DBeckerDavid Becker
Recording Arts, Music Appreciation, Applied Saxophone/Clarinet Instructor

 Dave Becker has been on faculty at Cuesta College since 2001. He instructs Recording Arts, Rock, World and Jazz Appreciation as well as Applied Music. Dave has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music education from the University of Florida. He is an active professional musician on the Central Coast fronting music ensembles of various jazz genres. He has arranged for SLO Wind Orchestra, San Luis Symphony, Orchestra Novo and others. In addition to his past and current college teaching experience at Cuesta College, Allan Hancock College, Cal Poly, and the University of Pikeville, KY, Dave has also been a clinician at the Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band Camp and other camps and schools throughout Florida and along the West Coast. Lately, Dave has enjoyed producing concerts featuring the music of great jazz legends such as Art Blakey and Charlie Parker as well as featuring several of his former students in his popular Saxophone Summits.
dbecker@cuesta.edu

 

Bob_BennettRobert Bennett
Applied Trumpet Instructor
Bob Bennett is a former member of the Woody Herman and Brian Setzer Orchestras and former lead trumpet for the Artie Shaw Orchestra. Mr. Bennett is a graduate of Morro Bay High School, Cuesta College and has a Masters Degree in Jazz Studies from California State University Long Beach. In addition to playing professionally for 30 years in the Los Angeles area, Bob is a former member of the Mount San Jacinto Community College faculty. Bob has also won Jazz Soloist awards from the Fullerton Jazz Festival and The International Trumpet Guild. He recently returned to the Central Coast and is currently teaching trumpet Cuesta College and directing The Cuesta College Jazz Orchestra.
Robert_bennett2@cuesta.edu

 

Idona Cabrinha, Piano instructorIdona Cabrinha
Class Piano, Applied Piano Instructor
Idona Cabrinha has a B.A., California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; M.M., (Piano Performance and Pedagogy), Northwestern University; additional studies:  Westminister Choir Conservatory of Music, Vallejo Conservatory of Music:  Student of Sylvia Wang, William Spiller; masterclasses with David Buechner, Peter Takacs; pedagogy studies with Francis Larimer; Suzuki pedagogy studies, early childhood educator; extensive experience as pianist and accompanist in West Coast and Chicago areas;  former adjudicator in Chicago area; awards and honors:  Dorothy L. Pound Award, Northwestern University School of Music Grant, First Place Winner Allied Arts Competition; former Performance Syllabus Chair North Shore Music Teacher's Association; former faculty member:  Northwestern University Academy; former lecturer, Class Piano, DePaul University  School of Music.
Idona_Cabrinha@cuesta.edu

 

Alba_Cancel_BigayAlba Cancél Bigay
Applied Voice Instructor
Puerto Rican soprano Alba Franco-Cancél continues to thrill audiences with her pure and silvery sound delivered with her magnetic stage presence in both operatic and concert appearances. Most recent appearances include her debut in San Diego as Despina with Opera Neo, her debut in Los Angeles with Pacific Opera Project as Valencienne in the operetta The Merry Widow as well as her debut in the Bay Area as Barbarina with Livermore Valley Opera. Other roles from the season include the Queen of the Night from Mozart's Magic Flute and covering the role of Musetta with Opera San Luis Obispo where she currently serves as a Resident Artist. Franco-Cancél has also excelled and brought life to many roles including Frasquita, Tytania, the title role in La Calisto, Gilda, Musetta, Zerlina, Monica, Flora, Elle, and María among many others. Recent awards include Semifinalist in the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition and Finalist in the American Prize Vocal Competition. Other awards include Illinois Opera Theater Enthusiasts Award; twice recipient of the Bella Voice Award from the Bel Canto Foundation in Chicago; Finalist in the Classical Singer's Competition; and the Public Choice Award from the Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions. Her teaching philosophy places a  strong emphasis on healthy vocal practice, breath management, posture/alignment and tone production along with effective learning/practice strategies and memorization skills. Her lessons are directed to build a healthy vocal technique through vocal exercises tailored to the singer’s needs, reinforced with appropriate vocal literature to helps the student accomplish the technical goals set for the semester. Alba Franco-Cancél received a Doctoral  degree in Voice from the Conservatory of Music of the University of Missouri under the guidance of world-renowned tenor Vinson Cole. She also holds a MM in Voice Performance and Literature from the University of Illinois, and a BM from de Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico. 
alba_cancelbigay@cuesta.edu

 

 Zachary DeakZachary Deak
Applied Piano Instructor

Pianist Zachary Deak has appeared in recital as soloist and chamber musician in the United States, France, Morocco, Portugal, Moldavia and the United Kingdom. He has concertized at venues such as the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion, Cité de la Musique, Salle Cortot, l’Archipel, Salle Landowski in Paris, the Casa de Musica in Porto and the Theatre Micaelense in Ponto Delgada as well as l’Institut Francais in Agadir, Morocco.

