Performers
Performers vary per show
Violinist Alma Fernandez is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and UCLA, where she received a Master’s Degree in Viola Performance. She is a member of the Eclipse Quartet, an ensemble devoted to contemporary music, which has released recordings under Bridge Records, New World, and Microfest. Alma is also active in the Los Angeles recording industry. She is currently professor of Viola at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA.
Violinist Alyssa Park made her professional debut at age eleven with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, and at age sixteen she was the youngest prize winner in the history of the Tchaikovsky International Competition. She has made many appearances as a soloist throughout the United States, Europe, Autralia and Asia. An avid chamber musician, Ms. Park has been a frequent guest at major festivals and is a member of the Lyris Quartet based in Los Angeles. They are the ensemble in residence for the Jacaranda Music Series and the Hear Now Music Festival.
Violist Caroline Buckman grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia and chose to play the viola in the fifth grade after her mother explained the cello was too large to take on the school bus. She received a Bachelor of Music from Arizona State University where she studied with Dr. William Magers, and then pursued a Masters degree from the Hochschule fur Musik "Carl Maria von Weber" in Dresden, Germany.
Caroline moved to Los Angeles in 2002 and has since performed in the Santa Barbara, Pasadena and New West Symphonies, Long Beach and Santa Barbara Operas, and played for artists at the Grammys, American Music Awards, Teen Choice Awards and Academy Awards. She toured the US with Gnarls Barkley in 2006, and was a solo violist on two consecutive world tours with the Jonas Brothers from 2008-2010.
Cellist Jacob Braun performs and records frequently. He teaches at The Colburn School and UC Santa Barbara. Jacob lives in Echo Park with his wife and 3 dogs.
Los Angeles based violinist Kathleen Sloan is active as soloist, member of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Sonus Quartet as well as a session musician in the film and recording industries. In the last year, Sloan has soloed with the San Francisco Symphony, The Dallas Symphony, the Nashville Symphony as well as the San Diego Symphony in aerial performances of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with Cirque Musica. Sloan began violin studies at the age of 3 in Texas, and at 15, was accepted into the Cleveland Institute of Music’s Young Artist Program. She later graduated from the University of Southern California.
For more info visit http://KathleenSloan.com
Cellist Vanessa Freebairn-Smith's diverse and prolific career spans the music and motion picture industries. She works as a multi-instrumentalist for artists such as Sinead O’Connor and Sarah McLachlan, and has composed and arranged for various artists and bands including The Red Hot Chili Peppers. She regularly records for acclaimed music producers David Foster and Danger Mouse, and enjoys an ongoing collaboration with film composer Clint Mansell.
Vanessa trained at the Colburn School of Performing Arts before completing her BA in Cello Performance at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is a founding member of the Sonus Quartet, which took part in the Julliard Quartet Seminar and held a residency at the Banff Center in Canada and now enjoys a diverse musical career both recording and performing around the world. She has toured with Josh Groban, Gnarls Barkley and Sia.
JAMES MILLER is the Associate Principal Trombone with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, a position he has held since 1999. His duties include performing on alto, tenor and bass trombone; tenor tuba; and bass trumpet. His previous orchestral experience includes the North Carolina Symphony, the Long Island Philharmonic, and the New York Philharmonic. Miller earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Northern Iowa and his Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School, where he was a scholarship student of Per Brevig.
As a composer, James has had world premieres in New York’s Lincoln Center and continues to perform his own works in solo performances throughout the country. He serves on the faculty of the California Institute of the Arts (CIA) and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Miller is a Conn/Selmer and a Denis Wick clinician and has two CDs, "from coast to coast" and "Delays, delays", on All Barks Dog records.
James Sullivan explores the versatility of the clarinet and bass clarinet family in an expansive scope of styles and repertoire. Collaborations range from free improvisation with Vinnie Golia, Stravinsky's L'Histoire du soldat with Martin Chalifour, and several years playing jazz with the Brad Dutz Quartet. He honed his microtonal skills studying maqam while playing for a decade with classical Arabic ensemble Kan Zaman. His just intonation background includes premiering and recording Ben Johnston's Parable and participating in the creation and recording of composer Andrew McIntosh's Symmetry Etudes. Additionally, he has performed with Partch ensemble in Harry Partch's Oedipus, where he became special friends with the Chromelodeon. Classical orchestral performance includes work with Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pasadena Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony and Seattle Symphony. He has appeared as soloist on the series Jacaranda, Green Umbrella, Boston Court, and Microfest. When the licorice stick is resting in the case, he likes to spend the day running in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Originally from Tennessee, Dr. Justin Hageman has performed and worked in many different capacities in the Los Angeles area as a horn player. He has performed with Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Andrea Bocceli, Frank Sinatra Jr., Josh Groban, Diana Krall, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett. In addition, he has recorded with many artists and worked on several motion pictures and television shows.
