BIO
Cody T. Gillette, Musical Director, Pianist, Composer, Arranger and Producer
(310) 773-6497

Cody Gillette has been known primarily to San Francisco, Seattle and Maui audiences through his live cabaret event productions such as the The Larkspur Cabaret Summer Festival and Songfest-A Songwriter’s Celebration, presenting well-known cabaret and jazz singers such as Maye Cavallero and Meg MacKay, and producing a special tribute to songwriter Carroll Coates., in Marin County, California. He also presented and accompanied many established singers and songwriters in various spotlight series at live music venues such as the Galleon, Fanny’s, Chez Jacques, and Martuni’s in San Francisco that presented singers such as Lua Hadar, Amy Dondy, and Carlton Rounds. On Maui, he presented and performed with jazz vocalist Eve Moffatt for two years at the Moana Cafe, and at the Jazzerie with Broadway and opera singer Richard Cray.

His record label, OZmosis Records, specializing in vocalists from the SF Bay Area, including vocalist Scotty Wright (voted among top ten male jazz vocalists in the world by DownBeat magazine), was born out of his recording studio of 15 years, Emerald City Studios of San Francisco.

Cody has been music director, arranger and pianist for numerous theatrical productions including "A Winter’s Tale" with The American Conservatory Theatre; the Cabaret Gold award-winning "She Loves Me" (M. Pulizzano, Intersection Theatre); the long-running Irving Berlin in Revue (B. Koron, ChiChi Theatre); three seasons with the Los Altos Conservatory Theatre including productions of "Stop the World I Want to Get Off", "Marat Sade", and "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well" (D. Mraz); and "Richard’s Cork Leg" at the Eureka Theatre, with authentic Gaellic songs.

Cody has accompanied, coached and music-directed a number of operas as well, from "Cosi Fan Tutte" with the SF-based Operatif company, to "Gianni Schicchi" with the University of Washington Opera Ensemble, and performed on the San Francisco War Memorial Opera stage during the finals of the Merola Opera competition, having coached and accompanied opera singer Dena St. John as one of ten finalists on the West Coast in association with the San Francisco Opera.

He has also accompanied many master classes for well-known opera artists and teachers, such as six months of accompanying workshops with the legendary Blanche Thebom of New York Met Opera renown, and master voice teachers such as Dorothy Barnhouse and Ruth Cooper. Cody was on the accompanying and coaching staff for several years for the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Timothy Bach, Vocal and Chamber music, Mack Macray, piano, and John Adams, composition; and on the music staff at San Francisco State University, where he worked with voice teacher Anna Carol Dudley, at the College of Notre Dame, Belmont, with Onnie Taylor, and the Community Music Center with Dorothy Barnhouse.

Cody’s academic history includes being a PhD candidate in Psycho-Acoustics at the University of Washington, where he also received a commission to write an opera that takes place in Bosnia, as well as a bachelor’s degree from California Institute of the Arts in composition and a master’s degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in piano, composition and vocal/chamber music.

Cody was accompanist and solo pianist on World Explorer Cruises to Alaska, where he accompanied Pavarotti competition winner Keith Purdy and former Miss Nevada Sharon Davis. On the Delta Steamship Lines, in addition to his dance band and lounge pianist duties, Cody presented classical solo piano recitals every Sunday for over two months while touring twenty-two ports around South America. While travelling extensively, Cody studied opera, music and art history and languages during his two years living in France and Austria.

As a composer, Cody has had performances and recordings of his chamber works and art songs, such as "Music for Horn, Vibraphone and Four Celli", based on Indian ragas and complex world beat rhythms, and performances in San Francisco and on Maui of his five songs setting of children’s poems "Embrace the New World", for soprano, tenor and piano. His chamber music catalog includes works for woodwind trios, horns, strings and various combinations, vibraphone duets, solo piano pieces, and art song settings of 19th century poetry.