The recipient of numerous awards, Zachary received the Hopkinson silver medal at the prestigious Chappell Medal Piano Competition in London in 2012. In 2013, he had the privilege to work intensively with the eminent pianist Maria Joao Pires in Paris and Brussels.

A graduate of the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris and the Royal College of Music in London, Zachary studied with Marion Rybicki, Christian Ivaldi and Guigla Katsarava and in London with Leon McCawley. During his time at the RCM he was an RCM scholar supported by the Lucy Ann Jones Award. Zachary received his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the University of Southern California under the guidance of Dr. Stewart Gordon and was a teaching assistant in the keyboard department.

Zachary has performed in master classes and workshops with Murray Perahia, Maria Joao Pires, Dang Thai Son, Vladimir Feltsman, Alexander Korsantia and Marc Durand.

A dedicated teacher, Zachary enjoys working regularly with students in master classes and other educational outreach events and is currently lecturer in the keyboard department at Cal State University Los Angeles and Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo.

 Zachary_Deak@cuesta.edu

Ken Hustad, Cello and Bass InstuctorKen Hustad
Applied Cello and Bass Instructor
Bassist/cellist Ken Hustad of Morro Bay is a member of the San Luis Obispo Symphony and Mozart Festival Orchestra in addition to playing with the Santa Barbara and Santa Maria Symphonies, the Cuesta Master Chorale, Pacific Repertory Opera, the San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble, the Cal Poly Baroque Orchestra, and in the Tolosa Strings quintet. He is a string coach for the San Luis Obispo Youth Symphony and bass and cello instructor at Cuesta College and Cal Poly. An active jazz musician, Ken plays with the Royal Garden Swing Orchestra, Cuesta’s Monday Night Big Band, San Luis Jazz Band and the Central Coast Jazz Quartet as well as the Cuesta Faculty Jazz Ensemble.
Ken_Hustad@cuesta.edu

 

John Knutson - Vocal Jazz Ensembles, Jazz Vocal Technique, Jazz Vocal ImprovisationJohn Knutson
Performing Arts Division Chair, Vocal Jazz Ensembles, Jazz Vocal Technique, Jazz Vocal Improvisation
John Knutson is Director of Choral Studies at Cuesta College, and interim director of vocal jazz at Cal Poly. He is also a member of the professional vocal jazz ensemble Vocalogy, formed by Phil Mattson in 1998. Before moving to California, John taught at Treasure Valley Community College in Oregon, and at Southwestern Community College in Iowa. While at Southwestern, he performed all over the US and Europe with the award-winning vocal jazz group VoicesIowa.
JKnutson@cuesta.edu

 

ELanzoneEmily Lanzone
Applied Violin Instructor

Emily Lanzone earned a Bachelor’s of Music in violin performance from the University of Oregon, Master’s of Music from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a Professional Studies Diploma from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She was appointed Concertmaster of the SLO Symphony in 2020, after serving as Associate Concertmaster since 2017. Lanzone is a frequent guest in many California orchestras, including Fresno, Santa Maria, Monterey, and Santa Barbara. She is also a member of the Santa Cruz Symphony, and the Oregon Coast Music Festival in Coos Bay, Oregon. Lanzone is a member of the music faculty at Cuesta College and Cal Poly, maintains a private studio of violin and viola students, and is also actively involved in SLO Symphony’s music education programs as instructor of the Preparatory Strings. She lives in Los Osos with her husband Brian, a Cuesta alum and music teacher, and two awesome kids.
emily_lanzone@cuesta.edu

Jennifer Martin, Performing Arts Division Chair, Interim Coordinator of the CPACJennifer Martin
Cuesta Wind Ensemble, Music Theory, Guitar Class, Applied Trombone Instructor
Jennifer Martin joined the Music Faculty at Cuesta College in the summer of 2004 as the conductor of the Cuesta Wind Ensemble. In addition to her conducting duties, she coordinates the department's Applied Music program, and teaches Class Guitar. In 2008, she was selected to be the Performing Arts Division Chair, and was appointed to the post of Interim Coordinator of Cuesta’s new Cultural and Performing Arts Center in 2009. She became a staff conductor for the San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra in 2010. Previous to her appointment at Cuesta, she was the Music Department Chair and conductor of the Reno Winds and the Truckee Meadows Community Orchestra at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, NV, where she was the founding faculty of the Music Department.
JMartin@cuesta.edu

