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You and your group can support Loon Lake Live by sponsoring a concert set,
advertising in our program booklet, or volunteering in a variety of ways.
advertising in our program booklet, or volunteering in a variety of ways.
Catherine Beeson (Artistic Director, Viola) has served as a Teaching Artist and as a performer with the Colorado Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Friends of Chamber Music - Denver, Lenape Chamber Ensemble (PA), Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, Santa Fe Pro Music Chamber Orchestra, Mainly Mozart Festival Orchestra (San Diego) and Loon Lake Live. She curates community based performances with Ensemble Faucheux, and leads programs on performing arts supporting social change - most recently as Social Justice Performing Artist in Residence at Chicago's Roosevelt University. Catherine is a proud advocate for inclusion practices in the musical arts, lately focusing on concert and performance opportunities for the neurodiverse community. She comes from a family of musicians, educators, and community builders. She enjoys connecting diverse groups of people through community and school residency programs that encourage music composition and performance. In service to this, Catherine has designed and published teachers' guides and lesson plans to support the education and outreach endeavors of the New York Philharmonic, Up Close and Musical orchestra (Denver) and Friends of Chamber Music (Denver). Catherine has also been a facilitator for adult lectures through Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, led workshops at the Colorado Music Educators' Association conference, and twice been a panel presenter at Denver Comic Con. In her spare time Catherine enjoys supporting social action events with the Non-Violins Marching Band, playing board games, reading, and having random adventures. Known for her anti-gym enthusiasm, she surprised herself and pretty much everyone who knows her by training for and completing her first ever Loon Lake "Try-athlon" last summer, which she hopes to repeat this August at a pace slightly better than the unconcerned tortoise that kept passing her on the "running" portion last time.
Violist Lori Berkowitz (1928-2015) lived and breathed music as principal violist for the American Symphony Orchestra and teacher at Manhattan School of Music, Children's Orchestra Society, and Princeton Chamber Week. She played at Loon Lake Live! from the very beginning, and was an active viola coach and chamber musician.
Ari Fierer is a young versatile violinist and “true Renaissance man” (actual quote, but also he kinda looks like he hopped out of a Renaissance painting…) who is equally comfortable with Old Time style fiddling as he is with classical violin performance. Raised by professional musician parents, he was given every opportunity to try other instruments as well. He chose ukulele and is now adding banjo to that list.
When he’s not playing music, Ari can be found making beautiful functional things from wood, and hopes not to be found while he obsessively fly fishes streams for various trout and other hungry aquatic creatures.
Baseball is Ari’s true love. He is a catcher/pitcher/infielder and is currently a student at Swarthmore College, the alma mater of composer Peter Schickele, where he is a proud Garnet Baseball 1st baseman. This is his second performance on the Loon Lake Live series, but the first with his mom Catherine. He’s hoping this fact doesn’t dim his cool.
When he’s not playing music, Ari can be found making beautiful functional things from wood, and hopes not to be found while he obsessively fly fishes streams for various trout and other hungry aquatic creatures.
Baseball is Ari’s true love. He is a catcher/pitcher/infielder and is currently a student at Swarthmore College, the alma mater of composer Peter Schickele, where he is a proud Garnet Baseball 1st baseman. This is his second performance on the Loon Lake Live series, but the first with his mom Catherine. He’s hoping this fact doesn’t dim his cool.
Cellist Sara Fierer has performed throughout the US, Austria and Central America. Currently, Ms. Fierer holds a position with the Boulder Philharmonic, teaches at the Denver Waldorf School and performs with Highlands Square Ensemble.
