Sascha Jacobsen
SASCHA JACOBSEN, bass
www.saschajacobsen.com
Sascha Jacobsen was born into a musical family, going as far back as his great, great, great, great-grandfather, who was a bassist for the Moscow Opera.
Sascha has been playing the bass since age 16. His mentors have been Michael and James Finley, John Brecher, Nico Abondolo, and Dennis Trembley, as well as Wolfgang Guttler and Shinji Eshima. He now performs on the electric bass, fretless electric, string bass, baby bass, and cello.
He completed a Master's degree at the University of Southern California, and then went on to teach at Humboldt State University. He has served on the faculty at Laney College in Oakland and the Sequoia Chamber Music Festival. Sascha performed as principal bass with the Santa Cruz Symphony, and the American Musical Theatre in San Jose, and as a section member of the Monterey Symphony and the Sarasota Opera.
Sascha has performed on the world premier production of Hugh Jackman In Performance, Martin Short’s Fame Becomes Me, Recorded on the new cast album of A Chorus Line, and has toured the world with the Argentine Tango group: Trio Garufa. www.triogarufa.com
His Jazz group, the Sascha Jacobsen Quintet, released its premier CD Outer Sunset, which Double Bassist magazine declared, "shines a light on Jazz that it hasn't basked in for years."
www.saschajacobsen.com
Sascha Jacobsen was born into a musical family, going as far back as his great, great, great, great-grandfather, who was a bassist for the Moscow Opera.
Sascha has been playing the bass since age 16. His mentors have been Michael and James Finley, John Brecher, Nico Abondolo, and Dennis Trembley, as well as Wolfgang Guttler and Shinji Eshima. He now performs on the electric bass, fretless electric, string bass, baby bass, and cello.
He completed a Master's degree at the University of Southern California, and then went on to teach at Humboldt State University. He has served on the faculty at Laney College in Oakland and the Sequoia Chamber Music Festival. Sascha performed as principal bass with the Santa Cruz Symphony, and the American Musical Theatre in San Jose, and as a section member of the Monterey Symphony and the Sarasota Opera.
Sascha has performed on the world premier production of Hugh Jackman In Performance, Martin Short’s Fame Becomes Me, Recorded on the new cast album of A Chorus Line, and has toured the world with the Argentine Tango group: Trio Garufa. www.triogarufa.com
His Jazz group, the Sascha Jacobsen Quintet, released its premier CD Outer Sunset, which Double Bassist magazine declared, "shines a light on Jazz that it hasn't basked in for years."
Jory Fankuchen
JORY FANKUCHEN, Violin
Violinist and violist Jory Fankuchen is quickly building a reputation as both a performer and teacher in the Bay Area. Jory’s musical studies include a Bachelor’s of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory where he studied with Ian Swensen, and a Master’s of Music from the New England Conservatory, where he studied with Lucy Chapman. An avid chamber musician, Jory has performed in concert with artists such as Robert Mann, Joseph Silverstein, Joel Krosnick, Bonnie Hampton, Mark Sokol, Ian Swensen, and Paul Hersh. As first violinist of the Kailas String Quartet, Mr. Fankuchen performed throughout North America, winning first prize in the Chamber Music International Competition, and silver at the National Fischoff Competition. Founded in 2005, the Kailas held a two-year residency at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.
Since returning to the Bay Area in 2007, Jory has performed with many chamber ensembles and orchestras, including the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, Del Sol Quartet, Berkeley Symphony, Festival Opera, and many others. As a member of the Classical Revolution, Mr. Fankuchen performs weekly in unconventional venues such as Clubs and Art Houses, bringing classical music to a new and vibrant audience. As a member of the Magik Magik Orchestra, Jory has had the opportunity to perform with artists such as Sting, Mary Wilson and Bob Weir. Not only a performer, Jory has always had a passion for teaching. He has taught privately and at many schools including the San Francisco Conservatory’s Preparatory Department, The Marin Academy, and PACO Music Camp. Jory is currently on the faculty at the Crowden School and was recently a judge for the San Francisco Youth Orchestra concerto competition.
