ALANA JOOS Music Director & Percussion is a free-lance percussionist in Southern California and is currently the Principal Percussionist with the Inland Valley Symphony in Temecula and the Coachella Valley Symphony in Palm Desert. She also performs professionally with many other groups playing symphonic percussion, or drums and percussion for operas and musical theatre.
Alana just returned from a two month tour of China where she was the Music Director and Drummer for "Caution, Men At Work, TAP."
Other recent performances include playing percussion for shows such as Regis Philbin, Jerry Lewis, Clay Aiken and Don Rickles. She can also be seen on a new music video with Marco Antonio Solis, Latin Grammy Award Winner, playing drums on "A Dónde Vamos A Parar?" Other appearances include concerts with Buddy Greco, Donna Theodore, and Jerry VanDyke, among numerous others.
Alana has a B.S. Degree in Music, graduating Cum Laude, from Moorhead State University in Moorhead, Minnesota and a Master's Degree in Percussion Performance from California State University in Northridge, California. She specializes in all orchestral percussion instruments, mallets and drum set.
She played the part of a drummer in the movies "Unfaithfully Yours," "The Sting II," "Going Berserk" and as herself in "Nothing So Strange." She played percussion on Milton Berle's production "Magic of the Stars," for HBO.
Alana plays all styles of music, from rock to classical and has toured the U.S., Europe, South Korea, Okinawa and the People's Republic of China. She has played for shows such as "Fred and Ginger," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Ginger and Me" and the opera productions of "Mikado," "Pirates of Penzance," "Cosi fan tutte," "Rigoletto," "Don Giovanni," "Die Fledermaus" and "Hansel and Gretel."
In addition to her extensive career as a drummer and percussionist, Alana is also a music contractor who books musicians, orchestras and bands for various productions, shows, concerts and events. She is also an avid music educator who is instrumental in coordinating educational outreach programs for two youth symphonies.
ALEX GIL - Conductor & Composer
"Dolce Symphonia is very proud to have Alex Gil on staff as a conductor and composer. His passion for musical excellence and vision for creating unique performance opportunities for the ensemble is a driving force of this group." - Alana Joos - Music Director
Born in southern California, Los Angeles-based composer, conductor, and producer Alex Gil graduated from the Eastman School of Music with a Masters in composition and the University of California Riverside with a BA in music with an emphasis in piano, voice, and composition. Currently Alex is finishing his doctorate in composition at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University.
Recently Alex was awarded the Morawetz Memorial Award in Composition (Peabody), other awards include the Edna McLaughlin Award (Eastman), Paul Sacher Award (Eastman), First Interstate Award (University of California), and the Sonscreen Film Festival Award (Wash. DC). In 2005 Gil was honored as a Jack Kent Cooke Scholar (Wash. DC).
His composition teachers over the years include Michael Hersch, David Liptak, Carlos Sánchez-Gutiérrez, Allan Schindler, Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon, Ralph Towner, Bill Dobbins, Byron Adams, and Renée Coulombe with additional lessons and master classes with Robert Morris, Christopher Theofanidis, Christopher Rouse, and Chinary Ung. Conducting mentors include Brad Lubman and William Weinert at Eastman (chamber/orchestral) and UCLA maestro Donald Neuen (choral).
AMY CADLE - Percussion & World Music Rhythm Specialist
Amy's bio is coming soon ... In addition to having degrees in percussion she has spent much time studying the music of the African Diaspora with a focus on drumming styles from Brazil. Amy also loves performing contemporary percussion music and John Cage is her hero. Amy has extensive knowledge of ethnic and world percussion instruments and specializes in hand percussion.
CINDY ANNE BROZ - Flute
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Born in Salt Lake City, Cindy Anne Broz began studying flute at age 9. She was honored to study privately for five years with Michael Vance of the Utah Symphony and then for six years with Jane Wadsworth of the Ballet West Symphony. Ms. Broz received a B.A. in Music: Flute Performance from the University of Utah. During this time, she studied privately with Erich Graf, Jane Wadsworth, Michael Vance, and performed in masterclasses and summer seminars with Julius Baker, Murray Panitz, James Galway, and Jean-Pierre Rampal. While in Salt Lake City, Ms. Broz performed with the Salt Lake City Opera Orchestra, Salt Lake City Chamber Orchestra, and The Ballet West Symphony.
After moving to San Diego in 1982, Ms. Broz began performing throughout Southern California. She has given recitals at The University of California San Diego, The Carlsbad Civic Center, the Prado in Balboa Park, The Hotel Del Coronado, The Horton Grand Hotel, La Valencia La Jolla, University of San Diego, The California Center for the Performing Arts, and in Beverly Hills for The Malibran Society. Ms. Broz relocated to Temecula in 1996, where she continued an active freelance solo and ensemble career and developed a high level teaching studio. During this time, she was principal flutist with the California Consort Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Warren Gref and was a featured soloist in performances of Mozart’s Flute Quartet in D Major, Beethoven’s Serenade for Flute, Violin and Viola, Haydn’s “London” Trio No.1, Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.4, and Mozart’s Divertimento in D Major, K.131. She has also performed with the San Diego Symphony, The San Diego Chamber Orchestra, and The Classics4Kids Philharmonic. In 2009-2010, Ms. Broz performed as a soloist in Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington D.C. She also performed with the Philadelphia Opera Company, the Concerts at Carmel Series (Philadelphia), and for the Philadelphia Cathedral Concert Series. She currently performs with the Southern California flute ensemble, "Flûtes de Salon," The Golden Valley Music Society, The Young Artist Association of San Diego, and several other professional chamber ensemble in the Southern California region. She is available for concert performance as a soloist as well as in ensemble. She is a highly versatile flutist with a wide range of mastered repertoire including classical flute and piccolo solos, orchestral and chamber repertoire, and theater music. In August of 2011, she will premier “Woodland Reverie” at the National Flute Association Convention in Charlotte, NC. She is also scheduled to perform “Flash” for piccolo and band by Daniel Dorff with The Valley Winds under the direction of Tom Hrbacek.
