Flower Link to welcome

Harris Becker, Guitar. Festival Artistic Director

Harris Becker
Passing Through CD Cover
Harris Becker,
solo guitar
Guitar x 2 CD Cover
Guitar x2

Harris Becker has had a rich and varied career as a guitarist and lutenist. As a young musician studying the classical guitar he had a fascination with improvisation, which led him to explore jazz. He also had a strong interest in contemporary music, which offered him the opportunity to work closely with composers and premiere many solo and ensemble pieces throughout his career. Among the composers who have dedicated works to him are Carlo Domeniconi, Hayley Savage, Raoul Pleskow, Howard Rovics, microtonal composer Johnny Reinhard, Alan Hirsh, Michael Frassetti, Joseph Russo and Richard Iacona.

Becker has performed extensively both as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States, Europe, South America, Mexico and Canada. In recent years he has given concerts and master classes in New York, Alabama, Canada, Connecticut, Florida and Bermuda. In the fall of 2014 Mr. Becker gave concerts and master classes in Thailand and throughout Vietnam including at the U.S Consulate in Saigon. In the spring of 2015 "The Amaryllis Project" (world-renowned pipa virtuoso Liu Fang and Harris Becker) gave a concert of world premieres for pipa & guitar at the Long Island Guitar Festival, which included a new work by Carlo Domeniconi. Mr. Becker will be featured playing the lute music of John Dowland in a forthcoming documentary "Shakespeare in New York" directed by Peter Josyph.

In 1993 Mr. Becker founded the Long Island Guitar Festival, of which the New York Times wrote: "The "Long Island" in the festival title clearly refers to its location and origins, rather than to its scope"(2014). Harris Becker is Director of Guitar Studies at LIU Post and has been a faculty member at Nassau Community College, The Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College and Director of Music for Mixed Ensembles at the International Institute for Chamber Music at the Richard Strauss Conservatory in Munich. The Florida State Division of Cultural Affairs selected Mr. Becker to participate in Florida's Artist Residency Program, giving lecture/performances on the lute and baroque guitar. He recently received an award for outstanding service from the School of Visual and Performing Arts at Long Island University. Mr. Becker is also a member of the Artesian Guitar Quartet.

Harris Becker is co-founder and artistic director of the summer music festival in rural Quebec "Songe d'été en Musique". In 2015 the festival celebrated its tenth anniversary, which featured the Youth Orchestra of the Americas. This concert was called "historic" by the press in Quebec. His recordings include "Catgut Flambo" with guitarist Pasquale Bianculli, a solo CD "Passing Through and a new CD with the Artesian Guitar Quartet." His editions and publications are published by T.D. Ellis Music Publishing and Calavar Music.

"Becker's performance of this demanding work a depiction of one of Australia's national parks" – is lyrical and imaginative" – Raymond Tuttle, Classical.net.

"Mr. Becker's presentation of these pieces was a study in fluidity and grace..."
– Greater Port Jefferson-Northern Brookhaven Arts Council

"His professional demeanor and thorough musical knowledge, as well as his performance skills are exceptional"
– J. D'Addario & Co

Songe d'été en Musique…"Happiness for the soul in an enchanting landscape"
– Claudia Collard, L'Echo deFrontenac

Long Island Guitar Festival…. "Virtuosos Reign at Guitar Festival"
– New York Times - David Gruber, 2001

Websites: www.harrisbecker.com, www.ligfest.net

Valérie Bélanger, Soprano

Valerie Belanger photo

Known for her warm tone and her dramatic verve, Lambton-born soprano VALÉRIE BÉLANGER is very active on the Montreal operatic and concert scenes.

During the 2015/16 season, she sang Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro, Mozart) with La Compagnie Baroque Mont-Royal, Silvia (L'Isola disabitata, Haydn) with Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra, Despina (Così fan tutte, Mozart) and Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel, Humperdinck) with Opera da Camera and was the soprano soloist in many cantatas with the musicians of Serenata at St. John's.

Her performance as Susanna with Opera da Camera received great acclaim from Opera Canada magazine: "the show's star was Valérie Bélanger as Susanna, [she's] a natural whose beautiful soprano was well projected and her dramatic verve exceptionnal."

On the opera stages, the soprano has worked in Montreal (Opéra de Montréal, Jeunesses musicales du Canada, Opera da Camera, Compagnie baroque Mont-Royal, Opéra VMana, Opéra/Théâtre VoxPopuli), Rimouski (Opéra-Théâtre de Rimouski), Quebec City (Opéra de Québec), in Ontario (Highlands Opera Studio, Thirteen Strings) as well as in Italy (Accademia Europea dell'Opera). On the concert scene, Ms. Bélanger has been a soloist in Gilles Vigneault's Grand-Messe, a number of J.S. Bach's cantatas, Pergolesi's Stabat Mater and in the oratorios Die Shöpfung (Haydn) and Jephtha (Händel), among others. Passionate about chamber music, her credits include many pieces for voice and luth or guitar as well as songs for piano, voice and flute, clarinet or horn and Hindemith's chamber cantata "Die Serenaden, op. 35".

The soprano was awarded the 2nd Prize in the Opera category during the 6th edition of Concours international de chant lyrique de Canari in Corsica, France, the Developing Artist Grant in Classical vocal performance from the Hnatyshyn Foundation (Canada), the 3rd Prize at Concours de musique du Royaume and was a finalist and grant recipient in the Altamura/Caruso International Voice Competition, New York.

A co-artistic director of the Montreal company Opera da Camera for the past two years, Ms. Bélanger has been helping Montreal's emerging artists shine and contributing to the democratization of classical music, producing operas and vocal recitals in intimate venues, reaching audiences ranging from the avid opera-goers to the intrigued newcomers. Valérie Bélanger has also been teaching voice in Montreal for the past five years and is joining the faculty of the Festival for a second time.

Thomas Goodheart, Voice/Opera

Thomas Goodheart

Baritone Thomas Goodheart has performed over 40 leading roles in opera and oratorio with companies throughout the United States, including the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Chautauqua Opera, New York City Opera National Touring Company, Des Moines Metro Opera, Connecticut Opera, Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh, Artpark Opera, Tri-Cities Opera, and the Greater Buffalo Opera Company. Recent performances include his Carnegie Hall debut as the Baritone soloist with the Manhattan Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, recitals and performances at Binghamton University and Quebec, Canada, Guest artist performances with the Finger Lakes Chamber Music Festival. His leading roles include Marcello in La Boheme, Escamillo in Carmen, Germont in La Traviata, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, Nilakantha in Lakme, Father in Hansel and Gretel, the role of Bruno in the American stage premier of James MacMillan's Opera Parthenogenesis, Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, Bishop in The Death of the Bishop of Brindisiand Robert in The New Moon. Mr. Goodheart has appeared as a guest soloist with symphony orchestras throughout the United States and South America. In New York City, he has been a soloist at Avery Fischer Hall, Carnegie Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Kaye Playhouse, and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Concert credits include Orff's Carmina Burana,Handel's Messiah, Beethoven's Ninth Symphonyand Missa Solemnis, Haydn's Creation and Mendelssohn's Elijah. He was a Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and a finalist in the Joy in Singing and Bel Canto Opera Foundation Competitions. He has received the Rudin Mentor Artist Award from the Lincoln Center Institute, and awards from the New York State Council on the Arts, the Ezio Pinza Council for American Singers and the Tri-Cities Opera Guild.

Mr. Goodheart received his BM and MM in Vocal Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Voice at Binghamton University. A frequent guest master teacher and adjudicator, Mr. Goodheart is the vocal coordinator for the Songe d'été en Musique Summer Music Festival in Quebec, Canada, he has been on the voice faculties of the Westchester Summer Vocal Institute, the Queens Summer Vocal Institute and has been a guest artist for the Metropolitan International Vocal festival in New York City. He was on the voice faculty of the Purchase College Conservatory of Music (1999-2010) and has been a performer/teaching artist with the education departments of the New York Philharmonic, Lincoln Center Institute, and the New York Festival of Song.

Mr. Goodheart maintains an active private voice studio in New York City. His current and former students have been invited to elite training programs including the San Francisco-Merola Opera Program, Santa Fe Opera, Central City Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Aspen Opera, The Ravinia Festival, The Banff Music Festival, Crested Butte Opera, Opera Theater of St. Louis, Des Moines Opera and The Caramoor Festival. His students have won national and international voice competitions and sing professionally throughout the United States and Europe.

Maureen Hynes, Cellist and Conductor

Maureen Hynes photo

Maureen Hynes is Adjunct Professor of Cello and Director of Orchestral and String Studies at LIU Post. She is the conductor of the LIU Post Orchestra, the conductor and creator of the LIU Post String Ensemble, co-founder of the LIU Post Chamber Music Festival, and Director of the LIU Post Merriweather Consort, which specializes in Renaissance music.

Ms. Hynes enjoys an active career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player, conductor and educator. She performs regularly with the American Ballet Theater, the American Symphony Orchestra, the Opera Orchestra of New York, American Composers Orchestra, the Bard Festival Orchestra, New York Virtuosi, the Westchester Philharmonic and the Queens Symphony. She has also appeared with the Royal Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet, at the Spoleto and Aspen Festivals, at the Lake George Opera Festival and with the Bard Festival Chamber Players. Her work in New York has also included substitute work in many Broadway shows and for the Radio City Christmas Show.