Cody’s recently released album, "Lost Love Letters in the Sand", which includes songs in genres that cross the boundaries between popular, classical, musical theatre and jazz genres, features vocalists Richard Cray, baritone and Debra Lynn, soprano. These excellent vocalists are accompanied by some of the best jazz musicians in San Francisco and on Maui, as well as members of the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra and the New Century Chamber Orchestra.

More recently, Cody has been music director, pianist and arranger for a number of musical theatre productions at the magnificent, modern Maui Arts and Cultural Center and at the historic Iao Theatre, in conjunction with the Maui Arts and Performing Academy and Maui OnStage, with sold-out runs: "Chicago" and "The Fantasticks", with Maui OnStage, both of which won best musical or top mentions in their categories; "Narnia" and "Annie"’, with MAPA, and a special presentation of Terence MacNally’s "Master Class", about the life of Maria Callas, featuring actress Carmen Adams and Cody on stage both acting and accompanying the singers in live performance. Cody was also instrumental in performing with the orchestra of the Maury Yeston "Phantom", featuring Richard Cray and Debra Lynn, as well as preparing synthesized orchestral backup tapes for rehearsals. The production was lavishly and expertly produced by the Maui Light Opera company, and received great praise and accolades. More about Richard Cray performing with Cody Gillette can be found here.

As a lounge entertainer, Cody has performed extended runs at many five-star hotels and restaurants including the Four Seasons Clift Hotel Redwood room in San Francisco, Reilly’s Steakhouse on Maui, and Casa del Mar in Santa Monica. He performs regularly at The Bistro of Santa Monica, has performed at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for private events, and recently performed on the same stage as Dick Van Dyke for the Golden Heart Awards Ceremonies at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Cody also performed for almost two years at the elegant Casa del Mar Hotel in Marina del Rey.
More recently, Cody was music director and assistant to the director in productions of "Into The Woods" of Stephen Sondheim with the DOMA Theatre, and assistant music director of "GodSpell", presented by Grace Lutheran Church in Culver City.

Additional Biographical Information

CODY GILLETTE

EDUCATION:
PhD Candidate; Psycho-Acoustics; University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Studies in Psychology of Music, Science of Acoustics, and Music Technology
Dissertation (in progress); Areas of Specialization: Evolution of Music in World Cultures and Relationship to Human Speech; Aural Illusions; Director of Program: Dr. James Carlsen; Mentor: Bernice Laden
M.M. (Master of Music): San Francisco Conservatory of Music, San Francisco, CA
Composition and Piano; Composition with John Adams, Elinor Armer; Piano with Mack McCray, Nathan Schwartz; Area of Specialty: Vocal Accompaniment and Coaching, Chamber Music; Mentors: Timothy Bach, Paul Hersh
B.M. (Bachelor of Music): San Francisco Conservatory of Music, San Francisco, CA
Composition and Piano
Additional Studies (two years B.M. program): California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA; Composition with Leonard Stein, Alan Chaplin, Mort Subotnick, James Tenney, Harold Budd; Piano with Leonid Hambro, Susan Vrocek, Milton Stern
SCIENTIFIC PAPERS:
Presentation of research to Doctoral Committee, University of Washington, Dr. James Carlsen, Chairman, on “The Perception of Tritones: Ascending or Descending?” based on continued inquiry into work on aural illusions surrounding the interval of the tritone, devising and testing theory to explain results in work of Dr. Diana Deutsch, University of San Diego
PUBLISHED COMPOSITIONS, RECORDINGS (brief selected sample of works that have been publicly performed and recorded):
“Music for Horn, Vibrapohone, and Four Celli” based on Indian Ragas and Rhythmic Patterns
“Vocalise” Instrumental Duet for Violin and Piano
“Trio Phantasmique” for Flute, Clarinet, Bassoon
“Embrace the New World” Song Cycle for Soprano, Tenor, Piano, based on children’s poems
“Bittersweet Carnival” Dance Theme and Variations for Piano
“Variations on War and Peace”, “Sound Sculpture”, “Song for My Son”, “Child’s Play”, music for Dance
“Incidental Music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, commissioned for the theatre
Original Musical Theatre compositions, (lyrics and music by Gillette) appear on the CD,
“Lost Love Letters in the Sand”, featuring members of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Century Chamber Players, recorded and performed at Maui OnStage, Wailuku, Hawaii
Original Music for “That Pesky Rat”, book by Lauren Child, Choreography by Teresa Heiland, for Loyola Marymount University Dance Tour
Original music for percussion and synthesizers for Karen McDonald, Choreographer
Currently writing opera based on ancient legends of Sarajevo in collaboration with Ethnomusicolgy Department and Bosnian Studies at University of Washington, using musical examples collected on wax cylinder recordings transcribed by Bela Bartok

