Natasha Snitkovsky

Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, Natasha Snitkovsky was already "playing" the piano at the age of two. She graduated from the elite Central Music School in Moscow and recieved her MM degree from the historic and world famous Moscow Conservatory, where she studied with legendary professor, Jacob Milstein. Even before graduation, Snitkovsky performed numerous recitals and concerti with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra in Bolshoi Hall. The late Aram Khatchaturian composed a number of works for her including "Seven Recitatives and Fugues". First prize winner of D'Angelo International Piano Competition and Passamanneck Competition, Natasha has performed extensively in recitals, with orchestras and in chamber music appearances throughout the USA. She performed in recital at Carnegie Hall, New York and has been a soloist with the American Wind Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, and Bedford Spring Festival. Media exposures have included performances on the "Pittsburgh 2 Day" television program of KDKA and WQED. She was also interviewed on Bloomberg Radio WBBR in New York City and was included in "Who's Who Among American Teachers" 2003. The American Music Scholarship Association presented Natasha Snitkovsky "Master Teacher" award. She has given Master classes in Japan, Taiwan, Israel, Italy, Mexico and USA. Ms. Snitkovsky is currently on the faculty of Duquesne University and her students won numerous competitions including the Stravinsky Competition, World Piano Competition, From the Top Competition, Bartok Competition and many others. She is a cofounder of City Music Center.

Brian Buckley

Brian Buckley is a Pittsburgh native and holds a Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano from Carnegie Mellon University. He earned his Bachelor of Music from Duquesne University, where he now works as an Adjunct Professor of Musicianship. Brian has had the privilege to perform extensively in the region as well as across the United States and internationally. He is also a very active professional musician with a broad experience as a writer, composer, music director, ensemble musician, rehearsal pianist, teacher, lecturer and church musician.

Israel Kremen

DMA, Music Composition, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; MMA, Music Composition, Theory and Piano, Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory of Music, St Petersburg, Russia; piano and chamber music compositions published in Russia, recorded in the U.S., performed in New York, Boston, Pittsburgh, Houston and Milwaukee.

Two CDs of Israel's piano music "Kaleidoscope of 25 Preludes and Fugues," performed by Irena Portenko in 2009, were released in 2011, and can be purchased at www.bluegriffin.com.

Ryan McMasters

Christopher Bromley

B.M. in Performance, Duquesne University
Artist Diploma, Duquesne University
M.S. in Education, Duquesne University

Christopher Bromley began his musical training at the age of ten at The Academy of Music, a comprehensive community music program located in Mahwah, New Jersey. Once in high school, Chris left the Academy of Music to study at the pre-college division of Manhattan School of Music in New York City. In 1997, he moved to Pittsburgh to study cello performance at Duquesne University with Misha Quint, with whom he had studied in New York. After his undergraduate study, Bromley began teaching private cello lessons as well as group classes at the Waldorf School of Pittsburgh.

In 2005, Chris returned to Duquesne to pursue an Artist Diploma in Cello Performance. In 2007, he was a winner of the Duquesne Concerto Competition and performed as a soloist with the Duquesne Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Sidney Harth.

After his graduate studies, Chris reunited with his former teachers Quint and Harth, to serve as Festival Manager for the Interharmony International Music Festival. In his position he started and managed music festivals in the US and Europe for students aged 7-25. After several years with Interharmony, Chris accepted a position at Duquesne University as the Manager of Musical Events. In July of 2011, Chris was appointed Director of City Music Center Center where he currently works to help provide a comprehensive musical education to any interested student.

Eric Brockschmidt—Chair of Guitar

BFA Indiana University of Pennsylvania, MM Duquesne University. Solo Guitarist in both Classical and Jazz. Eric performed the North American premiere of Giorgio Mirto's Quintet with the Faure String Quartet. A regular local performer, he has been involved with several international competitions and conventions.

Justin Bechak

Mark Koch

Mark Koch is the Director of Jazz Guitar at Duquesne University, Director of Duquesne University's Summer Guitar and Bass Workshop and Co-director of student Jazz guitar ensembles. His guitar teachers were Hoyt "Slim" Bryant, Joe Negri, Ron Anthony, Joe Carola, Jazz theory and piano with Robert Doak, and Composition with Mike Tomaro; Director of Jazz Studies at Duquesne University. Mark Koch also studied with Pat Martino and appeared with Mr. Martino in the documentary film, "Pat Martino: Open Road."

As a performer with various ensembles, Koch has opened for John Scofield, Diane Schuur, Tony Bennett, Emily Remler, Leni Stern, Yellow Jackets, Joe Beck, Gene Bertoncini and bassist Michael Moore, Delbert McClinton, Randy Brecker, Pat Metheny, Joshua Redman, Joe Pass, Barney Kessel, Stanley Turentine, Concord Jazz Guitar Collective, Kool and the Gang, Three Dog Night, Chubby Checker, and Joan Rivers.