Her solo and chamber music appearances have included performances at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., the Kennedy Center, the New York Society for Ethical Culture and the Bayside Historical Society. A winner of the Concert Artist Guild Award with the Janus Ensemble, she is currently a member of the Pierrot Consort. She has performed in Europe, Canada, Ireland, Korea and Hong Kong both as cellist and on the viola da gamba.

In May of 2011, she conducted the LIU Post String Ensemble on its first European concert tour in Italy. Since the summer of 2011, she appears as soloist, chamber musician and faculty at Songe d'été en musique in Québec, Canada. In the spring of 2014, she performed as cello soloist with the LIU Post Chorus and conducted performances of the LIU Post String Ensemble on tour in Ireland.

She was also the creator and director of the LIU Post Pre-College Music Program. She has been guest conductor for the Nassau All-County Festival at Tilles Center, the SCMEA Festival and the Long Island String Festivals in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. She has conducted string sectional rehearsals at the Manhattan School of Music, including preparing the strings for the Kurt Masur Conducting Seminar. She is an adjudicator for Worldstrides Heritage Festivals.

In 2009, she received the Adjunct Faculty Recognition Award from LIU Post for her contributions to the Department of Music and in addition, she is listed in the Marquis "Who's Who of American Women." She is a graduate of Manhattan School of Music, where she received her B.M. and M.M. degrees. Ms. Hynes has given Cello Master Classes in Seoul, Korea and on Long Island and she has coached at the Mannes Pre-College Division. She has recorded for the Albany label. She recently conducted the Queens Symphony Orchestra in an outdoor concert at Socrates Sculpture Park in Astoria. In the fall of 2015, she became a member of the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music where she teaches Introductory and Advanced Conducting classes.

She is a member of Chamber Music America, Early Music America, NAFME, the American String Teachers Association and the College Orchestra Directors Association.

John Isenberg, Vocal Coach/Accompanist

John Isenberg

John Isenberg, a native of Endicott, New York, holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Music and Italian, as well as a Master's Degree in Italian Literature from Binghamton University. He performs many different musical genres, ranging from Opera and Musical Theater to traditional Scottish and various styles of sacred music. From 2001-2012, John worked for the Tri-Cities Opera Company in Binghamton, NY, first as Accompanist, then additionally as Education Outreach Coordinator and Chorus Master. During that time, he accompanied over 500 outreach performances throughout New York and northern Pennsylvania. He has performed for regional radio broadcasts of opera preview performances, including Puccini's Madama Butterfly, Verdi's La Traviata, and Mozart's The Magic Flute. An active church musician since childhood, John will soon begin a new position as Organist and Choir Director at All Saints Episcopal Church in Johnson City, NY. For two years, he has also served as Pianist and Choir Director for the Jewish High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at Temple Concord in Binghamton, NY.

Noby Ishida, Festival Chorus Conductor

Noby Ishida

Noby Ishida is Director of Music & Organist at the historic Setauket Presbyterian Church (est. 1660). Mr. Ishida is the founder and artistic director of Satori Opera, and served as Assistant Conductor, Chorus Master, and Vocal Coach for Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance program. He was formerly the Music Director and Organist at Park Avenue United Methodist Church in Manhattan, Music Director for the Remarkable Theatre Brigade, and Conductor for the Opera Management Corporation. An accomplished solo and collaborative pianist, Mr. Ishida has performed in numerous distinguished venues including Merkin Concert Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Alice Tully Hall, among others, and works with artists from several major opera companies such as the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and San Francisco Opera. Mr. Ishida has been on the vocal coaching staffs of Temple University, the University of Miami, Bennington College, The New School University, the International Academy of Rome. He is currently a vocal coach at Hunter College, CUNY where he works with the Hunter Opera Theater.

Laura Lessard, Guitar

LAURA LESSARD began studying the piano at an early age with her father, composer John Lessard. When she was thirteen she started taking guitar lessons with Stefano Michelucci. She continued her musical training at The Longy School of Music in Boston with Alfred Street and at The Manhattan School of Music with Sharon Isbin and Jerry Willard. She has performed on the guitar and lute throughout the Northeast, both as a soloist and chamber musician. In addition to her work as a performer she has been on the faculty of the Bronx House Music School, The Bay School of Music and The Usdan Center for the Performing Arts.

 

 

Jeffrey Marcus, Piano

Jeffrey Marcus

A scholarship student of Frances Mann and Mieczyslaw Munz at the Juilliard School, Jeffrey Marcus received a Bachelor of Science degree in Piano. He went on to obtain his Master of Music degree as a student of Martin Canin at the State University of New York at Stony Brook where he was a teaching assistant.

Mr. Marcus has toured extensively: in Reykjavik, Iceland; Oxford and London, England; Poznan and Warsaw, Poland; Munich and Hamburg, Germany. He was the pianist for the North American Premiere of Kristoff Penderecki's "Strofe" and for the first complete performance of Chopin's Songs with the American mezzo soprano Elizabeth Patches at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center. His performances have aired all over the world: on WQXR and WNYC in New York; BBC, England; Süddeutscher Rundfunk, Norddeutscher Rundfunk and Hessischer Rundfunk in Germany. His solo recital debut at Merkin Hall in New York took place in October, 1985 under the auspices of the Oberon Foundation and was received with high critical praise.

Jeffrey Marcus has collaborated with many internationally celebrated artists including the American Cellist Rebecca Rust, First Solo Bassoonist of the Munich Philharmonic Friedrich Edelmann, Chilean Mezzo Soprano Victoria Vergara, Icelandic Soprano Gudrun Tomasdottir and the German Cellist Tilmann Wick.

In the fall of 2013 Mr. Marcus performed solo works by J. S. Bach, Schubert, Brahms and the world premiere of the Seven Bagatelles by the American composer Peter Winkler in Garden City, New York, Wachenheim, Germany and Geneva, Switzerland.

Reviews:

"What was notable already at the beginning of the Schubert sonata and confirmed during the course of the evening as a lasting general impression: this pianist did not play himself, but instead with each work introduced his audience into a new musical realm." – Wolfgang Müller-Steinbach , Die Rheinpfalz - Bad Dürkheim

"What caught the ear – above and beyond Mr. Marcus' technical self possession – was the excellent grasp of how music moves from one point in time to the next. The great Schubert Sonata in A (D. 959) had a very effective sense of line and tension, and it tread gracefully the border between Schubert's Classical roots and his Romantic heart." – Bernard Holland , New York Times

Website: www.jeffreymarcuspianist.com

Michael McAndrew, Collaborative Piano/Vocal Coach

Michael McAndrew

Michael N. McAndrew maintains an active schedule as a collaborative pianist and vocal coach, and is currently Instructor of Collaborative Piano at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, where he also is Music Director for the Opera Theatre, Assistant Director of Choral Activities, and teaches theory and sight-singing. He is also active as coaching staff for Songe d'été en musique in Quebec, Canada, pianist for the Symphony of Southeast Texas, and as co-founder/pianist of DuoMotive with flutist, Michelle Li. He has also played with Opera Saratoga, Lyric Theatre @ Illinois, Springfield Symphony Orchestra (OH), Central Illinois Youth Chorus, Summer Harmony Men's Chorus, Tri-Cities Opera, Binghamton Community Orchestra, Penn State Scranton Chorale, the Foothills Opera Experience, and All Score Urbana. He has worked with artists such as Phil Woods, Randy Brecker, Bob Dorough, Peter Stafford Wilson, the Momenta Quartet, Michelle DeYoung, Julian Ovenden, Jeffrey Biegel, Trineice Robinson-Martin, Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek, Jeffrey Wahl, Julie and Nathan Gunn, Ricardo Herrera, Audrey Vallance, Marc Webster, Joshua Glasner, and Maryte Bizinkauskas. Michael was also founder and director/pianist of the Night of Stars concert series, which fundraised for several organizations in the Southern Tier area of New York.

As a composer, he has been hailed as "harmonically gorgeous", with a desire "to hear more from him". He has had pieces premiered by the DeMarina Trio, Plexus Collective, the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, the Bel Canto Children's Chorus, and the Momenta Quartet in various venues such as the Crane School of Music, the Beleura House and Garden (Victoria, Australia), Zoellner Arts Center, ICA's Clarinet Fest, and at the renowned Christmas Vespers at Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem, PA. He was selected as the winner of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem's 2nd Annual Young Composer Competition in 2012 and was finalist in the 2019 NATS Art Song Competition for his cycle of the element and in the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies Call for Scores for his orchestral work Sandcastles of Yesterday. The first act of his opera, [i am a city], based on a libretto by Bogdan Mynka, premiered in workshop format in March 2020. His song "Air Castles" from the cycle of the element… was recently published by North Star Music in their Soprano "Modern Music for New Singers" anthology. During the COVID pandemic, Michael co-founded "Art Song at Home", a virtual series featuring hundreds of musicians from all over the world in works spanning numerous genres.

