christopher nicholas - voice

Christopher has taught privately in the Bay Area since 2010, focusing on grounding novice singers in practical techniques for careers across diverse genres. He holds a dual BM from Berklee College of Music in Vocal Performance and Songwriting, and an MM in Jazz Studies (Voice) from the University of North Texas.

His deepest passion as a voice teacher lies in researching and implementing methods for restructuring the voice when vocal deficiencies are present. He has investigated the techniques of the late Cornelius Reid, studied under Dr. Stephen Austin and Kathryn Wright, and trained with R&B singer Marlon Saunders — a background vocalist for Sting and the late Michael Jackson — as well as acclaimed jazz educator Paris Rutherford. He is committed to offering students not only technical development, but also practical guidance for navigating careers in the music industry.

Upon completing his MM in 2010, Christopher co-founded The Hip-Hop Orchestra Experience (THHOE), a California-based 501(c)(3) performing arts nonprofit, where he serves as executive director. For over 15 years, THHOE has collaborated with world-renowned ensembles including musicians from the San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Ballet, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Zapopán Chamber Orchestra (Guadalajara, Mexico), Hong Kong New Music Ensemble (HK, China), Flint Symphony (MI), and Sheboygan Symphony (WI).

He has produced two films: Method Sampling: How to Build the Future Together — winner of the DTLA Film Festival (2023) and streaming on Voice of America — and The Hip-Hop Orchestra Experience PBS concert film, now streaming on PBS, Amazon Prime and Marquee TV, with linear broadcasts reaching over 50 million households across Central and Eastern Europe and Greece. Christopher is currently producing THHOE's third film, American Remix, with principal photography taking place in Seoul, Korea.

Christopher serves on the board of directors of Western Arts Alliance, the premier booking conference for the performing arts on the West Coast. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Diablo Valley College, teaching the History of Hip-Hop Music and Culture.

Clif Payne - voice (online only)

Clif's strength as a teacher is rooted in his musical diversity, experience, patience, encouragement and passion for sharing what he has learned in performance and study to his students. "Sing not just to be heard, but to be heartfelt and believed. Sing to inspire!"  Clif teaches from his years of experience as a pro singer working alongside the world's finest performers. As an Los Angeles resident, he studied voice with Seth Riggs (voice teacher to Michael Jackson and others) vocal coach assistant Chip Hand and Roger Burnley (vocal coach to James Torme). In the San Francisco Bay Area, Clif studied voice with Jane Sharpe. He studied music and performance with David Baker and Margaret Strong at Bloomington's Indiana University. Clif has performed with Freda Payne, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Norman Connors, Bobby McFerrin, Ellis Hall, Sheena Easton, American Idol judge & vocal coach Peggy Blu, Four Play drummer Harvey Mason, jazz fusionists Hiroshima and former Chicago vocalist Bill Champlin. Clif has opened for Dan Siegel, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis and Dionne Warwick. Clif was born in the Harlem Sugar Hill area of Harlem and now resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. His eclectic vocals span the genres of jazz, R&B, gospel, blues, rock, folk, pop and classical.

dana salzman - voice (online only)

Pianist, singer, composer, producer and musical director Dana Salzman creates funky, flavorful tunes that re-imagine jazz, funk, hip-hop, soul, Latin and R&B music and illuminate her sultry voice, fine-tuned piano technique and talent for composition and arrangement. An enthusiastic collaborator and mistress of improvisation, she blends together fresh beats and lyrics into vivid arrangements that ignite all five senses and explore the intense dimensions of raw human emotion. Salzman began to study piano at age four with her mother (an internationally renowned classical piano teacher) and then went on to earn a degree from the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City. Salzman has had the opportunity  to work closely with many celebrated musicians and songwriters during her career, including Mike Marshall (Timex Social Club), Samuelle Prater (Club Neaveau), Tony Flores (Marvin Gaye,. Bobby Womack), Pete Escovedo, Rappin 4Tay, Valerie Troutt, Tiffany Austin, and more. Now based in Oakland, CA, Salzman does all her own production, writing and arranging and is also an in-demand piano and voice teacher.

MINDY KNIGHT (MK) - Voice, piano

Mindy Knight has been singing with and around others since age 11. After graduating from the University of North Texas with a Vocal Degree, the Bay Area became home. MK has been teaching singing and piano lessons for almost ten years. For MK, musicianship is inherent in every person, and the only question to answer is really the “How”. Playing piano is a wonderful way to open to the world of sound. MK is proud to offer beginners and mid-range learners an easy way to learn piano, starting with a playing-based method, and graduating to reading and theory models as the student gains proficiency. MK has performed in nearly every variety of ensemble and solo act, including Choral/Church Ensembles, Jazz (think Wine Bar/Speakeasy), Musical Theater (Rent, Chicago, Wicked), and most recently as an independent songwriter. MK has sung in Hungary, Ghana, New York, Texas, New Mexico, and of course various places in California. As an indie musician, has played in the Bay Area at Golden Bull, Bottom of The Hill, Hemlock (RIP), The Hotel Utah, Bazaar Cafe, Milk Bar, The Lost Church, Pop’s, and Brick & Mortar, to name a few. Currently MK is focusing on writing music for their band and hoping to release it this year!