The DreamWinds and DreamStrings programs are provided through the joint collaboration between the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and the Santa Monica Education Foundation. Music students at the district's three Title I elementary schools as well as instrumentalists at John Adams and Lincoln Middle Schools receive weekly coaching sessions to supplement curricular instruction and rehearsals.
2024 - 25 DREAMWINDS CLINICIANS
Emily Senchuk is a versatile woodwind performer and teacher who performs in a variety of musical styles ranging from symphony orchestra and chamber ensembles to musical theatre and jazz big band and holds a degree in music composition from Wayne State University. She performs regularly with several ensembles including the Golden State Pops Orchestra and the Orchestra Santa Monica Woodwind Quintet, and she also manages and composes for the Los Angeles Flute Orchestra which has performed with artists such as Ali Ryerson, Jim Walker and Sarah Jackson. Many of her works for flute ensemble have been performed at the National Flute Association's National Conventions and received awards in the NFA Newly Published Music competition. Emily has been active as a woodwind coach and private teacher for many years working in numerous public and private schools in the LA area. She is a member of Music Teachers’ Association of California and has served as the State Wind Coordinator in addition to being an evaluator for numerous statewide music performance and composition programs for MTAC and MTNA. Her private students have been selected for honor groups and received awards at the local, state and national level. Emily is also the Director of Operations and Programs and the Director of the Bergmann & Encore Programs for Elemental Music a local non-profit organization that has brought music ensembles and lessons to westside students for over 20 years.
Mrs. Senchuk impresses our Concert Band by performing excerpts from Adrienne Albert's "Fantasia for Flute and Piano."
Dr. Ellen Shinogle is an international award-winning trumpet performer who has become distinguished in her field as a dynamic entertainer of exceptional artistry. She is the first place winner of both the 2019 National Trumpet Competition Graduate Solo Division and the 2021 Mt. San Antonio College Competition Solo Collegiate Division. Dr. Shinogle is also the recipient of the Stanley Wilson Memorial, Mimi Alpert Feldman, and Gluck Fellowship Awards. She regularly performs as a soloist, chamber musician, jazz musician, and in operas, orchestras, studios, and musical theater productions both internationally and domestically. Dr. Shinogle has performed with Seraph Brass, MUSE/IQUE, Juneau Symphony’s Holiday Brass, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Dream Orchestra, Southern California Brass Consortium, LALA Brass, Brighton Symphony Orchestra, New Valley Symphony Orchestra, Downey Symphony Orchestra, Rio Hondo Symphony, Antelope Valley Symphony Orchestra, and Wild Up. She can be heard regularly performing as the principal trumpet in the Santa Monica Symphony and the Westside Chamber Orchestra, in multiple productions at the Disneyland Resort, SeaWorld, and in films and television shows, such as Jimmy Kimmel Live! She has contributed her expertise as an adjudicator for the 2021 Women Composing for Trumpet Competition and for the 2023 and 2024 National Trumpet Competitions. She has organized and contributed to trumpet composition commissions to further the diversity of trumpet repertoire and has premiered many compositions internationally and domestically. Dr. Shinogle is a sought-after instructor who seeks to create educational opportunities for a wide array of audiences. Dr. Shinogle is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, where she received Bachelor of Music degrees in Trumpet Performance and Music Education and won the Performer’s Certificate of Distinction. She earned her Master of Music degree at the University of Southern California, Thornton School of Music. Dr. Shinogle was a Teaching Associate of both the Brass Department and Trumpet Studio while pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of California, Los Angeles, Herb Alpert School of Music.
Dr. Shinogle introduces herself to our Symphonic Band with a dramatic performance of the Introduction and Theme from "The Carnival of Venice" by Jean-Baptiste Arban.
Born in Taiwan and raised in Southern California, trombonist Fuchou Chiang began playing the trombone in middle school in Los Angeles, California, where he also attended the Hamilton High School Academy of Music. After graduating from Covina High School in Covina, CA, he began his musical career as a member of the U. S. Marine Corps Bands in 29 Palms, California and Okinawa, Japan. He then earned his Bachelor of Music (2002) and Master of Music (2004) degrees in trombone performance at California State University, Long Beach where he studied with Jeffrey Reynolds, former bass trombonist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. After studying briefly at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, he completed his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in 2009 from the University of Southern California under the tutelage of Dr. Terry Cravens, where he was the recipient of the Robert Marsteller Memorial Scholarship.
