Pre-School

Ilana is a freelance violist and teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area. She holds a Master’s degree in viola performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and a B.A. in music from Wesleyan University in Connecticut. She is the assistant principal violist of the Berkeley Symphony, and a member of both the Sacramento Philharmonic and the West Bay Opera Orchestra. She appears frequently with other Bay Area ensembles, including the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, Oakland, Marin, Modesto, Merced, and Silicon Valley Symphonies.

I am an energetic Teacher - my classes are always informative and lively. We have Winter and Spring recitals, and during the summer we compose for September's "Young Composers' Concert".

It takes a great deal to be a successful mentor of talented young musicians. In addition to providing first-class technical and musical instruction, a mentor must nurture, inspire, guide, and be a students biggest cheer leader and first concert promoter. People like this are rare and in my tours around the world I have had the privilege of meeting only a few. My favorite is San Francisco's Scott Cmiel!
- Antigoni Goni, Royal Conservatory of Brussels

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.

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 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.

Jill Heinke, a young, dynamic chamber musician and music educator, is making her mark on the California music landscape.
While studying at UC Santa Barbara, Ms. Heinke performed as principal flute with the UCSB Orchestra, Musica Antigua, and the New Music Ensemble while participating in numerous chamber ensembles. While at UCSB, Ms. Heinke earned the Excellence-at-Entrance Award, a Women's Alumni Association Scholarship, and the Loren Toder Scholarship Award.

I grew up in a musical family and have been playing string bass for over 50 years. I have been a public school teacher, a school owner and director of Stuart School in Santa Rosa, Calif. for 32 years and now perform in several professional orchestras. I hope to interest talented music students in the string bass and offer private and group lessons in several areas, including classical and popular music. I am interested in students as individuals and their love of music. I offer private lessons and small group ensembles. Lyn Giovanniello