2023-24 Music Mentors
Vivian Fan
Dr. Vivian Fan serves as Director of Accompanying at the Colburn Conservatory of Music. She coached chamber music, taught Collaborative Piano at Colburn Academy, Sonata Class at Colburn Conservatory, and Piano Master Class at the Adult Studies Program at the Colburn School. Prior to this position, she was on the piano faculty at the Idyllwild Arts Academy.
Dr. Fan performed at venues such as Perlman Music Program Alumni Recital Series in 2012 and at Disney Hall in Los Angeles Philharmonic’s “Brahms Unbound” concert in 2011. She recorded with violist Paul Coletti on Paul Chihara’s Sonata released by Bridge Records in 2013. Other albums include “Bloch, Glinka, Bowen: Viola Works” (2015) and “Grand Duo” (2019) released on Soundset Recordings.
Dr. Fan has served as an accompanist at the 2013 and 2019 Nielson Clarinet Competition in Denmark, the 2013 ARD Viola Competition in Münich, the 2016 Piatogorvsky Cello Festival, and the 2018 Primrose International Viola Competition.
Dr. Fan was invited to coach at the Central Conservatory of Music Middle School in Beijing. She has taught a master class at the National Taiwan Normal University. In 2016, she gave a lecture and a master class on accompanying at Music Teachers’ Association of California Convention.
Dr. Fan coordinated pianists and performed at the International Horn Symposium held at Colburn, and has performed as a workshop pianist for Jim Walker’s Beyond the Masterclass flute workshop for more than a decade.
As a solo pianist, Dr. Fan has performed with conductors Jorge Master, Jung Ho Pak, Mario Miragliotta, Sharon Lavery, Peter Askim, and Marc Riley. Her solo and chamber performances have been broadcasted on KTLA and KNBC television as well as KUSC, WEMT, and “Performance Today” on APM radio.
Mark Balling
Mark Balling has built a career on piano performance in Los Angeles for over twenty years. A native of Chicago, Mark is a graduate of Northern Illinois University (B.M. 1997), and of the USC Thornton School of Music (M.M. Jazz Studies 2004). He is also an “alumnus” of the Glenn Miller Orchestra touring jazz band, under the direction of Larry O’Brien, where he garnered international stage experience in over a dozen countries, performing 800 shows. Following his G.M.O. tour, Mark established himself as a sought-after keyboardist / pianist in Southern California, fulfilling the demands of live performances and studio sessions. He has recorded for television shows including The Real O’Neals (ABC), Dynasty reboot (WB), and AP Bio (NBC) - in which he was also filmed as a musician double.
During the past eight years, Mr. Balling has cultivated his career as the full-time accompanist and assistant music director at the Church of Saint Mark in Venice, CA, of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. In April of 2020, Mark arranged Sarah Hart’s You Alone for the students of St. Mark’s School, who were elated to perform in a new virtual choir during the early months of the pandemic. This breakthrough performance was even featured on NBC News. Moreover, the parish now broadcasts services worldwide. St. Mark’s Parish has afforded Mark the opportunity to perform weekly, while developing as a musician – a lifelong journey.
In addition to his liturgical music commitments, Mark recently managed to launch his new jazz quartet: The Overland Jazz Quartet. This group features the dynamic amalgamation of jazz violin, bass, percussion, and acoustic piano; and encourages original arrangements from all members. The quartet, founded in 2017, has performed locally in Los Angeles, and had the most auspicious honor as featured summer guest artist ensemble for the exclusive L’ermitage Foundation in 2018, 2019, and 2020 (virtual performance). The group is excited to announce a return in 2022! Mr. Balling specializes in the music of George Gerswhin, and happily features one of his piano works each year. Concurrently, Mark is proud to have the opportunity to perform with Southern California’s very own Bruce Eskovitz Jazz Orchestra, and to have recorded on the BEJO album Invitation.
