Faculty

Graciela Acedo is a ballet teacher, choreographer, and a USF grant recipient. She trained in Caracas and at Boston Ballet with a government scholarship and a Harkness Ballet Internship. Professor Acedo performed the classics with Ballet Teresa Carreño sharing the stage with Rudolf Nureyev, Fernando Bujones and Julio Boca. She's a former principal dancer with Ballet Nuevo Mundo de Caracas and worked with choreographers Judith Jamison, Ulises Dove, John Butler, Elisa Monte, Dennis Nahat, Choo San...

Philip Amo Agyapong is a dance teacher and researcher. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance and Theater Arts and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance, specializing in African Dance Traditions and Contemporary African Dance from the University of Ghana. In the same University, he served as an assistant lecturer in the Department of Dance Studies and gained valuable experience in leading undergraduate and exchange students in theory and practical dance classes. Philip has extensive...

Cara Burgoyne is a vocalist, musical-theatre actress, and solo cabaret artist, performing Broadway, American Standards, country music and pop songs in the Bay Area. She enjoys helping new students find their voice and learn to express themselves through music. She also likes working with more advanced students as they improve their vocal technique and create believable and full-bodied characters. Also, Cara is a full-time Speech Language Pathologist with the San Francisco Unified School...

Theodora Carson is an active soloist and collaborative pianist throughout the Bay Area. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she has performed with the Marrowstone Island Orchestra, Seattle Wind Symphony, and Bainbridge Island Orchestra in Seattle, Washington. As a chamber musician, she has performed at the Vancouver Academy of Music in British Columbia, Canada, at the Bryanston Chamber Music Festival in Dorchester, England, and at the Instituto del Arte Contemporaneo in Lima, Peru. She was an...

Eugenie Chan is a 5th generation San Franciscan and playwright. Theaters that have produced or developed her award-winning plays include Cutting Ball, Houston Grand Opera: HGOco, Magic Theatre, The Public, Playwrights Horizons, Ma-Yi, Crowded Fire, Thick Description, Northwest Asian American Theatre, Group Theatre, East West Players, Centenary Stage, and Perishable Theatre. Eugenie has received commissions from the Houston Grand Opera, Cutting Ball (3 plays), the San Francisco Arts Commission,...

Brenton Cheng (CLMA, CMT-SE, MSME) is a teacher, director, and performer of improvised and choreographed work, based in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a teacher, he empowers students to become sophisticated movers through a cultivation of somatic and poetic awareness, as well as fostering a capacity for surrender. In addition to USF, he serves on the faculty of Integrated Movement Studies (Laban/Bartenieff movement analysis certification), and also teaches performance workshops internationally.

Daria D'Andrea performs across stylistic boundaries from 17th century Italian to 21st century tango. Daria plays with the San Francisco Opera Center Orchestra and is a member of the California Symphony, Sacramento Opera / Philharmonic and Fremont Symphony. Her baroque specialist training was in Europe where she toured extensively with the European Baroque Orchestra and studied with leaders in early music: Roy Goodman, Ton Koopman and Jaap Ter Linden. Daria performs with outstanding early music...

Kara Davis, co-artistic director of project agora, danced for Atlanta Ballet, Ohio Ballet, and Ballet Jörgen in Toronto, Ontario. She is a founding member of KUNST-STOFF and Janice Garrett & Dancers, both of which she danced with for ten years. She has performed choreography by Margaret Jenkins, Alex Ketley, Amy Raymond, Pearl Ubungen, Val Caniparoli (ACT), and Robert Moses. She has received multiple Isadora Duncan awards and nominations for her dancing and choreography. Her work has been...

Poppea Dorsam, cellist, received Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from Boston University under Michael Reynolds and George Neikurg. She also received the Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society award. Her Dissertation (UMI # 3214930) is on "Giovanni Battista Cirri." Undergraduate studies were with Andor Toth Jr. at Oberlin Conservatory. Dorsam also teaches at SF Community Music Center and GlenView Cello Camp, and runs a private studio. A member of the Sacramento Philharmonic, she...

