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Maria Kanakis Yang
Maria Kanakis Yang has worked at the Seattle Symphony for over three years, currently holding the Chief Development and Project Officer position, overseeing all fundraising efforts for the Symphony and Benaroya Hall in addition to implementation of the strategic plan. Prior to working at the Symphony, Yang was most recently Director of Advancement at the…
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Peter Ferry
Acclaimed as “the ingenious percussionist Peter Ferry,” (Chicago Sun-Times), Peter Ferry is a young American percussion soloist re-imagining classical performances around the world through contemporary repertoire projects and innovative artistic collaborations. An active concerto soloist, Ferry has championed the percussion concerti of Joe Duddell, Emmanuel Sejourne, Michael Torke, Ney Rosauro, and Jacob ter Veldhuis and…
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Eric Laprade
A dedicated and passionate conductor, educator, and arts leader, Eric M. Laprade is Director of Bands and Assistant Professor at The College of New Jersey. Prior to his appointment at TCNJ, Laprade served as the Visiting Director of Wind Ensembles at the University of Utah. He also serves as the Music Director of South Shore…
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Mike Forfia
Mike Forfia is a musician, teacher, and organizational leader who currently serves as the Music Director at City Light church in Astoria, NY, Bassist with the Urbana Worship team, and Director of Staff & Programs at Redeemer West Side’s W83 Ministry Center, a worship center and events space on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.…
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Tiffany Valvo
Known for her infectious energy, Tiffany Valvo is a clarinetist, educator, and entrepreneur on a mission to cultivate the next generation of thriving young professionals. She is the Co-Executive Director of Music360 and the Digital Clarinet Academy, a digital education platform that fills the gaps in traditional classical music training and empowers students to take…
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Kevin Holzman
Kevin Michael Holzman serves as the Director of Wind Studies and Head of the Division of Ensembles and Conducting and the University of Cincinnati College – Conservatory of Music. His academic responsibilities include teaching graduate conducting and related courses, and advising and mentoring of wind conducting students in CCM’s Masters and Doctoral programs. Holzman also…
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Alison Lowell
Alison Lowell is a passionate arts advocate. She currently serves as a Supervisory Copyright Specialist with the United States Copyright Office, Performing Arts Division, at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Alison is a founding member and Artistic Director of District5, a wind quintet dedicated to new works and transcriptions. She is the Director…
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Andrew Smith
Andrew Smith’s musical journey has taken him all over the globe as a low brass performer, higher educator, and leader in the music industry. Andrew is the Product Manager of Repair Parts at Conn-Selmer, the US’s largest manufacturer of band and orchestra instruments. Andrew has served on the faculty of Campbell University, Methodist University, and…
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Blaire Koerner
Dr. Blaire K.S. Koerner is an accomplished bassoonist, educator, and career advisor. As a bassoonist, Dr. Koerner is a founding member of Hats + Heels Duo, a quirky ensemble of bassoon and harp that aim to engage audiences through the universal intrigue of an entertaining story. Their innovative performances are infused with a variety of art forms…
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Chisato Eda Marling
Chisato Eda Marling received a Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance with minor in Piano Performance from the Musashino Academia Musicae, Tokyo, Japan, a Master’s Degree in Saxophone Performance from the University of Minnesota and a Doctor of Musical Arts with minor in Musicians’ Wellness and Arts Leadership Certificate from the Eastman School of Music.…
