Artistic Staff: Director & Accompanist
Michael Brandon Morales
Michael is a countertenor and conductor with a Bachelor’s degrees in Drama (UC Irvine) and Music (Sonoma State University), and a Master’s in Conducting from Eastern Illinois University.
He has led ensembles and classes throughout the Bay Area, including Town Hall Theatre in Lafayette, Chanticleer’s LAB Skills workshops, and Cantare Children’s Choirs of Oakland. Most recently, he served as the Worship and Music Assistant at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, having previously been the Music Director at Eden United Church of Christ, and Music Teacher at Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Edward schools. As a vocal soloist, Michael can be heard on the Pacific Mozart Ensemble album Dave Brubeck and American Poets. Other notable performances include the alto in Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms at Weill Hall, and the Abbey Road medley with Sonoma State University’s Rock Collegium. He also sings as part of UC Irvine’s alumni men’s ensemble, Men in Blaque.
Apart from choral and art music, Michael is a fervent Beatles scholar, an avid Giants fan, and enjoys exploring every tap house in the Bay Area.
He and his wife, Katie, are proud parents of Michael-James.
Irene Jacobson
Irene has served as primary accompanist for Singers Marin since 1992. Ms. Jacobson is in demand throughout the Bay Area as pianist/accompanist, arranger, and music director for choirs, orchestras, cantors, vocalists, and instrumentalists. She is currently a member of the Shinozaki-Jacobson duo (with violinist Rick Shinozaki), performing regularly in music festivals and recitals throughout the Bay Area. They have been featured on a compact disc issued by the Latin American Chamber Music Society performing Pampeana #1 by Alberto Ginastera. Irene's endeavors have also extended to choral conducting and silent film composition, and she enjoys performing works of all styles, from classical to Broadway to jazz. She received degrees in both Music and Social Welfare from U.C. Berkeley, and studied piano with Dusi Mura, Martha Wasley, and Nathan Schwartz. Today, when she is not playing piano, she is playing mom to her young son, Nathan