Ron McCarley - Cuesta Jazz Ensemble, Evening Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combos, Jazz Improvisation, Music TheoryRon McCarley
Cuesta Jazz Ensemble, Evening Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combos, Jazz Improvisation, Music Theory
Ron McCarley, Director of Jazz Studies is a graduate of CalArts and Westmont College. Before teaching at Cuesta, Ron was directing professional and collegiate big bands and small groups in the Santa Barbara area. He has had many students go on to successful music careers and many years of experience in jazz performance and education. As a performer, he doubles on all saxophones, flute and other woodwinds and plays a wide variety of music locally and throughout Southern California. When he is not playing music or teaching, he spends his time with his wife, Laura, and their two children.
RMcCarle@cuesta.edu

Alhadeff Brian Alhadeff
Brian Asher Alhadeff is a conductor and pianist who has been on the faculty of Cuesta College since 2018. Alhadeff has held the position of General and Artistic Director of Opera San Luis Obispo since 2011. He is also currently the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Lompoc Pops Orchestra, and Principal Conductor of Civic Ballet San Luis Obispo, and State Street Ballet Santa Barbara. Alhadeff was Artistic Director and founder of the Hradec Kralove International Summer Opera Festival which took place in the Czech Republic, and he also conducted the Albanian premier of Howard Hanson’s Symphony No. 2 with the Albanian National Radio and Television Orchestra. Guest conducting highlights include Marina Del Rey Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Tulsa Ballet, South Florida Opera, Long Beach Opera, Ballet Tucson, Bourgas Opera Ballet, and Prague State Opera Ballet and Chorus, in addition to many other orchestras, opera, and ballet companies throughout the U.S. and Europe. In 2015 Alhadeff was hailed by 805 Living magazine as the Maestro of California’s Central Coast. Alhadeff studied conducting at the Peabody Conservatory and Janacek Academy of Music. A California native, Alhadeff holds a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola Marymount University, Masters of Music from California State University of Los Angeles, and Doctorate of Musical Arts from UCLA. 
brian_alhadeff@cuesta.edu

 

L Nauful
Lisa Nauful

Marshall OtwellMarshall Otwell

Applied Piano Instructor

Marshall Otwell was pianist and musical director for Carmen McRae for more than eight years, performing all over the world and recording numerous albums with her, one of which, “Live at the Great American Music Hall” featuring Dizzy Gillespie, was nominated for a Grammy.He has toured extensively with Freddie Hubbard, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Charlie Musselwhite in addition to Carmen McRae.

During his career he has performed and/or recorded with many of the best known musicians in jazz, including Ruby Braff, Michael Brecker, Ray Brown, Benny Carter, Richie Cole, Chick Corea, Ray Drummond, Robben Ford, Dizzy Gillespie, Percy Heath, Herb Jeffries, Kitty Margolis, Gerry Mulligan, Mark Murphy, John Patitucci, Della Reese, Zoot Sims, Andy Simpkins, Cal Tjader, Mel Tormé, Sarah Vaughan, Ernie Watts and others.He has also recorded albums for Barbara Adamson, Ernestine Anderson, Andrea Carter, and Steve Wilson.

He played solo jazz piano at the Monterey Bay Aquarium as opening act for Diane Schuur (2004) and LaVay Smith (2006) in the annual Kuumbwa Jazz Center fundraising events. Additionally, he performed with his own trio at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 2011, 2012 & 2013, and with Dave Becker’s Central Coast All-Stars in 2018.

He was a member of the faculty of Jazz Camp West in La Honda, California from 2007 thru 2012.He was a member of the Kuumbwa Jazz (Santa Cruz, California) Board of Trustees from 2009 thru 2013.

He currently lives in Los Osos, teaches jazz piano part-time at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, and enjoys the simple life.

marshall_otwell@cuesta.edu


Chad Ruyle Applied Voice InstructorChad
Ruyle
Applied Voice Instructor
Chad Ruyle, vocal instructor, and tenor is a graduate of California State University, Northridge with his Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance. Mr. Ruyle is a new resident of the central coast, hailing from the Los Angeles area where he spent the last twelve years teaching and performing in the operatic realm.  Mr. Ruyle made his professional operatic début as Don Curzio in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. During his graduate studies he enjoyed the roles ofSpärlich in Otto Nicolai’s Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, as well as Eisenstein in Die FledermausSam in Susannah, and Ferrando in Così fan tutte. Chad was a recipient of the Village Voices scholarship where he performed as a soloist at the Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Plaza. For his undergraduate degree Mr. Ruyle attended California State University, Fullerton where he was very active in the Chamber Singers under the direction of John Alexander, and in the operas Dialogues of the Carmelites by Francis Poulenc, and Die Entführung aus dem Serail by Mozart to name a fewDuring his time at Cal State Fullerton Mr. Ruyle performed and toured with such orchestras as the Boston Pops Orchestra, and Pacific Symphony.  As an emerging solo artist, Mr. Ruyle has performed numerous recitals in the Los Angeles, Orange County, and Riverside areas. Chad spent eight years as the tenor soloist and section leader for the First German Speaking United Methodist Church in Glendale. Holding the utmost respect for the art of vocal pedagogy and vocal health, Mr. Ruyle has commanded an active teaching repertoire. Mr. Ruyle looks forward to expanding his student’s vocal endeavors at Cuesta College, and sharing his love of performance. 
Chad_Ruyle@cuesta.edu

