Carlos Alonzo Rivera is a multifaceted guitarist, composer, and educator based in the Bay Area. Carlos possesses

  a diverse musical background and is well-versed in genres including classical, jazz. rock, metal and blues.  

  He holds a Masters of Music in Classical Guitar Performance degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of

  Music as well as a Bachelor's of Music and Music Industry from CSU Chico.

 

  Carlos regularly performs in the Bay Area in both solo and ensemble settings, and is working on his debut

  7 string solo guitar album.

 

 

Nimah Rowden is a music educator, arranger, producer, and performing artist with a focus on collaborative and student-centered music education. As a teaching artist and ensemble leader, Nimah has developed and implemented music curriculum, provided individualized instruction, and led ensembles across a range of musical backgrounds and skill levels. Their teaching incorporates music theory, performance practice, repertoire development, and music history while emphasizing collaboration, creativity, and artistic expression. Nimah has particular experience leading R&B ensemble programming, arranging repertoire for non-traditional instrumentation, and creating performance opportunities that support students’ musical and personal development. With a background spanning music education, performance, arranging, and production, Nimah brings a versatile and contemporary perspective to the classroom. At Oakland School for the Arts, Nimah is committed to cultivating an inclusive learning environment where students are encouraged to think creatively, take artistic risks, develop confidence, and grow as independent and collaborative artists.

 

  Following her solo debut at age 16 with the SF Symphony, Ilana Blumberg Thomas appeared at the Tanglewood,

  Marlboro, and Aspen festivals and now is a regular with Bay Area groups including the Left Coast Ensemble,
  Eclecta Quartet, Jazz Mafia, Earplay, San Francisco Opera, Fever's Candlelight Concerts, and many more.

  As an  orchestral musician, Ilana performs with the Oakland Symphony, Symphony San Jose and the symphonies

  of Santa Rosa, Sacramento & Marin, among others. She has recorded for Philip Glass, the Monophonics,

  and on countless classical recordings and has appeared live in recent years with artists including the Eagles, Kygo,

  Kris  Bowers, Warren Haynes, Josh Groban, Wynton Marsalis, Luciano Pavarotti, Il Divo, Michael Buble, Sara
  Brightman, and Andrea Bocelli. Adding to her diverse experience, she appeared internationally and on tour with

  ODESZA and performed on Broadway in NYC in the orchestra for The Producers and Aida. She was a member

  of the  Crowden School's founding class, and as a student of Anne Crowden, is a passionate educator devoted

  to bettering the lives of students through music.

 

  A native of the great state of Oklahoma, Jaymes Kirksey has gained national recognition as a violinist, pianist,

  and conductor. In Fall 2021, he conducted the world premiere of Marcus Shelby's opera "Harriet’s Spirit,"
  acclaimed by the San Francisco Classical Voice for its "clean, well-defined performance." Kirksey was

  subsequently appointed assistant conductor for the West Coast premiere of Mark Campbell and Paul Moravec's

  adaptation of Stephen King's "The Shining." In June 2024, Kirksey, alongside Creative Director Brian Staufenbiel,

  led Opera Parallèle's West Coast premiere of "Fellow Travelers," praised by the San Francisco Classical Voice for his

  "fine leadership."

  The production featured exceptional vocalism and acting, underscoring Kirksey’s pivotal role in delivering a

  memorable artistic experience as Opera Parallèle’s inaugural guest conductor for three performances of Gregory

  Spear’s opera.  After receiving a double bachelor’s degree in music performance for both piano and violin

  from  Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Kirksey attended the San Francisco Conservatory of Music

  for his graduate degree in Violin performance. His teachers included Bettina Mussumeli (violin), Dr. Jim
  Breckenridge (piano), Valery Kuleshov(Silver Medalist of Van Cliburn Competition1993), Peter Nguyen (violin) and

  famed violinist Robert McDuffie.

 
As a resident of the Bay Area, Kirksey strives to bridge gaps between societal norms for classical music and the presence of African American musicians on the
concert stage. Many of his students often join him on stage and go off to receive training from many renowned artists and institutions including Curtis, Peabody,
Juilliard, USC, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and others. Kirksey has performed in venues across Europe and the US and remains a steadfast performer
in all fields in the Bay Area. Kirksey currently serves as the Classical Music Studies director at Oakland School for the Arts.

 

 

  Jimmy Touzel has been a mainstay in the San Francisco Bay Area’s traditional American music scene for the past

  15+ years. Playing upright bass, electric bass, tuba, clarinet, and sax, he specializes in traditional bluegrass,

   traditional jazz, django jazz, old time, rockabilly, classic country, and western swing. In addition to numerous music

   and film recordings on the upright bass fiddle, electric bass guitar, and clarinet, Mr. Touzel has toured coast-to-coast

   at home in the US, as well as performances in Canada, Holland, France, Belgium, Costa Rica, and Russia.

   He has performed live on stage with groups of note, such as the Earl Brothers, Gaucho, the Stylistics,

   Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, Evanescence, Lindsey Sterling, the Brothers Comatose, Jackie Gore, and

   the Tams.

   In addition to his love for traditional American music, Jimmy has a passion for performing classical music on the

   clarinet. Before moving to the Bay Area, he held the Bass Clarinet chair in the Symphony Orchestra Augusta (GA)

   and the 2nd/Eb Clarinet position in the Long Bay (Myrtle Beach, SC) Symphony. Additionally, he played with the

  Wilmington (NC) Symphony and the Aspen Festival Orchestra. Mr. Touzel has performed under the batons of many

  of the worlds leading conductors such as David Zinman, James Dupriest, Julius Rudel, Michael Stern, and

  Damon Gupton. He attended  the Aspen Music Festival where he studied with Bass Clarinet legend Dennis Smylie.

  Originally from Georgetown, South Carolina, Jimmy earned his Bachelor of Music Performance from the University of

  South Carolina where he studied clarinet with Doug Graham and jazz bass with Jim Mings. Past clarinet studies

  also include Mark Brandon, Gloria Campione, Carey Bell, Jerome Simas, and Ted Gurch. Past bass teachers have

  included Ken Miller, Djordje Stijepovic, Craig Butterfield, and Reggie Sullivan. An educator himself, Mr. Touzel is a

  member of the instrumental music faculty at the Oakland School for the Arts, where he teaches classes in classical,

  jazz, rock, and music history.