John Ballerino, pianist, was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and earned his DMA in Collaborative Arts from USC. His principal teachers have included Gwendolyn Koldofsky, Brooks Smith, and Martial Singher, the latter at the Music Academy of the West. An accomplished speaker about and performer of Spanish and Latin American music, he lectures and performs throughout the United States and the Caribbean and has served as Spanish diction coach for productions by the Los Angeles Opera and Los Angeles Master Chorale. Former Chorus Master and Assistant Conductor for Opera Santa Barbara, Dr. Ballerino is currently Continuing Lecturer of Collaborative Arts at UCSB.