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Joel Cohen, cellist, has spent his life pursuing the many forms of musical expression through the cello. While steeped in the classical traditions of western music, he loves exploring other avenues of performance with his instrument. He has been co-principal cellist of the Oakland Symphony. While living in Vienna from 1995-97 he toured Europe, Asia and the Americas as principal cellist of the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and the Johann Strauss Festival Orchestra of Vienna, as well as playing with the Wiener Kammeroper and the Austrian Radio Symphony (ORF/RSO). As the founding cellist with Quartet San Francisco, he toured extensively in the US, during which the quartet was nominated twice for Grammys®. While living in Boston (1997-2007) he performed regularly with Improvelocity, a group performing spontaneous concerts, as well as with the Boston Symphony, Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, Di Capo Opera and others. He has been with the New Directions Cello Festival since 2000, conducting the Cello Big Band at their annual festival each June. He now lives in Mendocino county, continuing his musical explorations, both as a soloist and in ensembles, with Tango del Cielo and others.

Gloria Mendieta Gazave, is a classically trained soprano from San Francisco with a background in Musical Theater, where she has performed such roles as Chava in Fiddler on the Roof and Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, and Maria in West Side Story in Bay Area theaters. Ms. Gazave is an alum of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, whence she began her lifelong love of Opera and Classical music. Gloria sings in Italian, French, German, and Spanish. Her repertoire spans Opera, Oratorio, Art Songs, Broadway, and Popular Ballads. Experienced in singing Sacred Music, including Latin Chant, she has cantored for many events for the San Francisco Archdiocese. Gloria has the honor of being the youngest member selected to perform in the choir for Pope John-Paul II at a Mass celebrated during his visit to San Francisco. She performs as a soloist with orchestras and ensembles and has represented the Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera for various recitals and outreach programs in the Sacramento area. Ms. Gazave enjoys singing for special events and was chosen as the featured Opera singer for the Kettle Chips Company for the promotion of their new product. She has been featured in various commercials and print adds. Ms Gazave performs with two other groups: The Aria Bella Ensemble with her sister Anna Maria and Il Duetto Musica, with an accordionist, specializing in nostalgic Italian Folk Songs and Opera. Gloria brings her love of music and children together by teaching choir to three schools in San Francisco.

Erin started dancing at an early age learning ballet, tap, jazz and hula as well as ballroom from her mother, professional ballroom dancer, Rhona Pick and her professional partner Roy Hinton. Rhona and Roy would go on to open up the Hinton Pick School of Ballroom Dancing in San Francisco, the predecessor to the Pick School of Ballroom Dancing.

A champion dancer in both the ballroom and Latin divisions, Erin took her first exams with ISTD at the age of eight. She continued dancing and competing in youth competitions until going to college to complete her bachelors degree. After graduation, Erin worked briefly in an office and realized this was not the right work for her and promptly returned to the dance world.

Erin studied in England for her first professional exam and then returned to San Francisco to teach and continue her studies for her remaining professional exams with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (licentiate) and with the US Terpsicore Association (associate).

In addition to competing professionally in both the standard and Latin divisions and winning rising star and finalist titles in standard and rising star finalist titles in Latin, Erin competed in the pro/am divisions with her students in standard, Latin, rhythm and smooth categories. She currently competes in the Standard Pro/Am Category with her students.

The Pick School of Dancing studio has been awarded the Isadora Duncan award for outstanding achievement and San Francisco’s Best of Bay award. Erin enjoys teaching students of all levels and is devoted to giving high quality lessons at affordable prices.

Sandor & Parissa, tango dancers – are internationally acclaimed performers, choreographers, and highly distinguished instructors. Sandor, originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, is a tango Master for nearly three decades. He was a principal dancer in the Broadway/London hit show Forever Tango, nominated for the Tony Award “Best Choreography”. Parissa has coached several celebrities, including Antonio Banderas for the movie Take the Lead. Sandor & Parissa have been featured performing on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and have choreographed many of the Argentine Tangos on the show. Together they have shared their talents on countless TV, Film, and Theatrical Productions worldwide, with outstanding reviews. They have also choreographed for Olympic & World Champion ice dancers. Sandor & Parissa are based in Los Angeles, CA and teach all levels.

