About the Artists
Jeffrey Adler is an associate professor of mathematics at American University. He is a recent transplant to the Washington DC area from Akron, Ohio.
The Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra was founded by the orchestra’s president and clarinetist Marcus Jordan and performed its thrilling inaugural concert on July 12, 2009. The orchestra has established itself as one of the premiere chamber orchestras in the Washington, D.C. metro area and brings together extraordinary musicians from the Boston Philharmonic, Mannes Pre-College faculty, U.S. Marine Band, Indianapolis Symphony and National Symphony section extras, Baton Rouge Symphony, New York and DC freelance musicians, members of the Washington Sinfonietta , and exciting conductors and soloists. Together with its Artistic Advisory Council comprised of renowned musicians from the National Symphony Orchestra, Levine School of Music, local soloists, and music faculty from prestigious schools of music, the Ars Nova looks forward to a wonderful future. Please visit our website (www.ancowashington.org) for more information
Flutist Jessica Bateman received her BA in Music Performance from Virginia Tech and earned a Master of Music degree in in Music Pedagogy and Performance from George Mason University. She currently performs in the Columbia Flute Choir, the Capitol City Symphony, and is a woodwind doubler in the First Baptist of Alexandria Church Orchestra. She teaches music appreciation and is the Band Director at Trinity Christian School, teaches lessons in her private studio and at the Columbia Institute of Fine Arts and at Contemporary Music Center, and directs the Columbia Baptist Handbell Choir. In addition to her achievements as a woodwind player, Ms. Bateman has also been the regular ragtime soloist in the Virginia Tech Marimba and Percussion Ensembles and has toured with the "touch of Jesus" handbell choir.
Leomia Brunson, soprano, got her start singing in the children's choir at church in Savannah, Georgia. She and her family moved to Herndon in 1975, where they joined WPBC. She has been singing in the WPBC choir ever since.
Glenn Cain, Music Director , WPBC - I have been singing in church choirs and playing the piano for church services since my teen years, and have been the Music Director at WPBC since January 2007. At WPBC, we provide an ambitious and challenging music program for the choir to set the appropriate tone of the service for the congregation. We celebrate our diversity by offering a variety of music such as classical, spirituals, new arrangements of traditional Baptist hymns, and contemporary music. We highlight the talents of individuals in our choir through vocal and instrumental solos.
Wenyin Chan, piano, has performed as a soloist and chamber musician all over the United States and abroad, including such venues as Carnegie Hall and the Taiwan National Recital Hall. Ms. Chan has also been a prizewinner in many national and international competitions over the last decade. As an active chamber musician, Ms. Chan has also been invited to perform at music festivals such as Ravinia Music Festival, Taos Music Festival, and Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival. Ms. Chan began playing the piano at age four. She later enrolled at the Curtis Institute of Music, where she worked with renowned pianist Peter Serkin. After receiving her Bachelor of Music degree from the Curtis Institute, Ms. Chan continued her studies under the tutelage of Claude Frank at Yale University. She is currently a D.M.A. candidate at Yale University, and a faculty member at the Levine School of Music since 2007.
Soprano Edwina Chen is an amateur hobbyist in the areas of music, bookbinding, gardening, and photography. She currently studies voice with Elizabeth Lawrence. She is an architect and resides in Vienna.
John Childs, composer was born October 4, 1932 in Baltimore , MD and began piano lessons at 4 years old with Louis Ellsworth Toomey. He pursued piano studies with theory and harmony at The Baltimore Institute of Musical Arts. His piano teacher, Louis Shub, taught and prepared him for entry into the Julliard School of Music. Concurrently, He began playing for dance classes at a local studio. He entered the Julliard School of Music, where he remained from 1950-1955, graduating with a diploma in piano. Gian Carlo arranged a meeting with Lee Hoiby, who offered to teach him composition. His studies with Lee resulted in being engaged as a ballet accompanist for her private lessons. Concurrently he enjoyed another career as choir director and music teacher at The Mace School.
Danielle Cho, cello, a native of Los Angeles, cellist Danielle Cho has performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, she studied with cellist Lluis Claret in Barcelona, Spain. In 2008-09, she was a member of the Palau de Les Arts Orchestra in Valencia, Spain. A dedicated contemporary music advocate, she has performed new music at the Spoleto USA Festival “Music in Time” series, Santa Fe New Music, and the Lucerne Festival Academy. Other festivals she has performed at include the Holland Music Sessions, the International Musician’s Seminar at Prussia Cove, Taos, Sarasota, Schelswig-Holstein, and the New York String Seminar. An avid chamber musician, she has worked with members of the Takacs, Guarneri, Juilliard, and Brentano String Quartets. She is a graduate of the University of Southern California and the New England Conservatory.
