Alice Hamlet, Director
B.M., Manhattan School of Music; M. M., Manhattan School of Music. Ms. Hamlet studied cello with Robert Marsh, Richard Aaron, Marion Feldman and Julius Berger. Her chamber music instructors have included Laurie Carney, Dan Ashalomov, Dan Epstein, Curt Macomber, Jeffrey Cohen and Gerald Robbins. Ms. Hamlet's performances have included solo, orchestral and chamber music throughout the United States and Europe, including Carnegie Hall, the Cathedral St. John the Divine and Alice Tully Hall. Ms. Hamlet has performed for rock recordings with the New York-based indie bands The Larch, Liza and the Wonder Wheels and singer-songwriter Anton Roollaart under Umbrella Records.
Dmitry Palilov, piano
As a student in his native St. Petersburg , Russia , Mr. Palilov was a prize winner in several competitions including the St. Petersburg Composition Competition, the Schumann National Competition and the St. Petersburg Concerto Competition. Mr. Palilov has given recitals in Sweden , Lithuania and Germany and received international recognition at the Dobrich International Piano Competition in Bulgaria , the International Competiton for Contemporary Music in Germany and the Artists International Competition in New York . Mr. Palilov has performed at Steinway Hall, the 92 nd Street Y, Flushing Town Hall , Carnegie Hall and the Civic Center in San Francisco . He has been a featured artist on the radio station WQXR in New York . Mr. Palilov is currently a doctoral candidate and teaching assistant at the Manhattan School of Music.
Chrissy Fong, flute
A native of Skokie , Illinois , Ms. Fong is the 1997 winner of the All-American Music Festival solo competition and recipient of the Dorothy & Morris Grosser Award for Excellence in Woodwind Performance. She has appeared as guest solo artist with the California Music Festival Orchestra, the Niles North Symphony Wind Ensemble, the Niles North Symphonic Orchestra, the Brooklyn College Conservatory Wind Ensemble and the Brooklyn College Conservatory Orchestra. Ms. Fong has performed at Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Hammerstein Ballroom, Orchestra Hall (Chicago, IL) and Symphony Space in New York City. Ms. Fong holds the piccolo chair in the Brooklyn Symphony Oechestra and the Astoria Symphony. Ms. Fong has performed with the Queens Philharmonia (Principal Flute), Queens Royal Symphony Orchestra (Principal Flute), Prime Symphony Orchestra, New York Symphony Orchestra (Principal Flute), New York Repertory Orchestra and the Sebastian Chamber Players.
Elizabeth Janzen, flute
A native of Newfoundland, Canada, Ms. Janzen is rapidly establishing herself in the New York area as a prominent teacher and talented performer. Ms. Janzen has worked personally with renowned conductors such as Pierre Boulez and David Robertson and has participated in the National Academy Orchestra, the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival and the Sarasota Music Festival. In 2005 Ms. Janzen gave her debut recital at Carnegies Weill Recital Hall and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree at the Manhattan School of Music, where she is a faculty member of the preparatory division.
Andre Canniere, trumpet
Since his arrival in New York City in 2003, Andre has been performing and recording with a variety of musicians in the metropolitan area. He has performed with some of New York's most respected jazz musicians including the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Gary Morgan’s PanAmericana Big Band, Donny McCaslin, Mike Holober, Ingrid Jensen, Jon Wikan, Ben Monder, James Carney, Rich Perry and Jeff Ballard. In September 2005 he appeared as a soloist with the Astoria Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Aaron Copland's “ Quiet City ”. Andre has also performed as principal trumpet with several orchestras including the Westchester Chamber Orchestra, The New York Repertory Orchestra and The Astoria Symphony. Recently he held the trumpet position in Prospect Theater's off-Broadway musical “The Pursuit of Persephone”. He has performed at notable venues in New York City including Birdland, Kaye’s Playhouse at Hunter College , Kavehaz, the Knitting Factory, the Bowery Poetry Club and CBGB’s. In addition to performing in New York , Andre has played in several cities throughout the US and Europe , including Boston , Philadelphia , Chicago , Rochester , London , Brussels , Munich , Rome and Venice .
