Conductors

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Nancy Nagano

Nancy Nagano
The Concert Orchestra

Nancy Nagano finished her musical studies in cello performance at the Miskhochschule in Freiburg, Germany. She has played with the Freiburger Theater Orchestra, Southwest German Radio Orchestra, Kobe Chamber Orchestra, and the New Japan Philharmonic. She has also performed solo and chamber music throughout Europe and Japan. For eight years she taught and conducted at the Tokushima Bunri University, where she made her conducting debut (as an alternate for Kent Nagano). This brought her to become the musical director of the Kochi Symphony Orchestra in Japan. Her performances have included Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet with the City Ballet of Tokyo, Opera exerpts from Carmen, La Traviata, La Boheme and several major piano concertos with well- known artists in Japan. At present she conducts the Cal Poly Chamber Orchestra and plays with the San Luis Obispo Symphony.

Carol Kersten

Carol Kersten
Academy String Orchestra & Preparatory Strings

Carol Kersten currently performs with the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra and the Mozart Festival Orchestra. She has appeared in recitals and chamber music programs throughout the county and has toured Europe with a chamber orchestra. She has been a member of the Sacramento Symphony and the Eugene Symphony as well as the San Luis County Symphony. She is the founding director of the Junior Strings in 1979 and the Preparatory Strings in 1993. From 1985-1989 Mrs. Kersten was the Music Director of the Youth Symphony. Currently she is Music Director of the Melody Lane Chamber Music Camp. She studied violin at SCU Sacramento and the University of Oregon. She also studied with Dr. Suzuki in Japan. Carol has taught Violin and Chamber Music at Cal Poly and now teachers in her studio. Mrs. Kersten lives with her family-husband Tim, son and bassist Jeff, and Reddy the dog in Los Osos.

Bruce Knowlton

Bruce Knowlton
Symphonic Winds

Bruce Knowlton received his B.A. Degree in Music and a Secondary Teaching Credential from California State University, Northridge. He taught junior high and high school music for ten years: first for the Burbank Unified School District and later for the Guadalupe School District. Bruce holds a California Lifetime Credential in Music Education. For the past 12 years he has operated a cstom furniture manufacturing business with his brother in Grover Beach. Bruce continues to perform with local groups such as the Latin Jazz ensemble, "SLO Mambo", and the "Five Cities Swing Band".

Randall Garacci

Super Bows!

Randy began his violin studies in the music program at the elementary school he attended in Los Angeles. He continued his studies with Manuel Compinsky. He came to San Luis Obispo in 1975 to attend Cal Poly, where he performed with various ensembles in the music department. Randy has been a member of the San Luis Obispo Symphony for over 30 years, currently serving as Principal Violin II. Randy is also a founding member of the Tolosa Strings Ensemble. When not performing, teaching in his private studio and the Symphony's Strings in the Schools program, or leading the SuperBows ensemble, he does computer software development.