Cellist David Cho currently performs in the Washington, DC area, including performances with the Kennedy Center Opera and Ballet, the National Gallery Orchestra and Wolftrap. From 1995 to 2006, was Assistant Principal Cellist with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and performed with the Atlanta Symphohny and the Bellingham Music Festival, WA. Faculty at Interlochen in 2006, and received a Fellowship to Tanglewood. A soloist with the Crossroads Series, the New Ballet Ensemble and the Piedmont Symphony. He studied at New England Conservatory, USC, and Indiana University with Bernard Greenhouse, Ronald Leonard, and Fritz Magg.
Aaron Cockson, horn, is a native of Foley, Alabama. He began playing horn in the eighth grade. Aaron attended Florida State University for both his Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Horn Performance degrees, studying with Dr. William Capps. Aaron has played with orchestras and wind ensembles in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, and northern Virginia. He is a member of the United States Army Band "Pershing's Own", and has been entertaining dignitaries and heads of state with that organization since 2001. Aaron is also an adjunct faculty member at the Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park Maryland, where he has taught horn since 2007.
Arlingtonian Andrew Crane commenced violin studies at the age of five and shifted to viola at fourteen. He has performed with the Arlington Symphony and chamber ensembles. He studied with Debra Moree at Ithaca College and is currently employed as a systems consulting manager.
R. Nathaniel Dett was an African American composer, pianist and choral director. His name at birth was Robert, but he wrote the initial R. in its place. He was born on October 11, 1882 in Drummondville, which is now part of Niagara Falls, Ontario. R. Nathaniel Dett majored in both piano and composition at Oberlin Conservatory. It was at the school that he first heard Dvorak's use of Bohemian folk song in classical music. The experience inspired him to base his own compositions on the African American spirituals he had learned as a child. Later in life he then returned to Rochester, serving St. Simon’s Episcopal Church. He was then engaged as music advisor to the United Service Organization, and fell ill while in Battle Creek, Michigan with a chorus of the Women’s Army Corps. He died [October 2, 1943] in [Battle Creek] Michigan of a heart attack, survived by his wife and two daughters. Burial took place in Ontario, at Niagara Falls.
Katrien van Dijk has been a student of the bassoon since her university days in The Netherlands where she studied and played with various student groups. After graduating from the Rijksuniversiteit van Utrecht with a degree in Old-Germanic Languages, she worked as a banker in the Corporate Trust department of a large bank while continuing as an amateur bassoonist in a number of community and university orchestras and chamber groups in Texas and Virginia. Her teachers include Martin van Laar, principal bassoonist of the Utrecht Symfonie Orkest, Paul Stebbins, principal bassoonist of the Dallas Opera Orchestra and Truman Harris, assistant principal bassoonist of the National Symphony Orchestra. Katrien has been active in the Georgetown University orchestra and chamber music groups. She was principal bassoonist for the NVCC-Annandale Symphony orchestra for 10 years and is a member of the Washington Sinfonietta. She is a member of the International Double Reed Society. When not playing the bassoon she can be found tending to the flowers in her garden.
Ms. Elizabeth Dyson, pianist, embarked on a second career as a chamber musician after 30 years of practicing law. She has accompanied classes at the Maryland Youth Ballet, Washington School of Ballet, and the Dance Institute of Washington, and has taught ballet accompaniment at the Levine School of Music. She has also accompanied recitals of singers from the Washington National Opera chorus.
Diana Flesner, cello, received her DMA from the University of Illinois, where she studied with Brandon Vamos. Originally from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, she received her MM from San Francisco Conservatory and her BA magna cum laude from Middlebury College with a double major in Music and Russian Language/Literature. Her principal teachers have included Bonnie Hampton, Jean-Michel Fonteneau, and Dieuwke Davydov. Always active as a chamber musician, Ms. Flesner is currently a member of the West Shore Piano Trio. She was formerly the cellist of the Cervantes String Quartet, which in addition to regular concerts and recitals, performed live for WILL-FM, gave the American premier of a quartet by Edward Top, and served as Quartet in Residence for Strings in the Mountains summer music festival. While a student at the University of Illinois she received a full scholarship to be a member of the Graduate String Quartet. She has participated in Manchester Music Festival and The Quartet Program at Bucknell and has played in masterclasses or coached with members of the Pacifica, Miró, Miami, Kocian, Tokyo, Juilliard, Tákacs, and Kronos Quartets. Ms. Flesner served as principal cellist for the University of Illinois Symphony Orchestra and has played with BACH (Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana), The Prairie Ensemble, Opera Illinois, Champaign-Urbana Symphony, Peoria Symphony, Illinois Symphony, Annapolis Symphony, and Fairfax Symphony. She currently teaches at the International School of Music in Bethesda, MD and has also taught or coached chamber music at Millikin University, Illinois-Wesleyan Prep, and The Conservatory of Central Illinois.
