Learning From the Best

Drew Brown

Bobby Burch

Bobby has been a professional singer since age fourteen. She recorded for Warner Bros Records and Liberty/ UA Records and was nominated for a Grammy in the pop/jazz category. Bobby has performed all over the U. S. at major venues in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, Nashville and Las Vegas. She has appeared on many local and national TV shows including The Johnny Cash Show, The Steve Allen Show, The Jonathan Winter’s Show, and the Dinah Shore Show. Bobby has performed in pop, jazz and cabaret venues all over the Bay Area and has won the San Francisco Cabaret Gold Award.

Bobby has also had a successful career performing on hundreds of radio and TV commercials including: The Gap, Honda Toyota, Bank of America, Visa, C&H Sugar, A&W Rootbeer, Rice-A-Roni, Safeway and Levi’s

“In teaching both piano and voice I make sure the students receive all the basic fundamentals of music. Then I help them take these basic principals and apply them to various styles of music. We then begin to explore the emotional expression that brings music to life. I strive to make the student’s experience with me not only educational, but also enjoyable. I encourage them to take the love and pleasure of making music with them for life.”

Jen Carne

Jen has been teaching at Lamorinda Music since it opened in July of 2009. For the past four years, she has assisted in the 4th and 5th grade strings classes at Lafayette Elementary School, Springhill, Burton Valley, and Happy Valley. She also works as a sectional coach for the Acalanes Violists. Thanks to the generosity of LPIE, she will be continuing these positions in the fall.

Jen has studied the violin and viola for more than 20 years. In 2005 she earned a degree from the University of Michigan in classical viola performance. Since her graduation, she has explored Jazz, Bluegrass, Folk, and New Age music on the violin and viola.

While student teaching with Bob Athayde at Stanley Middle School, Jen discovered her love for the Tuba. She is interested in making a CD that includes original music composed for voice, guitar, tuba, violin, and viola.

Jonathan Knight

Those students who have attended Cazadero Performing Arts Camp will immediately recognize Dr. Jonathan Knight (though they would know him as "JK")

An accomplished trumpeter, conductor, and educator, Dr. Jonathan Knight studied music at U.C. Berkeley, New England Conservatory, and Stony Brook University. He is Assistant Camp Director at Cazadero Music Camp, and directs the concert band and teaches chamber music, music theory and history at Los Medanos College. As a freelance trumpeter, Jonathan has performed frequently with Diablo Theater Company (formerly Diablo Light Opera), Contra Costa Musical Theater, Lamplighters, San Francisco Choral Society, several regional orchestras such as the Napa, Marin, and Berkeley Symphonies, and the Brassworks.

Jonathan has been teaching privately in Lafayette since 1996. He is passionate about helping young trumpeters achieve their full potential as musicians, and accepts students at beginning, intermediate, or advanced levels. Many of his students have distinguished themselves by winning principal chairs in their school ensembles, being accepted into an All State band, and participating in youth or honor ensembles such as the Young People’s Symphony Orchestra, Oakland Youth Orchestra, SF Jazz All Stars, and the Berkeley Jazz School Studio Band.

While practice assignments and teaching approaches vary with the needs and interests of the individual student, Jonathan believes that establishing a strong core sound and developing fluid technique, along with proficiency in aural skills and fluent music reading, are the essential building blocks with which to develop musicianship and artistry. With these skills in place, students can and will excel in concert bands, jazz ensembles, symphony orchestras, or any other musical environment.

Shaun Lowecki

Shaun Lowecki grew up in the Chicago area and began playing the drums at age 9. He quickly developed a strong passion for music and became increasingly interested in jazz. In High School, Shaun played in various award winning school ensembles, and spent the summers studying music at prestigious camps around the country. After High School, Shaun continued his music studies at New School University for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City, where he studied with Amir Ziv and Ari Hoenig. After a year in New York, Shaun transferred to Arizona State University, where he was active in the local music scene. He was co-leader and composer for the Moseyhorse, and played in other creative groups including Jiggle and Inner Journey's Trio.

In the spring of 2009 Shaun Lowecki graduated with honors from ASU, earning a bachelors degree in Jazz Studies Performance. Shaun has performed around the world with highlight tours in France and in the Pacific Northwest.

