Vocal Faculty
Megan OBrien
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Megan O'Brien is a classically-trained soprano, with experience leading song in churches across the United States and European festivals. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocal Performance from the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at Catholic University of America, and continued her studies in New York and performed with the Amalfi Coast Music Festival. Megan has been a member of the St. Patrick's Cathedral (New York) choir, Baltimore Symphony choir, and the soprano soloist in churches from New York, Baltimore, to San Francisco. Most recently she has led the men's Catholic choir at San Quentin Prison. When she's not singing, she homeschools her children and is a private tutor, so she brings various pedagogical methods and supportive demeanor to her voice teaching.
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Irene Cheng
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Irene Cheng is a musician, dancer, conductor, and educator. In 2022, she completed her Master’s of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Cal State East Bay (CSUEB) and in 2023 the Music Education Certificate Program also from CSUEB. She is currently the Assistant Conductor for The Dragon Singers community choir in the East Bay. Irene is also a concert percussionist for the West County Winds and for the Kensington Symphony Orchestra.
In the 2022-23 school year, Irene served as the Associate Conductor for the Cal State East Bay University Choir, as well as the Associate Conductor for the East Bay Youth Orchestra, led by Dr. William Harrington, where she also rehearsed and conducted one or two pieces per concert set. Since 2013 Irene has been teaching either group or private lessons for piano, singing, percussion/drum set, and ukulele. For ten years, Irene has also played keyboard, and drums, and sang for various church worship bands, and for a country band called Suzi and the Sidewinders. The fondest musical childhood memories began with the family watching The Lawrence Welk Show after dinner. They featured all sorts of musical acts, and Irene’s father held her in his arms and danced around the living room to old-fashioned polka music. Formal music training started with private classical piano at age nine, but a few years later, a different teacher taught Irene how to improvise with chords. By the time she got into a high school jazz band, those improvisational skills came in handy on the piano and vibraphone. In middle school and high school Irene started her journey as a percussionist too. Marching band, concert band, and drumline filled her early mornings, afternoons, and weekends. In college, Irene began singing with the Women’s Chorale at UC Berkeley, where she first became aware of how music performed well has the power to move audiences, even though they could not understand the words. As she got married and had children, Irene decided to be a homeschooler. While teaching her own children, she also volunteered to teach group classes with HEARTS Homeschool Coop one day a week for other homeschooled children: group piano, percussion, drum set, choir, partner dance, choreography, dance aerobics, long distance running, work working, machine sewing, art, creative writing, and more. Mrs. Cheng was the “Fun Mom.” People would say that they were surprised how these fun classes were actually not easy, but kids were willing to put in the time because they loved what they were learning. In those 18 years of volunteer teaching, Irene grew deeper in her calling to keep teaching even after her children grew up and left home. To prepare for becoming a professional music teacher, Irene went back to college later in life and studied music for 9 years. Music is one of the very best things in life, and there is nothing that brings more joy to Irene then shared it with others by giving them the tools to make music their own. |
Olga Korolev
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Olga Korolev is a classically trained singer, pianist and theater artist. Coming from a musical
family, she officially started her musical journey by beginning to learn the piano at 8 years old. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a voice concentration and a Theater and Biblical Studies Minor from Biola University. While at Biola, she sung with the Biola Chorale at the 2016 Western Division ACDA Conference and continued her piano studies as well. She has served as a choir accompanist for church and was a Conservatory Fellow at the American Conservatory Theater working with the Young Conservatory and Studio A.C.T. programs. Before moving back to the Bay area, she taught Suzuki piano to students ranging from 3 years to adult in the Sacramento region. She is certified with the Suzuki Association of Americas in the ECC (Every Child Can) course and Book 1 where she received her training under Caroline Fraser and Annette Lee. She is also a member of the Suzuki Association of Americas. She is passionate about building up students as well-rounded musicians and also as individuals where ever they go in life. |
Hilary Thompson
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“My parents always had classical music blasting on the record player and we all went to lots of concerts,” Hilary says. “I loved singing in school and church choirs when I was young.” In grade school, Hilary’s grandmother gave her a tiny little electric organ with a book, and Piano lessons followed, continuing through high school. Hilary went on to UC Santa Cruz, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Music, with an emphasis on piano and performance. She’s taught piano both privately and at the San Francisco Community Music Center for over 24 years. She was even a church music director for a number of years in Point Richmond.
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Tamara Haskin (online only)
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American Soprano, Tamara Haskin, made her international stage debut in 2009, at the Macedonian
Opera in the title role of Verdi’s Aida. Since that time, she has earned critical acclaim as a Verdian soprano singing close to 100 performances of AIDA, as well as other important verismo roles on the national and international opera and concert stages throughout the USA and Europe. Tamara earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at Wichita State University, with Master’s work at the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts, and intensive vocal studies at the DeJean International Institute of Vocal Arts in Paris, France. For 16 years of her career life, Tamara lived in Paris, France and Berlin, Germany, where she traveled and sang extensively throughout Europe. She speaks both French and German. As a voice teacher, Tamara enjoys working with beginners, intermediate, advanced singers and established professionals. She has maintained private voice studios in the United States and Europe throughout her singing career. She has held Adjunct Teaching positions at North Central College and Music Tech in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In her 18-year of extensive vocal training and mentorship from the noted international vocal pedagogue David Jones, Tamara has developed important teaching skills necessary to remedy various vocal issues, by employing concepts from the Swedish-Italian school of singing. These concepts are geared toward developing freedom and balance of voices of any age, genre or musical style. Working both as a vocal technician and a vocal coach, Tamara is passionate in helping singers discover vocal freedom in a fun, positive and nurturing environment. Ms. Haskin currently teaches online only. |