HONORS AND AWARDS:
Cabaret Gold Award for Best Musical, Music Director “She Loves Me”, San Francisco, CA
Full Scholarship, California Institute of the Arts
European Studies Scholarship (two years study and travel in France, Austria and England accompanying opera singers), Private Arts Foundation and Music and Arts Institute, San Francisco, CA
Finalist (as coach and performer) in San Francisco Opera’s Merola program competition, performance on stage of War Memorial Opera House, S. F. Opera
Accompanist for Keith Purdy, Tenor, winner of Pavorotti Competition, and Sharon Davis,, Soprano, “Miss Nevada” entrant in Miss America Pageant
Selected by National Scholarship Competition to participate in extended masterclasses (three week intensive private training) by Gwedolyn Koldovsky, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
MASTER CLASSES:
Accompanied extended master classes (six months) for Blanche Thebom, Prima Diva Mezzo-Soprano of New York Metropolitan Opera Company, in San Francisco, CA
Also accompanied masterclasses taught by Luciano Pavorotti, Renata Scotto, Jess Thomas

FESTIVALS, COMPETITIONS:
Accompanist for auditions for Aspen Music Festival, Tanglewood Festival, Merola Opera Program, Sing-It-Yourself Messiah (San Francisco Conservatory of Music in collaboration with San Francisco Opera)
EMPLOYMENT:
Loyola Marymount University, Music Director; Accompanist for Ballet, Modern Dance; Digital Audio mixing and editing; Composer for Dance Tour; Fundamentals of Music, Instruction and tutoring
San Francisco Conservatory of Music: Staff Coach, Accompanist, Vocal and Chamber Music; Timothy Bach, Director;
San Francisco Conservatory of Music: Assistant Lecturer, Tutorer of Theory, Presentations on “Symmetry of Time and Design in Structure of Music of Bela Bartok”
San Francisco State University: Staff Vocal Accompanist, Choral Accompanist
College, Anna Carol Dudley, Vocal Instructor
College of Notre Dame, Belmont, CA: Staff Accompanist, Onnie Taylor, Director, Vocal Department; Michael Morris, instructor
San Francisco Community Music Center: Staff Accompanist for Dorothy Barnhouse
Olympic Club of San Francisco: Choral Accompanist
American Conservatory Theatre, San Francisco, CA:  Assistant Music Director, Musical Productions; Accompanist for Ballet, Tap and Modern Dance (two years); ;Faye McNally, Music Director; William Ball, Director and Founder of A.C.T.
World Explorer Cruises (S.S. Universe), based in Juneau, Alaska: Accompanist for Opera performances, Classical Piano Soloist
Delta Steamship Lines, Dance Band Leader, Classical Piano Soloist, extended cruises touring 22 ports around South America,
WORLD PREMIERES:
Performance as pianist at East/West Cultural Integration Studies Institute, John Cooper, Director
“Songs of Orpheus”, Song Cycle by New York composer Arnold Freed
“Song of Pegasus”, Opera/Ballet in Two Acts by Ron McFarland, as coach/accompanist/orchestral pianist with San Francisco Ballet Orchestra led by Dennis DeCouteau, Conductor at Forest Meadow Amphtheatre, Dominican College, San Rafael, CA
“Songs of Sonia”, based on life of Sonia Johnson, excommunicated by Mormon Church, at Hellman Hall, San Francisco, CA and at Jesuit Seminary, Berkeley, CA

