About the Directors

Sarah Saulsbury Dupre

Musical Director

Sarah has been involved in choirs since she was knee-high to a grasshopper. After warbling her way through grammar school, she was encouraged by her singer parents to join them in the newly-formed Occidental Community Choir at the age of thirteen. Following a meteoric rise through the ranks that only took three decades, she went on to become the OCC's Music Director for six years. She started the Kitchen Choir in 2014, and has led several other small choirs and singing groups since then. She studied music history and theory at UC Santa Cruz, but her real education as a singer, composer, arranger, and conductor unfolded under her predecessors in the OCC— former directors Allaudin Mathieu, Doug Bowes, and Daniel Canosa.

Her creative collaboration with Robin Eschner dates back to the early 90's, when they both sang with and composed for the OCC. After twenty years of germination, this musical friendship has sprouted joyously into the Acorn MusEcology Project.

In her spare time, Sarah may be found in the garden, canning and baking, practicing her baritone uke. She lives in Occidental with her black cat and many little forest creatures.

Robin Eschner

Creative Director

One minute you're a 3-year-old being taught your first round, by your Dad. The next, hooked on music.

Robin is an award-winning composer of choral, instrumental & theater works, including the musical A Song for Vanya–co-written with Bret Martin and John Shillington. As 2014 McKnight Visiting Composer with the American Composers Forum, Robin composed Crazy Cold Beautiful, the John Beargrease Song Cycle. She studied composition with Allaudin Mathieu, and at the SF Conservatory of Music with Dusan Bogdanovic & David Garner. Robin works as a painter and treasures time spent gardening, with friends and family, & her dog, Ancho.

Since moving to Sonoma County, Robin has enjoyed singing with the Occidental Community Choir, Cinnabar Chamber Singers, Take Jack, & Tone Bent–a duo with her late beloved husband, guitarist, Bill Horvitz. Presently she sings with the 8-member Boon Hiker Band, in Chimney Full of Birds with her singing/songwriting partner Dennis Hysom, and as an alto in the stellar a cappella chorus, Cantiamo.

She is honored and inspired to be sharing this Acorn MusEcology Project adventure with Sarah, excited to watch the unfolding story of little acorns–singing their way to a vibrant and mighty Oakdom.