Bio and Current Projects
Quick Bio
Stephen started piano lessons in 2nd grade with Mary Ann and Paul Acker (music director at Community Presbyterian church in Ventura, California). As a youth, he played in churches, schools, and other venues as accompanist, in ensembles and as a solo pianist.
While at school working on his music degree (UCLA, BA – Piano Performance), he enjoyed accompanying singers and other instrumentalists.
In recent years, he’s also been active in jazz studies, playing in bands in venues in/around Ventura County: big bands, sextets, small ensembles, often with singers (for dance classes & clubs, fund-raisers, churches, special events, etc.).
Most recently, Stephen played at Capital Unitarian Universalist Congregation and other venues in Victoria, BC Canada, before moving to San Francisco in 2023.
current projects:
- Jazz guitar and piano duo with Michael Spota, guitar (Ventura, California)
- Accompanist for SF chapter of National Children’s Chorus (https://nationalchildrenschorus.com)
- San Francisco Unitarian Universalist Church (https://www.uusf.org/)
Teachers and Mentors along the way:
- Mary and Paul Acker, music director at Ventura Community Presbyterian
- C. Michael Ehrhardt, classical music teacher at Ojai’s Thacher School
- Peter Yazbeck, classical music teacher in Ventura, California
- Charles Fulkerson, music professor at Cal State Humboldt
- Johanna Harris, classical music professor & performer (& specialist in improvisation in classical styles) at UCLA
- Mark Richman, classical music professor at UCLA
- Roger Wagner, Jeannine Wagner, members of LA Master Chorale at UCLA
- Camille Hayes, classical pianist & singer (former student of Lotte Lehmann)
- Matt Harris, head of CSUN Jazz department
- David Diggs, composer, arranger, producer, and jazz pianist
Stephen’s been fortunate to have been associated with and active in some amazing on-line teachers’ communities, e.g.,
- Jeff Antoniuk, JazzWire
- Peter Martin and Adam Maness, Open Studio
- George Whitty, Artist Works
- Jordan Klemons, NYC Master Classes
organizations he’s participated in:
- Moorpark College big band and studio band
- Ventura Jazz Orchestra (big-band), Ventura Jazz Sextet, most often featuring jazz vocalist Donna Greene
- Peter Martin jazz quintet
- Roger Bridges jazz quintet, soul bands
- ‘Phoenyx’ Big Band and other groups performing at Ventura’s excellent ‘Grape’ venue (https://thegrapeventura.com/)
- National Children’s Choir
- Unitarian Universalist Church
To learn about Stephen’s ‘day’ jobs, please refer to his LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-cox-951a827/
