Performers
2009-2010
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 Atascadero State Hospital, and teaches piano in San Luis Obispo.
Mahlon Balderston, organist, has a BM Degree from Oberlin Conservatory and a MA Degree in Composition from Iowa State University, with further graduate studies at Eastman School of Music and the Royal School of Church Music in Addington, England. Professor Emeritus at SB City College, he has served as organist at Trinity Episcopal Church. Organist at the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara for over 50 years, he is now Organist Emeritus.
John Ballerino, pianist, was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. He received his DMA in Collaborative Arts from USC, and his principal teachers have included Gwendolyn Koldofsky, Martial Singher and Brooks Smith. A specialist in Spanish and Latin American music, Dr. Ballerino lectures and performs throughout the U.S. and the Caribbean. He is currently Lecturer of Collaborative Arts at UCSB, as well as Chorus Master and Assistant Conductor for Opera SB.
Deborah Bertling, soprano, received her BA Degree from Bob Jones University. She has sung with Opera SB for over a decade, and recently appeared in the World Premiere of Stephen Schwartz's Séance on a Wet Afternoon. She performs with Pacific Repertory Opera in San Luis Obispo and in the "Broadway and Opera Under the Stars" series in SB. Deborah is President of the Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation and Secretary of CAMA's Board of Directors.
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.
Misha Bodnar, cellist, studied with Geoffrey Rutkowski, Maurice Gendron and Paul Tortelier, and was winner of the SB Young Soloist Competition and Les Tournois Rouaumes de la Musique. Interested in punk rock, he toured Europe as vocalist and electric cellist with the band SPACE, and his band, Bela Lugosi, has released several CDs, to be found on www.belalugosi.biz. Misha teaches chamber music and punk cello at the Granada Music and Arts Conservatory of SB.
Grey Brothers, tenor and music director, received a PhD in Musicology from UCSB. He is a faculty member at Westmont College, where in addition to directing the Westmont Chamber Singers and Westmont Women's Chorale he teaches church music, music history, world music and voice. Minister of Choral and Congregational Music at Trinity Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara, Dr. Brothers 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.
Helen Callus, violist, is a native of Kent, England. She has concertized in Europe, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the U.S. Prizewinner at major international competitions, she has released award-winning recordings for the BBC, ASV Sanctuary Classics, Analekta, Boston Records and ECM, and is a regular solo artist on radio and TV. In demand as Visiting Professor and adjudicator, Ms. Callus has served on the faculty of the University of Washington, was President of the American Viola Society and Artistic Director of the Centrum Chamber Music Festival, and is currently Associate Professor of viola at UCSB. She plays on a viola made for her by Gabrielle Kundert.
Cathedral Oaks Players, a newly-formed chamber music ensemble, consists of violinists Laury Woods, Claude-Lise Lafranque, Gloria Autry and Elaine Schott; violist Dave Gorbet; Baroque cellists Jeannot Maha'a and Andrew Saunders; and contrabass violonist Neal Garber. Based in Santa Barbara, the ensemble comprises professional and semi-professional musicians, some of whom are members of the Santa Barbara Symphony.
Leslie Ann Cook, mezzo-soprano, is a past winner of SB Music Club scholarships. She earned her BA Degree from UCLA, and in 2009 was chosen for OperaWorks Advanced Artist Program. Her concert performances include Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Handel's Messiah and Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, and her operatic roles include Cherubino in Marriage of Figaro, Meg in Falstaff, and Sorella Infermiera in Suor Angelica. In March, 2010 Leslie will make her debut with the Long Beach Opera in Adams' Nixon in China.
Christopher Davis, piano, earned his BA Degree in Music from UC San Diego, and both his MM Degree in Piano Performance and Graduate Certificate in Advanced Instrumental Performance from the University of Arkansas. In recent years he performed and studied with renowned teachers and scholars in Germany, Austria and Portugal. Christopher has been a prizewinner in numerous competitions, including the California Young Artists Competition, Escondido, San Diego Symphony Young Artist Competition, and the Joanna Hodges International Piano Competition (Master Class Winner). He is currently pursuing his DMA in Piano Performance at UCSB, where he studies with Paul Berkowitz.