Boyd Gibson, composer, began his musical studies on the violin with Evan Hallman and later switched to viola during his freshman year at Columbia Union College, now Washington Adventist University with Robert Walters. Boyd did his under graduate and graduate studies at Howard University where he earned a Masters of Music in 1986. Boyd then traveled to Kenya, East Africa where he served as Director of Choral Activities at the University of Eastern Africa. After his return to the United States he completed additional graduate studies in Musicology and Composition at Duke University. Boyd now serves as the director of the Strings Program at the Durham School of the Arts and the Music Director of The Church of the Holy Family in Chapel Hill, NC. As a composer he has been blessed to have his compositions performed by the Duke University String School, the Ciompi String Quartet, the resident string quartet of Duke University, the Durham School of the Arts String Orchestra, The Adult Choir of The Church of the Holy Family, and his brother, pianist, Stephen Gibson. He has been the featured composer at the Raleigh/Durham Chapter of the American Guild of Organist. Boyd also has another premiere of his Spiritual Celebrations for Mixed Chorus and String Orchestra with the Shaw University Chorale in Raleigh, North Carolina this April.
Stephen Lynn Gibson is a: concert pianist, minister, recording artist, chorale director, educator, composer, music arranger, and published author. Stephen began formal music studies on the violin at the age of six and piano after his instrument was delivered for his tenth birthday. Stephen has completed the Bachelors and Masters Degrees in piano performance at Howard University where he studied with Dr. Raymond Jackson. He has also earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology and Ministerial Studies from Columbia Union College. Stephen has served as a Director of Applied Music; and was the founder and director of the Ebeneezer School of Music in Lanham, MD. Over the past twenty-five years Stephen has served as a pastor in the mid-west, Minister of music at several churches in the Washington Metropolitan area and written and directed four original musicals. Currently Stephen is the pastor of the City Of Refuge Christian Fellowship in Bowie, MD, operates a full service recording studio and has a full time teaching schedule at his home in Bowie, MD.
Fukuko Goto started studying violin in Japan at the age of five. After graduating from Carleton College in Minnesota with a degree in Economics, she worked in an investment banking firm in New York before moving to Washington, DC to work at the International Finance Corporation. Fu lives alone and has no pets.
Victor Granado bass was born in Venezuela, at a very young age show a special interest in the performing arts. At the age of twelve he studied at The National School of Art in Venezuela. While attending to Law School he sang in at The Barquisimeto Bible Church Choir for 4 years. He came to the United States in 2006.
Nora Gump, viola, experience in several fields of music has made her a versatile and exciting artist to work with. An avid performer, Ms. Gump has won several scholarships and awards for her solo, chamber and orchestral abilities, which in turn have given her the opportunity to study with such teachers as Sally Peck, Ulrich Eichenauer, Patricia McCarty and James VanValkenberg. Ms. Gump is also an advocate for music education, and has recorded educational materials for private and classroom teaching for publishing companies such as Lorenz Publishing, C. Alan Publications and Lynne Latham Music. An experienced educator, Ms. Gump currently holds a studio of violin and viola students in Northern Virginia. Ms. Gump is currently working towards her DMA in viola performance at Shenandoah Conservatory, where she studies with Ms. Doris Lederer of the Audubon String Quartet.
Soprano Luctrician Hamilton, received her Doctor or Musical Arts at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana in the School of Music. Additional she studied at The Chautauqua Institute of Music in New York and The College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. Ms. Hamilton's venues have included the John F. Kennedy Center Washington, DC; Carnegie Hall, New York City, and The DuSable Museum of African American History, Chicago. At Avery Fisher Hall in New York City's Lincoln Center, Ms. Hamilton was soloist for Mozart's Requiem and for Moses Hogan's "His Light Still Shines"
Matthew Hardy, drums originally a guitarist of nine years, cannot seem to make up his mind as to which instrument to pursue. A drummer today, he hopes one day to have a solid grasp on the piano, as well as furthering his education after completing community college.
Guitarist Alex Hodge earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Professional Music from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, with concentrations in guitar performance, songwriting, and arranging. He studied classical guitar with Larry Snitzler and jazz guitar with Rick Whitehead at George Mason University where he earned a Master of Music degree in guitar performance. An award-winning multi-instrumentalist on guitar, 5-string banjo, mandolin, electric bass, he offers instruction in his private studio and at Kingstowne Acoustic Music in Alexandria, Virginia. He performs in the Washington D. C. metro area in several bluegrass and acoustic music bands, in various classical and jazz ensembles, and as a solo guitarist. www.alexhodge.net
Violinist Kevin Jang was born in the Philadelphia area where he was a student of Lee Snyder at the Settlement Music School. He continued his studies with Choong-Jin Chang, principal violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Yumi Ninomiya Scott, artist faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music. Kevin received his Bachelor's and Master's degree from the Peabody Institute of Music under the tutelage of Herbert Greenberg. While at Peabody he was awarded the J.C. Hulstyen Award twice for outstanding performance in violin. Mr. Jang currently completing his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree at the Catholic University of America as a student of laureate violinist Jody Gatwood. Other noted violinists that Kevin has worked closely with include William Preucil, Peter Zazofsky, Naoko Tanaka and David Updegraff. As soloist, Kevin has made concerto appearances at the Aspen Music Festival and the Cascade Festival of Music in Bend, Oregon. He has also performed with the Catholic University Symphony and the Peabody Conductor’s Orchestra. Kevin has collaborated as soloist with such conductors as Murry Sidlin, Elizabeth Schultze and Metropolitan Opera assistant conductor Kazem Abdullah. Mr. Jang served as one of the concertmasters of the Peabody Symphony for three years and was featured in this position in their performance at Alice Tully Hall in 2006. He has also appeared as guest concertmaster with the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and other various freelance groups in the DC area. An ardent chamber musician, Mr. Jang has worked closely with members of the Cleveland, Curtis, Brentano, Muir, Miro and Mendelssohn Quartets. Mr. Jang has performed in many of the nation’s premier festivals among them are the Aspen Music Festival, Kent/Blossom Music, where he was awarded the prestigious Joseph Gingold Award for outstanding performance of chamber music, the Emerging Quartet Program with the Muir Quartet and the ENCORE School for Strings. Upcoming projects include recording sessions of the standard quartet repertoire with Dorian Records in conjunction with the Shenandoah Conservatory and a faculty recital at the Washington Conservatory. A devoted teacher, Mr. Jang is currently faculty at the Washington Conservatory in Bethesda Maryland and maintains a private studio.
