Applied Music Faculty
David Becker
Recording Arts, Music Appreciation, Applied Saxophone/Clarinet Instructor
Dave Becker has been on faculty at Cuesta College since 2001. He instructs Recording
Arts, Rock, World and Jazz Appreciation as well as Applied Music. Dave has a bachelor’s
and master’s degree in music education from the University of Florida. He is an active
professional musician on the Central Coast fronting music ensembles of various jazz
genres. He has arranged for SLO Wind Orchestra, San Luis Symphony, Orchestra Novo
and others. In addition to his past and current college teaching experience at Cuesta
College, Allan Hancock College, Cal Poly, and the University of Pikeville, KY, Dave
has also been a clinician at the Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band Camp and other camps
and schools throughout Florida and along the West Coast. Lately, Dave has enjoyed
producing concerts featuring the music of great jazz legends such as Art Blakey and
Charlie Parker as well as featuring several of his former students in his popular
Saxophone Summits.
dbecker@cuesta.edu
Robert Bennett
Applied Trumpet Instructor
Bob Bennett is a former member of the Woody Herman and Brian Setzer Orchestras and
former lead trumpet for the Artie Shaw Orchestra. Mr. Bennett is a graduate of Morro
Bay High School, Cuesta College and has a Masters Degree in Jazz Studies from California
State University Long Beach. In addition to playing professionally for 30 years in
the Los Angeles area, Bob is a former member of the Mount San Jacinto Community College
faculty. Bob has also won Jazz Soloist awards from the Fullerton Jazz Festival and
The International Trumpet Guild. He recently returned to the Central Coast and is
currently teaching trumpet Cuesta College and directing The Cuesta College Jazz Orchestra.
Robert_bennett2@cuesta.edu
Idona Cabrinha
Class Piano, Applied Piano Instructor
Idona Cabrinha has a B.A., California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo;
M.M., (Piano Performance and Pedagogy), Northwestern University; additional studies:
Westminister Choir Conservatory of Music, Vallejo Conservatory of Music: Student
of Sylvia Wang, William Spiller; masterclasses with David Buechner, Peter Takacs;
pedagogy studies with Francis Larimer; Suzuki pedagogy studies, early childhood educator;
extensive experience as pianist and accompanist in West Coast and Chicago areas;
former adjudicator in Chicago area; awards and honors: Dorothy L. Pound Award, Northwestern
University School of Music Grant, First Place Winner Allied Arts Competition; former
Performance Syllabus Chair North Shore Music Teacher's Association; former faculty
member: Northwestern University Academy; former lecturer, Class Piano, DePaul University
School of Music.
Idona_Cabrinha@cuesta.edu
Alba Cancél Bigay
Applied Voice Instructor
Puerto Rican soprano Alba Franco-Cancél continues to thrill audiences with her pure
and silvery sound delivered with her magnetic stage presence in both operatic and
concert appearances. Most recent appearances include her debut in San Diego as Despina
with Opera Neo, her debut in Los Angeles with Pacific Opera Project as Valencienne
in the operetta The Merry Widow as well as her debut in the Bay Area as Barbarina
with Livermore Valley Opera. Other roles from the season include the Queen of the
Night from Mozart's Magic Flute and covering the role of Musetta with Opera San Luis
Obispo where she currently serves as a Resident Artist. Franco-Cancél has also excelled
and brought life to many roles including Frasquita, Tytania, the title role in La
Calisto, Gilda, Musetta, Zerlina, Monica, Flora, Elle, and María among many others.
Recent awards include Semifinalist in the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition and
Finalist in the American Prize Vocal Competition. Other awards include Illinois Opera
Theater Enthusiasts Award; twice recipient of the Bella Voice Award from the Bel Canto
Foundation in Chicago; Finalist in the Classical Singer's Competition; and the Public
Choice Award from the Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions. Her teaching philosophy
places a strong emphasis on healthy vocal practice, breath management, posture/alignment
and tone production along with effective learning/practice strategies and memorization
skills. Her lessons are directed to build a healthy vocal technique through vocal
exercises tailored to the singer’s needs, reinforced with appropriate vocal literature
to helps the student accomplish the technical goals set for the semester. Alba Franco-Cancél
received a Doctoral degree in Voice from the Conservatory of Music of the University
of Missouri under the guidance of world-renowned tenor Vinson Cole. She also holds
a MM in Voice Performance and Literature from the University of Illinois, and a BM
from de Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico.
alba_cancelbigay@cuesta.edu
Zachary Deak
Applied Piano Instructor
Pianist Zachary Deak has appeared in recital as soloist and chamber musician in the United States, France, Morocco, Portugal, Moldavia and the United Kingdom. He has concertized at venues such as the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion, Cité de la Musique, Salle Cortot, l’Archipel, Salle Landowski in Paris, the Casa de Musica in Porto and the Theatre Micaelense in Ponto Delgada as well as l’Institut Francais in Agadir, Morocco.
