Born and raised in Bay Area. Taught music in schools in Vallejo and Fairfield from first grade through 12th grade. Recently retired. Conduct the Diablo Women's Chorale in Walnut Creek and have an after school choir at Vanden High School. I was organist and choir director for two churches for 25 years. Don't know which I like better-piano or singing.
I am a professional Musician & Artist Teacher.
My aim is to offer a course of study to all ages and abilities based on their desire to learn.
I encourage my students to obtain the highest goals to the best of their ability, and to instill the Joy of Music into their lives.
I come from artistic & musical family.
Both my Mother(Rachel A. Sponsel attended Julliard in 1934) & Father were pianists.
My father was also an artist & chemical engineer.
Hi I believe in making music lessons fun and rewarding-- making music an interest of a life time. I focus on:
musicianship- pitch, rhythm
technique- how to operate the instrument
musicality- expression and understanding
I use the following method books:
Suzuki
Strictly Strings
Schradieck Etudes
Wholfahrt Etudes
Kreutzer Etudes
Concerti by Vivaldi, Bach, and Mozart
Solo Suites by Bach
Chamber Music and Sonatas
San Francisco Bay Area soprano Eliza O'Malley has performed leading roles throughout Northern California and since 2012 she has been the Artistic Director of Berkeley Chamber Opera. Favorite operatic roles include Tosca, Violetta, Luisa Miller, Countess Almaviva, Joan of Arc and Leonora (Trovatore).
A lover of new music, O'Malley has premiered works by Alexis Alrich, Stephen Clark, Allan Crossman, Patrick Dailly, Peter Josheff, Sheli Nan, Lisa Scola Prosek, Mary Watkins and more.
I am currently Children's Choir Director at St. Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church. I also work with the choir at Tamalpais High School in additional to teaching all levels of voice and beginning piano privately and offering family music lessons. For twelve years prior to 2009 I was soprano soloist at Old First Church. I am a regular soloist with Marin Symphony Chamber Chorus and have been a frequent soloist at many Bay Area churches. I am a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and the Music Teachers Association of California.
My profession and love is early music. I received a very well-rounded education as a singer, conductor, instrumentalist, arranger and teacher, and I make my living using all of these skills.
My youngest students have been in preschool and kindergarten; my oldest (currently) is in her 80s. Some of my students are pre-professionals, some adult beginners. My methodology is a cross-pollenated one, and I design the curriculum to complement the skills of my individual students.
I've been teaching for over 30 years, all the time receiving great joy from doing something that inspires creativity and passion for both student and teacher. Whether young or old, beginner or advanced, each of my students receives my undivided attention and commitment to excellence.
I have been singing professionally for 50 years and am still going strong. My performing experience includes a Bach B Minor Mass with Robert Shaw, and many other oratorio performances; a long association with the San Francisco Contemporary Players, with whom I sang Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire several times, and many world and US premieres of 20th century music. I have sung in recital in Vienna and London, and more recently several programs on the Old First Concert series in San Francisco. In recital I perform a great variety of art song from German to French, Russian and Hungarian.
I have been teaching both traditional and Suzuki violin for over thirty years. I received my music degree from Boston University and studied with outstanding members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
I have taught in public and private schools for 14 years in the Boston area. We relocated to the Bay Area where I have been teaching violin in Walnut Creek for over 12 years.
I perform chamber music in the Bay area as a member of the Oak Hill Trio.