About Rebecca
Rebecca’s great-grandfather, living in a small pioneer town in the west, moved his log cabin from his farm into town to be closer to play the fiddle for the town dances. Playing for community dances runs deep in Rebecca’s soul.
Following her father’s footsteps, Rebecca studied classical piano from a young age, and later clarinet. Rebecca earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in music at the University of Southern California, and studied conducting at the Mozarteum in Salzberg, Austria. Rebecca later studied jazz piano, both privately and by exploring the clubs in the San Francisco Bay area. Rebecca continues to play solo piano at private events.
Rebecca began playing for American Contra Dances in southern California, playing with Anita Anderson, Michael Mendelson, and Forrest Carroll. Now in northern California, she plays with many musicians, including the bands Flashpoint (with Jon Berger and Howard Booster), and Luceo (with Lee Anne Welch and Karl Franzen). Rebecca co-produced the CD Swinging On The Gate, a compilation of the contra dance bands playing for the Bay Area Country Dance Society (BACDS).
Her study of classical music led to her love of English Country Dance music, where she often plays for dances in the North Bay Country Dance Society (NBCDS), Rebecca has performed and taught workshops at many Balls, Weekend Dance Events, and Dance Camps, including the BACDS Family Camp, English Week, and Lark Camp. She will perform at Pinewoods English Week in 2010. Her emotionally lyric style, with strong rhythmic accompaniments make her a favorite for dancers and musicians alike.