Faculty Bios

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.

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.

Euridice began her musical education at the Victoriano López Music School in her native Honduras in 1989, and since then has specialized her studies with a variety of professional oboists, including: Patricia Malone, Mary Watt, Georg Meerwin, Humbert Lucarelli, Doris DeLoach, Nancy Ambrose King, Eric Ohlsson, Paige Morgan, Don Ross, and Richard Killmer.

Ms. Alvarez has been a member of several Symphony Orchestras, including Meridian, Gulf Port, Waco, Temple and San Angelo, and performed as a soloist with the Symphony Orchestra of Honduras.

She won the Golden Medal at the Tutto Diffent Competition in Honduras (1993), was a finalist at the Ducrest Young Artists International Competition (2000), toured the East Coast of the U.S. with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra (2000), won the MTNA Woodwind Concerto Competition (2000) and the MTNA Collegiate Artists State Competition (2000/2002), toured Italy with the USM Wind Ensemble (2001) and France and England with the USM Southern Chorale (2003), Presser Scholar (2002), Finalist of the Concerto Competition at Baylor University (2004), and Second Place of the Concerto Competition at Baylor University (2005).

Euridice has also participated in several summer camps: Young Artists Summer camp in Costa Rica (1993), Kinhaven Music School at Vermont (1993/1997), Hot Springs Music Festival (2002), Brevard Music Camp (2004), and Camp of the Woods (2006/2007).

Her teaching experience started in 1994 as an Oboe Instructor in Honduras, and has taught numerous students privately and through teaching assistantships at Baylor University and at the Eastman School of Music. She is currently an oboe professor at the Eastman Community School of Music and at Houghton College since fall 2006.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In high school, Nick was chosen to play lead trombone with the 2005 Gibson/Baldwin GRAMMY Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Justin Diciocio, where he performed with renowned jazz artists Benny Golson, Jon Hendricks, Al Jarreau and Kurt Elling. Nick also developed a relationship with trombonist Wycliffe Gordon at this time, taking lessons and performing with him from time to time. Nick then chose to further his studies of jazz by attending the Eastman School of Music where he earned a Bachelors of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Media.

After graduation from high school, The Commission Project (a Rochester, NY non-profit whose mission is to commission pieces for school ensembles of various levels) chose Nick to participate in a program that teamed up Nick with Wycliffe Gordon to compose and perform four pieces specifically for Nicks own groups. The first piece in the series (a three part suite entitled The Nick of Time scored for jazz sextet) was premiered on Nicks first solo recital as a student at the Eastman School of Music. The second sextet piece, Bebop da Boogaloo was featured on a live radio broadcast on Rochesters jazz station Jazz 90.1 FM. Nick had the pleasure of premiering the third piece (the first for full jazz ensemble) with his alma mater the Hilton High School jazz ensemble with Gordon in attendance, and additionally with the Fairport High School jazz ensemble. The fourth piece in the series features a duet for Nick and Wycliffe on the George Gershwin composition I Got Rhythm accompanied by full jazz ensemble. Wycliffes arrangement of I Got Rhythm was premiered in April of 2009 with the Webster Schroeder High School jazz ensemble.

Nick can be seen performing with the Gap Mangione Big Band, the Rick Holland-Evan Dobbins Little Big Band, the Dave Rivello Ensemble, Orquestra Antonetti, The Po Boys Brass Band, and leading his own jazz-funk project DubbleStuff and the Nick Finzer Sextet. Nick has had the pleasure of performing with the legendary Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (lead by Buddy Morrow), Frank Tiberi, Rich Perry, Jeff Beal, Harold Danko, Clay Jenkins, Bill Dobbins, Al Chez and the Brothers of Funk Big Band, along with many fantastic salsa artists including Tito Alan, NKlabe, Eddie Santiago, Luisito Rosario, Kevin Ceballo, Michael Stewart, and Lalo Rodriguez.

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.

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.

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.

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”.

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.

As a member of the Arabesque winds, Ms. Goluses was the winner of the 2009 John Celentano Award for Excellence in Chamber Music, winner of the 2009 Coleman-Saunderson Prize for Woodwinds or Brass at the 63rd Annual Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition, second prize winner of the 5th bi-annual Henri Tomasi Woodwind Quintet Competition in Marseilles, France, winner of the 2008 Harvard Music Association’s Arthur W. Foote Prize, and grand prize winner the 2008 International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition. In May of 2009, Ms. Goluses gave her critically acclaimed Kennedy Center debut with the Arabesque Winds, representing the Eastman School of Music at the Conservatory Project. The Washington Post heralded the Arabesque Winds as having “skill and depth beyond their years...but it was the unanimity of their ensemble phrasing that took the breath away."