He has accompanied a variety of artist in performances and clinics; Max Roach, Frank Gambale, Emily Remler, Tommy Tedesco, John Pisano, Jimmy Bruno, Howard Alden, Seymour Duncan, Steve Dudas, Johnny Hiland, Bob Babbitt, Carol Kaye, Joe Negri, Bill Warfield, Sheryl Bailey, Mike Stern, Tim Eyermann, Little Anthony, Jerry Vale, Charo, Frankie Avalon, Robert Guillaume, Peter Noone, Tommy Roe, Martha Reeves, Al Martino, Jimmy Beaumont, Bobby Rydell, Gianna Russo, Lou Christie, and a PBS Oldies Spectacular TV Show with Davey Jones, Roger McGuinn and Mitch Ryder, plus Forty-five (45) other performers, will be aired 2010-2011 season.

Mark is the Administrative Director of the MENC/NAMM/GAMA (Music Educators National Conference / National Association of Music Merchants / Guitar and Accessories Marketing Association) "Teaching Guitar" in the classroom program, which was created to revitalize the guitar in education. This very successful task force has trained more than 1,000 high school and middle school music teachers across the United States, who in turn taught more than 280,000 young guitarists. His solid reputation as a studio musician had led him to recording sessions for US Airways, Pappan Restaurants, the University of Pittsburgh, Roy Rogers, and Four Star Pizza. He has also worked with local radio and TV stations such as WQED, WTAE, WDVE, 3WS and WPXI.

Koch was the musical supervisor for the Mel Shapiro's "The Lay Of The Land," directed by actress Lee Grant. He was also the guitarist for the Pittsburgh Public Theatre Production of "The Hairy Ape" with musical director and Jazz legend Max Roach. The production, directed by George Ferencz, was filmed for the Lincoln Center Archives. He was a Guest Speaker in a 2000 City Theatre production of "Sideman."

Mark was nominated Best Guitarist in Pittsburgh Magazine in 1989, 1990, and 1998.

Mark Koch endorses Benedetto Jazz Guitars and Fender Musical Instruments.

Ryan McMasters

R.J. Zimmerman

R.J. Zimmerman has been teaching and performing in the Pittsburgh area since the early 90's. Earning a Bachelor of Music degree in Classical Guitar Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University, he then returned to Pittsburgh to work on a Master of Music degree and Artist Diploma in Jazz Guitar performance at Duquesne University, where he studied with Mark Koch, Joe Negri and Tom Kikta. While at Duquesne his love for Jazz continued to grow and he began using classical guitar techniques in a jazz setting. He has performed in master classes with Jimmy Bruno, Henry Johnson, Jesus Silva, David Russell, and Dennis Koster.

R.J. is currently an Adjunct Professor of Guitar at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pa. At Duquesne, R.J. teaches Guitar for Music Therapy, Guitar for Music Education, Discovering Music with the Guitar, as well as, Applied Jazz Guitar. R.J. continues to teach privately and perform throughout the Pittsburgh area. He is also the Workshop Coordinator for the Duquesne University Guitar and Bass Workshop and is a member of the Board of Advisers for the Guitar Society of Fine Arts. R.J. is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda and endorses Benedetto Guitars.

Jesse Naus—Chair of Music Technology

Jordan Mroziak

Jayne McDonald—Chair of Musicianship

BMusEd, Messiah College; Dalcroze Elementary Certificate, Carnegie Mellon University; MMus Education, Duquesne University. Devoted to children's music, curriculum development and music education for all students, she has taught general music and directs choral music at Highland Middle School in the Blackhawk School District for over twenty years, where she also directs the high school choral ensemble, Expressions. Jayne also serves as director of music at a church in the Pittsburgh area where she directs an adult choir, accompanies worship and is developing a mini-music camp for young children. She also directs 150 voice youth choir every July at Camp Lambec on the shores of Lake Erie.

Thomas Blobner

BA, University of Pittsburgh; graduate studies with Joseph W. Jenkins, Theory/Composition, Duquesne University; faculty, LaRoche College and University of Pittsburgh; Chair, Musicianship Program, CCAC.

Brian Buckley

Brian Buckley is a Pittsburgh native and holds a Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano from Carnegie Mellon University. He earned his Bachelor of Music from Duquesne University, where he now works as an Adjunct Professor of Musicianship. Brian has had the privilege to perform extensively in the region as well as across the United States and internationally. He is also a very active professional musician with a broad experience as a writer, composer, music director, ensemble musician, rehearsal pianist, teacher, lecturer and church musician.

Emily Paladin

Emily graduated from the Robert E. Cook Honors College at Indiana University of Pennsylvania with Bachelor of Science in Music Education. She studied piano under Jacqueline Anderson and Edwin Fry, and voice with Joanne Luchsinger. Emily is a member of the Pittsburgh Madrigal Singers and the Zelienople-Harmony Community Band.