Nicole Dechaine, soprano, graduated from the University of Redlands and earned her Master's and Doctorate Degrees from UCSB. She is an active performer with the Amherst Early Music Festival Baroque (CT), Music Academy of the West, Opera Santa Barbara, SB Choral Society, SB Quire of Voyces, and Vocal Scholars. Dr. Dechaine currently teaches private voice lessons at Westmont College and sings at All Saints-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church.
Andrea Di Maggio, flutist, received her BA, summa cum laude, from San Jose State University and earned her MM at UCSB, studying with Jill Felber. Recipient of many Bay Area performance competitions as well as awards from the Léni Fé Bland Foundation, SB Music Club and SB Performing Arts Foundation, Andrea is an active performer in the SB area, teaches at the Granada Music and Arts Conservatory, and maintains a private flute studio.
Neil Di Maggio, pianist, earned his BM, summa cum laude, from San Jose State University, his MM in Piano Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory, and his MM in Collaborative Piano from UCSB, studying with Anne Epperson and Yael Weiss. Neil has served as collaborative pianist for faculty from SB City College and Westmont College. Currently Research Assistant at Westmont's Office for College Advancement, he maintains a private piano studio.
Ann Dwelley, soprano, earned a BA in Economics from Wellesley College, an MPA (Public Administration) from Harvard University, studied voice with Greta Barot Milius and Martial Singher and coached with Elizabeth Mosher. She has sung in choruses with major orchestras, including the London and Boston Symphonies, has been soloist with numerous choruses in the greater Boston area and in Santa Barbara (Choral Society, Master Chorale, Oratorio Chorale, Santa Ynez Chorus and various churches), and performs at Tanglewood each summer. Currently, she is an officer of the Santa Barbara Music Club, UCSB Music Affiliates, Quire of Voices, and the Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara.
Suzanne Duffy, flutist, has performance degrees from Indiana and Northwestern Universities, is a member of the Opera SB Orchestra, and regularly performs with the SB Chamber Orchestra. She has also been a member of the Florida Philharmonic, Indianapolis Philharmonic, New World Symphony and SB Symphony, as well as numerous music festival orchestras. In addition to her studio teaching, Suzanne currently is Production Manager for Camerata Pacifica.
Ellen Feldman, pianist, is a SB Music Club scholarship winner. She studies with Lana Bodnar, has been concerto soloist four times in the Granada Music and Arts Conservatory Showcase Concerts, and is active as soloist, chamber musician and accompanist. A Senior at Dos Pueblos High School, Ellen is in the DP Engineering Academy and is interested in the connections between science and music. She plans to double major in music and either engineering or physics.
Philip Ficsor, violinist, earned BM and MM Degrees from the University of Michigan, studying with Stephen Shipps, a MM Degree from Yale University, studying with Erick Friedman, and a DMA Degree from Boston University, studying with Lynn Chang. A member of the violin-piano duo American Double, which recorded the Complete Works for Violin and Piano of William Bolcom, he has just released the Complete Works for Violin and Piano of Emma Lou Diemer, with the composer at the piano. Dr. Ficsor is currently Assistant Professor at Westmont College, teaching violin and coaching chamber music.
Isabel Gallagher, flutist, received Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from the 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.
Randall Garacci, violinist, studied violin with Manuel Compinsky. As a student at California Polytechnic University, he 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 San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival Orchestra since 1980, Randy also performs with the Tolosa Strings and teaches in his private studio and in beginning classes for elementary school children.
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 Europe twice, and also sang with the Washington, DC and Wolf Trap Operas. A former Grants Specialist with the NEA, she is currently a performing member of the SBMC and a member of the "Delightful Divas."
Marian Gilbert, pianist, received her BM Degree from UCSB, where she studied with Dr. Betty Oberacker, and her MM Degree from the Manhattan School of Music, studying with Zenon Fishbein. Active as soloist, accompanist and chamber musician, she has been soloist with the San Luis Obispo Chamber Orchestra three times. Marian is faculty member and Choral Accompanist at Cuesta College, is on the Board of Directors of the San Luis Obispo Symphony, and maintains a private teaching studio in San Luis Obispo.
Marilyn Gilbert, soprano, has had extensive experience as an opera singer and opera administrator. In 1993 she and her husband Nathan Rundlett founded the Santa Barbara Grand Opera (now Opera Santa Barbara), with Gilbert as Executive Director and General Manager. They left the company in 1999 to form Marette Productions, an organization which assists young singers, and which has produced numerous shows. In addition to her musical endeavors, Ms. Gilbert has been a civil rights attorney and law professor.