Jason Gresl multi-clarinetist, has performed in a variety of orchestral and chamber music settings throughout the US as well as in Italy, Panama, Belgium, and the Netherlands. By day, he stays busy as the clarinet instructor at Andrews University and Lake Michigan College; by night, Jason can be found performing contemporary classical concerts with his duo Claricello, freelancing in various Michiana orchestras, acting on the community theatre stage, and exploring multidisciplinary arts in his ensemble, In The Mix. Recent performances include the South Bend Symphony, Loon Lake Live! (NY), Musicians for Michiana, in recital at the Ruthmere museum, and in the pit orchestra for the South Bend run of the Broadway musicals Wicked and Chicago. Jason earned degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and University of Colorado-Boulder, continuing with post-graduate studies at Rotterdams Conservatorium in the Netherlands. Beginning in 2014, he began his journey into the field of historical performance, and has performed on Baroque recorder for Notre Dame's performance of Monteverdi's The Coronation of Poppea, in concert with Fleur de Lys, and at the Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute where he has studied with Michael Lynn for two summers. In his spare time, Jason attempts to learn feats of wonder with decks of cards and explores the culinary adventures of Thai and Indian cuisines. He can be heard on recordings produced by the Innova and Pro Organo labels.
Flutist James Hall has enjoyed a varied and impressive career as an international soloist, chamber and orchestral musician, and teacher. He has performed with Joshua Roman, Eileen Eivers, Jennifer Koh, Paquito D’Rivera, Benny Kim, Carol Wincenc, Allan Vogel, Robert Weirich, Jim Walker, Art Garfunkel, Pink Martini, Carter Enyeart, Catalyst Quartet, and the Boulder Bach Festival, just to name a few.
As a concerto soloist, James has played with the Orquesta Nacional del Paraguay, Kansas City Civic Orchestra, Greeley Philharmonic, Orquesta Nacional de Panamá, Orquesta del Congresso Nacional del Paraguay, and the Southeast Kansas Symphony. After giving his Carnegie Hall debut recital as a winner of Artists International in 2004, James began to receive invitations to perform as a recitalist, and has since played across North, Central, and South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. He is half of Colorado based duo970 with pianist Susie Maddocks, and the two tour the world performing flute and piano works from the baroque to the contemporary.
James is in high demand as a chamber musician, having been invited to play with musicians around the world. He is founder and artistic director for The Chattanooga Sound Project, and is the flutist for established ensembles including Chimera, Last Train, and Wood&Metal. He has also performed and taught at music festivals in the U.S. and in Central and South America. James has been invited to perform as a guest principal flutist with the Boulder Philharmonic, Greeley Philharmonic, Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, and Southeast Kansas Symphony, and has held principal flute positions with the Topeka Symphony and the Missouri Symphony.
As an educator, Hall has been invited to give master classes at national conservatories and music schools throughout the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, South Africa, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Thailand, and Switzerland. Since 2009, he has been the professor of flute at the University of Northern Colorado where he has had the great fortune to work with many talented young musicians.
James is a performing artist for Burkart Flutes and performs exclusively on his handmade 10k gold Burkart Elite flute with platinum head joint.
As a concerto soloist, James has played with the Orquesta Nacional del Paraguay, Kansas City Civic Orchestra, Greeley Philharmonic, Orquesta Nacional de Panamá, Orquesta del Congresso Nacional del Paraguay, and the Southeast Kansas Symphony. After giving his Carnegie Hall debut recital as a winner of Artists International in 2004, James began to receive invitations to perform as a recitalist, and has since played across North, Central, and South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. He is half of Colorado based duo970 with pianist Susie Maddocks, and the two tour the world performing flute and piano works from the baroque to the contemporary.
James is in high demand as a chamber musician, having been invited to play with musicians around the world. He is founder and artistic director for The Chattanooga Sound Project, and is the flutist for established ensembles including Chimera, Last Train, and Wood&Metal. He has also performed and taught at music festivals in the U.S. and in Central and South America. James has been invited to perform as a guest principal flutist with the Boulder Philharmonic, Greeley Philharmonic, Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, and Southeast Kansas Symphony, and has held principal flute positions with the Topeka Symphony and the Missouri Symphony.
As an educator, Hall has been invited to give master classes at national conservatories and music schools throughout the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, South Africa, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Thailand, and Switzerland. Since 2009, he has been the professor of flute at the University of Northern Colorado where he has had the great fortune to work with many talented young musicians.