Joyce Lee attended the SanFrancisco Conservatory of Music earning her Bachelor and Master Degrees inViolin Performance. As a member of Bella Sorella, she has concertized around the United States and shared the stage with Joan Baez. Joyce has performed inEurope with the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and in New Orleans with the Louisiana Philharmonic. She has played for thousands of events, including the wedding of George Lucas and Melody Hobson and recording the soundtrack to the Korean TV show, “Life is Beautiful.” Joyce is the Concertmaster of theVallejo Symphony and a member of the Marin Symphony. She maintains a full studio of violin, piano and viola students, and has trained hundreds of youngmusicians. Visit Joyce online at Joyouslee.com

Count Glover, dancer, has studied with some of the worlds most renowned tango maestros, after having started with tap and ballet at the age of two in his grandmother’s dance company in Chicago. He is considered one of the best dancers of Argentine Tango in San Francisco, and since 2000, has been the principal dancer for the MonTango Orchestra based there. He has been featured on television, in various documentaries about tango, and most recently in Buenos Aires with popular tango band Tanghetto.

Thomas Yee, violinist, is known for being a dynamic and versatile musician active as a soloist, collaborator, teacher, and orchestral performer. Mr. Yee is the Associate Concertmaster with the Monterey Symphony and a member of the Santa Rosa, Marin, and Santa Barbara Symphonies. Thomas tours with guitarist Jose Rodriguez as Duo Revirado playing classical, folk, Latin, jazz, and new music. They released a CD of Spanish/Tango music titled “Historia”. Thomas also performs as a husband/wife duo with pianist Jieun Yee, who is an accomplished pianist and teacher. His passion is to communicate to the audience through performing and inspire future generations through teaching. Thomas plays on an Italian violin by Leandro Bisiach from Milan made in 1896 and a contemporary bow by Robert Morrow of Seattle, WA.

Sharmay Musacchio – Opera Singer (Metropolitan Opera)
Heralded as a “…Powerhouse Contralto…” American contralto, Sharmay Musacchio is a frequent soloist with many symphonies and opera companies including the Metropolitan Opera, LA Opera, Chicago Opera. Her concert work includes alto soloist in Vivaldi’s “Gloria” at Carnegie Hall with the New England Symphonic Ensemble, alto soloist in Handel’s “Messiah” at San Francisco Davies Hall as well as with the San Diego Chamber Symphony. Her opera roles include Antoinia’s Mother in “Tales of Hoffman”, Giovanna in “Rigoletto”, and Zita in “Gianni Schicchi”, Berta in “Barber of Seville”, the Voice in “Die Frau ohne Schatten”, among others.

Maxi and Raquel – 
Maxi Copello was born “breathing” Tango, watching each of his father’s tango shows with awe and admiration and secretly taking classes of his own. His dance partner, Raquel Makow, began dancing at age ten. Pursuing ballroom (a sport she found essential), she won the 2011 National Portuguese Championship and toured the world, winning titles in the Czech Republic and Canada. However, it was at the age of 15 that she discovered her true passion: Tango. After Raquel abandoned her ballroom career to explore Tango in Buenos Aires, Maxi Copello and she met each other for the first time at the famous milonga Salón Canning. On the dance floor, they found their soulmate in tango, and from then on would tour professionally to convey their love of Tango. They are featured in many films and in the world’s top tango productions.

Sascha Jacobsen, Bass, has performed with the Kronos Quartet, as well as with many Hollywood stars and flamenco greats. He is the founder of the Musical Art Quintet, which performs his original works. Sascha’s passion for music and dance has led him to collaborate with Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco and Tango Fatal with choreographer Jorge Torres. He also performs with Argentine tango group, Trio Garufa, and can be be found dancing Tango when not performing music.