As a horn soloist, Ms. Goluses has appeared with the Eastman Composer’s Sinfonietta, giving the world premiere of Jennifer Bellor’s “Bell Song,” for solo horn and orchestra, with the Eastman Community Music School’s Children’s Chorus, as well as with the Lyons High School Band, premiering Baljinder Sekhon’s “Synergy” for wind quintet and concert band.

Ms. Goluses has attended music festivals such as Aspen Music festival and School, Music Academy of the West, Pierre Monteux School for conductors and musicians, Brevard Music Festival and the Atlantic Music Festival.

Sophia Goluses has recorded with the Eastman Opera Theater for Troy Records, the Eastman Wind Ensemble and the Canadian Brass with Archivmusik, the Ohio Light Opera with Albany Records, and the Eastman Broadband for Bridge Records.

Ms. Goluses completed her B.M. from the Eastman School of Music in horn performance in the spring of 2008 where she studied with the RPO’s principal horn, W. Peter Kurau and the RPO’s second horn, Jennifer Burch.

Ms. Goluses loves to teach horn players of all ages and skill levels and believes in tailoring her skills to each student, rather than expecting each student to fit an assumed mold. It is one of her true joys to watch a student grow before her eyes!

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.

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).

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!

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.

Mr. Irrera has concertized throughout the United States and abroad with appearances at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C with Leonard Slatkin, the Moulin d’Ande International Music Festival in France, and additional solo recitals in Bulgaria, Germany, and Italy. At the age of 18 he made his concerto debut performing Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Highlights from Mr. Irrera’s 2008-2009 concert season include solo appearances at the Steinway Piano Society Concert Series in Naples, Florida, the Washington Square Recital Series in Rochester, NY, and his Carnegie Hall debut in New York City.

Mr. Irrera is laureate of many national and international piano competitions including the Guthman International Piano Competition in Atlanta, Georgia, the Young Artist’s International Piano Competition in Washington, D.C., and most recently the American Protégé International Piano Competition in New York City, where he was awarded first Prize.

Currently, Mr. Irrera serves on the faculty of the Eastman School of Music Community Music School and the Hochstein School of Music at both their Rochester and Canandaigua campuses. He will be pursuing the DMA Degree at the Eastman School of Music beginning in September 2009. If you would like to contact Mr. Irrera you may do so at www.josephirrera.com

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.

Among others, he has performed with Jorge Rossy, Ben Monder, Mark Murphy, Gary Bartz, Luciana Souza, Joe Locke, Mel Torme, and Ray Charles. He can be heard every Friday evening at the Stathallan Hotel in Rochester.

On February 11th, 2008, Mike was the soloist in New York City in a new composition, "Cycles Suite" by Eastman graduate, Chris Jentsch. It was written for large jazz group and solo trumpet. The concert and recording was partially funded by the New York State Council on the Arts.

Mike holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Fredonia State University and a Master of Music degree from The University of Miami (Florida).

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.

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.

As a recitalist, Ms. Ko has performed throughout North America, Asia, and Oceania. Her most recent project, presenting the complete Chopin etudes on a single program, captivated audiences in Rochester, Boston, and South Carolina, as well as in Christchurch, New Zealand. As a returning artist for the Newton Free Library concert series in Boston, she performed solo recitals in 2008 and 2009. Also, she was a guest artist at Soon Cheon University in Korea in the summer of 2009. She typically gives at least ten solo concerts each year in many venues.

Ms. Ko also has acquired significant experience as a collaborative pianist in the past few years. In 2009, she was given an internship for the Quartet program at SUNY Fredonia, during which she played six different major string sonatas in three weeks. As part of her graduate award at Eastman, she has played as an accompanist for the studios of C. Castleman, M. Kopelman, O. Krysa, and A. Harris. In 2007, she worked at the Chautauqua summer festival, playing the orchestral parts of 15 different piano concerti over the course of a single competition. In fall of 2009, she will present a piano trio at the George Eastman House, Rochester, NY and also in Pittsburgh, PA.

As a teacher, she currently serves as an adjuct piano instructor at Finger Lakes Community College, Canandaigua, NY, and holds a teaching assistantship in Professor Rebecca Penneys' studio at Eastman.

She has taught at ECMS since 2008.

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.

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.