The recipient of numerous awards, Zachary received the Hopkinson silver medal at the prestigious Chappell Medal Piano Competition in London in 2012. In 2013, he had the privilege to work intensively with the eminent pianist Maria Joao Pires in Paris and Brussels.
A graduate of the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris and the Royal College of Music in London, Zachary studied with Marion Rybicki, Christian Ivaldi and Guigla Katsarava and in London with Leon McCawley. During his time at the RCM he was an RCM scholar supported by the Lucy Ann Jones Award. Zachary received his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the University of Southern California under the guidance of Dr. Stewart Gordon and was a teaching assistant in the keyboard department.
Zachary has performed in master classes and workshops with Murray Perahia, Maria Joao Pires, Dang Thai Son, Vladimir Feltsman, Alexander Korsantia and Marc Durand.
A dedicated teacher, Zachary enjoys working regularly with students in master classes and other educational outreach events and is currently lecturer in the keyboard department at Cal State University Los Angeles and Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo.
Ken Hustad
Applied Cello and Bass Instructor
Bassist/cellist Ken Hustad of Morro Bay is a member of the San Luis Obispo Symphony
and Mozart Festival Orchestra in addition to playing with the Santa Barbara and Santa
Maria Symphonies, the Cuesta Master Chorale, Pacific Repertory Opera, the San Luis
Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble, the Cal Poly Baroque Orchestra, and in the Tolosa Strings
quintet. He is a string coach for the San Luis Obispo Youth Symphony and bass and
cello instructor at Cuesta College and Cal Poly. An active jazz musician, Ken plays
with the Royal Garden Swing Orchestra, Cuesta’s Monday Night Big Band, San Luis Jazz
Band and the Central Coast Jazz Quartet as well as the Cuesta Faculty Jazz Ensemble.
Ken_Hustad@cuesta.edu
John Knutson
Performing Arts Division Chair, Vocal Jazz Ensembles, Jazz Vocal Technique, Jazz Vocal
Improvisation
John Knutson is Director of Choral Studies at Cuesta College, and interim director
of vocal jazz at Cal Poly. He is also a member of the professional vocal jazz ensemble
Vocalogy, formed by Phil Mattson in 1998. Before moving to California, John taught
at Treasure Valley Community College in Oregon, and at Southwestern Community College
in Iowa. While at Southwestern, he performed all over the US and Europe with the award-winning
vocal jazz group VoicesIowa.
JKnutson@cuesta.edu
Emily Lanzone
Applied Violin Instructor
Emily Lanzone earned a Bachelor’s of Music in violin performance from the University
of Oregon, Master’s of Music from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a Professional
Studies Diploma from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She was appointed Concertmaster
of the SLO Symphony in 2020, after serving as Associate Concertmaster since 2017.
Lanzone is a frequent guest in many California orchestras, including Fresno, Santa
Maria, Monterey, and Santa Barbara. She is also a member of the Santa Cruz Symphony,
and the Oregon Coast Music Festival in Coos Bay, Oregon. Lanzone is a member of the
music faculty at Cuesta College and Cal Poly, maintains a private studio of violin
and viola students, and is also actively involved in SLO Symphony’s music education
programs as instructor of the Preparatory Strings. She lives in Los Osos with her
husband Brian, a Cuesta alum and music teacher, and two awesome kids.
emily_lanzone@cuesta.edu
Jennifer Martin
Cuesta Wind Ensemble, Music Theory, Guitar Class, Applied Trombone Instructor
Jennifer Martin joined the Music Faculty at Cuesta College in the summer of 2004 as
the conductor of the Cuesta Wind Ensemble. In addition to her conducting duties, she
coordinates the department's Applied Music program, and teaches Class Guitar. In 2008,
she was selected to be the Performing Arts Division Chair, and was appointed to the
post of Interim Coordinator of Cuesta’s new Cultural and Performing Arts Center in
2009. She became a staff conductor for the San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra in 2010.
Previous to her appointment at Cuesta, she was the Music Department Chair and conductor
of the Reno Winds and the Truckee Meadows Community Orchestra at Truckee Meadows Community
College in Reno, NV, where she was the founding faculty of the Music Department.
JMartin@cuesta.edu
Ron McCarley
Cuesta Jazz Ensemble, Evening Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combos, Jazz Improvisation, Music
Theory
Ron McCarley, Director of Jazz Studies is a graduate of CalArts and Westmont College.