James is a performing artist for Burkart Flutes and performs exclusively on his handmade 10k gold Burkart Elite flute with platinum head joint.
Violinist Robyn Julyan has performed as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral musician throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Denmark, Norway, and Singapore. A dedicated pedagogue, she maintains a thriving violin studio, and has been on the string faculty at Regis University in Denver since 2011 and at Orvieto Musica in Italy since 2016.
Robyn has been a featured performer in concert series and festivals including the Albuquerque Chamber Soloists, Denver Eclectic Concerts, Piccolo Spoleto Spotlight Series, Charleston Chamber Players, Charleston House Concerts, Breckenridge Music Festival’s Winter Concert Series, Loon Lake Live, and with Ensemble Faucheux for Friends of Chamber Music — Denver.
Robyn has held positions with the Colorado Symphony, the Charleston Symphony, the Sarasota Opera, and was Assistant Concertmaster of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. She performs regularly with the Colorado Symphony, Opera Colorado, and the Colorado Music Festival.
She has also been a member of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music since 2008, and spends two weeks every August in Santa Cruz, CA diving into challenging music for the satisfaction of bringing the very newest classical repertoire to life!
Robyn has been a featured performer in concert series and festivals including the Albuquerque Chamber Soloists, Denver Eclectic Concerts, Piccolo Spoleto Spotlight Series, Charleston Chamber Players, Charleston House Concerts, Breckenridge Music Festival’s Winter Concert Series, Loon Lake Live, and with Ensemble Faucheux for Friends of Chamber Music — Denver.
Robyn has held positions with the Colorado Symphony, the Charleston Symphony, the Sarasota Opera, and was Assistant Concertmaster of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. She performs regularly with the Colorado Symphony, Opera Colorado, and the Colorado Music Festival.
She has also been a member of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music since 2008, and spends two weeks every August in Santa Cruz, CA diving into challenging music for the satisfaction of bringing the very newest classical repertoire to life!
Susanna Klein originally from Stuttgart, Germany, currently serves as assistant professor of violin and coordinator of strings at Virginia Commonwealth University. Prof. Klein has enjoyed a varied career as a violinist, researcher, educator and arts innovator. She has performed in orchestra and chamber music settings in Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Brazil and Israel as well as throughout the United States. Ms. Klein serves as violinist with both Trio 826, based in Iowa, and the trailblazer group Atlantic Chamber Ensemble (ACE) in Richmond. Ms. Klein served as principal second violin of the Richmond Symphony for six years, and continues to play in the section. Previous orchestral appointments include the Colorado, Memphis, and Vermont Symphonies. Ms. Klein is co-director and founder of the Orchestra Project, a summer camp that serves 140 string players. Prof. Klein holds a Bachelor of Music degree from VCU and Master of Music degree from Boston University, where she was an assistant to the legendary violinist Roman Totenberg.
Timothy MacDuff picked up the viola guided by the teachers in his public school music program where he grew up in upstate New York. After being exposed to the string quartets of Johannes Brahms and Antonin Dvorak at New England Music Camp in Maine, he decided to become a professional musician. Early chamber music experiences include attending the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival in Burlington, Vermont and performing with Loon Lake Live. During his Doctoral studies at the University of Maryland, he and other graduate students formed the Anacostia String Quartet which served as the ensemble in residence of the District New Music Coalition in 2018. In octet form, he has collaborated with the award-winning Omer Quartet and performed on the Washington Performing Arts Series with the Left Bank Quartet. Through the National Orchestral Institute, he worked with the Adelphi Quartet on community engagement projects in schools and retirement communities in Prince George’s County, Maryland. In 2019, Tim joined the Quapaw Quartet of the Arkansas Symphony. His cat and overlord, Wenceslas, approves this message.
Born to a family of music-lovers, cellist Susanna Mendlow sang her way through childhood. Her musical activities included chorus, family gatherings, unrequested wake-up calls, and complimentary background vocals for her lucky house-mates. After discovering the cello at the age of 6, Susanna soon earned the most shiny star stickers of anyone in her extended family. Her parents' bribery successfully launched Susanna into the realm of classical music, where she happily settled for many years. As time passed, however, Susanna realized her interests included more than performing the canonized works of old European men. She began to explore other musical areas and techniques, which she now incorporates into many of her shows.