Mr. Johnnie Johnson, trumpeter, was raised in Georgia, performing in local churches in his family's band. There, he was inspired to develop his talent and learned to play most brass instruments and "a little piano." Currently, Mr. Johnson resides in Sterling and performs from time to time at the Heritage Fellowship United Church of Christ. For the last 20 years, he has played in a variety of Washington area big bands, including Tom Cunningham's Band. Spiritual expression has always been the foundation for Mr. Johnson's talent and love of music.
Marcus L. Jordan, clarinet, M.M., Indiana University-Bloomington, M.S. National Defense Intelligence College, B.M. Wichita State University, pursued D.M.A. studies at Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge. His teachers include Eli Eban, Alfred Prinz, and Howard Klug. Mr. Jordan was a recipient of the Claude and Polly Lambe Fellowship Award for study abroad from the Kansas Cultural Trust, and a Norfolk Music Festival-Yale Summer School of Music Fellowship. He currently performs in The Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra, and has performed in the Baton Rouge Symphony, and the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra. In addition, Mr. Jordan served as adjunct clarinet instructor at the University of Louisiana from 1999-2003. He has participated in the Sarasota, Norfolk Music Festival-Yale Summer School of Music, Chautauqua, and Brevard Music festivals, as well as the Mozarteum International Academy in Salzburg, Austria. Mr. Jordan is currently a federal government employee.
Pianist Susanna Kolker received her Baccalaureate and Masters from Gnessin Music Institute in Moscow, where she studied with acclaimed Professor Theodor Gutman, pupil of and assistant to the great Heinrich Neuhaus. Ms. Kolker has collaborated with many prominent musicians in Russia and participated in a number of music festivals in Russia, Bulgaria, Poland and the former Yugoslavia. She won Best Accompanist at the International Competition in Poland. In 2005, Ms. Kolker moved to the United States. Since then, she has appeared at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC., and also performed in New York, Boston and South Carolina. Ms. Kolker will be accompanying violinist Inessa Zaitseva.
Steve Krahling, clarinet, received his Master's degree in Clarinet from Northwestern University in 1986. He is a long time resident of the Washington Area and is a member of WPBC choir. He has appeared at the Kennedy Center under the director of Norman Scribner and as a soloist with the Reston Chorale.
Steve Krahling, baritone, is a long time resident of the Washington Area and is a member of WPBC choir. He has appeared at the Kennedy Center under the director of Norman Scribner and as a soloist with the Reston Chorale. He received his Master's degree in Clarinet from Northwestern University in 1986.
Soprano Elizabeth Lawrence is a resident of Falls Church, Virginia where she divides her time between performing and teaching. An active chamber musician, Dr. Lawrence has performed as soloist with numerous area ensembles including the Baltimore based Women's Composers Orchestra, the Peabody Percussion Orchestra, and Sonus Trio and in Washington DC, the Contemporary Music Forum, the American Camerata for New Music, the George Mason University Chorus, the Southwest Chamber Players, and the Bradley Hills Chancel Choir. In addition, she is a past recipient of the Baltimore Chamber Music award. In opera, Dr. Lawrence has appeared with the Peabody and Illini Opera theaters and the Carolina Baroque Opera in roles such as Susanna in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, Norina in Donizetti's Don Pasquale, and Calisto in Cavalli's La Calisto. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 1991 from the Peabody Conservatory where she was a student of Phyllis Bryn-Julson. Dr. Lawrence is currently soloist at Second Church of Christ Scientist in Arlington, VA and maintains a private vocal studio. From 1981 until August of 2004, she was a member of the Performing Arts faculty at the Madeira School in McLean, VA and from 2001 to 2004 she was the chair of this department.
