MICHELLE SPINELLI, Clarinet
Schenectady County Community College is proud to continue its Rising Star series featuring alumnus, Michelle Spinelli, who will be joined by Music Directors Mark Evans and Brett Wery performing works by Brahms, Debussy, and Poulenc.
After graduating from Ithaca College Conservatory, Ms. Spinelli performed with the United States Air Force Band of Liberty where she was a featured soloist of the Concert Band, Chamber Ensemble and Clarinet Quartet. Ms. Spinelli completed her Master's degree in clarinet performance at the New England Conservatory where she was awarded first prize in the 2005 Wind Ensemble Concerto Competition and top honors at the 2006 Mozart Sinfonia Concertante competition.
Currently, Ms. Spinelli continues to serve her country as a member of the Air National Guard Band of the Northeast.
Back to SCCC Chamber Music Series HomepageDONALD WEILERSTEIN, Violin
Donald Weilerstein has concertized extensively as soloist and chamber musician throughout the world. For twenty years (1969-1989) Mr. Weilerstein was the first violinist of the renowned Cleveland Quartet with whom he toured the world. His recordings with the quartet can be heard on the RCA, Telarc, CBS, Phillips, and Pro Arte labels. These recordings have earned seven Grammy nominations and won Best of the Year awards from Time and Stereo Review.
He was a member of the Young Concert Artists and a participant in the Marlboro Music Festival, performing on several "Music from Marlboro" Tours. In 1968 he won the Munich International Competition for violin and piano duo.
Mr. Weilerstein has taught and performed at such major American and European music festivals as Tanglewood, Caramoor, Aspen, Ravinia, Marlboro, Mostly Mozart, Salzburg, Luzern, Verbier, Ishikawa, Keshet Eilon, "Chamber Music Encounters" sponsored by La Cité de la Musique and the Paris Conservatory, and many more. He regulary particpates in the Yellow Barn Music Festival and the Perlman Music Program. He will teach in Shanghai,China this summer as part of the Morningside Music Bridge.
Formerly a professor of violin and chamber music at the Eastman School and the Cleveland Institute of Music, he is currently on the faculty of the New England Conservatory of Music. His students have been prize winners in major national and international competitions, including first prizes in the Indianapolis, Naumburg and Hanover competitions and second prize in the Queen Elizabeth Competition. His students can be heard in many of today's leading orchestras and chamber ensembles. Mr. Weilerstein is also a faculty member at the Juilliard School.
Back to SCCC Chamber Music Series HomepageVIVIAN HORNIK WEILERSTEIN, Piano
Vivian Hornik Weilerstein has performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the world and is a frequent collaborator with many of today’s most eminent artists and ensembles. She has recently been a soloist with the Kansas City Symphony and the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale di Torino, and has toured throughout Europe and Japan.
Critics and audiences have welcomed Ms. Weilerstein’s performances as part of the Weilerstein Duo, with violinist Donald Weilerstein. Among their many recitals across the country, the duo has performed at Alice Tully Hall and the 92nd Street Y in New York City and the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C. Their discography includes the complete works of Ernest Bloch for violin and piano and the sonatas of Janácek, Dohnanyi, and Enescu for Arabesque Records and the complete Schumann sonatas for Azica Records.
Fanfare declared the Bloch recordings a “must” on the journal’s annual “Want List,” and American Record Guide lauded both the Bloch and Janácek recordings. In addition to the duo recordings, Ms. Weilerstein has recorded for the EMI Debut Series with cellist Alisa Weilerstein.
Ms. Weilerstein has participated in the major American music festivals, including the Marlboro, Aspen, Chamber Music West, Norfolk, Sarasota, Roundtop, and La Jolla festivals. She regularly participates in the Yellow Barn Music Fesitival and the Perlman Music Program, and has been a guest artist at Kneisal Hall, the Young Musicians Festival in Israel, the Daniel Days in Holland, and the Verbier Festival in Switzerland. She will teach this summer(06) in Shanghai, China as part of the Morningside Music Bridge.