MUSICAL THEATRE DIRECTION/BAND DIRECTION/ORCHESTRAL ARRANGEMENTS (extended engagements):
ChiChi Theatre Club, San Francisco, CA: “Irving Berlin in Revue”, “We’re in the Money”, Barry Koron, Director, awarded four stars by San Francisco Chronicle
Chez Jacques: “Fear and Loathing in Love and Marriage”, Phil Rahyer, Director
Los Altos Conservatory Theatre, Los Altos, CA: “Marat Sade, the Musical”, “Stop the World I Want to Get Off”, “Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris”; Doyne Mraz, Director
Eureka Theatre, San Francisco, CA: “Richard’s Cork Leg” by Brendan Behan, including teaching cast songs in Gaellic with help of the Clancy Brothers
Intersection Theatre: “She Loves Me”, Michael Pullizano, Director
Maui OnStage, Wailuku, HI: “Masterclass” by Terence McNally, with Carmen Gardner as Maria Callas, as Music Director, Pianist, Actor; “Chicago” (Terri Smith, Choreographer, protégé of Bob Fosse), “The Fantasticks”, John Luth,  Director
Maui Academy for Performing Arts, at Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Kahalui, HI: “Narnia”, “Peter Pan”, Donna Breeden, Director;
“Phantom”, John Luth, Director; “The Wiz”, Sue Laudon, Director
“Piaf”, Arranger, Pianist, Music Director for Multimedia presentation based on life of Edith Piaf, including live performance with orchestra, at Potrero Hill Theatre, Patty Butler, Director
TRAVEL/STUDIES ABROAD:
Intense Language and Cultural Studies (two years) in Vienna and Saltzburg, Austria and Paris, France, at Institute of Languages and Alliance Francaise, Paris, France; Private studies in German and Conducting in Saltzburg with Doctor Gustav Leopold
LANGUAGES:
French (fluent); German (moderate  proficiency); Italian (phonetic coaching of arias)
PRODUCING CREDITS:
Larkspur Cabaret Theatre “Singer/Songwriter Series”, extended run (one year), producer, spotlighting major Cabaret, Jazz and Musical Theatre talent from San Francisco Bay Area, Patricia Sheehan, Theatre Director
The Galleon Spotlight Series, San Francisco, CA: Producer, Pianist, Showcase Talent
Martuni’s, San Francisco, CA: Management of artistic talent, Hiring of singers, pianists
OZmosis Records, Owner specializing in vocal talent in Musical Theatre, Jazz and Singer-songwriter originals including full production of CDs from inception of concept, to hiring of musicians and arrangers,  recording and distribution such well-known jazz and musical theatre artists as:
“Rhythm, Reason and Rhyme”, Scotty Wright, vocalist, winner of “Best Male Jazz Vocalist”, Downbeat Magazine
“It Never Entered My Mind”, Rod Sherrell, vocalist
“I Should Care”, Frank Jackson, vocalist
MUSIC INDUSTRY/ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS EXPERIENCE:
Emerald City Studios, San Francisco: Owner, Producer, Recording Engineer, Professional, five-room Recording Studio with 9-ft Hamburg Steinway, specializing  in classical, opera, art song,  film music and jazz, 15 years
Emerald City Supper Club, San Francisco, CA: Largest Jazz Supper Club in San Francisco (5500 sq. ft.) with Swing Dance Floor, featuring up to 17-piece Swing Bands, including the Lionel Hampton Orchestra and fully staged theatrical/vocal presentations from Hamburg, Germany, and Paris, France such as “Ciara”.
Recently, working with Entertainment Agencies in Los Angeles including Classy Act Entertainment, MusicMakers and More, Best of the Best, and World Class Productions, as classical and jazz soloist and music contractor
ADD’L MUSIC RELATED SKILLS:
Proficient in Pro Tools, Digital Performer digital audio, Coda Finale music notation software, web authoring skills
HOBBIES, INTERESTS;
Science, History, Philosophy, Documentaries, Foreign Films, Carpentry, Hiking, Swimming, Camping

© 2004 Cody Gillette | site design by jbishopmedia.com