Board of Directors
-
Edward Francis, Founder and Executive Director
Pianist/Educator, Thousand Oaks, CA - Michael Glenn Williams, President
Composer/Pianist/Technologist, Newbury Park, CA - Rollin Johnson, Director of Finance
Bank of America, Westlake Village, CA -
Joyce Osborn, Director of Alumni Program
Violinist/ Educator, Woodland Hills, CA -
Joseph Cancilla, Chief Financial Officer
CPA, Newbury Park, CA -
Nancy Israel, Director
Arts Advocate/Philanthropist, Thousand Oaks, CA -
Phyllis Rautenberg, Director, Liaison to Public Schools
French Horn/Educator, Agoura Hills, CA -
Pierre Escaron, Director, Recording Secretary
Retired Engineering and Manufacturing Manager, Agoura Hills, CA - Dana Moldovan, Director of Operations
Business owner, Philanthropist - Simona Vizireanu, Director of Operations
Business owner, Philanthropist - Kary Kramer, Director
Piano Teacher
Board of Directors, Honorary
- Lawrence Blonquist
Owner, Turnberry Financial Services, past President - Ron Crain
Business owner, Brand management and design - Saul Lessler
Attorney, Somis, CA - Vince Lopez, Director
Business Owner, Insurance Services, Ventura CA - Klara Bergman
Principal of Bergman Group LLC, Santa Maria, CA - Jonathan Ames
Business owner, Marketing
Board of Directors, Emeritus
- Peter Yazbeck, Director
Pianist/Educator, Camarillo, CA
Our Founders
Edward Francis
Born and first educated musically in Ohio, he moved to California in 1965, where his major teachers were Mildred McGowen-Ryan, and Peter Yazbeck. He entered CSU Northridge, as a scholarship student in the music department, where he earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Piano Performance. During his years at the university, he won many awards in solo and chamber music performance. He was the music department's candidate for the university President's Award, as top graduate student. His principal teacher was French Pianist Francoise Regnat. He was an invited participant in the master classes of Polish Pianist Jakob Gimpel for six years. Post-graduate study continued with Edward Auer. His study and research in pedagogy and music history were with William Richards, Rosalie Ligget, George Skapski, and Eleanor Russell.
Shortly after completing his master's degree he was hired as music faculty at Oxnard College in Ventura County. He has taught Class Piano, Music Appreciation, Music Fundamentals, History of Rock & Roll and has conducted one of the college choirs. Subsequently he has been added to the Applied Piano faculty at Moorpark College and Pepperdine University. He has taught at CSUN for two summers, as part of an exchange program with the Superior Conservatory of Music-Seoul, Korea, and CSUN. In 1998 he was invited by CSUN to replace his former piano professor Francoise Regnat, while she took a one-year sabbatical.
He is a member of two active performing groups. The Westlake Chamber Ensemble has played regular chamber music concerts for over ten years. They have performed at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, the Thousand Oaks Library, the Recitals at Four series at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, which was broadcast live on KUSC radio, Moorpark College, and numerous other venues. They gave the opening recital for the 1996 City of Ventura Chamber Music Festival, and they were the 1998 Chamber Music Artists for the Music Teachers' Association of California Convention held during the summer of 1998 in Los Angeles.
The DeCesare/Francis piano duo has been designated "Artists-in-Residence" at Moorpark College. They have played recitals at Moorpark College, UCLA, Pasadena City College, and the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Their CD titled Piano Music for Four Hands, was released in 2000.
He has been concerto soloist with the Ventura County Symphony, the Conejo Valley Symphony, the Moorpark College Symphony, and the Pepperdine University Symphony.
He has given master classes for several branches of the MTAC, the Utah Valley Music Teachers' Association, the Sarah Compinsky Master Class study group, and several private teacher studios. He has lectured on a variety of topics that include: "Parents' Responsibilities in Music Study" and "The X-ray Technique for Confidence in Performance." He presented two papers at conventions sponsored by the Music Teachers' Association of California and the California Association of Professional Music Teachers, titled: "Etude, Brute: The Advanced Etude," and "The Concerto: Literature for the Emerging Young Artist."