She is an active member of The Music Teachers’ Association of California, The Music Teachers’ National Association, The National Flute Association, The American Federation of Musicians: Local 47 and Local 325. She also serves as a board member of The Los Angeles Flute Guild and The Flute Society of Greater Philadelphia and is an active member of the San Diego Flute Guild.
A highly sought after pedagogue, Ms. Broz has presented at, and adjudicated, flute festivals/competitions in California, Texas, Utah, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. She offers masterclasses in pedagogy and performance and conducts a Summer Flute Camp/Youth Masterclass Series annually for students interested in intensive study. She also provides audition/performance preparation and coaching for advanced students. She accepts students of all ages, playing abilities, and interest levels. She provides a comprehensive evaluation and develops a teaching plan to meet each student’s individual needs. This process focuses on assisting students achieve their musical goals and desires. She specializes in teaching students committed to serious study and has developed an intensive curriculum. She also provides audition/performance preparation and coaching for advanced students. Many of her students have received flute/music scholarships to top conservatories and major universities.
KEVIN EBERLE - Bassoon & Contrabassoon
Southern California native Kevin Eberle has been involved in classical music since 2003. After obtaining a B.M. in Music: Education from the University of Redlands, Mr. Eberle served as principal bassoon with the Inland Valley Symphony. In 2008, Mr. Eberle moved to Phoenix, AZ, where he served as principal bassoon of the Scottsdale Arts Orchestra during its inaugural season and the 2010-11 season. In addition to his orchestral work, Mr. Eberle has also had a successful freelance career from 2007-2011.
Mr. Eberle is constantly trying to advance bassoon and contrabassoon literature. Kevin commissioned Four Atmospheres of Edgar Alan Poe by British composer Andrew Ellson in 2007 and, in 2010, served in a consortium to commission Trio for Clarinet, Bassoon, and Piano by Denver based composer Bill Douglas.
Mr. Eberle has studied primarily with Dr. Carolyn Beck and has participated in master classes with Brian deBoer, Judith Farmer, David Muller, Brian Petkovich, and John Steinmetz. In 2011, Mr. Eberle will begin studies at the University of Redlands toward a Master’s degree in Music Performance. Kevin is a member of the American Federation of Musicians, Music Educator’s National Conference, and the International Double Reed Society.
ALAN BUSTEED - Violin & Viola
Violinist Alan Busteed served for seven years as professor of chamber music music at the Academia Nacional de Orquestra in Lisbon, Portugal. In that capacity he performed in solo and chamber music concerts throughout Europe. He has played in first violin sections of the San Diego, Fort Worth and Florida Symphony Orchestras and participated in Master Classes with Yehudi Menuhin, Vladimir Spivakov and Henryk Szeryng. Alan toured nationally with the Southern California based Hutchins Consort of specialized stringed instruments and served as both guest principal violist and assistant concertmaster for concerts of the San Diego Chamber Orchestra.
He studied jazz with Billy Taylor, Yusef Lateef, and Don Cherry and joined forces with saxophonist Archie Shepp. He has been on stage as a solo violinist with salsa's extraordinary Fania All Stars and played locally with the Latino music group Charangoa in Los Angeles. A concertmaster and solo violinist for independent film scoring in Los Angeles, he was also a member of the recent Oscar winning symphony orchestra for the Pixar film, "Up!" Alan has concertized with Trio del Mer, a classical piano trio, with cellist Ruslan Biryukov and pianist Mary Au. After undergraduate study at the Manhattan School of Music, in New York City, he was the first violinist in the acclaimed Ensemble Sepia chamber music group and the founding violinist with the Orion Piano Trio.
Cindy Brogan, violinist/violist, graduated with honors and received degrees in Instrumental Music Performance from College of the Desert and from the California State University, Northridge. She maintains a busy schedule freelancing throughout the Southern California region and has performed with a variety of contemporary artists including Clay Aiken, Tony Bennett, Vicki Carr, Ray Charles, Robert Goulet, Shirley Jones, Wayne Newton, Olivia Newton-John, Smokey Robinson, Suzanne Somers and Dionne Warwick.
A native of the Coachella Valley, she is the violin soloist at Temple Sinai in Palm Desert, CA and performs with many local ensembles including the San Bernardino and Redlands Symphony Orchestras. Mrs. Brogan is past-President and member of the Music Teachers of the Desert, the California Association of Music Teachers and Music Teachers National Association and is a private string instructor and a violin instructor at many local school within the school district.
EDUARDO CONTRERAS - Horn
Eduardo Contreras holds a Bachelor of Music in Education and with honors of Pi Kappa Lambda from the University of Redlands in Redlands, California. While in Redlands he was principal horn in the University Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Feast of Lights Orchestra and Opera Orchestra. He was the student of Professor Dr. James Keays during his undergrad years. Eduardo also had the opportunity to hold a position with the Redlands Symphony Orchestra while studying. He was also chosen as a finalist of the annual University of Redlands Concerto Competition and appeared in the President’s Honor Recital in 2006. In 2005, he had the opportunity to study abroad in Salzburg, Austria as part of the University’s Salzburg Semester Study Abroad Program where he was under the tutelage of principal horn, Willi Schwaiger of the Mozarteum Orchestra.
Eduardo is an active horn player throughout Southern California and has appeared in various ensembles including: Redlands Symphony Orchestra, Inland Valley Symphony, Coachella Valley Symphony, Orange County Symphony, Riverside Lyric Opera, UCR Orchestra, Colors of the Wind Quintet, Redwinds Quintet and Winds By Design Quintet and more. Orchestra pit productions include: Don Giovanni, Norma, Cosi Fan Tutti, Rigoletto, The Mikado, Die Flaudermaus, Annie Get Your Gun, Sound of Music, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella and Bye Bye Birdie.
