Music Department
Faculty & Staff
Music Office:
(For general inquiries and information)
Instructional Assistant
Office: S2-107Q
Phone: (323) 265-8894
Email: @email
M-F 8:00am-1:00pm, 2:00pm-4:30pm
CLOSED Sat., Sun., and Holidays
Full-Time Faculty:
Chairperson
Office: S2-111
Phone: (323) 265-8947
Email: @email
Voice, Choirs, and Applied Music Performance Workshop
Teacher, conductor, singer, classical guitarist, and musicologist, Anthony J. Lupica is currently in his 12th year at East Los Angeles College where he teaches a wide range of subjects. Dr. Lupica has taught voice, classical guitar, music theory, ear training, conducting, music history and presently teaches voice classes, Chamber Chorale, College Choir, and Performance Music Workshop for the applied music majors. The College Choir performs larger ensemble repertoire. The Chamber Chorale is smaller in number and comprised of more advanced students, regularly performs complex and a cappella works by Palestrina, Messiaen, R. Thompson, Whitacre, and Stravinsky. Examples of pieces performed to date include J.S. Bach's Magnificat, Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass, Mozart's Coronation Mass, Brahms' Nanie, John Rutter's Gloria, and Morten Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna, among others.
Dr. Lupica's original musical focus was classical guitar. He moved to California to attend the prestigious Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California where he received a master degree in Classical Guitar. While in the guitar program Dr. Lupica studied with some of the finest classical guitarists, including Pepe Romero, Jim Smith, Celin Romero, and Jesus Silva. While still playing, Dr. Lupica is not presently teaching guitar classes at ELAC.
Dr. Lupica has focused his recent career on choral conducting, which has also included orchestral conducting. Having received both Master's and Doctoral Degrees at USC in choral conducting, Dr. Lupica works with his ELAC students to provide masterful musical performances. Given his studies in vocal performance and after years of private study with voice teachers Judith Natalucci, Charles Roe, Charles Bressler, Betty Allen, and Margaret Schaper , Dr. Lupica is able to educate his students on proper vocal technique as well as help develop insightful interpretations. The students also receive ear training and training in sight reading. This multi-dimensional approach affords each student an optimal opportunity to produce the best sound possible.
Dr. Lupica's teaching experience has included positions at the University of Southern California; California State University, San Bernardino; Mount San Antonio College; Mount Saint Mary's College; and Glendale Community College.
St. Bede the Venerable Church in La Canada has employed Dr. Lupica, as Music Director, since 1981. At St. Bede, Dr. Lupica conducts two choirs, one contemporary and one traditional, and during his tenure he has established a significant concert program that brings great quality music from the prodigious history of sacred music to the St. Bede community, but also to the surrounding communities at large. He is most proud of the collaboration that he has instituted among the St. Bede choirs and those of ELAC. During these joint concerts with participants totaling over 120, the ELAC choir members are given the privilege of performing with, and learning from, world-class musicians. In turn, the St. Bede choir members benefit from their association with students who bring great energy and passion to the performances.
Throughout his career Dr. Lupica has studied and worked with many conductors, including, Pierre Boulez, Michael Tilson Thomas, Daniel Barenboim, Jorge Mester, Helmuth Rilling, Hans Beer, Dr. William Dehning, Dr. James Vail, Dr. David Wilson, Eph Ehly, Paul Salamunovich, Robert Hickock, and Anne Howard Jones.
Dr. Lupica's discography includes recordings with Oregon Catholic Press, Sony Records, 20th Century Fox Studios, VQR Digital and Studio Spectrum.
As a guitarist, singer, and conductor, Dr. Lupica has toured Germany, Austria, France, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, Czechoslovakia, New England, North Carolina, and California. He was honored to perform for Pope John Paul II both at Dodger Stadium, and later, at the Vatican.
Dr. Lupica received his Bachelor of Music degree in classical guitar performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, a Master of Music degree in classical guitar performance from the University of Sothern California, a Master of Music degree in choral conducting and vocal studies from the University of Southern California, and a Doctorate of Music Arts in choral music with an emphasis on orchestral conducting, vocal performance, and musicology. He is a member of the honor society, PI KAPPA LAMBDA.
Dr. Lupica serves in the ELAC Curriculum Committee and oversees the MUSE Club at ELAC.
Office: S2-115
Phone: (323) 265-8948
Email: @email
Tuba/Bass, Bandleader, College Professor.
Jesus "Chuy" Martinez is the Director of Bands, which includes the "Husky" Marching Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Latin Jazz Band and Beginning Band at East Los Angeles College. Previously, he served as Band Director and Applied Music Instructor at Cerritos College.
Mr. Martinez received his A.A. degree in Commercial Music from Cerritos College, his Bachelor of Music degree in Tuba/Bass performance and his Master of Music degree (Jazz Studies) from the University of Southern California (USC), where he was also a member, section leader, and teaching assistant director of their Trojan Marching Band. He previously taught instrumental music in public and private schools in Southern California for seven years where he was successful in establishing their music programs and bringing the school's many awards.
Mr. Martinez is an avid music educator and is an active guest conductor and clinician of concert, jazz and marching bands. He continues to play professionally in the Southern California area, both as the leader of the Bayou Brass Band, that which performed regularly at Disneyland for 15 years in New Orleans Square and festivals throughout the country, and as the CEO/President of Jam Session Entertainment (JSE), which includes JSE distribution, JSE "DJ's", and Big Fat Silver Sousaphone Records/Publishing.
He has over 38 years of freelance experience and some of his performances include working with Louie Belson, Mick Fleetwood, Dale Kristen (Phantom of the Opera), and Otis Day. Mr. Martinez has also worked for different musical projects such as the Goodwill Games, U.S. Olympic Festival Opening Ceremonies, television commercials, movies, and Super Bowl Half-times. He is an American Federation of Musicians Union member, Local 47 and 7, as well as a member of MACCC, IAJE, CBDNA, and SCSBOA.
