Faculty Bios
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Patricia Alexander BS from University of Pennsylvania, graduate studies at Carnegie Mellon, MM from Eastman School of Music; postgraduate work at Eastman School of Music in German, French, and Italian diction; teaches privately as well as at Roberts Wesleyan College and the Rochester City School District. |
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Euridice Alvarez Born in Honduras, Central America, oboist Euridice Alvarez-Izcoa holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Southern Mississippi, a Master of Music from Baylor University, and is currently advancing her Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance at the Eastman School of Music. |
Marc Anderson No bio available.
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Jan Angus BA from UCLA; MM from Eastman School of Music; member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra; member of Filigree flute and harp duo; artist in residence for Rochester City School District; coordinator of Eastman Pathways Scholarship Program. |
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Charles Bailey is currently the 2nd bassoonist and contra bassoonist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and Rice University.
David Baron No bio available
Julie Beauregard has earned BM and MA degrees in Music Education at the Eastman School of Music, and has completed Orff Schulwerk certification training at the University of Las Vegas and Eastman. She is currently attending Eastman in pursuit of an MA in Ethnomusicology and a PhD in Music Education. She has 8 years of teaching experience in public schools, grades K-12, primarily in vocal/choral and general music settings. During her years of teaching, Ms. Beauregard has maintained a private voice studio, and has actively explored world musics and their integration into general and choral music curricula. She is an active member of, and current Teaching Assistant for, Eastman’s Gamelan Lila Muni.
Lauren Becker is an active freelance musician and educator in the Western New York region. In addition to winning the University of New Hampshire Concerto Competition (2005) and Keith Polk Horn Scholarship Competition (2001), Lauren has performed with many chamber ensembles and orchestras, including the Portland Ballet Orchestra and Rochester Chamber Orchestra. As a member of the Eastman Wind Ensemble she performed and recorded an album with the Canadian Brass in 2007, and has appeared on other recordings for the Toronto Blue Jays, University of Rochester Medical Center, and University of New Hampshire Wind Symphony. She served as a graduate teaching assistant at the Eastman School of Music and has instructed clinics and private horn lessons throughout New England and upstate New York. Lauren has taught individual and group lessons, ensemble coachings, and music theory at several summer programs, including the Summer Youth Music School at the University of New Hampshire and Kendall Betts Horn Camp in Lyman, New Hampshire. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of New Hampshire and a Master of Music in Horn Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music. Her primary horn instructors include W. Peter Kurau, A. Kendall Betts, and John Boden.
Benjamin Bishop No bio available.
Lynn Blakeslee Lynn Blakeslee was born in Los Angeles and began the violin at the age of four. She studied with Sascha Jacobsen, and received a bachelor's degree and diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music, studying with Efrem Zimbalist. A Fulbright Grant took her to Vienna, where she was a pupil of Ricardo Odnoposoff, and received a concert diploma with distinction from the Akademie fĂĽr Musik und darstellende Kunst. Master classes with Sandor Vegh rounded out her education.
A member of Die Wiener Solisten for many years, she was also concertmaster at Theater an der Wien, a member of the Wiener Kontrapunkte, and of the Deutsche Bach Solisten. She has been a soloist with many orchestras, among them the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Wiener Ton-KĂĽnstler, and the Wiener Kammerorchester.
A recipient of the Martha Baird Rockefeller Grant, Blakeslee has performed in most of the major cities of Europe. Other honors include first prize at the International Musikwettbewerb, Vienna, and the Philadelphia Orchestra Award. For 15 years, Blakeslee was first violinist of the Streichquintet Mozarteum, and together with members of this ensemble, she runs a chamber music festival and violin workshop during the summer at Schloss Raabs in Austria. She has recorded for radio in France, Germany, and Austria, as well as for the Lyrinx label.
Her teaching credits include the Mozarteum in Salzburg, the Bruckner Konservatorium in Linz, the Casals Festival in Prades, and the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival. She has been a member of the Eastman faculty since 1987.
Elise Bond No bio available
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Nancy Boone BM, MM, and Performer’s Certificate from Eastman School of Music; winner of Phi Mu Alpha Wind Ensemble Concerto Competition; first place winner of 1992 North American Saxophone Alliance Young Artists Classical Competition; on faculty of Hochstein School, Roberts Wesleyan College, and Webster School District. |
Megan Boutin No bio available.
Rebeca Boyd was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and began studies on the violin at the age of five. She has studied with John Chatelain, former second principal of the Utah Symphony, Shi-Hwa Wang where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Weber State University, David Park, and Zvi Zeitlin at Eastman School of Music where she received Masters of Music and Doctoral of Musical Arts degrees. While at Eastman, she held a special teacher training mentorship with Wendy Undercofler.
Dr. Boyd has been a teacher in the Eastman Community Music School for the past six years. Previously she was the first place recipient of the Utah State ASTA competition in 1999 and second place winner of the Utah State ASTA ccompetition in 1997. Most recently she performed in chamber music recitals as part of the Kismarton String Quartet in Eisenstadt, Austria during summer 2008 where she also held the principal second violin position with the Classical Music Festival Orchestra.
Catherine Brance No bio available
Andrew Brown No bio available.
Jennifer Burch No bio available.
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Ruth Cahn Ruth Cahn earned a BM in applied music and music education and Performer’s Certificate in percussion from the Eastman School of Music. Her performance credentials include : 35 years as a full time member of the Percussion Section of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra; 12 years as a member of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra and Opera and visiting performer with the Grand Teton Festival Orchestra. Chamber Music performances have included: Society for Chamber Music in Rochester; Live from Hochstein at Noon; Chautauqua Chamber Music; Eastman’s Women in Music Festival and tours with the Canadian Brass. She has appeared in TV and recordings with the above ensembles in addition to recording Raga # 1 for solo timpanist on the CD “Music of William L. Cahn”. Ruth has a strong interest in world percussion and studied Tabla and Hindustani Music with Khumud Ranjan Banarjee.
For 27 years, Ruth was an artist in residence for the Rochester City School District where she developed and presented sequential programs for students that linked music with school curriculum. She has also presented teacher training workshops for music teachers and for classroom teachers.
Leadership activities have included: serving as a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Board of Directors; serving as Development Director for the RPO (1993-94); chairing the RPOMusician’s Negotiation Committee; serving as a Director on the RPO’s Philharmonic League and service as a director and mentor to the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Ruth also participated as a mentor and coach for the American Symphony Orchestra League’s Youth Orchestra Festival in Sarasota, Florida.
On the collegiate level, Ruth has performed and presented as a guest artist at the University of Michigan School of Music in both the percussion and education areas.
Students from Ruth’s percussion studios have gone on to major colleges and conservatories of music to include: Eastman School of Music, Curtis Institute of Music, Juilliard, Cleveland Institute of Music, University of Michigan, Hartt College Conservatory, Oberlin College, Ithaca College, Indiana University, Carnegie Mellon and Duquesne University. Her former students perform with major orchestras, teach in colleges and are music teachers in the schools. Many former students, while not pursuing a career in music, continue to participate in community musical organizations as active percussionists and define music as an enriching component of their life.
Currently Ruth serves as a Director of the Percussive Arts Society and as a Board Member of Project UNIQUE. Ruth is a senior instructor in the ECMS and has a percussion studio of around 30 students varying in age from 8 to 74 years. She also directs three ECMS percussion ensembles ; Drum Joy, Marimba Journey and Rhythm Adventure. In the summer Ruth directors the ECMS’s internationally acclaimed Music Horizon residential program for gifted high school students who are considering a career in music. Eastman collegiate responsibilities include teaching “The Joys and Opportunities of Studio Teaching Course” in the Arts Leadership Program and serving as the Summer Session Director for the Eastman School of Music.
Whitney Cairns No bio available
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Jeff Campbell BM in music education from Brigham Young University; MM in jazz performance from Eastman School of Music; currently completing doctorate in music education at Eastman; member of Eastman Jazz Trio; numerous performances with contemporary jazz musicians, European jazz festivals, and tours. |
Eric Carlin Eric Carlin is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in classical guitar performance and literature at the Eastman School of Music, where he is a graduate teaching assistant. His previous education includes a Master degree from Eastman and a Bachelors degree from Mansfield University where he studied guitar with Dr. Matthew Slotkin. For more information visit www.ecarlinguitar.com
Andrew Chappell has been teaching trombone at the Eastman Community Music School since 2006. He is the Bass Trombonist with the Rochester Philharmonic. During the summer Andrew has performed with the Santa Fe Opera and the Colorado Music Festival. He has also performed with the Houston, Colorado, and New Mexico Symphonies. Andrew received his Bachelor of Music from Oberlin College and his Master of Music from Rice University.
