Contemporary Classical Composer
Sandy Holder is a pianist, piano instructor and a singer/songwriter. Sandy Holder earned her B.M. in piano from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and her M.M. from the University of Oregon School of Music. Sandy Holder has worked for many years as accompanist for The Eugene Symphony, The Eugene Opera, The Oregon Festival of American Music, The University of Oregon School of Music and the Oregon Symphony in Portland, Oregon. She is an avid supporter of "contemporary art music" and has premiered many works by living composers.
Blake Hodgetts, a pianist, singer, and composer holds a Master's degree in composition from the University of Oregon School of Music in Eugene Oregon, where he lives with his wife, writer Jane Sather, and their two daughters. Mr. Hodgetts is currently a soloist with Eugene's highly-acclaimed Central Lutheran Chorale and has been featured in performances around the Pacific Northwest.
Ms. Halay is currently acting principal flute of the Eugene Symphony, principal flute of the Oregon Mozart Players, and principal flute of the Eugene Opera. Ms. Halay has also played with the Oregon Symphony, Corvallis Symphony and the Springfield Mass. Symphony. Ms. Halay attended the University of Massachusetts and the University of Oregon and graduated in 1997. She was the 1994 winner of the Lillian and Paul Petri competition. Ms. Halay attended the Aspen Music School as a full-scholarship recipient, where she studied with Dave Shostae and Nadine Asin. While at the University of Massachusetts and the University of Oregon, Ms. Halay was the recipient of a full scholarship. Ms. Halay also plays with the Oregon Bach Festival and Oregon's Festival of American Music.
David Burham is a multi-talented multi-instrumentalist. He has been a member of the Eugene Symphony for thirteen years, in addition to performing with the Eugene Opera and the Oregon Mozart Players. He plays violin (acoustic and his custom-made electric), viola, mandolin and piano. Mr. Burham has been a member of various bands for the last twenty years. He is the music director of the group "Fiddle Magic." He is fluent in classical, jazz, blues, country, rock and world music styles. Mr. Burham has also done voice work for radio and television, and is currently building his first violin. His teaching studio is in Eugene, Oregon where he has taught for twelve years.
Martha Griffith has played harp since the age of five. A third generation harpist, Martha studied music with her mother and grandmother, both professors of harp at the University of Oregon. From an early age, she had many performances with chamber ensembles and orchestras, often featured as a soloist. While attending the School of Music at the University of Oregon she received the prestigious Ruth Lorraine Close Award for excellence in harp performance for three consecutive years. Graduating with degrees in music and romance languages, she continued classical harp lessons in France with Bertile Fournier. After her studies in Europe she began exploring the possibilities of performing popular music on the harp and pursued this interest with some of the most famous artists in the field. Martha combined her musical talents with a love of travel, and began her career on cruise ships in 1989. Since then, she has made frequent appearances at sea performing a wide variety of music that includes classical favorites, American standards, Broadway hits and popular ballads. At home in the Pacific Northwest, Martha performs with several classical ensembles and as a soloist.
Mr. Scherr has conducted a number of symphonic works with the University of Oregon Symphony Orchestra, the UCLA Orchestra and the Pacific Palisades Symphony. His musical theater experiences include conducting the Mexican folk musical, La Virgin Del Tepeyac, at the Japan-American Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Mr. Scherr holds a B.A. and M.F.A. in music from UCLA, and is presently Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music Composition at the University of Oregon where he completed his Ph.D. As a composer, he has won several awards and has had a number of works performed in Washington, Oregon, California and overseas.
Ms. Karlin is a junior currently working toward a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance at the University of Oregon School of Music. Ms. Karlin was a soloist in the University Singers Collegium Musicum performance of Bach's "Magnificat." She has participated as a chorus member in two past productions by the University of Oregon's Opera Workshop and most recently, performed Marzelline's aria from Beethoven's "Fidelio" for the Opera Workshop's Scenes Program. Ms. Karlin is also currently a member of the Eugene Opera Chorus, singing in such operas as "Die Fledermaus," and "Madama Butterfly." She participated in a "Concert of Verdi" which included chorus numbers from "Don Carlo" and "Aida." In addition to classical pursuits, Ms. Karlin has been a member of the "Jazz'ems" vocal ensemble for 3 years. When Ms. Karlin finishes her studies at the University of Oregon, she intends to continue with Graduate School and to pursue a career as an Opera singer. Ms. Karlin is currently studying voice with Ann Tedards at the University of Oregon School of Music.
Steven Chong has been a resident of the state of Oregon since his childhood. Mr. Chong was introduced to the violin during his childhood and has maintained its mastery throughout his high school and college education. He received his Bachelors degree from the University of Oregon School of Music, where he attended on scholarship. Mr. Chong has won several awards in violin performance. Presently, Mr. Chong performs with the Eugene Symphony, The Oregon Mozart Players and several other orchestras in the area. Mr. Chong is a dedicated teacher and maintains an active private studio. This studio allows Mr Chong the opportunity to continue to live and play in the beautiful outdoors of Oregon.
Lisa Bieber is a longtime resident of the Pacific Northwest. Ms. Bieber received her Bachelors degree from the University of Idaho, and a Masters degree in violin performance from the University of Oregon School of Music. Ms. Bieber has been a member of the Eugene Symphony for over seventeen years, and also serves as principal second violin in the Eugene Opera Orchestra. Ms. Bieber performs with the Oregon Bach Festival and the Oregon Coast Music Festival, and is a founding member of the McKenzie String Quartet. Ms. Bieber makes her home in Eugene, Oregon with her husband, Dave Winship, and her children Damion (age 12) and Elizabeth (age 9). Her hobbies include biking, camping and Tae Kwon Do.
Franklin Alverez is currently working on his Doctoral degree in viola performance at the University of Oregon School of Music. Mr. Alvarez is a student of Dr. Leslie Straka. Mr. Alvarez left his native Colombia to continue his musical studies at the Hartt School of Music in Connecticut. Mr. Alverez was a winner of the 1995 Emerson String Quartet Competition at the University of Hartford. As a member of the Polaris String Quartet, Mr. Alvarez was a semi-finalist at the 1997 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in Indiana. Since moving to Eugene three years ago, Mr. Alverez has been performing with the Eugene Symphony Orchestra, The Oregon Mozart Players, The Eugene Opera Orchestra, and the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra.
Alex Kelly hails from Wichita, Kansas. Mr. Kelly received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in cello performance and composition from the Philadelphia College of Bible and Wichita State University. Currently, Mr. Kelly is working towards a Doctorate in cello performance and composition at the University of Oregon School of Music. Mr. Kelly is currently a member of "The Hundredth Monkey" a University of Oregon School of Music student performance ensemble. Mr. Kelly is also a member of the "Knotty Ensemble" and the group "Confluence."