Susanna loves to play and sing in a wide variety of styles, including classical, folk, contemporary, and improvisation. She has performed extensively throughout Europe, Central Asia, and the United States in such venues as Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Miller Theater, the Verizon Center, the National Cathedral, and the National Gallery. She has collaborated with many artists, including members of the Emerson and Brooklyn Rider Quartets, Colin Carr, Suren Bagratuni, Dmitri Berlinsky, Alan Kay, and Kevin Cobb. Susanna was a founding member of both Moyindau—a quartet that integrated experimental jazz, free improvisation, modern classical, and ethnic folk music--and the string quartet Kamea. She currently plays with Kassia Music, QuinTango, and Noam Faingold's Burning City Orchestra (BCO). She also teaches piano at the Washington International School.
Susanna holds degrees from SUNY Stony Brook (D.M.A.), Michigan State University (M.M.), and Barnard College at Columbia University (B.A. in music and psychology). She has studied cello with Suren Bagratuni, Colin Carr, and Misha Quint. Her vocal instructor is Donald Roberts. Susanna currently lives in Washington DC.
Susanna loves to play and sing in a wide variety of styles, including classical, folk, contemporary, and improvisation. She has performed extensively throughout Europe, Central Asia, and the United States in such venues as Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Miller Theater, the Verizon Center, the National Cathedral, and the National Gallery. She has collaborated with many artists, including members of the Emerson and Brooklyn Rider Quartets, Colin Carr, Suren Bagratuni, Dmitri Berlinsky, Alan Kay, and Kevin Cobb. Susanna was a founding member of both Moyindau—a quartet that integrated experimental jazz, free improvisation, modern classical, and ethnic folk music--and the string quartet Kamea. She currently plays with Kassia Music, QuinTango, and Noam Faingold's Burning City Orchestra (BCO). She also teaches piano at the Washington International School.
Susanna holds degrees from SUNY Stony Brook (D.M.A.), Michigan State University (M.M.), and Barnard College at Columbia University (B.A. in music and psychology). She has studied cello with Suren Bagratuni, Colin Carr, and Misha Quint. Her vocal instructor is Donald Roberts. Susanna currently lives in Washington DC.
Aaron Packard holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and a Master of Music degree from SUNY Stony Brook, both in Violin Performance. He is a founding member of Cuatro Puntos, a chamber music ensemble whose mission is to bridge cultural gaps through performance and teaching worldwide. Aaron is currently a faculty member at the Groton School and the Joy of Music Program in Massachusetts. He can be heard on The Rosegarden of Light, a Toccata Classics release.
Violinist Stephen Redfield is concertmaster of Santa Fe Pro Musica, Victoria Bach Festival, and Arizona Bach Festival. Dr. Redfield has been Professor of Violin at the University of Southern Mississippi School of Music since 1996 where he also performs with his faculty colleagues in the Mississippi Chamber Circle and the Impromptu Piano Quartet.
