Grace Geyser:
“My love of music began when I was in the 6th grade. My mother bought me a piano, and started my love of music through lessons with a great local teacher. I look back now, and I am amazed at the kaleidoscope of talents that one music teacher had: Grace taught me how to play piano; but above that, she taught me how to read classical music, play by ear, write down songs I heard on the radio (then play them), and write my own music. From her I learned music theory, a love for piano, organ, opera, and classical music. She also gave me singing lessons. She coached me in the Bel Canto method of singing, and taught me a wide range of performing, from being a diva soloist on the stage, to a humble accompanist for a crowd wanting to sing Christmas Carols. With the help of Grace, I was soon playing the piano for school dances and programs, and I became a crowd pleaser, playing hits off the radio, all by ear. She was a great encourager, and a truly remarkable personality.”
Laura Lee Lukas:
Concert pianist, 4th generation Beethoven student. (Wager Swayne,Theodor Leschitizsky, Czerny, Beethoven). “When I was a teen, and in my early 20’s, I took lessons from Laura for 5 years. Laura taught me how important discipline, hard work, and following a method were, to accomplishing a goal. I will forever be grateful to her for making me practice 5 hours a day (I wasn’t all that grateful in high school and college, though…). She gave me the confidence and grace to make it all the way through a complicated piece, and show appreciation for applause. (but I have to tell you….I don’t miss the stage fright…)”
Gerard Faber: From the Netherlands, Faber was 3rd top organist in the world at the time of my lessons. Lessons for one year. Gerard was such a master that he was famous for being able to compose a fugue on the spot, in front of a crowd of hundreds of people. He would have someone in the audience hum a random short little tune, then produce a masterpiece from it.
Elmer Bernstein, Lawrence Foster (they were the Alexandre Desplat and Hans Zimmer “back-in-the-day”): spent one summer in an orchestra and choir under their direction.
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Famed Italian composer and conductor. I performed in the opera chorus of the world premier of his opera “Song of Songs”. Mario was present at the concert. It was a beautifully set opera and an honor to be chosen to sing with them.
Ann Johnson Music 