Singing: Emma Roche is a professional singer and educator with 15 years of experience teaching to all ages and experience levels. She holds music degrees from both Westminster Choir College and the USC Thornton School of Music. Roche spent several years as an opera singer traveling throughout the United States performing with companies and in 2017 became a Roster Chorister and soloist with the Los Angeles Master Chorale (LAMC). She currently performs with Seraphour, a classical vocal quartet specializing in sacred music. Emma is the Artistic Director of Los Robles Children's Choir, music teacher at St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School and Adjunct Faculty in the music department at California Lutheran University
Singing Assistant: Katie Phillipson is a professional concert soprano, children’s choir director, vocal coach, lyricist, healing tones composer and sound therapist. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology and a Master of Arts degree in education and a teaching credential from Pepperdine University. Katie is classically trained and has a vast vocal range that allows her to perform in all genres of music. She has performed as a vocalist at many venues and events, including as a member of the Village Voices Chorale for the past decade, and has also been a professional backup singer. Katie believes that absolutely every single person can sing.
Handbells & Choir Chimes: Chris Sillerud has a Bachelor of Arts degree in piano performance from California State University Northridge. She has been a member of First Presbyterian Church Granada Hills for 30 years, 25 of those as the Minister of Music for a number of musical groups, including the Cathedral Choir, Carpenter’s Union (Children’s Choir), Gloribells (10 years), Voices of Gabriel (a small vocal ensemble), and Acafellas (Men’s Quartet). She also taught at FPCGH’s elementary and preschool where she instructed children to play tone chimes. Recently retired, she is still very much involved in her musical community
Dance: Emily Valenzuela recently graduated summa cum laude from Grand Canyon University with a bachelor's degree in dance education and K-12 teaching certification. She grew up in Moorpark and has been dancing since she was seven years old. Her training began under Pam Rossi's Dance Ten studio with classes in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary and lyrical dance. Emily entered the competition dance world at the age of 13, and in high school also trained with Moorpark High school's dance team. Later she was accepted into the American Musical and Dramatic Academy where she worked with many professional dancers, being exposed to a wide range of dance styles such as, hip hop, jazz, funk, modern, Bollywood, and musical theater/Broadway.
Enrichment: Kevin Su Fukagawa received a Bachelor of Music in jazz and contemporary media-piano from Eastman School of Music and Master of Fine Arts in jazz piano from CalArts. He currently directs music at St. Matthews United Methodist Church, teaches private piano lessons, composes, and accompanies for various ensembles in the Conejo Valley.
Christine DeKlotz received her Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from the University of Southern California. She plays with chamber music ensembles and accompanies soloists in recitals throughout Southern California. DeKlotz derives much joy from accompanying the Village Voices Chorale. She is the minister of music at her church in Moorpark and teaches piano and recorder.
Phyllis Marbach, co-coordinator, has been active in the choir at UMCWV for more than 10 years. She has been a church member since 1996 and has served on the Staff Parish Relations Committee for the past four years, currently as its chair. Phyllis moved to California from Kentucky in 1978. Now retired, she worked for The Boeing Company as a systems engineer, project manager, and functional manager for almost 40 years. Her Master’s degree in Engineering is from UCLA.
Laura Bintliff, co-coordinator, received her Bachelor of Science degree in art education from The Pennsylvania State University and Juris Doctorate degree from Ventura College of Law. She has retired as an attorney certified specialist in worker’s compensation law after 28 years of practice. Laura has been involved with UMCWV since 2010.
Emeritus Leadership Team: Carol Ames, Lynn Dokken & Gloria Hilliard.
Daily Schedule: Monday through Thursday: 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. – Students bring a lunch and stay to rehearse the performance.
Friday 7 p.m. - Celebration Performance for family & friends
Questions? Call (805) 497-7884 or email pizazz@umcwv.org
Pizazz 2023 is open to students entering grades 1 - 8 in Fall 2023.
Four classes are offered and all students participate in each activity.