Katherine Ciesinski
The New York Times has called Katherine Ciesinski “a singer of rare communicative presence, and a musician of discrimination and intelligence.” This accomplished American mezzo-soprano pursues a fully integrated career, exploring the world of today’s composers as well as the established classics of the lyric stage.
Major operatic credits include three Metropolitan Opera productions: Judith (Bluebeard’s Castle) and Nicklausse (Les Contes d’Hoffmann) and most recently Comtesse de Coigny (Andrea Chenier); Cassandre (Les Troyens) at Covent Garden and Adalgisa (Norma) with Scottish Opera; Laura (La Gioconda), Waltraute (Ring cycle), and Dulcinée (Don Quichotte) with San Francisco Opera; Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier) and Hansel (Hansel und Gretel) with Dallas Opera; Kabanicha (Katya Kabanova), Mère Marie (Carmélites), Adelaide (Arabella), Marcellina (Le Nozze di Figaro), and Cornelia (Giulio Cesare) with Houston Grand Opera; Xerxes (title role), Diana (La Calisto), Herodias (Salome), Ottavia (L’Incoronazione di Poppea), and Countess Geschwitz in the American premiere of the completed three act version of Lulu with Santa Fe Opera. World premieres of Mark Adamo’s Little Women (Houston), Dominick Argento’s The Aspern Papers (Dallas), Maurice Ohana’s La Celestine (title role, Paris Opera), Girolamo Arrigo’s Il Ritorno di Casanova (Geneva), Param Vir’s Snatched by the Gods (Amsterdam and Munich) have been critically acclaimed, as have her Giulietta in Brussels, BrangŠne in Toronto, Judith in Frankfurt and Stuttgart, Eboli in Madrid and La Favorite in Paris.
In the recent seasons she has performed the world premiere of The End of the Affair by Jake Heggie with Houston Grand Opera, which was broadcast nationally on NPRÂ’s World of Opera. She has also appeared as Herodias in Salome (Fort Worth), Aunt Cecilia March in her sixth production of Mark AdamoÂ’s delightful Little Women (Mexico City), as Effie Belle Tate in Carlisle FloydÂ’s masterpiece Cold Sassy Tree (Opera Omaha), and as the Principessa in PucciniÂ’s Suor Angelica (Opera Theater of Saint Louis and Hawaii Opera Theater). She sang song cycles of Prokofiev and Shostakovich in a multi-media concert entitled The St. Petersburg Legacy with Da Camera of Houston at the Bard Music Festival in New York and again in New Haven. She made her opera directing debut in 2007 with HandelÂ’s Flavio for the Moores Opera Center / Ars Lyrica Houston and returned to direct BrittenÂ’s The Turn of the Screw in 2008. She will sing Aunt Cecilia March n her seventh production of Marc AdamoÂ’s Little Women, for Delaware Opera in May of 2008.
Ms. Ciesinski has also performed with many of the worldÂ’s leading orchestras, including the Cleveland, Minnesota, and Philadelphia Orchestras, the Symphonies of Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Houston and Toronto; and in Europe, with the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonics, LÂ’Orchestre de Paris, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Dresden Staatskapelle, and LÂ’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. She has been heard in recital across the United States and in Paris, Cologne, Zurich, Milan and at the Aix-en-Provence, Geneva, Spoleto and Salzburg Festivals. Her contemporary chamber music activities have included performances at the Caramoor Festival, New York; Musica Festival, Strasbourg; Ars Musica Festival, Brussels; Festival dÂ’Automne, Paris; Voix Nouvelles, Fondation Royaumont; Schlern International Festival in Italy, and with the Ensemble Intercontemporain in Paris.
Katherine Ciesinski’s opera recordings include the title roles in Ariane et Barbe-Bleue, conducted by Armin Jordan (Erato), Regina, with John Mauceri (London/Decca), Sapho, conducted by Sylvain Cambreling (Radio France), the role of Siegrune in Cleveland Orchestra’s Die Walküre, conducted by Christoph von Dohnanyi (London/Decca), and the role of Sonia in War and Peace, conducted by Msitislav Rostropovich (Erato). She received a Grammy nomination for her Paulina in The Queen of Spades with Seiji Ozawa and the Boston Symphony (BMG). Recent releases include Aunt Cecilia March in Mark Adamo’s Little Women (Ondine), Sofia Ivanova in Tod Machover’s Resurrection (Albany) and Alt Solistin in Kurt Weill’s Die Bürgschaft (EMI). Les Noces with Robert Craft and Pribaoutki with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s (Music Masters), Carter’s Syringa (Bridge), along with world premiere recordings of Brian Ferneyhough’s On Stellar Magnitudes and Antoine Bonnet’s Nachtstrahl in Paris, number among her choral and chamber music releases. Lieder recordings include Rorem’s Women’s Voices (CRI), Ravel’s Chansons Madécasses (Columbia), and songs of Dvorak, Alma Mahler and Clara Schumann (Leonarda).
One of the few master performers to also become a master teacher, Ms. Ciesinski is a frequent clinician at the annual International Symposium on Care of the Professional Voice in Philadelphia. She created the Vocal Workshop for the annual International Composition Seminar at the Royaumont Foundation in France, and the vocal chamber institute Close Encounters for the Texas Music Festival. She continues to lecture in and serve on the steering committee for the University of Texas School of Public Health’s Healthcare and the Arts Series, and is on the international faculty of the Artescénica Encuentro Operistico in Mexico. Her recent students have achieved performing successes in Europe and South America, as well as in the apprentice programs of the Santa Fe, St Louis, Chicago Lyric, Seattle, Los Angeles, Central City, San Francisco, Orlando, Fort Worth, and Des Moines Metro Operas and serve on the faculties of Michigan State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, San Jose State, Sam Houston State, Houston Baptist, and Texas Southern Universities. Other former students are also active in a wide range of repertoire from early music to world premieres, with the Boston Early Music and Tanglewood Music Festivals as recent examples. She continues to act as a judge for the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions and is currently Professor of Music and the immediate past Chair of Voice Studies at the Moores School of Music, University of Houston. She will join the faculty of the Eastman School of Music in August of 2008.
Mitzie Collins Graduate of the Eastman School of Music; known nationally and internationally as a virtuoso player of the hammered dulcimer; founder of Sampler Records Ltd.; performs at numerous festivals and concerts each year. www.samplerfolkmusic.com
Freddy Colon With 20 years' experience, Freddy works with the Mambo Kings. He has performed with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Erie Philharmonic, the Syracuse, Baltimore, and Vancouver Symphonies, the Louisville and San Antonio Orchestras, and has had the honor of sharing the stage with the "Queen of Soul," Aretha Franklin, and the late Tito Puente. Freddy is currently working as a studio and club musician in Rochester and surrounding areas, where he performs regularly with salsa and Latin jazz bands.
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Sean Connors received a master’s degree from Northwestern University where he studied with Michael Burritt and graduated with Program Honors. At Northwestern, he won the school-wide concerto competition and performed the United States premiere of Tobias Brostrom’s ARENA Concerto for Percussion. He previously attended the Eastman School of Music where he studied with John Beck, received a BM in percussion performance and music education, and was awarded the school’s prestigious Performer’s Certificate. Recently, he joined the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble and performed as soloist with the group during his summer residence. After teaching general classroom music to elementary and middle school students in the northern suburbs of Chicago, Sean is once again at Eastman where he is pursuing a doctorate in percussion performance. |
Adam Cordle No bio available.
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Rosemary Elliott
Rosemary Elliott, Assistant Professor of Cello at the Eastman School of Music, has an active performing schedule as chamber musician and recitalist. Â As principle cellist of the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra in Ithaca, New York she was nominated to the artistic advisory board of that organization, and is a core member of the orchestraÂ’s chamber music ensemble. In 2006 she performed as concerto soloist with the group.
Prior to her appointment at Eastman Ms. Elliott was a member of the cello staff at the Royal College of Music, in London, (1994-1998) and performed regularly with some of most notable chamber orchestras there, including the London Mozart Players, the City of London Sinfonia, and the Orchestra of St. JohnÂ’s Smith Square.
