he taught flute and was director of chamber music, and 18 years at Chapman University. He is currently on the faculty here at Cal State, Northridge. Larry received his BM and MM degrees here at CSUN, and he is delighted to be a member of TEMPO. larsandrea@aol.com

Academic Site

Diane Ketchie joined the music faculty of California State University, Northridge in 1999. She holds double performance degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in both voice and piano. Her master’s degree is from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. She was then awarded a grant for a year of study at the Opernschule of the Hochschule fur Musik in Munich, Germany.
Ms. Ketchie made her New York recital debut at Carnegie Recital Hall as a result of winning the Artists International annual competition. She has appeared as a guest artist with the Houston Symphony, the Jacksonville Symphony, the Milwaukee Symphony, the Long Beach Symphony, the Charlotte Symphony, the Wheeling Symphony, the Allentown Symphony, the Pennsylvania Sinfonia, the Pasadena Pops, the California Philharmonic and the Rankweil Chamber Orchestra of Austria. Operatic credits include leading roles with Lyric Opera Cleveland, Opera Delaware, Opera Carolina, Skylight Comic Opera and Treasure Coast Opera. Ms. Ketchie made her Broadway debut in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and also starred in the San Francisco production of Phantom as Carlotta, the opera diva.
An active performer, she is a frequently featured artist on Community Concert Series and in Performing Arts Centers all across the country. Ms. Ketchie is also an accomplished pianist who often performs with orchestras as a solo artist. She was recently heard as both singer and pianist on four National Public Radio broadcasts. She first performed as both singer and pianist in the premiere of ORPHEUS IN LOVE at the Circle Repertory Theater, Off-Broadway. Of her performance, Bernard Holland, critic for THE NEW YORK TIMES stated, "I can think of no one in the Broadway, popular or classical world who could do all the things she does and do them so well."

Academic Site

Bassoonist Leah Kohn is a versatile musician with a passion for unusual repertoire. She is also an active performer on the baroque bassoon and contrabassoon, and the co-founder and director of Oak Hill Music Festival, a chamber music festival serving the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire and Vermont. Dyad, her duo with violinist Niv Ashkenazi, has performed on concert series throughout California and at many venues on the East Coast, including a recent performance at the Kennedy Center. 

As well as freelance and studio work in Los Angeles, Leah has performed at the Lake George Music Festival, as a fellow at the Norfolk Music Festival, at several programs at the Banff Centre, and at Fresh Inc. Festival with Fifth House Ensemble. 

As an educator, she is on faculty at California State University, Northridge, and maintains a private teaching studio in Los Angeles, as well as coaching for several local youth orchestras. 
 
She received her D.M.A. from the University of Southern California as a student of Judith Farmer, with an academic field in musicology and elective fields in Arts Leadership and early music. She holds an M.M. from The Juilliard School and a B.M. from the Manhattan School of Music, both as a student of Frank Morelli. 
Bassoonist Leah Kohn is a versatile musician with a passion for unusual repertoire. She is also an active performer on the baroque bassoon and contrabassoon, and the co-founder and director of Oak Hill Music Festival, a chamber music festival serving the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire and Vermont. Dyad, her duo with violinist Niv Ashkenazi, has performed on concert series throughout California and at many venues on the East Coast, including a recent performance at the Kennedy Center. 

As well as freelance and studio work in Los Angeles, Leah has performed at the Lake George Music Festival, as a fellow at the Norfolk Music Festival, at several programs at the Banff Centre, and at Fresh Inc. Festival with Fifth House Ensemble. 

As an educator, she is on faculty at California State University, Northridge, and maintains a private teaching studio in Los Angeles, as well as coaching for several local youth orchestras. 
 
She received her D.M.A. from the University of Southern California as a student of Judith Farmer, with an academic field in musicology and elective fields in Arts Leadership and early music. She holds an M.M. from The Juilliard School and a B.M. from the Manhattan School of Music, both as a student of Frank Morelli.

Academic Site
 

E. L. Lancaster is on the piano faculty at California State University, Northridge where he teaches keyboard musicianship, piano ensemble, and keyboard literature. Previous positions include Professor of Music at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, where he taught courses in piano pedagogy and coordinated the group piano program. Dr. Lancaster established the masters and doctoral programs in piano pedagogy at the University of Oklahoma and served as major professor for more than 50 doctoral dissertations in that field. During his role as Senior Vice President and Keyboard Editor-in-Chief of Alfred Music, he drew upon his teaching experience ranging from pre-school through doctoral candidates, to direct the Alfred keyboard catalog.

Teaching awards that Lancaster received from the University of Oklahoma, include the Regents Award for Superior Teaching, Associates Distinguished Lectureship, Provost's Outstanding Academic Advising Award, and Outstanding Faculty Award in the College of Fine Arts. He also was awarded a David Ross Boyd Professorship, named in honor of the first OU president, given to faculty members who excel in teaching, counseling, and guiding students. The author or co-author of more than 400 publications for students of all ages, he has presented workshops for teachers throughout the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, China, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

Lancaster was named a Signature Sinfonian by Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, national music fraternity, an award that honors members who exhibit high standards of excellence in representing the fraternity as an alumnus. Other awards include the Distinguished Alumnus Award and Outstanding Alumnus in Fine Arts Award from Murray State University as well as Lifetime Achievement Awards from both California Association of Professional Music Teachers and the National Conference of Keyboard Pedagogy.

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Soprano Erica Lazerow Davis joined the CSUN faculty in 2012. With a voice the LA Times called “opulent,” Ms. Davis is known for her beautiful high notes and sparkling interpretations.  She has sung with the Independent Opera Company, Mesopotamian Opera, Vineyard Touring Opera, and LA Metropolitan Opera. Her concert performances have included Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Cantata 80, and Britten’s The Company of Heaven.  An avid recital singer, she has performed numerous recitals at CSUN and throughout Los Angeles. Ms. Davis is a founding member of the chamber ensemble Convivia, and she is featured on its CD O sacrum convivium.

