At age 16, Gardenhire became the youngest African-American to be offered a contract with Joffrey II where she performed at City Center and Jacobs Pillow.

Roberta Garten received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in piano performance from the University of Southern California under Joanna Graudan and Nancy Bricard.

Upon her graduation from Juilliard, she won the Gina Bachauer Piano Competition Chopin Prize (New York), leading to her feature on WQXR’s Young Artist Showcase with Robert Sherman.

Originally from Armenia, Gasparyan is a celebrated performer and recording artist now on faculty in the Community School of Performing Arts.

Strives for “total musicianship” and  has won the acclaim of both critics and audiences alike

M.A. degree in composition from California State University, Los Angeles; Served as Opera Workshop coach at Cal State, L.A.; Founded his own Contemporary Opera Theatre Workshop.