High School

Cellist Elaine Kreston has performed throughout the United States and Europe. Her talents are diverse: an inspired classical cellist most often featured in chamber music settings, she has also performed with such stars as Rod Stewart, Idina Menzel, and Peter Gabriel, and as a soloist on Broadway.

Blending her background of classical music with improvisation, Elaine has performed as soloist at the events of Krishna Das, Adyashanti, and Eckhart Tolle. She is co-creator of RumiCello: a collaboration that beautifully mingles the poetry of Rumi with the sounds of the cello.

For my biography, and information about my lessons, please visit:

www.anitacmusic.com

I am a firm believer in positive thinking and positive reinforcement. I've been teaching both privately and in the classroom setting for 6 years now and I've learned that a performer can have all the talent and skill in the world, but if they don't believe in themselves they won't reach their full potential. My job is to unlock that potential by teaching my students both the skills they need to succeed and the belief that they can succeed.

Violinist Christina Knudson has been an avid teacher and performer throughout the Bay Area since moving to San Francisco in 2008. She has experience teaching students from age 3 to adult and from absolute beginner to college-level students. As a conservatory trained violinist, she teaches a solid foundation in violin technique, theory and repertoire. As a violin teacher, her goal is to create a positive learning environment while cultivating the student’s love for music.

I love to teach! It is wonderful to watch students develop musically and personally over the years. I have been an active performer and teacher for over 20 years. My priority is to develop a love of music based on a solid foundation of a healthy technique and understanding of musical principles. While several of my students have gone on to create professional careers as a harpist, most of my students learn for the joy and fun of making music. I teach students of all ages and from all walks of life. Everyone learns differently.

Extensive experience as recitalist and soloist (oratorio and extended works); voice teacher and choral director for grade 3-adult in New York, Wisconsin, Texas, India and recently in the Bay Area. I believe in training singers for life, using techniques based on vocal health. Singers will be instructed to sing freely throughout their range, to develop good breath support, as well as vowel formation and clear articulation (this training is also good for public speaking).
Musicianship and piano skills are a part of lessons. I also teach beginning piano students.

Anette Skloot began studying, performing and teaching music while still living in her native Sweden. She earned her degree in music at UC Berkeley where she studied with Janet Maestre, and has spent over 20 teaching flute and piano in her private studio, teaching in various after-school programs, including the Crowden School, and has occasionally worked as an accompanist. She has recorded on two widely released CDs and lives in El Sobrante with her classical guitar playing husband and violin playing son.

Violinist Ann Lam has performed in major concert venues across the country, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center. Dedicated to music education, Ann has over a decade’s worth of experience in outreach work as a solo, chamber, and orchestral musician. She strives to joyfully impart music fundamentals while fostering a curiosity for lifelong learning. Ann has had extensive experience and success with starting young children on violin, utilizing her Suzuki training and her own educational methods.

Solmaaz Adeli gave her European debut as Flora at the Vienna Chamber Opera.

She debuted the title role in François Pierre Descamp’s new opera "Zumurrud" as well as Subaida in Harun und Djafar by René Clemencic for the festival “11 aus 1001 Nacht” in Vienna in 2011.

She sang the American National Anthem for US Embassy of Vienna's Commemoration Ceremony of 9/11 which was recorded by ORF television.

In the 2012/13 season Solmaaz Adeli performed in concert at the Vienna State Opera's Marmorsaal as well as for the patrons of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Dane Carlson is a music educator and professional musician, having played the Oboe and English Horn professionally since 1975. Dane has a bachelor's degree from San Jose State University, studying Oboe with Lee Lincoln and conducting with Vernon Read and Higo Harada. Dane has performed with a number of local ensembles including the San Jose Symphony, Fremont Symphony, Monterey Symphony, Santa Cruz County Symphony, Pacific Philharmonic, California Pops, Opera San Jose, and West Bay Opera.