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Jordan Leicht is a Los Angeles-based saxophonist, composer, bandleader, and educator, known for his modern interpretation of ‘straight ahead’ jazz. Blending technical prowess with soulful improvisation and melodic original compositions, he crafts a uniquely fresh listening experience while paying homage to jazz legends such as Hank Mobley, Sonny Rollins, and John Coltrane. 

Leicht has graced stages throughout Southern California captivating audiences with his premiere jazz ensemble, The Jordan Leicht Quartet, at esteemed venues like Sam First (Los Angeles), The York (Highland Park), The Grape (Ventura), and LIBRETTO (Paso Robles). He has shared the stage with acclaimed talents including Jumaane Smith, Josh Nelson, Darek Oles, Runnner, Mark Ferber, Christian Euman, The Jazz Cartel, and many more. Notable performances include appearances at The Lighthouse Cafe, Bluewhale, Vibrato Jazz Grill, and The Troubadour, where his dynamic presence has left an indelible mark.

In addition to his performance accolades, Jordan Leicht is a dedicated educator with over a decade of teaching experience. From the elementary to university level, Jordan imparts his mastered knowledge on technical proficiency combined with an intuitive approach to exploring the connection between music theory and the musical ear, which inevitably leads his students to find their own unique voice and a true appreciation for the art form. In Fall 2023, he was appointed assistant director for the Jazz "A" Band at California State University Northridge (CSUN), where he currently directs the Jazz "C" Band. He is scheduled to be a guest at the 2025 SCSBOA annual music education conference where he will be presenting "Tools for Teaching Improvisation: Empowering Every Educator".

Pursuing his master’s degree at CSUN, Leicht continues to inspire the next generation of jazz musicians while pushing the boundaries of his own musical expression. With a commitment to innovation and a passion for teaching, Jordan Leicht remains at the forefront of the contemporary jazz scene, poised to leave an enduring legacy in both performance and education.

Dillon MacIntyre is on faculty at CSU Northridge where he teaches trombone. He also teaches at East LA College, LA Valley College, and CSU Los Angeles where he leads brass ensemble, beginning conducting, music and world culture, and as of Fall 2024, the Wind Ensemble. As a performer, Dillon serves as principal trombone with the Santa Barbara Symphony and the Pageants of the Masters orchestra. Based in Los Angeles, he performs on alto, tenor, and bass trombones, as well as euphonium. He is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin (BM) and Northwestern University (MM), and he completed a study abroad at the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus, Denmark.
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Dillon’s performing experiences have taken him around the world and include performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Andrea Bocelli, San Francisco Ballet, Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera, Prinsens Musikkorps Military Band, Aarhus Brass Band, and many more. You may also hear him on several movie and television soundtracks, including Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Despicable Me 4, and Twisters. He has won a number of competitions and awards, including various International Trombone Festival competitions, several American Trombone Workshop competitions, and the Denmark National Brass Competition. 
 
In his spare time, he enjoys composing new music, hiking in the So Cal wilderness, playing video games, and hanging out with his two cats.

More about William Malpede to be updated.

Academic Site

Shigemi Matsumoto has performed with over 30 national and international opera companies including those in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Brussels (Belgium), Wolf Trap, Portland, Kansas City, San Antonio and Tucson.  She has performed with more than 40 national and international symphony orchestras including San Francisco, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Minnesota, Houston, Lourdes (France), San Antonio and Denver. 

Ms. Matsumoto has given more than 300 solo recitals including recitals in the major cities of New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Tokyo, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Vancouver, Seattle, Houston and Dallas.  She has performed with many internationally known conductors such as Seiji Ozawa, Leonard Slatkin, Charles MacKerras, Arthur Fiedler, Laurence Foster, Guiseppe Patané and Kurt Herbert Adler.  Some of the luminary singers she has performed with include Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Leontyne Price and Regine Crespin.

She has appeared on numerous radio and television broadcasts and also appears on two CDs with Luciano Pavarotti and also a Christmas Album with the NBC Orchestra.  She was Japanese Woman of the Year for Southern California and has been nominated to and appears in nearly a dozen different Who’s Who publications.  Recently, she was awarded a Distinguished Alumni recognition at CSUN.

Many of Ms. Matsumoto’s students have been among winners of various vocal competitions.  Some have performed with opera companies including the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Houston Opera, San Diego Opera and Opera Pacific.  Others have performed with international companies in Great Britain, Italy, Germany, Spain, Norway, Switzerland, Brazil and Chile.  Others have been invited to summer programs in Santa Fe, Academy of the West, Glimmerglass, Salzburg, and Graz.

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Need

More about Renee Meriste to be updated.

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Born and raised in Israel, Ido grew up in a musical family and began playing the soprano trombone at the young age of 3. In 2010, he received a full tuition scholarship from Berklee College of Music and relocated to Boston, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in jazz performance. Between 2012 and 2014, he won 3 international jazz trombone competitions hosted by the International Trombone Association and the U.S. Army’s American Trombone Workshop. In 2014, he was one of only 7 musicians to be accepted into the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, where he had the chance to study and perform with artists such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Hearth, Billy Childs, Chris Potter and many others.
 
After receiving his Master’s degree from the Monk Institute at UCLA, he decided to stay in LA, where he performed with artists such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Heath, Kenny Burrell, Seth MacFarlane, John Beasley, Al Jerreau, Lewis Nash, Frank Stallone, Dee Dee Bridgewater, John Daversa, Cyrus Chestnut, Jon Faddis, John Patitucci, Steve Huffsteter, Mike Barone, Ron King, The Glenn Miller Orchestra and many more.
 