An experienced evaluator he has judged countless competitions and festivals, and is in demand as an adjudicator. For many years, his piano studio has produced many competition winners. Many have been featured soloists with orchestra as winners of Young Artist competitions, or in special award recitals. Many of his students have matriculated at important music schools around the country, winning scholarships upon entrance. (Eastman, Indiana University, New England Conservatory, USC, CSUN, UCLA, University of Michigan, Arizona State U., Juilliard)
In 1998 the Arts Commission of Thousand Oaks presented him with the "Encore Award for Excellence in the Arts." The award is given for past and continuing contributions to the performing arts in the community and surrounding areas.
He has served in various board positions, including two terms as President of the Conejo Valley MTAC. His work with the Music Teachers National Association, state affiliate, CAPMT, includes his current term as Vice President, Convention Chair. He was a long time committee member of the New West Symphony's Education Outreach, and has served as editor for the Piano Education Web Page, where he was the featured "Artist-Educator of the Month" in November of 1997.
Thomas Osborn
In August 2006, after being on a two week vacation to the North Pole with his wife Joyce, Tom Osborn returned to Los Angeles International Airport, and collapsed when disembarking from the plane. He had a massive heart attack and died. We were all saddened by his untimely passing, which was only a week before the Project: Brahms that the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic was to perform that very weekend. Since Tom was looking forward to conducting the concert and everything was scheduled and in place, his wife Joyce, felt that the concert should go on. It did, with Tom’s spirit present, the soloists and orchestra gave outstanding performances.
A formal tribute was given to Tom during the second concert of the Brahms weekend at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. The orchestra, guest conductor, and each board member participated. Board members each shared a personal experience that they had with Tom. Some were poignant, others humorous, but all focused on Tom’s love for music and education.
Shortly thereafter, the family arranged for a memorial service, which was attended by nearly 1000 people at Forrest Lawn in Hollywood. As was fitting, the service was filled with music performances given by members of the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic, the LA Philharmonic, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Downey Symphony, and the Roger Wagner Chorale.
The Osborn family has established the Thomas Osborn Endowment Fund. To donate, checks or money orders bay be sent to: Thousand Oaks Philharmonic, PO Box 4195, Thousand Oaks CA 91359. For more information or to make a donation with credit card please contact Edward Francis, the executive director of the T.O. Phil.
Our Conductor
John Roscigno
Dr. John Roscigno has just completed his eighth year as Professor of Music and Director of Orchestral Studies at California State University, Northridge. In his position at Northridge he serves as Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra, Chair of the Percussion area and teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting. Dr. Roscigno holds the additional position of Music Director of the CSUN Youth Orchestra program, an organization comprised of 5 ensembles and 250 students from San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas. His versatility as a conductor, pianist, percussionist and composer has led to many unique and varied performing opportunities in his musical career.
Dr. Roscigno has conducted Opera Constanta of Romania, the Conway Symphony, Tucson Symphony, Plainview Symphony and Santa Barbara Ballet Theater, has been a high school all-state clinician in Arizona and California and has been an all regional middle school orchestra clinician in five states. He is a frequent guest conductor at the Cazadero and Gold Coast Summer Music Festivals and has held music faculty positions at University of Arizona, Auburn University and University of Central Arkansas. Dr. Roscigno has twice served as conductor for the Virginia Waring International Piano Competition. Dr. Roscigno holds the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from the University of Arizona, a Master's Degree in percussion performance from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor's Degree as a double major in piano and percussion performance from the University of Arizona. He has also studied at the Aspen Music Festival, Cincinnati Conservatory Conducting Symposium and the University of Miami. Dr. Roscigno is a native of New York City.