In a “normal” week, Mr. Balling can be found teaching at the Westchester-based teaching studio, Musical Beginnings, where he has taught for almost 20 years. Reinvention is one of Mark’s favorite terms, as he contributed to the continuation and retention of a full roster of piano students during the pandemic. Musical Beginnings is now recognized to be at the forefront of virtual lessons in West Los Angeles, and features a talented faculty. In 2020, he launched a platform for online-lessons, via YouTube, on his channel: KEYS88LA.
As for Windward School’s music department, Mark opines that there is no better institution for students to gain music and industry expertise from a large roster of professional mentors, a trove of resources, and numerous ensembles – all of which comprise a towering music program conducive to the advancement of the students, and teachers alike. It is this synergy in the instruction that makes the Windward experience so unique.
www.markballingmusic.com
Alisha Bauer
Chamber music has been a staple in Ms. Bauer's performance career. As the cellist and co-founder of the Alcantara Ensemble, she has been a MTNA Regional Chamber Music Competition representative as well as a semi-finalist and finalist in the Fischoff and Coleman International Chamber Music Competitions respectively. Ms. Bauer has appeared as a guest artist for chamber music series programs presented by The Echo Society, Chapman University, Los Angeles City College, Dana Point Coastal Arts, Torrance Cultural Arts, The Previews of Manhattan Beach, South Bay Chamber Music Society and the Banff Summer Residency Series where she was featured in a live CBC radio performance broadcast.
During her time in Los Angeles, Ms. Bauer has become a highly sought after cellist by the television, film and recording industries. Along with performing on soundtracks for television shows such as House of Cards, Orville, Star Trek Discovery, and Empire, she is also a regular solo recording artist for organizations that specialize in producing music for advertising media. She was featured as solo cellist in Toyota’s 2018 Winter Olympics ad campaign and is currently is a Universal Music Group commercial recording artist. Recent motion picture contributions include Germaine Franco’s Tag, Disney’s Christopher Robin, Danny Elfman’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Michael Giacchino’s Spiderman, Far From Home.
Colin Cook
Erik Hughes
Terri Richter
Terri now resides in Los Angeles, where she is a lecturer in the music department at UCLA, performs, and teaches private lessons and online courses from her home studio.
Amanda Walker
Jared Jones
Jared Daniel Jones, originally from Ellijay, Georgia, is a recent graduate of the Herb Albert School of music at UCLA with a Masters in voice performance and received his bachelor degree from the University of Georgia in 2017. After completing his Masters this year, Jared is at the start of his singing career based in Los Angeles performing with ensembles like the LA Master Chorale and Pacific Chorale.
At UCLA Jared sang the leading roles in the premiere of two newly composed one-act operas by student composers and a leading role in UCLA’s world premiere production ofLost Childhood by Janice Hamer. Jared placed first at the National Association of Teachers of Singing national competition in 2015, was a semifinalist in the Classical Singer Vocal Competition in 2016, was a winner of the 2018 All-Star competition at UCLA, and this year won the Fine arts club of Pasadena vocal competition.
In addition to the professional ensembles Jared has performed with in LA, he has also sung with the Miami based ensemble Seraphic Fire, and was an academy member with the American Bach Soloists in San Francisco.
Paul Kreibich
PAUL KREIBICH (Drums) – Noted Los-Angeles-born drummer PAUL KREIBICH began his illustrious jazz career touring the U.S. and Japan with legendary Carmen McRae, a tour that culminated in a concert at Carnegie Hall. Paul studied at Berklee College of Music, L.A. City College, and privately with Fred Gruber. He later traveled internationally with the Ray Charles Orchestra for several years before moving on and touring with Mose Allison, The Woody Herman Band, Anita O’Day, Rosemary Clooney, Nancy Wilson, the Gene Harris Quartet, and many others.
