Daniel Brooks has grown up in Grass Valley for the last 35 years. He attended Nevada Union High School and performed in Don Baggett’s choirs. In 1978, he began his junior year as a boy soprano. Brooks said he entered the TCCA Pietro Menci Scholarship competition as a contralto/soprano but his voice changed. His voice coach Dorla Menmuir helped him learn “Ave Maria” as a baritone within two weeks time. Brooks also earned a scholarship from San Jose State University and credits Menmuir with his success.
After deciding college wasn’t for him, Brooks moved to Los Angeles to further his music career. He had several auditions and found the process too grueling. He returned to the area and landed the role as the “Tin Man” in “The Wiz,” with a local community theatre which lead to other musical roles. Daniel chose to spend his time back and forth from here to the Bay Area, where he managed a clothing store. In 2003, Daniel opened “Daniel Brooks” a woman’s clothing store which closed in May of this year. He now spends his time as an Origami artist which he will be selling in galleries around Nevada County and the Bay Area.
Ken Hardin is artistic director/conductor of Twin Cities Concert Association/Orchestre Panache; conductor of Music in the Mountains’ Festival Chorus; pianist/harpsichordist for MIM’s Festival Orchestra; half of the popular piano duo “2x4” with Paul Perry; conductor of the Sierra College Choir and faculty member at Sierra College; has performed with the Reno Philharmonic, Chico State New Music Symposium, Nevada County Composers Cooperative, and various other West Coast presenters. Hardin is also noted as an accomplished jazz pianist. He works with Foothill Theatre Company directing their musical productions, most recently My Way: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra. Hardin graduated from CSU, Northridge and continued on the faculty there until moving to Nevada County in 1984.