Students

After having been raised on a wide variety of music including that of the great Chet Atkins, I began playing guitar when I was thirteen years old. Throughout high school I kept myself busy by playing in church, with friends, and at my own solo gigs as well. As a “fingerstyle” guitarist I've been blessed with many terrific opportunities including performing with Tommy Emmanuel at the East County Performing Arts Center and being invited to be a regular performer at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society (CAAS) convention in Nashville, TN. I also fell in love with composing my own music and recorded and produced my debut CD, Never Alone, when I was eighteen. However, like many "fingerstylists," I didn't read music and learned everything I played by ear and by watching other guitarist's hands. In my senior year of high school I began to consider many different college options. Though I was enjoying my focus as a fingerstylist, I decided I'd like to expand my musical capabilities by gaining insight into classical and jazz music. After hearing many wonderful things about the music department at Grossmont and especially guitar professor Fred Benedetti, I decided to attend Grossmont in hopes that I could gain vast new skills as a musician. I never could have foretold how incredibly beneficial the experience here at Grossmont would be.
 
All the music professors at Grossmont are absolute masters of their craft. I think what I appreciate most about them all, is that they are all active, working musicians who perform and record regularly. Thus, they are not only qualified to explain theoretical concepts and teach technique, but also to explain how these skills relate to everyday life as a gigging musician. Fred Benedetti constantly amazes me with his vast well of knowledge and broad range of experience. My lessons with Fred have been so much more than just classical guitar lessons. He constantly takes the opportunity to educate me about things like jazz, performance, studio work, good practice routines, sight-reading tips, and technique improvement. Besides the awesome guitar classes, I'm also really enjoying learning the piano and music theory. Trumpet player extraordinaire Derek Cannon did an awesome job laying a solid theoretical foundation in his Theory I class--He made everything crystal clear while always keeping class fun and interactive. Not only have I learned a ton from the great professors, but I've also received many new performance opportunities because of them.  I also think it should be noted the music department's student body contains many serious, accomplished musicians--all of whom made me feel quite welcome almost immediately. My experience at Grossmont has already improved my musicianship so much that I almost regret that the program only lasts two years.
 
When I finish with my music degree here at Grossmont, I plan to transfer to a four-year Christian institution. Though I'm still undecided which school I'll be attending, I do plan to be a ministry major leading to the pastorate. Though it is my heart's desire to be in full-time Christian ministry, I plan to always play music on a professional level as time allows while continuing to use my music in ministry.  

Joshua Cavanaugh, music major in vocal performance 

Before I attended Grossmont College I participated in a few different musical activities.  One of which was obviously singing, which I have never stopped.  The other two were playing the piano and playing the clarinet.  I have been singing since I was born, mostly in the church choir with my mom, but then in the Valhalla ensembles in high school. As far as the piano goes, I’ve been playing and practicing off and on since I was five years old, but I never really got that into it.  I started playing the clarinet in fourth grade and participated in different competitions, one of which sent me through to San Francisco when I did well at the initial contest. In high school I joined the band which included both marching and concert repertoire depending on which semester it was. I was a part of the 2000 piece marching band in the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney Australia.  My sophomore year I quit the band and since then played my clarinet on occasion for church. My initial reason for choosing Grossmont was merely because of the Master Chorale.  I was attending Cuyamaca and studying Engineering but wanted to keep singing as well and I had heard good things about Dr. Tweed’s Choir. After a semester in the Chorale I decided to take more musical classes and further my music education. 

I have been studying music at Grossmont College for quite some time now and I feel that my knowledge of the field has grown immensely.  I have surrounded myself with classes, extra curricular activities, and friends that immerse me in the subject.  Through the years I feel I’ve come to know the teachers at Grossmont very well, and I feel they know me also, all of whom I’ve been very impressed with.  These teachers have guided me in the direction that I currently face—heading on toward transfer. Over my time here at Grossmont I’ve taken all the Music Theory classes, all of the Piano classes, multiple Music History Classes, many semesters of the Master Chorale, five semesters of Performance Studies and two Guitar Classes.  I can honestly say that I’ve enjoyed every one of them. The voice teachers and accompanists on staff at Grossmont have been the most gracious and giving I’ve dealt with.  They have always been willing to work around my schedule and have been more than encouraging over my lessons and rehearsals.  I truly feel blessed by what the Grossmont Music Department has given me. I couldn’t think of a better way to have started my musical studies. 

I plan on transferring this Fall either to San Diego State University or to Chapman University in Orange County.  Over the next few years I’ve decided to continue pursuing a career in vocal performance as well as furthering my music education. I currently perform with the San Diego Opera Chorus as well as multiple Catholic Churches in San Diego. These performance opportunities have paved the way into taking these next exciting steps. I am in hopes of being able to find work performing during the time that I am studying to get my undergraduate degree. Upon getting my Bachelor’s I plan to apply for a graduate degree in music.  I have found what I love to do and I know that if I continue on this path, it can only lead to happiness.

