Regular Faculty
David Kasunic, Chair
Associate Professor, Music
B.A., Amherst College; M.F.A., Ph.D.; Princeton University
David Kasunic teaches lecture courses on music history and opera, and seminars on music & food, music & literature, Mahler, and Chopin.
Shanna Lorenz
Associate Professor, Music
B.A., Reed College; M.A., Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh; Ph.D. New York University
Shanna Lorenz teaches courses in ethnomusicology and popular music.
Adam Schoenberg
Associate Professor, Music
B.M., Oberlin Conservatory of Music; M.M., DMA, The Juilliard School
Emmy award-winning and Grammy® Award-nominated Adam Schoenberg has twice been named among the top 10 most performed living composers by orchestras in the United States.
On Special Appointment
Joe Addington
Director of the Afro-Cuban Drumming Ensemble, Non-Tenure Track Instructor, Music
Joe Addington teaches applied Afro-Cuban drumming lessons, and leads the Afro-Cuban Drumming Ensembles at Occidental College.
Stephen Cabell
Non-Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Music
B.M., The Curtis Institute; M.M., The Juilliard School; P.h.D., USC
Stephen Cabell teaches courses in music theory.
Max Foreman
Andrew G. Mellon Professor of the Practice in Music
B.A., UC Santa Cruz; M.F.A., California Institute of the Arts
Max Foreman is a composer, producer, and audio engineer from San Francisco, CA.
Ramona Gonzalez
Johnston-Fix Professor of the Practice in Songwriting
A.B., Occidental College; M.A., UCLA
Ramona Gonzalez teaches courses in songwriting and music business.
Edmond Johnson
Director of Advising; Non-Tenure Track Assistant Professor
B.A., Lawrence University; M.A., Ph.D., UC Santa Barbara
Edmond Johnson is Director of Academic Advising and Core Program Coordinator. He also oversees the LA Encounters Program and teaches courses in Music History and Cultural Studies.
Chris Kim
Choi Family Director of Instrumental Music
B.M., Northwestern University; M.M., University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Chris Kim is the Choi Family Director of Instrumental Music and conductor of the Occidental Symphony Orchestra. Read his Oxy Story profile.
Desiree La Vertu
Director of Choral and Vocal Activities
B.Mus., CSU Fullerton; M.M. University of Nevada, Reno
Desiree La Vertu is a highly accomplished conductor, soloist, and voice teacher in the greater Los Angeles area.
Dina Ormenyi
Non-Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Music; Piano Instructor
B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara; M.F.A., UCLA
Dina has been teaching piano since she graduated from high school in Ohio, where she studied privately with Robert Howat at Wittenberg University.
G. Simeon Pillich
Non-Tenure Track Professor, Music
B.A., M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Pillich teaches courses in the music of the world and jazz.
Jonathan Richards
Non-Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Music; Director of the Jazz Ensemble
B.A., USC; M.F.A., California Institute of the Arts
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jonathan is an active member of the music industry as a bassist, composer and educator. He is a graduate of the USC Thornton School of Music, where he studied with classical bass virtuoso Nico Abondolo and jazz legend John Clayton. He holds a Master’s Degree from Cal Arts and is also on faculty at Pasadena City College. As a touring and studio musician, he has had the privilege of working with an array of musical artists, including David Foster, Khalid, Toni Braxton, Joe LaBarbera, Steve Lehman, Snuffy Walden, and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. He has been featured on numerous recording projects for albums, television, and film. These include Beyoncé’s The Gift, Katharine McPhee’s PBS Soundstage Special, The American Music Awards, and scoring sessions for shows like "The Night Of" (HBO), "Mrs. America" (HULU), "Dear White People" (Netfilx), and many more. Jonathan is passionate about education and engaging with his students. He is excited to lead Occidental’s ensembles in many creative endeavors.
Applied Music Faculty
String Instructors
Aroussiak Baltaian
Violin Instructor
“Emerging as if a highly burnished and glowing ruby,” violinist Aroussiak Baltaian has gained international attention through her extensive appearances as a prominent recitalist, soloist,...
Ted Botsford
Classical Double Bass Instructor
As a teacher, orchestral musician, soloist and proponent of contemporary music, Ted Botsford enjoys a varied career, exploring the sonorities of the double bass and pushing back against its...
Jin-Shan Dai
Violin Instructor
Dynamic violinist Jin-Shan Dai has performed extensively throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. He joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2010. Previously, he was a member of the Toronto...
Michael Larco
Viola Instructor
Violist Michael Larco joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2012 after seven seasons as Assistant Principal in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. A frequent participant of the LA Phil’s...
Gloria Lum
Cello Instructor
Cellist Gloria Lum, a native of Berkeley, California, attended both the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Southern California, graduating from the latter institution...
David Tranchina
Jazz and Commercial Bass Instructor
Bassist, composer, and educator David Tranchina is a well-known musician on the Los Angeles Jazz and creative improvised music scene. As a bassist, he is known for his big warm sound, solid...
Keyboard Instructors
Galina Barskaya
Piano and Collaborative Piano Instructor
Galina Barskaya began studying piano at the age of four and started to perform professionally at the age of 7. Barskaya got her BM and MM at Kiev State College and Kiev State Conservatory where...
