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| May 13, 2008 |
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- Peng Peng, Piano
- Jeffrey Khaner, Flute
- Julia Sakharova, Violin
- Gretchen Brumwell, Harp
- Daniel Kleinknecht, Conductor
- Maxence Pilchen, Piano
- Miko Kominami, Piano
- Scott Foppiano, Organ
- Music of Elton John Band
Jean Meiulleur, Vocals
John Regan, Piano & Vocals
Jeff Christmas, Drums
Mitch Tyler, Bass Guitar
- Five By Design: Club Swing Group
Lorie Carpenter-Niska, Soprano
Sheridan Zuther, Alto
Kurt Niska, Tenor
Michael Swedberg, Baritone
Terrence Niska, Bass
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15-year-old Chinese pianist Peng Peng was featured in Spring 2006 on a national TV broadcast of PBS' Live from Lincoln Center as part of Juilliard's Celebrating 100 Years Gala, playing a movement of Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto with John Williams conducting. He will be featured on national TV a second time in Spring 2007 on a broadcast of From the Top with Christopher O'Riley, taped at Carnegie's Zankel Hall.
Highlights of Peng Peng's 2006-2007 season included a performance at the opening of the Miami Performing Arts Center (alongside artists including Gloria Estefan, Bernadette Peters and Jose Carreras); a debut on the Harriman Arts Series at William Jewell College; performances with the San Diego Symphony and California Symphony; and recitals in La Jolla, Napa Valley, and New Albany, IN.
Born in China, Peng Peng began piano lessons at the age of five and, at the age of eight, gave his first public recital in Nanjing. In 2002, he made his concerto debut with the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra playing Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1. During the 2004-2005 season, he performed with the Big Spring Symphony and the Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey, as well as recitals in Miami and Westchester. Peng Peng also appeared on Boston's From the Top radio show with Christopher O'Riley and played for The Gift of Music, a benefit concert for the American Red Cross at Carnegie's Weill Recital Hall. In the 2005-2006 season, Peng Peng made his debuts at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall with Itzhak Perlman conducting the Juilliard Pre-College Chamber Orchestra and at the Aspen Music Festival's Benedict Music Tent with the Aspen Festival Orchestra under the direction of Leonard Slatkin. Other performances included the Orlando Philharmonic, Norwalk Symphony, Corpus Christi Symphony, Big Spring Symphony, Midland-Odessa Symphony and Nashua Symphony, as well as recitals in Cincinnati and a European debut at the Musée du Louvre in Paris.
Peng Peng has won numerous competitions including the Junior Category of the 2005 New Jersey Philharmonic Orchestra Competition and the Juilliard School's 2003-04 and 2005-06 Pre-College Mozart Piano Concerto Competitions. In his native country, he took first prize in the 2002 China National Youth Piano Competition of Xiamen and also won the Jiang-Su Youth Piano Competition's "Piano Prodigy Prize" at the age of six. He is currently studying with Yoheved Kaplinsky in the Juilliard Pre-College Division. A former student of the Shanghai music primary school, he studied in China with Hui-Fang Ye, Jian-Zhong Wang and Zhi-Jue Chao.
An avid composer, Peng Peng studies composition at Juilliard with Andrew Thomas. Thus far, he has written 18 works for piano, 8 chamber pieces, and 2 works for orchestra. He recently won an ASCAP Foundation Young Composer Award for 2006, and his "Scherzo For Orchestra" won the 2004-2005 Juilliard Pre-College Division Composition Competition.
Acknowledged by The New York Times for his "extraordinary virtuosity," and by BBC Music Magazine for his "first-rate flute playing," Jeffrey Khaner is one of today's most distinguished orchestral musicians. Principal Flute of the Philadelphia Orchestra since 1990, a post he held previously with the Cleveland Orchestra, he has won numerous accolades for his silvery tone, soaring phrases, remarkable breath control and nimble virtuosity.