Paul’s extensive studio credits include recordings with Bill Perkins, Dianne Reeves, Charlie Shoemake, Jon Hendricks, Ray Charles, Herb Geller, James Moody, Kenny Burrell and Gene Harris.
Admired for his outstanding brush work, Paul is the author of the music books “The Drummer’s Handbook,” and “Duets for Drums”. He has been a Cal State Fullerton music faculty member since 2002 and a private instructor as well.
Paul’s CD’s as a leader include the 2018 Blujazz release,“Thank You Elvin,” as well as “Lonesome Tree” and “The Jazz Coop – Spiral Stairway.” Presently touring with Maceo Parker and the "To Ray with Love" band, he can be found on the new Big Bad Voodoo Daddy CD “Louis, Louis, Louis.”
Paul also currently performs with Don Peak’s Wrecking Crew All-Stars.
Jon Bradley
After years of experience as a freelancer, Jonathan Bradley has established himself as one of the top trumpet players in the Los Angeles music scene. Performing styles of music ranging from Orchestral to Rock, Reggae, Salsa, Big Band, Jazz, and chamber music, Jonathan has been seen and heard playing in some of the finest venues all around the world.
Jonathan’s unique ability to authentically play many different styles of music has afforded him the opportunities to play, record, and tour with some of the worlds biggest acts including Panic! At the Disco, Toby Keith, Kanye West, Cee lo Green, Prince, Queen Latifa, Enrique Iglesias, Michael Buble, The Wu Tang Clan, Evanescence, John Tesh, Lindsay Sterling, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Vanessa Williams, Chick Corea, The San Diego Symphony, Manhattan Transfer, Paul Anka, Solomon Burke, Jose Feliciano, Ruben Blades, Dionne Warwick, and Marc Anthony to name a few. Jonathan has also appeared or recorded on a number of movies, TV shows, and video games including Dream girls, Gangster Squad, Valorant, League Of Legends, Agent Carter, The Voice, Jimmy Kimmel, 911, Fresh off the Boat, The X Factor, The Talk, and several PBS specials.
Matt Rubano
Bruce Eskovitz
Dr. Bruce Eskovitz has performed and recorded with many great and diverse artists, including Joe Cocker, Natalie Cole, Freddie Hubbard, Doc Severinsen, Joe Williams, Rosemary Clooney, Jimmy Webb, Bill Watrous, Elliot Smith, Dwight Yoakum, Jane Monheit, The Fifth Dimension, Rita Moreno, Jack Jones, Bobby Vinton, Shari Lewis, Ernie Watts, and many other celebrities. In addition, he has recorded six albums as a leader and currently fronting his band BEJO (Bruce Eskovitz Jazz Orchestra) featuring some of the best jazz musicians in Los Angeles. His most recent album, Invitation, was among the top 100 Jazz CD’s receiving radio play in 2008. He is also active as a producer/composer contributing to the The John Davidson Show, The Danny Gans Show, The Ebony/Jet Celebrity Showcase, the ABC TV show Santa Barbara, Ollie Mitchell's Sunday Band, Frank Capp’s Juggernaut, and "The New American Orchestra."
Dr. Bruce is the Area Head of the Music Program at Windward School and holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California in Jazz Composition, a Masters degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California, and a Bachelors of Arts degree in Music from California State University Northridge.
Kimball Glaspie
Beginning his career in Fort Wayne Indiana, Kimball was sought after to fill the drum chair for a vast swath of nationally acclaimed artists. As a 15 year old he supported Amanda Perez, and then quickly branched out to support Tye Tribbett, PJ Morton, and Chico DeBarge, among others.
More recently, he has been performing with the Tulsa Signature Symphony with legendary gospel bassist, Andrew Gouche. Possessing a fluency with myriad genres, Kimball has become a first call musician in Los Angeles since his arrival several years ago.
As an educator Kimball has taught at Indiana University-Perdue University Fort Wayne and is excited to bring his diverse musical/professional expertise to the students here at Windward School.