Violinist Erika Sato is a native of Portland, Oregon, and enjoys a varied career based in the Washington DC area. Praised as “elegant” and “riveting” by The Washington Post, she is a former titled and tenured chair member of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and has been a frequent guest performer with groups such as The Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra and New Jersey Symphony. She has made guest solo appearances with the Colorado Symphony, Oregon Symphony, and National Repertory Orchestra. An avid chamber musician, she has been a regular performer on the chamber concert series Loon Lake Live! for over a decade, appeared as a guest artist with The American Chamber Players, a guest performer with Strings in the Mountains, and participated at music festivals including Banff, Norfolk, Spoleto ITALY, Spoleto USA, Aspen, and Tanglewood. She has given clinics and masterclasses at schools and universities including Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Maryland - Baltimore County. She trained under Masao Kawasaki at The Juilliard School where she earned her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees. [photo by Ars Nova images]
Annie Trépanier's violin playing has been hailed by The Boston Globe as "supercharged, clear-headed, yet soulful." She has performed throughout Canada, the United States, Europe and South America, and has been heard regularly in national broadcasts on Radio-Canada, CBC and NPR. She is a founding member of Avery Ensemble and a co-director of Cuatro Puntos, a collective of chamber musicians dedicated to global cooperation and peace through the performance and teaching of music worldwide. She also performs regularly as a guest with the Adaskin String Trio and as Concertmaster of the Salisbury Sinfonietta, a New England based chamber orchestra. She is a former member of the New World Trio and the Diabelli String Quartet and has recorded for the Zephyr, Toccatta Classics, Ablaze Records and Navona Records labels. She holds a Bachelor of Music from McGill University, a Master of Music from the University of Ottawa, and a Graduate Professional Diploma and Artist Diploma from The Hartt School of the University of Hartford.
Lara Turner, cello, baroque cello, and viola da gamba, is an active performer who enjoys a varied career performing music ranging from contemporary to baroque. Lara has held the position of Principal Cello with the South Bend Symphony since 2004. She has been a featured soloist performing with the symphony: Milhaud’s Concerto No. 1 (2007) and Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme (2013). Lara is a member of Claricello, a clarinet and cello duo co-founded with her husband Jason Gresl. Claricello, focusing primarily on contemporary classical music written for this unique combination, is often featured at the Loon Lake Live! Chamber Music Festival in Upstate New York and has performed in Canada, Italy, Holland, and across the United States. Their performance of “Dust” by Belinda Reynolds can be heard on her CD entitled Cover. Equally at home in the early music genre, Lara has held the position of Principal Cello in the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado since it began in 2005. She can be heard as a member of this ensemble on their first CD, Cornucopia. She performs regularly with other early music groups including Louisville’s Bourbon Baroque and the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra. Last spring she had the opportunity to perform the viola da gamba arias in St. Matthew Passion at the Baldwin-Wallace Bach Festival. A dedicated teacher, Lara maintains private cello studios in South Bend and Evansville, IN and serves as adjunct cello faculty at Saint Mary’s College, Andrew’s University, and Bethel College. Lara holds a Bachelor of Music degree in cello performance with a minor in baroque cello and viola da gamba from the Oberlin Conservatory where she studied with Andor Toth, Jr. and Catharina Meints. At the San Francisco Conservatory she earned a Master of Music degree in cello performance, studying with Bonnie Hampton. She currently lives in South Bend, IN with her husband and daughter.
A versatile violinist, Tracy Seeger performs in the Austin Symphony Orchestra, The Tosca String Quartet, Austin Lyric Opera Orchestra, Conspirare, Austin Chamber Soloists, and San Antonio Symphony. She has toured the world extensively with David Byrne and has a large catalogue of studio work to her acclaim. Tracy has also performed in numerous Austin City Limits tapings, from Sufjan Stevens and Ray Lamontagne to Lyle Lovett and Don Mclean.
Debra Sherrill-Ward, French horn, is the proud founder and director of the Charleston Horn Camp. She is the Principal Horn of Chamber Music Charleston, the North Charleston Pops, and plays 3rd horn for the Savannah Philharmonic and the Hilton Head Symphony. During the summers she plays for the St. Augustine Music Festival and Loon Lake Live. In May 2018, she will be a featured artist for the Musica En Segura Festival in Spain. Before moving to the Lowcountry of South Carolina, Debra held the positions of Associate Principal Horn of the Barcelona Symphony and Principal Horn of the South Dakota Symphony. Debra studied with Froydis Ree Wekre in Oslo, Norway, Jerome Ashby at the Juilliard School, Erik Ralske at the Manhattan School of Music and Roger Collins at Western Illinois University.
Saxophonist Chad Smith is sought after as a Broadway, recording artist, and concert performer from New York to Los Angeles. He has been a member of the Broadway orchestras of Wicked, Legally Blonde, Follies, Christmas Story: The Musical, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
He has performed with many prestigious orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Mostly Mozart Festival, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, New York Pops, American Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, and the Albany Symphony.