A street culture cognoscente, Professor Duller is a founding member of 8th Wonder (2000), the nation's premiere Pilipina/o performance poetry collective, and The Rhapsodistas, an all-women interdisciplinary hip hop group, performing throughout the U.S. and the Philippines. Professor Duller's past performance projects include "Pinay Stories: Intersection of the Arts' Hybrid Project", "Kul Like That" at the SF Asian Art Museum, and "How to Skywalk" at both the Post-Modern Performance Project and...

Brian DuSell comes from upstate New York and began his work as Associate Director for Liturgy, Music and Interfaith programs at USF in August 2017. In his current position, Brian is privileged to work with a dedicated team who oversee not only Catholic liturgies on the USF campus but also coordinate with the ministries of our Interfaith partners (the Jewish Student Organization, the Muslim Student Association, the Orthodox Christian Fellowship, and the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship). Prior...

Italian-born guitarist and musicologist Giacomo Fiore has premiered more than two dozen new works for justly tuned, electric, and classical guitars, and released eight recordings for Cold Blue, Pinna, Spectropol, Paper Garden Records, and his own label. As a scholar, his research focuses on U.S. experimental music, intonation, and performance. He has published articles in Music Theory Spectrum, JSAM, and TEMPO, and writes regularly for Classical Guitar and SFCV. He lectures on historical topics...

Mike Fiorentino is a Bay Area guitarist and violinist since moving from the east coast in 1999, and performs with Dear Liza and Viv. He has shared the stage with Merle Saunders, Blues Traveler, The Spin Doctors, Camper Van Beethoven, and John Hiatt. In addition to teaching music and rock ensemble to Woodside students, he teaches at the Blue Bear School of Music and is on the music board at the University of San Francisco. Most memorable musical experience: Playing "Imagine" on the guitar for...

Suzanne Garramone has played piano as an accompanist and chamber musician for more than 40 years. She earned her Master's Degree in piano performance from the University of Iowa. Since then, Suzanne has musical-directed and performed hundreds of productions staged by middle schools, colleges and community theatre groups. She co-founded oboe/piano duo Classical Trash with Brenda Schuman-Post. Suzanne is also an original member of squeezebox rock band Those Darn Accordions. She has performed...

Natalie Greene is a multidisciplinary performing artist and artistic director of the award-winning devised theater ensemble Mugwumpin. Her work for the company has been produced by Z Space, Intersection for the Arts, San Francisco Airport, Children's Fairyland, and Pro Arts Gallery. As a choreographer and intimacy director, Natalie has worked with California Shakespeare Theater, Portland Center Stage, Custom Made Theater, Aurora Theater, Shotgun Players, Stanford University, and more. Her dance...

As a Core Member of the Bay Area theatre company, Word for Word, Stephanie has acted in numerous productions, including Upton Sinclair’s Oil! and Susan Glaspell’s A Jury of her Peers. For Word for Word, she directed the long-running production of Bullet in the Brain and Lady's Dream by Tobias Wolff, which played at the Magic Theatre and toured France. She has acted with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Campo Santo, Aurora Theatre, Berkeley Shakespeare, the One Act Theater, and in New York at La Mama...

Joseph Lares is the conductor and faculty advisor for the USF Don Marching Band, which he formed in 2009. Born and raised in Northern California, his areas of interests include student development, building community through musical performance, street photography, and media production. Joe is an alumnus of the University of California, Davis, where he studied new media and documentary film production as part of the Technocultural Studies program. His photographic work can be found at the...

Jeffrey Lee studied various forms of martial arts in his youth attaining mastery levels in later years. He has progressed to incorporate and apply his earlier disciplined and physical trainings to dance forms in Ballroom and Latin. Professor Lee has performed in various venues, taught and coached students of varying age groups, cultural backgrounds, and experience levels. His deep love for music, dance, connection and the importance of musicality imparts passion and sheer joy in those he works...

