BONNIE BIGGS was born in Southern California in 1951. She graduated from Vista High School in 1969, got her BA from San Diego State University in 1982. She worked in the Encinitas and Solana Beach County libraries for thirteen years where her interest in outreach to underserved communities began. She received her Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Southern California in 1985. She joined the library at San Diego State University, North County in 1986, and transitioned to the library when California State University San Marcos was formed in 1989. She served as Assistant to the Dean, Coordinator for Public Services and University Coordinator for Arts & Lectures. When she retired from the faculty in 2004, she was asked to serve as the first Tribal Liaison in the CSU system. She served in that capacity for 3 years.

GUNNAR BIGGS has been a prominent figure in the musical environment in Southern California for over forty years. Often the bass player of choice for numerous jazz ensembles and recording sessions in the region, Gunnar has recently finished a mandolin/bass CD entitled, MandoBasso and his own CD, "footprint", featuring all original compositions. His performance credits include several southern California jazz festivals including the Carlsbad Music Festival, Kool Jazz Festival, La Jolla Jazz Festival, Ocean Beach Jazz Festival, Jazz in the Parks in Carlsbad, Pt. Loma, and La Jolla. TV appearances include KPBS' Club Date and the Emmy-award winning documentary, "Three Generations of the Blues." Gunnar is a known quantity in the region, maintaining a solid groove and studied understanding of the role of the bass across genres including Classical, Latin jazz/salsa, big band, Brazilian, straight ahead, blues and fusion jazz.

Biggs recently retired from both San Diego State University where he was the Instructor of Double Bass for twenty-five years and Palomar College where he served as Director of Jazz Ensembles for five years. He also developed a string orchestra program and conducted orchestras for Carlsbad High School and Valley Middle School for five years. He continues to teach bass and has a large number of private students. Besides being an in demand performer, recording artist and overbooked educator, Gunnar serves as a judge, clinician and guest artist at several local jazz and music festivals.

Gunnar started studying French Horn when he was seven, but took up the bass at age 13. He received a scholarship to North Texas State University to attend their prestigious jazz program but left his studies early to take a position with the San Diego Symphony at age 19. At age 20, he left the Symphony to go on the road with drummer, Buddy Rich and has performed with major jazz artists ever since including Thad Jones, Tommy Flanagan, Mose Allison, Sheila Jordan, Kenny Barron, Red Norvo, Papa John Creach, Shelley Manne, Jack Sheldon, Don Menza, Charles McPherson, Barney Kessel, Conti Condoli, Joe Pass, Laurendo Almeida, Charlie Byrd, and Peter Sprague. Although he enjoys notoriety in the jazz genre, Gunnar is active in the classical world as well and has performed with the San Diego Opera, San Diego Chamber Orchestra and Orquesta de Baja California.