Soprano Elizabeth Lawrence received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 1991 from the Peabody Conservatory. She has appeared with the Peabody and Illini Opera theaters and the Carolina Baroque Opera in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, Donizetti's Don Pasquale, and Cavalli's La Calisto. Since 1981, she has been a member of the performing arts faculty at the Madeira School in McLean, and was chair of the department from 2001 to 2004. She works with the Sonus Trio, the Contemporary Music Forum, and the American Camerata for New Music and is a past recipient of the Baltimore Chamber Music award.
Soprano Elizabeth Lawrence is a resident of Falls Church, where she maintains a private vocal studio, dividing her time between performing and teaching. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 1991 from the Peabody Conservatory where she was a student of Phyllis Bryn-Julson. Since 1981, she has been a member of the performing arts faculty at the Madeira School in McLean, and was chair of the department from 2001 to 2004.
Jihae Lim, a student of Dr. Linda Apple Monson and graduate of GMU, is currently a piano performance major in masters program at George Mason. She was the winner of the 2007 GMU Concerto Competition and performed a Mozart piano concerto with the GMU Symphony Orchestra. Jihae was chosen to perform in the 2006 GMU Honors Recital and she also performed in Old Town Hall in Fairfax as part of the 2005 and 2006 Spotlight on the Arts Scholarship Concert. In addition, she served as pianist for the theatre production of James Joyce's "The Dead" at George Mason in March of 2006. She also performed in master classes at GMU presented by Ruskin Cooper, Jeffrey Siegle, and Leon Bates. Jihae serves as pianist for the Korean Presbyterian Church in Fairfax, Virginia and Greenspring Church in Springfield, VA. A high school graduate of the International Christian School in Seoul, Korea. Jihae received first prize in the Young Artist Piano Competition in Seoul. Jihae is the recipient of the Peterson scholarship award.
Andrew Luse began studying piano at the age of eight. He performed his first concerto, the Piano Concerto in D major by Haydn, at the age of ten with the New England Youth Ensemble under the baton of Francisco de Araujo. He went on to solo with this orchestra several times over the next few years performing numerous piano concerti including the Keyboard Concerto in D minor by Bach, Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor by Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor by Beethoven, and Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy. Mr. Luse attended Princeton University where he earned a B.A. in History and a Certificate in Music Performance. As a freshman, he won the University Concerto Competition and performed the Double Piano Concerto in E-Flat Major with the Princeton University Orchestra. He received his Master’s Degree in Piano Performance from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. Mr. Luse’s teachers include Francisco de Araujo, Maribeth Gowen, Brian Ganz, Julian Martin, and Zitta Zohar. He has performed in Master Classes for Gary Graffman, Ivan Moravec, and the Brentano String Quartet. Mr. Luse was a participant in the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival, the Aspen Music Festival, and the New Millennium Piano Festival in Spain. Mr. Luse was an Artist-in-Residence from 2005-2006 at Strathmore Hall in Bethesda, MD. He performed four solo recitals at the Mansion at Strathmore in January 2006, and made his Kennedy Center debut in March 2006. In April 2006, he performed Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy to critical acclaim at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, MA. Mr. Luse is the Director of Classics on the Rocks (www.classicsontherocks.com), an organization devoted to bringing classical music to new generations. He is also the Director of Piano Studies at the Bach to Rock music schools. Visit his website at www.andyluse.net.
Millie Martin, bass, is a native Washingtonian. A graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music, she plays all styles form classical to modern, baroque to jazz. She has just returned from Graz, Austria as part of the AIMS Festival Opera Orchestra having worked with conductor Edwardo Muller. As a member of the early music chamber group, La Menenstrandise, she performed recitals at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, Alexandria's "First Nite" and performed as part of the DC's Early Music Festival. Some recent new music projects she has worked on include: Daniel Argento's EVENING SONG with the Cathedral Choral Society to be released in 2009 in honor of the centenial anniversary of the Washington National Cathedral; the BEATITUDE MASS composed and conducted by Henry Mollicone recorded with the Georgetown Chorale at the Basilica Shrine of the Immaculate Conception; the Wahington DC premier of John Adam's EL NINO as well as performances with him conducting his piece HARMONIUM both at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and the premier of the opera LATER THE SAME EVENING based on five paintings of Edward Hopper with the National Gallery Orchestra.
Sheryl Matthews - Niambus, guitar and vocal was introduce to music by her mother. A native of Boston, she went to the South End Music School for music theory and violin. Her first teacher, Mr. Vasolunus, 1st chair violinist for Boston Symphony Orchestra, instilled in her a dedication to her craft. She is self-taught in guitar and composes her own music.
James Mitchell, drums, was raised in Salisbury, Maryland. A percussionist since age six, he played in concert and marching band, All-Shore and All-State band in high school. While at Howard University, he joined the marching band and became a member of the drum line. Although his academic focus was graphic design and photography, he continued studying music and joined the MKL Church music minister.
