Performers
2007-2008
Jack Artusio, pianist, studied with Dr. Phillip Lorenz at Fresno State University, and is currently studying with Dr. Terry Spiller at California Polytechnic State University. Jack teaches abstract painting at the California Men's Colony and the Atascadero State Hospital, and teaches piano in San Luis Obispo.
Sally Barr, violinist, earned her MM Degree from UCSB, studying with Ron Copes. She performs in the Opera Santa Barbara Orchestra, SB Chamber Orchestra and SB Symphony, and with the Gove County String Quartet and the eclectic fusion band, Headless Household. An accomplished pianist, violist and vocalist as well, she has produced and performed concerts in California, Oklahoma and Texas, and in Austria and France. Sally has been to 37 countries with the Santa Barbara-based aid organization Direct Relief International.
Allen Bishop, pianist, is a former President of the SB Music Club. His lifelong interest in the music of Classical composers has been supported by several wonderful teachers, including Glory Fisher, Dr. Betty Oberacker and Peter Yazbeck. He is a frequent performer in the SBMC Concert Series, and he inaugurated the Annual Beethovenfest in 2003. Dr. Bishop continues to practice psychoanalysis and is Chair of Pacifica Graduate Institute's Clinical Program.
Noreen Brokke, pianist, has performed as harpsichordist in many Baroque recitals in and around Santa Barbara. She is currently Music Director at Unity Church of Santa Barbara.
Grey Brothers, tenor and Music Director, earned a PhD in Musicology from UCSB. In addition to directing the Westmont Chamber Singers and Westmont Women's Chorale, he teaches church music, music history, world music and voice at Westmont College. Minister of Choral and Congregational Music at Trinity Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara, he has been soloist with Santa Barbara and Ventura choral groups, has sung lead roles in local stage productions, and has been choral artist at the Oregon Bach Festival and the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival.
Jim Connolly, composer and bassist, studied at the New England Conservatory of Music. As composer/musician for Lit Moon Theater Company, his works for theater and dance have been performed in Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Russia, Scotland and the U.S., and he has been commissioned by the Ojai Camerata and Adelfos Choir. He currently leads the Gove County Philharmonic and Gove County String Quartet, and they have produced three recordings on the pfMentum label.
Karen Corbett, pianist, attended the Music Academy of the West, and also studied piano and accompanying with Lillian Steuber and Gwendolyn Koldofsky at USC. Karen has taught piano and coached singers in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties, has served as choir director and organist in several churches in Ventura County and has accompanied the Ojai Camerata. A long-term member of the Ventura Guild of Organists, Karen is currently organist for the First Methodist Church in Ventura and teaches privately at her studio in Ojai.
Humberto de Almeida, pianist, was born in Brazil and earned his DMA from UCSB, studying with Paul Berkowitz. After graduating from Santa Marcelina College of Music in São Paulo he won several major piano awards, including the Radio Cultura Award and the Eldorado Prize, the major music contest in his home country. He has been soloist with the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra, Paraná State Symphony Orchestra, São Paulo State Symphony and L'estro Armonica Chamber Orchestra.
Emma Lou Diemer, composer and organist, received degrees in composition from Yale School of Music (BM, MM) and Eastman School of Music (PhD). Her music has been published since 1957 and encompasses many mediums, from choral works and hymns to solo, chamber music and orchestral music. A number of her chamber, vocal and orchestral works have been recorded on labels including Albany Records, Contemporary Record Society, Leonarda, MMC Recordings and Vienna Modern Masters. Professor Emeritus at UCSB, Dr. Diemer has been Composer-in-Residence with the Santa Barbara Symphony. Her recent organ performances have included recitals featuring her own music at Washington National Cathedral, DC, Grace Cathedral and St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco, and Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles.
Andrea di Maggio, flutist, earned her BA, summa cum laude, from San Jose State University, studying with Isabelle Chapuis Starr. She pursued graduate studies at Arizona State University, serving as Teaching Assistant as well as performer in faculty recitals. In 2004 she completed her MM in Flute Performance at UCSB, studying with Jill Felber, and taught music, flute and dance at San Roque School. Recipient of many Bay area performance competitions as well as awards from the Leni Fé Bland Foundation, Santa Barbara Music Club and Santa Barbara Performing Arts Foundation, Andrea is an active performer in the Santa Barbara area and maintains a private flute studio.