Michael received his DMA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, studying collaborative piano with Casey Robards and Michael Tilley, and composition with Carlos Carrillo. He was also a double recipient of the Nancy Kennedy Wustman Award in Vocal Accompanying in 2019 and 2021. While at UIUC, Michael was assistant conductor for The Rape of Lucretia, and music directed Jason Robert Brown's Songs for a New World at the Allerton Barn, which saw a repeat performance in January of 2020 after much acclaim. As music staff, he has also taken part in productions of La Bohéme, Crazy for You, Cunning Little Vixen, CabaretA Little Night MusicVanessa, The Turn of the Screw, and The Last American Hammer. He was also Chorus Master for Sinfonia da Camera's performance of H.M.S. Pinafore and head vocal coach for Springfield Symphony Orchestra's Pirates of Penzance. His doctoral thesis "From Obscurity to New Relevancy: A More Accessible Approach to Samuel Barber's Vanessa", was a re-orchestration and performance of Vanessa for fourteen musicians, as well as deeper historical study into the work as a whole.

Michael holds additional degrees from Binghamton University (MM), where he studied composition with Daniel Thomas Davis and collaborative piano with Joel Harder, and Moravian College (BM), where studied composition with Larry Lipkis and Sean O' Boyle, piano with Barbara Thompson, and collaborative piano with Graeme Burgan. He remains an active church musician and was music director at Faith United Methodist Church in Champaign, IL before coming to Lamar. While there, he also studied organ with Michael Fisher.

Recent engagements include participating in the 2023 NATS Intern Program at West Chester University, the re-orchestration of Verdi's La Traviata and Puccini's La Boheme for the Bay View Music Festival in Petoskey, Michigan, featured ensemble (with DuoMotive in 2022 and soprano Madeleine LaFollette in 2023) in the Society of Composer's Inc. call for scores as part of their National Conferences, and as pianist for Deus Ex Musica in Champaign and Petoskey, as part of their In the Shadow of Your Wings series, featuring contemporary settings of the Psalms. To find out more about Michael, you can visit his website: https://www.michaelnmcandrew.com

Jean Miller Goodheart, Voice/Opera

Jean Miller

Soprano JEAN MILLER GOODHEART has performed leading roles in opera, concert and recital throughout the United States, Canada & South America. She is currently a Lecturer in Voice & Lyric Diction at Binghamton University. In NYC she was a soloist at Merkin Recital Hall, the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine and The New York Festival of Song's Education Program. She has appeared with Chautauqua Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Tri-Cities Opera, Greater Buffalo Opera & Encompass New Opera Theatre. Her leading roles include Juliette in Romeo & Juliette, Mimi & Musetta in La Boheme, Micaela in Carmen, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, Sandrina in La Finta Giardiniera, Sonia in The Merry Widow, Kristel in James MacMillan's Parthenogenesis, Mary in Dave Brubeck's La Fiesta de las Posada and First Attendant in John Harbison's A Full Moon in March. Her concert credits include Handel's Messiah, Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, Poulenc's Gloria,  Faure and Rutter's Requiem and Mozart's Great Mass in C minor. She received grants, awards & scholarships from NYSCA "Arts Partner Grants", the Shoshana Foundation "Career Grant", Metropolitan Opera National Council, Bel Canto Foundation, Chautauqua School of Music, Music Academy of the West Fellowship, Tri-Cities-Cities Opera Guild and Manhattan School of Music. She has worked as a teaching artist for Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center Institute and was the Education Director for the New York Festival of Song. She was on the voice faculty at Purchase College Conservatory of Music from 1999-2009. In the summer she is on faculty and performs at the Songe d'été en Musique Festival in Quebec. At Seton Catholic Central HS (Binghamton, NY), she created and taught "Musicianship & Creativity" and conducted an award winning Men's Concert Choir which performed in NYC, Montreal & Washington DC. She has served on the grant review panel for NYS Council on the Arts and is an adjudicator for NYSSMA.

Christina Montalto, Children's Choir

Christina Montalto

Christina Montalto has had a passion for singing since she was two years old, starting with Musical Theater, moving on to Jazz, and then Opera- her flexible voice and dynamic vocal quality enables her to teach all voices and styles. She received her B.M in Music Education and Vocal Performance from LIU Post, studying under Barbara Fusco and Dr. Mark Shapiro. In her junior year of the undergraduate program, Christina was the winner for the 2011 LIU Post Concerto Competition, singing "Song to the Moon" by Dvorak and went on a tour of Florence, Rome and Perugia with the LIU Post Chorus and String Ensemble. She has also performed numerous choral, solo and opera works for the Songe d'ete Midsummer Music Festival in Quebec since 2011 and has joined the board as Festival Coordinator.

During the year, Christina serves as the Studio Coordinator for School of Rock in Port Jefferson, NY where she, among other things, teaches weekly music classes to up-and-coming rock stars ages 4-7. She is also a founding member of Operanomaly, which is a group of young singers dedicated to presenting Operatic material in an accessible and intriguing way to those less familiar with the art. Aside from performing, she can be found giving presentations and in-home music group classes sponsored by Attachment-Parenting International, local libraries and organizations alike who wish to inspire music and the arts.

Veronica Salas, Viola

Veronica Salas

Violist Veronica Salas's recording of Ge Gan-Ru string quartets with Modern Works on the Naxos label, was chosen by the critics of The NY Times as a notable recording of 2009. Other premiered and recorded contemporary works include viola and harpsichord with The Queens Chamber Band, Elysium Ensemble and a Virgil Thomson CD with the Bennington Chamber Ensemble of which Salas is a featured artist. Ms. Salas is a member of Canta Libre Chamber Ensemble, Bronx Arts Ensemble and Pierrot Consort as well as Principal Violist of American Composers Orchestra, Opera Orchestra of New York, New Jersey Festival Orchestra and Phantom of the Opera. Salas received her DMA from the Juilliard School where she studied with Lillian Fuchs and is on the faculty of Long Island University and the Bennington Chamber Music Conference.

Michael Spiroff, Composer

Michael Spiroff

MICHAEL SPIROFF is a composer, music director, teacher, and accompanist originally from Toronto. He recently completed his M.Mus in composition at McGill University where he was composer-in-residence for the Schulich Singers chamber choir. As well, Michael's thesis piece, completed under the supervision of Brian Cherney, is a chamber opera telling the story of a Macedonian family's journey to Canada in the early twentieth century. Prior to his studies at McGill, Michael completed his B.Mus in composition at the Mannes School of Music in New York City. Having written for ensembles of various types, Michael has had works performed by the Mannes Orchestra, Trio Émerillon, Schulich Singers, Rovaco Dance Company, at the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance and the Czech Center of New York, as well as many other works performed by various ensembles internationally. In addition to composing, he actively works as a music director, teacher, and accompanist. This being his first season with the festival, Michael is delighted to be a part of Songe d'été en Musique!

Website: www.michaelspiroff.com/

Jeffrey Wahl, Recorder

Jeffrey Wahl

Jeffrey Wahl is from the Binghamton area of Upstate New York. He has been performing for over 25 years and has won many prestigious titles including: Junior Mr. Headliner, Teen Mr. Headliner, Teen Dancer of the Year, Mr. Dance of the United States of America, and the International King of Dance.

His studio "Dance by Jeff" was ranked one of the top 100 Businesses in the country by Young Biz Magazine. He has performed extensively throughout the US, Canada, and Russia. He has been sought out to teach master classes throughout the United States and Russia.

He has starred in the roles of Fredrick The Pirates of Penzance, Nanki-Poo The Mikado, Freddy Hill My Fair Lady, Barnaby Tucker Hello Dolly, Mike A Chorus Line.

As a Vocalist Mr. Wahl has sung at major sporting events; the Laguna Seca Raceway, the San Francisco 49er's Season Opening celebration, the Sky Chief's Salute to the Armed Forces Game and the Concorso Italiano. He has also had the distinct honor of performing for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief of Naval Operations, and the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, as well as state, local officials and international dignitaries.

As a Conductor he has directed various groups throughout the country ranging from orchestras, brass bands, and choirs. He has been the Musical Director for Disney's The Little Mermaid, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Cabaret, Man of La Mancha, The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, South Pacific, The King and I, and many others. His Film credits include Toddler Tartare. Currently he is the Musical Director and Founder of the Binghamton Baroque Orchestra.

As an Instrumentalist he has been a guest artist at St. James Church in Johnson City NY. He has also been a featured performer around the Monterey Bay area of California, and at St. Matthews Church in Washington D.C. In the summer of 2017 he was a Guest Artist and Instructor at the Songe d'été en musique Music School and Festival in Canada where he performed with the Pierrot Consort.

As a Composer his original music has been performed across the country. He has written works for brass band, choir, and chamber ensembles. His piano work "The Woods of Windsor" has been featured in concerts across the United States.

Mr. Wahl proudly served in the World's finest Navy, for eleven years before being medically retired in June of 2015. He proudly wears the rank of a Chief Petty Officer. His Duty Stations include: DLIFLC;NIOC MD; and NRD Pittsburgh. His medals and awards include: The Joint Commendation Medal, The Navy Commendation Medal; The Navy Achievement Medal (2), The Good Conduct Medal (3), The Military Outstanding Volunteer Medal, The National Service Medal, The Global War on Terrorism Medal, The Arctic Service Ribbon, The Navy Expeditionary Medal, The Recruiting Service Ribbon with Seven Gold Wreaths, Navy Pistol Marksmenship Ribbon, and other joint, and unit awards.

