Nancie Kester teaches piano and music composition in her private East Bay studio. She recently retired from her long-standing faculty position at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Ca. In addition to her teaching, Ms. Kester is an award-winning composer and arranger. She received a BA in piano and music composition from California State University, East Bay, and an MM in Kodaly Music Education from Holy Names College with piano as her instrumental focus. Nancie Kester has continued her piano and composition studies with Julian White, Jason Levis and other master teachers. Ms. Kester has composed and arranged numerous works for chorus, piano and instrumental ensembles. She is an author and partner in Calicanto Associates, publisher of books, CDs, choral arrangements, and musical plays featuring songs with historical relevance.