Chad has shared the stage with Paquito D’Rivera, Vince Giordano, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, John Pizzarelli, The Temptations, Arturo Sandoval, Lady Gaga, Bernadette Peters, and Audra McDonald.
His movie credits include Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Secret Life Of Pets 2, Little, The Informant!, Ted 2, Extremely Close and Incredibly Loud, I Saw the Light, and Monsters University. Mr. Smith has been featured on television in Legally Blonde on MTV, The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Grease on Fox, The Wiz and Hairspray on NBC, the Tony Awards on CBS, and the Academy Awards on ABC. You can also hear Chad on the TV shows Family Guy, American Dad, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Flash, Lucifer, Smash, The Simpsons, and Fosse/Verdon.
Chad has created Sax-O-Philm: Sounds and Sight’s of the 20’s. Sax-O-Philm highlights the music of sax pioneer Rudy Wiedoeft accompanied by piano, harp and silent films, which he premiered at the 15th World Saxophone Congress in Bangkok. This past summer, Sax-O-Philm grew to a fully-orchestrated show premiered by Chad and the Broadway Chamber Players. To learn more about this exciting, entertaining and educational show, visit saxophilm.com.
He has performed with many prestigious orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Mostly Mozart Festival, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, New York Pops, American Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, and the Albany Symphony.
Chad has shared the stage with Paquito D’Rivera, Vince Giordano, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, John Pizzarelli, The Temptations, Arturo Sandoval, Lady Gaga, Bernadette Peters, and Audra McDonald.
His movie credits include Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Secret Life Of Pets 2, Little, The Informant!, Ted 2, Extremely Close and Incredibly Loud, I Saw the Light, and Monsters University. Mr. Smith has been featured on television in Legally Blonde on MTV, The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Grease on Fox, The Wiz and Hairspray on NBC, the Tony Awards on CBS, and the Academy Awards on ABC. You can also hear Chad on the TV shows Family Guy, American Dad, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Flash, Lucifer, Smash, The Simpsons, and Fosse/Verdon.
Chad has created Sax-O-Philm: Sounds and Sight’s of the 20’s. Sax-O-Philm highlights the music of sax pioneer Rudy Wiedoeft accompanied by piano, harp and silent films, which he premiered at the 15th World Saxophone Congress in Bangkok. This past summer, Sax-O-Philm grew to a fully-orchestrated show premiered by Chad and the Broadway Chamber Players. To learn more about this exciting, entertaining and educational show, visit saxophilm.com.
Lynette Wardle is principal harpist of the Richmond Symphony and the Albany Symphony. As a freelance musician she performs with New Jersey Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York City Opera, American Symphony Orchestra and New York City Chamber Orchestra. For the holiday seasons, she has been the harpist for A Christmas Story, the Musical, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. She also performs regularly at Wicked, and with her husband Chad Smith in Sax-O-Philm, Sounds and Sights of the 20’s. Lynette was the harpist for the national tour of the Tony award-winning musical Light in the Piazza. She has a number of recordings, most notably her work with Trilogy, a flute, harp, viola trio, AREA 31, Grammy award winning Albany Symphony recordings and several movie soundtracks. Lynette has performed with many artists, such as Pavarotti, Josh Groban, Johnny Mathis, Neil Sedaka, Marvin Hamlisch, David Burnham, Megan Hilty, Bjork, Olivia Newton John, Ann Hampton Callaway, Deborah Voigt, Edgar Meyer, Yo-Yo Ma, Gil Shaham and Joshua Bell.
Cellist Melissa Westgate maintains a busy freelance career in CT and NYC performing many different styles of music. She is a substitute cellist with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Orchestra and in the spring of 2015, won the position of Principal Cello for the Radio City Music Hall Spring Spectacular. In addition, Melissa has added her talent to several CD’s and recordings including music for daytime TV’s ‘One Life to Live’ and ‘A Rockin’ Midsummer Night’s Dream’ by the 12.14 Foundation. She was the Principal Cellist with the Ridgefield Symphony from 2000–2013. In April 2010 she performed Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto in e minor with the Orchestra.
