Artist Biographies - In Alphabetical Order
Elzbieta
Brandys (POLAND)
Elzbieta Brandys was born in Debica in Poland. Since age
of 11 started to take flute lesson in Elementary Music School in Debica.
Elzbieta earned her Diploma of Music in flute performance form the Music
Lyceum in Tarnow in Poland, studying with a flutist, Andrzej Jarmula. In
Poland, she served as a principal flutist for a Music Lyceum Orchestra.
In 1996 Ms. Brandys won her first prize in the Regional Flute Competition
of South Poland in Rzeszow. In 1998 came to Dallas, TX awarded with full
scholarship to pursue B.M. in flute performance at Southern Methodist University's
Meadows School of the Arts. At the Southern Methodist University she received
her experience in flute class of Jean Larson, a principal flutist of the
Dallas Symphony Orchestra. While Ms. Brandys was pursuing degree at SMU
she was performing with Meadows Symphony Orchestra and the Meadows Wind
Ensemble. Also, Elzbieta thought privately for the Richardson Independent
School District, the Zen Music and Arts Institution of Dallas. Currently
she is a first year graduate student at The Boston Conservatory, where is
pursuing her Graduate Performance Diploma on full scholarship in flute performance
with Marianne Gedigian, who is currently a flutist of The Boston Symphony
Orchestra and The Boston Pops Orchestra.
Eve
K. Budnick
(USA)
Eve K. Budnick, piano, is currently a staff pianist and vocal
coach at Boston University. She is also a vocal coach at University of Connecticut
and teaches diction at New England Conservatory’s continuing education
department. She received a Bachelors degree at Princeton University in Music
History, a Masters degree at Boston University in Vocal Accompaniment, and
a Graduate Diploma in Collaborative Piano from New England Conservatory.
She has coached for both the New England Conservatory Opera Workshop, and
the New England Conservatory Summer Opera Institute. She lives in Wayland
with her husband, Larry and sons, Andrew and Ryan.
Susan
Caplan
(USA)
Susan Caplan, flute, received a Bachelor of Arts degree with
a major in music performance from Wellesley College, where she was awarded
the Billings Prize in Performance. Her teachers have included Doriot Anthony
Dwyer, Elinor Preble and William Grass. Susan has performed with the Savoyard
Light Opera Company, Sudbury Savoyards, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Brockton
Symphony Orchestra, and the Longy Chamber Octet. Susan assists with the
Dean S. Luce Elementary School Band in Canton and teaches private lessons.
Sally
Davenport
(USA)
Sally Davenport, oboe, received a Bachelor’s degree
from Smith College and a diploma in oboe performance from the Longy School
of Music. She teaches at the South Shore Conservatory in Hingham and Duxbury,
at Milton Academy, and privately. In addition to playing with the Trade
Winds, Sally is the principal oboe of the Quincy Symphony Orchestra and
freelances in the Boston area. She lives in Hingham with her husband, John.
Yuval
Golibroda
(ISRAEL)
Yuval started taking music lessons at the age of 5. He then
finished a prestigious Makif Hai High School, known for its music program.
He has been performing in Israel, his home land, for over 15 years as a
piano player, singer, and a studio musician. He has toured in Germany, Czech
Republic, England, France, and the U.S.
Yuval studied Film Scoring at Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA) and
graduated magna cum laude in May 2004. Currently he is working as an assistant
conductor for the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, as well as leading his own
music group “The Golimez Band”.
Scott
Goulding
(USA)
Scott Goulding began playing drums at the age of 10 and undertook
musical studies throughout his youth. His professional career began at the
age of 12, appearing in clubs and concerts, playing a wide variety of music
with many different acts. By 1986, he had relocated to Boston to attend
the Berklee College of Music where he studied with Joe Hunt, Hal Crook,
Ian Froman,
John Ramsay, and Ed Uribe. After his graduation, he has become an active
international jazz performer, recording artist, and educator, currently
residing in the Boston area where he teaches privately and at The Berklee
College of Music. Goulding has performed in major cities throughout the
world at jazz clubs, concerts, clinics, tours and festivals. His performance
and
recording credits include George Garzone, Larry Grenadier, Joanne Brackeen,
Kevin Mahogany, Jerry Bergonzi, Alan Broadbent, John Lockwood, Howard Levy,
Frank Tiberi, Harvey Diamond, and Ricky Ford, He has done numerous recordings
and can be heard on Takashi Kudoâ?™s "Red and Black"
recorded June 2002 in NYC by Engineer James Farber with legendary bassist
Larry Grenadier. Yoko Miwaâ?™s "In the Mist of Time".
Jerry Bergonzi and Tatsu Kisaragiâ?™s "Power Play",
"Lazybird", and "Deep Three". Puerto Rican piano sensation
Brenda Hopkins Mirandaâ?™s "Boricua on Board", Osamu
Moriyamaâ?™s "Invisible", and coming soon, Yoko Miwaâ?™s
"Fadeless Flower". Goulding was featured on the July 1996 cover
of Jazz Player Magazine. During a 1998 tour Jazz Life Magazine in Japan
wrote of Scottâ?™s drumming in a live concert review "...his
cymbal work is articulate and smooth, his drumming sounds like nature".
In a spring 2000 tour with Jazz Vocalist Kevin Mahogany, The Springfield
Union News wrote "Goulding is a first class time-keeper contributing
superbly tasty fills, scored points for subtlety by playing with fingertips.
Goulding was the drummer for a steady weekly gig in Boston with tenor saxophone
legends, George Garzone and Frank Tiberi (Woody Hermanbandleader). Following
in the footsteps of drumming luminaries Joe Hunt, Jorge Rossy, Jim Black,
and Jeff Williams, for three years, Goulding was the drummer in the house
Jazz Trio at the Four Seasonâ?™s Hotel every Friday and Saturday
night. From 2000-2002 he held down his own gig three nights a week at Prudential
Center. Currently, he is performing around Boston both as a highly sought
after freelancer and with The Yoko Miwa Trio. Goulding endorses Paiste cymbals.