Bernard Gondos, violinist, composer and retired physician, studied violin with Irma Zacharias in New York City. While a premedical student at Yale University he took courses in music theory and composition, and has written a number of chamber music works, including two string quartets which have been recorded by the Anacapa String Quartet. Dr. Gondos has been a regular participant in chamber music conferences and workshops in this country and abroad.
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.
Steven Gross, french hornist and music director, is a former member of the Atlanta Symphony, National Symphony and Santa Fe Opera Orchestra. Dr. Gross is currently Professor of Horn and Director of the UCSB Wind, Brass and Percussion Program as well as Principal Horn of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. The UCSB Maurice Faulkner Brass Ensemble members are: Kelley Coker, George Gelles, Allison Heinrich, Allie Underwood, Emily Whitecotton, Brian O'Donnell, horn; Kurt Leingang, Will Sizoo, Victor Lopez, trumpet; Jason Elliott, Matthew Christian, trombone; Peter Bennion, tuba.
Mary Jo Hartle, flutist, earned her BA Degree from Harvard and did graduate work in anthropology at the University of Chicago. A student of Anne Diener Zentner, she pursues her love of chamber music as a member of the Firecat Trio and other chamber ensembles, and plays in the SB City College Concert Band. An author of children's books and former anthropologist, she is currently President of the Chamber Music Society of Santa Barbara and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Santa Barbara Music Club.
Paula Hatley, pianist, earned a BA Degree in Music from the University of Arkansas, where she studied accompanying with William Gant. She has worked as a vocal studio accompanist, collaborating in numerous song recitals, and has been a member of various chamber ensembles. Active in the Santa Barbara musical community, she has accompanied the Santa Barbara Master Chorale and Santa Barbara Children's Chorus, and currently serves as accompanist in the Westmont College Music Department.
Thomas Heck, guitarist, received his PhD in Musicology from Yale University. He has been awarded Fulbright and Netherlands Institute Fellowships, and has published major contributions to the knowledge of the guitar's history and literature. Dr. Heck is also a composer and arranger, is active in activities involving music as therapy, and is principal author/editor of the book, Picturing Performance: The Iconography of the Performing Arts in Concept and Practice.
Sandy Homb, violist, received her BS Degree in Medical Technology at the University of Wisconsin, and has studied viola with Kirsten Monke and Myron Sandler. An avid chamber music enthusiast for over 25 years, she has participated in numerous workshops and master classes, including Glory Fisher's SBCC chamber music class. A member of the Seaside Quartet and Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra, Sandy is Advisory Board member of the Humboldt Chamber Music Workshops and Vice-President of the Chamber Music Society of SB.
Paul Jacobs, recorder, earned BA Degrees in both Music and Electrical Engineering from NY City College. He has a wide range of musical experience, having played horn professionally for many years before taking up the bassoon, oboe and recorder. After an outstanding career as an engineer, he now enjoys seasonal work as an income tax preparer.
Egle Januleviciute, pianist, was born in Lithuania and received her DMA from UCSB. She has toured in Europe, Japan and the former Soviet Union. Winner of several international piano competitions, she has recorded for Hurstwood Farm Music Studios (UK), Tembras Studios (Lithuania) and Eroica Recordings. Dr. Januleviciute has served on the faculty of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Arts and UCSB, and currently teaches piano at Westmont College.
Derek Katz, violist, has a BA in Music from Harvard, a PhD in Musicology from UCSB, and also studied at the Freie Universität in Berlin. He is currently a viola student of Michael Lieberman. Associate Professor and Music Department Vice Chair at UCSB, Dr. Katz specializes in Czech music and also teaches courses in opera, string quartet, nationalism and modernism. He has written program essays for the Aspen and Bard Music Festivals, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.
Dauri Kennedy, soprano, attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, earned her BM Degree from the University of Illinois, and her MM Degree from UCSB. Her teachers have included Marilyn Horne, Elizabeth Mannion, Elizabeth Mosher and William Warfield, and she currently studies with and is Assistant Teacher to Val Underwood. Among her numerous honors are awards from the Regional Metropolitan Opera Auditions and Young Musicians Foundation. Dauri has performed with the SB Chamber Orchestra and SB Symphony, and recently sang the roles of Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni with the Seattle Opera and Echo in Strauss's Adriana auf Naxos with the New Orleans Opera.
