Music

Essential to creative, social, spiritual, and intellectual development, the study of music also improves academic performance by developing strong conceptual, mathematical, and linguistic skills. In addition to the courses we offer, students may participate in jazz and smaller choral groups outside of the school day. School concerts, recitals, and other performing opportunities are considered part of the curriculum.

Chamber Choir: Our award-winning Concert Choir performs music from the Renaissance to popular culture at campus and community events, liturgies, and concerts culminating in each semester’s repertoire. The choir performs a cappella, accompanied, and incorporates student and professional instrumentalists on a regular basis. European and world music are enjoyed in their intended languages. Careful attention is granted to proper pronunciation, articulation, vast choral objectives and vocal technique.
Chamber Ensemble: Our Instrumental Chamber Ensemble is featured at various events, recitals, and concerts throughout the academic year. Woodwind and string players gather three times weekly to rehearse varied music from the baroque, classical, romantic and twentieth century.

Select musicians perform as soloists in recital and concert. Members are divided into smaller ensembles to encourage greater technique, intonation, precision and balance. Students are encouraged to audition for two musical theatre pit orchestras yearly.
Chamber Singers: Our auditioned fourteen-voice Chamber Singers rehearses once weekly. Current sacred and secular repertoire includes renaissance motets, world music and innovative holiday arrangements. Resident members enhance weekly liturgy with leadership and choral texture.
Private Music Lesson Program: An integral part of our music department is the Private Music Lesson Program, in which all students are eligible to study on-campus during the school week with outstanding musician/teachers from the Central Coast area. Lessons are currently offered in piano, flute, guitar, violin, viola, cello, harp, saxophone, clarinet, percussion, and voice. The school has six practice studios equipped with Steinway pianos. Music students have an opportunity to participate in regional and state honor orchestras and in certification programs such as the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music and the Certificate of Merit.

Private Music Lesson Instructors

Nancy Bennett – Voice

Mrs. Bennett has had 40 years experience teaching voice. Receiving her M.A. in vocal performance, she taught at university level in Los Angeles and at Hartnell College. Mrs. Bennett has performed as a soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Carmel Bach Festival, and the Roger Wagner Chorale.

Dr. Madeline Borquist – Piano

Dr. Borquist received her degrees from Eastman School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and the University of Miami. She has appeared with various orchestras as a piano soloist, has given numerous recitals and been the pianist for chamber music ensembles. Dr. Borquist taught piano and chamber music at Michigan State University, the University of Miami, the Blossom Music Festival, and the New College Musical Festival.

Donna Coletti – Piano

Mrs. Coletti has taught at Santa Catalina School since 1987. She holds a B.A. degree from Creighton University, with additional practical theory from Trinity College. She has been a pastoral musician for 30 years, and has prepared piano students for Certificate of Merit exams for 25 years.

Margie Dally – Cello

Mrs. Dally is a founding member of the Monterey String Quartet. A native of Salinas, Margie studied locally with Louise Vadetsky and joined the Monterey Symphony at the age of 16. She graduated with honors from Mills College where she studied with Sally Kell, Joan Jeanrenaud and the Kronos Quartet. Margie maintains an active teaching studio in Carmel Valley, and is involved with various educational programs for young musicians.

Lucy Faridany – Piano

Ms. Faridany holds a postgraduate diploma in piano accompaniment with distinction from the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she studied with Geoffrey Pratley. She has worked with the Carmel Bach Festival, the Monterey Symphony, the Carmel Opera Project, the Pacific Repertory Theater and the Western Stage.

Michelle Galindo – Piano and String Bass

Mrs. Galindo teaches students of all levels, includingthose who are preparing for recitals, Youth Music Monterey, the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music program, and the Certificate of Merit. She is the principal pianist for the Monterey Bay Symphony and often works in local theatres, both in the orchestra and as a conductor. She has a B.S. from the University of the Pacific, a Masters of Music Technology from the University of Newcastle, and an M.B.A. from National University.

