Linda West Brown, Director
Linda Brown earned a B.A. in Music Education at Whittier College, a M.M. in Organ Performance from USC, a M.A. in Educational Administration from the University of San Francisco, and a D.M.A. from USC.
She taught full-time in the California public schools for thirty-eight years, including elementary ages through college. Her last position before retirement in 2014 was at Rio Hondo College where she led the Choral Program, taught lecture classes in music fundamentals, music appreciation and history, and collaborated with the Theatre Department on musical theatre productions.
Dr. Brown’s history with Chorale Bel Canto goes back to 1982 as a founding member of the group. She served as accompanist for ten years until her family relocated to the Imperial Valley. There, she became Artistic Director and Conductor of the Imperial Valley Choral Society which included the Imperial Valley Master Chorale, Imperial Valley Chamber Singers, and the Junior Master Chorale. In 2001, members of the Imperial Valley Choral Society traveled with members of Chorale Bel Canto on a singing tour of Europe. She also created a high school performing arts magnet school, SAVAPA, focused on integrating the performing arts into English and Social Studies classes.
Dr. Brown is on the Board of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, is the President of the Ruth and Clarence Mader Memorial Scholarship Fund, and is Organist, Jubilee Bell Choir Director and Children’s Choir Director at Red Hill Lutheran Church and School in Tustin, CA.
Past Director
Stephen Gothold
Founder of Chorale Bel Canto, Stephen Gothold was the group’s conductor and music director from 1981 to 2018. A graduate of Whittier College, Dr. Gothold was director of Choral Activities there from 1977 until his retirement in 2005. He received his Master of Arts degree from Occidental College and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California, where he later served two years as visiting Professor of Choral Music. Dr. Gothold also served for four years as Director of Choral Activities at the University of La Verne, was Director of Music Ministries at Westwood United Methodist Church, and taught and supervised candidates for advanced degrees in conducting at Claremont Graduate University.
Dr. Gothold studied under Helmuth Rilling at the International Bach Academy in Stuttgart, Germany, and participated in the Oregon Bach Festival. He also studied with Richard Lert, Daniel Lewis, Robert Shaw, Frank Pooler, Rodney Eichenberger, and Charles Hirt. He was a past president of the American Choral Directors Association, Southern California Chapter, and served as an officer in other professional organizations.
For over fifty years Dr. Gothold combined careers in concert music, music education, and musical theatre. He served as musical director for more than one hundred musical productions in educational, community, and professional theatre on both coasts, and was twice recipient of the Dramalogue Critics Circle Award.