Jason Steele

BAMU, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Baritone Jason Steele has sung numerous roles across both operatic and musical theatre platforms with Pittsburgh Opera, DeAngelo Opera, Greensburg American Opera, The Academy Theatre, and New Kensington Civic Theatre: they include Don Giovanni Don Giovanni, Ein Perukenmaker Ariadne auf Naxos, The Jailor Tosca, Arthur Jones Billy Budd, Nathan Detroit Guys and Dolls, Billy Bigelow Carousel, and Captain Von Trapp The Sound of Music. Mr. Steele’s film/television credits include work with Five Cent Productions, and several television commercials through Ryno Productions, Blackbox Studios, and Mogul Mind. Mr. Steele has taught chorus, band and general classroom music for 15 years.

Jordan Mroziak—Chair of Online Learning

Emily Paladin

Emily graduated from the Robert E. Cook Honors College at Indiana University of Pennsylvania with Bachelor of Science in Music Education. She studied piano under Jacqueline Anderson and Edwin Fry, and voice with Joanne Luchsinger. Emily is a member of the Pittsburgh Madrigal Singers and the Zelienople-Harmony Community Band.

Jason Steele

BAMU, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Baritone Jason Steele has sung numerous roles across both operatic and musical theatre platforms with Pittsburgh Opera, DeAngelo Opera, Greensburg American Opera, The Academy Theatre, and New Kensington Civic Theatre: they include Don Giovanni Don Giovanni, Ein Perukenmaker Ariadne auf Naxos, The Jailor Tosca, Arthur Jones Billy Budd, Nathan Detroit Guys and Dolls, Billy Bigelow Carousel, and Captain Von Trapp The Sound of Music. Mr. Steele’s film/television credits include work with Five Cent Productions, and several television commercials through Ryno Productions, Blackbox Studios, and Mogul Mind. Mr. Steele has taught chorus, band and general classroom music for 15 years.

Perry Jonathon Gatch III

BMus, Education; MMus, Performance, Duquesne University; studies with Gerald Unger, Andrew Reamer, Stanley Leonard and Lenny Rogers; freelancer in the Pittsburgh area since 1990; Adjunct Professor, Mus. Ed., Duquesne University; Chair, Percussion Department, Westminster College; founding member of "Tempus Fugit," a performing percussion ensemble.

Natasha Snitkovsky—Artistic Director, Chair of Piano Department

Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, Natasha Snitkovsky was already "playing" the piano at the age of two. She graduated from the elite Central Music School in Moscow and recieved her MM degree from the historic and world famous Moscow Conservatory, where she studied with legendary professor, Jacob Milstein. Even before graduation, Snitkovsky performed numerous recitals and concerti with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra in Bolshoi Hall. The late Aram Khatchaturian composed a number of works for her including "Seven Recitatives and Fugues". First prize winner of D'Angelo International Piano Competition and Passamanneck Competition, Natasha has performed extensively in recitals, with orchestras and in chamber music appearances throughout the USA. She performed in recital at Carnegie Hall, New York and has been a soloist with the American Wind Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, and Bedford Spring Festival. Media exposures have included performances on the "Pittsburgh 2 Day" television program of KDKA and WQED. She was also interviewed on Bloomberg Radio WBBR in New York City and was included in "Who's Who Among American Teachers" 2003. The American Music Scholarship Association presented Natasha Snitkovsky "Master Teacher" award. She has given Master classes in Japan, Taiwan, Israel, Italy, Mexico and USA. Ms. Snitkovsky is currently on the faculty of Duquesne University and her students won numerous competitions including the Stravinsky Competition, World Piano Competition, From the Top Competition, Bartok Competition and many others. She is a cofounder of City Music Center.

Inessa Beylin

Honors graduate, Mussorgsky College of Music; Advanced Performance Degree, Tel Aviv University; vocal coach/accompanist, Academy of Music, Tel Aviv University, International Vocal Arts Institute, Italy and Israel; Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music.

Dr. Mary Lynne Bennett

Dr. Mary Lynne Bennett, NCTM, received bachelors' degrees in biopsychology and music education from Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music, a master's degree in piano pedagogy from West Chester University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano pedagogy from the University of South Carolina. She currently serves on the piano faculty at Duquesne University and taught on the faculty of Fairmont State University in Fairmont, WV, from 2003-2012. She has taught piano, general and choral music and served as an accompanist and music adjudicator in private, public, community music school, and university settings in Ohio, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, South Carolina, and West Virginia. She has worked for the Educational Testing Service on the Music Assessments for the NAEP. Dr. Bennett is a permanent Nationally Certified Teacher of Music in piano with the Music Teachers National Association. She is also a member of the College Music Society, the National Association for Music Education, and a patroness of Sigma Alpha Iota.

Ron Bickel—Jazz Piano

MMus, Duquesne University; faculty, Pittsburgh Public Schools and Duquesne University; extensive jazz performances locally and nationally.

Dr. Taras Filenko

Dr. Taras Filenko, musicologist and pianist, studied piano performance, music theory and music history in Kyiv and Moscow, before graduating from the National Academy of Music in Ukraine, where he received his Ph.D. in historic musicology in 1989. He was awarded a second doctorate in ethnomusicology from the University of Pittsburgh in 1998.