Currently Eduardo is the Director of Bands at Raymond Cree Middle School in Palm Springs, California. He has had the great privilege of having one of the most active middle school instrumental programs in the Coachella Valley servicing over 200 students annually. The ensembles and students take top honors at concert and solo/ensemble festivals throughout Southern California. He also is a private instructor and clinician for many middle schools and high schools in the region.
TONY JAUREGUI Bass Trombone & Composer
Tony Jauregui holds a Bachelor of Music Education from San Diego State University, and a Masters of Music in Trombone Performance from Northern Arizona University, has pursued doctoral studies in music at the University of North Texas, and has enjoyed a wonderful career over the past 30 years as a musician, conductor, and music educator.
In 1985, Tony was awarded the Graduate Fellowship for band conducting at Northern Arizona University, where he was the director of the University Symphonic band, pursued studies in advanced conducting, and studied trombone performance with Dr. Peter Vivona. Tony has also studied trombone the Dr. Merle Hogg, Mike Fellinger, Dr. Royce Lumpkin, and George Halbig.
In 1987, Tony was awarded a Doctoral Graduate Fellowship with the University of North Texas School of Music as the Director of the University Concert Band, while pursuing a PhD in Music.
As a professional bass trombonist, Tony enjoys working in shows, orchestral work, big bands, and the music ministry. Tony has appeared as a guest soloist with the Northern Arizona University Bands, continues to work as a freelance bass trombonist in various area orchestras including the Flagstaff Symphony, Coachella Valley Symphony, and has performed with the Ted Herman Big Band, The Windjammers, Warren Moores and His Orchestra, Kurt Stanis Big Band; and performed in production bands for such artists as the Coasters, the Platters, Jerry Lewis, Frankie Avalon, Frankie Lane, Skeets Hurfurt, and Lawrence Welk.
As a music educator, Tony has successfully taught music at every level, from elementary thru collegiate, and continues to enjoy serving as an elementary band/choir/strings/music teacher. Tony has been sought out as an adjudicator of both large group and solo/ensemble festivals, and continues to be in demand as a clinician of musical honor groups. Tony has served as band conductor at the Northern Arizona University Summer Music Camp, and while living in Arizona, was the founder and administrator of the Winslow Summer Music Program.
As a music minister, Tony has enjoyed serving at numerous churches. Tony has performed with worship teams in churches such as the First Christian Church, Winslow Christian Fellowship, and Our Saviors Community Church.
Tony also has published two books, which are available on Amazon.com, and is a Christian songwriter, with numerous video recordings of his songs on You Tube.
MIKE JAUREGUI - Trombone & Guitar
Mike Jauregui began playing trombone at age 4 under the mentorship of his father, professional bass-trombonist Tony Jauregui. As a young musican Mike was principal trombonist as well as featured soloist in a large variety of ensembles including the Buddy Rogers Youth Orchestra, the Claremonth Youth Orchestra, the Coachella Valley Symphony, the Palm Springs High School Band, and his own Jazz band.
Michael is the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards, among them a four year music scholarship to the University of Redlands, and an annual $5,000 scholarship award from the Palm Springs Friends of the Philharmonic. For three consecutive years Michael was privileged to attend the Idyllwild Summer Music Festival, thanks to scholarship awards from the Idyllwild Association and the Palm Springs Friends of the Philharmonic.
In the summor os 2009 Michael received a grant to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Ian Bousfield, Principal Trombonist of the Vienne Philharmonic, and Dennis Wick, former Principal Trombonist with the London Symphony.
Michael appeared on the President's HOnor Recital and was also a prize-winner ini the 2008 University of Redlands Concerto Competition. He was awarded the privilege of performing the Tomasi Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra with the University Orchestra in 2009.
Hi performance career at the University of Redlands over the past four years includes Principal/Lead trombonist chairs in the University Symphony, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Trombone Choir, Opera Orchestra, Jazz Combo and Brass Quintet. He also holds the student trombonist chair in the Redlands Symphony Orchestra led by Maestro Jon Robertson. Now in his last semester as an undergraduate music major, majoring in Trombone Performance, Michael continues to work as a free-lance musician in both orchestral and jazz realms. He is the student of Dr. Andrew Glendening.
DEBBIE COX - Bassoon, Piano
Deborah Cox graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor of Music degree in performance on bassoon. While living in San Francisco she performed in the Berkeley Chamber Orchestra, Walnut Creek Theatre Orchestra, Symphony on the Mountain, and substituted in the San Francisco Opera Orchestra. Locally, she has performed in San Bernardino Symphony, Victorville Symphony, Inland Valley Symphony, and the Redlands Symphony Orchestra. She has also soloed on the bassoon with the Coachella Valley Symphony.
As a professional pianist she has been an accompanist for the California Desert Chorale and various West Coast Opera Theatre
performances. Debbie is currently on staff at the College of the Desert as an accompanist where she accompanies various vocal soloists for their recitals.
JULIANNA BUFFUM HOLMES - Cello
Julianna Buffum Holmes, Cellist and teacher who attended Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts, Music Academy of the West, and USC, from whence she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in music. She was a member of the aptly titled Buffum Ensemble in the ‘70s, along with Denyse and Thomas Buffum. On 26th April 1974, they performed, under the umbrella of the South Bay Chamber Music Society, Inc., a program that ranged from Johann Sebastian Bach and Felix Mendelssohn to modern compositions by members of the ensemble.
