This month, Encore Music is pleased to feature instructor Christine Guarente. Chris teaches flute, voice, and is also one of the piano instructors.

Christine moved to Tehachapi last August with her husband, Christopher, and their eight year old son, Max. Her husband, once a test pilot at Edwards is now a test pilot for Scaled Composites in Mojave and Tehachapi with its active arts and entertainment community seemed like a perfect spot for the talented Christine. "Art is alive and well in Tehachapi,"said Christine.

Raised in Pennsylvania, Christine received her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from West Chester University and holds a Master's Equivalent with courses from West Chester, Duquesne University, University of Florida, South Georgia and University of Hartford. She began playing the flute in 4th grade, the piano in 6th grade and studied voice in college. She has been teaching, directing and performing since 1983.

While Christopher was stationed in Germany, Christine sang with a base vocal group that sang the National Anthem at military events and she eventually took over management of that group. When he was transferred to Edwards, Chris joined the Edwards Singers. She also volunteered and taught music there. Now in Tehachapi, she is a member of the Tehachapi Orchestral Choir.

Since her arrival, Christine has been working with the Tehachapi School District as a volunteer at Tompkins Elementary as well as at Jacobsen and THS. As a matter of fact, she will be filling in as conductor for the graduation choirs at JMS and THS.

Christine has always had a love of musical theater but prefers to work behind the scenes. She said that she would love to direct a musical for the Tehachapi Community Theater some time. She has a long list of musicals that she has either directed and/or choreographed in Pennsylvania, Texas, Arizona, Germany and California. Among them are Annie, Fame, Fiddler on the Roof, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Little Shop of Horrors, Pippin and You're a Good Man Charlie Brown.

If you are interested in lessons with Christine Guarente, but sure to contact Encore Music Services at (661)823-4947.