A noted soloist, Jeff has performed concerti ranging from Bach and Mozart, to Neilsen, Ibert and Corigliano, among others. He has worked with such conductors as Riccardo Chailly, Charles Dutoit, Christoph Eschenbach, Claus-Peter Flor, Erich Leinsdorf, Kurt Masur, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Franz Welser-Most, and David Zinman. An enthusiastic supporter of new music, in December 2003 he gave the world premiere of a concerto written specially for him by Ned Rorem. He performed the American premiere of Hans Werner Henze's Sentiments of CPE Bach for flute and harp with the composer conducting, and collaborated with Lowell Liebermann in performances of his Flute Sonata at the 2000 Saratoga Festival and in Japan at the Pacific Music Festival. Jeff sponsors an annual composition competition for students of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, which has resulted in several new commissions.
Jeff was described as "a major player" by MusicWeb, reviewing his debut solo recording, American Flute Music, on the Avie label. Three further enterprising and critically acclaimed CDs have appeared on Avie: British Flute Music, French Flute Music and works of Brahms and Schumann. His most recent recording, of Ned Rorem's flute concerto is on the Naxos label, and his recording of David Chesky's Concerto for Flute and Orchestra, appears on Chesky Records. Several other recordings are slated for release in 2007 and 2008.
Jeff made his debut at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall in 2000 with pianist Charles Abramovic. In the same season he appeared in recital with Wolfgang Sawallisch in Philadelphia's Convention Center. Jeff has concertized and taught throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia. He is a founding member, with fellow Philadelphia principals violist Roberto Diaz and harpist Elizabeth Hainen de Peters, of the Syrinx Trio, which made their debut in 2001 at Weill Recital Hall.
Committed to music education and promoting young musicians, Jeff is a faculty member of The Juilliard School and of Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Jeff has participated as a performer and teacher at the Solti Orchestral Project in Carnegie Hall, the New World Symphony, the Hamamatsu Festival, the Grand Teton Festival and the Sarasota Music Festival. He regularly appears at the Pacific Music Festival, where in 2002 he performed John Corigliano's Pied Piper Fantasy. Jeff was selected by Sir Georg Solti to be principal flute of the World Orchestra for Peace celebrating the 50th anniversary of the United Nations.
Jeff is a Yamaha performing artist and clinician. He welcomes comments and questions on his website, www.iflute.com.
Russian Violinist Julia Sakharova has risen to recognition as one of the most prolific artists on the circuit today, regularly performing as a chamber musician, orchestral soloist, and recitalist on four continents, including debuts at major venues and collaborations with well-known artists. Upon graduating from the Central Special Music School under the renowned Tchaikovsky Conservatory, she attended Oberlin College's Conservatory of Music, where she served as Concertmaster of the Oberlin Orchestra, as well as performing with that same ensemble as soloist. She was a founding member and first violinist of the Erato String Quartet, which won the first prize of the 2001 Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition. The Erato String Quartet went on to perform widely across the Midwest and Southwestern United States. Ms. Sakharova was also a recipient of the Louis Kaufman Prize for Outstanding Performance in Chamber Music three years in a row.
Ms. Sakharova made her West Coast orchestral debut under the baton of Maestro John Williams, the renowned composer/conductor, afterwards making her East Coast debut in New York-as a graduate student at the Juilliard School-with the Juilliard Symphony. She has since performed with the Caracas Philharmonic, Chelsea Symphony, I Palpiti Chamber Orchestra among others. Her numerous recitals include performances at Alice Tully Hall, the Bösendorfer New York Showroom, Steinway Hall and the Grand Hall of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Moreover, she has been featured on Tavros Record's recording of Rachmaninoff's Elegiaque Piano Trios on Tavros Records and on the 2005 Naxos release Left at the Fork in the Road, a collaborative disc of world-premieres by award-winning composer Sean Hickey. Mr. Hickey went on to compose and dedicate Ampersand, a piece for violin and piano, to Ms. Sakharova, who premiered the piece at her Steinway Hall recital in 2006. In 2007 she participated in the recording of several Hollywood movie soundtracks.
