Professional Guest Artist Webinars

The Jenny Lin Foundation is offering a free series of webinars featuring musicians and others in the music industry.  These will be interactive sessions on the Zoom platform and all young musicians (grades 6-12) and their parents are invited.  We would like to ask that people who plan to attend register here.

Webinar Schedule

 All Events Run From 6:45pm-8:00pm

Gordon Goodwin, Monday June 15 | Video Recording

Gordon Goodwin, a graduate of LA College of Music, is a pianist, saxophonist, composer, arranger, and conductor.  He has won 3 Emmys, 2 Grammys and a Daytime Television Emmy.  In addition, he has had over 20 nominations for his composition and arrangements.  He began writing music at age 5 (!) and wrote “Hang Loose” at age 13.  Presently, he conducts the Big Phat Band, a world renowned jazz big band.  Find a YouTube recording by clicking on this link or entering https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGPe0haLAZ0 in your browser.

Mr. Conway will be moderating this session.

Sgt. Priscilla Silva, Tuesday June 16 | Video Recording

Sgt. Priscilla Silva is a Deputy Sheriff with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office who actually knew Jenny Lin.  Sgt. Silva grew up in Castro Valley, (Jenny’s hometown), was one of Jenny’s classmates and completed her public schooling at Castro Valley HS.  She has had training in Internet and Cyber Safety and has also served as a School Resource Officer (SRO) in Castro Valley.  As you can imagine, many of Jenny’s classmates were deeply affected by her death and more than one of Jenny’s friends pursued careers in law enforcement.  Sgt. Silva has always had a heart for child safety and will help us explore ways to use the internet safely, as well as take questions submitted by session attendees.

A virtual Scavenger Hunt / Kahoot game (with cool prizes:), run by our Student Leaders (Student Coordinators or SC’s), is part of this program as well.

PARENT ADVISORY:  This session will cover topics intended for Middle & High School Students, so please consider the appropriateness of your student’s attending alone.  (We might call this a PG-13 session.)  We offer this FBI Safe Online Surfing Website as an alternative if you prefer that your child skips this session.  It has games and completion tests for 3rd-8th grade.  Additional Cybersafety info is found at https://tinyurl.com/FBICybercrimesProtections.

Mrs. Foy-Couche & JLF SC’s will be moderating this session.

Harrell Harris, Wednesday June 17 | Video Recording

Hip-Hop veteran Harrell Harris, aka H2O, member of Urban Punk with La Toya Renee London. Urban Punk was formed October, 2010, in San Francisco, California. H2O has worked with everyone from Mix Master Mike and Bruno Mars to Fergie. He began his career as a solo artist but soon joined forces with DJ Q Bert, Mix Master Mike, DJ Apollo and FMD to form FM20, a super group that blended alternative rock with Hip Hop. In 2009, H2O formed the group Prototype.  Find a YouTube recording by entering https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPPljqc1izI.

Ms. Ryan will be moderating this session.

Aaron Shaul, Monday June 22 | Video Recording

Aaron Shaul is a string bass player who received his BA in bass performance from CSUH.  He presently teaches and coaches in several local schools.  He plays both jazz and orchestral music equally well and regularly performs with the Berkeley Symphony, among others.  He has performed on national tours in Hamilton and Beautiful, the Music of Carole King.  Recent recordings include “Unbreakable” by Tony nominated composer Andrew Lippa (Skywalker Sound, 2018), and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus 40th Anniversary Album (Skywalker Sound, 2017).

Mr. Nasatir will be moderating this.

Ricardo Garcia, Tuesday June 23 | Video Recording

In the 2020 season, tenor Ricardo Garcia joins Portland Opera as a resident artist.  

Ricky was a young artist at Wolf Trap in 2017 and in 2018.  In 2015, Ricky participated at Songfest in Los Angeles, coaching with Martin Katz, John Aler, Susanne Mentzer and Dawn Upshaw.  In 2014 he placed in the Brava! Opera Theater Vocal Competition and received an Encouragement award at the San Francisco District Met National Council Auditions.  He also won the Adrian Boyer Vocal Competition at the Bayview Music Festival. 