Before teaching at Cuesta, Ron was directing professional and collegiate big bands
and small groups in the Santa Barbara area. He has had many students go on to successful
music careers and many years of experience in jazz performance and education. As a
performer, he doubles on all saxophones, flute and other woodwinds and plays a wide
variety of music locally and throughout Southern California. When he is not playing
music or teaching, he spends his time with his wife, Laura, and their two children.
RMcCarle@cuesta.edu
Brian Alhadeff
Brian Asher Alhadeff is a conductor and pianist who has been on the faculty of Cuesta
College since 2018. Alhadeff has held the position of General and Artistic Director
of Opera San Luis Obispo since 2011. He is also currently the Artistic Director and
Principal Conductor of the Lompoc Pops Orchestra, and Principal Conductor of Civic
Ballet San Luis Obispo, and State Street Ballet Santa Barbara. Alhadeff was Artistic
Director and founder of the Hradec Kralove International Summer Opera Festival which
took place in the Czech Republic, and he also conducted the Albanian premier of Howard
Hanson’s Symphony No. 2 with the Albanian National Radio and Television Orchestra.
Guest conducting highlights include Marina Del Rey Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Tulsa
Ballet, South Florida Opera, Long Beach Opera, Ballet Tucson, Bourgas Opera Ballet,
and Prague State Opera Ballet and Chorus, in addition to many other orchestras, opera,
and ballet companies throughout the U.S. and Europe. In 2015 Alhadeff was hailed by
805 Living magazine as the Maestro of California’s Central Coast. Alhadeff studied
conducting at the Peabody Conservatory and Janacek Academy of Music. A California
native, Alhadeff holds a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola Marymount University, Masters
of Music from California State University of Los Angeles, and Doctorate of Musical
Arts from UCLA.
brian_alhadeff@cuesta.edu
Lisa Nauful
Marshall Otwell
Applied Piano Instructor
Marshall Otwell was pianist and musical director for Carmen McRae for more than eight years, performing all over the world and recording numerous albums with her, one of which, “Live at the Great American Music Hall” featuring Dizzy Gillespie, was nominated for a Grammy.He has toured extensively with Freddie Hubbard, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Charlie Musselwhite in addition to Carmen McRae.
During his career he has performed and/or recorded with many of the best known musicians in jazz, including Ruby Braff, Michael Brecker, Ray Brown, Benny Carter, Richie Cole, Chick Corea, Ray Drummond, Robben Ford, Dizzy Gillespie, Percy Heath, Herb Jeffries, Kitty Margolis, Gerry Mulligan, Mark Murphy, John Patitucci, Della Reese, Zoot Sims, Andy Simpkins, Cal Tjader, Mel Tormé, Sarah Vaughan, Ernie Watts and others.He has also recorded albums for Barbara Adamson, Ernestine Anderson, Andrea Carter, and Steve Wilson.
He played solo jazz piano at the Monterey Bay Aquarium as opening act for Diane Schuur (2004) and LaVay Smith (2006) in the annual Kuumbwa Jazz Center fundraising events. Additionally, he performed with his own trio at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 2011, 2012 & 2013, and with Dave Becker’s Central Coast All-Stars in 2018.
He was a member of the faculty of Jazz Camp West in La Honda, California from 2007 thru 2012.He was a member of the Kuumbwa Jazz (Santa Cruz, California) Board of Trustees from 2009 thru 2013.
He currently lives in Los Osos, teaches jazz piano part-time at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, and enjoys the simple life.
Chad Ruyle
Applied Voice Instructor
Chad Ruyle, vocal instructor, and tenor is a graduate of California State University,
Northridge with his Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance. Mr. Ruyle is a new
resident of the central coast, hailing from the Los Angeles area where he spent the
last twelve years teaching and performing in the operatic realm. Mr. Ruyle made his
professional operatic début as Don Curzio in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. During his graduate studies he enjoyed the roles ofSpärlich in Otto Nicolai’s Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, as well as Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus, Sam in Susannah, and Ferrando in Così fan tutte. Chad was a recipient of the Village Voices scholarship where he performed as a soloist
at the Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Plaza. For his undergraduate degree Mr. Ruyle
attended California State University, Fullerton where he was very active in the Chamber
Singers under the direction of John Alexander, and in the operas Dialogues of the Carmelites by Francis Poulenc, and Die Entführung aus dem Serail by Mozart to name a few. During his time at Cal State Fullerton Mr. Ruyle performed and toured with such orchestras
as the Boston Pops Orchestra, and Pacific Symphony. As an emerging solo artist, Mr. Ruyle has performed numerous recitals in the Los Angeles,
Orange County, and Riverside areas. Chad spent eight years as the tenor soloist and
section leader for the First German Speaking United Methodist Church in Glendale. Holding the utmost respect for the art of vocal pedagogy and vocal health,
Mr. Ruyle has commanded an active teaching repertoire. Mr. Ruyle looks forward to
expanding his student’s vocal endeavors at Cuesta College, and sharing his love of
performance.
