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 Sheldon Brown is a full time saxophonist/clarinetist and composer living in Oakland. His 3 decades of experience include international touring with Cuban pianist Omar Sosa and composing music for The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat, which aired on CBS. He performs with dozens of bands, including:
- Sheldon Brown Group
- Pete Escovedo
- Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra
- Clarinet Thing
- Darren Johnston Quintet
- Orchestra Nostalgico
- Brass Menazeri
- Realistic Orchestra
- Graham Connah Ensemble
Brown has also been very active as an educator. For 7 years he taught a Composition Workshop at The Jazzscool, in Berkeley. He is also the Saxophone Sectional Leader for the Berkeley High School Jazz Program and is currently taking private saxophone, clarinet and flute students.
“In my teaching I always maintain a sense of fun and spontaneity while instilling a healthy respect for the discipline required to achieve a high level of musical expression. We'll cover all the fundamental concerns of woodwind performance, including:
- Breath support and tone development
- Sight reading
- Developing a strong rhythmic sense
- Interpretation: phrasing, articulation and dynamics
I also have plenty of experience teaching music theory and jazz improvisation for intermediate students who want take it to the next level.”
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 Rolf Johnson teaches trumpet and piano and can be reached at 510-526-9266.
Rolf graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, which he attended after having won first place in Downbeat Magazine’s annual scholarship competition. He did a stint in the Air Force with the NORAD Band in Colorado Springs, serving as musical director for the NORAD Commanders Jazz Orchestra, as featured jazz trumpet and flügelhorn soloist, and as staff arranger for both the jazz and concert bands.
Over the years, Rolf has played with musicians as diverse as Gary Burton, Les Elgart, and Little Anthony and the Imperials. Since moving to the Bay Area, he has been active in a variety of musical styles and settings, including world music, reggae, salsa and Latin jazz, Brazilian music, swing, big bands and jazz. He performs and records both as a trumpet/fluegelhorn player and as a pianist.
Rolf is a published composer and arranger of big band jazz, and has arranged for many local swing bands, salsa and Latin jazz bands, jazz bands, and big bands.
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 Donna Viscuso of the VNote ensemble, formerley the Snake Trio, and the Venezuelan Music Project is now teaching flute and saxophone here at Steve Deutsch Woodwinds, Etc. You can contact her at 510-985-1516 for lessons.
Donna is an experienced performer, composer and teacher, having worked in numerous schools, educational programs and grant-sponsored touring ensembles.
A talented composer, Donna has written music for several award-winning documentaries. Her compositions can also be heard on the popular Living Books collection of Educational CD-ROMs, including the ABC Book, Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, Harry and the Haunted House and Arthur's Reading Race.
Donna has performed, recorded and toured with many groups, including The Snake Trio, Jackeline Rago and The Venezuelan Music Project, Altazor, Wild Mango, the KTO project, Chelle and Friends, Brazilian singer Adriana Moreno and Chilean singer/songwriter Lichi Fuentes.
She studied music at Laney College and San Francisco State University, and has experience playing flute, saxophone, harmonica and percussion.
Donna has traveled to Venezuela to further her musical studies. While there, she performed and recorded with several renowned musicians, including percussionist Alexander Livinalli and members of the Fundacion Bigott (Venezuela's Folkloric Institute). In addition she has recorded with Venezuelan musicians, Aquiles Baez, Gonzalo Grau, Marco Granados, and Leo Blanco.
She also performs regularly with the Adventures in Music Program, sponsored by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, performing in elementary schools throughout the S.F. school district, as well as with the World Music Ensemble, W.O.W. (Women of the World) which performs for children of all ages in libraries and schools throughout California.
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