Broadcasts featuring her work include WQXR's Young Artists Showcase, KMZT's Sundays Live (featuring I Palpiti Soloists), as well as Cleveland's WCLV. Her competition credits include First Prize at the International Competition for the Music of Eastern & Central Europe, Top Prize at the Olga Koussevitzky Competition for Strings, and a laureate of the Jeunesses Musicales Montreal International Competition. She has appeared in numerous festivals, including the Music Academy of the West, Festival International de Colmar, the Verbier Festival & Academy, Keshet Eilon Violin Mastercourse, Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, and the Bowdoin International Music Festival.
Born in Moldova and raised in the Caucasian city of Zheleznovodsk in Russia, she made her solo orchestral debut with the Moldavian Symphony Orchestra at the age of eight. Her early career included several concert tours representing the Vladimir Spivakov Charity Foundation, as well as solo performances with the Kislovodsk, the Moldavian, and the Moscow Symphony Orchestras. At age 11 she toured Eastern Iowa with her mother Marina giving solo performances and receiving the Honorary Citizen of Iowa. Ms. Sakharova is currently on the faculty of the Newark School of the Arts, Newark, NJ and occasionally substitutes for the New York Philharmonic. In May 2007, she completed the Professional Studies program at the Manhattan School of Music with Glenn Dicterow and Lisa Kim.
Gretchen Brumwell is the principal harpist of the Cedar Rapids Symphony and an active performer throughout eastern Iowa. As a soloist, she has appeared with the Cedar Rapids Symphony, Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony, Ottumwa Symphony, Oskaloosa Symphony, Iowa City Community String Orchestra, and the Blue Lake Festival Orchestra.
As a chamber musician, Ms. Brumwell has premiered and recorded several newly composed works: Jeremy Beck's Songs Without Words for harp and flute, and Andrew Earle Simpson's Four Views of Pompeii for string quartet and harp.
A passionate educator, Ms. Brumwell serves as a harp instructor at the University of Northern Iowa and Coe College. She maintains a full studio in the Cedar Rapids Symphony School (CRSS,) where she also directs the Advanced Harp Ensemble, who released their first CD, Still, Still, Still, in December of 2006. She is the founder and director of the Northern Iowa Summer Harp Workshop and the former Harp Department Director at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.
Ms. Brumwell followed an unusual path to the field of music. She received a Bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies and Humanities from Grace University while studying harp with Mary Bircher, principal harpist of the Omaha Symphony. During these years, she also attended the Salzedo Summer Harp Colony, studying under the legendary Alice Chalifoux. She then went on to earn her master's degree in Harp Performance from Rice University, studying with Paula Page, principal harpist of the Houston Symphony. While at Rice, she was a regular substitute harpist for the Houston Symphony and the Houston Ballet Orchestra.
Daniel Kleinknecht is Executive Director and Conductor of the Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre in Iowa. As founder of the Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre nine years ago, he led the company in performances of major operatic repertoire and under his leadership, the company received four consecutive National Endowment for the Arts grants, established a nationally-recognized Young Artist Program, and built an endowment of over $100,000. He conducted the Long Bay Symphony, Evansville Chamber Orchestra, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, members of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Opera Illinois, Cedar Rapids Symphony, Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Singers, Fort Dodge Symphony, and the Iowa City Community Orchestra, as well as several national tours of Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors. The Peoria Journal wrote, "-with Kleinknecht at the podium, the sound was wonderfully hall-filling and alive with exceptional power and grace." The Myrtle Beach Press said, "What was most impressive was Kleinknecht-he controlled every aspect of the music."
An advocate of new music, Kleinknecht has commissioned and led premieres of works by Michael Daugherty (Flying Saucer), Nicolae Bratean (Golem), Edwin Penhorwood (Too Many Sopranos), and Theodore Gregorui (Violin Concerto). Of the Gregoriu Violin Concerto premiere, the Indianapolis Star wrote, "The orchestra's well-balanced assistance, for which Kleinknecht deserves a large share of the credit, also contributed handsomely."
Kleinknecht has been a Conducting Fellow at the Aspen Music School and at Quebec's Domaine Forget. He holds music degrees from Oberlin College, Indiana University, and The University of Iowa where he conducted performances of the Opera Theatre and the Center for New Music. He is listed in the International Who's Who in Music, and has had articles published in the American Choral Review and the Choral Journal.
