Biographies

John Montanero, Artistic Director

John comes from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Temple University's Esther Boyer College of Music. In the TU choirs John sang with the Philadelphia Orchestra under the batons of Eugene Ormandy, Ricardo Muti, and composer Chrystzoph Penderecki. In 1989 he earned a Master of Music degree at the University of the Pacific's Conservatory of Music (Stockton), studying voice with George Buckbee of the Finnish National Opera, choral conducting with Dr. William Dehning of UOP (Stockton) and USC (Los Angeles), and orchestral conducting with Peter Jaffe of the Stockton Symphony. John was a teaching graduate assistant in theory and composition and conductor of the UOP Orianna Women's Choir. He also served as Assistant Conductor of the 150-voice Stockton Chorale (1990-1999).

Cara Bradbury, Accompanist

Cara holds a B.A. in Music Composition from Mills College, where she studied with Darius Milhaud and Leon Kirchner. Her piano instructors have included Margaret Thompson, Naomi Sparrow and Nathan Schwartz. Cara has worked for many years in dance and theatre, and has toured and performed nationally with the Lewitzky Dance Company as Music Director and Resident Composer. She has also worked with numerous singers, choruses, churches, and opera companies, and is a long-time employee of the Theatre and Dance Department at U.C. Berkeley.