While in San Francisco, Carmen won the Second Flute position (a chair she still holds) with the Santa Cruz Symphony in 2005. In 2006, she won first prize in the Modesto Symphony Young Artist Competition and had the honor of performing Mozart’s Concerto no. 1 with the orchestra. Ms. Lemoine has also concertized with the San Francisco Guitar Quartet.

Carmen’s orchestral experience includes positions and concerts with the Spoleto Music Festival, New World Symphony, the Aspen Music Festival, Bay Area Summer Opera Theatre, and the New York String Orchestra. She has performed under renowned conductors Julius Rudel, Mendi Rodan, Emmanuel Villaume, Murray Sidlin and David Zinman. Most recently, she spent the summer in Santa Barbara, California at the Music Academy of West, working with conductors Larry Rachleff, Nicholas McGegan and Peter Oundjian.

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-).

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.

Brett has performed with members of the Rochester Philharmonic, Syracuse Symphony, Williamsport Symphony (PA), and Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes. Brett is an avid chamber musician, and has performed with the Canadian Brass, Mansfield Brass Quintet, Skaneateles Chamber Orchestra, and is a founding member of the award-winning Emerald Brass Quintet. He is an active recitalist throughout the east coast, and has also competed in the semi-finals of the National Trumpet Competition, received the Performer's Certificate from Eastman, and won the Mansfield Concerto Competition. Brett's primary teachers include James Thompson and Michael Galloway.

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.

A dedicated and experienced teacher, Irina has been working with a great diversity of students since 1995. She also has an active performing schedule as chamber musician and recitalist. She is a frequent performer in the Eastman Summer Concert Series, Eastman at Washington Square, Eastman in Geneva, Valley Manor at the Pops, and Encore Concert Series. She was an accompanist for master classes with such distinguished musicians as Yo-Yo Ma, Carol Wincenc, and Michel Debost. As a collaborative pianist, Irina Lupines has performed in the United States with Michelle Debost, Gary Schocker and many professionals throughout Rochester area.

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.

As a versatile performer, Mr. Massicot maintains an active concertizing career that has included engagements with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the Kingsville Symphony Orchestra. He has premiered works for solo piano by award-winning composers and has collaborated with musicians in both classical and jazz idioms. Most recently he paired works by Issac Albeniz and Francis Poulenc with his own arrangements and improvisations on standards by Harold Arlen, Frank Churchill, and Jimmy VanHeusen.

Josh Massicot is a native of New Orleans. He has received both the Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance and the Masters of Music Degree in Music Education from the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester, NY. Mr. Massicot currently serves on the keyboard faculties of the Eastman Community Music School and Nazareth College, where he teaches private lessons, piano classes, score reading, and directs musicianship classes for young pianists.

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.

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.

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.

When not in the classroom, Matt enjoys performing solo and with various ESM-based ensembles. Also an award-winning wind composer, Matt has written for and premiered several works with various schools in the Western New York area.

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.

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.

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.

Aside from music, Sara can be found working at the Little Theatre, running around with a camera, or baking unhealthy things in her kitchen.

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.

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
Chicago Little Symphony and has given numerous solo and chamber music recitals.

While at Juilliard she was the Founding Secretary of the American Harp Society and was the founder of the Central Pa. Chapter of the AHS. She has served as President of the Rochester Chapter. Her collection of 18th and 19th Century harp music is housed at the Eastman Sibley Music Library in Special Collections. Her publications from this Collection are published by the Historical Harp Society. She has written articles on teaching for” Music Journal”.

Nan Gullo Richmond has taught at Penn State, Houghton College, and Roberts Wesleyan College. Currently she teaches studio harp at the Eastman Community Music School and also directs two harp ensembles. She directs the annual ECMS Harp Workshop in July. In 2007 she received the Jack L. Frank Award for excellence in teaching.

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.

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.

A frequent oratorio and concert soloist, Derrick Smith has performed in recital with renowned soprano Renee Fleming, a Rochester, N.Y. native, as well as performing as a soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Rochester Oratorio Society, the Long Island Symphony, and the Chamber Group of the Toronto Symphony among others. Mr. Smith has sung many classical and contemporary works, including performing as a soloist in Jessye Norman Sings for the Healing of AIDS held at the famous Riverside Church in New York City and telecast live on PBS, involving performances by Grammy Award winner Jessye Norman, Whoopi Goldberg, Elton John, Maya Angelou, and Toni Morrison. He has sung Handel's Messiah with the Rochester Oratorio Society, the Rochester Chamber Orchestra, and the Corning Philharmonic, and also the Mozart Requiem with the Geneseo Symphony and Chorus in Geneseo, N.Y. and with the Eastman Philharmonia in Eastman Theater in Rochester. His performance signing the Brahms German Requiem with the Virginia Consort in Charlottesville, Va. was highly praised.