Upcoming performances include HMS Pinafore with Anchorage Opera, and The Merry Widow in Jacksonville. Kleinknecht is also an associate professor at Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids.
Franco-Belgian pianist Maxence Pilchen began studying the piano at the age of three at the Talent Institute of Belgium. By age eleven, he won first place at the Bach, Gunther and Young Soloists contest in Belgium which consequently lead to many invitations to play at various concert halls. At the same time, Pilchen studied with Daniel Blumenthal and then entered the Royal Academy of Brussels under the guidance of Diane Andersen. Here he obtained the High Diploma with great distinction. Before meeting world renowned concert pianist Byron Janis, with whom he now works, he worked with pianists Bernard Ringeissen in Paris and Janusz Olejniczak in Warsaw.
A prize winner of many international contests, including contests in Rome, Oporto, Barcelona and Epinal, Pilchen was twice named Soloist of the Year by the RBTF at the Public Radiophonic Community of the French Language. Pilchen was also the recipient of the Maurice Lefranc Prize in 2001.
Pilchen has played in prestigious concert halls such as the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, Cortot Hall in Paris, Mozarteum in Salzburg and the Philharmonie in Warsaw. Also, Pilchen regularly plays festivals like the Chopin Festival of Paris, the International Festival of Dinard, the Pianissimo Festival in Liege, the Spring Summer Festival in Korea and the Festival des Forests. Additionally, Pilchen has participated in important musical demonstrations in the Netherlands, Monaco, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Poland, Romania, Cypress, Portugal and the United States.
Pilchen has played with internationally renowned orchestras such as the Philharmonic Orchestra of Liege in Belgium (cdt. Pierre Bartholomée), the National Orchestra of Oporto in Portugal (cdt. Florin Toten), the Symphony Orchestra of Târgu Mures in Romania (cdt.Octav Calleva), the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra (cdt. Christian Tiemeyer) and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra (cdt.Donald Schleicher).
Pilchen also records for Musique 3 in Belgium and France, the RTBF, the BRTN (Belgium), RAI UNO (Eurovision), MEZZO TV (France), France Bleue and for Portuguese, Polish, Japanese,Korean and American radio and television stations.
Pianist Miko Kominami joined the Cedar Rapids Symphony in 2002 as principal keyboard. Kominami was a soloist with the Cedar Rapids Symphony in 2005. She has also performed concerti with orchestras in Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa.
Ms. Kominami gave her New York Solo Debut Recital at Carnegie's Weill Recital Hall in 1996 as a result of winning the Artists International Award. New York Concert Review described her as "both a virtuosic and a musicianly performer."
Ms. Kominami has concertized extensively throughout North America, including performances in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, and Toronto. In addition to her solo engagements, Kominami appears frequently in the Murasaki Duo, a cello/piano ensemble. The Duo recently toured Scandinavia, giving concerts in Norway and Denmark. The Duo has also released a CD-featuring the works of Beethoven, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff-on the Centaur Records label. Kominami is the recipient of numerous awards; including a Canada Council Arts Grant and First Prize at the 1996 Concerto Soloists' Competition in Philadelphia. She has also appeared live on Maine and Iowa Public Radios.
Ms. Kominami holds both bachelors and masters degrees from the Juilliard School in New York City. She currently lives in Decorah, Iowa, and is on the piano faculty at Luther College.
Scott Foppiano was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1965. He began private study of the piano with Evelyn Maschmeyer at an early age and, while a student in the Parish School of St. Paul the Apostle, he began playing the organ in church for daily school masses. He eventually began playing weekend liturgies while beginning private study of the organ with Dr. John Hooker at Calvary Episcopal Church in Memphis. During his years at Christian Brothers High School he discovered his love for the sound of the Mighty Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ at Memphis' Orpheum Theatre and soon began playing overtures and intermissions
Following his family's relocation to Charlotte following his senior year of high school he entered the NC School of the Arts as a scholarship student of John and Margaret Mueller and his formal studies also brought him under the continued tutelage of Donna Robertson, David Lowry and Robert Glasgow. In addition to being thoroughly trained as a classical organist, he subsequently continued private study of classical organ repertoire with the late William Whitehead and also the study of theatre and symphonic organ stylings with the late, great Thomas Hazleton, his mentor and best friend.
