SVCC’s new Artistic Director, Dr. Aya Ueda is a Professor of Music at Yuba College, where she directs choirs and musicals, and teaches voice, piano, music history, music appreciation, and musicianship. She holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Voice from the Conservatory of Music at University of the Pacific, a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Yale University, and a Doctor of Music in Choral Conducting with minors in Opera Stage Directing and Music History from Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. She has held full-time teaching positions at universities in Ohio, Maryland, Arkansas, and Wisconsin prior to returning to California in 2007. She has also served as the Guest Director of the University Chorus at UC Berkeley and of the Phoenix Chorale at University of Wisconsin Green Bay and appeared as a Guest Conductor for the UMBC Symphony Orchestra and the Westerville Symphony. She is a two-time recipient of performance grants from the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music for directing three Bertolt Brecht/Kurt Weill works and has served as the Music and Stage Director for various musicals and operas. During her sabbatical leave in 2017-18, Dr. Ueda was one of five conductors internationally selected to participate in the inaugural program exploring Choral Art at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Canada. She also conducted research on keyboard tuning, composed music, and performed at the Banff Centre in the self-directed Musicians in Residence program. Dr. Ueda enjoys arranging, transcribing and composing various types of works and performing in chamber ensembles with her classical guitarist husband, Matthew Grasso.

SVCC Accompanist JASON SIA Recognized for his eloquently expressive depth of interpretation and seamless technique, Concert Pianist Jason Sia, has reached audiences with his emotionally rich performances. Described by the Georgetown Gazette and Placerville’s Mountain Democrat Newspaper as “the brilliant Sacramento pianist with flawless technique that mesmerized and entranced a rapt audience with his graceful, powerful, beautifully fluid, resplendent, and emotionally filled performance." "A busy and well- respected performer and pedagogue from Sacramento" by the New York Classical Review, "has a beautiful piano tone and color, elegant and spirited, great sensitivity and style, fluid and lyrical sense of line" by the New York Concert Review, "Mr. Sia's performance was expressive and flowing with a deep tone and continuity of melodic line. I look forward to more of his concerts in the future." by the New York Piano Group, and "played with limpid touch and touching repose, and won his audience with his sensitivity, earnest tenderness, genuine, passion, and commitment." by Eduard Laurel, Professor at New York University and The Juilliard School. Active in the Northern California region, Mr. Sia performs regularly as a recitalist, chamber musician and a collaborative pianist. His recent solo piano concert engagements include the "Music at Noon" Concert Series at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Sacramento, the "1st & 3rd Thursdays" Concert Series at the Haggin Museum in Stockton, the Trinity Chamber Concert Series at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Berkeley, the Manteca Kindred Arts Concert Association at the St. Paul United Methodist Church in Manteca, the Arden Christian Church Concert Series in Sacramento, the "St. James Concert Series" at St. James Episcopal Church in Sonora, the "Performances at Pioneer" Concert Series at Pioneer Congregational United Church of Christ in Sacramento, the "Music On The Divide" Concert Series in Georgetown, and the Crocker Art Museum Classical Concert Series in Sacramento. (more)