It did not take long for Julianna’s career as a session musician to take off. In 1975, she appeared on Gene Harris’s album, Nexus. A year later, she helped Waylon Jennings ask the musical question, Are You Ready for the Country. Some of her recordings with Waylon made the cut on his Nashville Rebel boxed set. In 1978, she collaborated with Terry Callier on Fire on Ice and Ted Gardestad on his album, Blue Virgin Isles. One year after that, she joined a litany of estimable session musicians on Frank Sinatra’s boxed set, Trilogy, and was part of the string section on The Whispers’ eponymous LP.
At the turn of the decade, she teamed up with Googie & Tom Coppola on Shine the Light of Love. In 1982, it was off to Hollywood with Maynard Ferguson. (She also appeared on his Carnival album.) She joined forces with George Duke in 1983 on his Guardian of the Light album and they would reunite eight years later on his CD, Dream On. Other albums on which she appears include For the Good Times with Dinah Shore and People Get Ready: Songs of Protest from the Warner Jazz Vaults. She has also worked with George Benson, The Eagles, Carole King, and Barbra Streisand, in addition to working on advertising jingles.
In the new millennium, she has focused her attention on teaching a new generation of musicians, instructing young hopefuls at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in Palm Desert and teaching cello at Idyllwild Arts Academy.
HARRY NUGENT PATTEN - Horn, Conductor
HARRY NUGENT-PATTEN has been a 
professional musician for thirty plus years and has had the pleasure of playing under some of the world most renowned conductors including Dorati, Haitink and Heirbeg.
He has also performed with Tony Bennett, Roberta Flack, Peobo Bryson, Yanni, and Victor Borge. Before moving to the desert, Harry was principal horn for two of Detroit’s largest theaters, playing such shows as Miss Saigon, Secret Garden, Beauty and the Beast, and Phantom of the Opera. Locally, he has played with the Coachella Valley Symphony, San Jacinto Symphony, Riverside Lyric Opera, Temecula Opera and the Inland Valley Symphony.
In addition to his busy schedule as a professional musician Harry is currently a technology teacher at Colonel Mitchel Paige Middle School.
CHERI COLE - Trumpet
Cheri Cole is a professional trumpet player based in Southern California. She began her musical studies at age 4 playing piano, and soon after began playing trumpet.
She started her undergraduate studies in Music Performance at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and completed her bachelor's at Azusa Pacific University in Southern California. She also has a master's degree in Music Performance from Azusa Pacific, where she currently is the director of Brass Chamber Music.
As an artist that is equally comfortable playing classical, jazz, commercial, and/or musical theater, she maintains a busy performance schedule. Her performance credits include recent performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, the Angeles Chorale and many other regional orchestras and ensembles. She has been a featured soloist with the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra, Charley Davis Brass Choir, the Angeles Chorale, and the Lake Avenue Chamber Orchestra. She was a 2010 Phi Mu Alpha Soloist Competition Winner. She twice toured Asia with the Maiden Voyage Big Band.
She is the principal trumpet and leader of Brasso Continuo Brass Quintet, Assortium Consortium Chamber Ensemble, and the BCC Jazz Combo, with whom she performs, writes and arranges.
Cheri's interest and expertise in the performance of 20th/21st century music have contributed to a number of pieces written specifically for her in this genre.
In addition to her performance schedule and duties at Azusa Pacific University, Cheri also maintains an active private teaching studio in which she teaches trumpet, brass and piano.
Cheri lives in the Inland Empire with her husband, a professional trombonist. They have one daughter Cory who is in a graduate program of Forensic Psychology at Cal Baptist University.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT PERFORMERS
Dolce Symphonia participates in supporting young artists who are outstanding soloists and who perform in various chamber music ensembles. On occasion we will include these students in an upcoming concert to provide them additional performance opportunities. All Spotlight Performers have won numerous music competitions and awards.
JUSTINE TIU - Harp, Piano
Justine began piano lessons at the age of four in California. She started venturing into other musical instruments at the age of seven when her military family moved from one place to another. In Germany, she started with the flute. While in Hawaii, she added the ukulele and violin. When she returned to California in 2005, she played piccolo and folk harp. She only began her pedal harp studies in July 2007 with Ms. Kayo Ishimaru in Jacksonville, Florida.
Justine was the Principal Harpist for the Philharmonic and Principal Flutist for the Repertory of the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra during their 2008-09 season. In both summer of 2009 and 2010, she was accepted with a merit scholarship at the Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina where she accompanied violin virtuoso Nadja Sonnenberg and honored to be in concert with Sarah Chang, Gil Shaham and Tianwa Wang. In Naples Florida, she was featured as soloist during the 2009 and 2010 Annual Harp Festival of the American Harp Society Southwest Florida Chapter. While playing Principal Harp for the Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra for their 2009-10 season, they had the privilege to perform with the Mozarteum Orchestra from Salzburg Austria premiering an exciting composition by Kurt Schwertsik. She is currently the Principal Harpist and Pianist of the Inland Valley Symphony.
Justine won 2nd Place behind her brother at the Murrieta Rotary’s 12th Annual Music Competition in January 2011 and went on to win First Place at the Rotary International District Instrumental Finals in March at the University of Redlands. In June, she will perform her winning piece at the Rotary International District Convention in Palm Springs. She also won 3rd Place at the Inland Valley Symphony Annual Young Artist Concerto Competition in March. She is currently taking lessons from Prof JoAnne Turovsky at the Colburn School of Performing Arts in Los Angeles CA.
In addition to her music and academic studies, Justine is working towards her 3rd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.
DERRICK TIU - Violin & Piano
Derrick began playing piano at age 7 at the Yamaha School of Music in San Diego CA. Being with a military family, he moved frequently and continued his music lessons in places like Sindelfingen Musikschule in Germany, Honolulu Hawaii, Murrieta California, Jacksonville Florida, Stetson University in Florida, and presently at the Colburn School of Performing Arts in Los Angeles. During this period, he also started playing violin, recorder, and various other instruments. He recently started playing the organ.