Formerly a faculty member of the Cleveland Institute of Music, Ms. Weilerstein is the director of the Professional Piano Trio Training Program at the New England Conservatory, where she also serves on the piano and chamber music faculties. She will be joining the chamber music faculty of the Juilliard School in the fall of 07. Ms Weilerstein is in demand for master classes and residencies around the world.
Back to SCCC Chamber Music Series HomepageALISA WEILERSTEIN, Cello
Alisa Weilerstein is internationally renowned as one of the premiere soloists and chamber musicians of her generation. Since her first public concert at the age of 4, Ms. Weilerstein has performed with the nation's top orchestras, given recitals in music capitals throughout the U.S. and Europe, and regularly participates in prestigious international festivals.
Her highly praised debut disc, recorded with Vivian Hornik Weilerstein, was released on EMI Classics in 2000. That same year, she was awarded an Avery Fisher Career Grant. She was chosen by Carnegie Hall to be an "ECHO" Rising Star in 2001, and she is an alumna of Lincoln Center's Chamber Music Society Two. Ms. Weilerstein was recently named the winner of the 2006 Leonard Bernstein Award, which she received at the Schleswig-Holstein Festival in Germany.
Ms. Weilerstein is continually engaged by orchestras across the U.S. and has performed as soloist with the Baltimore Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Saint Louis Symphony, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and the Houston Symphony. In Europe she has performed with the Barcelona Symphony, Bournemouth Symphony, Orchestre National de France, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich among many others.
She makes regular appearances at festivals such as Bad Kissingen, Blossom Music Festival, Caramoor, Green Music Festival, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Schleswig-Holstein, Spoleto USA, Vail, Vancouver Chamber Music Festival, and the Verbier Festival.
In January 2007 Ms. Weilerstein made her New York Philharmonic subscription debut with Zubin Mehta conducting. She gave additional performances with The New York Philharmonic and Mr. Mehta in Philadelphia, and under Lorin Maazel in Tokyo, and also made her debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Christoph Eschenbach. Other highlights of her season include performances with the Cincinnati Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, and the Moscow State Symphony as part of their U.S. tour, and three trio recitals with Maxim Vengerov and Lilya Zilberstein at Carnegie Hall, La Salle Pleyel in Paris, and the Barbican in London. This summer she gives the New York premiere of Golijov’s cello concerto, Azul, during the opening concerts of the Mostly Mozart festival. During the 2007-08 season Ms. Weilerstein performs with the Detroit Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, San Diego Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony and the Toronto Symphony, among other engagements. She will also give several recitals throughout the U.S., including the Celebrity Series in Boston. Abroad she performs with the NDR Hamburg, the New York Philharmonic under Lorin Maazel at the Hong Kong Festival, and gives recitals in Bergamo and Milan, Italy.
Born in 1982, Ms. Weilerstein made her debut with the Cleveland Orchestra at age 13 and her Carnegie Hall debut two years later. In May 2004, she graduated with from Columbia University with a B.A. in history.
Back to SCCC Chamber Music Series HomepageBRETT WERY, Clarinet
Brett Wery is a professor at Schenectady County Community College where he has been a recipient of the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching and the SCCC Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching. He conducts the SCCC Wind Ensemble and instructs in woodwind applied studies, chamber music, music theory, and conducting. Professor Wery serves as principal conductor of The Capital Region Wind Ensemble, the Wind Ensemble in residence at SCCC. He is also the conductor of the University Symphony Orchestra at the University at Albany. Professor Wery appears frequently with pianist, Mark Evans as part of the SCCC Chamber Music Series. He performs and records regularly as a saxophonist and clarinetist with the Empire Jazz Orchestra, the Albany Symphony, and the Dogs of Desire.