Violinist and violist Jory Fankuchen is quickly building a reputation as both a performer and teacher in the Bay Area. Jory’s musical studies include a Bachelor’s of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory where he studied with Ian Swensen, and a Master’s of Music from the New England Conservatory, where he studied with Lucy Chapman. An avid chamber musician, Jory has performed in concert with artists such as Robert Mann, Joseph Silverstein, Joel Krosnick, Bonnie Hampton, Mark Sokol, Ian Swensen, and Paul Hersh. As first violinist of the Kailas String Quartet, Mr. Fankuchen performed throughout North America, winning first prize in the Chamber Music International Competition, and silver at the National Fischoff Competition. Founded in 2005, the Kailas held a two-year residency at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.
Since returning to the Bay Area in 2007, Jory has performed with many chamber ensembles and orchestras, including the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, Del Sol Quartet, Berkeley Symphony, Festival Opera, and many others. As a member of the Classical Revolution, Mr. Fankuchen performs weekly in unconventional venues such as Clubs and Art Houses, bringing classical music to a new and vibrant audience. As a member of the Magik Magik Orchestra, Jory has had the opportunity to perform with artists such as Sting, Mary Wilson and Bob Weir. Not only a performer, Jory has always had a passion for teaching. He has taught privately and at many schools including the San Francisco Conservatory’s Preparatory Department, The Marin Academy, and PACO Music Camp. Jory is currently on the faculty at the Crowden School and was recently a judge for the San Francisco Youth Orchestra concerto competition.
Anthony Blea
Anthony Blea was born and raised in San Francisco. Started playing the violin at age eight in public Schools and was accepted to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music at age eleven as a full scholarship student. Anthony went on to receive a Bachelors Degree from the Manhattan School of Music where he studied with Raphael Bronstein and his Masters Degree from the San Francisco Conservatory where he majored in String Quartet performance. Having played with Afro-Cuban bands here in San Francisco and New York City Anthony continues to play a wide variety of music in the Bay Area and internationally. He has played and recorded with Artists such as and including, Israel Lopez “Cachao”, Ray Charles, S.F. Opera Orchestra, John Santos Ensemble, Jazz Mafia, Anthony Blea y su Charanga, Charanga 76, Orquesta Broadway and many more. Anthony also is a professor of Music at the San Francisco City College where he teaches Orchestra, Violin and Community Choir.
Shain Carrasco
Shain Carrasco began playing the cello at age six. By the time he reached High School, he had dedicated his life to cello performance. At North Carolina School of the Arts, he earned a Bachelors Degree in performance, and at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, a Masters Degree. In graduate school, Shain began playing with several Bay Area symphonies, teaching cello, and pursuing chamber music. All of these have led to Shain’s emergence as one of the preeminent cellists in the Bay Area.
Today, Shain frequently plays in the California, Berkeley, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Fresno, Napa Valley, and Reno Symphonies and Philharmonics as well as in the San Francisco Sinfonietta, and the Russian Chamber Orchestra of Marin. He also joins numerous well-known jazz and rock bands on stage and in recordings such as Peter Gabriel, Dave Brubeck, Beats Antique, and Vetiver.
Shain’s dedication to the evolution of classical music led him to join the international movement, Classical Revolution, bringing Chamber music to people in accessible and often informal venues. Out of Classical Revolution, the Musical Art Quintet (MAQ) was formed with Shain as the founding cellist. Shain’s love for diverse Chamber music also led him to join the Presidio String Quartet – a group widely known for their unique interpretations of contemporary classical pieces (presidiostringquartet.com).
An integral part of Shain’s musical life is also teaching cello. Motivating students to explore and refine their own cello playing continues to be a steadfast inspiration. Currently, Shain serves as faculty at the Community School of Music and Art in Mountain View (since 2005) and trains students privately in his home studio.