Notable performances include the 2016 International Jazz Day at the White House (hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama), Playboy Jazz Festival, The Kennedy Center, The Tavis Smiley Show on PBS, Hallmark’s Home & Family Show, JEN Conference, LA Jazz Festival Institute’s Big Bang Spectacular among others. In addition, Ido was recently featured on Billy Child’s GRAMMY winning album “Rebirth” and on John Beasley’s GRAMMY nominated album “MONK’estra Vol. 2”.

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Nasim Moattar is a classical pianist and an enthusiastic piano teacher based in Los Angeles, California. She has performed solo and chamber music recitals across the United States, Switzerland, and Iran. As an educator, Nasim has taught keyboard musicianship and secondary applied piano to undergraduate and graduate music majors and non-majors. Additionally, she maintains an active private piano studio in Los Angeles, where she instructs pre-college students and adults. 

Nasim has been the recipient of several awards, prizes, and scholarships. She has been a two-time recipient of the Frieda Derdeyn Bambas Piano Endowed Scholarship at the University of Oklahoma. Nasim has also received the Graduate Equity Fellowship and presented her scholarly research at the 24th Annual Student Research and Creative Works Symposium at California State University, Northridge. She has been recognized as teacher of the year by California Music Studios, where she used to teach in San Diego, CA, and has also won several prizes in piano competitions in her home country, Iran.   

Nasim’s research interests include the piano music of American composer Richard Cumming, the influence of traditional Iranian music on the piano works of contemporary Iranian composers, and practical tools and resources for young musicians to overcome performance anxiety.  

Nasim is a doctoral candidate (ABD) at the University of Oklahoma, pursuing a D.M.A in Piano Performance and Pedagogy. She studied applied piano under Dr. Jeongwon Ham and piano pedagogy under Drs. Barbara Fast and Sara Ernst. Nasim holds a summa cum laude Bachelor of Music degree and a Master of Music degree with distinction in Piano Performance from California State University, Northridge, where she studied applied piano with Dr. Dmitry Rachmanov and Professor Mark Richman and piano pedagogy with Dr. Gayle Kowalchyk. 

For More Information: Nasimpianostudio.com. 

Linda Mouradian received a Bachelor of Music degree from Boston University and a Master of Music degree from USC. She holds a California Life Teaching Credential. She served as Principal Violist with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra. After moving to California, she served as Associate Principal Violist of the Glendale Symphony, performed with the orchestras of Frank Sinatra, The Three Tenors, and Luciano Pavarotti, She is on the board of directors of Education Through Music-LA. She is the recipient of the 2005 CMEA Alfred Publishing Elementary Specialist Award, the 2012 co-recipient (with Academy Award winning composer, John Williams) of the ETM-LA Shining Star Award, and the 2016 CMEA Outstanding Elementary Music Specialist. Her professional affiliations include CMEA, NAfME, ASTA, CMA, Local #47 Musicians Union, MTAC, and LACESMA. Professor Mouradian taught instrumental music for LAUSD for 38 years. She developed LAUSD’s elementary instrumental music curriculum and served as an instrumental music coach. She currently maintains a private teaching studio. She has been on CSUN’s Music faculty since 2000 and now is also on the SED faculty, leading music student-teaching seminars, supervising music student teachers, and teaching the music “methods” course.

Academic Site

As a performer and recording artist, Michael can be heard playing a range of woodwind instruments, but is most often associated with the bass clarinet, alto sax, and clarinet. His diverse knowledge of styles, flexible musical approach, and experience in instrumental arranging make him a sought-after collaborator, and effective teacher. Holding a Master’s Degree in Music from the notorious California Institute of the Arts, Michael received his undergraduate training at Cuesta College and CSU Northridge, and has studied under such great improvisers and composers as James Miley, George Stone, Matt Harris, Liviu Marinescu, Larry Koonse, Joe LaBarbera, Wadada Leo Smith, Vinny Golia and Rob Lockart. Michael has developed a sound and style of his own that permeates both his playing and writing, drawing from a diverse pool of influences ranging from jazz to metal to traditional music from around the world. 

Michael currently performs and composes music for various groups including his flagship Michael Mull Octet and experimental metal trio Wax People. As a sideman, he is an original member of the electrifying "peasant funk" band Orkestar Meze as well as numerous other projects. He teaches jazz arranging, ensembles, and lessons at CSU Northridge and maintains a busy schedule of freelance performances, recording sessions, and arranging.
Michael's compositions can be heard on multiple recordings, including his 2022 EP Two Pretty Songs and the 2021 self titled Wax People release.

Academic Site

Patrick O’Malley is an award-winning composer of symphonic, chamber, and film music. Whether writing for an orchestra or electronic textures, his music embraces abstract worlds and emotions with the goal of igniting listeners’ imaginations. His classical works have been performed across the United States and Europe, and his film music has been heard in several American film festivals.

O’Malley has been recognized or performed by organizations including the Albany, Minnesota, Ft. Wayne, and Milwaukee Symphonies, the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s National Composer Intensive, The ASCAP Morton Gould Award, and The Aaron Copland House Residency. He was named Composer of the Year by the Sioux City Symphony in 2018,  and made his Carnegie Hall debut with the New York Youth Symphony in 2021. O’Malley also serves as the arranger and a conductor for the video game concert series Journey LIVE with Grammy-nominated composer Austin Wintory. O’Malley completed his masters and doctoral degrees in music at the University of Southern California where he studied with Andrew Norman and Sean Friar. He divides his time between living in Los Angeles California, and Lake Charlevoix, Michigan.

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Kathryn Gleasman Pisaro, is active as an oboist and a music historian. As an oboist, she has performed with hundreds of artists and ensembles, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Andrea Bocelli, Luciano Pavarotti, the Moody Blues, Ray Charles, Garth Brooks, and has performed for presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush. She has played in several touring Broadway productions, including Phantom of the Opera, Cabaret, and Les Misérables.  