Lucia Mollaioli, violin, has performed for a variety of audiences since she was 4 years old. Her violin teachers have included her mother, Eloise Hellyer; Vadim Brodsky, a Russian virtuoso; Vilmos Tatrai, Gilbert Zzina, Elaine Richey (former first violist of the Razamousky Quartet); Mark Rush, Monticello Trio; Dr. Eun-Sun Lee; Nicholas Mann (second violinist for the Mendelssohn String Quartet); and virtuoso, Amy Beth Horman. Ms Mollaioli earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Arizona and a Master of Music in violin performance from the North Carolina School of the Arts (NCSA). She also served in the U.S. Army for 3 years. Performances of note include performing with the NCSA orchestra in Avery Fisher Hall in New York City, and touring Europe with the NCSA International Music Program as a soloist. Ms. Mollaioli freelances as a chamber musician in the Washington DC area. She is currently concertmaster of the Trinity Chamber Orchestra, solos with them regularly and teaches privately in northern Virginia.
Kevin Nowak, bass has studied with Herb for 15 years and played the upright bass for four. He performs in many area venues.
Cynthia O'Connell, soprano, studied voice under the direction of Angele Michaud and John Bullock. She has sung at several churches in the DC area, as well as with the Arlington Metropolitan Chorus. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, she currently serves as Executive Director of the MIT Club of Washington DC, and runs a computer software consulting business with clients in the greater DC area.
Pianist Deborah O'Neil has served as music director and organist in various churches. She has accompanied her son, Ryan, since he began his cello studies and is pleased to accompany him again! Deborah is a middle school guidance coordinator and resides in Staunton, with her husband, Danny, and two cats.
Cellist Ryan O'Neil is a computer programmer by day and a cellist by night. He studied under Robert Marsh at the North Carolina School of the Arts and was a student of Tobias Werner with the Garth Newel Piano Quartet. Ryan resides in Vienna.
Cellist Ryan O'Neil is a computer programmer by day and a cellist by night. He studied under Robert Marsh at the North Carolina School of the Arts and was a student of Tobias Werner with the Garth Newel Piano Quartet. Ryan is a renewed Arlingtonian.
The Real Life Community Praise And Worship Teams consist of members from both praise and worship teams at Real Life Community Church: The Voices Of Real Life Praise and All God's Children. The two groups performs all songs that convey God's word, from alll different types of genres such as praise and worship, gospel, rock, rhythm and blues, reggae, jazz and original material.
Vocals Stacey Harris, Kadee Para, Warren Smith Saxophone: Dwight E. Harris, Trumpet : Chris Gallo, Alto Saxophone: Ryan Taylor, Lead Guitar: Chris Leade, Acoustic Guitar: Kathy Smith, Bass Guitar : Percy Burt, Drums: David Tillman, Piano/Keyboard: Jeff Snyder
Bonnie Resnick has played the violinsince she was eight. When not playing chamber music, she works on international investment policy at the Treasury Department. She studies with William Haroutounian of the National Symphony Orchestra.
Marion Richter, violinist, started violin lessons at age 7 in China. She has performed with Landon Symphonette and Rock Creek Chamber Players as both violinist and violist. Her two favorite chamber music partners are her 2 children, a budding violinist and a budding cellist. In her spare time, she works for the Department of Justice as an Information Technology Specialist.
Jeanne Rosenthal, viola is an avid chamber music player in the DC area for many years. She is a Vice President in the Health Studies Sector at Westat, a research firm in Rockville, MD.
Laila Sanie has spent the better part of her life singing, pausing occasionally to finish her degree at Northern Virginia Community College, after which she plans to continue both music and her studies. Also an accomplished visual artist, Laila's thirst for self-expression rarely goes unnoticed.
Jerry Schwarz, graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in linguistic anthropology, and was the principal clarinetist of the University Symphony. He began his career as an ESL specialist by serving three years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Senegal, West Africa and taught at American University for 25 years, taking time off for a Fulbright in Florence, Italy as a teacher-trainer and as an English instructor in Barcelona, Spain. He currently teaches at Montgomery College and performs regularly with the Southwest Chamber Player, the Friday Morning Music club, and is a founding member of the Dumbarton Chamber Ensemble.
Jerry Schwarz, clarinetist studied at the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in linguistic anthropology and was the principal clarinetist with the University Symphony. He performs with the Southwest Chamber Players, the Friday Morning Music Club, and is a founding member of the Dumbarton Chamber Ensemble.
World-class composer, pianist and arranger, Richard Smallwood has clearly and solidly changed the face of Gospel music. He can impeccably blend classical movements with Traditional Gospel, and arrive at a mix that is invariably Smallwood's alone. A diverse and innovative artist, Richard Smallwood has achieved many honors; Dove Awards, Stellar Awards and a Grammy also attest to his talents. Richard graduated cum laude from renowned Howard University with degrees in both Vocal Performance and Piano, in addition to graduate work in the field of Ethnomusicology. His musical gifts were stirred up early in life. At age five, he was playing the piano by ear; at seven, began formal training; and at eleven, formed his first Gospel group. Richard Smallwood is attributed with many gospel "firsts." He was a member of the first Gospel group on Howard University's campus, The Celestials. They were also the first Gospel group to appear at Switzerland's Montreaux Jazz Festival. In addition, Richard was one of the founding members of Howard's first Gospel choir, and The Richard Smallwood Singers were the first black Gospel group to go to the Soviet Union.
