Camarillo, Calif., Oct. 2, 2007- California State University Channel Islands will host two artists for a week-long residency from Oct. 8 through Oct. 12. Erica Strauss, soprano, and Jerome Tan, pianist, will give a performance that is open to the public, and will offer class presentations, a workshop, and a coaching lesson to CSUCI students.

Strauss and Tan will perform at a concert at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 10 in Malibu Hall 100 on the CSUCI campus. The concert is free and open to the public. Free parking and shuttle service to and from the campus will be available from the Camarillo Metrolink Station/Lewis Road parking lot in Camarillo from 6 to 10 p.m. Parking is available on campus and is $6 for a daily permit.

Class presentations given by Strauss and Tan will be offered to CSUCI's Audience and Performance Studies, Music Theory, Introduction to Performing Arts, and Musical Theatre classes. They will present a workshop on "Preparing for a Master Class" for singers and accompanists, and on their final day at CSUCI Strauss and Tan will host a coaching session on singing technique and piano accompaniment.

Strauss, a recent alumna of the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists, made her Lyric Opera of Chicago debut as the Priestess in "Aida" and was also seen as the First Lady in "Die Zauberflöte," Micaela in "Carmen," and Marianne Leitmetzerin in "Der Rosenkavalier." Additionally, she performed the roles of Rosalinda in "Die Fledermaus," Donna Anna in "Don Giovanni," and Nella in "Gianni Schicchi" with the Lyric Opera Center Ensemble. A native of New York, Strauss received her training at the Mannes College of Music. She holds both a bachelor's degree of music and master's of music degree in voice from the school and was awarded the Marian Marcus Wahl Memorial Award in Performance at its 1999 commencement.

Jerome Tan was born in Singapore. He came to the United States on a music scholarship to the Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., where he received a bachelor's degree in music, a master's degree in solo piano performance, and a master's degree in ensemble arts. While at Johns Hopkins University he was awarded a number of scholarships and merit awards. This season he accompanied tenor William Ferguson in an artist residency in Buffalo, N.Y. and bass Jason Hardy in a residency in Statesboro, Ga.

The artists' residency at CSUCI is funded by an Instructionally Related Activities grant with the assistance of the Martin V. Smith School of Business & Economics.

For more information about the artists and their residency at CSUCI contact Tiina Itkonen, assistant professor of education, 805-437-3294 or tiina.itkonen@csuci.edu.

For media inquires about this event contact Ceal Potts, communications specialist at CSUCI, 805-437-8940 or cecilia.potts@csuci.edu.