Dr. Hageman is a member of the Santa Barbara Symphony and has performed with the Los Angeles Opera, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Long Beach Symphony, the Pasadena Symphony, the New West Symphony, the Riverside Philharmonic, Broadway LA’s production of Wicked and the Center Group Theatre’s productions of Les Miserables and Mary Poppins.
He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Lindsey, and amazing daughters, Sydney and Katelyn.
Trombonist Lori Stuntz holds Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from the USC Thornton School of Music. Lori plays principal trombone with the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, trombone with the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra, and frequently performs with many orchestras.
As a commercial player, Lori plays lead trombone for the all female big band Maiden Voyage and has performed with artists such as DIVA, Nancy Wilson, Jack Sheldon, Diane Schuur, Ray Anthony, Lionel Hampton, Bill Watrous, and The New York Pops. As a recording artist she has appeared on many major motion picture soundtracks, commercials, video games, and records. She is the first female trombonist to record on a major motion picture.
Lori enjoys living in the Los Angeles area with her family of six.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Max Kaplan has been pursuing music since he first took up the clarinet in grade school. Max graduated from UCLA with a double music concentration in performance and composition. Max has had three commissions since graduation; a Trio for clarinet, viola and piano commissioned by the Milwaukee New Music Foundation, and a string quartet commissioned by the Guatemalan Children’s Education Fund benefit, and a Medley of Beatle’s Songs for Elementary Band commissioned by Steven S. Wise Elementary.
Max currently freelances as a woodwind doubler, teacher, composer and arranger.
Neel Hammond is a violinist, violist, arranger and orchestrator. He studied with Yoko Matsuda at Pomona College and holds a Bachelor of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with David Russell and Peter Salaff. An avid chamber musician, he is a former founding member of the Juniper Quartet and Sonus Quartet. He enjoys a career as a session musician, and has contributed to numerous records and film scores.
Danielle Ondarza is a horn player in Los Angeles. As a freelancer, she has performed with many orchestras in Southern California, including the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Danielle played principal horn for Josh Groban on his Straight to You Tour, traveling for six months throughout the United States and Europe. She has also performed live with Andrea Bocelli, Mariah Carey, Natalie Cole, Frank Sinatra Jr., Lenny Kravitz, Alicia Keyes, Queen Latifah, Idina Menzel, Kanye West, and Juan Gabriel. Recording credits include record dates for Mary J. Blige, Barry Manilow, Madonna, Sia, and Justin Timberlake. She has been seen on the MTV Video Music Awards, the American Music Awards, the Jimmy Kimmel Show, and Fox's hit show "Glee."
Pete Korpela is a Latin Grammy Award nominated percussionist. Since moving to Los Angeles in 1997 he has gained a reputation as a versatile musician in orchestral, latin, jazz, world, rock and pop music. The most notable touring & recording collaborations: Josh Groban (2011 & 2013 tours), Robbie Williams, The Lion King (2003-07 1st National Tour), Cirque Du Soleil, Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie), Jesse Carmichael (Maroon 5), Melody Gardot, Luis Conte, Seth MacFarlane, Ron Jones and Randy Brecker. Performance venues include Madison Square Garden, Lincoln Center, Hollywood Bowl, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Sydney Opera House and O2 Arena (London).
Since making his solo orchestral debut at 14 in Dallas’ Meyerson Symphony Center, Radu Pieptea’s musical talents have continued to garner critical acclaim and recognition. Das Orchester in Germany called his performance “brilliant” and “flawless”. Lauded by the Santa Barbara Independent, he is described as “astonishing,” and the Los Angeles Times commended him for his “firm tone” and “technical proficiency and musical resolve.”
A pianist of “unerring, warm-toned refinement, revealing judicious glimmers of power,” Robert Thies is an artist renowned for his consummate musicianship and poetic temperament. Thies enjoys a diverse career as an orchestral soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, and recording artist.