Herb Smith is from Memphis, Tennessee where he attend the prestigious Mananas High School. He received his Master's in Music Performance from Southern Illinois University in woodwinds saxophone, clarinet and flute, and piano. He taught jazz studies at Southern Illinois University and went on the Howard University as head of the Jazz Department. He worked with Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins and Johnny Hodges. Mr. Smith presently teaches at NOVA, Annandale Campus where he nurtures young musicians and old masters alike.
Laila Sanie, vocals, Kevin Nowak, bass, Matt Hardy, drum, Paulo, piano
Will Snyder, cello is from Gettysburg, PA and plays with Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra , PG Philharmonic and many area groups. Studied with Leonard Feldman of the Alard String Quartet.
Ron Skinner, Bass Guitar has been playing for over 20 years and has performed at George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Millennium Stage and internationally in Germany and Slovenia. He has played for Mosaic Harmony since 1994.
Ron Skinner, bass guitar has been playing Bass Guitar for over 20 years with a primary focus in Contemporary Gospel music although he also enjoys playing Traditional Gospel as well. He has been involved in several other music projects and has performed throughout the Washington, DC Metropolitan area at various venues including George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Millennium Stage. Ron has also performed internationally in Germany and Slovenia. In addition to working with Mosaic Harmony, Ron is a freelance Bass Guitarist/Guitarist utilizing his God-given talents. Ron has been the Bass Guitarist for Mosaic Harmony since 1994. Ron has been a support musician providing the rhythms of the bass guitar to the Martin Luther King Jr. Church community for over twenty years.
Violinist Judith Spokes is a versatile musician who has pursued Doctoral studies in Violin Performance at the Graduate School and University Center of the City in New York. Her major teachers include Itzhak Perlman and Maseo Kawasaki. Abroad, Ms. Spokes was invited to perform solos and recitals in France, Germany and China. She has done chamber and orchestral concerts in Israel and Jordan. In America, she has performed in most major New York concert halls including Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Ms. Spokes has won many prizes and awards. In 2002 she received a Fellowship to the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. Concerto competitions wins include performances as soloist with the Manhattanville Symphony, the Manchester Chamber Players and the Killington Festival Orchestra. The Culpeper News of Virginia said about her performance "Extraordinary, moving and superb performing" and the Newspaper of Forbach in France "musician of top rate, thrilled the audience with talent and sensitivity". The Konzer Rudschau of Trier in Germany said "her Mozart playing was clear, with a beautiful tone and expressive". Ms. Spokes joined the US Army Band in 2007.
Ms. Jane Tatum is a member of Washington Plaza Baptist Church. A native of Kentucky, Ms. Tatum has been performing in churches and neighboring venues since childhood. She is a member of the Laurel Branch Quartet, which recently performed for the third time at the annual Granville Johnson Bluegrass Festival in Indiana. This coming September, her group will appear locally in Virginia at the Bluemont Festival. Ms. Tatum has released two recordings, the first in 2001, with another more recently in 2005.
Joanna Walker, mezzo-soprano, began singing as a teen. She Majored in choir and operetta at the National Music Camp and has studied privately for many years. She is a member and frequent soloist in the choir of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax. She can be seen singing jazz and blues at local clubs.
Felicia Weiss, pianist, works at Fannie Mae as a Senior Product Manager. Originally from New York, she began studying piano at age nine and later formed a chamber ensemble that went on to win the Long Island Teen Talent competition. Currently, she studies piano with Myriam Avalos. Felicia lives in Washington, DC with her cocker spaniel, Wally, who listens attentively at her feet as she practices.
Felicia Weiss started piano at age nine and at ten, realized she loved chamber music when she performed a saxophone and piano duet with her father. Recently, she has been featured in an Austrian television documentary with violinist Marion Richter, is a member of the Friday Morning Music Club, and annually participates in AlpenKammerMusik, Austria, Apple Hill, New Hampshire, and Garth Newel, Warm Springs, VA. She studies with Myriam Avalos.
LaTia Wilson, Lyric Soprano, studied Vocal Performance and Music Education at both Morgan State University, and Howard University. During her college career, she had the opportunity to travel extensively and to perform with artists such as: Jessye Norman, Kathleen Battle, Moses Hogan, Robert Shaw, Dawn Upshaw, and Florence Quivar. Post-college, LaTia has performed with The Washington Opera and the American Center for Puccini Studies, and has performed for the White House and the Walt Disney Company. Additionally, she has taught both private voice and classroom music, and has also served as a choral director. Currently, LaTia can be found performing with Voices USA!, an octet of acappella singers that performs arrangements of everything from early American folk music to Jazz standards to Christmas carols.
