Mimi Pirard – Born in Egypt to a French father and American mother, Mimi grew up in Paris and began her singing career at age 13 in Saint Germain en Laye as a member of Atelier Chanson. Moving to Sonoma County in her late-teens, Mimi co-founded the music group Dgiin along with her brother Gabe. Dgiin earned the North Bay Music Awards, “Best World Music Band” multiple times.
Robert Lunceford – Born in Maywood, California on Bastille Day, Robert began playing accordion at age 7. He has played with both Celtic and French music groups since the early 1980s. Robert served as musical director for Cinnabar Theater’s 2015 production of Jacques Brel is Alive And Well and Living in Paris, being nominated for “Best Musical Direction” by the Bay Area Theater Critics Circle. Robert and Mimi cofounded SonoMusette, debuting the group in February, 2016.
Isaac Vandeveer – Raised in Oakland, Isaac began his interest in jazz, fusion, and swing guitar at Skyline High School, going on to earn a degree in guitar performance at Humblodt State University. Isaac also performs with The Wednesday Night Big Band and is a band director at Rincon Valley Union School District.
Jan Martinelli – A native San Franciscan, Jan has toured nationally and internationally playing major festivals such as Aspen, Barbados, Monterey, and at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Jan has appeared on more than 30 albums. Along with playing bass and piano in SonoMusette, Jan has been performing with Holly Near since 2012.
Kendrick Freeman – has a background in both drum set and hand drums, having studied with American drumset artists and musicians from Ghana, Congo, Haiti, and the Caribbean. Kendrick received a grant from the National Endowment For The Arts for study with drumset artist George Marsh and support from the Alliance For California Traditional Arts as part of his 11-year apprenticeship with Haitian master drummer Daniel Brevil. Kendrick is on staff at Sonoma State University’s jazz department.
