Staff & Accompanists

Lindsay Hansen Brown has served as the music librarian at CSUN's University Library since 2006, and also supports the departments of Theatre, Marketing, Management, Graduate Business, and Economics. She holds a MLIS from UCLA and a BA in Music from Knox College. She plays flute and piano and loves supporting all CSUN music students.

Phil Calvert currently teaches classes in Music Recording and is staff electrical technician for the Music Department. His previous teaching assignments have included the Introduction to Music Technology class. Mr. Calvert has been active in the recording/music technology industry since 1978, when, as a freelance recording engineer/technician, he worked with groups as diverse as The Bus Boys, Patrice Rushen, Sesame Street, Performance Today (National Public Radio), The Ear Unit (New Music), Robby Robinson (Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons), Jack Daugherty (The Carpenters), and others.

Before coming to Cal State Northridge, he worked at the Monterey Studios, beginning as assistant engineer and advancing to head engineer during the four years he was at the studio. During this time, he recorded Jazz, Rock, R&B, and music for film scores.

Mr. Calvert has been active using computers ever since he found a 300 baud connection to the campus VAX computer in his office (c. 1984).

Nicole Hovland has served as the Music Undergraduate Advisor at the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication at California State University, Northridge for nine years, and as the Theatre Advisor for the past year. She holds a Master of Music in Saxophone Performance from the New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts, and a Bachelor of Music in Orchestral Instruments from the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. Before relocating to California, Nicole was the saxophone instructor at Western Washington University in Bellingham and performed with the Northstar Saxophone Quartet.

Shawn is a dedicated professional with a rich background in music and instrument repair. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance from California State University, Northridge, in 2009, showcasing his passion and expertise in the field of music. Following his studies, Shawn pursued specialized training in Band Instrument Repair Technology at Renton Technical College in Renton, Washington, where he honed his skills in maintaining and restoring woodwind and brass instruments.

With years of hands-on experience, Shawn worked at Sam Ash Music as a Woodwind and Brass Instrument Repair Technician, demonstrating his commitment to supporting musicians by ensuring their instruments are performance-ready.

Currently serving as the Production Coordinator and Instrument Technician, Shawn leverages his diverse skill set to manage concerts, coordinate music department logistics, and maintain a comprehensive inventory of musical instruments.

Heather is the marketing lead for the Music Department, where she focuses on developing audiences for over 100 concerts and events each year, and connecting with prospective students and industry professionals. Her work includes designing concert flyers, banners, and ads, as well as managing social media and keeping our website up-to-date with events and news coverage. She loves finding creative ways to showcase our vibrant music community and telling its story through visuals and engaging content.

Beyond marketing, Heather handles everything from streamlining our audition process with specialized software to managing scholarships and coordinating with admissions and ticket offices. With a background in filmmaking and photography (as well as cello and piano), she brings a creative eye to all projects, whether it’s crafting a campaign, refining a process (preferably with AI), or mentoring our student team.

• B.A. Oberlin College
• M.A. UCLA Department of Theatre

Eric is a distinguished graduate of the North Bennet Street School's Piano Technology program and a Registered Piano Technician with the Piano Technicians Guild, where he also contributes as a board member for the Los Angeles chapter.

Beyond his role at CSUN, Eric is the Piano Technician for Occidental College, Cal Lutheran University, and serves as a Concert & Artist Technician for Steinway & Sons.

Michelle comes to the Department of Music with extensive experience in administration and the law.  She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and her law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Michelle loves the positive, upbeat environment of working at a university, and is proud to work in a field that makes such a positive contribution to our community.  Stop by and say “Hello!”

Nita oversees the financial operations for the CSUN Music Department. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music & Business from the University of Oregon, a Master of Music in Studio Jazz Writing from the University of Miami, and an MBA from California Lutheran University. Beyond her role at CSUN, Nita stays connected to her musical interests by arranging music, currently for Angel City Chorale, and performing occasional piano gigs.

Possessing an undergraduate degree in piano pedagogy from Cal State University Northridge (CSUN), and a graduate certificate from the University of Southern California (USC) in Keyboard Collaborative Arts, Ms. Aldana has participated in several musical theater productions. For the past six years she performed as a keyboardist under director David Aks at Cal State Northridge in musicals ranging from Avenue Q to Sweeney Todd. After graduating with her Bachelors in Piano Pedagogy in 2013, she continued as a musical director for “theB Productions” and would go on to tour in southern California.

When she is not performing, she is busy teaching piano to her students, or coaching choir at Golden Valley HS. She continues to play for choirs and musicals in the greater Los Angeles area.