Critically acclaimed and sought after as a recitalist, theatre organist and silent film accompanist, he has played and recorded some of the greatest classical and theatre pipe organs in the United States, Canada and Europe. To date he has four solo organ CD's with future projects pending. In addition, he has been a featured artist for regional and national conventions of the American Guild of Organists, the Organ Historical Society and the American Theatre Organ Society.
In 2001 he took his choir on a 14 day tour of Italy where they sang in the Cathedrals of Milan, Assisi and Florence and they sang the Solemn Latin Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome under his direction and organ accompaniment.
He has served as organist and music director for several prominent congregations and has also held positions on the administrative boards of both the A.G.O. and the A.T.O.S. at local and national levels. Additionally he became very involved as an adjudicator for the A.T.O.S's young organist's competition at both local and national levels. He holds the Service Playing and Colleague certifications of the American Guild of Organists and serves as the Organist-Choirmaster at a large suburban Parish in metropolitan Indianapolis which he now calls home. In addition to his ecclesiastical duties, he maintains a very active schedule as a solo performer. During the A.T.O.S. national convention in New York City, Mr. Foppiano was named the 2007 A.T.O.S. Organist of the Year.
Jean Meilleur, Vocalist, Jeans 'N Classics
Jean Meilleur was born in Madison, Wisconsin and moved to Detroit, Michigan at a young age. This helped shape his passion for the Green Bay Packers and the Motown, Soul and R 'n B sounds of the early seventies. He has been performing professionally for over twenty years and is thrilled to be involved with Jean 'n Classics, a London, Ontario based Orchestral Rock Show that tours North American concert halls. Now in his eleventh year as a Jeans 'n Classics headliner, Jean has performed with major North American Orchestras.
His sold-out shows include the music of Elton John, The Moody Blues, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Motown and the list goes on.
Jean's first solo C.D. entitled "The Widow Compleat" released in Spring 2006.
"It's been a long time coming, but many of my experiences have taken until now to crystallize. It's really about defining moments that change us forever".
In addition to an active career as a solo performer and songwriter he can also be heard on many national radio and TV ads. Go Pack Go!
John Regan, Pianist, Jeans 'N Classics
John Regan has been a solo and ensemble performer in Southwestern Ontario for more than two decades. He is equally at home singing favorites as a bar-room pianist, or hosting an orchestral concert in front of thousands of people. Though classically trained, John was hooked as a youth on the pop and rock 'n roll piano sounds of Elton John, Joe Jackson, Tom Waits and Bruce Hornsby. That made him an excellent fit for the Jeans 'n Classics band.
John has played with orchestras across North America, including the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Victoria Symphony and the Erie Philharmonic. He is also a regular in Orchestra London's "Red Hot Weekends" series. His wry wit and warm sound has kept audiences laughing and enjoying the music wherever he's played.
By day, John is a high school History teacher at St. Joseph's High School in St. Thomas Ontario, where he also coaches football, track and field and accompanies the choir. He loves to play baseball and plans to play in the major leagues one day! Once, as a young man, John was almost run over by the prime minister's limousine. He's okay now, though!
You can experience more of John's knowledge and wit by checking out "Ask John Regan" at www.jeansnclassics.com.
Jeff Christmas, Drummer, Jeans 'N Classics
Jeff is a Canadian-based composer, arranger, conductor, drummer, percussionist and trumpeter. He studied at York University, Toronto, Canada, the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, and Berklee College of Music, Boston, where he majored in Film Scoring and Composition.