Internationally, Derrick Smith performed roles in Porgy & Bess traveling with the Chicago Sinfonietta in Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, and Russia; repeating the same roles with the Norrkerping Symphony in Sweden; and in the dual roles of Crown and Jake again in Porgy and Bess as a part of the VI Festival De Artes De Itu in Brazil which was televised throughout he country. The following onth he performed again in Rusia in the title role of Eugene Onegin, as well as singing acclaimed performances in Gershwin concerts at televised music festivals in both Moscow and Estonia. Mr. Smith has also performed at the International Institute of Vocal Arts in Italy.

A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Derrick Smith has trained and performed with the Glimmerglass Opera Young American Artist Program and the Brereton International Music Symposium in England under Thomas Hampson, Horst Gunter, and Brigitte Fassbaender. He has worked with coaches Angela Hawaleshka, Sherrill Milnes, and Thomas Paul, and continues to train under Benton Hess and Wayne Sanders. In addition, Mr. Smith was a semi-finalist of the American Traditions Competition, and a winner of the Outstanding Young Men of America Award. A winner of the New York Vocal Artist Competition and the William Warfield Scholarship, Mr. Smith and Mr. Warfield, both Rochester, N.Y. natives, performed and recorded together, and Mr. Smith always shines performing Mr. Warfield's feature, "Old Man River" from Showboat.

Future plans of Mr. Smith include training and performing in Songfest, held at Pepperdine University in California, running the summer vocal program at the Eastman School of Music's Music Horizons program for gifted teenage musicians, and continuing as a Senior Associate Instructor of Voice at the Eastman School of Music.-----------------
Instructor in the Community Music School at the Eastman School of Music.

Derrick Smith and his wife Merideth are the parents of four children and reside in Rochester, New York.

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.

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.
His piano teachers include Paul Badura-Skoda, Cecile Genhart, Maria Luisa Faini; he studied chamber music with John Celentano.

Spindler’s performing career has been diverse; he is very active as a chamber musician and accompanist. His teaching career at Eastman has included piano teaching, chamber music coaching, and classroom teaching, both in the Community School and Collegiate Division. Through Eastman’s Institute for Music Leadership, Howard has directed a certificate program for graduate students interested in honing their studio teaching skills. He was awarded the Jack L. Frank Award for outstanding teaching in Eastman’s Community Music School (1988), and he served as Interim Director of the Community Education Division for 2½ years preceding the appointment of Associate Dean Howard Potter.

Howard has a special interest in the study of rhythmic movement: he was fortunate to study Dalcroze Eurythmics at Oberlin Conservatory with the eminent Professor Inda Howland, who herself had been a disciple of Emile Jaques-Dalcroze in Switzerland. At Eastman, Howard’s piano professor, Cecile Genhart had also been a Dalcroze protégé, having assisted the master in teaching improvisation at the Geneva Conservatory. Howard has taken Dalcroze teacher-training courses, and he incorporates Dalcroze practice in his teaching.

As Chairman of the Piano Department, Spindler managed an overhaul of the Piano Syllabus, leading an initiative to include improvisation and ear-playing. In connection with that initiative, he undertook a recording project with Eastman colleagues: the result was Eastman Folk Sing (2006), a CD folk song resource for the school and the entire community.

Spindler enjoys developing new audiences and new venues for concerts. He has performed through Young Audiences, as well as programs of the Rochester City School District. He initiated a weekly noontime concert series, Eastman at Washington Square, which is going strong more than a decade later. He worked with the administration of Elmira College to bring Eastman musicians to Elmira for a new arts and letters series, Encore! Their program is also thriving after many successful seasons. His music appreciation courses and mini-courses through Eastman and through the Monroe County OASIS program have won acclaim.

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.

Karine has also worked extensively as a teacher, conductor and an administrator. In 1997 she was on the violin faculty of the Idaho State Civic Symphony String Festival and in 1998 she was the Dean of the Quartet Program at Bucknell University. Karine is committed to sharing music with children of all ages and for seven years has taught approximately 30 students in her private violin studio in Rochester, New York. For six seasons, she has conducted the Cobblestone Chamber Ensemble, a 30 piece intergenerational orchestra, also in Rochester, New York. In the fall of 2005 she will begin conducting the Eastman Kaleidoscope Community Orchestra with her husband, Diego Garcia. She loves most of all to create beautiful sounds on the violin and share her love of great music through teaching, conducting, and performing.