Pianist Kathryn Wotring has lived and studied piano in the D.C. area for most of her life. She began studying the instrument at age 8 with Jim Lizelman and continues her studies today with Stephen Gibson. Performance highlights include several major concertos with area orchestras as well as trio and quartet ensemble performances with now current professional classical musicians. She is also a full-time piano teacher with 30 students.
Russian born cellist, Miron Yampolsky studied cello with the legendary Mstislav Rostropovich for 16 years, first at the Central Special Music School in Moscow and later at the Moscow Conservatory. After being awarded one of the top prizes in the International Chamber Music Competition in Munich, Germany, Mr. Yampolsky performed extensively as orchestral soloist, in recital as well as a member of the piano trio. After leaving SSSR for Israel he performed as a soloist with Kol Israel Symphony Orchestra and Haifa Symphony and in recitals throughout the country. After immigrating to the US, Mr. Yampolsky made his New York debut at Alice Tully Hall to rave reviews. Since then, he has been concertizing extensively throughout the US and has performed with many orchestras including Baltimore Symphony, Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra and others. Solo recitals took him to New York, Boston, San Francisco, Miami among others. He has made many radio broadcasts on WQXR and WNYC in New York and WGMS in Washington, DC. Frequent participant in music festivals, Mr. Yampolsky was invited to perform Tangelwood Summer Music Festival and Spoleto USA. As an active promoter of the contemporary music for Cello, Mr. Yampolsky was chosen to give a world premiere of Herman Berlinsky’s Sinfonia No. 10 for Violoncello and Organ in the Washington Cathedral, later repeated in New York and San Francisco. Mr. Yampolsky is also recipient of the prestigious Villa Lobos Memorial Medal for his efforts in promoting composer’s music in USA.
The Sisters in Christ grew out of the Spiritual Echoes Choir of First Baptist Church of Vienna through the inspiration of the Worship and Arts Minister, Ethel Bothuel. The group began when an ensemble was needed to sing along with the choir during a worship service. The Sisters in Christ sing traditional and contemporary gospel praise music for Sunday services and special events in churches throughout Northern Virginia. Although they come from various walks of life: education, government, telecommunications, they are united in the power of ministering to others through song.
The members of the ensemble are:
Ethel Bothuel, Director, Gainesville, VA; Karen Cathey, Soprano, Herndon, VA; Alfreder Gardner, Tenor, Wilmington, NC; Sandra Graham,Soprano, Herndon, VA; Geraldine Henryhand,Alto, Centreville, VA
The Voices Of Inspiration from Martin Luther King, Jr. Christian Church, grew out of a need and desire in 1990 to create a young persons' choir. It was formed by Stephanie Blackshear, soprano, pianist and Music Director at MLK Church, who has been its director over since. She has played piano since the age of five and studied classical music for ten year. Her greatest love is gospel music that stirs and uplifts the soul.
Sopranos - Mae Taylor, Madelyn Pauling, Nicki Lewis, Lotus Lee
Altos - Rachel Amaya, Janice Scott, Yanna Perkins
Tenors - Portia Johnson, Sheryl Matthews, Rodney Scott, Corena Alexander
James Mitchell, drums, was raised in Salisbury, Maryland. A percussionist since age six, he was in concert, marching band, All-Shore and All-State band in high school. While at Howard University, he joined marching band and was in the drum line.
Ron Skinner, Bass Guitar has been playing for over 20 years and has performed at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Millennium Stage and internationally in Germany and Slovenia. He has played for Mosaic Harmony since 1994.
Sheryl Matthews-Niambus, guitar and vocal was introduce to music by her mother. A native of Boston, she went to the South End Music School for music theory and violin. Her first teacher, Mr. Vasolunus, 1st chair violinist for Boston Symphony Orchestra, instilled in her a dedication to her craft. She is self-taught in guitar and composes her own music.
Washington Plaza Baptist Church Choir, we have a growing choir and an ambitious music program. We pride ourselves on the diversity of our music program, which includes Classical, Traditional, Contemporary, and Gospel music. The choir meets every Monday at 7:00 to 8:30 PM in the church sanctuary to rehearse for Sunday services and upcoming special events. New choir members are always welcome.
Soprano; Pamela Barr, Leomia Brunson, Shirley Goldstein, Ellie Portman, Cynthia O'Connell, Becky Nixon, LaTia Wilson
Alto; Edwina Chen,* Carolyn Rieth,* Kay Slater, Kathryn Wotring*
Tenor; Victor Granado,* Ryan O'Neil,* Steve Robinson, Joshua Willis
Bass; Steve Krahling,* Ray McLaine, Chad Surckla
WPBC Madrigals
Cynthia O'Connell, Soprano; Carolyn Rieth, Alto; Ryan O'Neil, Tenor; Steve Krahling Bass
Edwina Chen, Soprano; Kathryn Wotring, Alto; Ryan O'Neil, Tenor; Steve Krahling Bass