Ms. Elliott has been for 10 years a member of the performing and teaching staff at the Bowdoin International Music Festival in Brunswick, Maine. As a guest chamber musician she has also participated in the Skaneatles and Icicle Creek Chamber Music festivals, the Heifetz Academy in Wolfboro, New Hampshire, the International MusicianÂ’s Seminar in Cornwall, England, and the Kerry Chamber Music Festival in Ireland. In 2006 she appeared as guest clinician and gave master classes at the European String TeacherÂ’s Association summer workshop in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Artistic director of the “Morning Chamber Music” series at the Eastman School of Music, Ms. Elliott has also broadcast on WXXI and enjoys presenting Sonata repertoire with pianists Elinor Freer and Rose Shlyam Grace. Ms. Elliott has performed with the Rochester Chamber Society, and is a founding member of the Rochester based cello quartet, the Cello Divas.
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Jose Encarnacion José L. Encarnacion received his Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music. He studied saxophone, flute and clarinet at the Free School of Music in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He completed his Bachelor of Music degree at the Berklee College of Music in Boston where he graduated magna cum laude. His performing experience includes work with salsa, jazz, and latin music performers as Gilberto Santarosa, Roberto Rohena, Bobby Valentin, Domingo Quinones, Israel Lopez "Cachao", Tito Puente, Danilo Perez, Dave Valentin, Giovanni Hidalgo, Batacumbele, Humberto Ramirez, David Sanchez, Bob Mintzer's big band and Dave Rivello's ensemble. His recent performances include appearances with the Temptations, Natalie Cole, Doc Severinsen, Lou Ralls, New York Voices, Brasilia, and Ann Hampton Calloway, all with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Marina Puccicini with the Milwaukee Symphonic Orchestra and Dianne Reeves with the Green Bay Symphonic Orchestra. He worked at the Eastman School of Music as a teaching assistant for Jazz Theory and Improvisation as well as coaching small group performance in the Jazz and Contemporary Media Department. He also taught at Lawrence University in the Jazz and Improvisational Department. In 2002 Jose received the Schirmer Prize in Jazz Performance. |
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John Fetter No ESM Faculty Bio on Record
Mark Filsinger No bio available.
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Nick Finzer Freelance Jazz Trombonist Nick Finzer is a recent graduate of the Eastman School of Music, in Rochester NY. A Rochester native, Nick began his musical training in the 4th grade. Since then, Nicks passion for music has been growing and expanding rapidly, with influences ranging from the jazz and classical genres to rock and popular music. |
Andrea Folan Andrea Folan has her B.M. in vocal performance from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and her M.M. from Syracuse University. She has performed broadly both in the U.S. and in Europe, in solo appearances and with orchestras at Alice Tully Hall in NYC, Jordan Hall in Boston, Chicago's Orchestra Hall, and at the Brugges Festival in Belgium, to name a few. She has taught on the voice faculties of Cornell University and Syracuse University, and is currently on the voice faculty at Nazareth College.
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Adam Foley BM in Vocal Performance & Music Education, MM in Music Education and PhD candidate, Eastman School of Music; Kodaly Certification (three levels), Hartt School of Music; Level 3 Orff Certification, Eastman; Member of the Keideans of the University of Rochester; studied with John Feierabend and Jill Trinka; teaches kindergarten through fifth grade General Music in Gates Chili, and presents both locally and nationally on weaving Kodaly and Orff together in America. |
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Donna Brink Fox BA, Calvin College; MM, Ohio University; PhD, Ohio State University; international consultant on early childhood music; alumni achievement award, Ohio University, 1994; Eastman Eisenhart Award for Teaching Excellence, 1996; Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2002; Eastman School of Music faculty since 1984. |
Beth Fox Bio not available
Carrol Frangipane BS, education, Fordham University; MA, music education, voice choral conducting, Columbia University. Graduate studies at NYU and Eastman. Orff Certificate, New England Conservatory. Presenter of music education workshops. Mentor of student teachers at Rochester City School District, Sacred Heart Catholic School, NYC public schools. Assistant professor, Fordham University at Lincoln Center.
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Michael Frederick began playing guitar at the age of twelve, taking private lessons for approximately six months and then exploring the guitar on his own through high school. By the time he graduated, Mike had won several awards at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and was the guitarist in the 2000 Washington All-State Jazz Ensemble. Mike earned his B.A. in guitar performance from Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, studying jazz improvisation with trumpeter Brian Ploeger, saxophonists Geoff Bradfield and Dave Hagelganz, and pianist Brent Edstrom. Performing with the Whitworth Jazz Ensemble and as an accompanist for the chamber choir afforded opportunities for travel including tours of Italy, Hawaii, and several regional tours of the West. During this time, he also studied classical guitar with Dr. Paul Grove, earning the Young Artist award in the guitar division at Musicfest Northwest 2004. After college, Mike worked in showbands and jazz trios on several Carnival cruise ships. During the ‘05-’06 and ‘06-’07 school years Mike taught guitar and coached jazz small groups at Whitworth University and Gonzaga University, taught guitar classes in high schools, played for theater productions, and freelanced around the Northwest with his trio, Localized Tenderness, and several other jazz and rock projects. In the fall of 2007 Mike started the master’s degree program in Jazz and Contemporary Media at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. He is currently maintains an active teaching and performing schedule. |
Elinor Freer A native of Montana, pianist Elinor Freer has built a versatile career as soloist and chamber musician, performing across the United States, Europe, and China. In Europe, Ms. Freer has given multiple performances at The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and appeared at the Valery Gergiev Festival in Rotterdam. Other highlights include recordings for Dutch radio, performances at the International Musicians' Seminar in Prussia Cove, England, and concerts at Moscow's Gnessin Institute. She was also one of two American pianists selected to perform throughout China in tours designed to promote cultural relations. Ms. Freer has been featured as soloist with numerous orchestras including the String Orchestra of the Rockies, the Brevard Music Center Orchestra, the University of Rochester Chamber Orchestra, the Dekalb Symphony, the Southeastern Kansas Symphony, the Kingsport Symphony, and many others. She is also a frequent performer at festivals such as Summer Music in Harrisburg, PA, the Festival de Música de Cámera in Mexico, the Bowdoin Music Festival, the Lake Winnipesaukee Music Festival, and Music in the Vineyards in Napa Valley. Ms. Freer has been a laureate and prizewinner in competitions such as the Joanna Hodges International Competition and the American Pianists Association, and has held piano fellowships at the Steans Institute/ Ravinia Festival and the Tanglewood Music Center. She holds degrees with honors from the Cleveland Institute of Music and the University of Southern California and was awarded a Performer's Diploma from the Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht in the Netherlands.
A dedicated teacher, Ms. Freer was previously appointed to the piano faculties of Fort Hays State University and the University of Missouri, and in 2003 joined the faculty of the Eastman School of Music. She also currently serves as Co-Artistic Director of the Skaneateles Festival in Central New York. In addition to performing and teaching, Ms. Freer has founded and produced a number of initiatives designed to bring classical music to new audiences and has presented a variety of educational and outreach performances across the country in settings ranging from inner city schools to psychiatric hospitals. For these projects she was awarded multiple grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.
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Diego Garcia Now in his fourth season as Music Director of the Eastman String Fellowship Orchestra, in Rochester New York, Diego Garcia has established the ensemble’s prestigious reputation for virtuostic string playing, artistic excellence, and consistently high caliber performances. Born in Cali Colombia, Mr. Garcia began his musical career at the age of five, studying piano, cello performance, and later conducting, at the Antonio Maria Valencia Conservatory, in Cali. By age fifteen, he had already won a cello position with the Orquestra Sinfonica del Valle, becoming the youngest member of one of Colombia’s premiere orchestras. At the same time, from age fourteen to eighteen, Mr. Garcia was already the conducting assistant to his teacher, Alexander Korjenko, and he routinely conducted the String Chamber Orchestra at the conservatory. In 1993 Mr.Garcia came to the United States to study cello performance with Alan Stepansky at the Manhattan School of Music. While pursuing his degree, he maintained an active professional life, touring Germany, Austria, France, Italy, and Central America as chamber musician, recording artist, orchestral player, and soloist. In 1996, Mr. Garcia traveled to his native country to win a prize in the Carolina Oramas Competition, and returned to New York City to give several solo and chamber music performances in Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. In 1998, Mr. Garcia received his Bachelor’s Degree in performance from the Manhattan School of Music. In 2001 and 2003 he was invited by Phillipe Entremont to perform as Assistant Principal Cellist in the Santo Domingo Music Festival. He has continued to pursue his study of conducting with Bill Weinert, since 2003, at the Eastman School of Music. In 2005 and 2006, Mr. Garcia received a conducting fellowship to the Conductor’s Institute at Bard College, where his mentors included Harold Farberman, Leon Bolstein, Marin Alsop, and Raymond Harvey. In 2004 Mr. Garcia was appointed Music Director of the Eastman String Fellowship Orchestra, and subsequently created an exchange program with the Hampton Roads Chamber Players, in Virginia, where he is a frequent guest conductor. Mr. Garcia is also a Co-Director of the Eastman Kaleidoscope Community Orchestra with his wife Karine Stone, and a frequent guest conductor of the Finger Lakes Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Garcia is currently on the cello faculty of the Eastman Community Music School as well as Principal Cellist of the Rochester Oratorio Society. He is an active composer and arranger, most recently composing original music for the film “Heart of Tango”. |
Patricia Gingras BME and MM (Music Education) from the University of New Mexico; PhD Student at the Eastman School of Music; Orff Certification, Southern Methodist University; Kodály Certification, Hartt School of Music; Scott Wilkinson Composition Contest Winner; teaches early childhood music classes at the Eastman Community Music School and kindergarten through sixth grade music at Urban Choice Charter School in Rochester.