Natasha Kislenko, pianist, was born in Moscow and has performed as soloist and collaborative pianist in Russia, Europe, and the U.S. Her Graduate Performance Degree is from the Moscow Conservatory, her MM Degree is from Southern Methodist University, and her DMA is from SUNY, Stony Brook. She has received top prizes in international competitions, and made her Carnegie Hall debut in 1996. Currently, Dr. Kislenko is a collaborative piano faculty member at UCSB, and at the Music Academy of the West summer festivals (2004-present).
Ervin Klinkon, cellist, received his musical training in Germany and New York City. He has performed as soloist and chamber musician in Europe and the U.S., and with orchestras in Houston and Washington, D.C. (National Symphony at Kennedy Center and National Gallery). He served as Chair of the Music Department at Montgomery College, MD, and was Conductor of its Symphony Orchestra for twenty years. Ervin currently performs in chamber music groups, teaches cello, and coaches chamber music.
Viva Knight, pianist, studied piano with Stefan Bardas at the University of North Texas and with Marina Young at Rutgers University, and has given recitals in New York City and Italy. She has enjoyed careers as Television Producer (including the series Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman), as off-Broadway Theatre Producer, and as Adjunct Professor of Screenwriting at New York University. In Santa Barbara, Viva was personal assistant to Lillian Lovelace, and continued her piano study with Dr. Betty Oberacker.
Susan Kuehn, mezzo-soprano, earned her Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees from the University of North Texas and University of Illinois, respectively. Faculty member at of the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, she has also taught voice in California, Illinois and New York. Susan has sung with the Pro Arte Chorale, Long Beach, toured Europe with the Jane Hardester Singers, and currently sings with the Delightful Divas and the Quire of Voyces.
Claude-Lise Lafranque, violinist, grew up in Bordeaux, France and graduated from Bordeaux's National Conservatory with a First Prize in Violin Performance. She studied with Pierre Nerini in Paris, and participated in many music festivals throughout Europe. A Music Academy alumna, Claude-Lise currently performs with the SB Chamber Orchestra, Opera SB and the SB Symphony, and is active in several chamber music ensembles. She shares her love of music with her two children, violinist Camille and cellist Paul, and many students in the community.
Barbara Logen, flutist, earned her MM Degree in Flute Performance from the University of Arizona. She was Principal Flute of the Cascade Symphony (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.
Rosa LoGiudice, pianist, graduated summa cum laude from Hunter College, earning BM and MM Degrees in Piano Performance. She has coached piano and chamber music with Dr. Betty Oberacker, and is active as soloist, accompanist and chamber musician. A founding member of the Bright Light Chamber Players and a member of the California Music Teachers Association, Ms. LoGiudice is Staff Accompanist for the choral department at Newbury Park High School and maintains a piano teaching studio in Thousand Oaks.
Ted Lucas, violinist, received his BA and MA Degrees from San Diego State University, his Doctorate from the University of Illinois, and is a graduate of the Harvard Institute for Educational Management. A composition student of the renowned teacher Nadia Boulanger, Ted was Music Department Chair at Beloit College, (WI), Dean of Fine Arts at Southwestern University (TX), and Director of the School of Music and Dance at San Jose State University. Dr. Lucas is currently working for the CSU Chancellor's Office on statewide healthcare issues.
Jeannot Maha'a, cellist, is originally from Honolulu. He specializes in historical performance practice, and is also a double bassist. This interest in the early history of bass instruments has led to a close association with Dr. Nona Pyron, with whom he works as Research Assistant and Editor in Grancino Editions. A freelance musician, Mr. Maha'a teaches cello and bass privately.
Carol Ann Manzi, soprano, earned her MM from Yale University, and was Artist/Instructor at Hartford Performing Arts Academy (CT). She has concertized throughout the U.S. and in Austria, the Czech Republic, Pakistan and Poland, and recently appeared in Mascagni's Guglielmo Ratcliff at Lincoln Center. Carol Ann continues her worldwide public speaking and concerts for breast cancer causes, and has recorded Songs of Comfort and Courage and Look to the Rainbow.
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 has coached with Dusi Mura, and is currently Music Specialist at San Roque School.
