Director & Staff
Dr. Jeff Brookey
Choral Director
Jeff Brookey has taught choral music in California schools for thirty years and has been in his current position at La Cañada High School in California since 2008. Under his direction choral ensembles have toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. In Europe they have performed in various venues iconic including St. Peter’s and St. Mark’s Basilicas in Italy, the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, the Matyas Templom in Budapest, and the Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família in Barcelona, Spain. In addition, his choirs have performed concert sessions at California Music Educators Association State Conferences (CMEA), the 1997 American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National Conference, and the 2016 ACDA Western Division Conference. Most recently, Dr. Brookey’s LCHS Chamber Singers, representing the Western half of the United States of America, gave a virtual performance at the 2021 ACDA National Conference with raving reviews.The LCHS Chamber Singers were also featured on NPR’s “From the Top” In 2014. Before settling in Southern California in 2004, Dr. Brookey taught in high schools and colleges in Central California. He has led various honor choirs and has served as a clinician and adjudicator at numerous choral festivals and competitions. Dr. Brookey received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Music Education from Chapman University, a Masters of Arts Degree in Conducting from California State University Fresno, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts Degree in Choral Music from the University of Southern California. He received the La Cañada Educational Foundation Rose Harrington Educator of the Year Award in 2015.
email: JBrookey (@) lcusd.net
Jenna Atias
Accompanist
International performer, Jenna Atias, was exposed to her gift in music at the young age of 4. Since then, her musical career pans from Eastern Europe to Israel and the United States. Her qualifications as a classical pianist and accompanist has afforded her opportunities to perform collaboratively with orchestra, chamber musicians, vocalists, instrumentalists, choirs, musical theatre, opera, studio recordings and piano duet. Jenna Atias has received high honors in musical academies. She holds her Master’s Degree in Piano Instruction, Performance, Accompaniment, and Chamber Ensemble Soloist from Lviv National Music Academy. In Israel, she received the Music Artist Diploma in Piano Accompaniment and Chamber Music from Jerusalem Rubin Music Academy.
Mrs. Atias has participated in live radio shows, musical festivals, competitions, as well as musical theatre productions and chamber ensembles, internationally. During the last 7 years, Mrs. Atias has enriched her career in various capacities. She has performed in chamber music concerts with “Renaissance Trio.” Additionally, she has accompanied musical theatre productions for St. Finbar School in Burbank, Jaxx Theatricals, and Reflections in Dance studio. Mrs. Atias makes regular appearances for the Sherman Oaks Presbyterian Church as substitute pianist and works with vocalists for audition preparations. She has accompanied various school choirs, collaborating with the Choir Directors to achieve harmony in young musicians. Mrs. Atias accompanies the LCHS Vocal Ensemble, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, and 7/8 Honor Choir.
Mrs. Atias resides in Studio City, with her husband, and their young son, who is exhibiting his mother’s gift for a musical ear. When she is not dreaming of musical notes, she is helping her son pursue his own musical career.
cari Golden
Voice Instructor
Cari Golden is a Los Angeles based singer/songwriter, voice artist and vocal coach. A graduate of University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Music in Classical Vocal Performance (with honors and scholarship), Golden has built a wide ranging career that encompasses nearly every aspect of the music industry. Golden is a veteran of the Walt Disney Company having been a cast member performer for many years, served as Platinum Guild International’s spokesperson and songwriter, and has been the lead vocalist and vocal director for Wayne Foster Entertainment since 2000. Also a voice actor, Golden is the announcer for several music podcasts and is also the voice of Woojer, an audio haptic device company. She is a sample vocalist for LANDR and is also the sample voice on Kawai keyboards. As a sound alike artist Golden can be heard on several Dance Mania Extreme recordings for the arcade game company. Golden worked for Vibe Performing Arts Studios as a vocal instructor from 2006-2012 and currently serves as the studio instructor to guide music production students on how to work with studio vocalists for Icon Collective in Burbank. Currently, Golden is enjoying a chart topping career as an electronic music songwriter (ASCAP) and vocalist with over two hundred released songs, including on major labels such as Sony and EMI. She has been nominated for an International Dance Music Award and travels the world singing at clubs and festivals. Her music can be found in television shows on HBO, “Gypsy” on Netflix, “The Bachelor” on ABC and “Jay Leno’s Garage” on CNBC.