Today, Shain frequently plays in the California, Berkeley, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Fresno, Napa Valley, and Reno Symphonies and Philharmonics as well as in the San Francisco Sinfonietta, and the Russian Chamber Orchestra of Marin. He also joins numerous well-known jazz and rock bands on stage and in recordings such as Peter Gabriel, Dave Brubeck, Beats Antique, and Vetiver.
Shain’s dedication to the evolution of classical music led him to join the international movement, Classical Revolution, bringing Chamber music to people in accessible and often informal venues. Out of Classical Revolution, the Musical Art Quintet (MAQ) was formed with Shain as the founding cellist. Shain’s love for diverse Chamber music also led him to join the Presidio String Quartet – a group widely known for their unique interpretations of contemporary classical pieces (presidiostringquartet.com).
An integral part of Shain’s musical life is also teaching cello. Motivating students to explore and refine their own cello playing continues to be a steadfast inspiration. Currently, Shain serves as faculty at the Community School of Music and Art in Mountain View (since 2005) and trains students privately in his home studio.
Charith Premawardhana
Violist Charith Premawardhana is a native of Sri Lanka and resident of
San Francisco. Charith is the founder of Classical Revolution, an
organization which promotes live music performance in accessible
venues. What started 5 years ago as a weekly chamber music reading
session at Revolution Cafe in San Francisco's Mission District has
grown into a worldwide phenomenon, with active chapters nearly 30
cities in the US, Canada, and Europe. Classical Revolution is very
active in the Bay Area, having presented over 700 live performance
since 2006.
Charith is a proponent of new music of different styles, having
premiered more than 200 works since moving to San Francisco seven
years ago. In addition, Charith has recorded and performed with the
Musical Art Quintet (world chamber ensemble), Jazz Mafia Symphony
(jazz/hip hop orchestra), The Congress (soul/funk band), Magik*Magik
Orchestra (backup orchestra for pop and rock bands), Third Eye Blind,
jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux, pop star Vanessa Carlton, rock band The
Mars Volta, Indian/jazz percussionist Sameer Gupta, folk
singer/songwriter Meklit Hadero, gypsy folk band Rupa & the April
Fishes, and numerous other ensembles from various musical styles.
With all of these various projects, Charith's main interest is in
chamber music, and he brings the experience gained in performing in a
string quartet to each of these non-classical chamber groups.
Charith has performed at the Cabrillo Contemporary Music Festival,
Aspen Music Festival, the Playboy (LA), Newport, Montreal, Vancouver,
and Victoria Jazz Festivals and holds performance degrees from The
Ohio State University, Rice University, and San Francisco Conservatory
of Music.
San Francisco. Charith is the founder of Classical Revolution, an
organization which promotes live music performance in accessible
venues. What started 5 years ago as a weekly chamber music reading
session at Revolution Cafe in San Francisco's Mission District has
grown into a worldwide phenomenon, with active chapters nearly 30
cities in the US, Canada, and Europe. Classical Revolution is very
active in the Bay Area, having presented over 700 live performance
since 2006.
Charith is a proponent of new music of different styles, having
premiered more than 200 works since moving to San Francisco seven
years ago. In addition, Charith has recorded and performed with the
Musical Art Quintet (world chamber ensemble), Jazz Mafia Symphony
(jazz/hip hop orchestra), The Congress (soul/funk band), Magik*Magik
Orchestra (backup orchestra for pop and rock bands), Third Eye Blind,
jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux, pop star Vanessa Carlton, rock band The
Mars Volta, Indian/jazz percussionist Sameer Gupta, folk
singer/songwriter Meklit Hadero, gypsy folk band Rupa & the April
Fishes, and numerous other ensembles from various musical styles.
With all of these various projects, Charith's main interest is in
chamber music, and he brings the experience gained in performing in a
string quartet to each of these non-classical chamber groups.
Charith has performed at the Cabrillo Contemporary Music Festival,
Aspen Music Festival, the Playboy (LA), Newport, Montreal, Vancouver,
and Victoria Jazz Festivals and holds performance degrees from The
Ohio State University, Rice University, and San Francisco Conservatory
of Music.