Rebecca Curtis, music major in jazz vocal performance

I've been singing my entire life and growing up in a musical family, I was always exposed to different styles of music. My mom, who has been a constant source of support and knowledge, was a professional jazz singer in Puerto Rico when I was a child, and although I never had formal training, she was the one who helped to develop my musical ear through fun harmony exercises and challenges.

I always had a love and appreciation for music but also divided my extra time with sports and I always knew I would be involved with one or the other in some capacity. I earned a full-ride scholarship to play college basketball at UC Berkeley, but it wasn't until I completed my undergraduate degree there and returned home that I was presented with an opportunity through a long-time friend to work as a professional singer. Since it was the first band I ever worked with, the leader of the band, Kamau Kenyatta, really took me under his wing and helped to mold me and he taught me so much. After five years, he has been and continues to be a good friend and mentor to me.

As I started building my repertoire and becoming more comfortable on stage, I began getting work with other bands; however, as I continued to work with many of San Diego's great musicians, I felt that I was lacking something. I didn't like fitting the stereotype of being just a vocalist who didn't really know anything about the elements of music. I wanted to become a musician, and after working with Derek Cannon on a couple gigs, I knew that I wanted to go back to school and I knew that Grossmont was where I needed to be.

Jesse Ober, music major in guitar performance

Music has always been a part of my life, but I never thought it would be more than just a hobby. I began taking piano lessons when I was 10 years old, and a few years later discovered the guitar. I started taking private guitar lessons in high school, and played in a rock band.  When I graduated high school I was uncertain what I wanted to do with my life, and I was encouraged by family to pursue my musical interests, and take a guitar class.  When I walked into Professor Fred Benedetti’s guitar theory class I realized my passion for music, and knew I had found my life’s purpose.

Being part of the music department at Grossmont College has truly been an inspirational journey.  My experience here a Grossmont College has allowed me to study and learn from some of the best teachers, and to meet and network with many other talented musicians.  I have had the honor of studying under George Svoboda and Fred Benedetti, who are recognized as two of the greatest classical guitarist of our times.  These private lessons have been made possible through the music department’s scholarship program. I have also had many performance opportunities throughout my stay at Grossmont College, including performances with the guitar ensemble, the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Randall Tweed, and a headline performance at Grossmont College Fine Arts Hall featuring the Grossmont College Guitar Trio. The entire music department faculty at Grossmont College are excellent performing musicians, as wells as phenomenal teachers who go out of their way to help students achieve their musical goals.

I am transferring to San Diego State University in fall 2008 to pursue a B.M. and M.M. in classical guitar performance.  My future plans include performing, writing, recording and teaching music. I am grateful to the entire faculty at Grossmont College for helping me professionally and personally.  I would not be the musician and person I am today without their knowledge, support, and encouragement. 

In high school, I was your typical theatre geek and choir nerd. I owned dozens of soundtracks, was always in a play, and spent all of my time in the choir/band room playing on the piano or singing or just hanging out with my fellow thespians. I always felt that the theatre was my calling and that "Broadway" was where my dreams would become a reality. I longed to sing and dance extravagant numbers under bright lights with a large chorus stepping out the same complicated choreography. I knew I needed an education so that if I did not make it "Big" on stage I would have something to fall back on as a career. My thought was if you can't do it, teach it! Something changed for me after I graduated high school and began attending Grossmont College to study Musical Theatre.

My first semester at Grossmont I enrolled in the Master Chorale. I figured the Master Chorale would be the same as it was in high school, you know, singing inspirational tearjerkers designed to make the audience feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I had no idea that the literature would consist of Masses composed by Beethoven or Litanies composed my Mozart. Classical music was something I had not previously had the opportunity to sing. The connection that I began to feel for this music made me want it more and so despite the fact that I was still a Musical Theatre major, I decided to further my music education. Many doors have opened for me since I began studying music at Grossmont. I have had the honor of working with such knowledgeable professionals as Dr. Dale Moore, a professor of music at Indiana University, whose performance career as a Baritone flourished for more that 40 years; also, Brian Asawa, who is considered to be one of the worlds' most celebrated Counter-tenors. I have also been fortunate enough to be cast as a chorister in all five of the operas for the 2007-2008 San Diego Opera season. It is because of Grossmont's music program and its incredible teachers that I have developed such a love and respect for the literature and beauty of classical music.

In the fall of 2008, I am transferring to Chapman University to pursue a Bachelors of Music degree with an emphasis in vocal performance. In ten years I hope to hold a Masters degree and to be a successful international opera singer.