Momoko Matsumura, violin
Originally from Japan, Momoko Matsumura graduated from Kyoto City University of the Arts where she earned her B.A. and M.A. in Music Performance. Recently, Ms. Matsumura finished her M.A. and Artist Diploma at Montclair State University in New Jersey with Yi-Wen Jiang of the Shanghai String Quartet. In 2003-2004, Ms. Matsumura was selected as a fellowship student at the Kent/Blossom Music Festival, Cleveland, Ohio where she performed as soloist and served as concertmistress of the orchestra. In 2004, she received a full scholarship to the National Orchestra Institution in Maryland and in the summer of 2005, Ms. Matsumura was invited as a full scholarship recipient to the National Youth Orchestra Academy in Holland where she served as concertmistress. Ms. Matsumura is the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards, including The Shanghai String Quartet Scholarship. She has been chosen as an Outstanding Graduate Student of the School of Arts for 2002, 2003 and 2004 at Montclair State University where she was the winner of the MSU concert competition in 2005. She is currently a member of the Hartford Symphony, Orchestra New England, Norwalk Symphony, Waterbury Symphony and Haddonfield Symphony. Momoko is also a founding member of the Montclair String Quartet.
Ran Tao, violin
Ms. Tao, a native of Shanghai, China, began her violin playing at age six. At age ten, she was selected to enter the China Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing where she received the prestigious Violin Performance Certificate. She was awarded full scholarship to the Pre-College Division of Manhattan School of Music in 1991 and went on to receive both her B.M. and M.M. degrees as a full scholarship recipient of the Manhattan School of Music. Ms. Tao is the recipient of the Mik van Embden Hahm Memorial Scholarship Award for Excellence in Violin, the Central Park West Congregational Habonim Fund Scholarship Award for Young Performing Artist, the National Deans List Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Study of Music and the Stamas Fund Scholarship Award from New York Philharmonic. Ms. Tao was twice the First Prize Winner of Beijing Youth Violin Competition and has performed with various orchestras throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Florida with ensembles including the Jupiter Symphony, Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Long Island Philharmonic,NYC Master Choral, the Modus Opera Company, Westchester Philharmonic, New Jersey Philharmonic, Pennsylvania Sinfornia, North-Eastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Manchester Chamber Orchestra, and the New World Symphony. Ms. Tao has been invited to perform with renowned music academies including the Pacific Music Festival in Japan, Verbier Music Academy in Switzerland, American Institute of Musical Studies in Austria, National Orchestral Institute in Maryland, Manchester Music Festival in Vermont and Bowdoin Music Festival in Maine. Besides her performing career, Ms. Tao is the teaching assistant to Michelle Kim, Associate Concertmaster of New York Philharmonic and Professor Stanley Bednar at Manhattan School of Music. She is also the violin faculty at New Jersey Workshop for the Arts.
Joy Yi-Hua Chang, violin
Two-time winner of the New Zealand Chamber Music Competition, Taiwanese-born violinist Joy Yi-Hua Chang received her musical training on three different continents including Taiwan, New Zealand, Australia and the USA. She has gained international recognitions as a chamber, orchestral and solo artist. A founding member of the award winning chamber ensemble - The Johalyn Trio (1995-1998), Ms. Chang has premiered works by Edwin Carr, one of New Zealands most celebrated composers. The trio has also made broadcasts for the New Zealand national classical radio station - the concert FM. As an orchestral musician, Ms. Chang has worked with conductors including Leonard Slatkin, Sir Colin Davis, Kurt Masur and Pinchas Zuckerman. She has played with the Honolulu Symphony, performing with distinguished artists such as violinists Elmar Oliveira and Lara St. John; pianist Fabio Bidini; Oscar, Grammy, Tony and Golden Globe winner Marvin Hamlisch; music legends Pat Benatar, The Temptations and Wynonna Judd. As a soloist, she has appeared in numerous recitals in the United States, most recently for the Youth Symphony for United Nations, in Europe, in Sydney, Australia and throughout New Zealand.
Sarah Weiss, viola
Ms. Weiss is a graduate of CUNYfs Aaron Copland School of Music where she received the Community Service Award for Performing and served as principal violist for the Queens College orchestra. Ms. Weiss has been performing with symphonic and chamber ensembles in the New York area since 2000, including performances at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, 92nd Street Y, New York Public Library: Donnell, Flushing Town Hall, Lefrak Concert Hall, Hofstra University Opera Theater, St. Peterfs Church (Islip) and Queens College Musical Theater.
Ms. Chang holds a Bachelors degree from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in Australia, and a Masters degree in Violin Performance from the Manhattan school of Music where she studied with Dr. Curtis Macomber. She is currently a member of the Haddonfield Symphony in New Jersey.