Website: www.JeffWahlRecorder.com

Recent Artists and Performers

Quinn Patrick Ankrum, Voice/Opera

Quinn Patrick Ankrum

Mezzo soprano Quinn Patrick Ankrum performs a wide variety of repertoire spanning the centuries, from the early Baroque period to the works of living composers. Equally at home on the concert, opera, and recital stages, she has sung with opera companies, orchestras, and festivals throughout the United States and abroad, including the Dallas Opera, Jacksonville Lyric Opera, Mercury Opera (Rochester, NY), National Orchestra of Mexico, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Houston Symphony Orchestra, Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, Ash Lawn-Highland Summer Festival, Lorn Live Chamber Music Festival (Oban, Scotland), and the East Anglian Academy of Early Music (Framlingham, England). She returns to both Lorn Live and the East Anglian Academy this August.

An advocate of new music, Ankrum has premiered several works in recent years, including John Harbison's chamber work Crossroads with former colleagues at Texas Tech University (2013). With pianist and University of Oklahoma faculty member Dr. Elizabeth Avery, she is the co-creator of Living Song Project, a unique online database that promotes the art song and vocal chamber music of living American composers.

In addition to being an active performer and researcher, Ankrum's focus on teaching since 2000 has led to a deep interest in Musicians' Health and Wellness; she studies Body Mapping and the Alexander Technique. She incorporates the principles of these disciplines into her studio teaching. In addition, she works with students (singers and instrumentalists alike) to help them find greater kinesthetic awareness and freedom in their singing and playing through the use of Body Mapping. She has plans to complete her licensing as an Andover Educator in 2019.

Dr. Ankrum received degrees from Trinity University in San Antonio (BM, MAT), the University of Colorado at Boulder (MM) and the University of Rochester, Eastman School of Music (DMA). She was a Young Artist in the Glimmerglass Opera Young American Artists Program and the Baltimore Opera Studio, and participated in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Intern Program. She has been a finalist and winner in numerous regional and national competitions, including the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions (Rocky Mountain Region) and the NATS Artist Awards competition (2nd place winner, 2006). She has served on the faculties of SUNY Fredonia (New York), Nazareth College (Rochester, NY), and Texas Tech University (Lubbock). She currently serves as Assistant Professor on the voice faculty at the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati.

Elizabeth Avery, Vocal Coach/Collaborative Piano

Elizabeth Avery

Collaborative pianist Elizabeth Avery is Associate Professor of Music at the University of Oklahoma School of Music, where she coaches mainstage operas, scenes programs, and recital repertoire, and teaches courses in Lyric Diction. An insightful interpreter, accomplished collaborator, and expert lyric diction coach, she has appeared in performances, masterclasses and lecture presentations throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Recent reviews describe her playing as "full of color and vibrant rhythm" and praise her "delicate precision, sensitivity and strength."

A proponent of contemporary music, Avery has given world premiere performances at Weill Recital Hall and Steinway Hall in New York City, premiered new Italian operas in Italy, and recently premiered Juliana Hall’s monumental song cycle for tenor and piano The Holy Sonnets of John Donne. Along with mezzo-soprano Quinn Patrick Ankrum, she is co-creator of Living Song Project, a unique database that promotes the art song and vocal chamber music of living American composers.

Dr. Avery has coached opera repertoire spanning from Monteverdi to new music, in a variety of academic and professional venues and has played under such prominent conductors as Leonard Slatkin, Giancarlo Guerrero and John Mauceri. Previous faculty positions include Indiana University, Austin Peay State University, Castleton State College and the Crane School of Music (SUNY Potsdam), and well as several summer programs including Middlebury College’s German for Singers and the Up North Vocal Institute in Michigan.

Avery was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Eastman School of Music, winning the esteemed C. Eschenbach Prize in recognition of distinguished collaboration with singers. She earned her Master's degree as a fellowship student of Martin Katz at the University of Michigan, followed by studies at the Prague Conservatory (Czech Republic), where she developed a specialization in Czech lyric diction and repertoire.

Frank Cassara, Percussion

Frank Cassara

A proponent of new and classic, western and world percussion music, FRANK CASSARA has premiered countless works with as many diverse groups. As percussionist for the Philip Glass Ensemble, he has performed around the globe as well as recording Glass' music and film scores, most recently his work "Icarus". He has also performed internationally as a member of Steve Reich and Musicians and can be heard on his newest CD "WTC/911". Mr. Cassara took part in the monumental concert of Glass and Reich performing together at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, performing with both groups. As a member of the New Music Consort/PULSE Percussion Ensemble he has appeared at major festivals in the here and abroad, as well as premiering and recording new percussion ensemble works. He has toured extensively with Newband/Harry Partch Ensemble, performing and recording on Partch's original microtonal instruments and Dean Drummond's Zoomoozophone. He is also a member of Music from China, performing for their 30th anniversary at Carnegie Hall and the Freer Gallery in Washington DC. He has performed or recorded with groups as, Manhattan Marimba Quartet, Talujon Percussion Quartet, North/South Consonance, Ethos Percussion Group and Percussia. Principal percussionist of the Riverside Symphony, he has been principal of the Connecticut Grand Opera and a member of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic. He has also performed with many area orchestras such as the Brooklyn Philharmonic, American Composers Orchestra, and the Long Island Philharmonic. Frank Cassara has played for Broadway shows "On the Town", "Lion King", "42nd Street" and "Phantom of the Opera" among others, and can be heard on over 25 recordings and film scores, including his own newest release for jazz quartet titled "Apparition". He heads the percussion departments at LIU POST, Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music, and Vassar College, and is an avid African gyil (Balifon) player. Frank Cassara is an Innovative Percussion Artist.

More information can be found on his website www.frankcassara.com.

Samanatha Clarke, Flute

Samantha Clarke

Samantha Clarke, conductor and flutist is a proud Long Island native of East Rockaway, NY. Ms. Clarke has taught music and band at the elementary through high school levels, and has served as Associate Conductor of the LIU Post Wind Symphony since January 2018.

An alumnus of LIU Post, Ms. Clarke graduated with an MA in Conducting in 2017 and Cum Laude with a BM in Music Education in 2014. While pursuing her Masters, Samantha Clarke was lucky enough to serve as the Graduate Assistant Conductor to the Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, String Ensemble, and Orchestra, studying conducting under Dr. James McRoy and Professor Maureen Hynes.

Samantha Clarke is a proud flute student of Karla Moe. As an avid performer both as a soloist and in various ensembles, Samantha Clarke has played in many chamber group configurations and has held the role of principal flute in a number of ensembles. Aside from maintaining an active performance schedule locally, Ms. Clarke has been a faculty member as a flutist and woodwind teacher of the Songe d'été en musique School and Festival in Quebec, Canada since 2012. Samantha Clarke has also performed abroad in Puerto Rico with the LIU Post Wind Symphony, and in Australia at the Sydney Opera House as principal flutist of the Long Island Symphonic Winds.

Amongst her many performance honors, Ms. Clarke has participated in the Long Island Flute Club Competition twice, winning Third Place in 2011 and First Place in 2012. Additionally, she was featured as a soloist with the LIU Post Wind Ensemble at Tilles Center in April 2014 as a winner of the 2013 LIU Post Concerto Competition.

Ms. Clarke is a member of the National Association for Music Education, New York State Band Directors Association, New York State School Music Association, Suffolk County Music Educators Association, the Long Island Flute Club, and the New York Flute Club.

Susan Deaver, Flute/Conductor

Susan Deaver

Susan Deaver has performed as a flutist in the United States, Europe and Korea and was principal flutist of Washington Chamber Symphony at the Kennedy Center from 1981 to 2002. She is currently on the flute faculty at Manhattan School of Music Precollege and at LIU Post. Her flute students have won many competitions and awards. She has performed with Long Island Philharmonic, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Queens Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Virtuosi and on Broadway in "Phantom of the Opera." She received fellowships from the Bach Aria and Tanglewood Festivals and performed at the Music Festival of the Hamptons in 2006. She has recorded for New World records, CRI, Arabesque Recordings and North/South Consonance. As a conductor, Susan Deaver is the music director and conductor of the North Shore Symphony Orchestra, the University Orchestra at Stony Brook University and Principal Guest Conductor of the Long Island Youth Orchestra, which she conducted at Carnegie Hall. She has guest conducted in Scotland, England, Spain, Korea and Germany and was a conductor for Manhattan School of Music's Contemporary Ensemble. Newsday featured her in an article about her work as Conducting Instructor for actor Freddie Highmore in Warner Brothers' movie "August Rush." As conductor of the LIU Post Orchestra from 1981 to 2006, she developed the orchestra from an ensemble of 11 to a full sized symphonic orchestra of over 70 undergraduate and graduates students. She creatively expanded the orchestral program to include a series of concerts at LIU Tilles Center, an annual concerto competition, performance courses for music educators and orchestral educational residency programs with the New York Philharmonic and LIU Tilles Center. Dr. Deaver is on the music faculty at the LIU Post, Stony Brook University and Manhattan School of Music's Precollege Division. At LIU Post, she is the director of the LIU Post Chamber Music Festival, flutist of the Pierrot Consort and conductor of the Festival Chamber Orchestra. She earned bachelor's and master's degrees and a doctorate of musical arts in performance from Manhattan School of Music.

Website: www.susandeaver.com

James Erickson, Guitar

James Erickson

JAMES ERICKSON has an active career performing and teaching classical and rock guitar throughout the New York metropolitan area and Long Island. James is an adjunct instructor of music at Nassau Community College, LIU Post, and Suffolk County Community College, where he teaches music history, theory, and fretboard harmony. James is also the director of the Suffolk County Community College Guitar Ensemble. James holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in music history and performance from Long Island University, where he was awarded "Outstanding Performance in Guitar Studies".

