The Arts World

Bill Cahn has been a member of the NEXUS percussion group since its formation in 1971, performing in concerts, films, recordings, and broadcasts all over the world. He was also the Principal Percussionist in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra from 1968 to 1995, and he has appeared as soloist with symphony orchestras and at music festivals worldwide.

Bill has produced eight CDs, written books and articles about music and percussion, and he has written and conducted Pops and educational programs for symphony orchestras. His book Creative Music Making, on the subject of freeform improvisation, was published in March 2005 by Taylor & Francis/ Routledge Books. His chamber and orchestral compositions featuring percussion are widely performed.

Bill’s workshops include the subjects of improvisation, percussion performance, careers in music, and the business of music. He was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society’s Hall Of Fame in November, 1999.

Robert Levine has been the Principal Violist of the Milwaukee Symphony since September 1987. Before coming to Milwaukee Mr. Levine had been a member of the Orford String Quartet, Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Toronto, with whom he toured extensively throughout Canada, the United States, and South America. Prior to joining the Orford Quartet, Mr. Levine had served as Principal Violist of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra for six years. He has also performed with the San Francisco Symphony, the London Symphony of Canada, and the Oklahoma City Symphony, as well as serving as guest principal with the orchestras of Indianapolis and Hong Kong.

He has performed as soloist with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Oklahoma City Symphony, the London Symphony of Canada, the Midsummer Mozart Festival (San Francisco), and numerous community orchestras in Northern California and Minnesota. He has also been featured on American Public Radio's nationally broadcast show "St. Paul Sunday Morning" on several occasions.

Mr. Levine has been an active chamber musician, having performed at the Festival Rolandseck in Germany, the Grand Teton Music Festival, the Palm Beach Festival, the "Strings in the Mountains" Festival in Colorado, and numerous concerts in the Twin Cities and Milwaukee. He has also been active in the field of new music, having commissioned and premiered works for viola and orchestra from Minnesota composers Janika Vandervelde and Libby Larsen.

Mr. Levine was chairman of the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians from 1996 to 2002 and currently serves as President of the Milwaukee Musicians Association, Local 8 of the American Federation of Musicians, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the League of American Orchestras. He has written extensively about issues concerning orchestra musicians for publications of ICSOM, the AFM, the Symphony Orchestra Institute, and the League of American Orchestras.

Mr. Levine attended Stanford University and the Institute for Advanced Musical Studies in Switzerland. His primary teachers were Aaron Sten and Pamela Goldsmith. He also studied with Paul Doctor, Walter Trampler, Bruno Giuranna, and David Abel.

He lives with his wife Emily and his son Sam in Glendale.

Violist, Leila Kelleher, is building an international reputation for her energy and versatility as a performer. She has appeared as a soloist with the Elder Conservatorium Chamber Orchestra, the Norwood Symphony Orchestra, and the Melbourne String Ensemble, with whom she was the soloist for their German tour of 2005. Leila is also a committed chamber musician, and has performed with numerous groups, including the electro-acoustic Zephyr Quartet for their inaugural tour to South Korea. Ms Kelleher also performs on the Baroque Viola, and is an active orchestral musician.

Leila is a graduate of the Elder Conservatorium where she studied with renowned pedagogue, Keith Crellin, and is currently completing her Masters at the Eastman School of Music with Phillip Ying and her Orchestral Studies Diploma through the Eastman Arts Leadership program.

Robert Levine has been the Principal Violist of the Milwaukee Symphony since September 1987. Before coming to Milwaukee Mr. Levine had been a member of the Orford String Quartet, Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Toronto, with whom he toured extensively throughout Canada, the United States, and South America. Prior to joining the Orford Quartet, Mr. Levine had served as Principal Violist of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra for six years. He has also performed with the San Francisco Symphony, the London Symphony of Canada, and the Oklahoma City Symphony, as well as serving as guest principal with the orchestras of Indianapolis and Hong Kong.

He has performed as soloist with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Oklahoma City Symphony, the London Symphony of Canada, the Midsummer Mozart Festival (San Francisco), and numerous community orchestras in Northern California and Minnesota. He has also been featured on American Public Radio's nationally broadcast show "St. Paul Sunday Morning" on several occasions.

Mr. Levine has been an active chamber musician, having performed at the Festival Rolandseck in Germany, the Grand Teton Music Festival, the Palm Beach Festival, the "Strings in the Mountains" Festival in Colorado, and numerous concerts in the Twin Cities and Milwaukee. He has also been active in the field of new music, having commissioned and premiered works for viola and orchestra from Minnesota composers Janika Vandervelde and Libby Larsen.

Mr. Levine was chairman of the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians from 1996 to 2002 and currently serves as President of the Milwaukee Musicians Association, Local 8 of the American Federation of Musicians, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the League of American Orchestras. He has written extensively about issues concerning orchestra musicians for publications of ICSOM, the AFM, the Symphony Orchestra Institute, and the League of American Orchestras.

Mr. Levine attended Stanford University and the Institute for Advanced Musical Studies in Switzerland. His primary teachers were Aaron Sten and Pamela Goldsmith. He also studied with Paul Doctor, Walter Trampler, Bruno Giuranna, and David Abel.

He lives with his wife Emily and his son Sam in Glendale.

Ann Cohen began cello studies at the age of 11 in Providence RI. She attended Oberlin College and graduated with a BM in 1973. Major teachers include Alfred Zighera, Richard Kapuscinski, Leonard Rose and Frank Miller. Ms. Cohen attended the Tanglewood Young Artist Program in 1967-1969, and the Tanglewood Fellowship Program in 1975. Other festivals included the Blossom Music Festival in 1973 and 1974. She taught at the Brevard Music Festival from 1979-1983. She has performed in master class with M. Rostropovich at the Hartt School of Music and at the Tanglewood Festival.

Ms. Cohen has been a member of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (successor to the New Orleans Symphony) since its inception in 1991. She joined the New Orleans Symphony in 1978. She has served as President of the LPO (a collaborative organization) three different times. Other committee appointments include board membership, development committee work, personnel committee work, and participation in the Mellon Orchestra Forum. In addition, Ms. Cohen has performed with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Winnipeg Symphony, and the Hartford Symphony.

Ann Cohen is a frequent chamber musician in and around the Greater New Orleans region. She has taught at Loyola and Tulane Universities in New Orleans. Other community appointments include the Board of the Parents’ Association at Ben Franklin High School in New Orleans.

Ann Cohen is married to Steven Cohen, Associate Professor of Clarinet at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. They have three children. Ms. Cohen currently resides in New Orleans, LA and Evanston, IL.

Cheryl Fippen was a cellist with the San Jose Symphony and is now a member of the Silicon Valley Symphony. She is a past Vice President of ROPA.