 

George Stone - Recording Arts, Music Theory, Jazz Arranging and Composition, Jazz Piano, Jazz TrumpetGeorge Stone
Recording Arts, Music Theory, Jazz Arranging and Composition, Jazz Piano, Jazz Trumpet
George Stone has enjoyed a rewarding career in music performance, composition and music education for over 25 years. He currently directs the popular Audio Technology Program and teaches Music Theory and Composition at Cuesta College.
GStone@cuesta.edu

 

 

 

 

 Jennifer_SayreJennifer Sayre
Applied Harp Instructor

Jennifer performs as a soloist and ensemble musician throughout the United States and in Europe. She has appeared with the Los Angeles Baroque Orchestra and the Magnificat Baroque of San Francisco, in solo recital at Lincoln Center, and live broadcast of WQXR radio. A graduate of Eastman School of Music with bachelor and master degrees in harp performance, she also has performed with the Baltimore, Buffalo, and Seattle Symphony Orchestras, and the Rochester Philharmonic. She has recorded for Teldec, Warner Bros., and Musical Heritage Society. She is in demand as a specialist in 16th century Spanish harp music,most recently as guest lecturer/recitalist/instructor at Madison Early Music, 2017. 

Jsayre@cuesta.edu

 

Inga_SwearingenInga Swearingen
Applied Music Instructor
Inga Swearingen received her bachelor of music degree from California State Polytechnic, San Luis Obispo and her masters in choral conducting from Florida State University. Ms. Swearingen has performed over a dozen times on Garrison Keillor's renowned radio show, "A Prairie Home Companion", won first place and audience award at the Montreux Jazz Festival Shure Vocal Competition, and has been a featured soloist in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. She also teaches voice and improvisation privately.

Inga_Swearingen@cuesta.edu

 

Cassandra_TarantinoCassandra Tarantino
Applied Voice Instructor
Cassandra Tarantino has her Bachelor's degrees in Church Music emphasizing Choral Conducting and Performance Flute, and English Literature. Ms. Tarantino has participated in prestigious music festivals such as the Aspen Music Festival, Apple Hill Chamber Music Festival in New Hampshire, the Aberystwyth Music Festival in Wales, and the Morges Chamber Music Festival in Switzerland. She also took a six-month sabbatical in Northern Ireland to study music and the Irish-Celtic language. Cassandra received her Master's of Music Degree in Flute Performance from California State University, Northridge. Shortly after moving to San Luis Obispo in 2003, Ms. Tarantino formed an Early Music ensemble with Guitarist James Edwards called the Lark Consort, which focuses primarily on Renaissance and Baroque music for lute, Period Guitars, recorder, transverse flute and continuo. She has also co-founded a new chamber music series in San Luis Obispo called Second Sundays at St. Stephens. Folk music and dance are a passion for Ms. Tarantino, and she can be found playing and dancing traditional Irish, English Country and Contra Dance music.
Ctaranti@cuesta.edu

Darrell Voss

Darrell Voss Applied Percussion Instructor

Educator/Performer Darrell Voss has taught applied percussion for Cuesta College since 2000. Practically a San Luis Obispo native, Darrell was raised in a musical family and has played drums since the age of 3. After graduating from San Luis Obispo High School in 1983, he pursued a career as a drummer and percussion instructor. Cuesta College was an important training ground for his music studies; he obtained an AA degree in 1989. As a member of the Charter Class of Music graduates in 1994, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
Darrell_Voss@cuesta.edu

 

 Keith_WaibelKeith Waibel
Applied Clarinet Instructor
Keith has been a professional clarinetist, bass clarinetist, instructor and conductor for over 45 years. His clarinet instructors include, Fred Peters, David Adkins and Mitchell Lurie. He has played with and/or conducted the Louisiana Symphony, The Long Beach Symphony, The Riverside Symphony, The Redlands Symphony, The San Luis Chamber Orchestra, The Symphony of the Vines, The Lompoc Pops Orchestra, The San Luis Obispo Symphony, The San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra, The San Luis Obispo County Band, The Atascadero Community Band, and dozens of musical theatre and recording studio productions for various media. Keith is a graduate in clarinet performance from California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo and Cuesta College. Keith is the Music Director of the San Luis Chamber Orchestra and leads “Wind in the Reeds,” the central coast’s clarinet ensemble. His current and former students include members of major orchestras worldwide, some of the world’s finest studio musicians, directors of music at various colleges and universities, and others involved both vocationally and recreationally in the world of music. He is very happy to be providing his guidance to the students at Cuesta College.
Keith_waibel@cuesta.edu