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Sophia Goluses holds the position of co-principal horn with the Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra and solo horn with the Arabesque Winds. Ms. Goluses has held the position of principal horn in the Ohio Light Opera, the Oswego Opera, and the Sieur DuLuth Summer Arts Festival Opera Orchestra. She has played with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Mercury Opera Rochester, and the Rochester Oratorio Society. |
Kenneth Grant BM, Performer's Certificate, Eastman. Studied with Donald Mattea, James Pyne, Stanley Hasty, Franklin Cohen, and Theodore Johnson. Assistant principal, Cleveland Orchestra European Tour (1990). Principal clarinet, Colorado Philharmonic (summer, 1970), Columbus Symphony Orchestra (1973-87), and Rochester Philharmonic (1987-). Soloist with Rochester Philharmonic and Columbus Symphony. Several premieres including Clarinet Concerto by Sydney Hodkinson (world premiere), and Benjamin Britten's Concerto Movement for Clarinet and Orchestra (United States premiere), both with Rochester Philharmonic; Verne Reynolds' Sonata for Clarinet and Piano and Fantasy Etudes for Clarinet, Percussion, and Piano. Soloist, Eastman Wind Ensemble Japan Tour (1994). Participant in Oklahoma Clarinet Symposium (June 1996), KlarFest at Ohio State University (July 1998), KlarFest in New Orleans (2001), International Festival at Round Top (2004, 2005), Aria International Summer Academy at Ball State University (2004, 2005). Faculty member, Eastman summer seminar in Hamamatsu, Japan (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002). Faculty member, Capital University (1978-87), Ohio Wesleyan University (1986-687), Eastman (1987-).
Jane Gunter-McCoy Degrees from Eastman School of Music and Indiana University; international performer and recording artist touring North and South America, Europe, and the USSR; frequent guest soloist with concert and oratorio organizations; recipient of Jack L. Frank award for excellence in teaching.
Tamari Gurevich Born in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, TAMARI GUREVICH began her musical education with Rozalie Rozjok and made her orchestral debut with the Georgian State Symphony at age 11. In 1992, after graduating from Tbilisi State Conservatory, where she studied with Professor Tengiz Amiradjibi, Miss Gurevich arrived to the United States to join Professor Alexander Toradze’s piano studio at Indiana University at South Bend. She completed her Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance with Highest Honors in May 1994. In January 1997 Miss Gurevich received her Post-Master’s Degree from the University of Notre Dame, where she studied with Professor William Cerny. Currently Tamari is pursuing her DMA in Piano performance at Eastman School of Music under Ms. Nelita True.
In June of 1994 she won a Second Prize in the Beethoven International Piano Competition in Memphis, Tennessee. In October 1997 Miss Gurevich won the Grand Prize and a Special Prize for Best Performance of Debussy at The 14th International Piano Competition in Porto, Portugal. Miss Gurevich maintains an active performance schedule. She has successfully appeared in solo recitals and with orchestras throughout the former USSR, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Italy and the United States.
During 2006-2007 Miss Gurevich held an appointment as an Affiliate Artist in the Setnor School of Music at Syracuse University. In 2005-2006 she taught as a Piano Instructor at Houghton College. From 2002 to 2006 Miss Gurevich was a Teaching Assistant providing Primary and Secondary lessons to the students of the University of Rochester and the Eastman School of Music; in 2004-2005 she was also an Assistant to Dr. True. During the years 1996-2002 Miss Gurevich held a teaching position at the Music Department at the University of Notre Dame. Currently the Eastman Community School of Music and the Hochstein School of Music and Dance employ Miss Gurevich to work with the students of different ages.
In the fall of 2004 the Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts named Miss Gurevich a Liberace Scholar.
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Elizabeth Hanan Bio not available.
Michael Hanley No bio available.
Katie Hannigan No bio available.
Patricia Hanson BM, Performer’s Certificate, and MM from Eastman. Solo, ensemble, and orchestral appearances; Jack L. Frank award for excellence in teaching (1990); SAI (Sigman Alpha Iota) “Ring of Excellence” for outstanding teaching, performing, and community service.
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Margaret Henry BA in psychology from University of Toronto; BM and MA in composition from University of Western Ontario; PhD from Eastman School of Music; recipient of the Edward Peck Curtis award for graduate student teaching and the Jack L. Frank award for excellence in teaching. |
Carl Heuckendorf No bio available.
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Paul Hofmann Undergraduate study at Eastman; active as a composer, teacher, recording artist, producer, and music columnist; numerous performances, recordings, television, and radio appearances with major American jazz artists; owner of MHR Records (www.mhrrecords.com). |
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Jason Holmes A recent graduate the Eastman School of Music, Jason Holmes teaches general music and chorus at French Road Elementary School. In addition to teaching, Jason is the assistant chorus master of the Mercury Opera Rochester Chorus and frequently performs on stage with the company. An active church musician, he is the choir director at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in LeRoy and directs the University of Rochester Gospel Choir. Jason was honored with First Prize in the American Choral Directors Association 2006 Undergraduate Student Conducting Competition. Last, but most certainly not least, Jason is very happy to be part of the ECMS family! |
Janneke Hoogland Bio not available.
Jennifer Horn No bio available
Elise Hughey No bio available
Douglas Humpherys
Douglas Humpherys was the Gold Medalist at the inaugural Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition. Since then, his performance career has taken him across Asia, Europe, and North America. During recent years, he has performed solo concerts in many of the major cities of Asia, including Beijing, Cheng-Du, Chonqing, Dalian, Guanzhou, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Seoul, Shanghai, Shenyang, Tainan, Taipei, Tokyo, Wuhan, Xiamen, and Xian. In Europe, he has concertized in the cities of Berlin, Dublin, Hamburg, Novgorod, Prague, and Venice, with additional concert engagements in Germany, the Czech Republic, Montenegro, and Serbia. He has presented concerts throughout the United States and Canada, and in the summer of 2008 he will travel to Buenos Aires to perform, teach and adjudicate for Teachers del Norte-Pianists del Sur, a project sponsored in part by the United States Embassy in Argentina.
In high demand as a teacher, he has taught literally hundreds of master classes at universities, conservatories, music academies, and festivals throughout the world. In addition, he has presented lectures to the European Piano TeachersÂ’ Association, the Music TeachersÂ’ National Association, the World Conference on Piano Pedagogy, and the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy.
A frequent adjudicator, he has served on the jury of the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition eleven times, and has also adjudicated the Rachmaninoff International Young Artists’ Piano Competition, the Chinese 2005 National Competition in Beijing, the PTNA National Piano Competition in Tokyo, the Hilton Head International Piano Competition, and the Bösendorfer International Piano Competition. His experience in this regard led him to create and direct the Eastman Young Artists’ International Piano Competition, which is held biennially in Rochester, New York.
Mr. Humpherys completed graduate degrees at the Juilliard School (MM) and the Eastman School of Music (DMA), where he is currently a professor of piano and chair of the piano department. In recent years, he completed appointments as Visiting Professor of Piano at the University of Michigan and at Yonsei University in Korea. He has traveled to the Czech Republic three times as a faculty member of the South Bohemia Summer Music Festival. During the summer of 2007 he taught at the Chinese-American International Piano Institute, associated with the Sichuan Conservatory of Music in Cheng-Du, China. He has recorded a wide variety of repertoire on compact disc, and has been featured in live broadcasts of performances on affiliates of PBS Television and National Public Radio.