Jeff has an extensive background in many aspects of the music profession, including performance, direction and instruction. He has performed with several symphony orchestras across Canada and the United States, as well as appearing internationally with such notable artists as Denny Doherty, The Rankin Sisters, Ashley McIsaac, J.P. Cormier, Michael Burgess, and Lenny Graf. He recently conducted a Southwestern Ontario tour with Roger Hodgson (Supertramp). In November 2004 he was musical director/arranger for the Opening of the MTS Center in Winnipeg where he conducted the WSO and guest artists Randy Bachman, Burton Cummings, Tom Cochrane and Chantal Kreviazuk. His musical theatre experience includes productions throughout Ontario at the Grand Theatre in London, Huron Country Playhouse, and the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, as well as a four-month position with Chandris Fantasy Cruise Lines based in the Caribbean. His jazz performances include collaborations with Sam Noto, Phil Nimmons, Al Kay, Jeff Stout, George Zonce, Denise Pelley, Duncan Hopkins, Mike Murley, Kevin Turcotte, Rob Stone, Jerry Johnson, and Guido Basso. Jeff has also spent numerous hours in the studio as a session player, producer, and conductor in Boston and throughout Ontario.
Jeff is currently Composer in Residence with Orchestra London. During his tenure with the orchestra, he has written several major compositions including Algoma, a tone poem for orchestra, and Concerto for English Horn. Along with other compositions and numerous arrangements, Jeff compositions for the Orchestra London Education Series, The Symphony Orchestra and Its Instruments, (an instrument demonstration) and Ode to Ode to Joy (a style demonstration), are designed to introduce children to classical music. He has appeared as guest conductor in Orchestra London's Pops Series, Red Hot Weekends, Education Series, Family Series and various community concerts, as well as a conductor/clinician in Southwestern Ontario schools. Jeff also is the drummer and guest conductor for the Orchestra's popular Jeans 'n' Classics series (www.jeansnclassics.com), where he has worked with Kenny McLean (Platinum Blonde), Amy Sky, Marc Jordan, Lorraine Segato (The Parachute Club), Alan Frew (Glass Tiger), Rik Emmit (Triumph) Brian Vollmer (Helix), Lawrence Gowan, Jim Witter, Thomas Wade and The Spoons. In 2001, Jeff held the position of conductor of the University of Western Ontario's Wind Ensemble. In addition, he has served as conductor for several recording projects, including his composition, River - Journey to Wellspring, a work written for and inspired by members of the Wellspring Cancer Support Centre in London, Ontario, released on CD in May 2003. Other resident composing and arranging credits include positions with The Art Christmas Aggregation, Sarnia, Ontario, and Brassroots, London, Ontario. Jeff's orchestral works have been performed by Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Windsor Symphony, International Symphony, Edmonton Symphony, Thunder Bay Symphony, Everett Symphony, and Orchestra London. Jeff has written commissioned works for Guido Basso, Erik Schultz, Larry Larson, David Martin, Intrada Brass, Amabile Youth Singers, Denise Pelley, Pierre Schryer, Leslie Nielsen and Jens Lindemann. While at Berklee he received the Millican Endowed Scholarship Award for his composition Blue Nostalgia, which was commissioned for the 1998 Professional Writing Division Awards Concert at the Berklee Performing Arts Center.
Jeff's original compositions for a wide variety of ensembles are in demand internationally. His music for the Opening Ceremonies of the Canada Games premiered on national television in the summer of 2001. Jeff has worked on various feature films and television programs as composer, orchestrator and musical assistant. Television and film credits include High Point Casinos (Global TV), National Aboriginal Achievement Awards (CBC) and "Chatroom" (HBO, BET). His most recent commissions include Bluewater Portrait for solo oboe and orchestra, and Canadian Voyage, a five-movement suite for french horn and orchestra.
Mitch Tyler, Bass, Jeans 'N Classics
Mitchell Tyler, a London, Ontario resident, is an Honors Bachelor of Music (Theory and Composition) graduate of the University of Western Ontario and has been a professional musician since 1987. As a freelance electric and upright bassist he has done everything from theatre and symphony work to session and club dates.
As a long-time member of the Jeans 'n Classics Band, Mitchell has worked with many orchestras in Canada (Orchestra London Canada, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Edmonton Symphony, Québec Symphony etc.) as well as in the United States (Chattanooga Symphony, Roanoke Symphony, Erie Symphony). He has shared the stage with Lawrence Gowan (Styx), Rik Emmett (Triumph), Alan Frew (Glass Tiger), Brian Vollmer (Helix), Kenny McLean (Platinum Blonde) as well as Amy Skye, Rich Little, Joan Rivers, Mickey Rooney and Donald O'Connor. Recent theatre work includes "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat" (Huron Country Playhouse, 2002), "Little Shop of Horrors," "My Way" (Grand Theatre, 2003, 2004), "Jazzabel" (Grand Theatre, 2004) and "Suds" (Carousel Theatre, 2005).
