Our Advisory Board

The Music Club is fortunate that many of the outgoing directors have joined our Advisory Board. We are grateful for their continuing contribution.
Bill Berry
Bill Berry
Director Emeritus

Born in Montreal, Bill Berry earned his B.Sc. in Geology and Chemistry from McGill University. As Area Administrator with the Canadian Federal Government, he lived with the Inuit people, learning their language and assisting them in adopting institutions, technologies, and business practices of our society while retaining their intellectual culture. After obtaining his MBA from the University of Western Ontario he was Executive Vice President for the Canadian Textiles Institute, Manager of Government Affairs for Ultramar Canada, and Executive Director of the Crop Protection Institute of Canada. Since retirement Bill has sold financial products, taught French, served on boards of several community organizations, and sings in the Santa Barbara Master Chorale.

Adriane Hill Cleary
Adriane Hill Cleary
Director Emeritus, Flutist

Adriane Hill Cleary is a flutist based in Santa Barbara, CA, where she works as the Marketing and Communications Manager for the UC Santa Barbara Department of Music. She studied performance at UC Santa Barbara (M.M.) with Jill Felber and the University of Central Florida (B.M.) with Dr. Nora Lee Garcia. As a member of the new music group, the Now Hear Ensemble, she has toured throughout much of California, including appearances at the Center for New Music in San Francisco and the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (REDCAT) in Los Angeles. Adriane also serves as the Marketing and Communications Manager for the Los Angeles-based composer-directed collective, Synchromy. Learn more at www.adrianehill.com.

Christopher Davis
Christopher Davis
Director Emeritus; Pianist

Christopher Davis, pianist, has been concerto soloist with several orchestras including the Northwest Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and has studied with renowned teachers and scholars in Germany, Austria, and Portugal. He earned his BA Degree from UC San Diego, his MM Degree from the University of Arkansas, and his DMA Degree from UCSB. In addition to serving as the Music Academy of the West’s House Manager (2009-2016), Dr. Davis has been on the staff of the Ojai Music Festival and Westmont College (2014-2016), and has worked for Camerata Pacifica, collaborating independently with many of their musicians.

Robert Else
Robert Else
Director Emeritus, Pianist

Robert Else, pianist, is active in both the classical and jazz worlds. He earned his BA Degree in Music from Cal Poly Humboldt and pursued graduate studies at USC, studying with Gwendolyn Koldofsky and Brooks Smith; he also received a BA in Jazz Piano from Berklee College of Music in Boston. His activities include solo piano, chamber music, jazz ensembles, singing tenor with the SB Noel Carolers, and composing tracks for film and TV, many of which can be heard at www.robertelse.com. A SBMC Advisory Board member, he also plays acoustic bass in various local Bluegrass and Americana bands.

Mary Jo Hartle
Mary Jo Hartle
Director Emeritus, flutist

Mary Jo Hartle, flutist, received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Harvard University and did graduate work in anthropology at the University of Chicago. As Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of the South, her specialty was Indian Goddess Worship. A student of Anne Diener Zentner, former Principal Flute of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, she pursues her love of chamber music as a member of the Firecat Trio and other ensembles, and is frequent participant in the Humboldt State University Chamber Music Workshops. Ms. Hartle is the author of children’s books as well as a former anthropologist, and is currently President of the Chamber Music Society of Santa Barbara.

Steve Hodson
Steve Hodson
Director Emeritus, Pianist, Organist

Steve Hodson is Professor of Music at Westmont College where his duties have included teaching piano and organ, conducting, and music survey, and leading various singing groups. He conducts the Santa Barbara Master Chorale and serves as organist at First United Methodist Church of Santa Barbara. Hodson holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He is Vice-President of the Western Division of the American Choral Directors Association (encompassing California, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona), and past President of California ACDA. He enjoys performing on piano, organ, and harpsichord and is an accomplished accompanist.

Hal Isbitz
Hal Isbitz
Director Emeritus

Hal Isbitz, composer and pianist, is a classically trained musician who studied composition and music theory with Dr. Ernest Kanitz, then Professor Emeritus at the University of Southern California. A retired computer programmer, Hal began writing ragtime and other syncopated pieces in the mid-1970’s, and to date has written over 80 piano pieces. His music has been recorded and performed at ragtime festivals throughout the country, and Tulsey Town Rag, written to commemorate the centennial of Oklahoma statehood, won the 2007 competition held by the Ragtime for Tulsa Foundation.

Adelle Rodkey
Adelle Rodkey
Director Emeritus, Oboist

Adelle Rodkey, oboist, received her BM Degree in Music Pedagogy, magna cum laude, from Wheaton Conservatory of Music (Illinois), where she studied oboe with Carl Sonik. A native of Santa Barbara, she was an oboe student of Anne Anderson and a piano student of Lana Bodnar and Marilyn Clemons. Honors accorded her have included the President’s Award from Wheaton College, as well as awards from the Music Teachers National Association and the Pillsbury Foundation. Adelle performs frequently in several orchestras and chamber music ensembles, and is Instructor of Oboe at Westmont College. As a member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas, she maintains a private studio of oboe and piano students.