Mr. Martinez currently resides in La Mirada and is kept busy instructing and promoting the academic success of his four musical ensembles. His Latin Jazz Ensemble competed at the Reno Jazz Festival in Nevada three times and in the Spring of 2009 received all Superior Ratings as well as bringing home a trophy and a solo award, beating all Community Colleges and CSU's in their category. His Jazz Ensemble (1999-2007) received Excellent ratings and three IAJE Solo awards at the Fullerton College Jazz Festival.
Mr. Martinez's Husky Marching Band was featured in "S.W.A.T." The Movie from Columbia Pictures, The Movie "Complicity", and most recently the New "Batman/Superman" Movie. The HMB has performed with the Latin Hip-Hop group "Akwid" at the Arrowhead Pond. Also, the HMB was on National Television in the United States and Mexico during "El Grito." In December 2007 Mr. Martinez was selected to record portions of the music for the movie "Blues Men" that was released in 2009, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac.
Currently he is working toward his Doctorate Degree in Music at USC and was the Assistant Director to the USC Trojan Marching Band from 2006 to 2013 as part of his D.M.A. Degree Program.
Office: S2-113
Phone: (323) 265-8895
Email: @email
Professor of Theory and Piano.
Dr. Chie Nagatani has been a music professor at ELAC since 2001. In addition to teaching harmony, musicianship, and piano, she is also the coordinator of the Applied Music Program.
Described as a dynamic pianist whose performances are "stunning" and full of "lightness, fluidity and dramatic contrasts", Dr. Nagatani enjoys an active career as both a solo and collaborative pianist. She is the recipient of numerous prizes and awards, including top prizes at the New Celebrity National Music Competition, the Canada Council Arts Grant Award, the UBC and USC Concerto Competitions, and the Grand Prize at the IBLA International Music Competition in Italy, for which she performed in Newcastle, England, New York's Lincoln Center and Tokyo's Opera City Hall. She is also part of a successful dynamic piano duo with pianist Timothy Durkovic, with whom she was awarded the Best Duo Piano Performance Award at the IBLA competition as well as First Prize at the San Diego National Piano Duo Competition. She has performed extensively throughout Canada, the United States, England, Italy, Poland, and Japan. She has recorded for the SUGO Music Label and Alfred Publishing, and most recently released an award-winning CD featuring works by composer Mark Fish, performed with actor/narrator David Ogden Stiers and cellist Nina Flyer. Dr. Nagatani has made guest appearances at various music festivals, including the Lichfield Festival (England), Vancouver Chamber Music Festival, Music in the Mountains (California), the Johannesen International Music Festival (Canada), and the International Music Festival in Poland. Orchestras with which she has performed include the Burbank Philharmonic, Pasadena Community, Kamloops Symphony, USC Symphony, and Newport Symphony Orchestras. Dr. Nagatani holds degrees from the University of British Columbia (B.Mus.), the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music (M.M.), and the University of Southern California (DMA), where her teachers have included Lee Kum-Sing, Vladimir Sokoloff, Alan Smith, and Kevin Fitz-Gerald.
Office: S2 107L
Phone: (323) 415-5337
Email: @email
Pianist.
Lucy Nargizyan has been featured as soloist and collaborative pianist throughout the United States, England, Wales, Austria, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Canada, Mexico and Russia. Her performances were broadcast on Russian Radio and Television as well as on Classical KUSC Radio. Dr. Nargizyan has performed as a soloist with the International Chamber Ensemble of Rome, the USC Thornton Chamber Orchestra, El Camino and East Los Angeles College Orchestras, and the Pasadena Community Orchestra. Recently she performed multiple times at Walt Disney Concert Hall as part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Chamber Music Series.
Dr. Nargizyan has won numerous competitions, including the Moscow Young Artist Competition, the Los Angeles Liszt Competition, the USC Concerto Competition, and the Peninsula Young Artists International Festival. She was also a finalist in the Mu Phi Epsilon National Competition. Dr. Nargizyan was the recipient of the “Most Distinguished Musician Award” at the 2005 IBLA International Competition in Italy, where she performed with the Elixir Piano Trio.
Elixir Piano Trio performs traditional and modern repertoire in the United States and internationally. The trio has performed many newly written works and recently recorded compositions by local composer Penka Kouneva.
Lucy Nargizyan was raised in Moscow, Russia. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Moscow State Music College, and Masters of Music and a Doctorate degrees in piano performance from the University of Southern California. At USC, she studied with Daniel Pollack, Kevin Fitz-Gerald, and Dennis Thurmond.
Dr. Nargizyan is a dedicated teacher whose students have been prizewinners in many local and state competitions. In addition, her students have transferred to such institutions as USC and Cleveland Institute of Music. Dr. Nargizyan is currently Professor of Music at East Los Angeles College.
Office: S2 107J
Phone: (323) 267-3768
Email: @email
Commercial Music, Applied, and Music/Saxophone.
Dr. Lee Zarate originally from Austin, Texas, has built a lively career in Los Angeles as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, jazz, rock and fusion artist, as well as a recording artist in the television and film industry. She holds a Doctorate in Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California where she also studied minor fields in Music Theory, Jazz Pedagogy, and Music Industry. She received her Masters degree in Saxophone Performance from USC where she studied with saxophonist, James Rötter. Lee’s Bachelors degree in Saxophone Performance was received from the University of Texas in Austin where she studied with renowned saxophonist, Harvey Pittel. Honors and awards include University of Texas Honors and College Scholar, University of Texas Dean's List, and induction to the Golden Key Honor Society. Dr. Zarate has had the honor of performing in a master class given by renowned French saxophonist, Claude Delangle, Professor of Saxophone at the Paris Conservatory, where he praised her for her impeccable tone and lyricism.
