Since his 1974 San Francisco Opera debut, tenor Joseph Frank has specialized in the lyric character tenor operatic repertoire. In a career spanning over 35 years, the tenor has won acclaim in over 80 roles. Metropolitan Opera and European debuts followed in 1979 and he currently appears regularly with other leading opera companies here and abroad including the opera companies of Los Angeles, Houston, Seattle, Washington, Orange County, San Diego, Santa Fe, London, and Paris.
Robert Britton graduated as an Alexander Technique teacher in 1978. In addition to his private practice in San Francisco and Marin County, he has taught the Alexander Technique to musicians at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music since 1984. He served as chairman of the American Society for the Alexander Technique from 1997 to 1999. He has helped train Alexander Technique teachers since 1989, and teaches at the Alexander Educational Center in Berkeley. He regularly teaches in Berlin at the Ausbildungszentrum fur F.M.
Studied Piano from age 6, Harp from age 15. Attended Interlochen Arts Academy studying harp with Elisa Smith Dickon. Attended Cleveland Institute of Music studying harp with Alice Chalifoux. Principal Harp of the Indianapolis Symphony from 1975-1981, Principal Harp of the San Francisco Symphony since 1981. Harp Instructor at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music sine 2007. Harp Coach of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra since 1981.
I am a professional classical singer and voice teacher, as well as a professional pianist and vocal accompanist. I perform frequently as a guest soloist with orchestras and Choral Societies and as an Opera singer with various Opera companies.
Piano
Patricia has developed a new piano method for young students, ages 5 to 7 yrs. It's called Sing and Play; which uses the voice to learn music and then play it on the piano with good form in a musical way. It is based on Kodaly's vision for teaching music to everyone.
This method is adapted to older students and adults as well. It results in the student processing the music differently and more musically. Learning is easier, and challenging musicianship skills are easily developed.
Mikako Endo is a piano teacher and composer, born in Tokyo, Japan. She comes from three generations of professional jazz musicians. She received her B.M. in Music Education and Composition from Tokyo Gakugei Univ. and her M.A. from San Francisco Conservatory of Music. In Japan, she was not only a popular piano teacher, but also produced several successful music videos. Since arriving in the U.S. she has worked as an audio engineer, provided computer animations for the CD-ROM "Children of the Cranes", and composed music for it and for two CD-ROM games, "Gazillionaire" and "Zapitalism".
Please see my web site for a biography.
http://www.hearandnowaudio.com/Mark_Nemoyten/About_Me.html
Kevin McLaughlin, trumpet, has studied and worked professionally in Seattle, Los Angeles and the Twin Cities. His teachers include Armando Ghitalla (Boston Symphony), Robert Nagel (Yale University), and Manny Laureano (Minnesota Orchestra). For three years he performed in the Raimund Theater Orchestra in Vienna, Austria, indulging his love for traditional operetta. He has taught on the faculties of St. Olaf College and at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
I believe that the most aesthetically pleasing singing is also the most physiologically correct way of singing. It is a simple and free process: using our bodies as instruments, we can bring much joy to others and ourselves. I like to lay a technical foundation using sound pedagogic principles, then at the end of the lesson, sing various repertoire and employ performing techniques (dramatic, language, and right-brained fun (:) to bring out the best in a singer.