David J. Xiques, Associate Professor of Music at San Francisco State University, instructs all levels of Ear Training and Musicianship, is the conductor of the University Chorus, and teaches private voice lessons. He is also a faculty member of the Summer Kodály Certificate Program at New York University in New York City. As a professional singer, he is a member of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus where he also serves as Assistant Chorus Director.

Andrew Speight is an internationally acclaimed saxophonist. Originally from Australia, he relocated to the United States in 1990 to perform and record with jazz luminaries. That year, he was also a prize winner in the Thelonious Monk Saxophone competition.

In addition to teaching music history that emphasizes contemporary and experimental music, as well as rock history, Dr. Suzuki is also active in the music community, locally, nationally and internationally. He is working on a book detailing the evolution of American Minimal music and its relation to contemporaneous movements in the arts. He produces and hosts “Discreet Music,” a radio program featuring experimental, unusual and obscure music on KPFA-FM in Berkeley. As a music critic and journalist, he contributes to several publications, including Musicworks, Progression, Expose and Goldmine, among others.

Jono Kornfeld began his music career as a guitarist in the early 1980's Boston punk scene where he cut his first record at the age of thirteen. His interests then turned towards improvisational rock and later jazz and classical piano, as well as composition. He is on the faculty at San Francisco Community Music Center where he teaches theory, composition and jazz piano, and coordinates its Adult Certificate Program. He is the author of the textbook Music Notation And Theory For Intelligent Beginners.

Alissa Walters Deeter coordinates voice and opera at SF State with responsibilities that include private voice, vocal literature, vocal pedagogy, and opera workshop. An active performer, she has sung with many of America’s foremost opera companies, singing numerous opera and operetta standards. She also keeps an active recital schedule and is a founding member of the Centraline Trio.

Cyrus Ginwala has lead a varied career in music as conductor, educator, arts advocate and community activist. He recently joined the faculty at San Francisco State University, where he is director of the university orchestra. From 1996-2005, he was Music Director of Symphony of the Mountains, a professional orchestra, youth orchestra, symphony chorus and education-in-the-schools outreach program. In addition to conducting performances of more than 100 works, ranging from Bach to Orff, Dr. Ginwala launched grassroots initiatives ranging from outdoor performance to community building and social justice.

Alexander Walsh-Wilson, aka Sandy Wilson is the cellist and founding member of the Alexander String Quartet, which serves as Ensemble in Residence at the School of Music and Dance at San Francisco State University.

Originally from Longmeadow, Massachusetts, Adam Luftman has been Principal Trumpet of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra since 2007. Before moving to San Francisco Mr. Luftman spent two seasons with the Baltimore Symphony. Adam has also held positions as Co-Principal Trumpet of the New World Symphony in Miami and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. In recent years, Adam has also toured and performed on numerous occasions with The Cleveland Orchestra. The Philadelphia Orchestra, and the San Francisco Symphony. He has also been a guest with the Seattle Symphony, Sarasota Opera Orchestra, and Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra.

Laura Griffiths is Principal Oboe of the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, Acting Principal Oboe of the San Francisco Opera, and was Principal Oboe of the Cleveland Orchestra.