Back to SCCC Chamber Music Series HomepageMARK EVANS, Piano
Faculty member Mark Evans is a piano instructor at SCCC, where he also co-directs the college's Chamber Music Series and organizes master classes and recitals by eminent guest artists. In 2002 he was nominated for the Outstanding Teacher Award by the SCCC Student Government Association and in 2006 was awarded the Outstanding Service Award. A frequent performer throughout the Capital Region, Mr. Evans has appeared at the Hyde Collection, Skidmore's Tang Museum, The Arts Center of Saratoga, and as guest artist with the Musicians of Ma'alwyck. Most recently, he was soloist with the University at Albany Community Orchestra, performing the second piano concerto by Saint-Saens. He received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the Mannes College of Music and a Master of Music degree from the College of St. Rose, where he earned the Graduate Honors Award.
Back to SCCC Chamber Music Series HomepageKAREN HOSMER, Oboe
Karen Hosmer is principal oboe of the Albany Symphony and also plays oboe and English horn in the Springfield, MA Symphony. She was a prize winner in the Gillet International Oboe Competition, a semi-finalist in the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, and she received honorable mention in the Coleman Chamber Music Competition. She performed the European premier of the McCarty Concerto for oboe and orchestra and recorded the work with the Lithuania Chamber Orchestra. Besides performing concertos with the Albany Symphony for subscription, benefit and First Night concerts, Dr. Hosmer has performed as a soloist with orchestras in Lithuania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Michigan and Pennsylvania.Dr. Hosmer teaches oboe and classes in ear training and music fundamentals at Schenectady County Community College. She holds a Doctor of Music Arts degree from Temple University, a Master of Music degree from Michigan State University, and a Bachelor of Music from Oberlin Conservatory. She can be heard on recordings with the Albany Symphony for Argos Records.
Back to SCCC Chamber Music Series HomepageANN MARIE BARKER-SCHWARTZ, Violin
Ann Marie Barker Schwartz is the founder of the Musicians of Ma'alwyck, a chamber music ensemble in residence at the Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site and at SCCC. She performs with the Glimmerglass Opera Orchestra and the Little Delaware Chamber Players, and is the co- founder and director of the St. Cecelia Chamber Orchestra. Schwartz is Director of the Siena College Music Series, and founder of the Franciscan Chamber Orchestra. She has published articles in Archives Magazine and recently reconstructed and produced the 1750s opera Alfred of Sir Thomas Arne. In June 2005, she will be the keynote speaker at Columbia University's Conference on NY State History. Mrs. Schwartz has a B.M..degree in Violin Performance from Boston University.
Back to SCCC Chamber Music Series HomepagePETIA KASSAROVA, Cello
Born in Bourgas, Bulgaria, Petia Kassarova (cello) began studying cello at age ten. She studied at the Bulgarian Conservatory with Zdravko Jordanov, a student of Mstislav Rostropovich. During that time, she worked in the Vidin Philharmonia and toured with the orchestra in Western Europe. In 1992, Petia became principal cellist of Orquestra Sinfonica de Ribeirao Preto, Brazil and was also professor of cello at the Music Academy of Ribeirao Preto. In 1993, she attended Duquesne University School of Music pursuing an Artist Diploma with Jennifer Langham. In 1998, she won a position with the Albany Symphony Orchestra of which she is currently a member. She also performs with the Syracuse Symphony.
Back to SCCC Chamber Music Series HomepageFREDRIC T. COHEN, Oboe
B.M., B.M.E., Philadelphia Musical Academy. Studies with Stevens Hewitt, Jerry Sirucek, and John De Lancie. Principal, Springfield Symphony, Harvard Chamber Orchestra, Boston Composers Orchestra, Boston Baroque, Avanti Woodwind Quintet, Arcadia Players (period instruments) and Collage. Frequent soloist and guest artist with chamber ensembles and orchestras throughout the Northeast. Recordings: Gummar, Opus 1, BEEP. Former faculty, New England Conservatory, Boston University, Boston Conservatory of Music, Longy School of Music.
