Distinguished Leadership
updated 1/27/10
DIRECTOR'S BIOS

Iris Lamanna, Artistic Director, CCCC and Young Opera Company  / Co-Founder Director of Walnut Creek Levels 1, 2, 3 & 4 and San Ramon Levels 1 & 2.

Mrs. Lamanna is nationally recognized for her numerous achievements as a skilled musician and vocal director, and a dedicated musical educator. Her insight for music education, creativity and pursuit of high artistic standard has developed CCCC into one of the nation's top choirs.

Michael Sokol, Artistic Director, Walnut Creek Honors Ensemble

Michael Sokol, baritone, praised as a singer-actor of tremendous versatility and style, has appeared with the Metropolitan Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Glimmerglass  Opera, Portland Opera, Atlanta Opera, Netherlands Opera  Zuid, Nashville Opera, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Slovenska  Filharmonja, and The Boston Celebrity Series.

A champion of new music, premiering operas by Ricky Ian Gordon, Ernst Toch, Darren Hagen, Stephen Oliver, and Stewart Wallace, Mr. Sokol is also an acclaimed interpreter of both French and English Operetta.

As cantorial soloist, Michael has premiered works by many Jewish composers, and has worked with congregations throughout the United States, including Temple Beth Israel, Phoenix and Isaac M Wise, Cincinnati.

As a choral conductor, Mr. Sokol has conducted ensembles at University of California Santa Barbara, Western Kentucky University, and the choirs of the Santa Barbara Hillel Society and Temple Beth Israel, Phoenix. A voice student of Marlena Malas, he also studied with Italo Tajo, Martial Singher, and John Reed.

Michael 's childhood was spent  in Phoenix Arizona where he was a member of the Phoenix Boys Choir for many years. Currently, Mr. Sokol is a Professor at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA, having recently finished his tenure at the University of California Santa Barbara, where he taught voice and opera for five years.

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2009-2010 Board of Directors

Iris Lamanna
Emily Fernandez-Arnold
Sandy Warner


Advisory Board

Karen Anderson
Theo Atkinson
Angene Feves
Dr. Dan Hoggatt
Bob Keagy
Dr. Spencer Larsen
Sonja Nesbett Maund
Gwen Regalia
Deborah Roessler
Mary Stanley
Olivia Stapp
Jim & Chau Yoder

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