Piano
Roksana Zeinapur [Piano, Harpsichord]
Bio: Roksana Zeinapur is a passionate educator and an accomplished pianist and soprano. She began her musical studies in Riga, Latvia, and has studied and performed extensively in the USA and Europe. She holds a B.A. in piano performance from Pepperdine University and an M.F.A in Collaborative Piano and Voice from California Institute of the Arts. Roksana has maintained a private teaching studio since 2004, and holds positions at Vibe Performing Arts Studio and College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita. She has also held posts at L.A. County High School for the Arts and CalArts. Roksana believes that musical expression is a natural extension of one’s communicative abilities. She believes that different students often require different methods to enable their intellectual and creative abilities to the fullest. She teaches to help develop a sense of musical style and personal voice, and to educate on the rich heritage of western classical music. Roksana is grateful to devote her life’s work to music performance and education and hopes to inspire her students, colleagues and audiences with her passion for music.
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Rory Cowal [Piano]
Bio: Rory Cowal performs widely as both a jazz and classical musician. A
member of numerous ensembles promoting new music, he appears
frequently at Los Angeles’ premier venues. As a classical pianist,
Rory strives to bring audiences new pieces by contemporary composers.
In 2007, Rory premiered Muhal Richard Abams’ Etude No. 1 for solo piano
at REDCAT theatre in Los Angeles. Rory has also premiered pieces by
James Tenney, Larry Polansky, and Michael Pisaro. As a jazz pianist,
Rory has performed with jazz legends Joe Lovano, Charlie Haden, and
Bennie Maupin. Also a dedicated teacher, he has been giving lessons
for nearly a decade. His teaching style is very patient and fun, and
tailored to the individual student. Since he performs many genres of
music, he is able to work with whatever style his students are
interested in. Rory has an MFA from California Institute of the Arts
and a BM from University of Maryland in College Park.
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GARY FUKISHIMA [Piano]
Bio: GARY FUKUSHIMA is an active jazz pianist and composer in Los Angeles. He is on the faculty at California State University, Northridge. A native of Seattle, Washington, Gary started formal piano lessons at age eleven, eventually graduating from the University of Washington with degrees in classical piano, jazz studies, and psychology. Upon graduation, he accepted a faculty position with Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA, where he taught jazz piano, and he also was a prominent member of the jazz-folk group The Sabella Consort, with tours throughout the country over the course of nearly a decade.
In 2003 Gary relocated to Southern California to continue graduate studies with David Roitstein, Wadada Leo Smith, and Charlie Haden at California Institute of the Arts. He is currently active in the local Los Angeles jazz scene, having recorded and performed with many esteemed musicians including Joe La Barbara, Larry Koonse, Roger Cairns, Matt Otto, Darek Oles, Eddie Wakes, Carl Saunders, Ben Wendel, Roy McCurdy, and Gary Pratt among others. In addition to his college teaching work and maintaining a small private lessons studio, Gary is employed by the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz as a teacher in its educational program “Jazz in the Classroom” sponsored through the Los Angeles Unified School District Beyond the Bell program. Gary currently resides in Eagle Rock with his wife Susan, their daughter, Jesslyn, and their cat, Patty.