Music Program

Saint Mary’s Music Program is unique because majors and non-majors enjoy outstanding ensemble activity and private lessons from some of the Bay Area’s finest teachers and gifted performers.

Our curriculum focuses on development of the whole musician, guiding each student to strive for excellence and realize their full potential. With small class sizes (student-to-teacher of 5:1) throughout program, major and non-majors alike see exponential growth and development, and enjoy an enviable number of performance opportunities. Auditions for ensembles occur at the beginning and end of each term – all ensemble members qualify for private lessons. See below for specific ensemble details.

Music News

• KTVU-TV/Channel 2 Spotlights SMC's Carnegie Hall Bound Choir
• KGO News Radio Covers Saint Mary's Choir's Prep for Carnegie Hall
• Contra Costa Times Highlights Saint Mary's Gold Medal Winning Choir

Award-Winning and Critically-Acclaimed Faculty, include…

Martin Rokeach, Composer (Emeritus, honored with over a dozen national and international awards); Lino Rivera, Concert Pianist; Julie Ford, Conductor (two Gold Medals, International Competitions); Bob Farrington, Jazz Band Director, and more... https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/performing-arts/faculty

Please welcome our new Music Faculty member Sixto Montesinos

Sixto Montesinos joins the Music Department at SMC as an Assistant Professor of Music and Head of Instrumental Studies. He earned a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting from RUTGERS, The State University of New Jersey before serving as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Ferrum College in Southwest Virginia. He also completed a Master’s Degree in Orchestral Conducting from The University of Texas at Arlington and a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Houston. He is an active Mexican-American conductor, flutist, music educator, and scholar researching new and effective ways to strengthen Mexican-American relations through the study and performance of music. His articles have been published by The Instrumentalist Magazine and the WASBE Journal. Montesinos is scheduled to present his clinic “Surpassing La Cucaracha and Mexican Hat Dance: The importance of diversifying Mexican-inspired repertoire” at the 74th Annual International Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago this December.