Mr. Garcia received his bachelor’s degree from the University of the Pacific and in 2018 earned his Master’s degree in Continuing Education at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Cesar Ulloa. 

Mr. Nasatir will moderate.

Andrew Boysen and Jack Stamp, Wed. June 24 | Video Recording

Mr. Stamp and Mr. Boysen are both professors at universities on the East Coast and both are noted composers.

The students may be familiar with Mr. Stamp’s In the Silence of the Canyon, which was commissioned by Hopkins Junior High School and premiered last year.  See it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEp5TW30fI8.

Mr. Boysen is also a familiar composer to many of the students.  His Alchemy is performed here by the Jenny Lin Symphonic Band, conducted by Mr. Greg Conway, who will be moderating this evening’s webinar.  Click the link to view the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9RdaJA6zdc.

Mr. Conway will moderate.

Dawn Richardson and John Mader, Mon. June 29 | Video Recording

Ms. Richardson is a drummer, best known for her work with Four Non-Blondes.  She is an author, having written 4 books on drum technique, and she plays and teaches in the Bay Area.  See her teaching (along with some great SF street scenes) are found here on YouTube   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djhxZeyBEYY.

Mr. Mader is also a drummer. He has been playing since he was 17 years old.  He played on the movie Blindspotting by David Diggs and he has been the drummer for many musical shows:  Wicked with the original New York cast, The Lion King in San Francisco, and recently Hamilton, both in Los Angeles and in San Francisco.  See an example of his dynamic style on the YouTube video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsb-PTSOMBc.

Mr. Nasatir (another drummer) will moderate this session.

Richard Meyer, Tuesday June 30 | Video Recording

Mr. Meyer taught middle school music for many years.  He is currently the conductor with the Pasadena Orchestra.  He writes symphonic band and orchestra music and our kids will know his work, having played many of his pieces in their school bands.  Last year, the Jenny Lin Orchestra premiered From Darkness, Joyful Sounds Are Born, a piece commissioned in honor of Jenny.  Hear it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVUYtnHWj4A. 

Mr. Nasatir will moderate.

Jay Mason, Wednesday July 1  | Video Recording

Mr. Mason plays saxophone and woodwinds.  His credits include The Temptations, The Rockets, the Disneyland Band and The Desert Symphony.  He has recorded with Barry Manilow and Chick Correa, among others.  He can be heard on many soundtracks, such as Aladdin, The Incredibles, The Secret Life of Pets, Frozen, Toy Story andWorld of Warcraft.  See him here on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZDah9Za0tg. 

Mr. Conway will be moderating this session.

Ellyn Marsh, Monday July 6 | Video Recording 

Ms. Marsh is a Broadway singer, dancer, actress, and teacher.  She was born in the Bay Area and was always determined to perform on Broadway.  Her credits include Beach Blanket Babylon, Rent, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Rose Tattoo, and 6 years in Kinky Boots, among other performances.  She is also funny.  See her on YouTube at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0Oo3xziapI. 

Mr. Nasatir will be moderating this session.

John Mackey, Tuesday July 7 | Video Recording 

John Mackey is a composer who had a rather unconventional musical journey.  He never formally studied a musical instrument, but he received his Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from the Cleveland Institute of Music and his Master’s from Juilliard in composition.  Originally he started writing for dance companies and continued composing pieces for symphonic band and orchestra.  Hear one of his pieces here on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8B_10PQFtE. 

Mr. Conway will moderate.

Robert Litton, Wednesday July 8 | Video Recording 

After completing his undergraduate studies at  California State University, Hayward, Mr. Litton graduated first in his class from the prestigious Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television program at the University of Southern California. His concert pieces have been performed by members of the San Francisco Symphony, SF Opera, Los Angeles Opera and the New York Philharmonic, and his first piece, One for All, was honored in 2001 with a featured performance in New York’s historic Carnegie Hall.Litton recently composed the rousing score for the Lightbound Studios game The Star Chasers.  To hear it, go to this YouTube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_MreRQ7_-w

Mr. Conway will moderate.