As a pianist, Derrick won First Place at the Murrieta Rotary’s 12th Annual Music Competition in January 2011 and went on to win First Place at the Rotary International District Piano Finals in April at the University of Redlands. He will perform his winning piece at the Rotary International District Convention in Palm Springs in June. In March 2011, he received an honorable mention (4th pl) at the Inland Valley Symphony Annual Young Artist Concerto Competition. In May, he won the 2011 MTAC-WLA Alice Frazier Kitchen Memorial Scholarship Competition and will be performing at the winner’s recital in June. He is currently enrolled at the Colburn School of Performing Arts with Prof Jee Sung Kang.
As an organist, Derrick won First Place at the 2011 American Guild of Organists (AGO) /Quimby Regional Competition in San Diego in April and will move on to the Regional Finals in San Francisco in July. He also won the Palomar AGO Scholarship Competition in May. He started his organ studies with Dr Boyd Jones in Florida and is currently under the tutelage of Dr Alison Luedecke in San Diego CA.
As a violinist, he is currently the concertmaster for the Inland Valley Symphony Youth Orchestra. He has performed with the Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra, and Hawaii Youth Symphony Orchestra. He is currently taking lessons from Dr Chan Ho Yun at the Colburn School of Performing Arts.
Derrick has been Home Schooled since Second Grade and holds a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.
KIRSTEN VOGELSANG EYERMAN
Cello & Composer
Since graduating from Yale with an MM in 1984, Kirsten has been active as both a composer and performing recording artist (cellist), dedicating her career to the forward /crossover movements in film, electronica, dance and new media.
Kirsten began her film scoring career in 1989 as composer /fellow at the Sundance Institute where she worked with top composers and conducted the Utah Symphony in her own film music. Since then Kirsten has created scores for over 15 feature length films, specializing in epic, suspense and dramatic scores. Most notable are her scores for The Reunion (1997) starring Timothy Devlin, Riding With James Dean (1998), Love Notes (1996) starring Margaux Hemingway and Hero Lover Fool (1997) starring Jon Jacobs. She has been a contributing composer for the tv shows Dateline, the Western Tradition, 20/20 and many others. In 2001, Kirsten was honored to receive the Spirit of Moondance Award for Filmscoring, which she accepted at the 2001 Moondance Film Festival. Kirsten has also received annual awards from ASCAP since 1990.
In addition to her filmscoring work, Kirsten has worked as a session cellist in the LA Recording Music Industry since 1990. She has recorded for over 200 movies, television shows and commercials. Among the prominent composers she has recorded for - David Newman, Hans Zimmer, the late Michael Kamen, Alan Menken and Richard Marvin in films such as X-Men, Ice Age, Last Samurai, 101 Dalmations, Aladdin... She has recorded for tv shows Futurama, King Of the Hill, Star Trek, Jag, Columbo and Murder She Wrote. She has recorded on records for Kenny G, Jewel and Callahan. In addition, she has recorded jingles for Miller Beer, Applebees, Home Depot, Lexus and more. Kirsten has substituted with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, SD Mormon Orchestra, Classix for Kids Orchestra and the Las Vegas Symphony.
Kirsten is a member of 2 active, performing string quartets – Strings For Your Heart and Rinaldi Strings, which perform at special events and concerts primarily in the San Diego area.
Previous to composing for film, Kirsten wrote music for the dance and concert world in New York. She was a composer in residence at the American Dance Festival where she composed a score for the June Watanabe Dance Company. She composed a second score for this company in 1990 for a large scale work which premiered in San Francisco in 1990. She has also composed for the Keith Young Dance Co, Neolabos Dancetheatre (5 commissions), choreographer Carol McDowell and has received awards and grants from the American Music Teachers Assoc., the Jerome Foundation and Meet the Composer. Her work has been performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Whitney Museum, P.S. 122 and throughout Europe.
Kirsten is one of few cellists to perform and record on the Zeta Midi Cello, which she has used on her own scores as well as numerous record projects including tracks on records for Michel Polnareff, Guns & Roses, the band Alchemy and for the films The Reunion and Love Notes, for which she also composed the scores.
Another aspect of Kirsten's career is her screen appearances as a musician in films such as the recent Adam Sandler movie Click, the upcoming film Walk Hard, the tv shows 24, Frasier (3 appearances), Beverly Hills 90210 and Wings (for which she was also a body/hand double...). She has also been featured on Celine Dion’s TV specials, Got My Bush, Lexus commercials, music videos for Jewel, Vanessa Carlton. She was a featured performer on the Ray Charles Diet Pepsi Commercials in 1992.
Kirsten has a MM from Yale University and BM from Mannes College of Music. She lives outside LA with her husband and 12 year old daughter.
YAN LUCILLE - Violin
Yan Lucille began studying violin when he was 6 years old. In his younger days he was a member of the San Francisco Youth Symphony and he was chosen for a master class with famed violinist Midori. "It gave us a lot of opportunity to play really great music in the same hall where the San Francisco Symphony played," Lucille said.
One Christmas the youth symphony did "Peter and the Wolf" with Robin Williams narrating. "He was hilarious. He did all the animal parts," Lucille said. He moved on to college, where he combined a bachelor of science degree in physics with continued musical studies and performance with string groups. Yan spent a year at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in the preparatory division, where he studied music theory and practiced a lot. Eventually he decided to major in physics instead of music and got a second degree, this one in civil engineering. After graduating, he spent a year teaching physics, but also taught violin in both private and school settings.
Yan currently lives in Temecula and has performed solo and chamber music recitals at the Merc at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater, has worked with the Inland Valley Opera Orchestra, the Coachella Valley Symphony and is in demand as a free-lance musician.