Dr. Zarate’s performances have graced the stages at Dolby Theater, Carnegie Hall, Disney Hall, Dorothy Chandler Pavillion, Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts, California Theatre of Performing Arts, Norris Theater, Armstrong Theater, Warner Grand Theater, and the Grand Annex. Lee has worked with such notable conductors as Mark Watters (film/television composer & conductor), Robert H. Reynolds, Sharon Lavery, Alexander Treger, Jerry Junkin, David Efron, Mitch Miller, Paula Crider, Michael Christ Powers, and Michael Ryan Armstrong. Her talents have been featured with many different ensembles and at many music festivals and concert series in Southern California doing a variety of repertoire. She has been a featured soloist with the Song of the Angels Flute Orchestra, American Youth Symphony, New Earth Ensemble and USC’s Concert Orchestra. Lee has been recognized for her talent as a finalist at the 58th Annual Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition, a semi-finalist at the 1st Annual Plowman Chamber Music Competition, and a featured artist at the 28th and 30th International Young Artists Peninsula Music Festival. Among some of her featured performances include the Culver-Palms Music Festival, Claremont’s Music Festival Series, OMG Global’s Summer Music Concert Series, and the Fete de la Musique Festival hosted by the Alliance Francaise of Los Angeles. Some of her noteable performances include: Shahkar Bineshpajooh with Andrea Bocelli, San Bernadino Symphony, and Bill Duke’s book signing, “Dark Girls”.
Part of Lee’s performing experience also includes being a studio musician. She recorded for television, films, radio commercials, video games, musicals, music library collections as well as album collaborations. Lee has had the luxury of recording at the famous TODD-AO soundstage, EastWest Studios (formerly Cello Studios) as well as many others in the Los Angeles area. She has expansive doubling skills and also plays the Clarinet, Flute, Armenian Duduk, Armenian Shvi, Chinese Dizi, Indian Bansuri, and the Quena flute, as well as the recorder family. Lee’s versatility includes extensive techniques on these instruments as well as the saxophone family to create unique modern audio effects for visual media recordings. Some of her noted Television, Film, and Video Game recording credits include: Con Man - TV series, Leave of Absence - film, Home Tycoon – video game, Drones - film, Shut Eye Hotel – Bill Plympton animated short, Flash Gordan – TV series, and TLC’s A Baby Story.
Lee is a founding member of and performs regularly with Noir Quartet. Their repertoire includes everything from Bach to Ellington, as well as standard repertoire and new music written for the saxophone quartet idiom. They are the featured favorite at the annual Bach in the Subways at the Los Angeles Union Station. They were featured live on 90.7’s Global Village with John Schneider.
An educator as well as a performer, Dr. Zarate has taught both privately and in higher education throughout the greater Los Angeles area since 2002. Lee is also a Pro Tools Expert Certified Instructor and has taught Pro Tools Certification courses at AudioGraph International in Santa Monica under the guideance of Chilitos Valenzuela, Master Pro Tools instructor, author, producer and audio engineer.
Dr. Zarate currently teaches Commercial Music courses and Saxophone at East Los Angeles College.
Office: S2 107M
Phone: (323) 780-6828
Email: @email
Music History I/II; Music Appreciation
Graham Raulerson is a musicologist who teaches music history and music appreciation at ELAC. His classroom work focuses on the intersections between Western art music, Western popular music, film and television music, music of the stage, and a variety of non-Western musical cultures.
Raulerson maintains an active research profile, investigating the relationship between music and politics in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the musics of the Americas, and European art music of the eighteenth century. Recently, his research has focused on California composer Harry Partch (1901-1974) and the role of music in the hobo subculture, particularly after 1970.
He has presented his research at the national meetings of the American Musicological Society, the Society for Ethnomusicology, the Society for American Music, and the International Association for the Study of Popular Music (US Chapter), as well as the Experience Music Project’s annual Pop Conference and The Harry Partch Legacy Symposium. He has published in the journal American Music and will have an article in an upcoming issue of The Journal of the Society for American Music. He is currently writing a book titled Westbound: Hobo Music and Cultural Survival in Dangerous Times.
Raulerson was born and raised in rural Iowa. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Bowling Green State University (Ohio), a Master of Arts in Music from the University of Iowa, and a Ph.D. in Musicology from UCLA. Before coming to ELAC, he taught at Glendale Community College, UCLA, and the University of Redlands.
Applied Faculty
Composition
Email: @email
Harmony (instead of 'Theory') and Commercial Music
Dr. David Arbury grew up in Washington, D. C. where he sang as a boy treble at Washington National Cathedral in the Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys. He remained with the choir for eighteen years and in that time sang with every voice part. He has worked at the Music Division of the Library of Congress, co-founded an independent record label, conducted small ensembles, performed extensively as a bass and percussion player, and is a founding member for the early music vocal ensemble Icarus. He has taught at the University of Maryland, the Catholic University of America, and currently teaches at East Los Angeles College and Los Angeles City College. He has acted as a composer-in-residence and has received commissions and grants from numerous ensembles and organizations including the American Composers Forum, the Arizona Commission on the Arts, the Institute for Studies in the Arts, Taffety Punk, and the Wolf Trap Foundation. His compositions for concert hall, church, dance, film, and theater have been performed throughout the United States and Europe.
Trumpet (Jazz)
Email: @email
Music of Mexico and Jazz Ensemble
Robert “Bobby” Chavez has worked as a professional arranger and composer, trumpet artist, vocalist and percussionist for over 45 years in the music industry. A musical conductor/director for the past 24 years with stints in the U.S. Army Band, he has worked with private schools/universities, studios, and professional contract orchestras across the U.S. Mr. Chavez conceptualized the Latin twist to Swingin’ South and CnL’s Award winning Big Bands, Joker’s Wild Swing Orchestra and the L.A. Mambo All-Star Orchestra (LaMasO). Bobby’s compositions and arrangements represent the truly first class musical standards of CnL Entertainment Group.
Bobby A. Chávez Jr is considered to be on the “fast track” with innovative and trend setting musical teaching concepts in Concert, Jazz and Latin music. He has the distinguishable credit of bringing Latin music (1976) and its awareness to U.S. Military band programs. Because of his efforts, there are over 50 military Latin music ensembles entertaining military members, their families, and the civilian population in the United States and in host foreign countries.
