The Conservatoire
Artists &
Faculty
World-class musicians, master educators, and distinguished scholars — the voices that shape the next generation of classical artistry.
Our Artists
Hover over each portrait to reveal full biography, credentials, and performance history.
Principal Conductor
Elena Vasquez
Principal Conductor
Elena Vasquez
Trained at the Vienna Philharmonic Academy, Elena has led over 400 orchestral performances across 38 countries. Her interpretations of Mahler and Bruckner are considered definitive by critics at the Financial Times and Le Monde.
Credentials
- Vienna Philharmonic Academy
- Prix de Lausanne Laureate
- DMA, Juilliard School
Notable Stages
Chair of Piano Studies
Marcus Holloway
Chair of Piano Studies
Marcus Holloway
A Steinway Artist and former laureate of the Leeds International Piano Competition, Marcus brings 30 years of concert experience to his teaching. His students have won prizes at Chopin, Van Cliburn, and Tchaikovsky competitions.
Credentials
- Leeds International Piano Competition
- Steinway Artist
- FRCM, Royal College of Music
Notable Stages
Professor of Voice
Isabelle Fontaine
Professor of Voice
Isabelle Fontaine
Isabelle spent two decades performing leading roles at the Paris Opéra, Glyndebourne, and the Metropolitan Opera. She now dedicates her artistry to cultivating the next generation of operatic voices.
Credentials
- Conservatoire de Paris
- Metropolitan Opera Young Artists
- Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres
Notable Stages
Head of Composition
Dr. Kenji Nakamura
Head of Composition
Dr. Kenji Nakamura
Kenji's orchestral works have been performed by the Berlin Philharmonic, NHK Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. His film scores have received two Academy Award nominations.
Credentials
- Tokyo University of the Arts
- Fulbright Scholar
- ASCAP Award Winner
Notable Stages
Violin Faculty
Sophia Brennan
Violin Faculty
Sophia Brennan
First violinist of the acclaimed Brennan Quartet for 15 years, Sophia brings an intimate understanding of chamber music to her students. She performs on a 1724 Stradivarius on loan from the Royal Collection.
Credentials
- Royal Academy of Music
- Menuhin Competition Laureate
- ARAM
Notable Stages
Director of Music Theory
Prof. Armand Leclerc
Director of Music Theory
Prof. Armand Leclerc
Author of three seminal texts on tonal harmony used in conservatories across Europe and North America, Armand has shaped the theoretical foundations of thousands of musicians over a 40-year career.
Credentials
- École Normale de Musique de Paris
- Docteur ès Lettres, Sorbonne
- Prix de Rome
Notable Stages
Faculty Credentials
Performance Affiliations
- Vienna PhilharmonicResident Ensemble Partner
- Berlin PhilharmonicGuest Artist Programme
- Royal Opera HouseAssociate Artists
- Carnegie HallWeill Music Institute Partner
Academic Distinctions
- Prix de Rome4 Faculty Laureates
- Fulbright Scholars7 Current Faculty Members
- Royal Academy FellowsFRAM & FRCM Holders
- Doctoral Faculty18 DMA & PhD Holders
Competition Laureates
- Leeds International PianoFirst Prize, 2004
- Menuhin Violin CompetitionLaureate, 2001
- Tchaikovsky CompetitionSilver Medal, 2009
- Van Cliburn CompetitionBronze Medal, 2012
42
Faculty Members
18
Nationalities
600+
Performances Annually
94%
Graduate Placement Rate
In Their Words
Music is not a language — it is the silence between languages.
Elena Vasquez
Principal Conductor
Every phrase is a question. Every resolution is a choice made in the moment of performance.
Marcus Holloway
Chair of Piano Studies
The voice is the most intimate instrument — it lives inside you, breathes with you, weeps with you.
Isabelle Fontaine
Professor of Voice