Dr. Keith Cochrane - Director of Instrumental Music
cochranek@sanjuancollege.edu
Professor Keith Cochrane received his Bachelor's of Music Education at Berklee College of Music in Boston in 1982. He taught public school for six years in Colorado,  conducted a community orchestra for five years and played with the Grand Junction Symphony.  After two years serving as Assistant Director of Bands for Mesa State College, he went on to receive his Doctorate in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Northern Colorado, in Greeley. Dr. Cochrane has been on staff here at SJC since 1993, and serves as Director of Instrumental Music. Courses taught include: Concert Band, Summer Band, Orchestra, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Woodwind Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Early Music Ensemble, Music History, and Music Education. Dr. Cochrane coordinates the annual Jazz Festival and conducts the Spring Musical.

Linda Edwards - Associate Professor of Music
edwardsl@sanjuancollege.edu
Linda is the Director of Vocal Music, and holds a Bachelors of Music Education, a Masters Degree in Choral Conducting from Kansas University, and a Masters of Music Humanities Degree from California State. She obtained practical education from her performances with the Kenley Players of Dayton Ohio, in their summer stock musical comedy productions. On staff at San Juan since 1978, Linda developed the core foundation of classes for the existing programs within the Music Dept. Linda conducts the Concert Choir, Masterworks Choir, and Country Company vocal ensemble.   She teaches music theory, ear training, keyboard harmony, intro to music, and serves as vocal coach for the Spring Musical.

Cheryl Collins - Piano & Theory Instruction
Cheryl Collins was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. She began studying the piano at age 6 and the organ at 12. In 1978, she graduated from Pacific Union College in Angwin, California, with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education. In 1980, she earned a Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance from the University of Southern California and in 1982 completed the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the University of Arizona in Tucson. While there, she majored in Piano Performance and minored in Music History and Harpsicord. She began her college teaching career in 1981 with a five year stint at Canadian Union College in Lacombe, Alberta. The she met her husband David whom she married in 1986. After a year at Leeward Community College in Aiea, Hawaii, she moved to Portland, Oregon where she taught piano and organ at Linfield College in McMinnville from 1989-2005. David, Cheryl and their two sons, Ryan and Christopher, moved to Farmington, NM, in July of 2005 when David was tranferred to teach the middle grades and Band at Pinon Hills Christian School. Cheryl joined the faculty at San Juan College in January of 2006.

Cristine Kidd - Vocal Instruction
Cristine began studying music at a young age by singing with her family in various church and community events. She then sang with the Salt Lake Children's Choir for eight years. Along with taking voice lessons, she also took twelve years of piano lessons along with many years of violin lessons. She studied music at Ricks College now BYU - Idaho), where she received an Associates Degree in vocal performance and pedagogy. She has performed in a number of operas including, "The Marriage of Figaro", "Gianni Schicci", and "Tales of Hoffman". She has also performed in many community and church musical performances. Cristine has been teaching voice lessons for five years and began teaching at San Juan College in the Fall of 2000.

Gordon Peck - Guitar Instructor
Gordon studied as a music major at the University of Colorado in 1967, and in 1970 went on to pursue a professional career with various road bands across the US. He studied classical guitar with Bill Wolzein and jazz guitar with Joe Jones. Gordon continues to play professionally in our area and has taught many local students since 1991. We are fortunate to have him on staff with us here at SJC since 1999.

Dianna Diede - Staff accompanist
Dianna has been an accompanist since the fifth grade for numerous church and school choirs. She has accompanied choirs at the University of Albuquerque, several middle and high schools and the SJC choir from 1978-1982, under the direction of Linda Edwards. She has played for many musicals and is a regular performer in faculty recitals. Dianna has been with us at the SJC Music Department since 1997 as staff accompanist.

 Les Leach - Percussion Instructor
When he's not teaching lessons in the music department, Les is supervisor of the music programs for Farmington Municipal Schools.  

Martha Braidic-Vallejos - Vocal Instruction
Martha Braidic-Vallejos graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor's degree in Music Education. She then relocated to Albuquerque, NM to study voice at the University of NM. While there, she appeared in productions of Carl Maria von Weber's Abu Hasaan as Fatima, and Franz Lehar's The Merry Widow as Valencienne. Martha also traveled throughout New Mexico as a member of the Santa Fe Opera's outreach program. She has taught here at San Juan College since 1998.

Deborah D. Gregory - Vocal Instruction
Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance and Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Hartford/Hartt School of Music (magna cum laud). Post Graduate work was done in Elementary Education, Special Education, and choral/vocal/jazz techniques in Connecticut, Indiana, and New Mexico. She has twenty three years of experience in both Public and Private Schools teaching general music, choral music, and general classroom courses. Professional credits include more than thirty years of experience as a soloist for a variety of community chorus concerts, as a church music director and soloist, and instruction in private piano and voice throughout Connecticut, Florida, and New Mexico. In addition to her position at San Juan College, Debbie is the Minister of Music and Worship at Saint John's Episcopal Church in Farmington.