Bobby also developed the curriculum for “The Music of México” a subject he teaches at East Los Angeles Community College & at UCLA Extension (OLLI) School. He is a published author with three books to his credit; Tito Puente and The Mambo, Mosaic Landscapes- The Music History of Mexico and The Magic of Mexico!
He also performs in comedy clubs as a stand-up comic (“Chorrizo Lopez”) in L.A., Las Vegas and the southwest and gives comedy workshops for children & adults at libraries, schools and community centers. Mr. Chavez is an award winning standup comedian and Children’s performer. His CD "Comedy for Kids" won an international award with the James Edward Olmos Foundation, "Latino Literacy Now!"
Violin
Email: @email
Violinist
Mr. Chilingarian enjoys a varied career as performer, educator and conductor. An avid chamber musician, Mr. Chilingarian has toured extensively throughout Europe, Japan, the United States and Central America with The Melos Ensemble, Vienna Sinfonietta, Orchestra Internazionale d´Italia, Tashen Oper and Ensemble Nine.
Mr. Chilingarian has performed in such prestigious venues as the Musikverein in Vienna, Teatro di San Carlo in Napoli, Teatro Farnese in Parma, Casals Hall in Tokyo, Birmingham Performing Arts Center in England. As a founding member of the Arioso String Quartet, he has toured Austria giving concerts in Vienna, Krems and Salzkammergut.
A native of Armenia, Mr. Chilingarian began his musical studies at age five. After receiving a Bachelor of Music from the California State University at Northridge and a Master of Music from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, Mr. Chilingarian moved to Vienna in 1990 to continue his studies in authentic performance and conducting. While in Vienna, Mr. Chilingarian joined the Pons Artis Chamber Orchestra, the Kammer Oper Orchestra, the Niederosterrichische Tonkunstler Orchestra. In 1994 Mr. Chilingarian was invited to conduct the Linz Summer Festival Youth Orchestra.
Since his return to L.A., Mr. Chilingarian´s focus has been to bring spirited and passionate music to young musicians. Mr. Chilingarian is the Artistic Director and conductor of Verdugo Young Musicians Association (VYMA). In 2007, VYMA was invited by the Los Angeles Philharmonic to perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall as part of the International Youth Orchestra Festival. Mr. Chilingarian actively participates with the Los Angeles Philharmonic YOLA initiative as guest speaker and panelist.
Mr. Chilingarian has been featured on the Sundays Live radio broadcast Classical 105.1 K-Mozart as well as on 91.5 KUSC "Spotlight on The Arts". Mr. Chilingarian serves on the faculties of East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles City College, Glendale Community College and continues to perform with the Elixir Piano Trio.
Bass
Email: @email
Piano (Jazz)
Email: @email
Classical Guitar
Email: @email
Classical Guitar
Evan Hirschelman, award-winning guitarist and composer, has gained international acclaim for his unique compositions, virtuosic performances, and dynamic interpretational renditions. He has been heralded for "precise and prodigious technique" by Acoustic Guitar Magazine, "technical wizardry" by Los Angeles Times and "soulful musicality" by Malibu Times. The Grammy® award-winning recording Guitar Heroes includes his composition "Lament and Wake", performed by the preeminent Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. Peter B. King, music critic of the Post Gazette, described it as a "poignant, stirring six minutes of music." He also wrote a Chinese influenced piece for guitarist Xuefei Yang, which received widespread acclaim, and his compositions are included in the new edition of the seminal classical guitar book Pumping Nylon. Hirschelman has composed numerous solo and ensemble works for guitar, which have been performed throughout the world.
His recording Water in Darkness contains original and contemporary solo guitar works and duets with guitarist Scott Tennant. It was released to rave reviews, being called "complex and breathtaking" by Music Connection, "delightful and virtuosic" by American Record Guide, and a "two-handed symphony" by Minor 7th. Hirschelman was a top prize winner in the Stotsenberg International Guitar Competition and he has been featured in guitar's foremost publications, including Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Premiere Guitar and Guitar Player. Hirschelman worked closely with the renowned boutique guitar company Circa Guitars to create his Signature Model steel-string acoustic guitar. This artistic foray led to one of the first steel-string guitars developed for classical nylon-string players.
Hirschelman is the author of Acoustic Artistry: Tapping, Slapping, and Percussion Techniques for Classical & Fingerstyle Guitar, published by Hal Leonard Corporation. Its international popularity has quickly grown, and as a result it has been translated to multiple languages by De Haske Publications, Europe. In 2016, Hal Leonard will publish his new book Classical Guitar Chops, which analyzes guitar technique throughout the history of classical guitar repertoire. As an educator, Hirschelman has trained scores of guitarists and is frequently in demand for masterclasses and workshops. He has served on the faculty at numerous colleges, including the Musicians Institute (GIT), and runs a thriving private teaching studio. He holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Arizona, where he was awarded a full scholarship and graduated with honors.
Evan Hirschelman resides on the web at www.theguitarist.net
Guitar (Jazz)
Email: N/A
Guitar (Jazz)
Karl Kerfoot is a guitarist, songwriter, composer, and session musician in Los Angeles with a diverse musical background and skill set. He joined the applied faculty at ELAC in the Fall of 2018 and currently teaches private commercial and jazz guitar lessons.
Karl has toured extensively as a sideman in the commercial music field. During his three year stint with acclaimed indie-rock band Lord Huron, he performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, The Newport Folk Festival, Coachella, Bonnaroo, The Hollywood Bowl, and other festivals and concert halls throughout the US, Canada, and Europe.
In January of 2018, Karl joined guitar legend Albert Hammond Jr.’s touring band and has since performed at various festivals and clubs in the US, Europe, Israel, Indonesia, Australia, and Japan. Other notable performances with Albert include Conan O’Brien, James Corden, a live radio/YouTube recording for KEXP in Seattle, and a live-to-vinyl recording session for Red Bull Records at Supersense in Vienna, Austria.
