"The same four CP's played for Ms. Blythe's class and impressed us with their adaptability. Michal Biel played for soprano Dru Daniels who sang Schubert's "Die junge Nonne". Ms. Blythe's style is completely different from Sir Thomas' but marvelously effective.  She is effusive in her praise of each student, generally admiring their instrument but modestly proffering "one person's opinion" on interpretation. For example, she loved Ms. Daniels' vibrato and choice of song and encouraged her to seek coloratura roles."
 

"Handel’s Messiah, usually appearing at Christmas time, was given a rousing performance by the Santa Barbara Choral Society in the sonic heaven of the Music Academy of the West’s Hahn Hall last weekend, true to the date of the piece’s Dublin Easter premiere on April 2, 1742. Conducted with verve by Artistic Director Joanne Wasseman and abetted by 4 talented almni of MAW, soprano Dru Daniels, mezzo Laurel Semerdjian, tenor Christopher Yoon and bass DeAndre Simmons, this was a triumph for SBCS. And when I say rousing, I mean it literally: the whole audience rose to it’s feet to sing along for Halleluja."

"In a rare collaboration between Music Academy of the West forces and a Santa Barbara-based classical institution, the Santa Barbara Choral Society, directed by JoAnne Wasserman, was on hand to up the stage population and sonic dimensions in the climactic finale. Up front, the vocal soloists from the much-lauded vocal program of the Academy – soprano Dru Daniels, mezzo soprano Emily Rose Lezin, tenor Kevin Kyle and baritone Ryan Thorn – seized the spotlight, on lyrical themes displayed in English on supertitles, such as “all mankind become brothers, in the haven of Your wings!” Words of wisdom and hopeful comfort, in a dark week in America."