THOMAS SCHOENBERGER Thomas Schoenberger is a polymath, composer, historian, entrepreneur event designer, inventor and writer. His compositions have been performed by leading musical groups, including the Moscow Chamber Orchestra and other notable artists worldwide. His historical observations are developed through his extensive travels throughout Europe, the Middle East and America. An unusually prolific composer, he has created thousands of original compositions, from piano concerto's to symphony's and operas. His first performances were as a young child and his father was a classically trained composer before becoming a medical doctor. Schoenberger's passions includes creating nurturing neuro-environments for the autistic, elderly and babies. Schoenberger has been written about in major magazines from Billboard to Good Housekeeping. In 1986, in addition to his classical composing, he began writing audio landscapes designed to create connections with children with cognitive disorders. He went on to compose "Music for Infants" and "The ULTIMATE Baby CD" series and both globally recognized. Using original compositions employing polyphonic melodies reminiscent of both Mozart and Bach, his CD's are sold in 20 countries. Schoenberger turned his attention toward fundraising for international cultural institutions and projects, and has used his international contacts to help preserve and raise awareness of classical music in Milan, Vienna, London and the Middle East. An avid traveler, Thomas has developed valuable relationships with museums and music festivals worldwide and has been an adviser to festival and exhibition committees internationally. He was also the founder of an entertainment business whose client list included: Microsoft, Intel, General Electric, Pepsi, Amfac, Apple Computers and other major corporations. He also collaborated with major Napa Valley resorts including Meadowood, Silverado and Sonoma Mission Inn; wineries such as Mondavi, Opus One, Caymus and Clos Pegase. Currently he works as a composer, cultural ambassador and with Associated Entertainment Consultants in new ventures and business development. SOPRANO, MARNIE BRECKENRIDGE Soprano Marnie Breckenridge recently made her European and Asian debuts as Cunegonde in Candide at Prague State Opera, English National Opera and on tour in Japan. The Prague Post raved, “Breckenridge was note perfect”. Her performances of the Robert Carsen production at ENO led to her relationship with Glyndebourne Festival Opera where she stepped in at the last minute to cover the leading role in Peter Eötvös’s Love and Other Demons. With Ensemble Paralléle in San Francisco, she recently debuted the role of Margarita Xirgu in Osvaldo Golijov's Ainadamar as well as La Princesse in Philip Glass's Orphée. At San Francisco Opera, she sang Olga in The Merry Widow (on DVD) and later returned to the company as Papagena in The Magic Flute and Inez in Il Trovatore. A favorite at Indianapolis Opera, Ms. Breckenridge has sung Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Pamina in The Magic Flute, and the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor, a role she has also sung at Mobile Opera and West Bay Opera. At Arizona Opera she sang in The Mikado as Yum Yum and made her debut with the company as Gretel. She made her Ravinia Festival debut in Jake Heggie’s To Hell and Back starring with Patti LuPone and the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. Her commitment to presenting works by modern composers has fostered relationships with Martin Hennessy, Thomas Schoenberger, Henry Mollicone, Kirke Mechem, Bruce Rockwell, David Conte, Clark Suprynowicz, Kurt Erickson and others. She has sung under the batons of Kent Nagano at the Berkeley Symphony in Unsuk Chin’s Cantatrix Sopranica, Michael Morgan and the Sacramento Philharmonic, Nicholas McGegan and the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra in Handel’s Athalia, Constantine Orbelian and the Moscow Chamber Orchestra and by special invitation from Lorin Maazel to sing Lucia in The Rape of Lucretia at his Chateauville Foundation Estate. She has performed leading roles with many Bay Area companies including Festival Opera, North Bay Opera, West Bay Opera, Trinity Lyric Opera, San Francisco Lyric Opera, Berkeley Opera and Sacramento Opera. Ms. Breckenridge is a graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory (MM), the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Artist Program, and the IVAI program and is the recipient of numerous honors and awards.