Erin Santos, former music major in guitar performance

Music has always been a part of my life but it was at the age of 15 when I realized I really had a passion for it. I started taking piano and guitar lessons from teachers who were former Grossmont College music students. Studying music under such inspiring and knowledgeable musicians made me realize the Grossmont College Music Department had something great to offer. My guitar teacher Anthony Cutietta, encouraged me to enroll at Grossmont to pursue my passion for music and study classical guitar under Fred Benedetti.   

I really enjoyed the years I spent at Grossmont. The teachers were always passionate and enthusiastic about helping students learn and become successful musicians. I had many wonderful opportunities at Grossmont including: studying guitar with Fred Benedetti, one of San Diego’s finest guitarists, participating in Master Classes with guitarists Robert Belinic and Jason Vieux and performing at La Jolla’s Neuroscience Institute through the La Jolla Music Society, participating in the guitar ensemble, performance studies classes and the Advanced Student Recital, as well as preparing me to teach and perform for professional paying gigs. All the things I have accomplished would not have been possible without the wonderful professors and opportunities available at Grossmont.

I am currently attending the University of California, Santa Cruz and studying classical guitar with Mesut Ozgen. In the past year at UCSC I have participated in the Concert Choir, Guitar Orchestra, West Javanese Gamelan, Early Music Consort ensembles, as well as student senior recitals. Playing in these ensembles has led to many wonderful opportunities like performing with solo guitarists Peter Constant and Marion Schaap (Z.O.O Duo) from the Netherlands in the Guitar Orchestra, working with the famous Indonesian composer Nano Suratno in the West Java Gamelan, and playing continuo in the Early Music Consort and performing Handel’s oratorio Jeptha in San Francisco with UCSC Orchestra and Chamber Singers. I had the opportunity to attend a Flamenco workshop with visiting Flamenco guitarist Juan del Gastor from Spain and a guest lecture by the legendary pianist Frank Glazer and participated in Master classes with Ben Vederey, Peter Constant, Marion Schapp, and Elisabeth Le Guin. UCSC has provided a challenging but rewarding music program with many great opportunities. I plan to graduate from UCSC with a Bachelors of Music degree in 2009 and then hope to pursue a Masters of Music degree from SDSU. 

Jose Serrano, former music major in guitar performance

José’s future goals include the upcoming release of his next two CDs – more Latin jazz and a compilation of cover songs by artists whom he counts among his influences, the Beatles, Wes Montgomery, Earl Klugh and others. 

Says José, “One of the benefits for me of pursuing a musical education is the chance to inspire young talent to take formal training in music and to show anyone it is never to late to learn.”

Timothy Poulin, former music major, composer

Tim writes: "Upon entering Grossmont College, I decided to take a music theory course to see if it could help me understand a little more about the piano music that I was playing and trying to notate. It was the best decision of my life. Dr. Tweed’s music theory classes had rigorous standards drawn from excellent books; I was soon able to get answers to questions that had previously blocked my creativity, such as how to move to different keys and back in songs and how to add more interest to pieces I had already written by using different types of chords. The Grossmont College Music department offered me a musical environment that was open to different musical tastes. This point cannot be emphasized enough since this acceptance at Grossmont remains in stark contrast to many other music institutions whose values are intolerant of musical genres that reside outside a narrowly defined academic ideal of music. As a student at Grossmont, I was able to freely explore music that I love without pressure from professors to only appreciate their aesthetics. Teachers like Derek Cannon, who teaches jazz & afro-cuban studies, Fred Benedetti, who teachers guitar and creates arrangements of Beatles songs for his guitar ensemble, and Dr. Randall Tweed, who coordinates the production of multi-ensemble concerts, showcase the diversity of not only the music department, but the professional talents and resources of the city at large. Grossmont College was a great preparation for many aspects of my later music education because it introduced me to working with computer music technology. Entering Grossmont, I had almost no experience with computers and was reticent to use them. At this time in 1997-1998, I saw computers as a necessary evil for word processing. However, Dr. Tweed emphasized technology use in music and required us to use music notation software and ear training software, which both prepared me for university expectations of computer competency and helped me to write music more rapidly and legibly.

My excellent teachers at Grossmont College prepared me well for transfer to the College of Creative Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where I studied traditional composition under D. Jeremy Haladyna and electronic music under Dr. Curtis Roads. At UCSB I won second prize in the Corwin Music Competition for electronic music. I also collaborated with several students to create joint music recitals, wrote music for the Reel Loud Film festival, and had one of my pieces called God Loops, which parodies the importance of music composers, performed at my class’s graduation.

I was accepted into graduate studies in Electro-Acoustic Music Composition at San Diego State University in Spring 2007 where I have become very involved in electronic music concerts. It was involvement in performances led by Dr. Joseph Waters that helped me realize how important it is to collaborate, organize, and be involved in wide-reaching eclectic concerts; these skills have helped with my marketability as a collaborator on interesting projects. This knowledge prepared me to become a board member for the international concert series called NWEAMO (North West Electronic Arts & Music Organization) and also helped me to manage the annual Electronic Music Marathon each semester at SDSU.