Neil di Maggio, pianist, earned his BM, summa cum laude, from San Jose State University, studying with Dr. Alfred Kanwischer, an MM in Piano Performance from San Francisco Conservatory, studying with Mack McCray, and an MM in Collaborative Piano from UCSB, studying with Paul Berkowitz and Anne Epperson. He has been accompanist at Arizona State University and Mesa and Scottsdale Community Colleges, Adderley School of Performing Arts, SB Master Chorale and Children's Chorus, and has served as collaborative pianist with faculty from SB City College and Westmont College. Currently Research Assistant at Westmont College, he maintains a private piano studio.
Suzanne Duffy, flutist, has performance degrees from Indiana and Northwestern Universities, is a member of the Opera Santa Barbara Orchestra, and regularly performs with the Santa Barbara Chamber and Palm Beach Opera Orchestras. Currently, she collaborates with classical guitarist James Edwards as Duo Solaré, performs with the Aurora Ensemble and is a member of the SB-based Celtic band, Dannsair. She is a featured soloist on the CD, From the Heart, in collaboration with UCSB faculty composer Earl Stewart. In addition to her studio teaching, Suzanne serves as Production Manager for Camerata Pacifica.
Gail Embree, pianist, graduated from Oberlin Conservatory and earned her MA Degree from San Francisco State University. She teaches piano privately in Santa Barbara, and in the SBCC Adult Education Program. Adjudicator for the National Piano Guild and Music Teachers' Association of CA, Gail is former President of the SB branch of MTAC. She has presented piano recitals locally, has recorded two CDs, and is working on a third, Music of Women Composers. President of the SBMC in 2000, she currently serves as Workshop Program Chair.
Ellen Feldman, pianist, 2008 SBMC Scholarship Winner, studies with Lana Bodnar and is enrolled in the Engineering Academy at Dos Pueblos High School. Twice concerto soloist in the Music & Arts Conservatory Young Soloists' Showcase Concerts, she is also active as chamber musician and accompanist, and sings in the Dos Pueblos Jazz Combo. In addition, Ellen won First Prize in the 2006 SB County Science Fair for her project on the Science of Music, in which she worked with faculty in the UCSB Digital Media Program.
Philip Ficsor, violinist, holds degrees from Yale University and the University of Michigan, and earned his DMA from Boston University. Currently faculty member at Westmont College, he is a member of the violin-piano duo, American Double, which has toured across the U.S. and Europe, and will soon release the first recording of the Complete Works for Violin and Piano of William Bolcom.
Roy Fuentes, tenor, has sung in choirs and other community groups since the age of 3. His performances include Sara Brightman's 2000 "La Luna Concert" in Santa Barbara, and he has sung with the SB Grand Opera for over 12 years.
Isabel Gallagher, flutist, received Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from Manhattan School of Music, where she studied with Frances Blaisdell. She was piccoloist with the Seattle Symphony, taught at Cornell University (NY), Cornish College of the Arts (Seattle) and Vanier College (Montreal), and served as President of the Seattle Flute Society. Isabel continues to be actively involved in chamber music in both the Santa Barbara and Seattle areas.
Randy Garacci, violinist, began violin studies in the Los Angeles Elementary School Music Program, and later studied with Manuel Compinsky. As a student at Cal Poly, Randy performed with numerous Music Department ensembles, and in 1976 joined the San Luis Obispo Symphony, where he is currently Principal Violin II. A member of the SLO Mozart Festival Orchestra since 1980, he also performs with the Tolosa Strings and teaches in his private studio and in beginning classes for elementary school children.
Tachell Gerbert and Bradley Gregory, pianists, were introduced to the music of Emma Lou Diemer when they were graduate students at UCSB, where they studied with Dr. Wendell Nelson. They have concertized, performing Dr. Diemer's compositions, in Italy, Japan and the U.S. Tachell and Bradley reside in Thousand Oaks, where their teaching studio encompasses sixty piano students.
Donna Gibbs, soprano, received her BA from Hood College, MD, where she received the Ames-Hendrickson Award for Outstanding Vocal Performance. As a member of the Emmy-award-winning Paul Hill Chorale at Kennedy Center for 8 years, she toured Europ twice, and also sang with the Washington, DC Opera and the Wolf Trap Opera. After retiring as Grants Specialist with the National Endowment for the Arts, she and her husband moved to Santa Barbara. She is a performing member of the Santa Barbara Music Club, and a member of the "Delightful Divas."