Jahyeong (Jackie) Koo (Pianist) serves as LACC’s Intermediate and Preparatory Choir accompanist. Koo also serves as the staff accompanist for CSU Northridge, as well as being the founder and manager of the Valley Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. She has won numerous piano competitions and awards, both as a solo artist and as an accompanist throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Having been invited to perform with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra in Russia and the Razgrad Philharmonic Orchestra in Bulgaria, she also performed with the LA TRIO and taught Master Classes in China, as well as performing for the International Clarinet Festival in Japan and serving as resident accompanist for the International Clarinet and Saxophone Festival in Beijing in 2007 and Chongqing, China in 2015. A CSU Los Angeles Adjunct Professor of Music from 2004‐2009, Koo is a member of the MTNA and SYMF and currently accompanies the youth choirs at All Saints Church in Pasadena.

Koo is a graduate of the Sun‐Hwa Performing Arts School in Seoul, Korea. She received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the University of Northern Iowa in piano performance, along with an enrollment as a doctoral candidate at USC with an Accompanying Assistantship.

Alex Lansburgh is a collaborative artist who over the last twenty years has worked with renowned soloists and ensembles. Throughout Southern California, Alex has pursued his freelance piano career as a choral coach, music collaborator, accompanist, and solo artist. He has accompanied musicians in recitals, master classes, and competitions, with performers winning national and international awards. As a sought-after musician, he is frequently invited to collaborate in notable master classes taught by guest artists, some of which have included Michael Schütze of Dresden University and operatic bass Morris Robinson.

Currently, Alex works on staff at California State University, Northridge as the Opera and Voice Area Pianist. At Northridge, he serves as rehearsal pianist for the opera program, coaches individual students, leads and conducts rehearsals in absence of the music director, and performs for guest masterclasses and faculty recitals. Dr. Lansburgh also works at Azusa Pacific University, filling in as collaborative pianist for student recitals, as well as playing and coaching with APU’s Chamber Singers.

Dr. Lansburgh earned his Bachelor’s degree at California State University, Long Beach, his Master’s from Azusa Pacific University, and a Doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of Southern California. When not performing, Alex spends his free time with his wife, Lindsey, and two sons, Theodore and Miles.

Born in Tokyo, Japan, Yoko Mizuno moved to the U.S. after earning her Bachelors of Arts in Piano Performance from Musashino Academia Musicae. While attending the North Carolina School of the Arts, she worked as a staff accompanist and took a great interest in collaborative works, which lead her to an MFA in Collaborative Keyboard from the California Institute of the Arts.

Accompanying various artists/musicians has opened her mind to unlimited possibilities. As an instructor, Ms. Mizuno uses open-minded concepts and guides students by keeping to their own taste and style. Currently, she is a piano accompanist at CSUN, College of the Canyons, UCLA, and First Baptist Church in Temple City. She also enjoys teaching various levels of students at various locations. Her students have the option of participating in the MTAC Certificate of Merit Evaluations.

Education
BA • Musashino Academia Musicae (Japan)
MFA • California Institute of the Arts

Associations & Affiliations
Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC)
MTAC Santa Monica Bay​

BORN:

• Vanadzor, Armenia

EDUCATION:

• Bachelors – M. Mussorgsky Music College, St. Petersburg
• Master’s Degree – Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 

• Piano Accompanist – Cal State LA (since 2016)
• Piano Accompanist – Cal State Northridge (since 2014)
• Piano Accompanist – Pierce College (since 2021)
• Pianist/Organist – Monterey Park United Methodist Church (Since 2015)
• Pianist/Organist – LCUMC (2001-2023)
• Pianist & Accompanist – Lark Musical Society Events (20+ Years)

FAVORITE COMPOSER:

• J.S. Bach

A responsible and earnest pianist, You Zhao is a versatile and active collaborator in instrumental, vocal and orchestra music. She has received professional training in and possesses solid collaborative skills and advanced communication ability. With 10+ years of working with vocalists and instrumentalists, You Zhao has been actively involved in playing for competitions, auditions, master classes, recitals and concerts. She has made appearances in concert venues and music festivals in Europe, North America and China. She was a piano fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center. Other summer festival experience includes the Franz-Schubert-Institut, Songfest and Beijing International Music Festival and Academy.

Her commitment to community engagement has led to collaborations with the Nashville Opera, where she served as music director, accompanist, and tour manager for the Mary Ragland Emerging Artist Program.

An advocate for new music and underrepresented repertoire, You Zhao enjoys working with composers and librettists, and has been on creative teams for several new works.

Education:
Eastman School of Music, Master of Music in Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music;
New England Conservatory of Music, Graduate Diploma in Collaborative Piano;
Thornton School of Music (University of Southern California), Doctor of Musical Arts in Keyboard Collaborative Arts.