Lynda Jardine – Harp

Mrs. Jardine has been a professional harpist for the past 28 years. She is a Certified Music Practitioner, having completed training with the Music for Healing and Transition Program. She has an active private teaching studio on the Monterey Peninsula.

Lynn Jones – Flute

Mrs. Jones has taught at Santa Catalina School for over 20 years, and has been a soloist and ensemble member in the Monterey Peninsula area for 30 years. She has extensive musical theatre experience and an active private studio.

Arlyn Knapic – Violin and Viola

Mrs. Knapic studied music at the University of California Santa Barbara, studying violin with Ron Copes of the Juilliard String Quartet. She is currently pursuing her masters degree in violin performance at San Jose State University. Mrs. Knapic plays with chamber groups on the Monterey Peninsula and in San Jose, and is a sought-after violin and viola teacher.

Layne Littlepage – Voice

Ms. Littlepage has taught voice at Santa Catalina School since 2002. Her teachers in New York were Marion Freschl of the Julliard School, Martin Rich of the Metropolitan Opera, Franco Iglesias and Dan Marek. She is a member of the New York Singing Teachers’ Association. Ms. Littlepage has performed her acclaimed one-woman musical “An Evening with Beatrice Lillie” around the country and in Europe. Her voice students have been chosen for many honor choirs, and have been finalists in the National Classical Singer competition.

Robert McNamara – Guitar, Bass, Ukelele and Mandolin

Mr. McNamara is the director of the Monterey Peninsula Academy of Music, and a faculty member of Monterey Peninsula College. As a cultural ambassador with the U.S. State Department, he has performed in the Middle East, North African and South America. Mr. McNamara has taught guitar at Santa Catalina School since 1988.

Stu Reynolds – Clarinet and Saxophone

Mr. Reynolds began studying the clarinet in 1967, and the saxophone in 1969. His teachers were George Young and John Purcell, trainer to saxophonists Michael Brecker and David Sanborn. Playing the tenor, alto and soprano saxes as well as clarinet and bass clarinet, Mr. Reynolds has professional experience in a wide range of styles including classical, jazz, blues, funk, pop, and world beat music. He has performed in concerts and clubs nation-wide.

Hayung Rhee – Piano

Mrs. Rhee has taught piano for 25 years, teaching students of all ages, from beginners to advanced musicians. She received a Master of Music Performance from the University of Southern California, studying with Dr. Stewart Gorden. Mrs. Rhee prepares students for the Certificate of Merit and the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music programs. Her students have been winners of the Music Teachers Association of California scholarship competition and the Paderewski piano competition.

Mike Shannon – Percussion

Mr. Shannon studied drums and percussion at the University of Northern Colorado, as well as at San Jose State University with the renowned classical percussionist Anthony Cirone. Mr. Shannon’s book, The Rudimental Handbook, helps students develop the hand technique, reading ability and drum set coordination within many styles of music to develop a deep foundation and understanding of the instrument.He has taught in a variety of academic settings including master classes with Stanford University and UCSC.

Galina Vinokurov – Piano

Mrs. Vinokurov graduated from the Saint Petersburg Conservatory as a teacher of music, concert performer, accompanist and soloist with the chamber ensemble. Since then she has performed as a concert pianist and taught students of all skill levels. She has been a piano instructor at Hartnell College since 1994, and at Santa Catalina School since 2002. Mrs. Vinokurov is also an active member of the Music Teachers Association of California and has received a Certificate of Gratitude from Who’s Who Among American Teachers.

Robin McKee Williams – Voice

Mrs. Williams is an active musical director and mezzo-soprano soloist in the Monterey Peninsula and San Francisco areas. Her training includes the Royal Conservatory of Music, Stanford University, and San Jose State University. She is on the faculty of Hartnell College and is presently pursuing a doctorate from Boston University. Mrs. Williams is credentialed from the McClosky Institute of Boston as a voice specialist.