LINNY KAMMER SMITH Flute, Piccolo, Piano, Celeste, Harp
Linny Kammer Smith graduated from California Institute of the Arts with a BFA in flute performance. She studied with Anne Diener Zentner and Frans Vester. She has performed with the West Coast Opera Theater, the Caballeros: Gay Men’s Chorus of Palm Springs, the Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church choir, the St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church choir, and the Temple Sinai Choir. She has played a Vivaldi piccolo concerto with the Coachella Valley Symphony. Additionally, she serves as piano accompanist at Temple Sinai in Palm Desert and accompanies Palm Desert Middle School choir under conductor Craig Gahnz. She loves the spiritual unity that results from making music with other musicians and sharing this with listeners.
DR. SYLVIA LEE MANN
Viola, Violin, Composer, Conductor
Dr. Mann is an award-winning composer, conductor and virtuoso performer, appearing with many orchestras in the Southern California area. In addition to her position as Music Director and Conductor of The West Covina Symphony Orchestra, she serves on the music faculty at California State University Dominguez Hills, is the Director of Music at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Studio City, CA and assistant conductor of the Bellflower Symphony Orchestra. She is a performer with The Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay, The Rio Hondo, La Mirada, Peninsula and Southeast Symphony Orchestras, and is principal violist of the Culver City and Marina del Rey Symphony Orchestras. Dr. Mann is in high demand as a guest conductor in the Southern California area. Most recently she appeared as a guest conductor for the Culver City Symphony’s “Spring Break” concert, and as a featured composer for their “American Beat” concert this past January. This season she is also honored to appear as a featured guest conductor of the Coachella Valley Symphony.
Her musical studies began at age 4. She completed her undergraduate studies at Chapman College, and did her graduate studies at the University of Southern California & London University.
She studied viola and violin with such notable teachers as Dr. Thomas G. Hall, Louis Debovsky, John Coppin, Noumi Fischer, Francis Tersi, David Stockhammer and Milton Thomas. As a composer, her mentors include William Kraft, Gunther Schuller and Samuel Adler. Her conducting studies included such notable pedagogues as Maestro John Koshak, who studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Dr. James Vail of USC, Daniel Lewis, Hans Beer and Dr. Rodney Eichenberger.
In Louisiana Dr. Mann served as the principal violist of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, The Baroque Artists of Shreveport and violist of the Premier String Quartet. She was Music Director of the Ark-La-Tex Youth Symphony Orchestra, enjoyed performing with the popular all-woman rock band, “Lip Service” and was the recipient of the Shreveport LA Regional Arts Council's prestigious Music Fellowship Award. She has appeared as a soloist with many orchestras here and abroad. Dr. Mann is currently composing, conducting and recording music for upcoming feature films and orchestral commissions. More information about her original compositions can be found on her website, www.SylviaLeeMann.com.
AMY MORRIS - Trumpet, Piano
is an inde
pendent piano and trumpet instructor in California’s Inland Empire, as well as a professional performer and accompanist. She began playing the piano and trumpet in the 4th grade. In 1998 she received a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Brigham Young University, where she was heavily involved in performing and teaching, including two years as Head Drum Major of the Cougar Marching Band.
Past experience includes Principal Trumpet with Top Brass! Quintet, Principal Trumpet with the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra, Co-Principal Trumpet with the BYU Wind Symphony, member of the Utah Centennial Brass Band, trumpet soloist with the BYU Jazz Legacy Dixieland Band and trumpet soloist/member of the internationally renowned BYU Synthesis Big Band. She has performed as Principal Trumpet in numerous orchestra pits for musical theatre productions, and has studio recording experience.
Amy has toured throughout the U.S., Norway, Sweden, Finland, Japan and China with many classical and jazz performing groups, including stops at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. (Jazz Legacy Dixieland Band), the Pori Jazz Festival in Finland and the Kongsberg Jazz Festival in Norway (with Synthesis), sharing the stage with jazz legends B.B. King, Chick Corea, Bob Berg, Ken Peplowski, John Clayton and Bobby Shew.
In her professional career, Amy has taught high school band, marching band and orchestra, and currently gives private instruction to piano, organ and brass students in her music studio. She is a member of the International Trumpet Guild (ITG), is the principal trumpet of Inland Valley Symphony, a musician for the Golden Valley Music Society, and has appeared for many years as the trumpet soloist in productions of Handel’s Messiah. She regularly accompanies other musicians & choirs on the piano and organ, as well as performing as a soloist.
An active member of the musical community, and with 26 years of music experience and extensive training in the music education field, Amy enjoys teaching private lessons from her studio.
MIKAEL JACOBSON - Bass, Guitar & Composer
Entertainer Spotlight - By Johnny Meza from the Desert Entertainer -
Bass player and composer Mikael Jacobson exemplifies being a modern musician today. He plays electric bass with his band, The Hot Rods, plays Bass player and composer Mikael Jacobson plays electric bass with his band, The Hot Rods and has played double bass with the Coachella Valley Symphony and other area ensembles. He is an educator and owns and operates Audio Grande, a state of the art recording facility in Rancho Mirage.
He was born in London, England, but his family moved to Washington State nine days later. It was there he began taking piano lessons at the age of six. “My mother’s side of the family is very musical,” said Jacobson. “My father would foster my interest in music and have me try different instruments like drums and guitar. They were very supportive in my music.”
When he was eight, his family moved to the Coachella Valley and he became interested in popular music through his friends. “I be-gan to listen to Led Zeppelin, Van Hal-en, Yes, a little Bob Dylan and most importantly, the Beatles.”
Jacobson played drums, took a few lessons on guitar and started on bass guitar lessons in ninth grade. About that same time, he began composing and recording songs on his four-track cassette recorder.
At Palm Spring High School, he sang in Madrigals and played up-right bass in the jazz band. “I had a great little pop band called Doted (Dotted) Swiss. There was a ‘60s revival in L.A. during the ‘80s and we came out of that tradition. R.E.M. and Velvet Underground were big influences for us at that time.”