Betty Oberacker, pianist, has toured throughout Europe, Israel, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and the U.S. as soloist and chamber musician. She has premiered many works written for her by noted composers and has recorded for Century, Klavier, MMC, Orion and VMM Records, with her discography ranging from Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier to John Biggs' Variations on a Theme of Shostakovich and Emma Lou Diemer's Piano Concerto. Professor Emeritus at UCSB, Dr. Oberacker has been Artist-in-Residence worldwide and enjoys an active performance, teaching and chamber music coaching schedule.
William Ramsay, composer, studied music composition privately and at the Washington Conservatory. Also trained in physics, he has taught and done research at UCSB and elsewhere. His compositions include the symphonic prelude, Glory Road, performed by the Santa Barbara Symphony, The Hawk, a Violin Suite, a Flute Sonata, a Piano Quartet, and numerous songs, including a setting of Spring Dawn, based on a text by the Tang Dynasty poet Meng Hao-Jan. Author of a number of published short stories, he has written for the theater and has published a number of books on energy and environmental questions.
Diana Ray-Goodman, violist, received her BA from CSUN and did graduate study at Arizona State University. She has performed in the Conejo Valley, Phoenix and SB Chamber Orchestras, SB Symphony and Thousand Oaks Philharmonic. A faculty member at CSUCI and Moorpark College, she is a member and evaluator for the Music Teachers' Association of California. A member of the American String Teachers' Association, Diana is a registered teacher with the Suzuki Association and has a studio of violin and viola students.
Joseph Richter, pianist, arranger, coach, composer/lyricist and vocal teacher, holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Boston University and a 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 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 MacKenzie), he was also Musical Director for 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 Tonight Show (he was hired by Skitch Henderson) and the Garry Moore and Patti Page TV shows, and he was rehearsal pianist for Ed Sullivan's renowned June Taylor Dancers.
As far as singing is concerned, Joe has always rejected the ubiquitous defensive claim, offered by so many people, that they are "tone deaf." Ever resistant to such pronouncements, he formed a chorus at a White Plains (NY) Continuing Education Center - no auditions, mind you, but open only to those music lovers who were traumatized into silence early on by being told they could only be "listeners." Twenty-eight intrepid souls showed up and bravely and willingly accepted the challenge, with the result that their lives were never again the same: after working hard with their new mentor, they presented a concert of Broadway and Hollywood songs which thrilled the audience. Needless to say, Joe would be very interested in undertaking a similar project here in Santa Barbara!
A Santa Barbara resident since 2001, Joe taught music at Santa Barbara Charter School and served as Choral Director at Cold Spring School in Montecito and Laguna Blanca School in Hope Ranch. In 2003, his original song, Santa Barbara, was presented at a Lobero Theater benefit for the community-oriented organization, Young at Heart.
Community service is of vital importance to him, and he is dedicated to returning people to the songs with which they grew up; he organized and directed a chorale at Casa Dorinda, and performs regularly at Friendship Manor, Maravilla and Wood Glen Hall. With teaching his passion, he has taught piano, vocal music, choral singing and music appreciation for over forty years, and currently maintains a private piano and voice studio.
Carol Roe, cellist, holds an MA in Marine Biology from New York University, studied cello with Jerome Kagan, and currently studies with Jeness Johnson. Founding member of the Gramercy Arts Ensemble (NY/New Jersey), Carol has served as Assistant Principal Cellist with the Summit Symphony (NJ) and has performed for the NY Stock Exchange. At present she is Principal Cellist with the SBCC Orchestra and a Board Member of the Chamber Music Society of SB.
Ted Rust, oboist, is a lifelong amateur musician, having studied oboe, flute, chamber music and composition with private teachers. He performs in the Berkeley Bach Cantata Group and several music clubs, and serves on the board of the Chamber Musicians of Northern California. A retired regional planning consultant, he founded and published the magazine, Music for the Love of It. Currently, Ted and Viva Knight are preparing recital repertoire of oboe-piano duos for the North American tour of Duo Dolci.
Geoffrey Rutkowski, cellist, has toured in France, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland and Portugal, and also toured Southeast Asia as a representative of the U.S. Government. Professor Rutkowski has recorded for the Italian Ermitage Label: the Sonata of Samuel Barber, the two Sonatas of Brahms, and the Complete Works for Cello and Piano of Shostakovitch. Currently Distinguished Professor of Cello and Director of the String Program at UCSB, he plays a Mateo Gofriller Venetian cello dated 1689.
