Alexander Koops
Director of the Azusa Conservatory of Music
Director of the Azusa Conservatory of Music
Alexander Koops was born and raised in Jos, Nigeria. He holds a D.M.A. in Music Education from the University of Southern California, with minors in theory, orchestral conducting, and horn performance. He completed his B.A. degree in Music Education from Calvin College (Grand Rapids, MI) and his M.M. degree in Wind Conducting from the University of Colorado (Boulder), where he studied with Allan McMurray. He has also studied voice and opera conducting with Nicholas Laurienti, former Artistic Director of the Denver Opera Company. He is a recipient of the CMEA John Swain College-University Educator Award, as well as the Azusa Pacific University Community Engagement faculty award. His publications include Composition Concepts for Band and Orchestra: Incorporating Creativity in Ensemble Settings (2020) as well as writing chapters in Composing our Future, (Oxford University Press, 2012), and The Routledge Companion to Creativities in Music Education (2023). He was a contributor to Musicianship: Composing in Band and Orchestra published by GIA in 2013, and he has authored a chapter on the journey to becoming a music composition teacher in the upcoming Oxford Handbook of Music Composition Pedagogy scheduled to be published in 2023. Koops was awarded a Fulbright grant in 2012 to teach at the Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music in Riga, Latvia.
Dr. Koops has worked in California, Colorado, and New Mexico teaching band, orchestra, and choir as well as conducting professionally and performing on horn and voice. While in Colorado he worked as the assistant conductor for the Denver Opera Company and led many performances, including The Magic Flute, La Boehme, The Medium, and The Threepenny Opera. In a review of The Magic Flute, Marc Shugold of the Rocky Mountain News stated, "Koops' conducting of the orchestra maintained a high artistic standard and a decent pace." Jeff Bradley of the Denver Post gave a fabulous review of the Denver Opera Companies production of The Medium emphasizing, "A fine chamber orchestra under the firm baton of Alexander Koops." Koops joined the music faculty at Azusa Pacific University in August 2001 and is currently a Professor of Music Education and Director of the Azusa Conservatory Community Music School. He frequently conducts the Lake Avenue Chamber Symphony and performs regularly on his horn. He and his family live here in Azusa and enjoy being part of the local community here. https://www.apu.edu/music/faculty/akoops/ |
Jared Storz
Associate Director of the Azusa Conservatory of Music
Associate Director of the Azusa Conservatory of Music
Jared Storz recently completed his Master’s degree in Cello Performance at Azusa Pacific University after completing both a Bachelor’s Degree in Cello Performance and a Humanities degree last year. He was born in Seattle, Washington, and, prior to his time at Azusa, studied with Seattle Symphony cellist Walter Gray. He also participated in master-classes with both former principal Chicago Symphony cellist Stephen Balderston and renown cello soloist Joshua Roman. Jared enjoys studying at Azusa Pacific under the exceptional guidance of Dr. Marek Szpakiewicz DMA, and has had the opportunity to study solo, orchestral, and chamber works. In his Freshman and Junior years, Jared performed Bach’s 1st and 6th suites in collaborative Bach concerts with Midori Goto and her University of Southern California violin studio. In the summer of 2017, Jared had the opportunity to travel to Zhengzhou, China with a small group from Azusa Pacific University Symphony and perform with the Yellow River Symphony Orchestra at the Henan Art Center.
As a private instructor, Jared has taught numerous students of all ages throughout Los Angeles County for the past three years and enjoys sharing his passion for music and musical performance with the next generation In addition to his classical training, Jared has also had the privilege of working throughout Los Angeles as a performing and recording artist. Alongside playing for weddings and events in strings quartets and as a soloist, Jared has also performed in live shows, including J. Michael O’Neal’s "Experience Music Project." Furthermore, he has recorded in numerous projects at independent studios throughout L.A., and has taken part in professional music videos. Jared looks forward to continuing in his musical development and pursuing his professional career, seeking God’s will in every step. |
Raphaela Lacerda
World Music Symphony Orchestra Conductor
Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Raphaela Lacerda is an acclaimed conductor, celebrated for her exceptional talent and unwavering dedication to the world of orchestral music. With a career marked by outstanding achievements in both Brazil and the United States, Ms. Lacerda currently holds the position of Associate Conductor at the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra.
Her impressive repertoire includes conducting renowned orchestras such as the Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra (OFMG), São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra (OSESP), São Paulo State Youth Orchestra (OJESP), and Santo André Symphony Orchestra (OSSA). In addition to her role with the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra, she serves as the Assistant Conductor of the Diamond Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Musicians at Play Foundation. Further showcasing her commitment to fostering the next generation of musicians, Ms. Lacerda holds the esteemed position of Orchestra Director at Azusa Conservatory of Music. Ms. Lacerda's dedication to her craft is underscored by her extensive training and education. She has had the privilege of participating in courses and masterclasses under the tutelage of renowned conductors such as Marin Alsop, Stefan Blunier, Cristian Macelaru, Giancarlo Guerrero, Robert Treviño, Neil Thomson, Jean-Marie Zeitouni, Sarah Ioannides, and Daisuke Soga, among others. Marin Alsop, recognizing her talent, invited Ms. Lacerda to join the Conducting Class of the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra's Academy of Music. In 2022, Ms. Lacerda collaborated closely with the three-time Grammy-nominated American composer Miguel Del Aguila, conducting his composition "Toccata." Del Aguila himself praised her performance, commending her for maintaining the rhythmic and dramatic tension of the work while offering a personal interpretation that demonstrated an unusual awareness of the overall architecture. Continuing her pursuit of excellence, Ms. Lacerda graduated with a Master's degree in Instrumental Conducting from Azusa Pacific University in May 2023, studying under the guidance of Professor Christopher Russell. Her dedication and exceptional academic achievements were recognized through the prestigious 2023 Dennis Royse Graduate Achievement and Academic Excellence Award from Azusa Pacific University. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field, Ms. Lacerda received the esteemed 2023 Emerging Professional Award from the Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO). This accolade stands as a testament to her remarkable impact on the orchestral landscape. As Raphaela Lacerda's journey as a conductor continues to thrive, her passion for music and unwavering commitment to excellence illuminate her path. Endorsements from esteemed figures in the orchestral world affirm her rising prominence and the significant impact she has made, solidifying her position as a distinguished conductor in the global musical landscape. |