She has made recordings of solo contemporary music for oboe, recorded with jazz ensembles in Chicago and LA, and is on two albums with the rock band Poi Dog Pondering, Pomegranate and Great White Light. She has toured Europe six times as a new music soloist. As a music historian, she received her master’s and PhD degrees in musicology at Northwestern University, with a dissertation on experimental music in Britain in the 1960s. She regularly presents papers at national and international conferences and has written entries for such prestigious publications as the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians and New Dictionary of the History of Ideas. She is currently on the faculty at California Institute of the Arts and California State University, Northridge.

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David Pozzi has been active in the Los Angeles music industry as a free-lance musician since 1977. He has recorded and/or performed with Henry Mancini, Mel Torme, Celine Dion, David Foster, Johnny Mathis, Jeff Hamilton, Rich Little, Charlie Shoemake, Marvin Stamm, Bobby Shew, Pete Christlieb, Don Menza, Roy McCurdy, Bob Cooper, Jeff Berlin, Diana Krall, Billy Childs, and others. Big band credits include Ray Anthony, Bob Crosby, Bill Watrous, Louie Bellson, Bob Florence and Doc Severinsen. He was invited and performed at the 1992 President’s Inaugural Ball at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

He is a featured jazz soloist on recordings with such artists as John Patitucci, Nick Brignola, Dick Berk, Bob Magnusson, Ray Pizzi, Milcho Leviev. Other recording work includes radio and TV commercials, TV shows (The Osbournes, The George Lopez Show, The Wonder Years, The Ellen DeGeneres Show), and numerous demos and record dates (Juan Gabriel, Carlos Santana, Anastasia, Dido).

Academic Site

More about Zachary Provost to be updated.

Gigi "Gee" Rabe, also known as the award-winning “L.A.’s Accordion Diva,” has appeared on Josh Groban’s PBS special “Stages” and has performed with American Idol alum and Latin American Idol winner Allison Iraheta. Over the past four decades “Gee’s” accordion playing can be heard on many albums, commercials, and film soundtracks. She has recorded with Micky Dolenz and other numerous composers and has performed internationally and toured with many musicians in diverse musical genres.  As a steel drum player “Gee” is best known for her role as “Marjorie,” Phoebe’s eccentric friend on the television sitcom “Friends.” In the last season of the show, Ms. Rabe was cast to perform at Phoebe’s wedding. Not only is “Gee’s” music heard in that episode but she can also be heard on the first season of FX mini-series “Fargo,” the movie “Forever Plaid,” and the 1990s cartoon series “Klutter.”

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Andrew Renfroe is best known as a first-call guitarist for artists including Braxton Cook, Keyon Harrold, Carmen Lundy, Rachel Eckroth, Ben Williams, Tia Fuller, Ned Goold and Jonathan Barber. A native of Jupiter, Florida, now based in Los Angeles by way of New York City, he is a bandleader of growing stature whose 2020 EP Dark Grey and 2021 full-length debut Run in the Storm have brought his interpretive and compositional gifts and complex yet highly melodic playing into stark relief.
 
His guitar influences are decidedly rootsier and more blues-based, less liquid and ethereal, than what is common in today’s young jazz guitar field—qualities reflected on Small Vacation, his intimate quasi-acoustic duo set with bassist Luke Sellick, released in November 2020. Renfroe has also made vital contributions to recordings by Carmen Lundy (the Grammy-nominated Modern Ancestors), saxophonist Braxton Cook (Fire Sign, Somewhere In Between, No Doubt), pianist/keyboardist/vocalist Taber Gable (Hidden Driveways) and drummer Curtis Nowosad (eponymous).
 
Renfroe holds an MM from the Juilliard Jazz Studies program (2016) and a Bachelor of Music (2013) from the renowned Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz in Hartford, Connecticut; in 2013 he was also chosen to attend the esteemed Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead program at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. His projects as a leader reflect his diverse influences: a reimagining of Delta blues legend and originator Son House’s music through the aesthetic of the John Coltrane Quartet, an exploration of traditional music from Burkina Faso and Mali in a modern jazz quartet setting, inventive arrangements of bluegrass, country, roots music and hymns and arrangements of Olivier Messiaen’s magisterial works for organ. All of these projects were presented at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
 
Renfroe’s additional sideman credits, a testament to his range and versatility, include Billy Childs, Terri Lyne Carrington, Steve Davis, Nat Reeves, Ugonna Okegwo, Javon Jackson, Terrace Martin, Mike LeDonne, JD Allen, Gerry Gibbs, David Weiss and Point of Departure, Jonathan Pinson’s Boom Clap, Arnold Lee and countless others.

Branford Marsalis states, “Eric’s sound is the sound of doom; big, thick, percussive.” Scores of musicians across various disciplines agree.  Revis has performed and recorded with Betty Carter, Peter Brötzmann, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Jason Moran, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Steve Coleman, Ralph Peterson, Lionel Hampton, McCoy Tyner, Andrew Cyrille, and Tarbaby, the experimental trio he tri-leads with Orrin Evans and Nasheet Waits, as well as with Options, also with Waits, and the legendary Bennie Maupin.

Revis has recorded eight brilliant albums as a leader including 2004’s Tales of the Stuttering Mime and 2009’s Laughter’s Necklace of Tears both of which reveal his impressive range as a musician and composer. These were followed by five back-to-back releases on the Lisbon-based label Clean Feed: Parallax (2012 with Ken Vandermark, Jason Moran, and Nasheet Waits), City of Asylum (2013 with Kris Davis and Andrew Cyrille), In Memory of Things Yet Seen (2014 with Bill McHenry, Darius Jones, and Chad Taylor), Crowded Solitudes (2016 with Kris Davis and Gerald Cleaver), Sing Me Some Cry (2017 with Ken Vandermark, Kris Davis, and Chad Taylor), and the 2020 release of the wildly lauded quintet album Slipknots Through A Looking Glass on Ms. Davis’s Pyroclastic Records, which appeared on a multitude of best-of-the-year lists. In 2022, Tarbaby released Dance of the Evil Toys, featuring Oliver Lake, also on Clean Feed.