His fresh and innovative approach to performing and educating is the reason for his continual success. As a new resident of the East Bay community, Shaun is quickly growing a name for himself as a must see up and coming musician and educator.

Todd Minson

Todd has been a professional musician for many years, performing with groups such as the Oakland Symphony, Opera San Jose, Berkelely Symphony Orchestra, Berkeley Opera, Diablo Light Opera Company, among others. He has been teaching for 13 years in the Pleasanton and Lamorinda area.

Though classical is his forte, Todd teaches all styles and skill levels. He focuses on fundamentals, technique, and musicality.

Alex Murzyn

Gary Peare

Gary Peare caught the ukulele bug while traveling and performing as a professional clown with Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Gary has studied with:Bob Brozman, James Hill, Byron Yasui, and Lil' Rev

Beginning through intermediate players will enjoy Gary’s flexible and accessible teaching style, with lessons tailored to your individual musical interests and learning pace.

When not strumming his uke, Gary spends time as editor of Ukulelia, a weblog for ukulele enthusiasts.

Stephanie Powell

Stephanie Powell has been teaching private violin, viola, and cello lessons for the past ten years in Chicago, Washington DC, and San Francisco. She graduated from Wheaton College Conservatory near Chicago with a degree in music education, specializing in the violin.

Although Stephanie is classically trained, she enjoys teaching and performing alternative music styles such as bluegrass and jazz to students of all levels. Prior to arriving in California, Stephanie taught orchestra at Trinity Christian School in Fairfax, Virginia to students in grades 4-12. When she isn’t teaching, Stephanie enjoys hiking, cycling, and traveling.

Teddy Raven

Teddy graduated with a Bachelors of Music in Jazz Studies the Thornton School of Music at USC.

Teddy studied saxophone with Bob Sheppard, Bob Mintzer, and Jason Goldman, jazz composition with Russ Ferrante, John Daversa, and classical composition with Veronica Krausas and Erica Muhl. In addition, he played first tenor in the Thornton Jazz Orchestra, composed for different jazz ensembles and chamber groups, and contributed horn arrangements to many of the school’s up-and-coming singer-songwriters.

Teddy recently released his first CD entitled Magic Road featuring all original compositions, and completed a European tour in January/February 2011 with the eclectic ensemble Sound Circus. Before moving to the Bay Area, he worked as a freelance musician around Los Angeles playing many different musical styles such as RnB, Congolese, Latin-Jazz, and Klezmer to name a few, composing for short film and animation, and maintaining a busy private-teaching schedule.

Mike Rose

Mike is a very well-known and well-respected trumpet instructor in the Bay Area. He has been teaching privately for over 25 years. He is a graduate of CSU Hayward and has studied with Marv Nelson, Jay Rizzitto, John Coppola, Frank Sumares, Jack King, and Dave Eshelman.

Mike has performed and recorded with numerous well-known artists and bands with styles ranging from Blues to Salsa, R&B, and Jazz.

He was awarded the Bay Area Blues Society Trumpet Player of the year in 2006. He specializes in trumpet technique and tone production, Jazz improvisation, and Music Theory and musicianship.

Doug Stuart

Doug Stuart has a Bachelors of Music in Jazz and Contemplative Studies from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He is an active bassist,
composer, songwriter, and bandleader. He has performed in orchestras, small and large jazz ensembles, folk groups, and pop bands throughout the US and internationally.

As a dedicated teacher, his mission is
to help his students with whatever their musical interests and needs are, while improving their technique and knowledge of the bass tradition, expanding their musical horizons, and inspiring a
motivation to learn and excel.

Laura Zucker

Laura is a performing singer/songwriter with an international following. A graduate of Rutgers University and Rutgers Law, Laura settled in Lafayette in 2004.

She released two independent CDs of original material in 2006 and 2008. She has garnered West Coast Songwriters Association "Best Song" honors in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. She has been a finalist in the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival songwriting contest in 2007 and 2009, the International Songwriting Contest and the JPF songwriting contest in 2009. Laura teaches contemporary acoustic guitar, vocals, and songwriting.

Laura loves playing, singing and writing, and wants her students to love it too!

Check out more information about Laura here: http://www.laurazucker.com.