Festival Artists (Includes Recent Artists and Performers)

Quinn Patrick Ankrum, Voice/Opera

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

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

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, 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.

Alexander Dashnaw, Choral Conductor

ALEXANDER DASHNAW, Professor Emeritus of Music at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, has served as president of the Eastern Division of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and as president of the New York State Association of College Music Programs (NYSACMP). He has been the guest conductor of many regional, divisional and all-state choruses throughout the United States and has given many choral workshops for, among other, the American Guild of Organists (AGO) the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA).

Professor Dashnaw has also been the artistic director of many festivals, including the Manhattan Choral festival, the Chicago Choral Festival, the Pacific Choral Festival in San Francisco, the Atlanta Choral Festival, the Jubilee Festival in Washington, D.C., the Strathclyde Festival in Glasgow, Scotland and the Tilles Invitational Choral Festival on Long Island.

His Long Island University choral groups have performed in every major concert hall in New York City with, among others, the National Orchestra, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Queens Symphony, the Opera Orchestra of New York and the Sydney (Australia) Symphony Orchestra. His select groups have made 16 European concert tours, 2 tours of Mexico, and tours in both Canada and Korea. In addition, they have appeared, by invitation, at both National and Eastern Division Conventions of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) and the Music Educators National Conference (MENC).

Throughout his career, in addition to his contributions to music of, and research related to composers of the English Renaissance Madrigal, Alexander Dashnaw has also been a champion of new choral music. He has commissioned 38 new works for chorus, from over 30 recognized composers. Some of these works are "a cappella" and others are accompanied by piano, organ, instrumental ensemble or orchestra.

Susan Deaver, Flute/Conductor

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 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, 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 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, 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

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

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 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).

Karla Moe, Flute

KARLA MOE has an active career as both an orchestral and chamber musician, frequently playing with the New York City Opera, the American Ballet Theatre, the American Symphony and its Bard Summer Festival, the Colonial and Westfield Symphonies, Long Island Philharmonic, and Principal Flutist of the New York Grand Opera, New Jersey State Opera and the St. Cecelia Orchestra. She has been Principal Flutist with the Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Musica Aeterna Chamber Orchestra which performed an acclaimed series at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She has played under such conductors as James Levine, Leonard Bernstein, Kurt Masur, and was asked to play with the St. Petersburg Orchestra on their American tour. For the past several years, Karla has been the flutist with The Queen's Chamber Band, a Baroque ensemble.

An active educator, Karla has taught in the Music Advancement Program at Juilliard, and has played for the New York Philharmonic Education Programs. She is on the faculty of Nassau Community College and Long Island University - C.W. Post College, where she is also the Director of Woodwind Studies. Karla plays for many Broadway shows, including Lion King and Wicked, and can be heard on many recordings with the Queens Chamber Band, as well as television, numerous films and other classical albums. Ms. Moe studied with Harold Bennett of the Metropolitan Opera, Julius Baker, and performed in several master classes with Jean Pierre Rampal. A graduate of St. Olaf College in Minnesota, Ms. Moe received a Master's degree in performance from the Manhattan School of Music in NYC, where she also won First Place in the school's Annual Concerto Competition.

Emily Klonowski, Voice

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.

Vincent Muscarella, Guitar

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

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

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

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.

Jérôme Ducharme, Guitar

Jérôme Ducharme,
solo guitar

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 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

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

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/

Julie Michael, Viola

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

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 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.