Coming from a family of music educators, Karl inherited a passion for teaching and mentoring others on their musical journey. He earned his B.M. in Music Education and Jazz Studies from the University of Cincinnati, and spent two years as the Music Director for Options Academy The Arts in Cincinnati, Ohio. He then went on to earn his M.M. in Studio/Jazz Guitar from the University of Southern California, where he received a teaching assistant scholarship. Karl is also on the faculty at Los Angeles City College.
When he’s not teaching or touring, Karl performs jazz, world, and original music with a variety of local musicians in Los Angeles. He also writes and records music for other artists as well as clients in film, TV, and digital media.
Classical Guitar
Email: @email
Dr. Ken Nagatani received both a Master of Music and a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Manuel Barrueco, and completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Southern California in 2006 as a student of William Kanengiser. He has been the recipient of several honors and awards, including the Mary Pickford Foundation Endowed Scholarship in Classical Guitar and the Jack Marshall Memorial Scholarship while at USC. He currently teaches classical guitar classes and applied music at ELAC, and is also an adjunct instructor at Long Beach City College and Glendale Community College.
Office: S2 107L
Phone: (323) 415-5337
Email: @email
Pianist.
Lucy Nargizyan has been featured as soloist and collaborative pianist throughout the United States, England, Wales, Austria, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Canada, Mexico and Russia. Her performances were broadcast on Russian Radio and Television as well as on Classical KUSC Radio. Dr. Nargizyan has performed as a soloist with the International Chamber Ensemble of Rome, the USC Thornton Chamber Orchestra, El Camino and East Los Angeles College Orchestras, and the Pasadena Community Orchestra. Recently she performed multiple times at Walt Disney Concert Hall as part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Chamber Music Series.
Dr. Nargizyan has won numerous competitions, including the Moscow Young Artist Competition, the Los Angeles Liszt Competition, the USC Concerto Competition, and the Peninsula Young Artists International Festival. She was also a finalist in the Mu Phi Epsilon National Competition. Dr. Nargizyan was the recipient of the “Most Distinguished Musician Award” at the 2005 IBLA International Competition in Italy, where she performed with the Elixir Piano Trio.
Elixir Piano Trio performs traditional and modern repertoire in the United States and internationally. The trio has performed many newly written works and recently recorded compositions by local composer Penka Kouneva.
Lucy Nargizyan was raised in Moscow, Russia. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Moscow State Music College, and Masters of Music and a Doctorate degrees in piano performance from the University of Southern California. At USC, she studied with Daniel Pollack, Kevin Fitz-Gerald, and Dennis Thurmond.
Dr. Nargizyan is a dedicated teacher whose students have been prizewinners in many local and state competitions. In addition, her students have transferred to such institutions as USC and Cleveland Institute of Music. Dr. Nargizyan is currently Professor of Music at East Los Angeles College.
Double Bass
Email: @email
Double Bass
For his Bachelor of Music Degree, Stephen attended California State University Northridge, where he studied with Oscar Meza, Assistant Principal Double Bass of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. It was under Mr. Meza's tutelage that Stephen became a member of the well-known American Youth Symphony with Maestro Alexander Treger, and Principal Bass of the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Symphony with Maestro Joana Carneiro.
After graduating cum laude from CSUN, Stephen was accepted to one of the top music schools in the country, the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where he achieved a Masters in Music. Here Mr. Pfeifer studied with Donald Palma, founding member and bassist of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. In addition to freelancing throughout the greater Boston area, Stephen also joined the Indian Hill Symphony Orchestra with Maestro Bruce Hangen, and The Cape Cod Symphony with Maestro Jung-Ho Pak. At the end of his time in Boston, Stephen was accepted in the Schleswig Holstein Music Festival, where he toured Europe with Maestro Christoph Eschenbach, and later in the festival worked with other well-known conductors such as Heinrich Schiff, Mikhail Pletnev, Herbert Blomstedt and Kolja Blacher.
Mr. Pfeifer moved back to California in 2008 and now lives in Altadena with his wife and daughter. He maintains a private teaching studio with many students throughout the Pasadena, San Marino, and San Gabriel areas. Also, Stephen is a Los Angeles Philharmonic Teaching Artist with the Harmony Project. As an active chamber musician, Stephen is solo bassist with the Definiens, double bassist for Wild UP, and member of The Upside, a trio performing music ranging from Bach to Brubeck. Mr. Pfeifer often works in the numerous recording studios through Los Angeles and is a substitute musician with many Southern California Orchestras such as the Long Beach Symphony, San Bernardino Symphony, Opera Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara Symphony.
Office: S2 107J
Phone: (323) 267-3768
Email: @email
Commercial Music, Applied, and Music/Saxophone.
Dr. Lee Zarate originally from Austin, Texas, has built a lively career in Los Angeles as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, jazz, rock and fusion artist, as well as a recording artist in the television and film industry. She holds a Doctorate in Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California where she also studied minor fields in Music Theory, Jazz Pedagogy, and Music Industry. She received her Masters degree in Saxophone Performance from USC where she studied with saxophonist, James Rötter. Lee’s Bachelors degree in Saxophone Performance was received from the University of Texas in Austin where she studied with renowned saxophonist, Harvey Pittel. Honors and awards include University of Texas Honors and College Scholar, University of Texas Dean's List, and induction to the Golden Key Honor Society. Dr. Zarate has had the honor of performing in a master class given by renowned French saxophonist, Claude Delangle, Professor of Saxophone at the Paris Conservatory, where he praised her for her impeccable tone and lyricism.