Manning the bass chair with Branford Marsalis’s powerfully flexible quartet since 1997, Revis has recorded eight albums with the ensemble in addition to touring the globe with them many times over. Also with Marsalis, Revis has appeared on the soundtracks to the Netflix features Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, as well as the upcoming Rustin, and was a featured soloist for John Williams’s 90th birthday celebration at Tanglewood in August 2022.
Regular festival and club appearances in Europe and North America with his own ensembles include an appearance at the 2016 Newport Jazz Festival where Revis was commissioned by George Wein to write a new piece for his last year as producer of the legendary festival. Revis has also been heard with the late, great trumpeter Tomasz Stańko and in innovative duo settings with pianists Davis and Orrin Evans. He has been a mentor to the next generation as part of the Kennedy Center’s “Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead”. Currently based in his native California, Revis is a frequent figure on the burgeoning creative music scene in Los Angeles with ensembles such as Lancaster featuring Jeff Parker, Guillermo Brown and Joshua White.

A recipient of a 2018 grant from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, Revis also received the 2017 inaugural Jazz Gallery Fellowship which included a residency at the Pocantico Center of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. In 2017 Revis was named “Rising Star” bassist by the Downbeat Critics Poll. He has also been the subject of feature articles in Downbeat and the Chicago Reader.

More about Mark Richman to be updated.

Violist Wendy Richman is celebrated internationally for her compelling sound and “absorbing,” “fresh and idiomatic” interpretations with “a brawny vitality” (The New York Times, The Washington Post). The Baltimore Sun commented that she made “something at once dramatic and poetic out of the aggressive tremolo-like motif of [Berio’s Sequenza VI].” As soloist and chamber musician, she has performed at Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Royce Hall, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Mostly Mozart Festival, and international festivals in Berlin, Darmstadt, Edinburgh, Helsinki, Hong Kong, Karlsruhe, Morelia, and Vienna. She is a founding member of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE).
Wendy collaborates with a wide range of composers and has commissioned many pieces in which she sings and plays simultaneously. Her debut solo album of these works, vox/viola, was released on New Focus Recordings in 2020. ). In addition to her work on contemporary repertoire, Wendy is equally at home performing standard orchestral and chamber music literature, collaborating with fortepianist Malcolm Bilson, the Claremont and Prometheus Trios, members of the Cleveland, Juilliard, and Takács Quartets, and many others. In Los Angeles, she frequently performs with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Tesserae Baroque, and echoi (ensemble) at Monday Evening Concerts. She has also been a regular guest with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the orchestral viola sections of Atlanta, Minnesota, and St. Louis.

Also a distinguished educator, Wendy serves as Lecturer of Viola at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), and Lecturer in Performance Studies at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She previously held positions at NYU, University of Tennessee, University of Alabama, and Cornell University. She has mentored hundreds of student composers through readings, residencies, recordings, and performances. Wendy is a sought-after clinician at universities, conservatories, and conferences around the world, offering classes on viola repertoire and technique, lectures on string instrument notation, and workshops on contemporary string techniques. Recent and upcoming master classes and workshops include visits to The Boston Conservatory; The Juilliard School; Lawrence Conservatory; New England Conservatory; Oberlin Conservatory; University of California, Davis; and University of North
Texas.

Wendy holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory (Bachelor of Music), New England Conservatory (Master of Music), and Eastman School of Music (Doctor of Musical Arts with the Diploma in Ethnomusicology). Her teachers include Carol Rodland, Kim Kashkashian, Jeffrey Irvine, Peter Slowik, and Sara Harmelink; she was also mentored by Karen Ritscher and Roger Tapping. Wendy’s academic interests address musicians’ communities, stemming from her own experiences with composer-performer relationships, gender-based discrimination, and disability.

Recent and upcoming seasons’ highlights include performances of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante with violinist Lorenz Gamma and the CSUN Symphony Orchestra at The Soraya in Los Angeles; Harold in Italy with conductor Christian Baldini and the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra at the Mondavi Center; and recital programs at Lawrence Conservatory, Oberlin Conservatory, UC Santa Barbara, and venues in Boston, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New Orleans, and NYC. Wendy was featured as both violist and mezzo-soprano at the 2024 American Viola Society Festival at Los Angeles's Colburn School.

Jamie Rosenn is a guitarist whose unique style pays homage to the past while also looking ahead to the future. Trained at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he received a Bachelors Degree in Music, Rosenn studied with jazz luminaries Jimmy Giuffre, Ran Blake, Mick Goodrick, George Russell and Bob Moses. After completing his studies in Boston, Jamie moved to California where he attended the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in Valencia. At CalArts Jamie studied with Charlie Haden, Leo Smith and Joe LaBarbera and was a featured performer and composer on the ’94 and ’95 CalArts Jazz CDs. Since receiving his Master Degree from CalArts Jamie has been an active member of the Los Angeles jazz scene. In 1996 Jamie was chosen by the United States Information Agency to be an artistic ambassador and perform in a duo that took part in a seven week tour of the Middle East and South Asia. In addition to performing, Jamie currently teaches at Saddleback College, and CalState Northridge and has taught at the the Musician’s Institute, the Los Angeles Music Academy, University of California at Los Angeles, and CalArts and Cypress College. Jamie performs as a member of the trio JoE-LeSs shOe with Jason Harnell and Matt Otto who released their self titled CD in 2007 and has since released three more CD’s of original music. Jamie also co-leads the organ trio Option 3, with Joe Bagg and Mark Ferber that released their debut CD “Points Subtracted” in early 2008 and “Peaberry” in 2018. Jamie’s has also recorded with the quartet, Sigmund Fudge, which released a CD in 2016.

Need

More about Janet Shulman to be updated.