As a classical guitar soloist, James has performed on tour in the United States, Europe, and Canada. James has also participated in the Long Island Guitar Festival in both solo and chamber performances. He has also performed in master classes for Jerry Willard, Carlo Domeniconi, Benjamin Verdery, Sharon Isbin, Carlos Barbosa - Lima, David Starobin, William Kanengiser and Eduardo Fernandez. James is a member of the Artesian Guitar Quartet. The group performs a variety of classical and contemporary repertoire. The quartet has toured internationally, premiering new works for the guitar repertoire.

As an electric guitarist, his studies have included lessons from jazz guitarist Howard Morgen and rock virtuoso Paul Gilbert. James has an extensive recording and performing experience, and is currently involved in many diverse musical projects. He is the guitarist for Tradewinds, an eleven-piece band that performs at weddings, corporate events and club dates throughout the tri-state area. In 2011, the group was voted "Best LI Cover Band" by the Long Island Press. James also performs with Walking The Line, a musical tribute to Johnny Cash, where he performs the electric guitar parts of Luther Perkins. Recently, James also performed with Classic Albums Live, performing the album "Who's Next" by The Who. He has opened for many national rock acts including Saigon Kick and Twisted Sister at popular venues like The Bitter End and B.B King's in Manhattan. He has also performed the guitar parts for many theatrical productions including "Hair", "Anything Goes", "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Seussical".

For the past eight years, James has taught and performed at the "Songe d'été en Musique" an annual music festival in Quebec, Canada. James has also composed and recorded the soundtrack/score for several local independent films. He is also the assistant director of the Long Island Guitar Festival and offers private and online guitar instruction.

"…virtuoso musicianship" (Southampton Press)

Website: www.ericksonguitar.net

Barbara Fusco, Mezzo-Soprano

Barbara Fusco

BARBARA FUSCO, mezzo-soprano, is a native of Long Island. She is a graduate of Long Island University, C. W. Post, where she is currently a member of the Voice Faculty. She enjoys an active freelance career as a soloist throughout the Tri-state area, and has also performed throughout the United States, South America, and Europe. She recently returned from a Concert tour of Zimbabwe, Africa and has been invited back for their 2007 season. In March, she will be performing in Germany and Prague. Ms. Fusco has sung roles with Center for Contemporary Opera, Opera on the Sound, and the West End Opera Company. Her orchestral appearances include the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, the Adirondak Festival Orchestra at Saranac Lake, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, and at Alice Tully Hall under the direction of Robert Craft. She is a regular soloist of the acclaimed Musica Viva of New York and is a featured soloist on the Sunday Morning Broadcast of the All Souls Unitarian service on WQXR. Ms. Fusco appears on several recordings produced by Gregg Smith, including "Southern Harmony". She has also recorded Stravinsky's "Les Noces", "Persephone", and "The Rake´s Progress" under the baton of Robert Craft. She is a featured soloist on several recordings produced by Musica Viva under the direction of Walter Klauss. In addition to Long Island University, Ms. Fusco has also taught private voice instruction and Theatre arts at the Allen-Stevenson School, the New York Entertainment Group, the Adirondack Festival at Saranac Lake, and maintains her own private studio as well.

Dr. Sharon A. Hansen, Choral Conductor

Dr. Sharon Hansen

DR. SHARON A. HANSEN is Emerita Professor of Conducting and Choral Music at the University of Wisconsin— Milwaukee. A dynamic and compelling conductor and master teacher, Hansen is active as a guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States and in Europe. She served as guest conductor for the Romanian National Radio Choir (Bucharest); the Gächinger Kantorei and Bach Collegium-Stuttgart; the Stockholm Conservatory Chamber Choir; the Moldavian and Oltenian Philharmonic Choirs (Iasì and Craiova, Romania); and the University of Regensburg (Germany) Symphony Orchestra. She has presented master classes in conducting in Romania's Academy of Music (Bucharest) and Ovidius University (Constanza), and was guest lecturer at the first and second annual Romanian National Choral Director's Association Conferences in Sinaia. She led the first International Choral Conducting Master class in Bucharest in September 2003, returning in 2004 for the second such master class. Hansen's collegiate and professional ensembles have appeared at Carnegie Hall, and at state, regional and national MENC and ACDA conventions. She has been privileged to serve as guest conductor and clinician with all- state choirs, music festivals, and honor choirs in more than thirty states, and will be one of the guest conductors at the New York All State Choral Festival in December 2018.

From 1998-2013, Hansen served as Founder and Music Director of the Milwaukee Choral Artists, one of only a handful of professional women's vocal ensembles in the country. MCA frequently collaborated with Present Music, Milwaukee's internationally acclaimed contemporary music ensemble, most notably in the presentation of Olivier Messiaen's "Trois Petites Liturgies pour la Presence Divine" with members of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (Sharon A. Hansen, conducting). Equally well versed in early music, the Milwaukee Choral Artists also appeared three times in concert with the Boston Camerata, and performed with KITKA professional women's ensemble. Hailed for its expressive singing, rich sound, and far-reaching musical repertoire, the ensemble performed music from more than forty world cultures in twenty-nine languages. The Milwaukee Choral Artists left behind a most impressive legacy of some fifty commissioned, premiered, and published new works.

Hansen enjoyed a long career as member of the Editorial Board of the Choral Journal, where she was founder and editor for "On the Voice," now celebrating its eighteenth year of articles dedicated to issues of vocal pedagogy and health. Hansen's research on the voice has been presented at Regional and National ACDA Conventions; at the 2010 National NATS Convention; as well as in other local and national venues. Hansen is author of the book Helmuth Rilling: Conductor – Teacher, and author of an ACDA monograph titled The First Fifty Years: An Index of ACDA Convention Interest Sessions and Choral Journal Publications; Choral Textbooks; and Teacher Preparation Statistics 1959-2009, which chronicles the history of ACDA's efforts in voice education, and features the best of the articles written for "On the Voice" since its inception. Her chapter on the status of female conductors in higher education, "Women, Conductors, and the Tenure Process: What's Up in the Academy," is found in the book Wisdom, Wit, and Will: Women Choral Conductors on their Art.

Hansen was a founding member of the Board of Directors for the Milwaukee Children's Chorus; she also served on the Board of Directors for Milwaukee's Early Music Now. In tribute to her influence on Southeast Wisconsin's music scene, Hansen was the recipient of both the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Milwaukee Civic Music Association's 2003 Award of Excellence in Choral Music. In 2010, she received the Outstanding Alumni Award from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. In January 2014, she was presented with the Wisconsin Choral Directors' Association highest meritorious honor, the Morris D. Hayes Award, presented to a choral conductor of "outstanding merit...who has demonstrated a commitment to choral music…and has made outstanding contributions to choral music in Wisconsin." She has signature music series with both Santa Barbara Music Publishing and Hal Leonard Music Publishers. Her professional memberships include ACDA (American Choral Directors Association); Chorus America; IFCM (International Federation of Choral Music); NAfME (National Association for Music Educators); NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing); The VoiceCare Network; and The Voice Foundation, for which she was Treasurer and founding member of the Greater Milwaukee Area Chapter of the Voice Foundation, the United States' first local chapter. Hansen recently served as Interim Director of Music and Arts at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church (Scottsdale AZ), a large church with a rich music tradition. She presently is Chorus Director for the Arizona Musicfest Symphony Orchestra.

Tammy Hensrud, Voice

Tammy Hensrud

Tammy Hensrud, hailed by Switzerland's Opernwelt as "...a remarkably beautiful voice capable of many colors and nuances...a singer who is also a natural actress" has appeared in opera houses throughout Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Japan, Israel, South Africa and the US including the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna State Opera, Stuttgart Opera, Theatre de Chatelet in Paris, Klagenfurt Stadttheater, Salzburg Festival, Cleveland Opera, Opera Orchestra of New York, New York City Opera, and the Spoleto Arts Festival under notable conductors such as James Levine, Herbert von Karajan and Emmanuelle Villaume and others. She has been heard in Recitals and concerts throughout the US, Canada and Europe and has recorded with the Netherlands Radio Orchestra, Süddeutsche Rundfunk Orchestra, and Manhattan Chamber Orchestra. Her core repertoire includes the great operatic roles of Strauss, Mozart, Rossini, Bellini, Puccini and orchestral works of Mahler, Berlioz and Wagner. Her acclaimed European debut as Romeo in "I Capuletti e i Montecchi" came while still a member of the Vienna State Opera's Young Artist Program. Invitations to opera houses in Germany, Austria and Italy soon followed.

A most versatile artist, Ms. Hensrud has performed extensively with the American Chamber Ensemble, New York Virtuosi, Chiara String Quartet, Ridotto Arts, Rutgers Sommerfest, and the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra. In demand as an interpreter of Kurt Weill and Cabaret, she has performed one-woman shows at the Lucille Lortel Theater and the Players Club in NYC as well as venues throughout the USA. As a proponent of contemporary music, Ms. Hensrud has sung world premieres both in the US and in Europe and was recently featured as the Soprano soloist at Carnegie Hall in the world premiere performance of Gerald Custer's "Everything Indicates" and the world premiere performance of "I Speak of Peace" composed by Adolphus Hailstork in honor of President John F. Kennedy. This past Season, Ms. Hensrud created the roles of Marie Helene and Rose Kennedy in world premiere operas for the Center for Contemporary Opera. Ms. Hensrud frequently collaborates with esteemed Lutenist Christopher Morrongiello in programs dedicated to music of the Renaissance and Baroque and in 2008 founded Feminine Musique, a Recital Duo dedicated to the music of Women Composers, which has been heard throughout the United States and Europe.