Dr. Zarate’s performances have graced the stages at Dolby Theater, Carnegie Hall, Disney Hall, Dorothy Chandler Pavillion, Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts, California Theatre of Performing Arts, Norris Theater, Armstrong Theater, Warner Grand Theater, and the Grand Annex. Lee has worked with such notable conductors as Mark Watters (film/television composer & conductor), Robert H. Reynolds, Sharon Lavery, Alexander Treger, Jerry Junkin, David Efron, Mitch Miller, Paula Crider, Michael Christ Powers, and Michael Ryan Armstrong. Her talents have been featured with many different ensembles and at many music festivals and concert series in Southern California doing a variety of repertoire. She has been a featured soloist with the Song of the Angels Flute Orchestra, American Youth Symphony, New Earth Ensemble and USC’s Concert Orchestra. Lee has been recognized for her talent as a finalist at the 58th Annual Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition, a semi-finalist at the 1st Annual Plowman Chamber Music Competition, and a featured artist at the 28th and 30th International Young Artists Peninsula Music Festival. Among some of her featured performances include the Culver-Palms Music Festival, Claremont’s Music Festival Series, OMG Global’s Summer Music Concert Series, and the Fete de la Musique Festival hosted by the Alliance Francaise of Los Angeles. Some of her noteable performances include: Shahkar Bineshpajooh with Andrea Bocelli, San Bernadino Symphony, and Bill Duke’s book signing, “Dark Girls”.
Part of Lee’s performing experience also includes being a studio musician. She recorded for television, films, radio commercials, video games, musicals, music library collections as well as album collaborations. Lee has had the luxury of recording at the famous TODD-AO soundstage, EastWest Studios (formerly Cello Studios) as well as many others in the Los Angeles area. She has expansive doubling skills and also plays the Clarinet, Flute, Armenian Duduk, Armenian Shvi, Chinese Dizi, Indian Bansuri, and the Quena flute, as well as the recorder family. Lee’s versatility includes extensive techniques on these instruments as well as the saxophone family to create unique modern audio effects for visual media recordings. Some of her noted Television, Film, and Video Game recording credits include: Con Man - TV series, Leave of Absence - film, Home Tycoon – video game, Drones - film, Shut Eye Hotel – Bill Plympton animated short, Flash Gordan – TV series, and TLC’s A Baby Story.
Lee is a founding member of and performs regularly with Noir Quartet. Their repertoire includes everything from Bach to Ellington, as well as standard repertoire and new music written for the saxophone quartet idiom. They are the featured favorite at the annual Bach in the Subways at the Los Angeles Union Station. They were featured live on 90.7’s Global Village with John Schneider.
An educator as well as a performer, Dr. Zarate has taught both privately and in higher education throughout the greater Los Angeles area since 2002. Lee is also a Pro Tools Expert Certified Instructor and has taught Pro Tools Certification courses at AudioGraph International in Santa Monica under the guideance of Chilitos Valenzuela, Master Pro Tools instructor, author, producer and audio engineer.
Dr. Zarate currently teaches Commercial Music courses and Saxophone at East Los Angeles College.
Voice
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Soprano Lori Stinson is a frequent concert and opera soloist in the greater Los Angeles area and the country. She has sung operatic roles with San Diego Opera, Opera Pacific, Glimmerglass Opera, Aspen Opera Theater, Utah Festival Opera, Pacific Repertory Opera, and Long Beach Opera, as well as covering roles at New York City Opera.
As a concert soloist, Ms. Stinson has sung with Los Angeles Bach Festival, Redlands Bowl Symphony, Torrance Symphony, The Marina Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, Pacific Chorale, Ventura Master Chorale, and Foothill Master Chorale, as well as many others. Some of the roles and oratorio she has most performed are The Countess in the Marriage of Figaro and Fiordiligi in Cosi Fan Tutte. She has performed as the soloist in Carmina Burana five times in the past seven years. When she was a soloist in the Verdi Requiem with the Cypress Master Chorale, the newspaper there said, “Her large, gleaming soprano soared above all else, and her wonderful performance would have graced any stage in the world. She sang loud, she sang soft, she colored her words, she shaped her phrases. She made the most of her turn in ‘Libera me’ and her soft high note at the end of the a cappella section was dynamite. Her high C was great. She was fabulous.”
She made her motion picture debut as the singing voice of actress Alison Elliott in a 2001 made-for-TV movie, “The Song of the Lark,” broadcast on most public television stations as part of the network’s “Masterpiece Theatre American Collection.” Miss Stinson recorded more than half a dozen opera and oratorio arias and art songs for the soundtrack in portraying a fictional character through her vocal development from a teenager to a renowned opera diva.
Cello
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Mr. Terzian has performed extensively throughout the former Soviet Union, United States, Mexico, Spain, Ireland and Czech Republic. He has frequently appeared as a soloist with several orchestras including Armenian State Philharmonic Orchestra and various orchestras in Mexico. He has worked at Armenian State Chamber Orchestra, Armenian Vertuosi Chamber Orchestra, Beverly Hills Chamber Orchestra and South Bay Chamber Orchestra. He is a member of Los Angeles based award winning Elixir Piano Trio.
Mr. Terzian began to study cello at the age of six with his father in former Chekoslovakia. Mr. Terzian continued his music education at Babadjanian College of Music, followed by the Yerevan State Conservatory. Awarded a merit scholarship from the University of Southern California, he continued his education at USC's Thornton School of Music under the direction of distinguished professor Ronald Leonard, where he received Master of Music Degree in Cello Performance.
Mr. Terzian has performed in Aram Khachaturian Music Festival in Spain and the Chamber Music Festival in Dublin, Ireland. He is the First Place winner of the Young Musicians Competition and Armenian Philharmonic Concerto Competition both in Yerevan, Armenia. Mr. Terzian has made number of recordings for Television and Radio Stations in the former Soviet Union, United States and Mexico. He has been featured in live radio broadcasts on KUSC "Sundays at Four", Los Angeles. Mr. Terzian serves on the faculty of East Los Angeles College.
Clarinet
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Clarinetist Uriel Vanchestein is a laureate of the Geneva International Music Competition and the AudiMozart International Competition. He has been invited to perform recitals and give master classes at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, at the Xian International Clarinet Festival in China, and at the Caracas International Clarinet Festival in Venezuela. He has been a member of the Verbier Festival Orchestra from 2008 to 2010 and appeared as a soloist with such orchestras as the Geneva Chamber Orchestra, the Haydn Orchestra, the Trois-Rivières Symphony Orchestra and I Musici Chamber Orchestra of Montreal. Also a founding member of the Boreal Trio, Uriel performs with the group around the US and Canada. The trio was recently invited to performed for Pro Musica of Montreal and the National Gallery of Arts in Washington, D.C.