Beyond all the other value added to my life at Grossmont, the most important knowledge I acquired from Grossmont College was an appreciation for the importance of good teaching. Teachers and students at Grossmont College care about you. That cannot be over emphasized because it gives hope and direction to students like myself that may otherwise have had smaller dreams or more vague conceptions of what they could do academically. Inspiration from this great teaching environment has made me realize that I want music teaching to have a central role in my professional life.

Currently, I teach private piano and music theory lessons, I’m a teacher’s assistant for the electronic music classes at SDSU, and I teach a few music technology classes there as well. My current music composition work involves both “traditional” orchestrated work and electronic interactive and generative music. I have just completed writing the score for a documentary on sharks and will be presenting interactive electronic works this year in San Diego, New York, and Miami. In the summer of 2008, I received the Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholarship, and after earning my Masters of Music from SDSU (Spring 2009) and teaching music locally for a few years, I plan to pursue a doctorate in Music composition."

Daniel Crawford, former music major, classical guitar performance

From the first day in the Grossmont Music Department I felt very welcome; all the teachers were very helpful and supportive. Looking back I now see that the quality of instruction that I received was extremely high, not only in the classroom but also on stage performing. The amount of performing opportunities at Grossmont is amazing. I was performing solo as well as in the Grossmont guitar ensemble on a weekly basis; many of these being formal performances in front of audiences. I feel that I was given a great jump-start into the intense pursuit of music study. Without Grossmont I would not be where I am today.

I am currently a junior at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music studying under David Tanenbaum. I am planning to graduate in the spring of 2004 with my Bachelor of Music. After graduating I hope to pursue a Master of Music degree at either San Francisco Conservatory or at USC. I performed for the Master Class of guitarist Antonio de Innocentes and plan to do many more in the upcoming year. During semester breaks,  I study with Fred Benedetti and Kristina Romero in San Diego. 
Daniel Crawford is a San Diego native and began playing guitar at the age of 11. After graduating from Helix High School in 2000 he enrolled at Grossmont College to Study Guitar under Fred Benedetti and George Svoboda. Privately he studied with Lori Corey and Fred Benedetti, currently he studies with David Tanenbaum while at school and Fred Benedetti and Kristina Romero when he is home in San Diego. Currently he is a junior at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
As a performer, Daniel Crawford performs avidly with the San Francisco Conservatory Guitar Ensemble; he also was a member of the Grossmont Guitar Ensemble. He has had multiple appearances with the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Randall Tweed and Brandon Muresan. He has also collaborated with various Duos, Trios and Quartets. Daniel plays numerous solo, and guitar and piano concerts with his partner Eva Nahli who is currently attending San Diego State University. Daniel Crawford has shared the stage with Robert Wetzel and
Fred Benedetti.

In 2001 Daniel placed 2nd in the Women’s Committee of the Grossmont Community Concert Association Scholarship Competition and placed twice in the ASTA (American String Teachers Association) local competition. This fall Daniel placed 2nd in the ASTA 2002 California State Competition held at Cal State Fullerton.

Misa Ohta, former music major and staff accompanist

In 1995, Ms. Ohta came to the United States and met Grossmont College Music Faculty member Fred Benedetti where she not only became a music major, but began performing numerous concerts with Professor Benedetti throughout San Diego.  During her tenure as a music major at Grossmont College Ms. Ohta became a student of Professor Randall Tweed performing as a regular member of the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra.

In 1999 Ms. Ohta won first prize in the Grossmont Community Concert Association Women's Committee Scholarship Auditions.  As a first prize winner, Ms. Ohta is a featured soloist with the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra in their 1999-2000 Millennial Performance Season at the East County Performing Arts Center.
Ms. Ohta's piano professor's have included Cynthia Darby-Stauffer, Mary Barranger, and Alex Hock.  Ms. Ohta currently studies piano with Dr. Karen Follingstad at San Diego State University.  Her educational goals are to pursue a Master's Degree in Music (piano performance) and to study in Europe.  Ms. Ohta's ultimate musical goals are to become a performing artist in addition to maintaining a private piano studio.
Impressed by Grossmont College's catalogue, in addition to her having first met Professor Benedetti,  Ms. Ohta selected to study at Grossmont College.  One of her major concerns was the cost of education as a foreign student.  Selecting Grossmont College allowed Ms. Ohta to study as a full-time student and at the same time receive a high quality music education preparing her to meet her future musical/educational goals.

Ms. Ohta is currently a performance artist/teacher in Japan as well as maintaining a professional accompanying career.