Hye-Won Cho
Piano and Collaborative Piano Instructor
Dr. Hye-Won Cho’s brilliant technique and sensitive musicality have garnered her countless accolades worldwide, including first prize at the Los Angeles International Liszt Competition, the...
Junko Ueno Garrett
Piano Instructor
Japan-born Junko Ueno Garrett has captivated audiences around the world with her colorful tone, poetry, expressiveness, dynamic technique, and wide range of repertoire. She began playing piano...
Dina Ormenyi
Non-Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Music; Piano Instructor
Dina has been teaching piano since she graduated from high school in Ohio, where she studied privately with Robert Howat at Wittenberg University.
Matt Weisberg
Jazz Piano & Improvisation Instructor
Despite being a recent addition to the Los Angeles area, Matt Weisberg is already a prominent figure in the widely varied music scene. Weisberg has made a name for himself as an award-winning...
Voice Instructors
Loren Battley
Jazz & Commercial Voice Instructor
Loren is an award-winning jazz vocalist and composer whose artistry was cultivated in Downey, CA. Her early exposure to gospel, jazz, R&B, and pop, contributes to her unique singing and...
Scott Blois
Voice Instructor
Scott Blois recieved his Bachelor of Music degree from CSUN in 1984. He has participated in the Aspen Music Festival and the Music Academy of the West, as well as having a number of guest artist...
Karen Hogle Brown
Voice Instructor
Praised by Mark Swed of the LA Times as “luminous”, Karen Hogle Brown is a coloratura soprano whose strong musicianship and flexible voice have helped her to champion and premiere new works, as...
Desiree La Vertu
Director of Choral and Vocal Activities
(323) 259-1333
Desiree La Vertu is a highly accomplished conductor, soloist, and voice teacher in the greater Los Angeles area.
Guitar Instructors
Jason Arimoto
Ukulele Instructor
Originally from Hawai‘i, Jason Arimoto, Ph. D., is a Los Angeles-based ‘ukulele creative with a professional background in ‘ukulele performance, education, and retail. Arimoto performs and...
Ronald Berman
Classical and Jazz Guitar Instructor
Guitarist Ron Berman has been performing solo and group recitals of jazz, classical and original compositions in concert and on film, radio and television in the US and Europe for over thirty...
Riner Scivally
Classical and Jazz Guitar Instructor
Guitarist Riner Scivally has performed with Alan Broadbent, Larance Marable, Stacey Rowles and Putter Smith. He received a bachelor's degree from Occidental College, an MM from USC, and later...
Harp Instructors
Amy Shulman
Harp Instructor
Amy Shulman, harpist, received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the Juilliard School of Music. She has performed as a soloist in France, Canada and the USA including live television and...
Woodwinds / Brass Instructors
Catherine Del Russo
Oboe Instructor
Catherine Del Russo received her Bachelor of Music Degree and Performance Certificate at the Eastman School of Music where she studied with Robert Sprenkle, and her Masters of Music Degree from...
Sara Marsh
Clarinet Instructor
Sara Marsh (Canning) has built a sterling reputation as a clarinetist and teacher in the Western U.S. Hailing from Texas, she studied at the University of North Texas and UCLA. Early in her...
Rachel Mellis
Flute Instructor
Rachel Mellis enjoys a multi-faceted career as an orchestral, chamber, solo, and recording artist. She performs regularly throughout the U.S. and has toured internationally in Europe and Asia. ...
Erm Navarro
Trombone Instructor
A native to Los Angeles, California, Erm Navarro began private trombone lessons and played in the public school system at age 12. Upon graduation from high school, Erm completed his Bachelors of...
Stephanie O'Keefe
French Horn Instructor
Originally from Chicago, Stephanie O'Keefe has made her home in Los Angeles since 1987. A busy freelancer, O'Keefe enjoys a widely varied career, including performances and recordings with the...
Mike Rocha
Trumpet Instructor
Mike Rocha has been performing and teaching for over two decades. In that time, he has toured the world, performed alongside some of the worlds most talented musicians, recorded on platinum...
Allen Savedoff
Bassoon Instructor
Allen Savedoff is a member of the Pacific Symphony, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and California Philharmonic, and has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, LA Philharmonic New Music Group, LA...
Douglas Tornquist
Tuba Instructor
Doug Tornquist received his B.M. from University of Southern California, his M.M. from Wichita State University and his D.M.A from University of Southern California. Tornquist has been principal...
Percussion Instructors
Joe Addington
Director of the Afro-Cuban Drumming Ensemble, Non-Tenure Track Instructor, Music
Joe Addington teaches applied Afro-Cuban drumming lessons, and leads the Afro-Cuban Drumming Ensembles at Occidental College.
Yuri Inoo
Percussion & Drumline Instructor
A native of Kanagawa, Japan, Dr. Yuri Inoo is a musician and educator in the Los Angeles area. She has studied percussion under David Rosenthal at San Francisco State University, where she...
Jamey Tate
Drum Set Instructor
Since arriving in Los Angeles, Jamey Tate has become one of the most sought after musicians on the national touring and studio scenes. He has performed and/or recorded with a diverse list of...
Alexander Technique Instructors
Frances Marsden
Alexander Technique Instructor
Frances holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Liverpool University and a Diploma of Education from Leicester University. Marsden's first experience with the Alexander Technique was when she was...
