Faculty & Staff

Artistic Director Matthew Otto is an award-winning conductor, educator, and collaborator. With unparalleled dedication to choral music education, Matthew strives to develop artistic excellence, vocal integrity, and empowerment in singers of all ages.

Vivo Chorus Director Gemma Arguelles celebrates over thirty years of service as music educator and choir director in Bay Area institutions and in the Philippines.

Allegro Chorus & Arietta Singers Director Samantha Maas-Baldwin has been teaching music in the Bay Area for over 15 years.

Prelude Chorus and Dolce Singers Director Katie Jenks is a TK-5th grade music teacher in the Oakland Unified School District and has a master’s degree in Music Education with Kodály Emphasis from Holy Names University.

Young Women’s Chorus Assistant Conductor Sian Wittke, a Berklee College of Music graduate, has been teaching chorus and music for over 8 year.

Managing Director Kaneez Munjee comes to YWCP with over a decade of experience in arts management.

Pianist Margaret Halbig holds a DMA from University of California at Santa Barbara and is part of the accompanying and vocal coaching staff at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Holding degrees in both Piano Performance and Choral Conducting, Joe Fanvu has over 30 years of experience in choral music.

Franz Zhao holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Southern California, and a Master of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Jefferson Packer has been active as a collaborative pianist and baritone since moving to San Francisco over two decades ago.