Sharonjean Leeds has taught Ballet, Modern, Dance Exploration, Choreography & Tap at USF since 1973. She has choreographed for USF's Dance Ensemble and the USF College Players. She received the College of Arts & Sciences Service Award in 1993 and USF's Distinguished Lecturer Award in 1995. She has a BA in Theater & Dance from Smith College and an MA in Dance from UCLA, danced with the Wuppertal (Germany) Opera Ballet, taught ballet and modern dance throughout the Bay Area for 35...

Sydney Loyola toured internationally as a principal dancer of the Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company and was considered a protégé of choreographer Lucrecia Reyes-Urtula, Philippine's National Artist for Folk Dance. Loyola is the founding artistic director for American Center of Philippine Arts, and consultant for Philippine Cultural Night at various universities, including UC Berkeley, CSU East Bay, UC Merced, UC Irvine and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her awards...

Michelle is an actress with over 20 years experience performing in traditional and experimental theater. She has appeared internationally, regionally and in NYC at numerous Off Broadway venues including Cherry Lane, Culture Project, INTAR and EST. She developed original work at HERE Arts Space and Richard Foreman's Ontological-Hysteric Theatre, as well as acting in developmental workshops and readings with New York Theatre Workshop, The Lark, and American Repertory Theatre. In the Bay Area, she...

Judith May, educator, vocalist, and songwriter has been using music to promote community building, change, activism, and healing since 1985. An instructor and vocal coach, she teaches voice lessons, songwriting, and is an ensembles coach at the University of San Francisco and in her private studio. She has adapted psychotherapy principles, learned while earning her master’s degree in somatic psychology, to enhance the effectiveness of her teaching style and help performers overcome performance...

Joshua McDermott has been working in the Bay Area as a Designer and Technical Director since 2005 and joined the Performing Arts Department at the University of San Francisco in 2010, where he founded and directs the Tech and Design Certificate program.  

Florentina Mocanu-Schendel was born and raised in Romania. She studied at the People's School of Art in Bucharest and University of Theater Arts in Targu Mures graduating with Diploma in Acting/MFA for theatre and film. She performed for the National Theatre, Comedy Theatre of Bucharest, Romania Film and won several awards for her work. Since moving to the United States, she has worked in theatre and film while completing her education with an MA in Drama from San Francisco State University and...

Born and raised in New York, "D" began dancing professionally at 14 and began instructing dance classes one year later. His work has appeared in numerous music videos, television shows, and international venues and he has appeared on the MTV, BET, Telemundo and Fox networks. As a dance educator, "D" has taught at many schools including SUNY Purchase College, Dominican University, SOTA, LINES Ballet and ODC Dance Commons. After obtaining his BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase College, he was...

Having been trained for many years at the Westlake School for the Performing Arts, Professor Montenegro continues to share his love of dance, having been blessed with opportunities to teach at workshops held in New York, Boston, Colorado, Las Vegas, and all throughout California.  Professor Montenegro completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in exercise and sports science  from the University of San Francisco and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University. Professionally...

After receiving a bachelor's degree in composition and choreography from the University of California, Riverside, Eli danced with Heidi Duckler's Collage Dance Theater, Stephanie Gilliland and Dancers, and Lizz Roman and Dancers. An excellent musician and composer, Eli has enhanced the Conservatory's ballet and modern technique classes as a musical accompanist since 2005. He has also composed dance music for a number of works created by Summer Lee Rhatigan on the Conservatory's students, as...

Dr. Manuel Alejandro Pérez received his EdD in international and multicultural education from the University of San Francisco. He is one of the original founders and co-director for Grupo Folklórico Los Alteños, a traditional Mexican folklórico company in Sacramento. With 25 years of experience in traditional danza, Manuel enjoys connecting his research on identity, artful resistance, and radical imagination to social justice spaces of performance. In recent years, he has traveled to various...

