Hailed by the New York Times as possessing “rich tone and deft technique,” Hannah Porter Occeña is Assistant Professor of Flute at the University of Northern Iowa and Principal Flutist of the Topeka Symphony Orchestra (Topeka, KS). Previous positions include Principal Flute of the Midwest Chamber Ensemble (Prairie Village, KS) and Associate Principal Flute of […]
Oboist Jordan Pyle’s love of music came at an early age when she fell in love with Mozart operas—dancing, singing, and acting out scenes from The Magic Flute. This passion for musical storytelling is the foundation of her oboe playing. Jordan Pyle is 2nd oboe/English horn with the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra. She has previously held the […]
Festival Artist Lucas Borges is an Assistant Professor of Trombone at Ohio University (OU) and is a Conn-Selmer Performing Artist. He holds a Doctoral degree from the University of North Texas (UNT), Master’s degree from Indiana University and a Bachelor’s degree from Universidade de Brasilia (Brazil). Before his appointment at OU, Dr. Borges served as a teaching […]
Festival Artist Daniel Kelly, a native of Charleston, SC, is associate professor of trumpet at Texas A&M University-Commerce. He joined the A&M-Commerce faculty in the fall of 2010 after serving on the faculty of Indiana State University and the University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Kelly is a member of the Dallas Winds (formerly the Dallas […]
Festival Artist April Fredrick is a soprano with a passion for nuance and text which gets to the heart of both music and character. Equally at home on the opera stage, concert hall and recording studio, April has recently premiered the title role of John Joubert’s opera Jane Eyre in a live concert recording for […]
Dr. Lauren Spaulding, under the alias of @MonochromeViola, has established herself as a rising genre-defying soloist and chamber musician through her “anonymous practice blog” on Instagram. As a lover of learning, Spaulding has sought a variety of mentorship and has worked intensively under the tutelage of Professor Peter Slowik at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, […]
Winner of the Audience Prize at the Leeds Conductors’ Competition for his “electric conducting”, MahlerFest Fellow and Assistant Conductor Michael Karcher-Young combines an innate musicianship with a visceral presence on the podium, and is a passionate advocate for classical music in today’s world. Michael is Artistic Director and co-founder of the Beethoven Orchestra for Humanity, […]
Cellist Parry Karp is Artist-in Residence and Professor of Chamber Music and Cello, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he is director of the string chamber music program. He has been cellist of the Pro Arte Quartet for the past 48 years, the longest tenure of any member in the quartet’s over 100 year history. […]
Festival Artist Daniel Silver, professor of clarinet at CU, is a versatile performer and teacher whose career encompasses a full range of musical activities from recitals and solo appearances, to chamber music, teaching and orchestral playing. His performing has garnered critical acclaim across the country. Praised for his “sense of freedom and extraordinary control,” (Washington […]
Festival Artist Lydia Van Dreel, Professor of Horn at the University of Oregon, joined the faculty in 2006. Prior to that appointment, they held a ten-year tenured position as Co-Principal Horn of the Sarasota Orchestra in Sarasota, Florida. Van Dreel earned the Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Wisconsin—Madison, and the Master of […]
Pianist and Festival Artist Jennifer Hayghe is an Associate Professor of Piano in the Roser Piano and Keyboard Area at the University of Colorado Boulder. She has performed in solo recitals and made orchestral appearances throughout the world, including the United States, Europe and Asia. Hayghe received her bachelors, masters degrees and doctorate degree in […]
Hailed by Gramophone as a “symphonic conductor of stature,” conductor, cellist, composer, rock guitarist and author Kenneth Woods has worked with the National Symphony Orchestra (USA), Royal Philharmonic, Cincinnati Symphony, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia and English Chamber Orchestra. He has also appeared on the stages of some of […]