Marian Gilbert, pianist, received her BM degree from UCSB, where she studied with Dr. Betty Oberacker, her MM in Piano Performance from the Manhattan School of Music, and participated in Music Academy of the West summer programs. Twice soloist with the San Luis Chamber Orchestra, she has been invited to perform again in their 2007-2008 season. Marian is faculty member and Choral Accompanist at Cuesta College, is on the Board of Directors of the SLO Symphony, and maintains a private teaching studio in San Luis Obispo.
Marilyn Gilbert, soprano, has extensive experience as opera singer and administrator, having co-founded the SB Grand Opera and Marette Productions with Nathan Rundlett. Ms. Gilbert is also a civil rights attorney and law professor.
Sally Greenebaum, cellist, majored in music at Earlham College and earned her Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy from Tufts University. She has played in the Fox Valley, Longwood and Richmond Symphony Orchestras. Sally is an occupational therapist at Cottage Hospital, focusing on hand therapy, and has a special interest in giving talks on injury prevention for musicians.
Laura Hackstein, violinist, began studies at age four with Walter Ballhorn and Benedetto Greco, and has since studied with Nina Bodnar and Gilles Apap. She attended the Music Academy and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and has twice been awarded a Léni Fé Bland Scholarship. Laura teaches privately in Santa Barbara, and performs every Wednesday with a tango trio at Café Buenos Aires.
Jane Hahn, soprano, has sung major opera roles at the Music Academy of the West, and with Opera Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera and the USCB Opera Theater. After earning a Bachelor of Science Degree from UCSB, she pursued private vocal study with Natalie Bodanya and Martial Singher, and more recently has studied with David Potter and Val Underwood. Currently performing with Opera Santa Barbara, she is a Cantor at San Roque Catholic Church, and frequently presents solo song recitals. She is also a flutist, jewelry maker and software engineer.
Renée Hamaty, pianist, has concertized widely as vocal and instrumental accompanist. Pianist and Music Director for the "Opera Under the Stars" summer dinner concerts at the Arts & Letters Café, Ms. Hamaty performs for and co-produces the school outreach "Teaching-Performances" for Opera Santa Barbara. She teaches in her Santa Barbara studio, has produced numerous recordings, and tours internationally as a concert pianist.
Mary Jo Hartle, flutist, earned her BA from Harvard and did graduate work in anthropology at the University of Chicago. She is a student of Anne Diener Zentner and pursues her love of chamber music as a member of the Firecat Trio and other chamber ensembles. An avid participant in workshops, she continues to learn in Glory Fisher's SBCC class and from such coaches as Jill Felber and Betty Oberacker. An author of children's books, Mary Jo is currently President of the Chamber Music Society of Santa Barbara.
Thomas Heck, guitarist, received his PhD in Musicology from Yale University. As a scholar, he has been awarded Fulbright Fellowships in Austria and Italy and a Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study Fellowship, and has published major contributions to the knowledge and understanding of the guitar's history and literature. A Santa Barbara resident since 2001, Dr. Heck is also a composer and arranger, is active in activities involving music as therapy, and is principal author and editor of the book, Picturing Performance: The Iconography of the Performing Arts in Concept and Practice.
Tom Hurd, baritone, has been a member of the Opera Santa Barbara Chorus since 1993. He has also sung with the Music Academy, UCSB and Ventura College Opera Workshops, and is a technician in the UCSB Media Department.
Hal Isbitz, composer and pianist, is a classically trained musician who studied composition and music theory with Ernest Kanitz, Professor Emeritus at USC. A retired computer programmer, Hal began writing ragtime and other syncopated pieces in the mid-1970's, and to date has composed over 70 works. His music has been recorded and performed at ragtime festivals throughout the country, and Tulsey Town Rag, written to commemorate the centennial of Oklahoma statehood, recently won the competition held by the Ragtime for Tulsa Foundation. Hal is a member of the SB Music Club Board of Directors.
Ervin Klinkon, cello, received his musical training in Germany and New York. He has performed as soloist and chamber musician in Europe and the United States, and with orchestras in Houston and Washington, D.C. (National Symphony at Kennedy Center and National Gallery). Ervin has been Chair of the Music Department and Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra at Montgomery College, MD. He lives in Santa Barbara, where he performs with several chamber music ensembles, teaches cello, and coaches chamber music groups.
