Vocal

John Bischoff is an accomplished performer with a career spanning styles from opera to contemporary a cappella. John sang for three years with the renowned men's vocal group Chanticleer and continues to perform with the best choral groups in the Bay Area. He has sung roles with companies including Festival Opera, West Bay Opera, Berkeley Opera, Pacific Repertory Opera, Sarasota Opera and Des Moines Metro Opera and has performed as a soloist with groups including the Sacramento Choral Society and the Santa Rosa Symphonic Chorus.

I enjoy helping people who have a strong desire to sing. Previous experience is not necessary. With my knowledge of the body and Alexander Technique I can help undo previous bad habits that may have led to vocal damage and help students discover what is blocking their progress.

I am a voice teacher, vocal coach, accompanist - I have been a member of the Robert Shaw Chorale in New York City - I have given numerous solo recitals in San Francisco, at Cal State U. Have sung solo roles with the Oakland Symphony and other California Symphonies - Concerts at U.C. Berkeley and Stanford University, several concerts in Paris, France. I have participated in seminars as accompanist and assistant with Jo Estill in Milan, Italy, Sidney and Melbourne, Australia, Asheville, North Carolina and California.

I have performed leading roles in Musicals, Operettas, and Operas in the Bay Area with Lamplighters, West Bay Opera, Berkeley Opera, and Festival Opera.

I have taught students of all ages for 25 years. I am vocal music specialist at Parkmead Elementary, director of Danville Girls chorus (4/5 grades level), direct the Rossmoor Community Chorus, and am soloist for Queen of All Saints Church.

I incorporate the principles of posture awareness (Alexander Technique) in my vocal instruction

I love to work in partnership with singers to help discover, develop and foster their unique voices and musical expression. I teach my students to become excellent at non-judgmental self-observation as they learn to sing with good resonance, buoyant breath management and healthy, efficient vocal fold vibration. This creates playful and empowering experimentation that results in increased self-knowledge, technical proficiency, self-confidence and powerful, authentic expression.

I have been a professional singer and musician since 8th Grade where I was a church organist and cantor. I played in a recording session for Capitol Records in High School which changed my life, and then auditioned at Kent State University in Ohio and received a scholarship for the School of Music. I worked my way through college by singing in local places. Perhaps because my voice teachers were inspiring, I wanted to help young singers to prepare for whatever their goals were. That remains my motivation today.

Mezzo-soprano, Layna Chianakas, is known for "vocal talents which are matched by her poignancy as an actress" (Des Moines Register). She has portrayed many leading opera roles including over 15 productions of Carmen, Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Amneris in Aida, Angelina in La Cenerentola, Sesto in Giulio Cesare, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, The Woman in Poulenc's La Voix Humaine, the title role in La Perichole, and countless Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro.

Having had an active performing career which encompassed opera, oratorio and recital, I am comfortable sharing what I have learned through the years with my students. My goal is always to help each unique student find his or her most free and beautiful voice, and will draw upon a variety of methods to do so. Since my own study focussed on the bel canto approach, that is my first instinct, but I believe in drawing from many different sources depending on individual needs. I love to find answers through the music itself, and enjoy coaching art song and opera above all.

Ms. Jarc is an award-winning, highly accomplished national and international opera and concert performer. Her teaching experience ranges from her private studio to adjudicator and master class instructor. She uses and teaches with the International Phonemic Alphabet, and performs in five languages. She has worked as an LA studio singer.

I am a retired professional opera singer and actress. I teach a method which leans a great deal toward relaxing body tension, and allowing the breath to do its job. I enjoy using humor to make my lessons relaxing and fun, and I love to talk about "the Zen of singing" - finding the deepest places in your body to completely nourish yourself when singing. For more info, please check my website at www.meenmann.com.