Back to SCCC Chamber Music Series HomepageLAURA KLOCK, Horn
B.M., M.M., University of Michigan. Studies with Louis Stout, Thomas Murray, Harry Berv. Principal horn, Springfield Symphony Orchestra. Guest principal horn with orchestras throughout New England and across the U.S.; recent residency as guest principal hornist and clinician with the Bogota (Colombia) Philharmonic Orchestra. Member, UMass faculty ensembles: Avanti Woodwind Quintet and Infinity Brass Quintet. As chamber musician has performed with the Mohawk Trail Concerts, Chamber Music Plus (Hartford), North Country Chamber Players and at the New England Bach (Marlboro, VT), Musicorda and Monadnock Music Festivals. As member of the Brass Ring Quintet, was a featured artist at the 8th International Brass Festival in Verona, Italy. Has been a guest artist in Taiwan and in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. Top prize winner, Valve Horn Division, Heldenleben International Horn Competition. Recordings on Open Loop, Crystal, and Gasparo labels. Former faculty, Olivet College.
Back to SCCC Chamber Music Series HomepageCHRISTOPHER KRUEGER, Flute
B.M., New England Conservatory of Music. Studied with James Pappoutsakis, Raul Renzi, Walter Mayhall. Performed as principal flutist with Boston Symphony, Boston Pops, Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Opera Company of Boston, Boston Ballet, Boston Musica Viva. Baroque flute soloist on Great Performers Series and Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center and the Philadelphia Bach, Tanglewood, Ravinia, Berlin Bach and City of London Festivals. Former faculty Wellesley College, Longy School of Music, New England Conservatory, Boston University, Boston Conservatory. Recordings: Decca, EMI, Nonesuch, Pro Arte, CRI, Telarc, Koch, Centaur.
Back to SCCC Chamber Music Series HomepageMICHAEL SUSSMAN, Clarinet
B.M., M.M., Manhattan School of Music. Principal, Springfield, New Hampshire Symphony, Monadnock Music Festival. Former principal, West Australia Symphony Orchestra (Perth), Australian Ballet, Australian Opera, Boston Handel & Haydn Society, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Bolshoi, Stuttgart and Royal Ballets, D'Oyly Carte Opera, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Teton Festival Orchestra, Radio City Music Hall Orchestra, Goldman Band. Guest soloist, St. Petersburg, Ciompi, Lydian, Lark, New Zealand, Australian String Quartets; Springfield Symphony and New Hampshire Symphonies; Monadnock Festival Orchestra. Chamber performances, Casals Festival, Speculum Musicae, Ethos, Avanti Woodwind Quintet, Music in Avila (Curacao). Performances, television, and radio broadcasts throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia. Recordings: RCA, Columbia, Pro-Arte, Deutsche Grammophon, Nonesuch, CRI, Desto, Opus One, Serenus, Titanic, Gasparo, Musical Heritage Society, Vanguard, L'Oiseau Lyre, Koch. Former faculty, University of Connecticut, Smith College, University of Western Australia.
Back to SCCC Chamber Music Series HomepageSTEPHEN WALT, Bassoon
B.A., University of Massachusetts Amherst; M.A., Kent State University. Studied with Sherman Walt, Arthur Weisberg. Principal bassoonist, Albany Symphony Orchestra, Berkshire Bach Ensemble and Atlantic Chamber Orchestra. Member Avanti Winds. Free-lance musician with orchestras, chamber ensembles and opera companies throughout the northeast. Recent performances with Leontovych, Muir and Shanghai String Quartets, and at Monadnock (NH), Musicorda, Hampton-Sydney (VA) and Music from Greer (AZ) Festivals. Founder/co-director, Williamstown (MA) Chamber Concerts. Recordings: CRI, Decca, Gasparo, Nonesuch, Albany Records. Teacher of Bassoon and Director of Woodwind Chamber Music, Williams College.
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