Aaron T. Smith has been active as a freelance percussionist in Southern California since the early 1990s. During that time, he has performed with many of the area’s leading orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, L.A. Chamber Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, Long Beach Symphony, Pasadena Symphony, New West Symphony and the Santa Barbara Symphony. He served one year as the principal timpanist of the New Mexico Symphony. When the Los Angeles Philharmonic was without a regular timpanist, Mr. Smith served as a substitute in subscription concerts, family concerts, new music concerts and in performances at the Hollywood Bowl during the 2007-2008 season.

Since 1996, Mr. Smith has served as Principal Timpanist and Percussionist with the Chamber Orchestra of Saint Matthew’s in the Pacific Palisades, where he has performed twice as a concerto soloist. The orchestra regularly commissions new works, and Aaron was pleased to be part of a recording with the orchestra of some of those works which was released in 2013. He has also performed on recordings by the LA Master Chorale and several LA-based composers.

In addition to playing the Western, orchestral percussion instruments, Mr. Smith has been a long-time student of the frame drum, specifically the Arabic tambourine known as riq. In 2010 Aaron performed on stage in a solo role for riq in the world premiere of Daniel Catán’s Il Postino, with the Los Angeles Opera.

Since 2016, Aaron has been the associate editor for education for Percussive Notes, the academic journal of the Percussive Arts Society. Mr. Smith attended the University of California at Los Angeles (BA, MFA). His primary teachers were Mitchell Peters, Principal Timpanist and Raynor Carroll, Principal Percussionist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.

Aaron lives in Culver City, with his wife, Megumi, who is also a percussionist, and son, Noah who pretends to dislike learning to be a percussionist. Aaron likes to cook and eat (mostly plants) and spends too much time reading (mostly the news.)  He’d like to have more time for yoga, but after years of resisting, recently learned to ski.

Mark is a New Zealand-born composer of Choral, Film and Concert Music, based in Los Angeles. In 2023, his score for The Reef: Stalked  was nominated in both the SCL Awards and World Soundtrack Awards. He also premiered "Alone" for Choir & Electric Guitar with LA Choral Lab, at their highly acclaimed 'Apsis' concert.

Whether for the screen or concert hall, Mark's music is melodically evocative and accessible. The NZ Listener describes his Moto Mojo as "so tuneful you remember it all instantly". The first thing Movie Music UK noticed about The Reef: Stalked score was "how beautiful large parts of it are". Mark holds a Graduate Diploma in Screen Composition (Distinction) from AFTRS (Australian Film, TV & Radio School) and is on the Media Composition Faculty at CSUN (California State University Northridge).

Dr. Benjamin Sorrell has performed as a soloist, chamber musician, and with orchestras throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. A sought after performer and interpreter of repertoire ranging from baroque to contemporary and is a proponent of the music of our time. This has led to regular performances with San Diego Symphony, San Diego Winds, Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra, and Monday Evening Concerts Series in Los Angeles, at The Players Theatre and John Zorn’s The Stone in New York City, Helmut List Halle, Graz, Austria, the University of Colorado at Boulder’s Pendulum New Music Series, and a lecture-recital at the Daegu International Contemporary Music Festival in Daegu, South Korea.  As an orchestral musician, Benjamin has had the opportunity to work under the batons of Hugh Wolff, Donald Palma, Carl St. Clair, Benjamin Zander, Yuga Cohler, Jung-Ho Pak, Gunther Schuller, Lucas Vis, and Beat Furrer.

Benjamin has been invited to participate in various music festivals including, International Music Institute Darmstadt (Germany), Habanera Academy (France), European Saxophone University (France), Impuls Ensemble Academy for Contemporary Music (Austria), Brevard Music Center (Brevard, NC), and the Summer Institute for Contemporary Performance Practice (Boston, MA).

As an active teacher for over 20 years, Benjamin is Saxophone and Chamber Music Lecturer at California State University, Northridge, and is on the faculty at Riverside City College. In addition to his college applied lessons and chamber music, he maintains a studio of private saxophone and clarinet students throughout Los Angeles County. His students have continued on to be music majors, but most do not, but have developed a deep love of music and an appreciation for the hard work needed for musical achievement. Benjamin received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California, Thornton School of Music, and holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree, both with Honors, from New England Conservatory of Music where he studied with Kenneth Radnofsky.
Benjamin Sorrell is a Conn-Selmer artist, and plays Selmer (Paris) saxophones exclusively.

Southern Californian pianist, Jason Stoll, enjoys a  multifaceted career as concerto soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, educator, and collaborative artist.  Past concert highlights include giving the U.S. premiere of Benjamin Britten’s Rondo Concertante for piano and strings, numerous solo recitals and chamber music throughout his native California, across the United States and internationally, and has appeared with numerous orchestras as soloist including the Santa Monica Symphony, the Loyola Law School Symphony, the MUSE/IQUE Orchestra, the North Charleston Pops, Midland-Odessa Symphony, Victoria Symphony, Miami Music Festival Orchestra, the Westlake Village Symphony, the California State University, Northridge Symphony, the Antelope Valley Symphony, the York Symphony Orchestra, and the Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Stoll has also competed internationally and was named a Semi-finalist in the 2015 Dublin International Piano Competition and Finalist in the 2013 American Paderewski Piano Competition. 

In addition to a busy schedule of performing as a solo artist, Mr. Stoll is also a lover of chamber music. He has been actively involved over the years in a various amount of ensembles including ACE Trio (flute, clarinet, and piano) as well as a multitude of duos, trios, quartets, etc. all with unique instrumentation and repertoire. 

Karen D. Surmani is a Lecturer in Music Education who is a strong proponent of early childhood and elementary music education. She is an Orff-trained music teacher who has also done extensive study in the Kodály method. Ms. Surmani is known for encouraging creativity and innovation in both her university and elementary students. As an elementary general music specialist, she has many years of experience teaching both elementary general and choral music in the Los Angeles Unified and Conejo Valley Unified school districts. As a private voice teacher, Ms. Surmani has taught many talented students and is an advocate of proper techniques to ensure vocal health for educators.