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Joseph Irrera Joseph Irrera (piano) earned his Bachelor’s degree with Distinction from the Eastman School of Music in 2005, and his Master’s Degree, just one year later, from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, MD. He began his piano studies at the age of five and was accepted into the Community Education Division of the Eastman School of Music’s Preparatory Department in 1993. Principle teachers include Alla Kuznetsov, Douglas Humpherys, and Alexander Shtarkman. Mr. Irrera has also received additional training from renowned pedagogues Martin Canin, Philip Kawin, Lev Natochenny, Irina Edelstein, Victor Rosenbaum, and concert pianist Jon Nakamatsu. |
John Irrera earned his Bachelor’s degree with High Distinction and Performer’s Certificate from The Eastman School of Music in 2007, and is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree, from the Eastman School of Music, in the studio of Zvi Zeitlin. He began his violin studies at the age of 7, and was accepted into the Community Education Division of the Eastman School of Music’s Preparatory Department in 1994. He has taken top prizes in numerous competitions, including the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Albright Award, as well as the David Hochstein Memorial Award competition. In 2002 John was appointed concertmaster of the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and appeared with them, as soloist the same year, performing Dvořák’s Violin Concerto in a minor. The following concert season John appeared as soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, under the baton of maestro Jeff Tyzik. John also performed a solo recital that was broadcast on WXXI Classical 91.5FM. Also active during the summer months, John attended The International Violin Academy at Moulin d’Ande France, and this past summer was a Fellow at Music Academy of the West, in Santa Barbara, California. In addition to his principle studies with Professor Zeitlin John has also studied with distinguished violinists Ilya Kaler, Lewis Kaplan, and Sergiu Schwarz.
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Michael Kaupa has performed throughout the U.S., Europe, and Japan. From 2001 through 2005 he was been a member of the faculty at the annual Seminario de Jazz, in Barcelona, Spain. He has been associated with the “Taller de Musics” school in Barcelona since 1983 and recorded there with the group “ONIX”. On Saturday December 2nd, 2007, Mike performed at the Palau de la Musica in Barcelona. Later that month he was a soloist with the SUNY Fredonia Jazz Ensemble. He was an interim professor of jazz trumpet at the Eastman School for the 1999/2000 school year. |
Kathleen Kemp Assistant principal cellist of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. She teaches at the collegiate and Commuity Music School levels at Eastman as well as at the Hochstein School, and is an active performer of chamber music. Kathleen graduated from the Eastman with a bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and a Performer’s Certificate.
Stephen Kennedy
Stephen Kennedy is Director of Music and Organist at Christ Church Rochester, Instructor of Sacred Music at the Eastman School of Music, Director of Chapel Music and Instructor in Liturgical Music at Bexley Hall Episcopal Seminary, Instructor of Organ for EastmanÂ’s Community Education Division and Instructor of Piano at Nazareth College.
Stephen founded the Office of Compline at Christ Church in 1997 and is also the founder and director of the celebrated Christ Church Schola Cantorum, a group that specializes in the performance of early sacred choral music and chant, contemporary music, and choral improvisation. Minnesota Public Radio and Richard Gladwell’s “With Heart and Voice” have broadcast Schola recordings nationally. The Schola has performed regularly for the Eastman School of Music's EROI Festivals and other local concert series.
Stephen has collaborated with celebrated organists Edoardo Belotti, Hans Davidsson, David Higgs, William Porter, and Todd Wilson in re-creating and developing historical as well as contemporary liturgical music performances. He has also served as director of music and advisor for Diocesan Conventions of the Episcopal Church, and special liturgies for Colgate Rochester Divinity School.
Stephen has appeared in many venues as organ soloist in programs of standard repertoire as well as recitals consisting solely of improvisations. He has been a performer and lecturer for local and regional events of the American Guild of Organists, and has given workshops on choral music and chant and improvisation in the U.S. and abroad. He is also a composer of choral, instrumental, and chamber music as well as a collaborative musician, having recently composed music for choreographer Jamey Leverett and the Rochester City Ballet.
Stephen is also a countertenor and specializes in teaching singing styles for early music.
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Sophia Gibbs Kim Sophia Gibbs Kim BA from University of Wisconsin-Madison; Performer’s Certificate, MM, and DMA from Eastman School of Music; has performed throughout the U.S., Russia, Europe, and Asia as solo, chamber, and orchestral flutist. |
Lars Kirvan No bio available.
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Eunmi Ko was born and raised in Seoul, Korea. She came to the United States to study with Professor Rebecca Penneys at the Eastman School of Music, where she received her Master of Music degree and is currently completing her doctoral studies. |
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Petar Kodzas BM, University of Belgrade; MM, Ithaca College; DMA, Eastman School of Music. Has performed throughout Europe and the Eastern U.S. In addition to performing, Kodzas specializes in guitar pedagogy for pre-college age students. For more information visit www.petarkodzas.com. |
Yorgos Kouritas No bio available.
Alla Kuznetsov Graduate of the conservatory in Minsk, Belarus; soloist, chamber musician, and accompanist in Minsk; frequent performer in the Community Music School Summer Concert Series, Eastman at Washington Square, Festival “Fortissimo!,” and Largely Ludwig.
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Mike Leavitt Mike Leavitt (New Horizons Band) BM and MM, Eastman School of Music; MBA, Rochester Institute of Technology. Band Director, Rush-Henrietta Schools. School Business Administrator, Avon Schools. Trumpet performer in the Rochester area for 40 years. Past director of the Henrietta Town Band. Member of the U of R orchestra (URSO). Founding director of the Vintage Brass Ensemble.
Sophia Lee No bio available.
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Carmen Lemoine is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Musical Arts for Flute Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Previously, she earned her M.M. at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, a B.M. in Flute Performance from Eastman and a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Rochester. Her past and present teachers include Bonita Boyd, Tim Day, Martha Aarons, and Cathy Payne. |
Andrew Liebermann Bio not available.
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Chien-Kwan Lin BM, MM, New England Conservatory; Performer’s Certificate, Eastman; soloist, U.S. Army Band, New England Conservatory Symphony, Eastman Wind Ensemble; performances with Fromm Players at Harvard University, Tanglewood, New World Symphony, and Boston Philharmonic orchestras; Eastman faculty member (2002-). |
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Brett Long is currently a doctoral candidate at the Eastman School of Music. He earned his MM in Trumpet Performance from Eastman and BM in Music Education from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. He is currently a secondary trumpet instructor for Eastman, trumpet mentor for the Eastman Community Music School, and maintains a private teaching studio. |
Stefan Love No bio available.
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Irina Lupines A native of Belarus, Irina Lupines has built through the years a diversified career as collaborative artist, vocal and instrumental coach,and teacher. She received degrees from the Belarus National Conservatory in Minsk and the Lviv National Conservatory of Ukraine. |
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Joshua Massicot Pianist and educator Josh Massicot has made important contributions to advancing the understanding of developing musicianship at all levels of instrumental instruction. His research has helped shape standards at universities and community music schools across the country. |
Melissa Matson Melissa Matson, prizewinner of the Cleveland Quartet Competition (1978-80), earned her bachelor's and master's degrees, as well as a Performer's Certificate at Eastman. Micciche studied viola with Martha Katz, Heidi Castleman, and Karen Tuttle; and chamber music with the Cleveland and Juilliard Quartets, and at the Quartet Program and the Aspen Festival Center for Advanced Quartet Studies.
She is a founding member of the Chester String Quartet (1978-83), and also won prizes at the Munich and Portsmouth (England) quartet competitions. She has recorded on CRI, Stolat, and Pantheon. Matson also performed on a CD, Chamber Jazz by Jeff Tyzik, released by the Society for Chamber Music (Rochester).
In addition to her teaching post, Matson is a soloist and principal violist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and is a performer with the Society for Chamber Music (1986-) and the Skaneateles (NY) Festival (1987-). She also is a mentor and coach for the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (1990-).
Prior to joining the Eastman faculty in 1985, Matson was a faculty member at Indiana University - South Bend (1980-83) and the Eastern Music Festival (summers 1984-86).
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Gaelen McCormick Ms. McCormick has been a member of the Rochester Philharmonic’s bass section since 1995. She is returning to the Rochester area after a two year sabbatical, during which she completed her Master’s Degree in Music (Performance) in Pittsburgh. Active as a teacher, she was appointed in 2003 to teach at Duquesne University’s City Music Center, a program for talented, pre-college students. She has been on the faculty of Roberts Wesleyan College and the Hochstein Music School, and currently teaches a private studio of all ages. Ms. McCormick is regularly invited to play with other major orchestras, including the Buffalo Philharmonic and the Syracuse Symphony. She holds degrees from the Eastman School and Carnegie Mellon University. |
Jeffrey McLeod No bio available.