Melissa received her Bachelor’s Degree from the Hartt School of Music, where she studied with David Wells. While in attendance there, she received a full scholarship towards an Artist Diploma and performed with the Emerson String Quartet as a winner of their student competition. She also performed with Jaime Laredo and Isaac Stern as a member of the New York String Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. Her achievements at the Hartt School were rewarded with a full scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music where she completed her Master of Music Degree. Upon graduation, she began performing professionally in many orchestras and chamber groups throughout the northeastern region including the Albany, New Haven and Springfield Symphonies. Melissa resides in Redding, CT with her husband and two children.
Melissa received her Bachelor’s Degree from the Hartt School of Music, where she studied with David Wells. While in attendance there, she received a full scholarship towards an Artist Diploma and performed with the Emerson String Quartet as a winner of their student competition. She also performed with Jaime Laredo and Isaac Stern as a member of the New York String Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. Her achievements at the Hartt School were rewarded with a full scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music where she completed her Master of Music Degree. Upon graduation, she began performing professionally in many orchestras and chamber groups throughout the northeastern region including the Albany, New Haven and Springfield Symphonies. Melissa resides in Redding, CT with her husband and two children.
Clarinetist John Winn's entry into the music biz was when he sat in at his father's gigs at age 8 and started booking his own engagements by age 16. John's lush vocal timbre has been compared to those of Chet Baker and Harry Connick, Jr., and his scat singing follows the traditions of Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Mel Torme.
His repertoire spans from Frank Sinatra to Sting. As a saxophonist and clarinetist, John has appeared on stage with luminaries such as Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Arturo Sandoval, Lou Rawls, Steve Lawrence and Edy Gourmet, Ben Vereen, Chita Rivera, Dianne Schuur, John Pizzarelli, Jon Faddis, Milt Hinton, Jimmy Heath, Doc Severinson, Christian McBride, and Branford Marsalis. John has been a guest artist at festivals in Sacramento and Mammoth Lakes, CA; Banff, Canada; Laramie, WY; and Loon Lake, NY.
His band Neighborliness has performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington and completed a tour of South Korea, Cambodia, Russia, and Mexico. After their grand reception in Russia, Neighborliness was invited back as the opening band at the first ever Vladivostok International Jazz Festival. John currently serves on the Jazz and Popular Music faculty at both the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University. He can be heard on the recordings of the Great American Music Ensemble, Modern Groove Syndicate, Fighting Gravity, Your Father's Mustache Band, Junk Food Buddha, and One Ring Zero. His most recent recording project included two tracks on "A Time for Miracles", a Christmas CD that benefits Children's Miracle Network released in December 2004.
His repertoire spans from Frank Sinatra to Sting. As a saxophonist and clarinetist, John has appeared on stage with luminaries such as Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Arturo Sandoval, Lou Rawls, Steve Lawrence and Edy Gourmet, Ben Vereen, Chita Rivera, Dianne Schuur, John Pizzarelli, Jon Faddis, Milt Hinton, Jimmy Heath, Doc Severinson, Christian McBride, and Branford Marsalis. John has been a guest artist at festivals in Sacramento and Mammoth Lakes, CA; Banff, Canada; Laramie, WY; and Loon Lake, NY.
His band Neighborliness has performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington and completed a tour of South Korea, Cambodia, Russia, and Mexico. After their grand reception in Russia, Neighborliness was invited back as the opening band at the first ever Vladivostok International Jazz Festival. John currently serves on the Jazz and Popular Music faculty at both the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University. He can be heard on the recordings of the Great American Music Ensemble, Modern Groove Syndicate, Fighting Gravity, Your Father's Mustache Band, Junk Food Buddha, and One Ring Zero. His most recent recording project included two tracks on "A Time for Miracles", a Christmas CD that benefits Children's Miracle Network released in December 2004.