Music

I learned a great deal about classical sacred music during my thirty-seven years as a soloist/section leader at All Saints’ Church [Episcopal] in Beverly Hills, CA. After a singing audition in Latin, I was hired to be a background choral singer for the film Angels and Demons, conducted by Paul Salamunovich, legendary Director of Music at St. Charles Borromeo Church [Roman Catholic] in North Hollywood.  

I’ve performed during worship services and in concerts in churches across Southern California:  at St. Columba’s Church in Camarillo, Holy Trinity Lutheran in Thousand Oaks, All Saints’ Church and Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, St. James in the City and First Congregational Church in Los Angeles, St. Philip the Apostle in Pasadena and St. Richard’s Church in Lake Arrowhead.

As a substitute teacher, I’ve enjoyed working with music classes in middle and high schools:  beginning to advanced vocal music, beginning to advanced strings, beginning to advanced orchestra and beginning to advanced band.  In addition to music practice, classes also often included discussions on position of the music stand, the use of dynamics in performing, varying styles of articulation and “who creates the music – the conductor or the performing musicians?”  The latter subject was always very popular and inevitably stimulated lively debate.  

As a professional musician, I’ve also engaged in private music lessons over the years for both vocal and instrumental music.