Eve West Bessier

Eve West Bessier is one of our former music teachers, specializing as a vocal coach and performing artist. She holds a B.A. in English from San Francisco State University and a Master of Education with a specialization in Social Organizational Studies from The University of California, Davis, where she worked as a researcher for a number of years. Born in The Netherlands and raised in the Bay Area, Eve called Davis home for 25+ years prior to re-locating to Santa Fe, NM in late 2014.

Eve is an accomplished poet and writer. She was chosen as the Davis Poet Laureate for 2012 through 2014 and her work is published in the 2011 Davis anthology Entering. In 2000, Eve received the Kathryn Hohlwein Award and First Place for Poetry in the California Focus on Writers Contest. She is the area coordinator of California Poets in the Schools. Eve is now the Davis Poet Laureaute Emeritus.

Eve teaches voice, writing and drama to students of all levels and ages. Her students regularly receive roles in local theater productions. She is a lyricist and songwriter. She performs as a jazz vocalist and improv poet and does studio voiceovers. She provides lead vocals for Mejor Que Nada Latin Jazz, and Hardwater, and has performed as guest artist with Sacramento Area musicians and groups including: Bill Scholer, John Tchicai, Joe Craven, Mike McMullen, Steve Homan and David Amram. She also founded several ensembles including: West of the Moon, the Eve West Jazz Quartet, the Evolution Jazz Ensemble, So Gecko and the Eve West Band.

In addition to being a visual artist, performing jazz vocalist and vocal arts coach, she is a life coach with a background in personal and community development, spiritual guidance counseling and the arts. in 2010 and 2011, she was chosen to emcee and perform at the Cool Davis Initiative community 350.org climate awareness events.

Photos

Eve, just before performing at The Palms, Mar. 2010 2011 Sacramento Jazz Poetry Night Eve at the Vets Memorial with local band, Hardwater Eve at The Palms w/John Swann, Mar. 2010