Jennifer danced ballet professionally for over ten years, with the Miami City Ballet, the Alabama Ballet, and the Washington Ballet. Throughout her career she experienced mind-body techniques as an important and valuable measure for preventing injuries. In addition to a career in ballet, Polyocan is also a graduate of New College of California with a degree in arts and social change. She has taught ballet for over 20 years to both children and adults at ODC, UC Berkeley, and the University of...

Mark Rafael (aka. Truitt) has been a professional actor for the past 25 years. His Bay Area appearances include Ted Kaczinski Killed People with Bombs, Schrodinger's Girlfriend, and Joe Goode's Body Familiar for the Magic Theatre, The Best of Playgrounds 9 & 11, Jihad Jones and the Kalashnikov Babes, ReOrient Festival, and the Bay Area Playwrights' Festival. He has also appeared regionally at Yale Repertory, American Stage, Wisdom Bridge, and Northlight Theatre, among others. Film and...

Rick Roberts is now approaching his 22nd season of conducting both Voices and Voices sub-groups (Men's, Women's, Jazz, and Six). Roberts is an alumni of both University of San Francisco, and San Francisco State University.

Christopher "Kit" Ruscoe, originally from Louisville KY, studied Classical Composition at the University of Louisville and Jazz Performance and Improvisation at the University of North Texas. He has over 25 years of experience in composing, performing, recording, and teaching music and guitar and is a member of ASCAP. Kit is currently working on film scoring and compositions for TV and documentaries as well as playing in several recognized Bay Area bands.

Liv Schaffer received her bachelor’s degree from Alonzo King LINES Ballet BFA program at Dominican University of California in 2013, and has spent subsequent seasons performing with AXIS Dance Company, DanceWorks Chicago, The Dance Exchange, and Robert Moses’ Kin. Liv is a community engagement artist with Jacob’s Pillow Curriculum in Motion®, and a lead artist with the Pillow's Medicine in Motion program, investigating ways in which dance is a tool for medical practitioners to enhance humane...

Rebecca has been a member of the music faculty at University of San Francisco since 2001, where she conducts the University Classical Choral Ensembles, teaches Music Appreciation, Musicianship & Principles of Tonal Theory, and Private Voice. In addition to her work at USF, Rebecca directs Sacred and Profane Chamber Chorus in Oakland. She holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Voice and Conducting from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral...

Ken Sonkin is an actor/director who has worked at American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Rep, SF Playhouse, Magic Theater, Center REP, 42nd Street Moon, Sonoma Rep, Broadway by the Bay, San Jose Stage Company, California Conservatory Theatre, Pacific Resident Theater (LA), Grove Shakespeare Festival (LA), Seacoast Rep (NH), Denver Center, and Pennsylvania Centre Stage. He belongs to PlayGround and The Playwrights’ Lab, and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild....

Paul S. Flores creates plays and oral narratives that spur and support societal movements that lead to change. Flores last play “On The Hill: I Am Alex Nieto” brought San Francisco communities together divided by gentrification and police violence. Flores’ ability to paint a vivid picture of bi-cultural Latino experience is shaped by growing up near the Mexican border. Flores’ performance projects have taken him from HBO's Def Poetry to Cuba, Mexico, and El Salvador. His comprehensive body of...

Pascal Bokar Thiam has earned a Master's Degree from Cambridge College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a Doctorate Degree in Education with honors from the University of San Francisco, CA. Born in Paris, France, and raised in France and in Senegal, his music invites the listener to a musical banquet from around the world from his native France to his Senegalese and Malian roots. Along the way, one samples bits of Jazz, R&B and Afro Pop, Bebop mixed with African harmonies and infectious...

Kumiko Uyeda has been performing and teaching music all her adult life. Professor Uyeda was a recipient of the University of California Pacific Rim Research Fellowship and the Eugene-Cota Robles Doctoral Fellowship in 2012. Her research centers on Ainu music, indigenous musics, and acoustemology (incorporating sounding and ecology). Professor Uyeda co-created the panels “Performing Indigenous Sound Ecologies” for the American Musicological Society’s annual conference and “Sounding Indigeneity...