Ms. Surmani is the former early childhood and elementary general music editor at Alfred Music, where for several years she edited and oversaw the production of many best-selling works for music education. She also acted as a grade level editor for the acclaimed 2017 Pearson/Savvas on-line PK-8 general music education curriculum, Interactive Music powered by Silver Burdett with Alfred.
Ms. Surmani is an author/co-author of Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory series; Teach Yourself to Sing; Singing 101; Rock Singing Techniques; Sing at First Sight series; Alfred’s Musical Playing Cards: Instruments; Alfred’s Musical Playing Cards: Classical Composers; Sound Stories ‘Round the Year; and the Classroom Music for Little Mozarts series. 

In addition to her work in music education, Ms. Surmani continues to perform frequently as a soprano soloist and choir member. She recently appeared with the acclaimed Columbia Jazz Band as a featured vocalist on their European tour. 

Ms. Surmani is a California State University, Northridge alumna, where she was a Vocal Performance major, earning a Bachelor of Music degree. She subsequently enrolled in the CSUN teaching credential program and completed a K-12 single subject credential in music. Ms. Surmani later was granted a Master’s degree in Music Education from the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California.

Tali Tadmor is a Los Angeles-based pianist, vocal coach, conductor and music educator whose colorful career as a musician is reflected in the unusual path she took to becoming an artist. As an undergraduate student in mathematics at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA), Tali began accompanying singers in a music course. She instantly fell in love with the field of collaborative piano and its repertoire. Soon after, she began performing professionally, eventually forgoing her plans to become a scientist and opting in favor of a career in music. A versatile musician, Tali has performed in some of the world’s great venues; from her debut recital at Carnegie Hall in 2009 to the Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Ford Amphitheater, Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center and the Great Hall in the heart of China’s Forbidden City. Though primarily a classical musician, Tali is active in a wide variety of musical settings, ranging from opera to world music, and from musical theater to worship. She has collaborated with many well-known artists, including Metropolitan Opera star soprano Angela Meade and Los Angeles Philharmonic cellist Daniel Rothmuller. Most notably, Tali served as Assistant Conductor and principal pianist to Maestro Placido Domingo in the Los Angeles Opera premiere production of Dulce Rosa in spring of 2013.

Immediately after earning her Doctorate in Keyboard Collaborative Arts from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2009, Tali was offered a faculty position as Vocal Coach and Accompanist at the Herb Alpert School of Music at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). At CalArts, Tali enjoyed a decade of mentoring undergraduate and graduate-level students, teaching weekly Master Classes, providing private coachings, overseeing opera productions, accompanying voice recitals and other performances and collaborating with fellow faculty members. In 2018, Tali was offered a teaching position at California State University in Northridge, where she now heads the Collaborative Piano Program, helping to train the next generation of vocal and instrumental accompanists. At CSUN, Tali teaches the Collaborative Piano Colloquium, a master class for pianists, singers and instrumentalists, as well as mentors several solo piano students.

Tali maintains a busy performance schedule in addition to her academic teaching career. In the spring of 2010 she returned to Carnegie’s Perelman/Stern Stage as pianist for the world premiere of Eric Whitacre’s newest song cycle “The City and the Sea” (a Distinguished Concerts International in New York (DCINY) concert). Later that year she was invited by the American Composers’ Forum (ACF) to serve as an adjudicator in their annual national songwriting competition and perform in the final concert featuring the winning new works for voice and piano. In opera, Tali collaborates regularly with the Los Angeles Opera and Long Beach Opera companies. In the spring of 2011, she served as music director for LA Opera’s concert reading of the newly commissioned “Dulce Rosa”, collaborating with composer Lee Holdridge and librettist Richard Sparks in presenting the new opera to Placido Domingo. The opera was not only picked up by the company, but after hearing her play, Mr. Domingo requested that the composer re-orchestrate the score to include piano and immediately hired Tali for the pianist position in the production. In the summer of 2013, she was the pianist for LA Opera’s production of Hans Krasa’s Brundibar, an opera performed in the Theresienstadt concentration camp and part of L.A. Opera Musical Director James Conlon’s groundbreaking “Recovered Voices” project. Additionally, Tali serves as Music Director and Accompanist for LA Opera’s Education and Community Programs Department, producing recurring citywide tours of company favorites such as The Marriage of Figueroa in partnership with the Los Angeles United School District (LAUSD).

Tali’s intuitive and informed approach to new music make her a favorite among many of today’s contemporary composers. Under the direction of composer Donald Crockett, she performed Michael Gordon’s “Decasia” as part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s sold-out Green Umbrella Series at Disney Hall in March 2008. Her collaboration with composer Eric Whitacre has included a decade’s worth of concerts, workshops, and recordings worldwide, including his latest CD under the Decca music label. Her Carnegie Hall debut recital consisted almost exclusively of 20th and 21st century music with two of the featured composers–Libby Larsen and Lori Laitman– in attendance. Tali’s most recent projects include collaborating with Plitmann in her esoteric cabaret at the Theater @Boston Court in Pasadena, and recording Heaven on Earth, a World Music double CD with Jewish contemporary musician Danny Maseng.

A native of Tel-Aviv, Israel, Tali maintains ties to her Israeli musical heritage and to the larger Jewish community. She is the Music Director at Temple Judea in Tarzana, and accompanies the Los Angeles Zimriyah Chorale under the direction of Dr. Nick Strimple. In 2011, she was awarded the Six Points Fellowship, commissioning her to compose an original Yiddish-swing cabaret entitled Ella Fitzgeraldberg. She has served as a teaching fellow alongside Danny Maseng at England’s Limmud Conference and for over seven years was Staff Accompanist at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute for Religion’s (HUC-JIR) Los Angeles campus. Tali routinely accompanies Israeli Consulate assemblies and other events.