Tessera Quintet
Tessera Quintet, founded in 2006 by Maureen Keenan, Akari Yamamoto and Daniel Liao is based in New York City. This talented group of artists focuses its energies on repertoire which best exemplifies the myriad combinations available from what is most analogous to a mosaic of sound.
Flutist Maureen Keenan was born on Long Island and raised in California, having studied with David Shostac at California State University Northridge as well as Tara O'Connor at State University of New York at Purchase. In 2006 she was selected by Artists International to present a solo recital for her Carnegie Hall debut. In addition to an active schedule as a teacher and performer, Ms. Keenan is currently engaged in doctoral studies at the City University of New York.
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Akari Yamamoto is an active freelance clarinetist whose teachers have included Kazuko Ninomiya, Ayako Oshima and Charles Neidich. A Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar, she holds a Bachelor of Music from Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo and a Master of Music from SUNY Purchase, and has appeared in many music festivals around the world, including the Martha Argerich Music Festival, the Sarasota Music Festival, and the Bayreuth Young Musicians Festival. In frequent demand in the New York area as an orchestral and chamber musician as well as a teacher, in 2005 as a member of Eastern Winds Ms. Yamamoto was awarded her Carnegie Hall debut by Artists International.
A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, founding bassoonist Daniel Liao received his training at Brandon University and the University of Western Ontario, and counts Vincent Ellin and James McKay amongst his principal teachers. In Canada, Mr. Liao has appeared in performances with composers R. Murray Shaffer, Gary Kulesha and Philip Glass. Since settling in New York City, he has served as principal bassoonist with a host of area ensembles, including the New York Repertory Orchestra, One World Symphony, and the Astoria Symphony and has premiered new works by composers such as Leo Kraft and Benjamin Lees.
In addition to his work as a new member of Tessera Quintet, hornist Daniel Partridge has performed with the New Haven Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Bronx Symphony, New England Symphonic Ensemble, and many other area orchestras. He holds Masters Degrees in both music performance and music theory from Mannes College of Music, where he was a winner of the Felix Salzer Techniques of Music Award. Mr. Partridge is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Music Theory at the CUNY Graduate Center, while teaching music theory at Mannes College of Music, and both music theory and horn at Hofstra University.
As Tessera Quintet's newest member, Jeanette Zyko is most sought by ensembles focusing on the music of our time, having been a member of TACTUS Contemporary Ensemble since 2003. As an orchestral musician she has performed with ensembles such as the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. With teachers such as Humbert Lucarelli, Malcolm Smith and Stephen Taylor, Ms. Zyko received her training at the Hartt School of Music and Butler University, and in 2006 was the first oboist to receive the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Manhattan School of Music. She is currently on the faculty of the Long Island Conservatory.
Eleni Yalanis, violin
Ms. Yalanis is a member of the Sarasvati String Quartet and has appeared as a violinist and vocalist with the New York Metro Mass Choir. As a free-lance musician in New York City , Ms. Yalanis is featured regularly as a soloist with the Voices in Unity Choir and numerous area churches, specializing in performance for religious services. Ms. Yalanis currently teaches violin on the faculties of the Brooklyn-Queens Conservatory and the Monmouth Conservatory of Red Bank, NJ.
Jennifer Axelson, violin and jazz violin
A native of Wisconsin, Ms. Axelson recieved a B.M. from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and an M.A. from New York University. Ms. Axelson has performed with the Madison Symphony, Dubuque Symphony and is currently a member of the Astoria Symphony. Ms. Axelson instructs string ensembles and jazz violin improvisation at the Brooklyn-Queens Conservatory.
Tamami Aburakawa, piano and jazz piano
Ms. Aburakawa has performed as soloist, accompanist and chamber musician throughout the world, and has been especially sought after as an accompanist for film and theatre, and as an improviser and jazz composer. Ms. Aburakawa holds degrees from the Musashino University of Music ( Tokyo ) and the Manhattan School of Music. Her music is known to and performed by respected artists worldwide including Kenny Baron, Reggie Johnson, and Alvin Queen, who played her works at the International Jazz Festival in Berne , Switzerland . As an educator, Ms. Aburakawa has taught for the Early Ear Music Program in New York , and on the music faculty of the Japanese School in Zurich and is currently on the faculty of the Suburban Community Music Center (NJ).
Alice Hamlet
Ten Strings Music Studio
alice@tenstringsmusicstudio.com
www.myspace.com/tenstringsmusicstudio
www.newyorkweddingmusic.blogspot.com
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