After high school, Jacobson attended Bass Institute of Technology in L.A. while concurrently taking the Recording Arts Program at Fullerton Community College. He then studied classical bass at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree.
“While I was there, I played in a great Bluegrass band called Three Men and a Guy. I then went to UC Santa Cruz and got a master’s in composition and a certificate in film scoring from USC. “That was a fun experience. Every couple of weeks, we’d write for some size ensemble, be it a 10 or 20 piece orchestra. You’d have a date, hand out your music and conduct these ensembles.”
Moving to L.A. in 2001, he set up a home recording studio and began composing and scoring for feature films, short films, documentaries and TV commercials. “About that same time, I began playing bass with The Hot Rods.”
The members of The Hot Rods are main songwriter Giovanni Pirozzi on vocals and rhythm guitar and his brother Vincenzo Pirozzi on lead guitar. They have released two self-produced CDs on Jacobson’s Audio Grande label, “The Hot Rods,” and “The Hot Rods Christmas.”
Jacobson is also an adjunct music professor at the College of the Desert and teaches History of Rock ‘n Roll. He also instructs privately for students wishing to learn piano, guitar and bass.
JOHN BRANNON - Viola, Conductor
John Lamar Brannon began studying the viola at age 9. At 14, he was awarded an opportunity to go to school at the Salzburg International Prepatory School in Salzburg, Austria. There, he also studied viola at the Mozarteum University. By age 21, John had traveled and performed recitals in Europe, Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Korea. These early international experiences helped John blossom into the musically sensitive musician he is today.
John has degrees from Victor Valley College and California State University, San Bernardino in Liberal Arts and Music Education. In 1997, he was named by California State University, San Bernardino as Music Educator Of The Year and in 2002 he was named Teacher Of The Year in the Victor Valley Unified School District.
Today, John has a wealth of directing and conducting experience to draw from. In 1995 he founded and directed the Joshua Community Orchestra in Victorville, California where he brought that orchestra to prominence before relocating to the Inland Empire in 2004. From 2005 - 2009, John was conductor of the Mt. San Jacinto College Symphony Orchestra, has taught high school orchestras in San Bernardino since 2004, and has twice been guest conductor for San Bernardino County Honor Orchestras.
In addition to teaching and conducting, John enjoys playing viola in orchestras and ensembles throughout Southern California. He plays, or has performed, with organizations such as the Victor Valley Symphony, Inland Valley Symphony, Coachella Valley Symphony, Riverside Lyric Opera Orchestra, UC Riverside Symphony, CSUSB Chamber Orchestra, and the Mt. San Jacinto College Symphony.
John has published a violin cd entitled Old Time Religion (2009) and is currently working on his second release called Revival.
CINDY SMIT
Oboe & English Horn
Cindy, began studying the oboe at age 11 in Plymouth, Michigan. During the summer months, she attended the All-State program at the Interlochen Arts Academy and Blue Lake Fine Arts camp. She graduated from the University of Michigan School of music in 1983 with a degree in oboe performance and music education. While at The University of Michigan, she performed in the Symphony Orchestra, Symphony band under the direction of H. Robert Reynolds, and the Chamber Winds conducted by Carl St. Clair. Her teachers include, Arno Marrioti, Harry Sargous and Robert Sorton.
After moving to Rancho Cucamonga, California, Cindy frequently attended summer chamber music workshops at Humboldt State University. She is currently performing with The Symphonic Winds of the Pacific, Corona Symphony and Corona Pops Orchestra at the Fox Theater in Riverside. Cindy also enjoys playing in various chamber ensembles.
MARK MARGOLIES
Clarinet, E-flat & bass clarinets, soprano, alto, tennor & baritone saxophones, flute/piccolo, oboe/English horn, bassoon, recorders
Mark Margolies worked for over twenty years as a freelance musician in the Boston area. He could regularly be found playing clarinet, Eb and bass clarinets in orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout New England, as well as saxophones, flute, oboe and bassoon in theater pits, klezmer ensembles and other groups.
A champion of new music, Mark has many premiers to his credit including Julian Wachner’s Clarinet Concerto which was written for him and com
missioned by the Quincy Symphony Orchestra. He has been a participant in every Warebrook Contemporary Music Festival in Vermont since 1991, where he worked with such composers as Martin Boykan, Milton Babbitt, Marjorie Merryman, Andrew Imbrie, Bernard Rands, Sara Doncaster and many others. He has recorded for the Albany, ARSIS Audio and Denouement Record labels. He taught clarinet at Boston College since 1995 and woodwinds at Brookline Music School since 1989.
In October of 2008, Mark moved to the San Diego area where he teaches and works as a freelance woodwind player in theaters, orchestras and other venues around Southern California. He holds degrees in music and communication from Boston University.
MEG CASSELL Oboe 
(Guest Artist) has been a professional oboist since 1980. She has degrees in oboe performance from the University of Oregon School of Music and Yale University School of Music.
Upon completion of her studies in the United States, she studied for two years at the Staatliche Hochschule fuer Musik und Theater in Hannover, Germany as a two-time Fulbright Scholarship recipient.
Her primary instructors have been J.Robert Moore, Ronald Roseman, and Ingo Goritzki. She has had additional instruction as a masterclass participant or privately with many renowned oboists: In the US with Robert Bloom, Ray Still, John Mack, Richard Killmer, and Richard Woodhams; in Europe with Burkhardt Glaetzner, Paul van der Merwe, Guenther Passin, Maurice Bourg, and Lajos Lences.
After her studies, Meg became principal oboe with the Hofer Symphoniker in Germany and she held that position for 12 years.
She also played in numerous music festivals, the most notable being the Oregon Bach Festival and the Festival of the Future in Switzerland.
Meg returned to the US in 1997. For over four years she was a contract member of the Florida West Coast Symphony and the Venice Symphony.
