Krishan Oberoi / Artistic Director
New York-born, New England-bred, and Yale-educated, Krishan Oberoi is a maverick conductor whose passion for unorthodox programming is bolstered by a firm grounding in musical tradition. Oberoi attended the Yale School of Music on a full-tuition scholarship, earning his master’s degree in conducting in 2006. Since moving to Southern California in 2007, he has performed extensively with the Grammy-nominated Los Angeles Master Chorale, San Diego Opera and Bach Collegium San Diego. In 2009, Oberoi founded the professional chamber choir SACRA/PROFANA, described as “genre-bending” (San Diego City Beat) and recently praised for their “adventurous repertory… both polished & daring” (sandiego.com).
Under Oberoi’s leadership, SACRA/PROFANA has championed seminal works of modern choral repertoire rarely (if ever) heard in Southern California. These include major works by Arnold Schoenberg, György Ligeti, Steve Reich, Vincent Persichetti, Ernst Krenek, Nico Muhly and David Lang. In April 2012, critic Garrett Harris wrote in the San Diego Reader, “San Diego is fortunate to have a group like SACRA/PROFANA bringing us new music that is of high quality”. The 24-voice ensemble has collaborated with many of San Diego’s leading arts institutions, including Orchestra Nova, Art of Élan, San Diego Museum of Art, and musicians from the SD Symphony at Club Anthology.
As a vocalist, Mr. Oberoi has toured extensively in Europe under such conductors as Helmuth Rilling and Simon Carrington. From 2005-2007, he served as Associate Conductor of the Elm City Girls Choir (Academy Division), the top level of Connecticut’s United Choir School. Mr. Oberoi is currently Youth Director for San Diego Children’s Choir, and Organist at The Immaculata, University of San Diego.
Briana Robell / Soprano
Briana Robell has been a staple of the group since our first concert in 2009, when she was SACRA/PROFANA’s featured soloist at age 19. Briana’s music career began at the age of 6 studying classical piano with Dina Khosh in Seattle, Washington. The following year she won first place in The Performing Arts Festival of the Eastside, an important piano competition and festival in Washington state, and went on to win first place in that festival in each of the subsequent six years. Ms. Robell also received Honorable Mention at the Western States Piano Scholarship Concerto Competition for the Washington State Music Teachers Association in 2002.
Ms. Robell’s vocal studies began at the age of eight under Jackie Koreski in Seattle, Washington. She became a Cantor in the Archdiocese of Seattle and at age 10, became a member of the Schola Cantorum choir at St. James Cathedral. At age 12 Ms. Robell was accepted into St. James Cathedral’s Jubilate Choir and later became cantor in the office of liturgy and music in that same church. She performed in Annie, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown and in Les Misérables with the Hi-Liners Theatre.
Ms. Robell is currently a senior at the University of San Diego, pursuing a music major with an emphasis in composition. She continues to study piano at the university under Dr. Kay Etheridge, and recently performed Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor with USD’s Orchestra. Her other interests include business administration in which field she is pursuing a minor at USD. She continues to sing and cantor at the Immaculata Parish and at USD’s Founders Chapel. Currently, Ms. Robell serves as a piano accompanist at Sacred Heart Parish in Coronado and on the Naval Base in Coronado. After graduating in January 2012, Ms. Robell plans to pursue both a career as well as a Masters Degree in Music.
Briana was also the featured soloist in SACRA/PROFANA’s recent performances of Steve Reich’s Proverb. Click here to view the video. Visit Briana’s website at brianarobell.com.
