NATHAN EDMONDSON

Nathan Edmondson, a native of Augusta Georgia, has worked in politics, with the military and intelligence communities, and written comic books and screenplays.  He is currently penning the PRODIGAL TV pilot for Gold Standard Media. His comic credits include OLYMPUS, THE LIGHT, WHO IS JAKE ELLIS?, WHERE IS JAKE ELLIS?, THE ACTIVITY, DANCER, THE DREAM MERCHANT and GENESIS at Image Comics.  He also wrote ULTIMATE IRON MAN, BLACK WIDOW, THE PUNISHER and RED WOLF for Marvel Comics, as well as GRIFTER for DC Comics and SPLINTER CELL: ECHOES for Ubisoft.  His Eisner-nominated book WHO IS JAKE ELLIS? is soon to be a major motion picture from 20th Century Fox, and THE ACTIVITY film comes soon from Paramount Pictures. NPR has listed his work among the “Top 6 Comics to Draw You In” and USA Today and CNN are among those who have listed him in their Top 10 lists.

MARK BARANOV

Mark Baranov joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s first violin section in the 1978/79 season.

Baranov was trained in the Soviet Union at the Gnessin Music Academy in Moscow, where he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree. He served as co-concertmaster of the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra under Gennady Rozhdestvensky, appearing as soloist on many occasions and touring with the ensemble in Eastern and Western Europe and Japan, as well as throughout the USSR. Baranov also performed as a leader of the orchestra’s chamber ensemble, Nonette. He was also a member of the Moscow Radio String Quartet. With these ensembles he toured throughout Europe participating in many important festivals and gave USSR premieres of works by such composers as Schoenberg, Messiaen, Denisov, and Schnittke, and made several recordings on the Melodiya label.

After coming to the United Sates in 1978, he became very active in the Southland’s musical community. In 1983 he founded the critically acclaimed chamber ensemble Trio West with Philharmonic cellist Barry Gold and Baranov’s wife, pianist Lina Targonsky. The ensemble has performed frequently throughout Southern California, including the Philharmonic’s Chamber Music Society series, as well as aboard the Queen Elizabeth II. In 1992 Trio West was invited to perform in Germany at the Festival Bahnhof Rolandseck near Bonn.

Baranov has also appeared as a soloist with the Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl and at the Music Center. He has been a visiting professor of violin at Biola University and UCLA. He frequently gives master classes throughout the USA and judges many violin competitions.

MICHEL PASCAL

Before moving to the US, Michel Pascal called the Kopan Monastery in the Himalayas, home. To this day he cherishes his close relationship and dedicated study of 15 years with his mentor, the late Buddhist master Chepa Dorje Rinpoche, the last descendant of Marpa. Additionally, Michel is the disciple of Theologian Psychologist Jean-Yves Leloup. Pascal is currently advised by and works closely with neuroscientists Dr. Mario Beauregard, Ph.D., who holds the title as one of the top one-hundred most important pioneers in science of the 21st century. He is also honored to work with Dr. Natalie Trent, Ph.D., author and professor at Harvard University, as well as Dr. Gary Schwartz, Director of the Laboratory for Advances in Consciousness and Health.

CHRIS VOSS

DR. IBRAHIM JAFFE, MD

Dr. Jaffe, MD brings the teachings of Medical Spiritual Healing (MSH) to people suffering worldwide, from various types of illness, disease and personal issues.The healing results have been startling! Ibrahim Jaffe, MD is a physician, Master Healer, and a Sufi Spiritual Guide who has pioneered the integration of Western Medicine and Spiritual Healing. Together, the Medical Spiritual Healing technique has helped in healing over 100,000 people suffering from various types of problems and life-threatening illnesses.

Medical Spiritual Healing combines the ancient teachings of Sufi Spiritual Healing with energetic or subtle healing which is then applied to illness, suffering and spiritual transformation. MSH works to find, and heal, the hidden spiritual, psychological, emotional, and energetic aspects of disease, while concurrently treating with traditional western methods.

Dr. Jaffe, MD’s Institute supports people to heal by teaching the Medical Spiritual Healing method through their Foundations of Medical Spiritual Healing courses.  Students are supported directly by Dr. Jaffe and his Master Healers via teachings and healings, while also working directly with their personal physicians, healers, or healthcare practitioners.

The University of Medical Spiritual Healing (UMSH) offers various courses and trainings to help teach these methods. Specialized courses are taught on Self-Healing—utilizing the MSH techniques, for professional practitioners seeking a Healer Certification in MSH, and to those students interested in personal transformation through Sufi Spiritual walking.