Ms. Hensrud earned her BMus in Cello performance and MMus degree in Vocal Performance from the University of North Dakota. She continued her post-graduate studies on Voice as the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship in Stuttgart, Germany, where she received the Artist Diploma in Opera. Additional studies were at Salzburg's Mozarteum, the Franz Liszt Musik Akademie, and the L'ecole Hindemith in Vevey, Switzerland. In addition to her singing career, Ms. Hensrud is in demand as a Master Class teacher and adjudicator. She has served on the Voice Faculty of Hofstra University as Associate Adjunct Professor of Voice since 2005 and is on the Faculty of the Oyster Bay Summer Music Festival and the Westchester Summer Vocal Institute. Her students have consistently been awarded top prizes in competitions and have gone on to Undergraduate and Graduate study at Boston Conservatory, The Juilliard School, Mannes College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Hart School of Music, Peabody Conservatory, Guild Hall (London, England), Rutgers University Opera Institute, Binghamton University, and Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, among others.

Website: www.tammyhensrud.com

Chelsea Jaramillo, Percussion

Chelsea Jaramillo

Known for energetic and passionate performances, Chelsea Jaramillo is currently a masters student at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montreal. Chelsea has served as soloist for the West Island Youth Symphony Orchestra (WIYSO), Orchestra Symphonique des Jeunes de Montreal (OSJM), and will be the soloist during Orchestra Symphonique du Conservatoire de Musique de Montreal's (OSCMM) 2022-2023 season. Chelsea is the current timpanist for Fidelio Orchestra, as well as a frequent performer with Sinfonia de Montreal, Vanier choir, Orchestre de Mundi de Montreal, and many more ensembles.

Heawon Kim, Piano

Haewon Kim photo

HEAWON KIM'S auspicious studies began in her native Korea where she appeared at the age of seven with the Korean Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra and the Seoul Philharmonic. Subsequently she won numerous competitions, appearing with these orchestras frequently on television and radio. After coming to this country in 1972 to the North Carolina School of the Performing Arts, she was under the guidance of Clifton Matthews. While studying with him, she won the Vittorio Giannini Award, the Southeastern Music Teachers Competition, and appeared with the Orchestra of the North Carolina School of the Performing Arts under the baton of Nicholas Harsanyi. Following rave reviews, she was brought to New York by Claude Frank, with whom she studied at the Mannes School of Music and subsequently she earned her Master of Music under Robert Goldsand at the Manhattan School of Music. She has performed for the classes of Erick Friedman, Josef Gingold, Janos Starker, Franco Gulli, and Andre Watts. Ms. Kim has been a soloist with regional orchestras in the United States and has appeared as chamber musician with such groups as the Bronx Arts Ensemble,Pierrot Consort, Rosewood Chamber Ensemble, Garrett Lakes Festival, Leonia Chamber Players, Leaf Peeper Concerts, and the Colonial Symphony. She has appeared with the KBS at the opening of the Sejong Arts Center in Korea. Much in demand as a partner in recitals, she has played as soloist and recital partner for Erick Friedman over many decades. She performs in recitals with such artist as Sanford Allen, Dennis Brott, Marion Davies, and her husband, Dale Stuckenbruck. She is on the faculty of LIU Post at Long Island University as an instrumental accompanist and she is very active in the Korean musical community. She has worked with her husband, Dale Stuckenbruck to create the new chamber organization for young talent called "Kammermusik"

Website: www.violin-saw.com

Walter Klauss, Organ

Walter Klauss

Walter Klauss received his M.A. degree from Case Western Reserve University and pursued doctoral studies at Union Theological Seminary in New York. At the age of 17, Mr. Klauss made his debut as an organ recitalist at the Cleveland Museum of Art; the Museum later invited him to perform the American première of Jean Langlais' Organ Concerto for the May Festival of Contemporary Music. At the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, Mr. Klauss was one of six organists invited to perform the complete organ works of Olivier Messiaen in a concert honoring the composer, who was present. He continues to appear as a recitalist, including performances with the Zurich Symphony at the Tonhalle; and, for his 30th-anniversary concert at All Souls Unitarian Church, a performance of Rheinberger's rarely-heard Concerto No. 2 for Organ and Orchestra. Walter Klauss is the founder and conductor of New York's critically acclaimed Musica Viva concert series. He has appeared as guest conductor of festival choruses and led workshops in choral conducting and performance techniques. Mr. Klauss has been guest conductor of various choral and orchestral works with L'Orchestre de J.L. Petit in Paris, and performed and conducted concerts in Zimbabwe. Since 1976 he has been Minister of Music at All Souls Unitarian Church in New York City. Mr. Klauss also served as Chairman of the Music Department and Professor of Music at the C.W. Post Center of Long Island University. Upon his retirement the university honored him with the status of Professor Emeritus. Walter Klauss is currently on the music faculty of Queens College (CUNY).

Emily Klonowski, Voice

Emily Klonowski

At 26 years old, Emily Klonowski has made her talent known throughout Long Island and the New York City area. Her rich and striking mezzo voice has stood out in many professional settings, giving her the opportunity to perform in many prestigious local, national and international venues. Her passion for the ability to express emotion through music started with instrumental beginnings, giving a complete foundation for her voice to blossom through her college career.

Paired with a unique depth in sound and a keen musical awareness, Emily has performed with many award-winning groups on very challenging repertoire. This year, She was a soloist with the Merrick Chorale in Mendelssohn's work Elijah, Mozart's Missa Brevis and John Rutter's Gloria. She performed Aaron Copland's daring a capella work In the Beginning internationally with the LIU Post Chorus.

In 2015, at Lambton, Quebec and the festival Songe d'ete en Musique she performed many chamber works for various instrumentations. In the summer of 2013, Emily traveled to Tuscany, Italy where she performed and studied with the Oberlin Conservatory. Winner of the LIU Post Concerto Competition in 2013, Emily performed Les Nuit D'ete by Hector Berlioz. Prior, she attended the Westchester Summer Vocal Institute in 2012, and was a finalist for the Classical Singer Magazine Competition in 2011. Emily has performed as a soloist and with groups in many distinguished halls such as the Metropolitan Opera House, Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and more.

Claude Laflamme, Guitar / Harp-Guitar

Claude LaFlamme

Since childhood, music has always played an important part in Claude LaFlamme's life. After experiencing different music instruments, Claude sets his mind on the guitar. He completes a bachelor's degree in music at Laval University, in Quebec city, and specializes in musical composition with the renowned composer Mr François Morel.

For a few years he played both the guitar and the piano. He then gave up the guitar for almost ten years but eventually came back to his first love. He has been a professional musician for 30 years. In so doing, he had the chance to perform different musical styles such as jazz, blues, gospel, folks, pop, rock and classical. Taking part in many studio recording sessions as guitarist, arranger and producer, he has been collaborating with stimulating artists thru the years.

Claude recently discovered the harp-guitar. He was seduced by all the possibilities this instrument proposed. In a way, it gave him the chance to play his favorite instrument but with a larger range, close to the piano, offering him the best of both worlds and inspiring him new music. He acquired a harp-guitar custom made by Michel Pellerin, luthier and started a new musical journey.

Website: www.claudelaflamme.com

Vincent Muscarella, Guitar

Vincent Muscarella

Guitarist Vincent Muscarella performs along the east coast of the United States and in Canada as a soloist, chamber musician, and ensemble member. Vincent performs in a variety of settings including symposiums, conferences, festivals, music venues, recital halls, and theaters.

As a classical guitarist, Vincent has performed at notable venues and festivals including the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in NYC, Port Washington Theater, The Philippines Consulate in NYC, Long Island Guitar Festival, and the Midsummer Dream Music Festival in Quebec. As a chamber musician, Vincent is one half of the Long Island Flute and Guitar duo with flutist Samantha Clarke. The duo performs music ranging from Giuliani and Tedesco to Piazzolla and modern composers like Robert Baksa.

Vincent has performed in masterclasses for many of the world's greatest classical guitarists like Eduardo Fernandez, Jason Vieaux, David Leisner, Andrew York, and William Kanengiser.

As a teacher, Vincent taught guitar at music festivals, public schools, community music programs, and in private studios around the NYC, Northern Virginia, and Baltimore areas. Vincent has taught private and group guitar classes in public schools on Long Island for several years. Vincent is currently a Teaching Artist in guitar at Mason Community Arts Academy in Fairfax, VA.

Vincent completed the Master of Music degree in classical guitar performance from Towson University where he was a graduate assistant and was presented with the talent award for guitar performance. Currently, Vincent is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in classical guitar performance at George Mason University where he serves as a graduate assistant to the department of music.