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Samuel Mehr A senior at Eastman, Sam plays woodwinds -- saxophone, flute, clarinet, and bassoon -- and sings low bass with Schola Cantorum of Christ Church and Apeiron Vocal Ensemble. His wide-ranging interests have led him to perform with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, the Beantown Swing Orchestra, numerous freelance pit orchestras, and even Boston's famed R&B band Soul Kitchen. When he's not playing, singing, or working with children, Sam spends his time cooking and reading. |
Marylynn Miller BA, Scripps College; MA, Claremont Graduate School. On faculty of Roberts Wesleyan College. Member, Rochester Piano Teachers Guild. Performs as chamber musician and accompanist in the Rochester area.
Janet Milnes Undergraduate study at Manhattan School of Music. Faculty, Duke University String School, Hochstein, and Eastman Commuity Music School since 1987. Performances with RPO, Rochester Chamber Orchestra, Greensboro, Savannah, and NC Symphonies, Ciompi Quartet of Duke University, and Mallarme Chamber Players. Active adjudicator, chamber musician, and recitalist.
Nobuko Moriwaki BM and MM from Eastman School of Music; independent studies in Suzuki piano pedagogy. Extensive performing in the Rochester area as soloist, chamber musician, and accompanist.
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Wesley Nance is Second Trumpet with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and has been a featured soloist with the orchestra on several occasions. Also a composer, the RPO brass section premiered his piece “Two Beats!” on the RPO WPops concert series on Oct 17 and 18, 2003, and has performed it, as well as other compositions, several times since. He has received several commissions, ranging from full orchestra to five trumpets.
Wes holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Eastman School of Music in trumpet performance, and is has been on the faculty of the Eastman Community Music School since 1990. His trumpet studio is highly regarded, and he directs a trumpet ensemble made up of many of the finest young players in the area. This ensemble is a champion of new music, having no fewer than four pieces commissioned for it in the last three years, and alumni of the group are studying at the finest music conservatories in the country.
Outside of music, Wes enjoys espresso, tennis, and a good movie downstairs in the home theater, where he’s likely to be joined by RPO violinist Shannon Nance and their four children: Brooke (12), Brandon (9), Brianna (7) and Bridget (5).
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Matthew Osika BM, Trumpet Performance and Music Education, Eastman School of Music. Currently working on his MM in Music Education at ESM, Matt has spent countless hours as part of the greater Eastman community. He has a strong background in Music Theory, as well as Gordon's Music Learning Theory. Matt is the Assistant Conductor of the Eastman Wind Orchestra and Tour Manager for the Eastman Wind Ensemble, as well as a music substitute for several districts in the Greater Rochester area. |
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Jeff Ostroski is a Downbeat Award winning trumpet player & arranger currently residing in Rochester, NY. He earned his BM at Lawrence University where he studied with John Daniel & Fred Sturm. While there, Jeff played lead trumpet in and wrote for the Jazz Ensemble, which in 2007 won a Downbeat Award for "Best Jazz Performance." In 2005, Jeff had the honor of playing in lead trumpet the IAJE All-Star Jazz Ensemble in Chicago, IL. Jeff is currently pursuing a MM at the Eastman School of Music where he studies with Clay Jenkins. He is a co-director of the Jazz Lab Band and a TA in Jazz Pedagogy. He also plays lead trumpet in the award winning Eastman Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Bill Dobbins. |
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Marcia Bornhurst Parkes Marcia Bornhurst Parkes (New Horizons Band) B.M. Ithaca College School of Music, M.M. and Ph.D. Eastman School of Music. Member of MENC, NYSSMA, Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI) and the New York State Band Directors Association (NYSBDA). Taught instrumental music for 30 years in Rochester area schools. Creator of innovative programs including "Heart to Hearth" chamber music program, the SpenceRPOrt Concert Connection Series and the "Music for Manhattan" experience. Served as collaborating teacher for composer-in-residence programs sponsored by The Commission Project (TCP). Currently serves as consultant for TCP and is a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Education Committee. Performed as flutist with many Rochester area community orchestras and with SAIqwins woodwind quintet. Active guest conductor, clinician and certified NYSSMA All-State Woodwind and Major Organization Adjudicator. Founding member, officer and Executive Board member of NYSBDA. Creator and past administrator of the NYSBDA Regional Workshop Program, chairman of the first NYSBDA Band Commission Program. Married to Jonathan Parkes, oboist. |
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Sara Parulski a recent graduate of the Eastman School of Music, teaches general music, instrumental music, and chorus at Canandaigua Elementary School in Canandaigua, NY. In addition to spending her days with 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders, Sara performs with the OSSIA New Music Ensemble of the Eastman School, and is a cantor at St. Mary's Parish of downtown Rochester. Teaching early childhood music classes on Saturday morning is one of the highlights of her week. |
Alexander Pena No bio available.
Hannah Picasso-Hoban No bio available
Eric Polenik picked up a bass for the first time at age 17 and was invited to perform in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s bass section just seven years later. Mr. Polenik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Bass Performance and Literature from Duquesne University as well as a Master’s Degree from the Eastman School of Music. While studying at Eastman, he co-founded the NEO chamber orchestra. Its mission was to bring classic symphonic music to new audiences in a variety of innovative platforms and venues with a focus on education. In addition to being Principal Bass, Mr. Polenik was the Program Manager, writing scripts and educational material for the concerts. As a chamber musician, Mr. Polenik performs regularly with the Slee Sinfonietta at the University of Buffalo, specializing in 20th and 21st century music. He has also performed with the Rochester Chamber Orchestra, Quartsemble, and the Scranton Bach Festival.
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Howard Potter Dr. Howard Potter has served as associate dean for community and continuing education since July 1, 2002. He holds degrees from: SUNY Fredonia, the Eastman School of Music, the Juilliard School, and the Manhattan School of Music. Besides being the director of the Eastman Community Music School, Potter conducts several jazz ensembles, teaches jazz theory, and is a teacher of percussion. Potter taught elementary, middle, and high school band and orchestra for over 10 years in Syracuse, NY. With over 25 years' professional performing experience, Howard Potter has played with numerous orchestras and bands including the Rochester Philharmonic (extra), the Erie Philharmonic, the National Orchestral Association at Carnegie Hall, the West Point Band, and with several Off Broadway theater companies. While a professional musician in the West Point Band, Potter founded the West Point Youth Orchestra. Howard Potter is also director of the Eastman Pathways program and served on the executive board of the Onondaga County Music Educator's Association, and is currently on the RPYO board. Potter has conducted numerous All County jazz ensembles including Monroe County, and he has been both conductor and on the board of advisors for the Society for New Music. Dr. Potter is married and the father of three children. Potter grew up in Tunisia, Ghana, Argentina, Brazil, and Washington, DC, and is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. Next to being a husband and father, his greatest source of pride is being a teacher and sharing his love of music with his students. |
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Sarah Rhee Currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Eastman School of Music where she has been teaching assistant to Nelita True as well as an instructor in Class Piano and Sight-Reading for piano majors; Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School; Bachelor of Music from Eastman. Has appeared as recitalist and soloist with various orchestras throughout North America and Europe, including the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Rome Chamber Orchestra, New Millennium Orchestra (Spain) and Eastman Symphony Orchestra, among others and is an avid chamber musician who has given numerous solo and collaborative benefit concerts. Top prize winner of the Virginia Waring International Piano Competition, Montreal Symphony Orchestra Competition, Canadian Music Competition and the International Stepping Stone Competition, and has extensive teaching experience both at the collegiate and preparatory levels.
T.J. Ricer is currently in pursuit of a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in tuba performance and literature at the Eastman School of Music. He holds degrees from the University of Tennessee and Miami University. As a tubist, Ricer has performed with the Cincinnati, Knoxville, Springfield, Lima, Middletown, and Lebanon Symphony Orchestras as well as the Knoxville Wind Symphony and Dave Rivello Jazz Ensemble. In addition, Ricer has played bass trombone with the Blue Wisp, Streamliners, and Jack Carr Big Bands. While not working as a brass player, Ricer holds a certification in group aerobics instruction, has completed a marathon, and fronts a Johnny Cash Tribute band.