Sally Klinkon, pianist, graduated (Phi Beta Kappa) from Vassar College as a Music Major. Post-graduate studies were at the Music Conservatory at Freiburg, Germany, University of Maryland and American University, Washington, DC. She performed chamber music extensively in the DC area, and was Instructor of Piano and Music Theory in the Preparatory Department at American University. Current activities include performing chamber music in the SB area, as well as playing for special music services at Live Oak Unitarian Church in Goleta.
Kary Kramer, pianist, holds a BM Degree in Piano from UCSB, studying with Dr. Betty Oberacker and Peter Yazbeck, an Artist Diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying with Anne Epperson, and attended the Music Academy of the West, studying with Jerome Lowenthal. Honored with several commissions and Corwin Composition Awards, he taught composition at Walden School (New Hampshire) and was Interim Director of Music for First Congregational Church of SB. Active as a board member of the Music Teachers' Association of California, he maintains a private piano studio in Santa Barbara.
Susan Kuehn, mezzo-soprano, received her Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees from the University of North Texas and the University of Illinois, respectively. A Lecturer in Voice and Music Appreciation at the University of WI, Eau Claire, she has also taught voice in California, Illinois and New York. Susan has sung with the Pro Arte Chorale in Long Beach, Choral Arts in Kansas City, and has toured Europe with the Jane Hardester Singers. She moved to Santa Barbara in 1993, and sings with the Delightful Divas and the Quire of Voyces.
Kenneth Larsen, baritone, has participated in the worlds of music and theater since kindergarten, and earned degrees from Westmont College and UC Irvine. He enjoys singing barbershop, chorales, early music, musicals and opera.
Alexandra Leslie, pianist, holds a BA in Music and an MM in Piano Accompanying (Art Song Emphasis) from UCSB. She studied with Dr. Betty Oberacker and the late Thomas Russell, and her MM Thesis was on the Lieder of Clara Schumann. A member of the National Guild of Piano Teachers, she enjoys a dual career in music as a teacher and as a performer specializing in instrumental ensemble and vocal music.
Rosa LoGiudice, pianist, studied piano and theory at Oregon State, Portland State, Willamette University and University of Hawaii, Manoa. She graduated summa cum laude from Hunter College, earning BM and MM degrees in Piano Performance, and has received advanced coaching in piano and chamber music from Dr. Betty Oberacker. A performing member of the SB Music Club, she is active as soloist, accompanist and chamber musician, and is staff accompanist for the choral department at Newbury Park High School. Ms. LoGiudice is a member of the Music Teachers Association of California and maintains a piano teaching studio in Thousand Oaks.
Barbara Logen, flutist, earned her Master's Degree in Flute Performance from the University of Arizona. She was Principal Flute of the Cascade Symphony (North Seattle) for 25 years, as well as a church organist and private music teacher. Since moving to Santa Barbara, Barbara has performed with the Lompoc Pops Orchestra and the Santa Maria Philharmonic, and she also enjoys playing in several local small ensembles on piano, recorders and viola da gamba.
Ted Lucas, violin, received his BA and MA Degrees in Music from San Diego State University, his Doctorate in Music from the University of Illinois, and is a graduate of the Harvard Institute for Educational Management. A composer, violinist and violist, Ted was Music Department Chair at Beloit College, Wisconsin, Dean of Fine Arts at Southwestern University, Texas, and Director of the School of Music and Dance at San Jose State University. He is currently Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at CSU Channel Islands.
Valerie Malvinni, violinist and violist, received a BM Degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, studying with Karen Tuttle and Joseph de Pasquale, an MM Degree from UCSB, studying with Heiichiro Ohyama, and completed studies in a doctoral program at UCLA, studying with Paul Coletti. A member of both the SB Chamber Orchestra and SB Symphony, she performs in a variety of other ensembles throughout Southern California. Currently Professor of Violin and Viola at Westmont College, she and her classical guitarist husband are a violin and guitar duo and own a violin shop in SB, Malvinni Stringed Instruments.