Thies has worked and recorded with many of the top film composers, including James Newton Howard, James Horner, Danny Elfman, and Mychael Danna. In February 2006 Robert released his debut solo recording Live in Recital. Later that same year, he recorded a Classical/Jazz crossover CD Difference with the Croatian flutist, Damjan Krajacic. 2012 marked the release of the improvisational acoustic/ambient album, Blue Landscapes, also with Krajacic. His solo debut album of original compositions Life Around Us is due for release later this year.
Violinist Serena McKinney leads a diverse musical life as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral performer. She is a founding member of the internationally heralded Janaki String Trio. Since her solo debut at age twelve, she has performed as soloist with orchestras throughout the United States and Canada. Ms. McKinney holds degrees from the New England Conservatory and The Colburn School, where she worked with Robert Lipsett. She is active in film scoring in Los Angeles, recording with composers such as John Williams, Thomas Newman, Hans Zimmer, and Randy Newman. She performs on a Joseph and Antonius Gagliano violin, c. 1740.
Cellist Timothy Loo, joined the Lyris Quartet with violinists Alyssa Park and Shalini Vijayan and violist Luke Maurer in 2008. The Quartet has quickly become one of the major performing ensembles in Los Angeles. Performing regularly on concert series including Jacaranda, Hear Now, Sunday’s Live from the Bing Theater at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, South Bay Chamber Music, Pacific Palisades Chamber Music. In 2011 the Lyris Quartet performed at the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music series and was the quartet in residence at the University of Cailfornia at Davis in 2012. This year they will perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall with Billy Childs and on the Green Umbrella series.
Bassist Ian Walker lives and works in the Los Angeles area. His experience includes recording in motion picture, television and phonograph, performing with local orchestras and singer-songwriters.
A freelance violinist in Los Angeles, Marisa has enjoyed the privilege of sharing the stage and the studio with many of her favorite artists; including Beck, Sam Smith, Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera, Michael Buble, and Madonna. Marisa is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with Charles Castleman, and Camilla Wicks.
Marisa recently returned to sunny Los Angeles after spending many months abroad, leading a string quartet for John Legend’s “All of Me” tour. Other travels include the Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Tour, where she served as concertmaster; several tours as the string leader for Kanye West; and a trip to China with the San Diego Symphony.
When she is not busy making music, Marisa can be found walking her Boston terriers, and making pasta.
Gina Luciani, a Miyazawa Emerging Artist, performs frequently in solo, chamber and orchestral settings and can be heard on many recordings in the film and television industry. Gina is described as “One of those amazing young flutists who has all the musical bases covered” by Jim Walker.
Gina has recorded on many recording projects and performs extensively as part of The Hyperion Duo, a flute and harp ensemble specializing in new music. Her performance can be heard on the duo’s debut album, “The Hyperion Duo: Music for Flute and Harp.”
Gina received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Flute Performance from the Colburn Conservatory of Music and her Master of Music Degree from the University of Southern California, both under the instruction of Jim Walker.
Harpist Jacqueline Marshall plays with many orchestras and has recorded for dozens of major motion pictures. Jacqueline has appeared as a featured soloist with Symphony Irvine, the UCLA Symphony Orchestra, the La Sierra University Orchestra and at the Banff Music Festival. Jacqueline received a B.A. from UCLA, a Professional Studies Diploma in Harp Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and an M.M. from UCLA. Jacqueline is currently on faculty as Adjunct Lecturer of Harp at La Sierra University, and serves as a teacher in The Harp In Our Public Schools Project. Jacqueline has also been a regular recitalist and lecturer for the Gluck Foundation’s Music Outreach Program, and has been a guest lecturer at UCLA Extension.
Percussionist Nick Stone has made his career performing across the world, from America to Zululand. He has performed for the Presidents of Russia, South Africa, China, and Brazil as well as the Prime Minister of India. He spent two years as the Principal Percussionist for the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic in Durban, South Africa and now lives and works in Los Angeles.
Harpist Alison Bjorkedal is a freelance musician who teaches and performs in the Los Angeles area. Named "excellent player" and "enterprising young harpist" by the Los Angeles Times, Alison's notable chamber music performances include the world premieres of William Kraft's Encounters XII for harp and percussion; Anne LeBaron's HSING for solo harp and Wadada Leo Smith's Ten Freedom Summers, a 2013 Pulitzer Prize finalist. In addition to the harp, Alison also plays the Kithara (an instrument created for the music of Harry Partch) with LA-based, Grammy Award winning ensemble Partch.