Also a composer, Uriel’s music has been performed on four continents in such venues as the Verbier Festival and Carnegie Hall. Recently commissioned by the Orford Art Center for a piece premiered by the New Orford String Quartet, he was also asked to write for the New York Woodwind Quintet, the New York Classical Players, the Harlem Quartet and the Fibonacci Trio. He also composes for films and television. Currently working on Netflix’s Chef’s Table, some of his work has been presented at Tribeca Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival, amongst others.
Uriel completed a Master’s Degree in Film Scoring at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He also holds a Bachelor and a Master’s Degree from the Juilliard School.
Percussion
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Clarinet
Michael Wachs has a master's degree in music education and teaches music theory part time for the Los Angeles community college district at Los Angeles Trade and technical college and at Glendale community college. Michael teaches applied percussion at East Los Angeles College. He is currently a Judge for southern California Band and Orchestra association in percussion adjudication and for the American drum line association. His publications can be found on honeyrock.net
Viola
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Professor Emeritus:
Percussion (Jazz)
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Commercial Music
Robert Dawson is a professor of commercial music and chair of the music department. Among his responsibilities are teaching music production classes, including computer recording, digital editing, computer sequencing, and notation. He also teaches commercial harmony, music business, and is the director of the ELAC Jazz Ensemble.
Before joining the faculty in 2001, Mr. Dawson served as director of instrumental music at The Church On The Way in Van Nuys, California for twenty years, where he orchestrated music for the instrumental ensembles, produced recordings, and conducted bands and orchestras.
Mr. Dawson stays active in the music business as a composer and multi-instrumentalist.
Adjunct Faculty
Composition
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Harmony (instead of 'Theory') and Commercial Music
Dr. David Arbury grew up in Washington, D. C. where he sang as a boy treble at Washington National Cathedral in the Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys. He remained with the choir for eighteen years and in that time sang with every voice part. He has worked at the Music Division of the Library of Congress, co-founded an independent record label, conducted small ensembles, performed extensively as a bass and percussion player, and is a founding member for the early music vocal ensemble Icarus. He has taught at the University of Maryland, the Catholic University of America, and currently teaches at East Los Angeles College and Los Angeles City College. He has acted as a composer-in-residence and has received commissions and grants from numerous ensembles and organizations including the American Composers Forum, the Arizona Commission on the Arts, the Institute for Studies in the Arts, Taffety Punk, and the Wolf Trap Foundation. His compositions for concert hall, church, dance, film, and theater have been performed throughout the United States and Europe.
Trumpet (Jazz)
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Music of Mexico and Jazz Ensemble
Robert “Bobby” Chavez has worked as a professional arranger and composer, trumpet artist, vocalist and percussionist for over 45 years in the music industry. A musical conductor/director for the past 24 years with stints in the U.S. Army Band, he has worked with private schools/universities, studios, and professional contract orchestras across the U.S. Mr. Chavez conceptualized the Latin twist to Swingin’ South and CnL’s Award winning Big Bands, Joker’s Wild Swing Orchestra and the L.A. Mambo All-Star Orchestra (LaMasO). Bobby’s compositions and arrangements represent the truly first class musical standards of CnL Entertainment Group.
Bobby A. Chávez Jr is considered to be on the “fast track” with innovative and trend setting musical teaching concepts in Concert, Jazz and Latin music. He has the distinguishable credit of bringing Latin music (1976) and its awareness to U.S. Military band programs. Because of his efforts, there are over 50 military Latin music ensembles entertaining military members, their families, and the civilian population in the United States and in host foreign countries.
Bobby also developed the curriculum for “The Music of México” a subject he teaches at East Los Angeles Community College & at UCLA Extension (OLLI) School. He is a published author with three books to his credit; Tito Puente and The Mambo, Mosaic Landscapes- The Music History of Mexico and The Magic of Mexico!
He also performs in comedy clubs as a stand-up comic (“Chorrizo Lopez”) in L.A., Las Vegas and the southwest and gives comedy workshops for children & adults at libraries, schools and community centers. Mr. Chavez is an award winning standup comedian and Children’s performer. His CD "Comedy for Kids" won an international award with the James Edward Olmos Foundation, "Latino Literacy Now!"
Violin
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Violinist
Mr. Chilingarian enjoys a varied career as performer, educator and conductor. An avid chamber musician, Mr. Chilingarian has toured extensively throughout Europe, Japan, the United States and Central America with The Melos Ensemble, Vienna Sinfonietta, Orchestra Internazionale d´Italia, Tashen Oper and Ensemble Nine.
Mr. Chilingarian has performed in such prestigious venues as the Musikverein in Vienna, Teatro di San Carlo in Napoli, Teatro Farnese in Parma, Casals Hall in Tokyo, Birmingham Performing Arts Center in England. As a founding member of the Arioso String Quartet, he has toured Austria giving concerts in Vienna, Krems and Salzkammergut.
A native of Armenia, Mr. Chilingarian began his musical studies at age five. After receiving a Bachelor of Music from the California State University at Northridge and a Master of Music from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, Mr. Chilingarian moved to Vienna in 1990 to continue his studies in authentic performance and conducting. While in Vienna, Mr. Chilingarian joined the Pons Artis Chamber Orchestra, the Kammer Oper Orchestra, the Niederosterrichische Tonkunstler Orchestra. In 1994 Mr. Chilingarian was invited to conduct the Linz Summer Festival Youth Orchestra.
Since his return to L.A., Mr. Chilingarian´s focus has been to bring spirited and passionate music to young musicians. Mr. Chilingarian is the Artistic Director and conductor of Verdugo Young Musicians Association (VYMA). In 2007, VYMA was invited by the Los Angeles Philharmonic to perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall as part of the International Youth Orchestra Festival. Mr. Chilingarian actively participates with the Los Angeles Philharmonic YOLA initiative as guest speaker and panelist.