Carol Ann Manzi, soprano, earned her MM Degree from Yale University. She was Artist/Instructor at The Greater Hartford Academy for the Performing Arts in Connecticut, and has concertized throughout the U.S. as well as in Austria, the Czech Republic, Pakistan and Poland. Most recently, Ms. Manzi sang the role of Maria in Mascagni's Guglielmo Ratcliff at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, and also appeared in major roles with the Abilene (TX), Charlotte and Greensboro (NC), Eugene (OR), and Sarasota (FL) Opera Companies. She continues her worldwide public speaking and concerts for breast cancer causes, has recorded Songs of Comfort and Courage and Look to the Rainbow, and is on the roster of Speakers International and National Survivors Day Foundation.
Donna Massello-Chiacos, pianist, has a BA in Piano Performance from UCSB, where she studied with Dr. Betty Oberacker, and an MA in Music Education from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. A certified Orff-Schulwerk specialist and board member of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, SB Chapter, she presents Orff workshops for teachers and children at the international level, as well as teacher training nationally. Donna coaches with Dusi Mura, and is currently Music Specialist at San Roque School.
Nancy Mathison, clarinetist, earned her BM from USC, where she studied with Mitchell Lurie, and her MM from UCSB, where she studied with James Kanter. She has performed with the American Ballet Theater, Houston Opera, Mexico City Philharmonic, Muny Opera in St. Louis, Rudolf Nureyev Ballet, SB Civic Light Opera, and the former Ventura County Symphony. Currently a member of the New West Symphony, Nancy teaches instrumental music at three Santa Barbara elementary schools and teaches clarinet and saxophone privately.
Nicole McKenzie, violinist, holds a BM Degree from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and an MM Degree from Florida State University. Raised in Santa Barbara, she is currently active as a freelance violinist, most recently performing for Ballet Santa Barbara. Nicole teaches privately as well as for Sandcastle Music Together, a program for children aged newborn to five years.
Joyce McWilliams, soprano, studied with Natalie Limonick, Peggy Norcross, Olga Sandor and Martial Singher. She has performed for the International Alliance of Women Composers, accompanied by David Zea, and for Opera Unplugged and the Illinois Arts Council Abraham Lincoln Centennial. Joyce recently appeared in premier performances of Ernest Worthing and Hobson's Choice, both chamber operas by John Biggs, under the musical direction of the composer. Ms. McWilliams is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and teaches voice and drama at her studio in Ojai.
Kirsten Monke, violist, has earned BM and MM Degrees from Indiana University. A member of the Anacapa String Quartet for nine years, she is Principal Violist of both the Santa Barbara Symphony and the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra. Kirsten also teaches viola in her private studio, and coaches chamber music at workshops.
Betty Oberacker, pianist, has toured throughout Europe, Israel, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and the U.S. Acclaimed for her interpretations of both traditional and contemporary repertoire, she has recorded for Century, Klavier, MMC, Orion and VMM Records, and many noted composers have written works for her. Professor Emeritus at UCSB, she has been Artist-in-Residence at leading festivals, conservatories and universities worldwide and maintains an active performance, teaching and chamber music coaching schedule.
Ken Partch, tenor, studied piano at the Music Academy of the West, trumpet with Terrence Boyce, and voice with Marjory Luke and Phyllis Zimmerman. Ken has sung in the Canticle Choir, and currently performs in area churches.
David Potter, pianist, earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree at California Institute of the Arts and studied piano at the Music Academy of the West. He has conducted, directed and performed in over 228 musical productions, and has won several Drama-Logue Awards, five Independent Theatre Awards and the Local Hero Award from the Independent. Most recently, he was Music Director for Man of La Mancha at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura and for Bat Boy, the Musical, Violet, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Spitfire Grill for SBCC. David is presently Director of Music for San Roque Catholic Church.
Vivian Vega Rangel, mezzo-soprano, is a graduate of UCSB. A Metropolitan Opera Award winner, she appears frequently as soloist in opera and oratorio, and teaches voice through Santa Barbara City College Continuing Education.
Diana Ray-Goodman, violist, received her BA from Cal State University, Northridge, and did graduate study at Arizona State University. Member of the California Music Teachers and American String Teachers Associations, Diana is a registered teacher with the Suzuki Association of the Americas. She has performed in the Conejo, Phoenix and Santa Barbara Symphonies, is faculty member at CSU Channel Islands and Moorpark College, and maintains a violin and viola studio in Thousand Oaks.