Dr. Filenko has worked in the fields of history of music, ethnomusicology and music performance (piano and organ) for over twenty-five years. In 1986, Taras Filenko was appointed to teach Ukrainian music, piano and piano literature courses at the National Academy of Music in Ukraine. For five years, he also served as a lecturer in the History of Ukrainian Music Department, and, subsequently, for five years as Assistant Dean of the Conducting and Voice Departments.

Successfully combining his work as a scholar, teacher and performer, Taras Filenko has lectured, taught and performed throughout the world. His concert appearances have taken him to Russia, Ukraine, England, France, Poland, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Russia, the Baltic States, Serbia, Canada, Costa Rica, and the US. His recordings include classical music and jazz arrangements and, frequently, his concerts and media appearances promote the works of contemporary Ukrainian composers.

Dr. Filenko is the recipient of Petesh and two Fulbright scholarships. He has participated in numerous musicological conferences and in international symposiums in Belgium, France, Canada, the United States, England, Poland, the Baltic States, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Russia.

Since 1998, Dr. Filenko is on the faculty of City Music Center, at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

Hsiaolun Huang

Igor Kraevsky

BMus and MMus, Diploma with Distinction, St. Petersburg Conservatory; Artist Diploma, Duquesne University; winner of National competitions in Russia and Ukraine; taught and performed in L'Academie de Musique d' Epinal and L'Academie de Musique de Guerande; faculty member, L'Academie International de Musique de Semur an Auxois de Bourgogne in France; concertized throughout Eastern Europe, France, Germany, Spain and the U.S.; cofounder, Annual Shady Side Chamber Music Festival and music festival "Spring in Moulin d'Ande" in France; Chair, Music Department, Berkley Carroll School, Brooklyn, NY; founding member, Pittsburgh Piano Trio.

Edwarda Kremen

BMus, Piano Pedagogy, Mussorgsky College of Music; MMus, Piano and Choral Conducting, Institute of Culture, St. Petersburg, Russia; piano faculty, Children's Choral School, St. Petersburg and Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, Milwaukee; staff accompanist, University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee; winner, Wisconsin Public TV Music Competition; chamber music recitals in Russia and the U.S.

Israel Kremen

DMA, Music Composition, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; MMA, Music Composition, Theory and Piano, Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory of Music, St Petersburg, Russia; piano and chamber music compositions published in Russia, recorded in the U.S., performed in New York, Boston, Pittsburgh, Houston and Milwaukee.

Two CDs of Israel's piano music "Kaleidoscope of 25 Preludes and Fugues," performed by Irena Portenko in 2009, were released in 2011, and can be purchased at www.bluegriffin.com.

Aida Olarte

Kazumi Petinaux

BMus, Kunitachi College of Music, Tokyo, Japan; MMus, Duquesne University, Vocal Coaching and Piano Accompaniment ; accompanist, Cleveland Opera, Pittsburgh Boys' and Duquesne University: faculty, Point Park University, University of Akron: performed US, Russia and Japan: music director of children's choir, Hudson Presbyterian Church.

Anoush Tchakarian

Anoush Tchakarian started playing piano at the age of four and at the age of five she was accepted in the first of its kind class for gifted children at the Music School “Lubomir Pipkov” in Sofia, Bulgaria. In 1997, Anoush graduated with excellence in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy. Shortly thereafter she took her exceptional Bachelor Degree in Piano Performance at the National Music Conservatory in Sofia, in the piano class of Professor Marina Kapatsinskaya. During these years, Anoush participated in several national and international festivals in Bulgaria, England, and Finland as a soloist, as well as with different chamber music ensembles. She is a laureate from the 1997 National Competition for German and Austrian Music, and the recipient of the Special Prize of His Excellency the German Ambassador in Bulgaria. She was a soloist for the National Music Conservatory Orchestra in 2001 in Sofia, and soloist for the Duquesne Symphony Orchestra in Pittsburgh in 2004 as the winner of the Concerto Competition. Anoush graduated the Mary Pappert School of Music with Master in Music in Piano Performance and Artist Diploma in the piano class of Professor Kenneth Burky. She has various recordings for the Bulgarian National Radio, the Bulgarian National Television, and WQED Multimedia, Pittsburgh, and she is a member of the National Music Honor Society Pi Kappa Lambda. In 2006, Anoush won the Western Pennsylvania Steinway Society Piano Competition. Currently Anoush is an adjunct piano faculty at the Mary Pappert School of Music and City Music Center.

Peter Snitkovsky—Chair of String Department, Violin

Peter Snitkovsky was born in Kharkov, in the Ukraine. He began studying the violin at the age of six and attended a special music school in Kharkov, where he studied with Professor Leschinski (a student of Carl Flesch). At age 16 he won the Ukrainian National Violin Competition and two years later was invited to study at the Moscow Conservatory with legendary Professor Yuri Yankelevitch. At the age of 20, while still studying at the conservatory, Mr. Snitkovsky became a member of the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra where he remained until leaving the Soviet Union for the United States in 1977. Peter Snitkovsky joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 1977 and became Chair of Strings Dept. at CMC in 1990.