LeAnn Overton, Choral Conductor/Vocal Coach/Accompanist

Leann Overton

Performer and pedagogue LeAnn Overton currently serves on the faculties of Manhattan School of Music and the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. Ms. Overton has taught on the faculties of Long Island University (C. W. Post campus), Carnegie Mellon University, Chautauqua Voice School, New York Actor's Studio, and Mannes College The New School of Music. She has been music director/vocal coach for summer festivals and opera companies including Oberlin in Italy, Midsummer Music Festival in Canada, Vocal Arts Symposium of Colorado Springs, Opera Theater and Music Festival of Lucca, Italy in association with Cincinnati Conservatory, Cincinnati Opera, and Tulsa Opera.

Since 2000 Ms Overton has served as music director for the Manhattan School of Music precollege opera scenes, educational outreach productions, as well opera scenes and song recitals for the undergraduate opera theater.

As adjunct professor at Montclair State, Ms Overton prepares students for degree recitals as well as roles in the main stage opera productions. In addition to music director, she designed and directed an opera workshop course aimed at the specific needs of the undergraduate vocal major. Ms Overton's conducting debut was in the fall of 2010 for director Jan Prokop's opera scenes program at the Kasser Theater on the Montclair campus.

In 2014 Ms. Overton founded "Respiro Opera, NYC," a program built on the basics of singing: breath (yoga), body alignment (Alexander Technique and body mapping), text study, and musical style. An enthusiastic proponent of the Alexander Technique, Ms. Overton continues her collaboration with AT instructor Bill Connington, author of Physical Expression on Stage and Screen: Using the Alexander Technique to Create Unforgettable Performances.

Ms. Overton earned her Master of Music degree in vocal coaching/accompanying at the University of Illinois with accompanist John Wustman. She has been a member of the Manhattan School of Music Precollege faculty since 2003 and a surtitle caller at the Metropolitan Opera since 2000.

Website: www.leannoverton.com

Michael Roberts, Guitar

Michael Roberts

A native New Yorker, Michael Roberts is an active performer, composer and instructor. His playing experience ranges from classical, Jazz, Rock, world music as well as studio work and club dates.

Michael studied classical guitar at LIU Post where he received his BM in Music Education and under the direction of Professor Harris Becker, and Jazz Guitar studies under Professor Mark Marino. While attending LIU Post Michael performed in numerous recitals, master classes and has performed at the Long Island Guitar festival throughout the years. He was also the resident Jazz guitarist of the LIU Post Jazz band.

Michael is an active composer for solo guitar as well as for larger ensembles in various genres. In 2014 his original classical composition for Violin and Guitar premiered at "A Midsummer Music Dream / Songe d'été en musique" in Quebec, Canada.

Andrea Stewart, Cello

Andrea Stewart

Interested in the new sounds and techniques found in new music but still intrigued by the beauty of classical and baroque repertoire, Montreal-based cellist Andrea Stewart is equally at home performing with electronics as she is playing basso continuo.

In 2006, Andrea made her solo debut with the University of Western Ontario Symphony Orchestra (London, ON). Since then, performances have brought her to venues across North America, Europe, and Asia, in solo recital and with such ensembles as Grammy-nominated Uccello, Gruppo Montebello, Ensemble Caprice, Infusion Baroque, and collectif9. Andrea is a laureate of the Golden Violin Competition at the Schulich School of Music (McGill University) and the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition.

Andrea holds the degrees of Doctor of Music (2015) and Master of Music (2009) from McGill University. Particularly inspired by contemporary music, her research is devoted to the expansion of cello technique in relation to works in the contemporary repertoire. Support for Andrea's research has been granted SSHRC in Canada (Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarship) as well as from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec.

Dr. Dale Stuckenbruck, Violin

Dale Stuckenbruck
Sawing To New Heights CD Cover
Dale Stuckenbruck
on musical saw

DALE STUCKENBRUCK, Grammy nominated artist, is one of New York's most active violin soloist, concertmaster, chamber musician, recording artist, and teacher. Studies with Erick Friedman, appearing with him as soloist, in recording and in chamber music. Soloist/Concertmaster/Guest artist with the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Philharmonia Virtuosi, New York Virtuosi, New York String Ensemble, Tchaikovsky Chamber Orchestra, Taipei City Symphony Orchestra, Music at St. Ignatius, Dance Theater of Harlem, Queens Symphony, Masterworks, Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society, Allentown Symphony and the Long Island Philharmonic. Recorded the violin concerto by Lou Pelosi on CRI. Received international acclaim with Steve Margoshes for "Sawing to New Heights," (www.classicalcds.net) and for his performances of the "Divination by Mirrors" by Michael Levine with the New Century Chamber Orchestra and the New York Virtuosi. Received Grammy nomination for "Ancient Voices of Children" by George Crumb for Bridge Records. He has been featured in Strings Magazine, Korean Monthly Music Magazine, Newsday, Sarasate (Japan) and the New York Times. Faculty for the Oyster Bay Music Festival, LIU Post Chamber Music Festival and Midsummer Music Dream (Quebec). Founder of Long Island's conductorless-string ensemble, Kammermusik, the Long Island Vegetable Orchestra, and ECO orchestra of the Waldorf School of Garden City. He has provided the sound tracks for two films, "Shadow" and "Fresh," shown at the Whitney and the Israeli Museums. Since 1975 he has performed with Heawon Kim, pianist, in recitals in Asia, Europe and South America. He has a member of the music faculty at LIU Post since 1986. Assistant director of the LIU Post Chamber Music Festival. Music Director at the Waldorf School of Garden City since 2012. D.M.A. from Manhattan School of Music, 1984.

Website: www.violin-saw.com

Recent Guest Artists and Composers

Jérôme Ducharme, Guitar

CD Recital CD Cover
Jérôme Ducharme,
solo guitar
Jérôme Ducharme

Canadian guitarist Jérôme Ducharme travels in North America to perform recitals, masterclasses and for adjudication panels. His career took off when he won the first prize at the 2005 Guitar Foundation of America International Competition. His cd, on NAXOS label, received appraisal from various critics.

He holds a doctorate degree in performance from University of Montréal as well as diplomas from Montreal Conservatory.

He is a guitar instructor at McGill University Schulich School of Music.

He plays with a Daryl Perry guitar.

Website: http://www.jeromeducharme.ca/Bienvenue.html

Liu Fang, Pipa

As a child prodigy in her native China, now a resident of Canada, Liu Fang has been regarded as one of the most eminent pipa soloists. She is also excellent performer on the Chinese zither Guzheng. Her talent crosses all boundaries, linguistic and cultural. She has performed numerous concerts throughout world to massive acclaim, including solo recitals of Chinese traditional and classical music as well as contemporary music with orchestras, string quartets and ensembles. She has also premiered a number of new compositions such as the works of Canada's eminent composers R Murray Schafer and Jose Evangelista, and made frequent appearances in national and international TV and radios. Liu Fang is also highly acclaimed for her "Silk and Steel projects" in which she has collaborated with world class musicians from various traditions, and has released 9 solo and collaborative albums. Her most recent recording 'Silk Sound', under the French Label Accords Crosses, won the prestigious Academie Charles Cros Award (the French equivalent of the Grammy). Liu Fang is referred to in the press as "the empress of pipa" (L'actualité, 2001), "divine mediator" (World, 2006), "the greatest ambassadress of the art of the pipa" (La presse, 2002) and " possessing virtuoso technique, grace and a unique empathy toward the music she plays - whether it is a traditional folk tune or a modern Western composition" (All Music Guide, 2004). In 2001, Liu Fang was the only musician to receive the prestigious 'Future Generation Millennium Prize' awarded by the Canada Council for the Arts to three artists of different disciplines under 30 years of age.

Website: www.liufangmusic.net

Michael Frassetti, Composer

Michael Frassetti

Michael Frassetti earned a BA in Music Education (summa cum laude) and an MA in Music Composition at Long Island University. In 1995 he was nominated for 2 Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards, winning for Original Musical Composition for "The Desert Treasure" episode of Copperstate Chronicles broadcast on KTVK, an ABC-TV affiliate in Phoenix AZ.

He has worked as a Music Educator in the NY public schools system as a choral conductor, providing his original compositions and innovative arrangements for student performances. His works have been performed at high schools in the Long Island NY area, and at several NYSSMA Majors evaluations where each time they were singled out by the adjudicators for their excellence.

His "May The Lord Bless You and Keep You" a cappella choral work was performed by the Baltimore School For The Arts Chorus under the direction of Mark Hardy at the Baltimore Basilica to great acclaim, and selections from his "5 Poe Settings" have also been performed by members of the Baltimore Symphony Chorus under the same director.

His "3 Moods for Guitar" were premiered at the Midsummer's Music Dream Festival in Canada in August 2011 by Harris Becker, Director of Guitar Studies at Long Island University. Most recently, his "To The Grand Canyon" for SATB Chorus and Piano received its world premiere at several concerts by the Carolyn Eynon Singers (CES) in the spring of 2012, and his "Angels of Christmas" for SATB Chorus, Piano and Flute was performed in December, again by CES.

His "One Song", a celebration of the bonds of friendship formed between the French Canadian and American musicians jointly participating at the Songe d'été en Musique festival in rural Quebec, was performed at that festival in 2012 under the direction of Alexander Dashnaw.

Michael continues to compose and record at his home studio in Phoenix, Arizona.

Joseph Russo, Composer

Joseph Russo

Composer Joseph Russo studied with Robert Starer and Vincent Persichetti (among others) at Juilliard and with Luther Noss at Yale, attending composition/music theory classes at both schools. Russo has developed and continues to develop his own personal melodic and tonal compositional style.

