Orchestra
Travis Kane (Conductor) A skilled performer and composer, Travis’ main focus is conducting. He trained with Mark Shapiro in conducting in Paris while participating in the European American Music Alliance. He is currently studying composition at CalArts with Anne LeBaron, and oboe with Allan Vogel, and previously studied oboe with Joe Stone at CSU-Long Beach. Travis is the founding director of the CalArts Choral Artists group, and organized master classes with Eric Whitacre and Morten Lauridsen. Recently, Travis directed the CalArts Chamber Choir in a concert that highlighted Stravinsky’s Les Noces. Travis is also the assistant director of the CalArts Chamber Orchestra. Between classes, gigs, and rehearsals, Travis still finds time to hike, exercise, and enjoy the culinary arts.
Emily Call (Violin)is currently pursuing her MFA in violin performance at CalArts, studying under Lorenz Gamma. She is originally from the east coast and first developed an interest in interdisciplinary collaboration as an undergraduate at Bennington College.
Ryan Espinosa (Clarinet) is a Clarinet Performance major at CalArts, studying with Dr. William Powell. Ryan is primarily interested in studies involving theatre, performance practice, and ethno/musicology. He enjoys performing works of all kinds and looks forward to bringing this opera to life.
Madeline Falcone (Viola) began playing the violin at age 7 in Lynchburg, VA. She continued to pursue musical studies in New Orleans, where she was a founding member of the Contemporary String Ensemble and attended Loyola University, receiving her Bachelor of Music degree and setting the unofficial Wolfpack Track and Field full marathon record time. Madeline is currently studying violin performance at CalArts, where the wealth of musical opportunities have recently inspired her to study the art of viola playing as well. Over the next year, she looks forward to graduating with a Master’s degree and running her first ultramarathon.
Jodie Landau (Percussion) is a composer, percussionist and vocalist born and raised in Sherman Oaks, CA. He is currently studying with David Johnson and Marc Lowenstein at CalArts.
Betsy Rettig (Cello) is a versatile cellist dedicated to innovation and experimentation in musical composition and practice. Recent adventures in music making include participation in the 2011 U.S Debut of The Universe Will Provide with composer and guitar legend Mike Keneally, working directly with the composer for the Sophia Gubaidulina Festival (REDCAT), the Los Angeles Iannis Xenakis Festival (REDCAT), and performing solo amplified cello in the west-coast premiere of Xenakis’ opera Oresteia (CalArts). BM: Cleveland State University. Advanced Certificate in Chamber Music: Leonard Sorkin International Institute for Chamber Music at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is currently an MFA candidate in Cello Performance at CalArts, studying with Erika Duke-Kirkpatrick and Matt Cooker.
Jillian Risigari-Gai(Harp) started studying the harp at age three. She completed a Bachelor of Music in Performance-Harp at California State University-Long Beach and is currently an MFA candidate in Harp Performance at CalArts, studying with Katie Kirkpatrick and with Susan Allen (known for her artistry in free improvisation and premiering compositions for harp). Jillian cultivates her artistry through premiering compositions, arranging, free improvisation, jazz, classical, ambient, North Indian music, Balinese and Javanese Gamelan, African music and composing. Jillian has toured in France, England, and in the United States- Reno, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Sacramento, and Santa Barbara sharing her music with others.
Elysia Strauss (Saxophone) has been playing the saxophone for 15 years. At the age of 10 she auditioned for her middle school big band and learned that the only opening was for baritone saxophone. Though the instrument was possibly bigger than she was, she accepted the challenge and hasn't looked back ever since. She has trained at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and at Portland State University, where she mostly played tenor saxophone. An MFA candidate at CalArts, she focuses mostly on jazz composition and performs regularly on all saxophones.
Emi Tamura (Piano) is a pianist, teacher and composer living in Los Angeles. She received her BM, MM, and MFA degrees in music at San Francisco State University under the tutelage of Roger Woodward, and Vicki Ray at CalArts. In addition to being a classical and contemporary pianist, she plays in several local punk bands, composes instrumental and electro-acoustic music, and enjoys working in the experimental music genre as well as collaborating with dancers, film-makers, and animators.
Emily Call (Violin)is currently pursuing her MFA in violin performance at CalArts, studying under Lorenz Gamma. She is originally from the east coast and first developed an interest in interdisciplinary collaboration as an undergraduate at Bennington College.
Ryan Espinosa (Clarinet) is a Clarinet Performance major at CalArts, studying with Dr. William Powell. Ryan is primarily interested in studies involving theatre, performance practice, and ethno/musicology. He enjoys performing works of all kinds and looks forward to bringing this opera to life.
Madeline Falcone (Viola) began playing the violin at age 7 in Lynchburg, VA. She continued to pursue musical studies in New Orleans, where she was a founding member of the Contemporary String Ensemble and attended Loyola University, receiving her Bachelor of Music degree and setting the unofficial Wolfpack Track and Field full marathon record time. Madeline is currently studying violin performance at CalArts, where the wealth of musical opportunities have recently inspired her to study the art of viola playing as well. Over the next year, she looks forward to graduating with a Master’s degree and running her first ultramarathon.
Jodie Landau (Percussion) is a composer, percussionist and vocalist born and raised in Sherman Oaks, CA. He is currently studying with David Johnson and Marc Lowenstein at CalArts.
Betsy Rettig (Cello) is a versatile cellist dedicated to innovation and experimentation in musical composition and practice. Recent adventures in music making include participation in the 2011 U.S Debut of The Universe Will Provide with composer and guitar legend Mike Keneally, working directly with the composer for the Sophia Gubaidulina Festival (REDCAT), the Los Angeles Iannis Xenakis Festival (REDCAT), and performing solo amplified cello in the west-coast premiere of Xenakis’ opera Oresteia (CalArts). BM: Cleveland State University. Advanced Certificate in Chamber Music: Leonard Sorkin International Institute for Chamber Music at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is currently an MFA candidate in Cello Performance at CalArts, studying with Erika Duke-Kirkpatrick and Matt Cooker.
Jillian Risigari-Gai(Harp) started studying the harp at age three. She completed a Bachelor of Music in Performance-Harp at California State University-Long Beach and is currently an MFA candidate in Harp Performance at CalArts, studying with Katie Kirkpatrick and with Susan Allen (known for her artistry in free improvisation and premiering compositions for harp). Jillian cultivates her artistry through premiering compositions, arranging, free improvisation, jazz, classical, ambient, North Indian music, Balinese and Javanese Gamelan, African music and composing. Jillian has toured in France, England, and in the United States- Reno, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Sacramento, and Santa Barbara sharing her music with others.
Elysia Strauss (Saxophone) has been playing the saxophone for 15 years. At the age of 10 she auditioned for her middle school big band and learned that the only opening was for baritone saxophone. Though the instrument was possibly bigger than she was, she accepted the challenge and hasn't looked back ever since. She has trained at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and at Portland State University, where she mostly played tenor saxophone. An MFA candidate at CalArts, she focuses mostly on jazz composition and performs regularly on all saxophones.
Emi Tamura (Piano) is a pianist, teacher and composer living in Los Angeles. She received her BM, MM, and MFA degrees in music at San Francisco State University under the tutelage of Roger Woodward, and Vicki Ray at CalArts. In addition to being a classical and contemporary pianist, she plays in several local punk bands, composes instrumental and electro-acoustic music, and enjoys working in the experimental music genre as well as collaborating with dancers, film-makers, and animators.