Growing up in Illinois, and moving to Phoenix in 1973, Ron played theater organ for Organ Stop Pizza in Phoenix and Mesa for 21 years. He has continued a career in church music, which started at his Illinois home church, Port Byron Methodist Church, and is currently service musician at 1st United Methodist Church in Phoenix. In his nonmusical life, Ron taught 2nd grade and Library Science for Mesa Public Schools, Mesa, AZ, until his retirement after 20 years. Since that time, he has been teaching 5th and 6^th grade Class Piano for Arizona School for the Arts, Phoenix, AZ.

Another ongoing facet of Rhode’s life has been his legacy of recordings on many of the finest theater organ installations to be found! He has received great reviews for both the technical production and the musical artistry. An old/new recording is now available!

Recordings can be purchased through his new website.

www.ronrhode.com

She was the national first place winner of the prestigious NATS Artist Award (NATSAA) leading to her Carnegie Hall debut in Stern Auditorium in 2001 and many subsequent guest recital appearances throughout the country. She has been a multiple prizewinner in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions, including 2nd place in the Western Region. She has also participated in many international competitions, including the final round of the Francisco Vinas International Singing Competition in Barcelona, Spain. She has participated in prestigious young artist programs such as Music Academy of the West, Opera Theater of St. Louis, International Institute of Vocal Arts in Chiari, Italy, and the International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv, Israel, allowing her to receive guidance and training from many of the music world’s top artists such as Marilyn Horne, Joan Dornemann, Stephen Lord, Warren Jones and Patricia McCaffrey.

On the concert stage, Vanessa made her Carnegie Hall debut as the soprano soloist with the New England Symphonic Ensemble in Schubert’s Mass in G. Other performances include solo’s in Sheherazade (Ravel), The Seasons (Haydn), Christmas Oratorio (Bach), Elijah (Mendelssohn), Exsultate Jubilate (Mozart), and Messiah (Handel).

She was the soprano soloist with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and Boys Chorus in the Christmas Concert special, “Christmas at the Mission” which was nationally broadcast on PBS. Recently she was a guest soloist with the University of Arizona Wind Symphony, performing the soprano solos in David Maslanka’s Mass.

Other recent operatic performances include Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro with Connecticut Grand Opera, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with the Festival Lyrique en Mer in Belle Ile, France, and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with Opera in the Heights in Houston, TX.

Vanessa holds a Master of Music degree and Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Arizona where she studied with Professor Charles Roe and a Professional Studies Certificate from Manhattan School of Music where she studied with Patricia McCaffrey and Warren Jones.

Along with teaching privately, she is presently an Opera Teaching Artist with the O.M.A. (Opening Minds Through The Arts) program through the Tucson Unified School District. She is overjoyed to share her art form with elementary students throughout Tucson.

check out their website here: http://loschanguitosfeos.org/