Faculty - Music History and Theory

RUFINA GORIN
Director
MA in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, Nezin Gogol Music Teachers' Training Institute, Ukraine. B.A. in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, Music College, Kiev, Ukraine. Currently, Ms. Gorin is a faculty member at National Guild Performance Auditions, an adjudicator of CM and National Guild Performance Auditions, Sound of Music Festival, U.S. Open Piano Competition, and others. Mrs. Gorin has been an active member of the Music Teachers' Association of California (MTAC) since 1981, serving on the Board of Palo Alto Branch since 1988 and as branch president 1993-1995. She was elected to the State Board of MTAC in 1996 and served for four years, completing her tenure there as a Vice President. Previously, Ms. Gorin was piano faculty chair and piano teacher at Special Children's Music School, Kiev, Ukraine; Accompanist for Children's Ballet Group, Kiev Ballet Company, Ukraine; and a piano teacher at Junior Music Academy and Conejo Valley Conservatory, Thousand Oaks, CA.

GRACE WEBER JOHNSON, Mezzo Soprano
Voice(Classical and Music Theater)
D.M.A. in Voice Performance, Shenandoah Conservatory, Winchester, VA. M.M. in Voice Performance/Pedagogy, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, NC. A.B. in Music, Coker College, Hartsville, SC. Member of The National Association of Teachers of Singing and College Music Society.

For all genres of vocal music, Dr. Johnson's teaching is grounded in bel canto technique. She enjoys working with both beginner and advanced students and has over 30 years teaching experience, including K-12 general/choral music and college-level Applied Voice. Her former students are performing, teaching, and attending graduate schools including Eastman School of Music. Dr. Johnson has special interest in psychology and singing and was invited to give a poster presentation of her dissertation research for the Pan European Voice Conference at the Royal Academy of Music in London in 2005. As a performer, she specializes in Oratorio and Art Song.

SHARON KAYE, Mezzo Soprano Voice
(Classical and Music Theater)
Ph.D. Historical Musicology and M.A. in Voice Performance from Ashford. Undergraduate work begun at Brigham Young University. Retired President of The National Association of Teachers of Singing, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter. Member American Guild of Musical Artists. Continuing her artistic career, Dr. Kaye thrills to bring the joy of singing to beginning and advanced students alike. Most recent students continue studies at USC’s Thornton School of Music, Brigham Young University and Julliard; and they are seen on international stage, screen and television. She enjoys working with both beginner and advanced students and has over 20 years teaching experience, including K-8 general/choral music.

YUKIKO MATSUMOTO
Flute
B.M. in Flute Performance, San Jose State University. A.A. in Music, Independence Community College, KS. Currently, Ms. Matsumoto teaches flute at GSM, Cupertino High School, and The Music Place, CA. In addition, Ms. Matsumoto is the first chair flute/piccolo at First Baptist Church,substitute piccolo/flute at Saratoga Symphony and Cupertino Symphonic Band. Previously, Ms. Matsumoto taught flute at St. Stephen's Episcopal Elementary School and performed with the Peninsula Youth Theater and San Hose State University.