Gregory Bouyanover—Cello

MArts, Cello and Music Education, Gnessin School, Moscow Conservatory; member, Moscow Symphony Orchestra and State Symphony Orchestra of Cinematography; Principal Cellist, Moscow Chamber Orchestra Music Theater.

Andrew Fuller—Violin

Andrew Fuller is starting his first year as a member of the Pittsburgh Symphony's second violin section.  Before being appointed to the PSO, he was a member of the Kansas City Symphony and Grant Park Orchestra. He has also held the positions of Principal Second violin of the Wisconsin Chamber and National Repertory Orchestras, and Assistant Concertmaster of the Madison and Akron Symphonies.

As a soloist, Fuller has performed with various orchestras including the Milwaukee, Madison and Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestras, and the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado.  His summer festival appearances have included the Aspen Music Festival as a fellowship recipient, National Repertory Orchestra, and the Icicle Creek Chamber Music Festival.

He received his Master's degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music and his Bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, where he studied with Paul Kantor and David Perry, respectively. In his spare time, Fuller enjoys photography, the outdoors, and high-fidelity.      

Matt Pickart—Violin and Viola

Violinist and violist Matt Pickart currently plays as principal viola of the Altoona Symphony Orchestra and has also performed with Johnstown Symphony Orchestra (principal viola 2010-2012,) Pittsburgh Opera, Wheeling Symphony, Ohio Valley Symphony, Erie Philharmonic, Quantum Theatre, Latshaw Pops Orchestra, Alia Musica, Children’s Festival Chorus, and the Bach Choir on violin and viola. Outside of Pittsburgh, Matt has performed at the Kennedy Center, the Duomo in Florence, recital halls in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, and has had his recordings aired on Milwaukee’s WMSE, Pittsburgh’s WQED, and National Russian Radio.

Matt has also recorded and or performed with several bands in the Pittsburgh area and can be heard on the newest albums of artists like Mother Sun, Broken Fences, Ben Shannon, and City Dwelling Nature Seekers. Matt currently plays jazz violin with Pittsburgh’s only hot club group, the Flying Dutchmen. He has also performed in the orchestras of Barry Manilow on tour, Bernadette Peters, and the Vogues.

Matt holds degrees from Duquesne University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he served as co-concertmaster of both school orchestras. Pickart's past violin teachers have included Sidney Harth, Tyrone Greive, Eugene Purdue, Alison Jewer, and Tom Moore. He also studied viola with Marylène Gingras-Roy. Matt currently serves as the general music teacher at Highland Park Preparatory Academy, a member of the violin faculty at UW-Madison's Summer Music Clinic, assistant to the director of Interharmony International Music Festival in Germany, and as a former adjunct faculty of violin and chamber music at Beloit College.

Freya Samuels—Cello, Chamber Music

BMus, New England Conservatory; recipient C.D. Jackson Master Award; former member, Opera Company of Boston Orchestra, Atlantic Symphony (Canada), Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, ALEA III-Contemporary Music Ensemble in residence Boston University and Toledo Symphony; former faculty, New School of Music (Cambridge, MA), All Newton Music School and Heidelberg College; guest faculty, Miami University of Ohio, Bowling Green State University and University of Toronto; currently freelance cellist in Pittsburgh.

Julia Ann Scott—Harp

Charles Stegeman—Violin

Canadian born violinist Charles Stegeman is now in his third decade as a University Professor and pedagogue. Former students of his hold positions as University Professors around the country, including the University of Texas at Austin, Azusa Pacific University, Duquesne University and UCLA. They have also held positions and performed with orchestras including the Houston Symphony, Syracuse Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Honolulu Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, Kansas City Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Radio Orchestra among others. Many of Mr. Stegeman's students have gone on to study at such prestigious institutions as the Juilliard School, the University of Michigan, the University of Southern California, the Curtis Institute of Music, Rutgers University, NYU, the Vienna Hochschule fur Musik , Yale University, Cleveland Institute of Music and the Eastman School of Music. They have attended festivals including Tanglewood, the Meadowmount School of Music, the Aspen Music Festival, the Evian and Verbier festivals in Switzerland, and Music Academy of the West. They have also pursued careers as successful studio and free-lance musicians in Los Angles, Toronto, Pittsburgh, New York, Las Vegas and Nashville.

