Spooktacular Program Notes

Christina Mok’s constant search for growth and inspiration has led her on a musical journey full of opportunities in performance, teaching, and outreach. She has appeared as a soloist with the Janáček Philharmonic, Symphony San Jose, the Stockton Symphony, the Seoul Symphony Orchestra, and the Monterey Symphony among others. She was a founding member of the Laurel Ensemble and the curator of the Monterey Symphony Chamber Players’ concerts. Highlights include the Musicarama Festival in Hong Kong and Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble concert in the Bay Area. She is currently the concertmaster of both the Monterey Symphony and the Stockton Symphony. She served as associate concertmaster of Symphony San Jose and participated in festivals such as the Evian Festival and Proms.

Christina Mok has taught at San Jose State and Chapman University. She is also the creator of educational music shows and served elementary schools in the Bay Area. She studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

Imogen Cohen trained from an early age in theater, musical theater, and in Shakespeare plays. She was a series regular Zina Zacarias in The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder series on Nickelodeon and Paramount+ which won the 2023 Kids’ Choice Awards (Best Kids’ TV Series). She plays Ha-Yoon in the upcoming movie The Naughty Nine (2023) on Disney Channel and Disney+. As a vocalist, she has recorded over 100 poems by Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky, and Edward Lear for Voetica.com. She was the voice of Anne Frank in the Stockton Symphony’s performance (2022–23 season) of Michael Tilson Thomas’s From the Diary of Anne Frank. She is a spokesperson for the South Coast AQMD (Air Quality Management District) for their clean air campaign. In the coming season, Imogen can be seen guest starring in the hit Disney Channel series Bunk’d and her VO work can be heard in Nickelodeon’s The Loud House. Imogen is represented by DDO LA/NY/Chicago Agencies.

With Our Words Youth Poetry Collective, Tama Brisbane, director
“From the pages to the stages, we flow!”

With Our Words is the foremost presenter of youth development and leadership programs through literary and performing arts in the Central Valley. Under the direction of cofounders Tama and Aaron Brisbane, WOW provides safe spaces for self-expression through written and spoken word. Since its 2004 beginning, WOW has created unparalleled opportunities for at-risk youth to connect the dots between literacy, artistry, critical thinking, social action, and community results.

WOW’S nationally recognized Youth Poetry Collective (WYPC) is an ever-changing and diverse group of young people ages fourteen to twenty-four who write, perform, organize, mentor, and work to enhance the artistic and educational landscape of Stockton. The WOW Poetry Boot Camp—a free Saturday workshop series; the Hip Hop, You Don’t Stop Reading Tour, which promotes early literacy through live performances and a book giveaway at underperforming elementary schools; We Rock Green Mics—advocating environmental awareness, justice, and stewardship through the arts; Dream Out Loud—an annual community theater production honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the annual All-City Poetry Slam Competition are among nearly a dozen innovative and award-winning programs offered by With Our Words. To support and/or engage With Our Words and the WOW Youth Poetry Collective: info@withourwords.org.

Tama L. Brisbane is serving her fourth historic term as the City of Stockton’s poet laureate. She has presented well over 200 times, including at the inauguration of Michael Tubbs, the city’s first Black mayor. Her first poet laureate project was to help craft Stockton’s 2015 return to All-America City status with a groundbreaking, spoken-word piece incorporating two dozen voices at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in Denver. Following her 2017 appearance as guest poet at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center and at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Martin Luther King III told her, “Your words matter.” She is the executive director of With Our Words, a twelve-time youth poetry slam coach, and a County Coordinator for California Poets in the Schools, one of the largest writing residency programs in the nation.

“Mama T” is also a Susan B. Anthony Award Winner for Creative Arts, a University of the Pacific Woman of Distinction, a Black Women Organized for Political Action Honoree, a Stockton Arts Commission Comet Award Winner, a California Vision 2020 Ambassador, and a charter member of the Brave New Voices National Network. She serves on the boards of Tuleburg Press, Flourishing Families Inc., Central Valley Neighborhood Harvest, and Stocktonia News Group. Her tireless work on behalf of Stockton and Central Valley voices, particularly young voices of color, has been recognized by both houses of the California legislature as well as both houses of the United States Congress.