Brendan Lodge, Operations Manager

A Michigander currently living in California, Brendan Lodge is a choral music educator, conductor, performer, and arranger. In 2014, he earned his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Music Education at Alma College under the tutelage of Dr. Will Nichols, where he had the opportunity to conduct multiple choirs as a student director. Brendan taught middle school choir for four years in Michigan and California before earning his Master of Music in Choral Conducting at San José State University in May 2023 where he was mentored by Dr. Jeffrey Benson and Dr. Corie Brown.

At SJSU, Brendan worked as an instructor in Music Appreciation, Music Fundamentals, Ear Training, and directed the Vocal Jazz Ensemble. In addition to his own coursework, he participated in all of the SJSU choral ensembles in various administrative, artistic, and performance capacities. Upon graduation, he was named the 2023 Outstanding Graduate Student in Music. Following his time at SJSU, he served for two years as the Director of Choirs at Livermore High School in Livermore, CA.
 
Brendan currently serves as the Associate Artistic Director of the Ragazzi Boys Chorus in Redwood City, California where he conducts the Avanti chorus and oversees the implementation and design of their music theory curriculum. He resides in San José with his husband, Tyler, as well as their two Boston Terriers, Jan and Bob.

Contact Brendan

Peninsula Cantare is thrilled to welcome Brendan Lodge as Operations Manager. Brendan recently completed his MM in Choral Conducting at San José State University. In 2014, he earned his BM in Vocal Music Education at Alma College under the tutelage of Dr. Will Nichols, where he had the opportunity to conduct multiple choirs as a student director. Brendan taught middle school choir for four years in Michigan and California before beginning his masters at SJSU.

An avid musical theatre fan, Brendan has worked as a music/pit director for multiple productions, and enjoys performing when he can. Brendan also works as an arranger and frequently arranges music for his own choirs to sing. The Alma College Choirs have repeatedly commissioned his arrangements, and he had the privilege of conducting his own works for the 2014 and 2017 Alma College Homecoming Concerts. In 2017 and 2019, his arrangements were featured at the Michigan Music Conference’s Choral Hour.

Brendan currently serves as the Director of Choirs at Livermore High School in Livermore, California. He resides in San José with his fiancé, Tyler, as well as their two Boston Terriers, Jan and Bob.

Contact Brendan

Emily Hsu, Collaborative Pianist

Emily Hsu began her piano and musical training at the age of three. By age ten, she had won several prestigious accolades as a soloist. After moving from Taiwan to the Bay Area in 1996, she studied with renowned pianist Rebecca-Sen Chan. In addition to having an extensive and accomplished solo career, Emily is a collaborative musician by nature. She has arranged numerous choral works for the Tzu Chi Foundation and Bo-Ai Chorus, she has performed with the Cambrian Symphony under the direction of Maestro Scott Krijnen, and she’s worked with distinguished music educator Jim Yowell for over a decade.

Since 2016, Emily has performed with the California Choral Directors Association Central and Coastal Honor Choirs, as well as with the ACDA All-State Honor Choirs. She has collaborated alongside Dr. Judy Bowers (2016), Dr. Jessica Nápoles (2017), Dr. Jeffrey Benson (2017), Dr. Anthony Trecek-King (2021), and Lori Marie Rios (2023).

Emily currently resides in Los Gatos with her husband and daughter, and she works closely with Dr. Corie Brown (San José State University) and Dr. Jeffrey Benson (SJSU and Peninsula Cantare).

Emily Hsu began her piano and musical training at the age of three. By age ten, she had won several prestigious accolades as a soloist. After moving from Taiwan to the Bay Area in 1996, she studied with renowned pianist Rebecca-Sen Chan. In addition to having an extensive and accomplished solo career, Emily is a collaborative musician by nature. She has arranged numerous choral works for the Tzu Chi Foundation and Bo-Ai Chorus, she has performed with the Cambrian Symphony under the direction of Maestro Scott Krijnen, and she’s worked with distinguished music educator Jim Yowell for over a decade.

Since 2016, Emily has performed with the California Choral Directors Association Central and Coastal Honor Choirs, as well as with the ACDA All-State Honor Choirs. She has collaborated alongside Dr. Judy Bowers (2016), Dr. Jessica Nápoles (2017), Dr. Jeffrey Benson (2017), Dr. Anthony Trecek-King (2021), and Lori Marie Rios (2023).

Emily currently resides in Los Gatos with her husband and daughter, and she works closely with Dr. Corie Brown (San José State University) and Dr. Jeffrey Benson (SJSU and Peninsula Cantare).

Section Leaders

Soprano: Marina Box

Alto: Pia Satana

Tenor: Cody Scott

Bass: Truesten Tautolo