The Santa Monica Music Camp is presented by the Santa Monica Bay Music Foundation and coordinated by the faculty and staff of the Santa Monica Conservatory of Music.
Tomas Juarez Jr, also known as Tommy, voice teacher, is an operatic tenor and will be continuing his studies at UCLA. He has performed in Il Campanello & Aneas while studying with Janelle Destefano. Tommy enjoys teaching verymuch, helping students find their correct singing posture and understanding how the voice works. He is a successful teacher at the Santa Monica Conservatory of Music.
Vanessa Rosas is a conservatory-trained singer and teacher. She graduated from Johns Hopkins University-Peabody Conservatory, where she received her master of music degree in vocal performance and pedagogy, and previously from California State University Stanislaus with her bachelor of music degree in vocal performance. Vanessa has performed with opera, choral, and musical theater companies across the country, including the Baltimore Choral Arts Society and Pacific Chorale. She has spent years as a private voice and piano instructor, crafting her skill and natural versatility across a wide range of musical styles, from classical to contemporary, and has always loved popular styles of music. Vanessa has a teaching philosophy, as a result of her extensive performance experience and pedagogical training that focuses on the form, musicianship, and overall healthy production that can be applied to any age or genre of music performance practice. Vanessa's mission is to help her students find and strengthen the natural and unique beauty of their sound and musicality.
Celeste Tamos is a 6th-generation violinist residing in Santa Monica, California. She was born and raised in Santa Monica and attended McKinley Elementary, Lincoln Middle School, and Pacifica Christian High School. Celeste began her violin studies at the age of 3 and is a grad student at UCLA, majoring in violin performance. Celeste has an immense passion for teaching and playing music, and is currently focusing on growing her presence as a concert artist while teaching violin at the Santa Monica Conservatory of Music.
John Redfield began playing cello at the age of 8, and with the help of private teachers practiced hard throughout Elementary, Middle and High School and was awarded a full scholarship to Indiana University where he attended private studies and master classes with the world-renowned Hungarian cellist and teacher Janos Starker. Starker’s teacher was Schiffer, Schiffer’s teacher was David Popper, and now the Popper Methodology is taught by John Redfield at the Santa Monica Conservatory of Music. No cello methodology can compare to the rigors or rewards of the Popper Methodology, an essential for all aspiring professional cellists. After living in Italy and performing throughout Europe for 13 years, John Redfield returned to Santa Monica, co-founded the Elemental Strings youth orchestra, is currently Founder/Director of the Santa Monica Conservatory of Music, as well as a member of the SMMUSD District Advisory Committee for the Performing Arts. His numerous current and past cello students include prizewinners as well as those pursuing music at Yale, NYU, Georgetown, USC, and UCLA. As a performer, in his little free time from teaching, John has chosen to dedicate himself to performances of the solo cello repertoire (Bach, Kodaly, Cassado, Hindemith, etc.) in 3-4 recitals per year. John plays a Dutch cello dated 1700.