Mr. Stegeman made his recital debut at age seven and debuted as soloist with the Banff Festival Orchestra at age nine in Alberta, Canada. He was awarded scholarship to the Curtis Institute of Music at the early age of 13 where he earned his Bachelor's Degree, including academic coursework at the prestigious Haverford College, at the age of 20. He continued his formal music education at the Juilliard School where he earned a Masters Degree of Music Performance and worked towards an Artist Diploma. His teachers include: Esther Glazer, Paul Stassevitch, Ivan Galamian, Nathan Milstein, Jaime Laredo, David Cerone, Paul Makanovitsky, Joseph Gingold, Dorothy Delay, Zvi Zeitlin, Joseph Fuchs, Stuart Canin, and Sally Thomas. In the area of chamber music he studied with Mischa Schneider, Isadore Cohen, Felix Galimir, Michael Tree, David Soyer, Donald McInnes, Janos Starker, William Primrose, Zara Nelsova, Ruggiero Ricci, Manahem Pressler, and Zoltan Szekely to name only a few. He attended several International Summer Music Festivals such as the Music Academy of the West (Santa Barbara, CA), the Banff School of Fine Arts (Banff, Alberta), the Meadowmount School of Music (Westport, NY), the Ravel Festival (St. Jean de Luz, France), and the International Master classes with Nathan Milstein (Zurich, Switzerland). He has appeared as soloist with orchestra in many countries including Canada with the Vancouver Symphony with Gerard Schwarz conducting, France with the Toulouse Orchestre Symphonique with Jan Pascal Tortellier conducting, RTB Orchestra in Belgium with Serge Baudo conducting, the U.S. with the Kansas City Symphony with Bill McLaughlin conducting, and with the New York Chamber Players in Grammercy Park also with Bill McLaughlin conducting. Equally at ease as a chamber musician, he has appeared as a Columbia Artist performer for over 10 years with the Canterbury and Sartory Piano Trios where he replaced David Cerone. Other chamber music colleague collaborations include Cynthia Phelps, Carter Brey, Zara Nelsova, Peter Salaff, Jennifer Langham, Gerome Lowenthal, Henri Temiyanka, Don McInnes, Ron Leonard, Nico Abondolo, Richard O-Neill, Paul Coletti, Timothy Cobb, and the Takacs Quartet. While working towards his Doctorate at the University of Michigan, he accepted a joint position with the University of Missouri at Kansas City and the Kansas City Symphony as Concertmaster and Artist in Residence. A winner of five national competitions and one international violin competition (CMC in Montreal), Mr. Stegeman currently performs approximately 75 concerts a year as Concertmaster, Chamber Musician, and Soloist in North America, Europe, South America, Asia, and The Caribbean.

Well known for his artistic vision in the creation of music festivals, Mr. Stegeman has founded several festivals including the Western Slope Music Festival (Crested Butte, CO), the Sunflower Music Festival (Topeka, KS), Buzzards Bay Music Festival (Cape Cod, MA), and Music Fest Midwest (Kansas City, KS). He also serves as Concertmaster at international festivals such as the St. Bart's Music Festival in the French West Indies, the Music Academy of the West (2000-2003), the French / American Chamber Ensemble in the Cher Valley, France (1991-2000), the Canadian National Repertory Orchestra in Hamilton, Ontario, and the FEMUSC Festival in Santa Catarina, Brazil. He has been involved in the raising of millions of dollars to support classical music at these festivals, most recently having raised funding to commission Los Angeles composer Bruce Broughton to write a concerto for chamber orchestra for the Twentieth Anniversary of the Sunflower Music Festival.

Having resided in Pittsburgh for 20 years, Mr. Stegeman is currently Chair of Strings at Duquesne University and Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Azusa Pacific University (Azusa, CA). He holds the position of Concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Opera, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and the New West Symphony Orchestra in Thousand Oaks, CA. He plays a Nicolo Gagliano violin dated 1776 and an Arcus Cadenza carbon-fiber bow. He is married to violinist Rachel Stegeman and lives with his four children.

Rachel Stegeman—Violin

Originally from Washington, D.C., RACHEL STEGEMAN is Concertmaster of the Wheeling Symphony, Assistant Concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra and Assistant Concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Ballet Orchestra. She also is currently under contract with the Pittsburgh Symphony. Other orchestras with which she has performed include the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (Assistant Concertmaster), Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (Assistant Concertmaster), Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the National Symphony. Concerts as a soloist include concerti with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, National Symphony, and the Wheeling Symphony.

Stegeman performs frequently in chamber music concerts with a variety of artists including Donald McInnes, Ron Leonard, Richard O’Neill and husband Charles Stegeman. She appears at various chamber music festivals, including the Sunflower Music Festival, Buzzard’s Bay MusicFest, and the St. Barth’s Music Festival. In addition, she has an extensive recording career, performing in soundtracks for more than 900 motion pictures, sound recordings, commercials and television programs.

Stegeman is an adjunct faculty member at Duquesne University’s Mary Pappert School of Music. She holds a B.M. and an M.M. Degree from Duquesne University. Her teachers include Luis Haza, William Steck, Robert Lipsett and Sidney Harth. Her instrument is a 1923 Fagnola. She and husband Charles have 2 children together: Gabrielle (4 years old) and Adam (3 years old).