Joseph Richter, pianist, arranger, coach, composer/lyricist and vocal teacher, holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Boston University and an Master of Arts Degree from Columbia University. He has penned seven full-length musicals, including Eastchester Green, which was produced Off-Off Broadway in 1982.
Musical Director for numerous summer touring productions, including Bells Are Ringing, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum with Godfrey Cambridge, and The Sound of Music, with Giselle MacKensie, he also directed Chicago's longest running revue, Medium Rare, with Diane Ladd, Anne Meara, Donna Mills and Jerry Stiller. Joe's television experience includes dance arranging for the Steve Allen, Garry Moore and Patti Page shows.
Locally, he has served as Choral Director at Cold Spring School in Montecito, and at Laguna Blanca School in Hope Ranch. In 2003, he performed his "Santa Barbara" song as part of the Young at Heart benefit at the Lobero Theatre. Community service is of vital importance to him, and he entertains regularly at Casa Dorinda, Friendship Manor and Maravilla. With teaching his passion, he has taught vocal music, music appreciation and choral singing for over thirty years and continues to teach voice and piano privately.
Carol Roe, cellist, holds an MA in Marine Biology from New York University. She studied cello with Jerome Kagan, currently studies with Jeness Johnson, and coaches with Betty Oberacker. Founding member of the Gramercy Arts Ensemble, New York/New Jersey, Carol has served as Assistant Principal Cellist with the Summit Symphony (NJ) and has performed for the New York Stock Exchange and the SB Music Club. At present she is Principal Cellist with the SBCC Orchestra and a Board Member of the Chamber Music Society of SB.
Nathan Rundlett, baritone, was co-founder of the Santa Barbara Grand Opera He has sung leading roles in over twenty operas, was a winner in the Metropolitan Opera Western Regional Auditions, and made his professional debut in Redlands Bowl as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly. A retired chemistry teacher, he is a member of the Society of American Period Furniture Makers.
Geoffrey Rutkowski, cellist, has performed concerti as well as solo and chamber music recitals in major United States, European and Southeast Asian cities, and has made three recordings of Cello and Piano works for the Italian Ermitage Label. Mr. Rutkowski is Distinguished Professor of Cello and Director of the String program at UCSB. He plays a Mateo Gofriller Venetian cello dated 1689.
The San Marcos High School Madrigal Singers perform a varied repertoire of choral literature, Renaissance to Contemporary. They earned First Place at the invitational "2006 National Festival of Gold" in New York City, and last month they performed the Brahms German Requiem at Carnegie Hall as part of the Carnegie Hall National Choral Festival: they were one of only four choral groups invited (over seventy choirs auditioned for this honor). In addition to choral activities, the students are also leaders involved in CIF sports, Mock Trials, student government, the school newspaper, and theatre productions.
Randolph Scherp, pianist, earned his BA in Music from Rutgers University and his MM in Musicology from UCSB. He studied piano with Drs. Charles Asche and Betty Oberacker and organ with David Gell, and is in the PhD program in Musicology at UCSB, where his research focuses on aesthetic issues in Haydn's late symphonies as well as how music serves as an illustration of character. His edition of the chamber works with solo flute and cello of Anton Eberl (1765-1807) is forthcoming with Carus-Verlag. Randolph currently serves as organist for Anglican Church of Our Saviour and First Congregational Church.
Steven Schneider, pianist, studied with Bela Nagy and Dolores Stevens. A Los Angeles attorney, he has performed chamber music at the Hart Museum, Pasadena Library, and for the American String Teachers Association and LA Cello Society, has been concerto soloist with the Pierce College Chamber Orchestra, and has presented duo recitals with Jerome Kessler, cellist.
Elaine Schott, violinist, studied violin with Stefan Krayk and David Stockhammer, and has a BA in English Literature from UCSB. She has been an enthusiastic participant in Glory Fisher's chamber music class at SBCC, an active member of the SB Chamber Music Society, and for eighteen years a participant at workshops at Humboldt State University. Elaine has taught violin since the 1970's, and is a member of the Firecat Trio and the SBCC Orchestra.
Audrey Sharpe, soprano, is a native of England and graduated from the London College of Music. She performed with the Boston Sudbury Savoyards, SBCC Camerata, and at First Presbyterian Church, the latter from 1985-2006. Twice President of the SBMC, Ms. Sharpe was Co-Chair of the Scholarship Committee for 20 years, and is a judge for the Léni Fé Bland Scholarship Foundation.