Cari Golden has an intimate knowledge of what is required to achieve goals and nail auditions. Her own choir experiences in high school and college netted her spots in New Jersey Regional Choir, NJ All-State Choir all eligible years and first chair Tenor 1 senior year, and All Eastern Choir. She won the National Association of Teachers of Singing award in 1990 while studying classical voice at University of Miami, and went on to win the Anderson Vocal Scholarship after transferring to University of Colorado at Boulder. She starred in the debut performance of The Mistress of Two Masters with famed British actor Tony Church.
Cari Golden is delighted to return to the LCHS Choral Program to give vocal coaching to the 9-12 Women’s Ensemble and Concert Choir. With a focus on marrying technique with artistry and authenticity, Golden hopes to guide students to setting and accomplishing their goals with the highest standards of excellence and integrity.
Amanda Svetich
7/8 Instrumental Teacher
Amanda Svetich graduated from Central Washington University in 2007 with her bachelors in violin performance, summa cum laude. While in Washington she was concertmaster for the Central Washington University Symphony Orchestra, a member of the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, sang in the Central Washington University Choir, and was the conductor for the Debut Orchestra of Central Washington’s Preparatory Strings Program.
In 2010, Mrs. Svetich completed her master’s degree in music education from the University of Southern California. Since then she spent 9 years teaching band, orchestra, and choir at Paramount and Glendale Unified before leaving for Arcadia High School where she was the Choral Director. Mrs. Svetich’s ensembles were consistently ranked with top scores in local and state wide competitions as well as placing first in select judges’ invitational competitions.
Mrs. Svetich’s performance credits include musical theater productions of Cats and American Tales, the National Festival Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, and as a member of the American Youth Symphony with performances at Disney Concert Hall.
Mrs. Svetich will be assisting Dr. Brookey with the 7/8 Women’s Ensemble. She is thrilled to be joining the amazing faculty at La Canada High School and returning to her love of teaching at the middle school level.
Dr. Soohee Lee
Accompanist, LCHS Men’s and Women’s Ensemble
Pianist Dr. Soohee Lee has a varied career as a soloist, chamber musician and music educator. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Seoul National University, Korea, a Master of Music from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a Soistendiplom (Artist Diploma) from Basel Academy of Music, Switzerland. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from University of Southern California, under the tutelage of Dr. Stewart Gordon. She has won numerous prizes in the Seoul National University of Education Piano Competition, Young Artist Competition of Korea Music Association, Samick Music Competition, Concerto Competition of Basel Academy of Music and IBLA International Piano Competition.
Dr. Lee has performed in the major concert halls across the U.S.A, such as Seoul Arts Center, Kumho Art Hall, Masan Art Center, Sejong Art Center (Korea), Tokyo City Center (Japan), St. Petersburg Theater (Russia), Die Grosser Saal, Stadtcasino Basel, Tonhalle Winterthur, and Tonhalle Zurich (Switzerland). She has been a featured soloist with the Basel Symphony Orchestra, St. Petersburg State Orchestra, Seoul Chamber Orchestra, Seoul City Orchestra and Prime Philharmonic Orchestra. As an active chamber musician, Lee has collaborated with numerous world-renowned musicians, including Edward Brunner, Anita Leuzinger, Francois Benda, Sungsic Yang and Trio di Palma. Besides performing, she has 14 years of teaching experiences at Ehwa Women’s University, Sukmyung Women’s University and Seokyung University. From 2010 to 2017, she worked as an associate professor at University of Suwon, Korea. Currently, Lee is an active member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Music Teachers’ National Association and Music Teachers’ Association of California.
Dr. Lee accompanies the LCHS Men’s and Women’s Ensemble.