Tali received both Master and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Southern California (USC), majoring in Keyboard Collaborative Arts with minor fields in solo piano performance, choral studies, and sacred music studies. She passed her doctoral comprehensive examinations with distinction and won the Keyboard Collaborative Arts Departmental Honors Award for five consecutive years. Named the USC Thornton School’s Most Valuable Player in May 2008, she was also elected into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society and awarded several scholarships and teaching assistantships, underwriting the entire cost of her six-year residency at the university. Tali credits USC with providing her a world-class education, an extended family, and a second home for life (Fight On!). Beginning her piano studies at age 5, Tali attended the Israeli Music Conservatory in Tel-Aviv for twelve years. She moved to California in 1995 and currently resides in Studio City. Her teachers include her USC mentor Kevin Fitz-Gerald, Bernadene Blaha, Dr. Alan Smith and the late Israeli pianist and legendary pedagogue, Malka Mevorach-Choset.

Pianist Ming Tsu is acclaimed for her imaginative and refined performances of both the standard and contemporary repertoire. She has appeared on concert stages in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, and her CD recordings and live performances have been broadcast on over fifty radio stations across the United States and Europe. An avid performer of contemporary music and chamber music, Ms. Tsu has premiered a large number of new works and enjoyed collaborations with a diverse range of composers including György Kurtág, Elliot Carter, Roger Reynolds, Chinary Ung, Morton Subotnick, Toshio Hosokawa, Wadada Leo Smith, Lei Liang, Miguel del Águila, Gabriela Ortiz, Javier Álvarez, Henri Lazarof, Maria Newman, Pham Minh Tang, Alexandra du Bois, Robert Paterson, Kurt Rhode, Karen Tanaka and Juhi Bansal. She has recorded chamber music works by composers Miguel del Águila, Rebecca Clarke, William Kraft, Henri Lazarof, Maria Newman, Gabriela Ortiz and Chinary Ung. In addition, she recorded the complete chamber music works for piano and strings by Mexican composer Carlos Chávez with Grammy Award-winning Southwest Chamber Music, for which she served as the principal pianist for ten years.
 
A passionate pedagogue, Ms. Tsu enjoys a stellar reputation as a teacher of both piano and chamber music. With her musical insight and an analytical approach to technique, she has worked with countless students to help them attain freedom on their instrument and achieve a deeper sense of artistry. Ms. Tsu has formerly taught at CalArts and at Pomona College, and in 2018 joined the piano faculty at California State University, Northridge. Ms. Tsu is the Co-Artistic Director of the Borromeo Music Festival in Switzerland.  
 
She was born in Taiwan and received her degrees in piano performance from the New England Conservatory of Music (BM) studying with Patricia Zander, Indiana University (MM) with Edward Auer  and University of Washington (DMA) with Béla Siki. 

"I AM Augie Ray is a Grammy-winning, fine audio, mixed-media visual artist, author, and hip hop professor at Cal State Northridge. He has worked with some of the music industry’s most iconic artists such as: Rhianna, Sir Elton John, Dj Mustard and more. Often defining himself as a “Pluralist” by using his skills in tandem, Augie views the world through abundance and opportunity following his mantra, “ I am all things!” With an extensive background in music production, Augie has been able to transmute his talents into visual art, opening viewers and listener alike to his raw, introspective aesthetic. Augie draws inspiration from masters such as Jean Michel Basquiat , Picasco, George Condo, and Jacob Lawrence. Through Augie’s artistic exploration, he has been able to find security and purpose in being unapologetically true to himself through all his chosen forms of expression." 

Dr. Joshua R. Wentz has had the privilege of performing throughout the US and abroad and is in high demand as a singer, director, and conductor of opera, oratorio and musical theater worldwide. Wentz holds a DMA from the University of South Carolina, where his published research on American Opera has become a leading source. Dr. Wentz serves on the voice faculty at CSU Northridge, Los Angeles Mission College, and manages his own private voice studio. He is often featured in choral festivals, voice competitions, and conferences around the world. He is the Artistic & Executive Director of Mission Opera in Los Angeles and Director of Music at Santa Clarita UMC and a two-time quarterfinalist for the Grammy Educator of the Year Award.

Scott Whitfield (trombonist, composer, and arranger) is internationally
recognized for his work with many contemporary big bands, including
those of Johnny Mandel, Clare Fischer, Bill Holman, Bob Florence, the
Phil Norman Tentet, and his own Scott Whitfield Jazz Orchestra.

Whitfield’s discography includes 14 recordings as leader and more than
100 recordings with other artists, most recently the wonderful and
critically acclaimed debut recording of phenomenal French-born (and
multi-awarded) jazz vocalist, pianist, and arranger Marina Pacowski.
Scott is currently serving as a producer and playing and collaborating
with Ms. Pacowski, who just released her debut on the Summit
Records label, “Inner Urge”. From the first time the two met, Whitfield
fell in love with Marina’s incredible artistry, musical mastery, and
creative energy and improvisational ability, and immediately
volunteered to become her producer! “Inner Urge” has garnered rave
reviews throughout the world and continues to enjoy global jazz radio
airplay. The two also have a traditional New Orleans style band and a
more modern jazz group.

Upon settling in New York in 1993, Whitfield became a member of the
Nat Adderley Sextet, which also included Jimmy Cobb, Walter Booker,
Vincent Herring and Rob Bargad. The group’s engagements at Sweet
Basil led to fruitful associations with Frank Wess, Lionel Hampton,
Wayne Andre, and many others. Whitfield has also performed in many
Broadway show orchestras, and backed the likes of Robert Goulet, Vic
Damone, Jack Jones, Frank Sinatra, Jr., and Marina Pacowski.

Scott Whitfield makes his home in Los Angeles.