Music Staff

Dawn Brooks, Director of Music

Dawn Brooks graduated from California State University, Long Beach with Bachelor and Masters degrees in Vocal Performance and a DMA in Choral Music from the University of Southern California. She has studied conducting with Lynn Bielefelt, Bill Dehning, and Magen Solomon and was a voice student of Marvellee Cariaga. As a contralto soloist, she has performed at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, and the John Anson Ford Theatre, as well as with the USC Early Music Ensemble and the professional chorus Zephyr: Voices Unbound. Her musical theatre and opera credits include The Pirates of Penzance, Sweet Charity, HMS Pinafore, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Dido and Aeneas, and several Broadway revues. She performs regularly with the vocal jazz quartet Corner Pocket and as a part of Dawn Brooks and the Cory Johnson Trio, who released their first album “Got a Little Rhythm” in the fall of 2006. Her most recent recording project was the September 2010 release of an Americana album of hymn arrangements with the group morning star. Dr. Brooks has taught choral music, voice, music history, and conducting at the college level, most recently at California State University Fullerton. She is currently the Director of Music at Riviera United Methodist in Redondo Beach, where she directs the adult and handbell choirs and produces a yearly fine arts concert series and founded the Redondo Beach Baroque Festival. She is also the Director of the Huntington Landmark Chorale in Huntington Beach, co-directs the Contemporary Band at Our Lady Queen of Angels in Newport Beach, and teaches private voice.

Cory Johnson, Organist/Accompanist

Cory Johnson received his Master of Music Degree in Composition from CSU Long Beach. He is currently teaching music theory at Fullerton College, the organist at Riviera United Methodist in Redondo Beach, co-director of the Contemporary Band at Our Lady Queen of Angels in Newport Beach, and the pianist for Dawn Brooks and the Cory Johnson Trio, who released their first album "Got a Little Rhythm" in the fall of 2006. He has won numerous awards for composition, including the Irwin Kostal Award from The American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers. A number of his published pieces have been performed at venues across the country, including major choral festivals, and he has been commissioned to write for professional choral groups, universities, and churches.