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-).

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.

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.

www.leewilkinsviolin.com

Lee Wilkins, born in Anchorage, Alaska, holds the position of Senior Instructor of Violin/ Associate Professor of Violin at the Eastman School of Music and performs regularly with the Rochester Philharmonic.

Concertmaster of the Erie Philharmonic for 13 years, Dr. Wilkins brings with him a vast and diverse performance background including national and international appearances.

While residing in New York City, he served as Concertmaster and soloist with many of the City’s finest orchestras, performing across the United States, Europe and the Far East.

A versatile and multi-genre performer, Wilkins has performed for such diverse events as the 350th Anniversary of Harvard University, the Montreal Comedy Festival, Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion”, the Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea and the PBS Film “Bach to the Future”. He has even been spotted performing with many orchestras on the Musical Saw and a fishing pole!

He has been a member of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra since 1982. In 1989, he was a co-founder of the Chautauqua Chamber Music Society.

As a violin soloist, Wilkins has performed solos with the Rochester Philharmonic, the Shumen, Bulgaria Phiharmonic, the Erie Philharmonic, the Anchorage Symphony, the Alaska Festival of Music, The Chautauqua Symphony, The Chautauqua Festival Orchestra, the Chautauqua Chamber Orchestra, the Fredonia Chamber Players, the Scranton Bach Festival, the June in Buffalo orchestra, the Fairfield Chamber Orchestra, the Erick Hawkins Dance Company orchestra and the EPOCH Ensemble.

Wilkins’ solo performances have been described by the New York Times as “magical” and “elevated to a level of enchantment.” His former teachers include Ivan Galamian, Dorothy DeLay and Josef Gingold. He holds a Bachelor and Master of Music Degree from Indiana University - Bloomington and a Doctorate from SUNY-Stony Brook. As a composer, he has written a full-length comic Ballet, “The Little Mermaid” which has been performed by three different Ballet companies since 1993. In addition, Wilkins composes educational and humorous pieces for symphonies, school orchestras and chamber groups.

Dr. Wilkins enjoys teaching students of all ages. He brings all of his technical training and experience to his teaching. Quality violin and viola instruction mixed with fun and humor is his teaching goal.

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."

In the summer of 2007, Jordan was part of the inaugural year of Wolf Trap Opera's Studio artist program, and while there participated in an in-depth Mozart scenes program and played the part of Zalzal in "L'étoile" and the police captain in John Musto's "Volpone."

In the fall of 2008, Jordan was hired as a voice teaching intern by the Eastman Community Music School, and beginning in the 2009-2010 school year is also a Teaching Assistant at the University of Rochester teaching secondary voice lessons.

Jordan can be heard on professional recordings of "This is the Rill Speaking" and "Volpone," along with multiple recordings made by Schola Cantorum of Christ Church, Episocpal, Rochester, NY.

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.

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.

As an international prizewinner, Anyango Yarbo-Davenport has become a sought after soloist with her “sweet, creamy tone and deft technique” (B. Tremblay, WXXI) in Europe and the US. Born in Munich/ Germany, Anyango has been trained at the music academies of Munich/Germany, Schottland, Canada, and the University of Salzburg ‘Mozarteum’/Austria. In May 2008 Anyango was awarded the prestigious Performer's Certificate and the Bachelor’s of Music Degree from the Eastman School of Music, where she is currently pursing her Master’s Degree in the master class of Prof. Charles Castleman.

During the 2008/09 season Anyango can be heard again at Carnegie Hall, Detroit Orchestra Hall, the Harris Theatre, Chicago, as well as in Germany, Finnland, and the UK. Her performances are broadcast live by stations such as PBS TV & Radio and WXXI in the US and Europe.

Anyango is engaged in performing contemporary works in the collaboration with composers such as Chen Yi, and collaborates as well with visual artists such as Jean Detheux. She is a guest artist at the 2008 Music and Globalization Symposium, the 29th Contemporary Music and Art Festival at BGSU, and the 2009 Women in Music Festival at Eastman. She has commissioned and premiered numerous chamber works as a founding member of the Eastman Triana. The trio’s debut tour in Spring 2008 included a live radio broadcast on WXXI and rave reviews.

Since the age of 14, Anyango has been dedicated to the musical education and development of underprivileged and handicapped children, and often collaborates with non-profit organizations worldwide.