Currently an active performer and teacher based in the Los Angeles area, Dr. Chiang has performed at many different venues across Southern California, including the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Wilshire Ebell Theater, Ford Amphitheater, Warner Brothers Studios, and Sony Picture Studios. His performing experience includes appearances with the Debut Orchestra, American Youth Symphony, Torrance Civic Chorale, Golden State Pops Orchestra, Whittier Regional Symphony, Brentwood-Westwood Symphony, Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, Antelope Valley Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida. His teaching experiences include the Harvard-Westlake School for the Performing Arts, Whittier Christian High School, and California State University, Long Beach.
Our young musicians enjoy the artistry of Dr. Chiang's performance of two movements from J.S Bach's Cello Suites.
Chris Parise began playing the drums at the age of 11. He attended John Adams Middle School and Santa Monica High School where he was active in the respective music programs. Since then, he has played at a variety of concert venues ranging from the Jazz Bakery to Walt Disney Concert Hall. His resume includes performances with the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, the American Youth Symphony, the UCLA Wind Ensemble, and Grammy-nominated baritone Jubilant Sykes (also a JAMS alumnus). In 2010, Chris received his Bachelor of Arts in percussion performance from UCLA under the guidance of Mitchell Peters. Aside from performing and teaching music privately, Chris currently has a residency with the Q-Bet Quartet at the world famous Culver Hotel in Culver City.
Mr. Parise (JAMS '02, Samohi '06) puts everyone in a happy mood with his performance of a xylophone rag!
2024 - 25 DREAMSTRINGS CLINICIANS
A Santa Monica native, Finn Bordal began his violin studies in 4th grade at John Muir Elementary School. He continued to develop his passion for the instrument throughout his time playing in the top orchestras at John Adams Middle School and Santa Monica High School. Immediately after graduating from SAMOHI, Finn began to teach violin sectionals at his alma mater during a gap year, while pursuing other teaching engagements and performing with the American Youth Symphony and Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestras. Now, after finishing his undergraduate degree at Oberlin College, Finn is back teaching violin at SMMUSD schools.
Mr. Bordal (JAMS '10, Samohi '14) demonstrates contrasting styles in his performances from Eugène Ysaÿe's Violin Sonata No. 2.
Betsy Rettig is a cellist and educator dedicated to innovation and experimentation in musical practice. Equally active in music performance and education, Betsy maintains a private cello studio while also coaching chamber music and sectional strings through organizations including Millikan Middle School Performing Arts Magnet, Elemental Music and the Neighborhood Community Music School. She is a founding member of the Isaura String Quartet, and has collaborated with diverse composers and artists including Sofia Gubaidulina (The Journey Back to the Beginning, presented with the composer at REDCAT), Alan Smith (Vignettes: Covered Wagon Woman at USC), Lily Hadyn (video performance for Kashmir, Lobsterfest), and Jose Gurria’s Gurrisonic Orchestra (Angel City Jazz Festival at the Ford Amphitheater). As cello soloist, she has recently created and performed the music for the opening exhibition of Circa Trilogy by celebrated conceptual artist Mary Kelly with artist collective My Barbarian and BESSIE LECTURE by multimedia artist Ursula Brookbank, a live performance from her She World Archive series. Betsy is featured on the albums of Malachi (Milwaukee) Universalia Jane (Humboldt) and can be heard on the upcoming albums of LA-based bands Man Man and Chances. Betsy holds a Master of Fine Arts from California Institute of the Arts (2013) and a Bachelor of Music from Cleveland State University (2005).
With her captivating carbon fiber cello, Ms. Rettig performs a beautiful rendition of the well-known English ballad, "Scarborough Fair."
Elissa Moser Linowes grew up in Wisconsin where she began studying piano at age 6 and started playing upright bass in the school strings program at the age of 9. She played in the Wisconsin Youth Orchestra throughout middle school and high school. After receiving a BA in Drama/Dance at Bard College, she moved to NYC as a modern dancer. Picking up electric bass as well as upright bass, Elissa performed with varied rock bands and cabaret acts at venues ranging from CBGB’s, La Mama, The City Winery, to performing at the Kennedy Center.
Elissa now plays both upright bass and electric bass around LA. She is a member of the Santa Monica Symphony, plays in the band Abby and the Myth, and sits in with such venerable blues musicians as Rick Holmstrom and Jeff Turmes. As a private bass teacher, she feels strongly that classical bass players learn theory and often teaches it through a jazz/rock lens. Elissa is delighted to be working with the bass players at JAMS.
Ms. Linowes offers our students a "double feature" by performing a bass etude followed by some 12-bar blues!