No tickets or reservations required. Cash donations at the door are greatly appreciated – thank you!
From the beloved pairing of harp and flute to the lesser-known combination of harp and alto saxophone, this concert will feature classical favorites plus a sprinkling of contemporary and jazz genres.
A native Southern Californian, Dr. Vanessa Fountain holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Music from California State University Los Angeles and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Arizona, where she was the assistant director of HarpFusion, a world-famous touring harp ensemble, and the teaching assistant to Dr. Carrol McLaughlin. She was the youngest doctoral recipient, earning her degree at age 19. As a professional harpist, highlights of her concert tours include performances in China, South Korea, Spain, and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. She has performed for such notables as Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, Florence Henderson and Arnold Spielberg and concertized with artists including Barry Manilow, Lucie Arnaz and Il Divo. Dr. Fountain's technical skill and artistic vision allow for interpretations and arrangements of a variety of music spanning Classical, pop, jazz, rock, and international genres. Previously an instructor of music at College of the Desert and Norco College, in 2017 she became Associate Professor and Chair of Music at Mt. San Jacinto College, where she also directed the college/community orchestra. Since 2022 she has been the Dean of Arts, Languages, and Communication at Grossmont College. She has been recognized for her dedication to education and harp performance through awards from the California State Assembly and the Valeria Finzi Memorial Harp Scholarship.
Emanuel Esparza is a versatile woodwind specialist and dedicated educator serving California’s Inland Valley. As the Saxophone Professor at Mt. San Jacinto College and an elementary band director for Hemet Unified School District, Emanuel bridges the gap between foundational music education and collegiate-level artistry. A multi-instrumentalist with a diverse performance portfolio, he currently performs with the Southland Wind Ensemble and the Secondhand Swing Band, and contributes his voice to the Southern California Choral Artists. Emanuel is continually refining his craft, currently preparing for graduate studies in Saxophone Performance to further enrich the technical expertise he shares with his students.