Bach to Blues 2026
Save the Date: March 14, 2026
TICKETS: General Admission $20; Seniors / Students $10. Tickets will be sold at the door, box office opens at 6 PM. Tickets can be bought online HERE. Tickets can also be purchased at the Gavilan College Bookstore, BookSmart in Morgan Hill, and the Gavilan College site in Hollister. All proceeds will benefit the Gavilan College Music Program. For more ticket information, please contact Maria Amirkhanian: mamirkhanian@gavilan.edu or 408-848-4796.
A native of Yerevan, Armenia, Maria Amirkhanian began piano lessons at the age of five. After graduating from Tchaikovsky School of Music, Maria was accepted to Komitas State Conservatory, where she obtained her B.M. in piano performance under guidance of Armine Mokatsian. In 1993, Maria was accepted, with a full scholarship, to CSU Fresno where she became a student of Andreas Werz. In addition to performing throughout California and internationally, Maria has participated in master classes with Peter Frankl, Barbara Nissman, Tomas Ungar, Ruth Loredo and Oxana Yablonskaya. In 1994, Maria was awarded second place at the Franz Liszt International Piano Competition in Pasadena. The following year she won first place at the 1995 MTA Solo Competition, a statewide event. Maria was the winner of the Fresno Organizers Scholarship Award in 1996. In 2000, she obtained her DMA from Moscow Conservatory, Russia, where she studied under Yuri Hayrapetian. After serving as a piano instructor at CSU Fresno, Maria joined the faculty of Gavilan College Music Department in the Fall of 2006. In addition to teaching, Maria is the coordinator for Bach to Blues Concert series and the Marian Filice Piano Competition.
Pianist and Composer Dahveed Behroozi is a Bay Area based musician primarily devoted to the independent jazz and classical scenes. Dahveed’s playing has been described as highly expressive, lyrical and colorful by numerous publications nationwide. Dahveed has recorded and performed as a leader, as well as a sideman with Thomas Morgan, Tim Bulkley, Billy Mintz, Dayna Stephens, Ed Neumeister, Todd Neufeld, Aaron Lington, John Shifflett, Jason Lewis, Bob Kenmotsu, Cuong Vu and Jeff Denson. Originally from San Jose, CA, Dahveed studied with pianist Hans Boepple at Santa Clara University. He received his BA in Jazz Piano from The Manhattan School of Music in 2002 where he studied under Fred Hersch. He then received his Master’s from The Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College where he studied classical and contemporary piano literature under Ursula Oppens. Dahveed is currently on the faculty at Gavilan College where he teaches courses in music history, composition, world music and theory. He is an active performer on the west coast, where he leads several different groups and also plays in other musicians groups.
From the time he received his first guitar at the age of seven, music has been an important part of Albert's life. After getting his first lessons in the classical Flamenco style from his father, his friends introduced him to the electrical guitar, and by the age of twelve he played in his own rock band. But he always returned to the Flamenco style, taking lessons with the legendary guitars players such as Mariano Cordoba, Chicuelo while in Spain, and with Juan Serrano at Fresno State. Winner of numerous guitar competitions, Albert Marques has performed with some of the greatest Flamenco artists living today. Albert Marqués was born and raised in California. When he was seven his family moved from Santa Clara to Gilroy, where he attended El Roble and St. Mary's primary schools, followed by Palma High School. After graduating from Palma he started at Gavilan, including Spanish. In 1988 his family moved to Spain where he attended the University of Barcelona. After returning to the US, Albert went to CSU Fresno to continue his education. In 1996 he received his MA in Spanish with emphasis in Linguistics and he joined the Gavilan faculty the same year. From the time he received his first guitar at the age of seven, music has been an important part of Albert's life. After getting his first lessons in the classical Flamenco style from his father, his friends introduced him to the electrical guitar, and by the age of twelve he played in his own rock band. But he always returned to the Flamenco style, taking lessons with the legendary Mariano Cordoba in San Francisco, with the world renowned guitarist Chicuelo while in Spain, and with Juan Serrano at Fresno. Besides teaching Spanish and playing guitar, Albert also coaches soccer at Christopher High School.
Denise Besson has served in the Communication Studies Department at Gavilan College for 28 years, where she is known for her dynamic teaching and commitment to student success. Beyond the classroom, Besson is co-proprietor of Besson Family Vineyards, blending her passion for communication, community engagement, and wine as a fourth generation small business owner.
Ava Besson Silva is a junior at Christopher High School, where she is an active member of the chamber choir and musical theater programs. She most recently appeared as Donna in her school’s production of Mamma Mia!, showcasing her talent and passion for the arts.
This marks the third time Denise and Ava have had the pleasure of co-hosting as the mother-daughter emcee team of the Bach to Blues concert.
"Kaye Bohler is a rarity in the world. A singer, with a beautiful, smooth, flexible voice, who writes her own, personalsongs and knows how to interpret them at a high level."
Barn Owl Blues, GermanyFew singers have harnessed the power to sing and truly entertain the way Kaye Bohler has. Her songwriting is thoughtprovoking and prolific. Her golden toned vocal range is over 3 octaves, capable of operatic arias or Mavis Staple styleSoul. Her authenticity is revealed in her decades long study of The Blues. The athletic ease and natural sex appeal of theway Kaye dances across the stage is abundantly compelling, combined with a candor and comedic timing, reminiscentof a Vegas Rat Pack show.
Her recordings are aptly characterized here by Michael Macomber of Retro ReviewMagazine,…"I'm telling ya, this lady has more than a little Aretha in her big, beautiful blues belt. She isn’t a sound-alike by anymeans, but she has that kind of power, that kind of nuance and that kind of emotional resonance. Her stylistic range isimpressive too. Of course, Ms. Bohler is much more than a magnificent set of pipes. It also turns out she’s a killersongwriter... Once again, her range is incredible…Utterly breathtaking."