Michael Shasberger, baritone, earned his BM Degree from St. Olaf College, his MM Degree from Redlands University, and his DMA Degree from the University of Southern California. Active as composer, conductor, educator and singer, Dr. Shasberger has experience as performer in professional opera, oratorio and musical theater, and is Artistic Director of the Denver Bach Society as well as Founder and Director Emeritus of the Musica Sacra Chamber Orchestra of Denver. He is currently Adams Chair of Music and Worship at Westmont College, where his endeavors include conducting the Westmont College Choir and Chamber Orchestra, and providing private voice instruction.
Mark Sherwin, flutist, received his BA in Physics from Harvard University, and studied flute with Robert Stallman in Cambridge. He earned his PhD in Physics from UC Berkeley, received a Michael C. Rockefeller Fellowship, and has performed with the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra and the UC Berkeley Symphony. Currently Professor of Physics at UCSB, Dr. Sherwin enjoys performing with the South Coast Reading Orchestra and at Chamber Music Society of Santa Barbara workshops.
John Sonquist, pianist, studied with the noted Hungarian teacher Margit Varro in Chicago and with Glory Fisher as a member of her SBCC Chamber Music Class. Professor Emeritus of Computer Science and Sociology at UCSB and a 50-year chamber music veteran, he serves on the advisory boards of the Ashland and Humboldt Chamber Music Workshops and on the boards of the SB Music Club and the Chamber Music Society of Santa Barbara. He performs for the Music Club and at local retirement communities.
Beverly Staples, pianist, earned a BA in Piano from Dominican College of San Rafael and an MA in Harpsichord from San Jose State University, with post-graduate studies in harpsichord and organ at Yale University and UCSB. She is Music Director and Organist at Bethania Lutheran Church in Solvang, and is accompanist for the SB Edelweiss German Choir and the Solvang Conservatory.
Carolyn Teraoka-Brady is enjoying her ninth year as Director of Vocal Music at San Marcos High School, where she conducts the A Cappella Choir, Enchanté, Madrigal Singers, Men's Ensemble, Mixed Chorus, Royal Knights and Women's Ensemble. She taught instrumental and choral music for eighteen years at Goleta Valley Junior High School, and is an active member of the American Choral Director's Association, California Music Educator's Association and Southern California Vocal Association. In 1999 she was named Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year.
Tom Turner, violist, has performed with Opera SB, the SB Chamber Orchestra, SB Chorale Society, SB Master Chorale and SB Symphony. Co-founder of the Aurora Ensemble and Brementown Quartet, he is currently Principal Viola of the Cabrillo Music Theater and Moorpark Symphony, Associate Principal Viola in the Santa Maria Philharmonic, and serves as President of the SB Music Club.
Zeynep Ucbasaran, pianist, began music studies at age four at the Istanbul Conservatory. She earned her Concert Artist Diploma from the Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest, graduate degrees in Piano Performance from the Hochschule für Musik, Freiburg, Germany, and MA and DMA degrees from USC. Among other awards, such as the American Liszt Society Award, Ucbasaran was a prize-winner in the 1996 and 2000 Los Angeles Liszt Competitions. She has given many recitals in Belarus, Denmark, Egypt, England, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey and the U.S., and has recorded a varied repertoire for Eroica. Her recording of Turkish composer A. A. Saygun's solo piano works will be released in 2008 by Naxos International.
Takako Wakita, soprano, studied with Martial Singher at the Music Academy and Jack Metz in Los Angeles, and has appeared in concerts and operas locally and abroad. A native of Japan, her performances have included Madama Butterfly with the Japanese Philharmonic at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. In addition, she has performed with Opera Santa Barbara, the Pacific Music Society, SB Choral Society, SB Civic Light Opera and Ventura College Opera. Takako is currently a language teacher at Santa Barbara City College.
Irving Weinstein, violin, earned his MA Degree from DePauw University and an Artist Diploma from Los Angeles Conservatory. Violinist with the Oceano Chamber Players and violist in the Roth String Quartet (UCLA), he taught violin and viola in the Los Angeles school system. Irving has been Administrator for the LA Community College District, Academic Vice President at two of its colleges, and retired as Vice Chancellor of the college district. He currently lives in Oxnard and performs in local orchestras and chamber music ensembles.