Vocal

John Duykers has appeared with many of the leading opera companies of the world.

He is particularly well known for his performances of contemporary music, having sung in 80 contemporary operas including 47 world premieres. In 1987 he created the role of Mao Tse Tung in John Adams' Nixon in China which was premiered with Houston Grand Opera and he has performed throughout the world. Nixon in China was telecast over PBS' "Great Performances" winning an Emmy and recorded for Nonesuch, winning a Grammy.

Dietrich Erbelding first concertized with the Heidelberg Symphony at age seven. He toured Europe and the Middle East as a concert pianist and accompanist for five years.

I have been living in the Bay Area since 2000. I perform with local opera companies, chamber orchestras, and festivals, and collaborate with Bay Area composers in premiering new works.

As a member of the Pacific Mozart Ensemble, I have collaborated with music legends Meredith Monk, Dave Brubeck, and Bobby McFerrin, and am a founding member of Opera Frontier, an innovative song and dance troupe that pushes the boundaries and challenges the stereo-types of opera.

I have taught voice for the last 30 years while doing a career in performing. I have sung in regional houses throughout the U.S. including Arizona, Utah, Cincinnati, Lancaster, San Francisco Pocket opera, and Eugene Opera companies to name a few, and soloed in Israel with the Jerusalem Symphony. I was a Metropolitan Opera finalist and have several other competition winnings. I enjoy performing, but my real passion is teaching. My students have won full scholorships to BYU Universties, Bob Jones University, New England Conservatory, and Florida State.

Since his 1974 San Francisco Opera debut, tenor Joseph Frank has specialized in the lyric character tenor operatic repertoire. In a career spanning over 35 years, the tenor has won acclaim in over 80 roles. Metropolitan Opera and European debuts followed in 1979 and he currently appears regularly with other leading opera companies here and abroad including the opera companies of Los Angeles, Houston, Seattle, Washington, Orange County, San Diego, Santa Fe, London, and Paris.

I am a professional classical singer and voice teacher, as well as a professional pianist and vocal accompanist. I perform frequently as a guest soloist with orchestras and Choral Societies and as an Opera singer with various Opera companies.

Piano
Patricia has developed a new piano method for young students, ages 5 to 7 yrs. It's called Sing and Play; which uses the voice to learn music and then play it on the piano with good form in a musical way. It is based on Kodaly's vision for teaching music to everyone.

This method is adapted to older students and adults as well. It results in the student processing the music differently and more musically. Learning is easier, and challenging musicianship skills are easily developed.

I believe that the most aesthetically pleasing singing is also the most physiologically correct way of singing. It is a simple and free process: using our bodies as instruments, we can bring much joy to others and ourselves. I like to lay a technical foundation using sound pedagogic principles, then at the end of the lesson, sing various repertoire and employ performing techniques (dramatic, language, and right-brained fun (:) to bring out the best in a singer.