bIOGRAPHY

In addition to being a featured artist on National Public Radio programs throughout the U.S.A., Monroe, Lance und Michelle, a Long Beach California based conceptual mock-pop and histriophonic art ensemble, comprised of multi-national artists, has presented works in subterranean and experimental music concerts and sound art events throughout Southern California and Europe. Monroe, Lance und Michelle takes and makes the "best" out of the "worst"  (and vice versa) that various music(s), images, performance practices and sounds have to offer. Organic and inorganic processes, gong-chime cultures, and sound bites are among its inspirations and references.  Monroe, Lance und Michelle includes (in alphabetical order): Monroe Taylor; Lance Conrad & and Michelle Hanley.

Members:

Monroe Taylor, Artist Professor of Music and Director of Opera at the University of Chicago, has performed as a soloist, in the USA, Europe and Japan, (Bayerische Staatsoper, Bayersische Staatsballet Radio Vaticana, NHK Hall et. al.) Roles performed include Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni), Conte Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), Giorgio Germont (La Traviata), Alfio (Cavalleria Rusticana), Silvio (I Pagliacci) and der König (Die Kluge). Monroe completed his vocal training under the tutelage of Egidia Bonessi, Kammersänger Fritz Schaetzler, and Kammersängerin Astrid Varnay, as well as participated in workshops and master classes lead by Hans Hotter, Nan Merriman, Martial Singher, Blanche Thebom and Giorgio Tozzi.

Monroe has produced and directed several works for the lyric theater including Dido and Aeneas (Purcell), La Serva padrona (Pergolesi), Don Giovanni (Mozart) , Norma (Bellini), La Traviata (Verdi), The Medium (Menotii) and The Blue Cat.

Lance Conrad is former lead guitarist of the Punk Rock a Billy group THE LEATHER GROUPIES, one of the most notable garage bands to appear one the late night LA music and radio scene (KROQ, KNAC, et. al) during the early 80’s,

“..one of the most popular and innovative area bands of the decade.” (Orange County Tattler)

As a member of the skater band CRASH N BURN his music could be heard on such skateboard videos as molecules of motion and INSIDE OUT. His sci-fi Rock n Roll musical Lignting Dame, for which he was composer  and co-lyricist, received its LA premiere in the summer of 2001. Mr. Conrad has been active in  Hollywood as an underground film composer (Vinyl Victory, Pay the Toll , The Salton Sea et. al.)

Michelle Hanley is a freelance designer both in Europe and USA. She has been a designer for 225 theatrical productions as well as 22 television series and 9 feature films. Her art and video works have been exhibited in New York, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Polland, and Germany. Michelle was a resident artist at Kennedy Center, Washington DC in a design workshop conducted by Ming Cho Lee. A recipient of the highly coveted award in production design at the Film International Festival in Bergamo, Italy, Michelle has in addition received six national awards for theater set and costume design. Her performance/installation art projects, "This Much We Don't Know" and "We Are All Dummies," were done as interdisciplinary collaborations facilitated by Judy Chicago in the Pomona Arts Colony.