Mr. Chilingarian has been featured on the Sundays Live radio broadcast Classical 105.1 K-Mozart as well as on 91.5 KUSC "Spotlight on The Arts". Mr. Chilingarian serves on the faculties of East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles City College, Glendale Community College and continues to perform with the Elixir Piano Trio.
Bass
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Professor Emeritus
Class Voice
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Professor Emeritus
Class Voice
ELAC in 1979. She had been a voice instructor at U.C. Irvine and the University of Southern California. Ms. Hasty also directed junior high choral music in Fullerton and high school choral music in El Monte. She was honored by having both her junior high and high school choirs perform at the state conventions of the California Music Educators Association. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Music Education with a concentration in voice at Southern Methodist University and a Master's degree in voice at the University of Southern California. She has appeared as soloist in a number of LA-area churches as well as the Carmel Bach Festival and the Los Angeles Bach Festival. She also held the position of Music Director in a number of churches. As music department chair at ELAC, Professor Hasty helped in the planning and design for our new music facilities. Since retiring, Ms. Hasty continues to teach class voice. Currently, she is an Adjunct faculty member.
Classical Guitar
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Classical Guitar
Evan Hirschelman, award-winning guitarist and composer, has gained international acclaim for his unique compositions, virtuosic performances, and dynamic interpretational renditions. He has been heralded for "precise and prodigious technique" by Acoustic Guitar Magazine, "technical wizardry" by Los Angeles Times and "soulful musicality" by Malibu Times. The Grammy® award-winning recording Guitar Heroes includes his composition "Lament and Wake", performed by the preeminent Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. Peter B. King, music critic of the Post Gazette, described it as a "poignant, stirring six minutes of music." He also wrote a Chinese influenced piece for guitarist Xuefei Yang, which received widespread acclaim, and his compositions are included in the new edition of the seminal classical guitar book Pumping Nylon. Hirschelman has composed numerous solo and ensemble works for guitar, which have been performed throughout the world.
His recording Water in Darkness contains original and contemporary solo guitar works and duets with guitarist Scott Tennant. It was released to rave reviews, being called "complex and breathtaking" by Music Connection, "delightful and virtuosic" by American Record Guide, and a "two-handed symphony" by Minor 7th. Hirschelman was a top prize winner in the Stotsenberg International Guitar Competition and he has been featured in guitar's foremost publications, including Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Premiere Guitar and Guitar Player. Hirschelman worked closely with the renowned boutique guitar company Circa Guitars to create his Signature Model steel-string acoustic guitar. This artistic foray led to one of the first steel-string guitars developed for classical nylon-string players.
Hirschelman is the author of Acoustic Artistry: Tapping, Slapping, and Percussion Techniques for Classical & Fingerstyle Guitar, published by Hal Leonard Corporation. Its international popularity has quickly grown, and as a result it has been translated to multiple languages by De Haske Publications, Europe. In 2016, Hal Leonard will publish his new book Classical Guitar Chops, which analyzes guitar technique throughout the history of classical guitar repertoire. As an educator, Hirschelman has trained scores of guitarists and is frequently in demand for masterclasses and workshops. He has served on the faculty at numerous colleges, including the Musicians Institute (GIT), and runs a thriving private teaching studio. He holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Arizona, where he was awarded a full scholarship and graduated with honors.
Evan Hirschelman resides on the web at www.theguitarist.net
Classical Guitar
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Dr. Ken Nagatani received both a Master of Music and a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Manuel Barrueco, and completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Southern California in 2006 as a student of William Kanengiser. He has been the recipient of several honors and awards, including the Mary Pickford Foundation Endowed Scholarship in Classical Guitar and the Jack Marshall Memorial Scholarship while at USC. He currently teaches classical guitar classes and applied music at ELAC, and is also an adjunct instructor at Long Beach City College and Glendale Community College.
Class Piano
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Clarinet
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Clarinetist Uriel Vanchestein is a laureate of the Geneva International Music Competition and the AudiMozart International Competition. He has been invited to perform recitals and give master classes at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, at the Xian International Clarinet Festival in China, and at the Caracas International Clarinet Festival in Venezuela. He has been a member of the Verbier Festival Orchestra from 2008 to 2010 and appeared as a soloist with such orchestras as the Geneva Chamber Orchestra, the Haydn Orchestra, the Trois-Rivières Symphony Orchestra and I Musici Chamber Orchestra of Montreal. Also a founding member of the Boreal Trio, Uriel performs with the group around the US and Canada. The trio was recently invited to performed for Pro Musica of Montreal and the National Gallery of Arts in Washington, D.C.
Also a composer, Uriel’s music has been performed on four continents in such venues as the Verbier Festival and Carnegie Hall. Recently commissioned by the Orford Art Center for a piece premiered by the New Orford String Quartet, he was also asked to write for the New York Woodwind Quintet, the New York Classical Players, the Harlem Quartet and the Fibonacci Trio. He also composes for films and television. Currently working on Netflix’s Chef’s Table, some of his work has been presented at Tribeca Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival, amongst others.
Uriel completed a Master’s Degree in Film Scoring at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He also holds a Bachelor and a Master’s Degree from the Juilliard School.
Accompanist/Vocal Coach:
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Accompanist/Vocal Coach
Doctor of Musical Arts, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 2006
Master of Music, The Peabody Conservatory of Music of The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 2003
Bachelor of Music, Summa Cum Laude, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, 2001
Dr. Melissa Sky-Eagle serves as the staff accompanist and vocal coach at East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, rehearsing and coaching singers on notes, diction, blend, vocal tone, and foreign languages, taking a practical approach to music making. She is also the music director at Tapestry Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Mission Viejo, California, leading the choir, and programming and accompanying for the services. For the last 22 years, she has held continuous jobs as pianist, collaborator, and music director. She also enjoys accompanying and acting as music director for theater productions at A Noise Within Theatre in Pasadena, and Los Angeles Valley College. She serves her community by volunteering with Selah Gospel Choir.
For more detailed information, please visit her website at: www.melissasky-eagle.com