He has composed numerous chamber and orchestra works including "Elegy and Prayer" for Strings (1985), "Concordance" for Double Brass Quintet (1991), Flute & Oboe Concerto (1994), "Celebration" for Orchestra (1999), Triple Flute Concerto (2000), "In Memoriam" 9/11 - for Strings (2001), "Tribute" (2002) for Concert Band (commissioned by Northeastern University), First Symphony (2004), Kyrie & Gloria (2005) for choir and chamber orchestra, and two a cappella (SATB) motets on Psalm 23 "The Lord is My Shepherd" and Psalm 100 "Make a Joyful Noise".

Since 1985 Russo's compositions have been performed by various groups. Russo's First Symphony (2004) was premiered by Orchestra New England in New Haven on May 1, 2004. His Triple Flute Concerto (2000) was given its west coast premiere in La Mirada, California in October 2007. His Septet "Distant Light" for Flute, Clarinet, Harp and String Quartet – commissioned by the Fontenay Chamber Players – was premiered by the commissioning ensemble in April 2007 in Wilton, Connecticut. On November 2, 2008 Russo conducted the European premiere of his "Concordance" for Double Brass Quintet in Hanover, Germany. During the summer of 2009 he completed his "Mourning Mist" for Guitar and String Quartet which was given its first performance at the Long Island Guitar Festival in March 2013. Orchestra New England gave the world premiere of his Four Pieces for Strings "Homage to Bach" (2009) on Bach's birthday, March 21, 2009. Russo's brass quintet "Hannoverture" (2008) was given its world premiere in April 2009 in Connecticut by the Ridgefield Symphony Brass Quintet and its European premiere in Bremen, Germany in May 2009. In March 2010 the bassoon ensemble Bassoonery performed Russo's three movement bassoon quartet "In The Woods" in Ridgefield, CT.

Russo completed "Changes" for Septet (violin, bass, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, trombone and percussion) in June 2010. The three movements of this tonal work incorporates classical sounds with jazz music.

"Seasides" – three movements for trombone quartet was completed in February 2011.

Russo's Second Symphony (2011) received its very successful world premiere performance on March 23, 2013 at Battell Chapel in New Haven with Orchestra New England.

During the summer of 2012 Russo completed work on his Flute & Piano piece "West Fork" and his French horn & Piano piece "Mountain".

You may find out more about Russo's composing at his website: www.JosephMRusso.com where you may click on his "Latest News and Compositions" to read about his most current compositions.

Also, samples of Joe's compositions may be heard at his American Music Center website.

Laura Snowden, Guitar/Composer

Laura Snowden

Described by Classical Guitar Magazine as 'linking guitar's past, present and future', Laura's eclectic musical output has ranged from playing on Lorne Balfe's sountrack for Marvel film Black Widow to recording Lisa Streich's guitar concerto Augenlider with the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester. Laura studied with Julian Bream, during which time she gave two concerts at Wigmore Hall featuring premieres of his recent commissions. This led to international recognition and festival debuts across Europe and the US, as well as concerto debuts with Norrköping Symphony Orchestra and Münchener Kammerorchester.

As a composer, Laura's music has been performed at Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall and Sadlers Wells, commissioned by the Birmingham Symphony Hall, International Guitar Foundation and ABRSM guitar syllabus, and broadcast on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Scotland and Hong Kong Radio 4. Her work has been commissioned by artists including Mela Guitar Quartet, VIDA Guitar Quartet and violinist Joo Yeon Sir, and has been recorded for BGS Records, Rubicon Classics and Centaur Records.

As a songwriter and performer with folk group Tir Eolas, following the release of their debut album Laura toured numerous UK shows and festivals including Cambridge Folk Festival, Bestival, and Shakespeare's Globe at the invitation of John Williams. She has also created and recorded guitar arrangements for Noah and the Whale frontman Charlie Fink's album 'Cover My Tracks'.

Laura's international concert appearances have included the Guitar Foundation of America, New York Classical Guitar Society, Long Island Guitar Festival, Upstate New York Guitar Festival, Altamira Hong Kong International Guitar Symposium and Uppsala International Guitar Festival in Sweden; she has given classes for the Royal College of Music, Yale University, Brussels Conservatoire, Arizona State University, San Francisco Conservatory, Mannes School of Music and Manhattan School of Music.

Website: www.laurasnowden.co.uk/

Frank Wallace, Guitar

Frank Wallace

On stage, Frank Wallace is known for his "elegant virtuosity" (Classics Today) on the guitar, vihuela and lute and is a master of self-accompanied song. He tours internationally, performing music from the 16th – 21st and has performed at the Taxco International Guitar Festival, Guitar Foundation of America, New York Guitar Seminar at Mannes, the Holland Festival, Música en Compostela, Boston Early Music Festival, the Festival of Spanish Song of Granada, and more.

Wallace is a graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in guitar performance and is self- taught as a composer. American Record Guide calls Wallace's compositions "exciting, unpredictable, and fresh". Fanfare magazine has dubbed him a composer with "an authentic expressive voice" and a "high standard of musical interest" who performs with "flawless technical proficiency". Frank Oteri of NewMusicBox.org calls it "contemporary musical emancipation".

Frank Wallace founded and directed for four years the Boston Classical Guitar Society's Festival 21, a celebration of all that is new in 21st century classical guitar. He also served a two-year term as artistic director of the Society. In New York City Wallace founded and co-directed the Second Sundays Classical Guitar Series in conjunction with the NYC Classical Guitar Society and Roger Smith Arts. He has taught at the New England Conservatory, Plymouth State College, Emmanuel College, Keene State College and Franklin Pierce College and has a B.M. from San Francisco Conservatory.

In 2014 Frank Wallace wrote a one hour chamber suite for the 50th anniversary of the Hartt School of Music's Guitar Department. He has also written for Juan Carlos Laguna, Pablo Garibay, Edel Muñoz, ChromaDuo, the Jugend Zupf Orchestra of Germany, Mare Duo, Marek Pasiezcny, Ciraldo Duo, Olson / De Cari Duo, the Providence Mandolin Orchestra and more. He has recorded for Gyre, Titanic, Centaur, and Musical Heritage Society, which re-released a number of LiveOak and Frank Wallace recordings in 2008. His compositions are published by Gyre Music and have been featured in Guitar Review, Soundboard, Fingerstyle Magazine, and The LSA Quarterly. Wallace's complete recordings and compositions are available at www.gyremusic.com.

Recent Festival Assistants / YOA Interns

Julie Michael, Viola

Julie Michael

Violist Julie Michael holds degrees from McGill University and the University of Michigan, where her principal teachers were André Roy, Lambert Chen, Yizhak Schotten, and Caroline Coade. Julie has pursued training in the Suzuki and Dalcroze methods, and currently teaches at the McGill Conservatory and in the El Sistema program at Share the Warmth Foundation. She has been a member of La Pietà with Angèle Dubeau, the Michigan Philharmonic, and the Michigan Arab Orchestra. Julie has participated in the Bowdoin International Music Festival (United States), Festival Eleazar de Carvalho (Brazil), and l'Académie de Musique Tibor Varga (Switzerland), performing in masterclasses with Nobuko Imai, Jean Sulem, Carol Rodland, and Irvine Arditti. A passionate chamber musician, she has taken part in the intensive string quartet program at the Orford Arts Centre and performed at the Montreal Contemporary Music Lab.

Sandra Patricia Morales Corrales, Violin

Sandra Patricia Morales Corrales

Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Sandra Patricia Morales began her musical studies at the National Batuta Foundation, subsequently graduating from the University Francisco José de Caldas. Her teachers include Frank Preuss, Camilo A. Guevara, Sergio Allendes, Richard Biaggini, and currently, Federico Hoyos. She has participated in master classes with Roberto Valdés, Katherine Fong, and Cosimo Stawiarsky, among others. She was a founding member of the Youth Philharmonic of Colombia (FJC), and she currently serves as a violinist in the New Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Bogotá. She works as a violin teacher for the social project "Play and Fight - Cafam, Colombia" and for the children's education program at the University of the Andes.

Karen Rodríguez, Guitar / Orchestra of the Americas Global Leaders Program

Karen Rodríguez

Karen Rodríguez is a Venezuelan musician. In 2017, she graduated Magna Cum Laude and received a Bachelor of Music's degree with a specialization in Choral Conducting from the University of Los Andes, a prestigious institution in Latin America. Rodríguez's eclectic background in music has allowed her to perform different repertoires such as Venezuelan popular music and sacred, Latin, contemporary and European music. Her passion for the craft and curious personality led her to take personal jazz guitar lessons and music composition lessons with distinguished professors from the city. Her teaching skills and methodical character has allowed her to hold different positions in the last ten years. She worked as a music theory teacher in El Sistema. Besides, she was as a Soprano section leader and trainer in the Foundation Cantoría de Mérida. During this time, she was the conductor of the Children's Choir Riqui Ran and Assistant Conductor of the Youth and Children's Choir from the University of Los Andes and Promúsica Foundation. In 2017, she became the leader of Promúsica Foundation, a non-profit choral organization, for one year and a half. Additionally, Karen has been working as a popular singing teacher and guitar performer in the Centro de Orientación Musical. At the same time, she works as an independent music teacher, singer, guitarist, and workshop creator. Nowadays, she continues expanding her knowledge by studying in the Global Leaders Program.