Our new accompanist, Maida Ratcliff, began her
musical studies with Florence Stephenson and then she accompanied
classroom music for Glen Case and Henry Brubeck (yes, he’s related!).
After graduating from Lompoc High School, she had the opportunity to
study with Frances Pierson Brumbaugh at Drexel Conservatory in Los
Angeles She was selected to present a concert for the L.E Beheimer
young artist program and gave numerous solo performances in the Lost
Angeles area. Preferring to be an accompanist, she pursued this career
at Compton High School and subsequently participated in the
church-sponsored South East Los Angeles sector of the presentation of
Handel’s “Messiah”.
Upon returning to Lompoc, Maida taught
piano and served as a pianist, organist, and choir director for several
churches, and was pleased to gather Lompoc Church choirs together for a
local presentation of “Messiah.” She was honored to have been involved
with the vocal music department at Cabrillo High School for many years,
and continues to perform with the Lompoc Pops Orchestra as she has done
since its inception. Maida is grateful for the opportunity to be at the
piano again, now with the Lompoc Valley Master Chorale.