Since January 2006 William Harris Lee/ Chicago, and the Sphinx Organization belong to Anyango’s sponsors.

She currently performs on a violin made by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, fecit 1785, lent to her by her teacher, Professor Charles Castleman (www.charlescastleman.com).

For more information regarding concert dates, recordings, etc. please visit: www.anyangoyd.com.

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.

Keiko joined the faculty of the Eastman Community Music School in 2009. She received her DMA from the Eastman School studying primarily with Alan Harris. Previous teachers have included Sam Smith, Ross Harbaugh, and Katherine Scott, and she also studied with Christoph Henkel and Ekkehard Weber at the Hochschule fur Musik in Freiburg, Germany.

Born and raised in Boise, ID, Keiko began her cello studies at age 10. She joined the Boise Philharmonic when she was 14. She makes her home in Rochester, NY, with her husband.

Jeremy Zhu MM, Eastman School of Music; BM, Performance / Ed. Shanghai Conservatory of Music/Normal University. Studied with Peiwen Yuan, Charles Castleman, John Celentano.

He serves as full time faculty in violin and chamber ensemble, and Co-chair of the String Department. He had taught in both pre-college and college in U.S and China, including SUNY Brockport and Roberts Wesleyan College, New York. He gives masterclasses in various parts of the States and overseas. His life has been focused on teaching for more than two decades. His philosophy of “The way to approach the understanding” has been effective in his teaching from the junior students up to the concert musicians. He was commented as "…a supportive colleague in any situation, and he has the capability of being a fine teacher" by James Dunham of New England Conservatory; “…what I have learned from him improved my performance abilities incredibly. He helped me to re-establish my understanding and concepts of the professional life. It is totally incomparable…” by Jeremy Hill of New York Philharmonic, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. His name appeared in press in US and overseas in various languages: His student “…credits him for pushing … creatively.” by Democrat & Chronicle Rochester NY. "Zhu has influenced her (Dr. Linda Hsu of University of Central Arkansas, formerly Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra) more than any other teacher she has learned from...there are several aspects of music that Zhu as taught her, including sound production, style and the pulse of the music..." by Arkansas Democrat - Gazette River Valley & Ozark, “…his dedicated teaching inspired me (Chang Guo, concert violinist, formerly Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra) as a soloist in many ways from my recitals to working with the orchestra, sharing with Zhu about the ideas and philosophy of music has brought a result of today’s performance which I feel more mature …” by Actividad Cultural" R.O.Chile.

His students have won prizes in solo and chamber music in international competitions. They give recitals on international stages, such as Carnegie Hall, National Concert Hall of Taiwan, and festivals from American Fine Arts Festival and From The Top, to Santiago Spring Symphonia Festival of R.O.Chile, and International Johannes Brahms Society Pörtschach, Austria. They soloed with leading orchestras, including Taipei Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra; are commissioned to premiere in International Contemporary Composition Conference and acclaimed by important composers such as George Crumb, Samuel Adler, Laurent Mettraux; and were invited to perform in White House. They have been reviewed, interviewed by major media such as New York Concert Review, Democrat & Chronicle Rochester NY, "Actividad Cultural" R.O.Chile, People's Daily of P.R.China, China Times of Taiwan; TV/radio broadcast including WXXI TV and 91.5FM radio, NPR, National TV/Radio Broadcast of Bulgaria, of Chile, and of Taiwan. They are in leading orchestras such as New York Philharmonic, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and also become the faculty members of universities.

He has performed in recital, chamber music, solo with orchestra, and lectured recitals, also served as the leader / concertmaster of various ensembles/orchestras in U.S. and abroad. At age 18, he was already in the first violin section of TV/Radio Broadcast Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra, and Philharmonic Chamber Players in Shanghai. He is the founder of the Gabriel Trio. His performances were acclaimed by the renowned musicians: "expressive playing with very good facility…" by Donald Weilerstein"; "…dedicated with a remarkable drive to excel…a talented violinist with excellent physical gifts for the instrument and good musical ideas…" by Charles Castleman; "…he is endowed with a natural gift for the violin, the possessor of a fluid technique, a uniquely beautiful tone and an intuitive musical expression. An excellent performer as a soloist and also an enthusiastic participant in chamber music…" by John Celentano.

Besides the teaching and performance, he is deeply interested in the acoustics of violin and bow based on different traditional making theories for more than fifteen years. He also enjoys listening to the performances of the historical violinists as well as of vocalists and other instrumentalists through heritage recordings. All become the sources of his life-long learning.

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