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Nan Gullo Richmond graduated from the Juilliard School of Music where she studied with Marcel Grandjany; the Penn State University where she received a M.Ed; and the Eastman School of Music where she earned a D.M.A., studying harp with Eileen Malone and Kathleen Bride. She has been a winner of Concert Artists Guild with a New York City Town Hall debut. As a member of the Pittsburgh Symphony for six years, she toured the U.S., Europe and the middle East. She has toured the U.S. as soloist with the |
Elizabeth Ristow BM, Viola Performance, MA Candidate, Music Education, Eastman School of Music; Viola Faculty, Eastman Community Music School; Director, New Horizons Beginning Strings; Teaching apprentice and chamber music coach, Strings International Music Festival; Teacher with Eastman/Rochester City School 17 Partnership; Graduate Teaching Assistant, Eastman School of Music; Private viola and violin studios in Rochester, NY and Milwaukee, WI; viola studies with John Graham, George Taylor, Peter Slowik, and Nathan Hackett; chamber music studies with the Ying Quartet, Fine Arts Quartet, John Graham, Matt Michelic, and Darrett Adkins; participation in Aspen, Banff, and Credo music festivals.
Matthew Robey Bio not available.
Jennifer Ronyak No bio available.
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Cecile Saine BM and Performer’s Certificate from Eastman School of Music. Extensive performances in the Rochester area in concerts, with pops orchestras, opera, musical theatre, and oratorio. Performances with Buffalo Symphony and Rochester Philharmonic; appearances on local television, and local and national radio.
Elizabeth Seka BM from Louisiana State University; additional studies at Chicago Musical College. Member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the Rochester Chamber Orchestra; has appeared with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra, the Cleveland Women’s Symphony, and the Chicago Chamber Orchestra.
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Baljinder Sekhon is an active composer and teacher whose works range from full orchestra to gamelan ensemble to solo pieces and he has received commissions and recognition from many prominent individuals and organizations. His recent awards include the Howard Hanson Orchestral Prize (2007 and 2009), Audio Inversions Composition Contest (2008), Brian M. Israel Prize (2008), Percussive Arts Society Composition Competition (2nd place, 2008), Belle Gitelman Award (2008), and a Morton Gould Young Composers Award from ASCAP (2006). He has recently been commissioned by trombonist Massimo La Rosa (principal tbn. Cleveland Orchestra), violist John Graham, and The Robert G. Boehmler Foundation. Notable platforms for the performance of his works have included The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music (2009, Directed by Marin Alsop), a full concert of his works at The Stone in New York City (2008), the premiere of "Post" for Chamber Orchestra and Soprano by Musica Nova with soprano Tony Arnold and conductor Brad Lubman (2009), and performances at the New World Symphony's Musicians' Forum concert series (2008), The National Saxophone Alliance Convention (2008), and The World Saxophone Congress (2009, Thailand). Previously, Baljinder has received fellowships to the Bang on a Can Summer Institute, the Composers Conference at Wellesley College and the Cabrillo Festival. Baljinder was recently named a Curatorial Associate for the MATA Interval Series in New York City where he will produce a concert of pieces for Saxophone Quartet and Electronics. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Composition at the Eastman School of Music where he has taught in the Eastman Computer Music Center, private Composition Lessons, served as President of the OSSIA New Music Ensemble, and will teach Orchestration and Calligraphy during the 2009/2010 academic year. To learn more about Baljinder Sekhon, please visit www.SekhonMusic.com. |
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Derrick Smith Baritone Derrick Smith has emerged as a rising vocal sensation, singing with distinction in theaters around the world. Mr. Smith sang the role of Joe in Showboat at its 50th Anniversary performance at the California Musical Theater in Sacramento. He was asked to repeat the same role at the Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre's summer performances in Chicago, receiving jubilant praise from critics and standing ovations from the audience. He has triumphed equally performing the dual roles of Porgy and Jake in Porgy and Bess with the Chicago Sinfonietta at Chicago's Symphony Hall, Crown in Porgy and Bess with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, and Leporello in Don Giovanni with the Malmo Symfoni Orkester in Sweden. Mr. Smith more recently appeared with Opera Ebony in the debut performance of original opera Harriet Tubman at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, performing the principal role of John Tubman. He was called on to repeat the same role of John Tubman both at the Arturo Schomberg Center in New York City and at the Metro Theater in Syracuse, N.Y. |
Herbert Smith Herb Smith is the third trumpet with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. He is a graduate of The Eastman School of Music and began playing in the orchestra after he graduated in 91’. He works with students through the Young Audiences of America and Rochester City School District Artist in Residence program. He also travels all over the upstate NY area doing workshops and presentations for many Arts Organizations dealing with classical music, and the accessibility to this music for non musicians, traditional music, from many countries around the world, and jazz music, emphasizing it’s importance as one of the only original American music forms.
Herb also plays many gigs with his jazz quartet, is a frequent substitute player for the Chautauqua, and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestras. Furthermore he is trumpet instructor for the Community Education Division of the Eastman School of Music, his alma mater, and has a trumpet studio that he teaches out of his home. He has played with many notable artists, including, Al Jareau, Natalie Cole, Doc Severenson, The Ojays and has played on many commercial jingles recorded in Rochester NY. Other ventures include composing music for silent films, and writing musical arrangements for local bands in the area.
Herb is also the cofounder of a new smooth jazz group named Thornwood. Thornwood is a collaboration between Herb and Marcus Robinson, a guitarist, playing original compositions and smooth jazz arrangements. Their first CD in titled "Just A Little Sly" was greatly received and a new CD will be coming soon.
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Bob Sneider Teaching at Eastman (Community Music School and collegiate) since 1997. Prior to Eastman, Sneider spent four years touring with Chuck Mangione. Bob has released two CDs to critical acclaim: Introducing Bob Sneider and Out of the Darkness. For more information visit www.bobsneider.com. |
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Howard Spindler is a Rochester NY native, and a graduate of the Eastman Preparatory Department. He earned the BA with majors in both Music and German from Oberlin College; he returned to Eastman and completed the MA degree in Musicology. He pursued postgraduate work at the Folkwang Hochschule in Essen, Germany and completed the Artist Diploma in Piano and Accompanying. He returned to Rochester and joined the faculty of the Eastman Preparatory Department, later named Community Education Division, later again renamed Eastman Community Music School. |
Douglas Stone No bio available.
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Karine Stone Karine Stone has played the violin since the age of two. She has a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in violin performance from the Eastman School of Music. In the summer of 1996 she played operas in the Schlossfestspiel Orchestra in Heidelberg, Germany. For three years, from 1998-2001 she was a member of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. She has performed frequently as Acting Concertmaster of the Erie Philharmonic. She has performed in the first violins of the Santo Domingo Music Festival (2003) under the direction of Philippe Entremonte, and in the first violins of the Skaneateles Festival (2002). Currently she performs in the second violin section of the RPO, in the first violins of the Rochester Oratorio Society, adnd is an active freelance and chamber musician. Through her freelance work, Karine has performed as a backup musician with artists such as Josh Groben, The TransSiberian Orchestra, Harry Connick Jr., Jonny Mathis, Wayne Newton, and the Capital Saxophone Quartet. Karine is the Director and Violin I of the Hastings Chamber Players, and the violinist of the Ethos Duo. From 2002 through 2005 Karine performed as the first violinist of the RPO Educational Quartet, a group dedicated to bringing classical music to children in the Rochester City Schools. Most recently, she is performing chamber music and lecture recitals as the first violinist of Quartsemble, a chamber music gruop she formed with her husband, Diego Garcia. |
Ashlea Strouse No bio available.
W. Craig Sutherland Mr. Sutherland, a native of Clarence, New York, was appointed to the position of Principal Tubist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in 2004. Prior to joining the RPO, Craig served as Tubist with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and as Adjunct Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Charleston Southern University, in Charleston, SC. Shortly after receiving his Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Michigan, Craig served as Principal Tubist with the Hofer Symphoniker and Rekkenze Brass Quintet, in Hof, Germany. Upon returning to the States, Mr. Sutherland was awarded a full-scholarship to attend The Juilliard School where he earned his Master's degree. Craig has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Seattle Symphony, among others. During the summers, he has participated in the Schleswig-Holstein, Spoleto USA, Cascade, Oregon Coast, and Aspen Music Festivals.
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Daphne Tan No bio available.