Steven Schneider, pianist, studied with Robert Prichard at Occidental College and Bela Nagy at Boston University, and Dolores Stevens in Los Angeles. Although he has a full time law practice, he is a regular chamber music performer at the Hart Museum, Los Angeles Valley College, Pasadena Library, and for the American String Teachers Association and Los Angeles Violoncello Society. He has also performed as concerto soloist with the Pierce College Chamber Orchestra, and has presented a series of duo recitals with cellist Jerome Kessler.
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 Santa Barbara City College, an active member of the Santa Barbara Chamber Music Society, and for nineteen years a participant in the Humboldt State University Chamber Music Workshops. Elaine has taught violin since the 1970's, and is a member of the Firecat Trio and the SBCC Orchestra.
Emily Sommermann, violinist, graduated magna cum laude from SUNY, Albany, and earned her MM Degree from SUNY, Stony Brook, studying with Isidore Cohen of the Beaux Arts Trio. She has performed professionally with many local orchestras, including the SB Symphony and SB Chamber Orchestra, as well as with the Classics IV String Quartet. She was a faculty member at Westmont College for over 20 years, and has taught music at El Montecito Early School and Summerland School. Currently, she directs the String Ensemble at Laguna Blanca School and maintains a private violin studio.
John Sonquist, pianist, studied with 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, he is a 50-year chamber music veteran and has performed at countless workshops. Dr. Sonquist currently serves on the advisory boards of the Ashland and Humboldt Chamber Music Workshops and on the board of the Chamber Music Society of SB. He performs for the SB Music Club and at local retirement communities.
Sio Tepper, pianist, studies with Lana Bodnar and is a Santa Barbara Music Club Scholarship winner. She has appeared as soloist in four Music and Arts Conservatory Young Soloists Showcase concerts, was prizewinner in several piano competitions, and has participated in the MERIT Program at the Music Academy for the past three summers. In addition to her solo piano performances, Sio enjoys composing, performing chamber music, and singing in choirs, including the SB High School À Cappella Choir and the SBCC Jazz Choir.
Val Underwood, pianist, studied at the Manhattan School of Music. A piano student of Arminda Canteros, Reginald Stewart and Dora Zaslavsky, he studied voice with William Horner and Martial Singher. Former Executive Director of the Strawberry Creek Music Festival in Malibu, he has collaborated with principal members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, New York Philharmonic and Philadelphia Orchestra. He is currently Director of the Adriatic Chamber Music Festival's Vocal Program in Italy.
Claudia Vanderschraff, cellist, earned a BM Degree from Chapman University and a MM Degree from UCSB, where she was cellist with the Young Artists String Quartet. Her honors include two performances as concerto soloist with the UCSB Symphony, First Place Award in the Sigma Alpha Iota Competition, and First Place Award from the Profant Foundation. Claudia performs with the Santa Barbara Symphony and the Opera SB Orchestra, and currently works with the SB Symphony Music Van. She is cellist with the Santa Barbara String Quartet, which performs for weddings and other events.
Takako Wakita, soprano, studied with Martial Singher and Jack Metz, and has appeared in concerts and operas locally and abroad. Her solo performances have included Madama Butterfly with the Japanese Philharmonic at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. In addition, she has sung with Opera Santa Barbara, the Pacific Music Society of San Francisco, Santa Barbara Choral Society, Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera and Ventura College Opera. Takako currently serves on the faculty of the Santa Barbara City College Language Department.
Anne Weger, pianist, received an AA in Music from Santa Barbara City College, attended the Music Academy of the West, and continued her studies at the California Institute of the Arts. Her teachers have included Leonid Hambro, Beth McRoberts Reams, and Dr. Reginald Stewart. Anne was awarded the Maier-Volkwein Scholarship from the National Guild and American College of Musicians, and has been involved in numerous local musical theater productions. She is currently collaborative pianist for cello, flute and voice studios, and is Assistant Director of Music at First United Methodist Church in Santa Barbara.
Irving Weinstein, violinist, received his MA Degree from DePauw University and an Artist Diploma from Los Angeles Conservatory, where he studied with Toscha Seidel. Violinist with the Oceano Chamber Players and violist in the Roth String Quartet, 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 performs in local orchestras and chamber music ensembles.