In July, 2002 she relocated to the Albuquerque, New Mexico area and began her reed business, Good Tone Guild Double Reeds. She also played principal oboe with Opera Southwest, solo English Horn with the Roswell Symphony, and subbed with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and other professional ensembles.
In 2010, Meg moved to Palos Verdes, CA where she continues to expand Good Tone Guild, is an active recitalist, plays in numerous professional ensembles and teaches the oboe and reed making privately. Meg currently plays with various southern California based symphonies, including the San Diego Symphony.
ADRIENNE ALBERT - Composer
"I have recently been in contact with Los Angeles area composer, Adrienne Albert, who has written some beautiful works. We are currently planning to include some of her pieces on our upcoming concert programs." - Alana Joos, Music Director
Long a collaborator with composers Igor Stravinsky, Leonard Bernstein, Philip Glass and Gunther Schuller, award-winning composer Adrienne Albert began composing her own music in the 1990s. Her concert works have been performed throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, Thailand, South Africa, and China. Albert is the recipient of a 2006 National Endowment for the Arts grant in conjunction with the American Composers Forum for the Continental Harmony Project. 2009 brought commissions from The Newstead Trio, PA, (“Musescapes: Piano Trio #2), and “Courage for Winds” for the Inland Empire Youth Wind Ensemble consortium. “An Alaskan Symphony” for choir and orchestra was premiered in Alaska in 2007.
Other recent commissions include chamber works for Pacific Serenades (2007), “Wind Tides” for trombonist Andrew Malloy (2008), Evensong Service for choir and organ for St. Bedes Episcopal Church (2007), and “Americana Quartet” for Chamber Music Palisades in Los Angeles, CA, (2008). Albert’s woodwind quintet, “Animalogy” won the Aeros Competition in 2007 and was performed in Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall in 2008.
Other past awards and grants include several Meet the Composer grants, Composer Assistance Program grants, Mu Phi Epsilon grant, the prestigious ACME Award, and ten consecutive ASCAP Awards. Albert is the co- President of the Los Angeles Alumni Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon Music Fraternity, a member of ACF-LA, SAG, AFTRA, The American Music Center, IAWM, Chamber Music America, The Dominant Club, NACUSA and ASCAP Her music has been recorded for Centaur, ABC Classics and Little Piper Records and is published by Kenter Canyon Music (ASCAP). More information about Adrienne and her music, audio clips, and scores can be found on her web site: www.adriennealbert.com or by emailing adrienne@adriennealbert.com.
DANIEL KESSNER - Composer & Conductor
"I performed and recorded with the the New Music Ensemble at California State University, Northridge under the musical direction of Dr. Daniel Kessner and I am pleased to announce that Dan will be collaborating with Dolce Symphonia this season as both a composer and conductor!" - Alana Joos, Music Director
Born in Los Angeles in 1946, Daniel Kessner studied 
with Henri Lazarof at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he received his Ph.D. with Distinction in 1971. In 1970, he was appointed to the music faculty of California State University, Northridge. He is currently Emeritus Professor of Music.
Biographical articles appear in at least 15 reference works, the most important of which are Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians (New York), The International Who's Who in Music and Musicians' Directory (Cambridge, England), Dictionary of International Biography (Cambridge, England), Who's Who in the West (Chicago), Contemporary American Composers (Boston), and Who's Who in American Music; Classical (New York).
AS COMPOSER
To date he has produced more than 100 compositions, including 14 orchestral works, 9 choral and stage works, 8 pieces for symphonic band, more than 70 works for various chamber ensembles, solos, and duos.17 of his compositions have been issued on recordings.
His compositions have received numerous prizes, the most important of which are the Queen Marie-José International Composition Prize (Geneva, 1972), two Broadcast Music Prizes (New York, 1970 & 1971), four CSUN President's Associates Prizes for Creative Achievement (1975, 1989, 1994, 2001), selection as one of three winners of the New Works for Music Theater Project, an international competition co-sponsored by the Netherlands Opera Foundation, Utrecht Symphony Orchestra, Gaudeamus Foundation, and Holland Festival (Amsterdam, 1980), and most recently winner of the Music08/eighth blackbird Composition Competition 2008, Cincinnati. He was appointed Fulbright Senior Scholar in 2003 to lecture and perform at the Musikhochschule in Trossingen, Germany. In 2007 he received a Fulbright Senior Specialist Grant for a two-week residency at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. For his compositions, he has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (1974, 1977), the American Music Center (New York, 1981), Arts International (1996), and the CSUN Office of Research and Sponsored Projects (1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1997, 2001, and 2003). Fourteen individual pieces have been commissioned by organizations and performers including The Chamber Ensemble of St. Luke's (New York, 1991), the College Band Directors National Association (1973 & 1996) and the Jugendorchester "Nota Bene" (Zurich, 1998).
His works have received over 600 public performances throughout the Americas, Canada, Asia, and Europe.
AS CONDUCTOR
Kessner has appeared three times as Guest Conductor of the Black Sea Philharmonic of Constanţa, Romania, and he has conducted six concerts with the Black Sea New Music Ensemble during Romanian-American Music Days. He also conducted five concerts with the Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group during the 1984 through 1991 seasons, including the West Coast Premiere of Elliott Carter's In Sleep, In Thunder, and individual concerts with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Monday Evening Concerts Ensemble (Los Angeles), the North/South Consonance Ensemble (New York), and many others. He made his first appearance as Guest Conductor of the Louisiana Sinfonietta in November of 1999. He is also the Founder and former Director of The Discovery Players (formerly the New Music Ensemble) of California State University, Northridge, with whom he presented more than one hundred concerts since 1970. For the Spring 2005 semester he was appointed Guest Conductor of the Moorpark Symphony Orchestra. Last year, he inaugurated the ensemble TEMPO (The Epicenter Music Performance Organization), in which he serves as flutist and conductor.