Christopher Teal drummer & percussionist currently residing in Rochester, New York. Chris is pursuing a masters in jazz and contemporary media from the Eastman School of Music, under the instruction of Rich Thompson. He performs with the Eastman New Jazz Ensemble, the jazz groups Localized Tenderness and Fugu Apprentice, Danny Songhurst, Jigsaw Republic, the Tom Molter Big Band, Don Goodwin and Freefire as well as freelancing with other local artists and theater companies. Originally from Spokane, Washington, Chris graduated with a BA in Jazz Performance from Whitworth College in 2005. He has recorded and performed with notible artists Nicholas Payton, Eric Reed, John Clayton, Jeff Clayton, Ed Neumeister, Dan Balmer, Fred Stone, Brent Edstrom, Danny McCollim, Brian Ploeger, Hal Galper, Dan Keberle, the Alvin Ailey Dance Company and the World's Oldest Living Sax Section. Other cross-country endevors include playing for Carnival Cruise Lines beginning in 2003.
Karie Schroer Templeton BME Wittenberg University and MM from Ithaca College with additional graduate studies at Eastman, instructor for middle school choral and musical theater programs at Pittsford Middle School and choral instructor for Music Horizons.
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Rich Thompson BME from University of Oklahoma; MM from Eastman. Various clinics, recordings, and performances in Europe, Japan, Newfoundland, Thailand, and the U.S. Drum set chairman, NYSSMA. Also toured with Count Basie Orchestra, Marion McPartland, James Williams and toured and recorded with Eastman Jazz Faculty. For more information visit www.RichThompson.net. -Faculty member at Eastman (1996-). |
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Bill Tiberio BM, Ithaca College; Masters in Music Ed, Fredonia; Concert Band and Jazz Program Director at Fairport High School, Instrumental Music Teacher, Fairport Schools, 1988 to present: Faculty, University of Rochester Music Department Wind Symphony conductor and UR Jazz Ensemble Director and Hochstein School of Music Summer Staff. Recipient, RPO Music Educators Award, April, 2004. |
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Michael VanBebber No bio available.
Emeric Viani No bio available.
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William Weinert Since 1994, William Weinert has served as Professor of Conducting and Director of Choral Activities at the Eastman School of Music, where he conducts the Eastman Chorale and the Eastman-Rochester Chorus and supervises the masters and doctoral programs in choral conducting. He has conducted throughout Europe and the United States, as well as in the Far East, and has served throughout the country as a clinician and an adjudicator, as well as giving conducting master classes in North America, Europe and Asia. Ensembles under Weinert's direction have performed at conferences of the American Choral Directors' Association and the Music Educators' National Conference.
The Eastman Chorale has undertaken annual tours in recent years under Weinert's leadership, performing significant repertoire from the sixteenth through twenty-first centuries. They have regularly performed with Eastman instrumental ensembles in such works as the two Bach Passions and in contemporary repertoire. In addition, the Chorale undertakes annual readings and recordings of Eastman student works, and regularly presents premieres of significant new choral music.
Recent performances of the Eastman-Rochester chorus have included the premiere of Dominick Argento's Four Seascapes, the Britten War Requiem, the Vaughan Williams Sea Symphony, Requiems of Mozart, Verdi and Brahms, and the Beethoven Missa Solemnis. Critic John Pitcher wrote that the 2004 Beethoven performance "was terrific in every respect...The chorus sang full-throttle, sending vocal sparks throughout the concert hall." Pitcher's review of the chorus's 2005 performance of Alexander Nevsky stated that "the RPO's joint performance with the mighty Eastman-Rochester Chorus of the Prokofiev cantata is the most powerful and satisfying thing I've heard in the city all year...The Chorus sang with unforgettable emotion."
Weinert has also frequently conducted opera and symphonic repertoire, and has performed extensively as a recitalist and oratorio soloist. He has published articles on the music of Brahms and Bruckner and Georg Schumann, as well as Geistliche Gesäng und Melodeyen: a Critical Edition with Commentary, an edition of twenty-four motets by the prominent baroque composer Melchior Franck. In 1998 he succeeded Alfred Mann as editor of The American Choral Review, the journal of the American Choral Foundation.
The graduate programs in conducting at Eastman have been ranked by US News as the finest in the country. A small number of students are admitted to these degree programs, and they are given significant podium experience with regular Eastman ensembles. In recent years Eastman graduate students in both the masters and doctoral programs have won first place in the ACDA national student conducting competitions.
Weinert holds the A.B. in history and B.Mus. in music education from Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music; the M.M. in conducting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; and both the M.M. in music history and the D.M.A. in conducting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he studied with Robert Fountain, and then taught for five years as Fountain's assistant. He has studied conducting with Daniel Moe, Geoffrey Simon, Karlos Moser, and Robert Porter. His vocal training has included study with Yolanda Marculescu, Howard Hatton and Ilona Kombrink; his study of the clarinet included work with Lawrence McDonald, Russell Dagon and Alois Heine at the Salzburg Mozarteum. He was the founder and director of the SchĂĽtz Ensemble of Madison (1984-90), musical director of the Madison Savoyards (1983 and 1987).
He has previously served on the faculties of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside (1982-84), University of Wisconsin-Madison (1984-89), and the University of Southern Mississippi (1989-94), and has served for three summers as guest professor at the Staatliche Hochschule fĂĽr Musik in Freiburg, Germany.
Glenn West Composer in residence at Sewanee Summer Music Center and Penfield Symphony; general director of Opera Rochester; compositions have been performed across the country; extensive performance experience as a violinist, violist, and conductor.
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Lee Wilkins Jack L. Frank Professor of Violin, Eastman School of Music. DMA, SUNY Stonybrook, MM and BM, Indiana University. Chautauqua Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, national and international solo and chamber music appearances. |
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Jordan Wilson of Apex, NC, is currently in his second year of a master's degree in Vocal Performance and Literature under the tutelage of Carol Webber at the Eastman School of Music. In May 2008, he graduated from Eastman with his Bachelor's degree, a double major in Vocal Performance and Music Theory. Most recently, Jordan has been seen as Pelléas in Debussy's "Pelléas et Mélisande" in January 2009, and as Manfred in Jake Heggie's new opera "For a Look or a Touch" in December 2008, both with Eastman Opera. Jordan has previously been seen at Eastman as Mr. Lundquist in "Little Night Music," and as Willy in Lee Hoiby's "This is the Rill Speaking." |
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Alan Woy A recent addition to the Rochester community and the Eastman Community Music School, Alan Woy retired from full-time teaching at the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam in 2004. He has continued to lead an active musical life as a performer, teacher, and conductor. As an Emeritus Professor at Crane, he currently teaches adjunct clarinet. A faculty member at Crane since 1971, he taught studio clarinet, woodwind techniques, and conducting. He was also a chamber music coach and band director for many years, most recently conducting the Crane Wind Ensemble. Dr. Woy is currently principal clarinet and a charter member of the Potsdam Clarinet Quartet, the Orchestra of Northern New York, and Northern Symphonic Winds. He was a member of the Potsdam Woodwind Quintet for 33 years until his retirement. Since moving to this area he has joined music educator wind ensembles in Rochester and Syracuse. Active as guest soloist, clinician, and conductor, Dr. Woy is an All-State Adjudicator for the New York State School Music Association. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Performance from Illinois Wesleyan University (1967,) and his Master of Music in Performance (1969) and Doctor of Musical Arts (1979) from the University of Colorado. |
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Clara Yang No bio available.
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Anyango Yarbo-Davenport The African-American violinist Anyango Yarbo-Davenport was born in Munich, Germany. Her father was the late Austrian conductor and violinist Hans-Peter Jillich. Anyango's mother is the African-American lyric soprano Africa Yarbo-Davenport, who is known from US & Dutch TV documentaries, recordings for Phillips Classics, and as an international performer. |
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Keiko Ying Keiko Ying enjoys a versatile career as a cello performer in solo, orchestral and chamber music settings and as a dedicated teacher. She currently serves as principal of CityMusic Cleveland chamber orchestra and was also recently hired as a full-time member of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. She has previously been principal of the Spoleto Festival Orchestra. She is an active participant in music festivals such as the Aspen Music Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival and Skaneateles Festival, and has collaborated in chamber music performances with Leon Fleisher, Gil Shaham, Alex Kerr, Wu Han, Lawrence Dutton, and others. |
Michelle Younger Bio not available.
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Jeremy Zhu MM, Eastman School of Music; BM, Performance / Ed. Shanghai Conservatory of Music/Normal University. Studied with Peiwen Yuan, Charles Castleman, John Celentano. |
Christopher Ziemba No bio available.
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Harriet Zimmerman BM and MM in piano performance and literature from the Eastman School of Music, Recipient of Jack L. Frank award for excellence in teaching.(1986) Solo and ensemble experiences and veteran adjudicator for local and state competitions |




















