Aaron White—Double Bass

Studies at Southern Methodist and Duquesne University. Studies with Thomas Lederer and Jeffrey Turner. Member of Louisville and Florida Orchestras. Currently member of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Andrew Wickesberg—Viola, Orchestra

BMus in Viola and Violin Indiana University and a MMus in Viola Performance from New England Conservatory. Former member of the New World Symphony. Worked with such distinguished conductors as James Levine, Kurt Masur, Michael Tilson-Thomas and Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos; studied under the direction of Marcus Thompson, Atar Arad and Alan deVertch. Member of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Yulia Zhukoff—Cello

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Yulia Zhukoff began her cello career at the age of six, studying under Professor Alexey Lazko of the St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music. In 2000, Ms. Zhukoff performed in the St. Petersburg Academic Philharmonic Hall as a soloist, a chamber group member and an orchestra member. Two years later, she became a recipient of a New York Community Trust Fellowship in New York City. In June 2005, Yulia was awarded an F.H. LaGuardia Music Diploma, and received a LaGuardia Award for Excellence in Symphony Orchestra as well as the Stephen Kates Cello Award. She is also the recipient of a Young Artists Diploma and a Certificate of Accomplishment in Chamber Music from the Lucy Moses School of Music. Additionally, Yulia was awarded a 2006 Medal of Excellence by Maj. General Elbert N. Perkins, U.S. Army, in Germany. During her music career, Yulia has performed throughout Europe as a soloist and chamber musician and has held annual solo cello recitals since 2004. Recently, Ms. Zhukoff graduated from Duquesne University’s Mary Pappert School of Music with a degree in Music Performance. She currently continues her musical career by performing and teaching.

Joseph Petron—Chair of Suzuki, Violin

BMusEd and MMusEd, Duquesne University; faculty, public and private schools K -12; post-graduate studies in Suzuki teaching methods, both in the U.S. and with Dr. Shinichi Suzuki in Matsumoto, Japan; faculty, Suzuki workshops and Institutes; member, McKeesport Symphony.

Kathleen Andrews—Violin

Carmen Blanco—Cello, Orchestra

Laura Evans—Cello, Orchestra

Laura Evans received her college education in music performance at Duquesne University where she studied cello with Salvatore Silipigni and chamber music with Richard Goldner and Ralph Evans. Over the years, she has taken Suzuki Cello Method teacher certification courses at institutes in Chicago, Baltimore, Ithaca, and Kingston, Ontario. Mrs. Evans’s trainers were Catherine Walker, Annette Costanzi, Carey Beth Hockett, and Richard Mooney. She began her Suzuki training in Rochester, N.Y. while teaching at the Hochstein School of Music and the Webster Music Cooperative. She also continued private cello study with Marianne Wukovitz of the Rochester Philharmonic. She was director of strings and the orchestra at Rochester Christian School. Laura also performed as substitute cellist for the Rochester Philharmonic and also performed with the Penfield Symphony and Chamber Music Unlimited.

In 1990, Mrs. Evans returned to Pittsburgh after her husband became a bassist with the Pittsburgh Symphony. She began teaching at The Seton Center Suzuki School and later began a private studio at home. Her students have earned positions in Pittsburgh’s youth orchestras and the PMEA’s honors, district, regional, state, and national orchestras. They have also participated in the Pittsburgh Symphony’s Side by Side and Fiddlesticks concerts and have been winners in area concerto competitions. Mrs. Evans has also taught at the Carnegie Mellon Summer Strings Camp and Rogers CAPA Middle School. She is currently an adjunct faculty member at Washington and Jefferson College and a Suzuki Cello teacher at City Music Center at Duquesne University. She is also Cello coach and assistant conductor of the Three Rivers Youth Orchestra’s Symphonette.

Mrs. Evans has enjoyed performing with the Wheeling Symphony since 1991. She is also a member of the McKeesport Symphony and freelances in the tri-state area.

Jeff Irwin—Violin and Viola

BFA and MFA, Violin Performance, Carnegie Mellon University; studied with David Cercone and George Grossman; completed study of the Suzuki literature at Ithaca College, Steven's Point and Chicago Institutes and is now registered through Book 10 with the Suzuki Association of the Americas; performing musician with the Wheeling, Westmoreland, McKeesport, Butler and Johnstown Symphony Orchestras; violist, Burchfield String Quartet.

Marian Irwin—Violin

BFA, Violin Performance and Music Education, Carnegie Mellon University; registered through Book 10 with the Suzuki Association of the Americas; participated in Suzuki workshops and Institutes at Ithaca, NY, Steven's Point, WI and Chicago, IL; visiting faculty, String Department, Penn State University; member, McKeesport, Butler, Westmoreland, Johnstown and Wheeling Symphony Orchestras; first violin with the Burchfield String Quartet; currently Middle School String Specialist, Bethel Park Schools.