Mitchell also operates SMarT Laser Music Publishing and is kept busy working as an arranger and music copyist. He has conducted the Jeans 'n Classics Orchestra on a number of occasions and most recently conducted the International Symphony Orchestra (Sarnia/Port Huron) in an evening of "The Music of Elvis" and Orchestra London Canada in "The Song Remains The Same," featuring the music of Led Zeppelin.
Lorie Carpenter-Niska
SOPRANO / Itinerary Coordinator, Five By Design
Lorie is Five By Design's soprano and itinerary coordinator. She has been a member of the vocal ensemble since 1984 during its beginnings on the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus. Along with husband Kurt, the couple enjoys touring, performing, and meeting the many fans who attend the group's performances. Lorie is from the frozen tundra of Green Bay WI area (home of the Packers) and enjoys working out at Bally's.
Sheridan Zuther
ALTO/Operations Manager, Merchandise, Five By Design
Sheridan received her B.M. in Vocal Performance-Opera from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Conservatory of Music. In Twin Cities' theatre, Sheridan has starred in the Cole Porter review Hot 'n Cole (Ordway Center for the Arts), Janet in The Rocky Horror Show (Minneapolis Musical Theatre), Violet Hilton in Side Show (directed by creator Bill Russell, Park Square Theatre), Rhetta Cupp in Pump Boys and Dinettes (Oops Dinner Theatre), as well as having performed in the Guthrie's production of A Christmas Carole, Candide with the MN Orchestra, and productions with Bloomington Civic Theater, Mounds View Community Theatre, and Seasons Dinner Theatre in Coon Rapids.
Sheridan was recently one of 35 students at the Cabaret Conference at Yale University and studied privately with Tony-nominated Tovah Feldshuh and composer/performer Amanda McBroom. Sheridan has performed at Carnegie Hall, was a soloist for MMT's Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens for the MN AIDS Project at the Pantages Theatre, guest soloed with the Twin Cities Community Gospel Choir and performs with blues and jazz combos in the Cities. Sheridan lives in Minneapolis and enjoys cooking and walking the nearby lakes. She thanks her Mom and Dad for their loving support and their sacrifice for the many years of music lessons.
Kurt Niska
TENOR / Artistic Director / Financials, Five By Design
Originally from Washburn, Wisconsin, Kurt is the tenor for Five By Design. Kurt joined the ensemble as a student on the UW Eau Claire campus in 1987. Kurt is Five By Design's artistic director and also serves the group in the capacity as CFO, coordinating musicians and conductors for performances, and responsible for all the details that make the engagement a success.
The Niskas spend their precious leisure time exercising, traveling to see friends and family in Colorado and Wisconsin.
Michael Swedberg
BARITONE / Arranger / Planning, Five By Design
Mike is originally from Washburn, Wisconsin and is the baritone for Five By Design. Mike joined the ensemble as a student on the UW Eau Claire campus in 1987 where he received his undergrad and graduate degree in piano performance. Mike serves as the group's visionary as an artistic planner.
Mike is an avid reader and an enjoys building new shows and creating vocal arrangements for Five By Design. In their musical Club Swing, Mike can be heard tearing up the piano on Jack Fina's rendition of "Bumble Boogie".
Terrence Niska
BASS / Librarian / Arranger, Five By Design
Terry is originally from Washburn, Wisconsin and is the baritone - bass for Five By Design. Terry joined the ensemble upon completing his graduate studies at Westminster Choir College in Princeton NJ. Terry is Five By Design's vocal arranger and librarian.
Terry is an avid reader, enjoys listening to his extensive CD collection, and solving crossword and jigsaw puzzles. Terry also lays claim to the title as the official chauffeur for Five By Design.
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