Loon Lake Live! 2010 Season Performers

Sara Fierer, cellist, received degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory and the University of Texas. She has performed throughout the US, Austria and Central America. Currently, Ms. Fierer holds a position with the Boulder Philharmonic and is a member of the Avenue B Quartet. Sara is also proud to be a dedicated teacher. In addition to heading the preschool Suzuki program at U.T., she established a seasonal music school in Panama through the Oberlin Conservatory. At home in Colorado she maintains a large private studio, teaches group cello classes and orchestra at the Denver Waldorf School. As a founding member, Sara is proud to participate in the continued success of Loon Lake Live. When she isn't rehearsing you can find her hiking, kayaking or picking berries with her kids.

Lori Lax holds a Master's degree from the Manhattan School of Music. She studied violin with Rafael Bronstein and viola with Karen Tuttle. Lori was first stand violist in the American Symphony Orchestra under Leopold Stokowski. She is a former teacher at the Manhattan School of Music and is currently on the staff of several summer chamber music festivals. Lori is proud to be a founding member of Loon Lake Live! When she isn't busy practicing or rehearsing she can most often be found hiking up Elbow for the amazing blueberries or taking a "quick dip" in Loon Lake.

Aaron Packard, violin, has studied at Oberlin Conservatory and SUNY Stony Brook, where he received his Bachelors and Masters of Music degrees, respectively. His principal teachers have been Greg Fulkerson and Mitchell Stern. Other influences include Katie Lansdale, Atar Arad, Jorja Fleezanis, James Buswell, Gil Kalish, and the Turtle Island String Quartet. He is currently living in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts, spending his time as a caretaker, bookseller, and music-maker.

Erika Sato, violin, joined The "President's Own" United Marine Chamber Orchestra in 2003 where she is a frequent soloist. Prior to this appointment she was a tenured and title chair member of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Sato has performed internationally, making solo appearances with orchestras across the country including "The President's Own", Colorado and Oregon Symphony Orchestras. She has collaborated on several recordings and film projects. An avid chamber musician, she has participated in such festivals as Loon Lake Live!, Banff, Strings in the Mountains, Tanglewood, Spoleto (Italy) and Norfolk. Ms. Sato holds both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School under Masao Kawasaki.

Katie Schlaikjer, cellist, received top prizes from the Concert Artist Guild, the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition, and the Banff International Quartet Competition as a former member of the Avalon Quartet. Her present work as a New York City freelancer has presented her with diverse performance opportunities including a production of Harry Partch's microtonal opera Oedipus and Villa Lobos's Bachianas Brasileiras number five in Zankel Hall's first, dedication concert with Renée Fleming. Katie has performed at the Ravinia, Caramoor Aspen and Yellow Barn chamber music festivals and attended the International Musicians Seminar at Prussia Cove, England. This fall she will tour with the Core Ensemble (cello, piano, percussion and actor/singer) performing "Tres Vidas", a show that combines chamber music and theater to portray the lives of three Latina women. Katie received her doctoral degree in December, 2007 from Stony Brook University where she studied with Timothy Eddy and currently teaches at the Bard Conservatory's preparatory division.

Caroline Wolff violinist, grew up in New York City and went on to study at Columbia University, Indiana University and the New England Conservatory. Her principal teachers were Raphael Bronstein, James Buswell and Stanley Ritchie. As a member of the Fidelio String Quartet (prizewinners in the London International String Quartet Competition) Caroline performed throughout the United States and Europe. She has appeared at numerous festivals including those of Tanglewood, Taos, Norfolk, Schleswig-Holstein, Prussia Cove and Santa Fe, as well as on series such as Bargemusic in New York, Emmanuel Music in Boston and St. John’s College Chamber Music in Oxford. Caroline spent several years on the faculty of the New England Conservatory Extension Division and Exeter College, New Hampshire and taught regularly at the Bowdoin Festival in Maine. Caroline has come to Loon Lake every summer since 1969, though she now lives in England with her husband, three children and three cats (Clara, Julia and Oscar).