Bruce Olstad holds the position of Chorusmaster for Sacramento Opera and West Bay Opera (Palo Alto), and this season is Guest Chorusmaster for Festival Opera (Walnut Creek) for their production of Otello.  In addition, Mr. Olstad regularly serves as assistant conductor with both Livermore Valley Opera and West Edge Opera (Berkeley).  Mr. Olstad is music director of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto.  Additionally, he is music director of the San Benito Oriana Choral in Hollister, and maintains a private vocal coaching studio in San Jose.  For five seasons he held the position of chorusmaster at Opera San José, where he also served as vocal coach and rehearsal pianist, and for many years he was vocal coach and pianist for the opera workshop at San Jose State University. As a pianist, Mr. Olstad has partnered with such artists as Marie Plette and Eugene Brancoveanu, and has played for the master classes of baritone Thomas Hampson and dramatic soprano Luana DeVol. Mr. Olstad holds a master’s degree in Keyboard Collaborative Arts from the University of Southern California.​