Alesha Smith—Violin

Stephen Groves—Chair of Winds and Brass, Trumpet

Jeff Bush—Trombone

James Gorton—Oboe

BMus, Eastman School of Music; Rochester National Scholar and winner of Performer's Certificate, Eastman School of Music; former member, Rochester Philharmonic, Eastman Rochester Orchestra and Principal Oboe, Rochester Chamber Orchestra; Principal Oboe and soloist with Colorado Philharmonic and New Hampshire Music Festival; Co-Principal Oboe, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra; faculty, Duquesne University.

Jim Guerra—Saxophone

BMus, Berkeley; studied with Joe Viola and Charles Mariano; performs with Civic Light Opera, Pittsburgh Ballet and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra; adjunct faculty, Duquesne University.

Jack Howell—Clarinet

Rhian Kenny—Flute

BMus, McGill University; studies with Timothy Hutchins; winner Concours de L'Orchestre Symphonique de Trois-ivieres, Concours de L'Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal and Concours de L'Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec; Principal Piccolo, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra; faculty, Duquesne University.

Eric Lauver—Saxophone

Charles Lirette—Trumpet

Oberlin College Conservatory of Music studies with Gene Young, Don Tison and Bernard Adelstein. Former member of the Buffalo Philharmonic and principal trumpet for the Jerusalem Symphony. Co-Principal trumpet, Pittsburgh Symphony since1981. Faculty, Duquesne University

Rick Matt—Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute

Rick Matt is a 1999 graduate of the Duquesne University School of Music and has been teaching privately since 2000 specializing in saxophone and woodwind doubles. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy, Rick has worked extensively with persons with disabilities both in and out of the home ranging from the youth to the elderly. He also has become one of the most in demand freelance saxophonists in the Pittsburgh area and performs regularly with many local bands and ensembles. Rick also leads his own music projects and performs frequently through out the area.

Rick has toured both nationally and internationally as a member of the legendary trumpet player Maynard Ferguson’s “Big Bop Nouveau” band as well as The Glenn Miller Orchestra. He has performed numerous times with the Pittsburgh Symphony and has done show work for CLO and Pittsburgh Public Theater. He has also shared the stage with such artists as Tony Bennett, The O’Jays, Johnny Mathis, The Temptations, Four Tops, Franki Valli and Wayne Newton. Rick most recently appears on the PBS special “Disco Explosion” currently being aired on television.

Rick uses a pragmatic approach to understanding and learning music with emphasis on technique, sound and versatility. He not only enjoys teaching the youth but the young at heart as well. All are welcome who want to make some music!

Robert Schmalz—Trombone

BSci (MusEd), Duquesne University; MA, PhD, Historical Musicology, University of Pittsburgh; trombone studies with Mattie Shiner; member, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera Orchestra, The Louisiana Phil harmonic and the Wheeling, Johnstown, Altoona, Acadiana, Lake Charles and Rapids City Orchestras; founding member, Louisiana Brass Ensemble; retired as Ruth S. Girard Endowed Professor of Musicology and Professor of Trombone/ Euphonium, University of Louisiana-Lafayette.

Bridget Foley Steele—Chair, Voice Department

Bridget is from the Pittsburgh area and graduated from Gateway High School in Monroeville. She received a Bachelors in Music and a Bachelors in Speech Communication from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and her Masters in Voice Performance from Bowling Green State University of Ohio. She continued to study Opera Performance in Florence, Italy where she studied with world-renowned tenor Franco Corelli. Some of her operatic roles include Mrs. Charlston, Dead Man Walking, with Pittsburgh Opera; Violetta, La Traviata; Donna Anna, Don Giovanni; Musetta, La Boheme; Fiordiligi, Cosi Fan Tutte; Adele, Die Fledermaus; Miss Wordsworth, Albert Herring. Some of her music theater roles include Desire, A Little Night Music; Julie Jordan, Carousel; Fiona, Brigadoon; Leah, Two by Two; Reno Sweeney and Hope Harcourt, Anything Goes.

She has sung the National Anthem for the Pittsburgh Steelers and many concerts in the surrounding area. She previously was Voice Professor at Slippery Rock University and Edinboro University and the Aural Skills Professor at Mercyhurst College and is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Bridget has sung Pittsburgh Opera’s Summer Series Concerts and currently sings with Pittsburgh Opera’s Education Outreach program and the Pittsburgh Opera Chorus.

Jennifer Judge

Jason Steele

BAMU, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Baritone Jason Steele has sung numerous roles across both operatic and musical theatre platforms with Pittsburgh Opera, DeAngelo Opera, Greensburg American Opera, The Academy Theatre, and New Kensington Civic Theatre: they include Don Giovanni Don Giovanni, Ein Perukenmaker Ariadne auf Naxos, The Jailor Tosca, Arthur Jones Billy Budd, Nathan Detroit Guys and Dolls, Billy Bigelow Carousel, and Captain Von Trapp The Sound of Music. Mr. Steele’s film/television credits include work with Five Cent Productions, and several television commercials through Ryno Productions, Blackbox Studios, and Mogul Mind. Mr. Steele has taught chorus, band and general classroom music for 15 years.