Chad_Ruyle@cuesta.edu
George Stone
Recording Arts, Music Theory, Jazz Arranging and Composition, Jazz Piano, Jazz Trumpet
George Stone has enjoyed a rewarding career in music performance, composition and
music education for over 25 years. He currently directs the popular Audio Technology
Program and teaches Music Theory and Composition at Cuesta College.
GStone@cuesta.edu
Jennifer Sayre
Applied Harp Instructor
Jennifer performs as a soloist and ensemble musician throughout the United States and in Europe. She has appeared with the Los Angeles Baroque Orchestra and the Magnificat Baroque of San Francisco, in solo recital at Lincoln Center, and live broadcast of WQXR radio. A graduate of Eastman School of Music with bachelor and master degrees in harp performance, she also has performed with the Baltimore, Buffalo, and Seattle Symphony Orchestras, and the Rochester Philharmonic. She has recorded for Teldec, Warner Bros., and Musical Heritage Society. She is in demand as a specialist in 16th century Spanish harp music,most recently as guest lecturer/recitalist/instructor at Madison Early Music, 2017.
Inga Swearingen
Applied Music Instructor
Inga Swearingen received her bachelor of music degree from California State Polytechnic,
San Luis Obispo and her masters in choral conducting from Florida State University.
Ms. Swearingen has performed over a dozen times on Garrison Keillor's renowned radio
show, "A Prairie Home Companion", won first place and audience award at the Montreux
Jazz Festival Shure Vocal Competition, and has been a featured soloist in Weill Recital
Hall at Carnegie Hall. She also teaches voice and improvisation privately.
Cassandra Tarantino
Applied Voice Instructor
Cassandra Tarantino has her Bachelor's degrees in Church Music emphasizing Choral
Conducting and Performance Flute, and English Literature. Ms. Tarantino has participated
in prestigious music festivals such as the Aspen Music Festival, Apple Hill Chamber
Music Festival in New Hampshire, the Aberystwyth Music Festival in Wales, and the
Morges Chamber Music Festival in Switzerland. She also took a six-month sabbatical
in Northern Ireland to study music and the Irish-Celtic language. Cassandra received
her Master's of Music Degree in Flute Performance from California State University,
Northridge. Shortly after moving to San Luis Obispo in 2003, Ms. Tarantino formed
an Early Music ensemble with Guitarist James Edwards called the Lark Consort, which
focuses primarily on Renaissance and Baroque music for lute, Period Guitars, recorder,
transverse flute and continuo. She has also co-founded a new chamber music series
in San Luis Obispo called Second Sundays at St. Stephens. Folk music and dance are
a passion for Ms. Tarantino, and she can be found playing and dancing traditional
Irish, English Country and Contra Dance music.
Ctaranti@cuesta.edu
Darrell Voss Applied Percussion Instructor
Educator/Performer Darrell Voss has taught applied percussion for Cuesta College since
2000. Practically a San Luis Obispo native, Darrell was raised in a musical family
and has played drums since the age of 3. After graduating from San Luis Obispo High
School in 1983, he pursued a career as a drummer and percussion instructor. Cuesta
College was an important training ground for his music studies; he obtained an AA
degree in 1989. As a member of the Charter Class of Music graduates in 1994, he earned
a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
Darrell_Voss@cuesta.edu
Keith Waibel
Applied Clarinet Instructor
Keith has been a professional clarinetist, bass clarinetist, instructor and conductor
for over 45 years. His clarinet instructors include, Fred Peters, David Adkins and
Mitchell Lurie. He has played with and/or conducted the Louisiana Symphony, The Long
Beach Symphony, The Riverside Symphony, The Redlands Symphony, The San Luis Chamber
Orchestra, The Symphony of the Vines, The Lompoc Pops Orchestra, The San Luis Obispo
Symphony, The San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra, The San Luis Obispo County Band, The
Atascadero Community Band, and dozens of musical theatre and recording studio productions
for various media. Keith is a graduate in clarinet performance from California State
Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo and Cuesta College. Keith is the Music Director
of the San Luis Chamber Orchestra and leads “Wind in the Reeds,” the central coast’s
clarinet ensemble. His current and former students include members of major orchestras
worldwide, some of the world’s finest studio musicians, directors of music at various
colleges and universities, and others involved both vocationally and recreationally
in the world of music. He is very happy to be providing his guidance to the students
at Cuesta College.
Keith_waibel@cuesta.edu
