Edward Francis

Edward Francis earned his degrees in piano performance at California State University, Northridge. He also attended the Aspen Music School. His principal teachers were Mildred McGowan Ryan, Peter Yazbeck, Francoise Regnat, Jakob Gimpel, and Edward Auer. He has performed solo recitals throughout the Southland, and has been a featured guest artist with the Conejo Valley Symphony Orchestra, the Moorpark Community Orchestra, the Ventura County Symphony, and the Pepperdine University Orchestra.

He has performed extensively with the Westlake Chamber Ensemble, at venues that include the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, the Simi Valley Performing Arts Center, the Ventura Chamber Music Festival, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. In 1999, they were the featured Chamber Music Artists at the Music Teachers' Assn. of California Convention. For many years he has maintained a private studio of award winning students at his private studio in Thousand Oaks.

He has also taught at CSUN, as guest professor, replacing the keyboard area chair, who was on sabbatical leave. Prior that that invitation, he taught at CSUN, working with advanced-level exchange students from the Superior Conservatory of Seoul, Korea. A busy clinician and master class teacher, he frequently lectures on a variety of pedagogical subjects. In 2002, he was a guest artist at the MTAC Convention in Riverside. Previously, he was named an "Artist-Educator of the Month" on the Piano Education Internet Page, and received reaction to his interview from musicians around the world.

He is an adjunct piano professor at Pepperdine University, and holds a similar position at Moorpark College, where his piano duo (DeCesare/Francis Piano Duo) has been designated "Artists-in-Residence." Their first CD was released in 2000. They have appeared in recital at Pepperdine, UCLA, Pasadena City College, and at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, where they give a much anticipated annual recital. The Thousand Oaks Arts Commission presented him with the "Encore Award for Excellence in the Arts," an annual award given to city residents for past and continuing contributions to art and culture.

He is the founder and chairman of Concertos with Orchestra, Thousand Oaks, a non-profit educational organization which produces concerts that feature a professional orchestra, (Conejo Concerto Orchestra) and exceptional area student soloists. He is currently a member of the New West Symphony Education Outreach Committee, the board of the MTAC Conejo Valley Branch, and is State Vice President for the California Assn. of Professional Music Teachers/Music Teachers National Association.

Email: Edward.Francis@pepperdine.edu