Igor
Iwanek
(POLAND)
Igor is a pianist and composer from Lodz, Poland. For two
years has been studying in Boston at the Berklee College, and now at the
New England Conservatory, where he received a full scholarship. Igor acquires
his inspirations from classical music, jazz and Polish country music.
Irena
Jadkowski
(POLAND)
Native of Poland. “Angelic Soprano” Her voice teacher was a
very well known Polish tenor, Jan Balacin. She performed in many of the
major cathedrals and churches in Poland, France, Italy, Germany and Austria.
She sang with Zabrze Philharmonic Orchestra and Bytom Opera House in Poland.
Piotr
"Mieta" Kowalczyk
(POLAND)
Born in Pulawy, Poland. Vocalist, composer, arranger. Member
of the Polish Jazz Society. Musical Director of the Pro Musica, Inc. (Foundation).
Hope of the Polish Jazz.
Ewa
Lemisiewicz
(POLAND)
Ewa Lemisiewicz received a classical music education on violin
and piano in Warsaw, Poland. At 18 Ewa moved to Paris where she studied
Vocal Jazz at IACP (Institut of Art Culture and Perception) and performed
in jazz quartet in many important Parisian jazz venues: Duc des Lombards,
Sunset and Sept Lezards.
In 2000 she attended Berklee College of Music, granted with an International
Berklee Tour Scholarship and a highly prestigious scholarship from the French
Government “ La Bourse Lavoisier” At Berklee she studied with
such notorious artists as Kevin Mahogany, Joe Lovano, Ray Santisi, Barry
Ries, Greg Hopkins and Victor Mendoza. She graduated from Berklee in 2002
with Bachelor Degree in Professional Music and an Award of Achievement for
Outstanding Musicianship.
Since her arrival to Boston Ewa has had chance to perform with such musicians
like Lionel Loueke (Terence Blanchard, Herbie Hancock),Tony Perez (Irakere,
Grammy for Best Latin Jazz 2002), Francisco Mela (Irakere), Marcin Masecki
(opening for Brandford Marsalis) and the current members of her Jazz Quartet,
highly acclaimed musicians: Vadim Neselovskyi, Esperanza Spalding and Ziv
Ravitz. Currently Ewa is working on the material for her debut CD.
Yoko
Miwa
(JAPAN)
Yoko Miwa, Jazz Pianist Originally from Japan, now currently
residing in Boston, Yoko Miwa was a student of Minoru Ozone (the father
of world renowned jazz pianist, Makoto Ozone) and is now a critically acclaimed,
active international jazz performer, recording artist, and educator, who
has performed in major cities throughout the world at jazz clubs, concerts,
clinics, tours, on live TV and radio broadcasts and in festivals. She has
released two CDs on major labels in Japan,Yokoâ?™s debut CD
as a leader Yoko Miwa â?œIn the Mist of Timeâ?? was released
in 2001 on the Tokuma Label. Yokoâ?™s second CD The Yoko Miwa
Trio â?œFadeless Flowerâ?? was released in 2003 on the
Polystar Label. Her performance and recording credits include Slide Hampton,
Arturo Sandoval, George Garzone, Jon Faddis, Jerry Bergonzi, Kevin Mahogany,
John Lockwood, Ed Calle, and Mike Turk. Yoko was the personal accompanist
for Grammy Award Winning Jazz Singer Kevin Mahoganywhile he lived in Boston.
She performed with her own trio 3 nights a week in The Prudential Center
regularly from 2001-2003. In addition to being a featured performer in Ryles
Jazz Brunch, she also held the piano chair in the critically acclaimed Ryles
Jazz Orchestra and can be heard on their CD release � Liveat
Rylesâ??.
In May 2001, Yoko was honored as a featured performer in Washington D.C.
at The Kennedy Centerâ?™s "Mary Lou William's Women in
Jazz Festival". Yoko brought her own trio to Japan in July of 2003
for a tour to support her second CD release â?œFadeless Flowerâ??
where she performed in major cities Tokyo, Osaka and Kobe. In a 2001 CD
review, legendary Jazz DJ and critic James Isaacâ?™s wrote:
�...Yoko Miwa demonstrates a full command of the inner-directed,
post-Bill Evans piano idiom, which also takes in the work of Keith Jarrett,
Chick Corea, and Steve Kuhn. She amply displays her burgeoning talent as
a writer of melodically inviting, impressionistic material, as well as introducing
a technically assured soloist with a clean, singing sound and an occasional
penchant for the blues in pastels.
Justin
Oliver
(USA)
Justin graduated from Berklee College of Music (Boston MA)
in 2001. He performs with various artists in many different styles of music
from the R/B, Funk group Beantown Project to Classical Chamber Hermes Orchestra,
from Rock Bands Article One, 4th Floor, Bowman, to the Folk/Rock singer
Michelle Lewis. Justin has recorded albums for the prominent artists Ruane
Sibley (MDI Records) and Philippe Neron (Incredible Steps).
Justin also teaches percussion in the Boston area.
Vardan
Ovsepian
(ARMENIA)
Vardan is an Armenia-born pianist/composer and a Fresh Sound
– New Talent recording artist. Born in 1975, Vardan started playing
piano at the age of five. After completing his basic piano training, he
went on to study at the Melikyan Music College, majoring in Music Theory,
and in 1992, entered the Yerevan State Conservatory majoring in Classical
Composition. Inspired by the music of Chopin, Liszt, Bach and solo piano
works of Keith Jarrett, Vardan strived to compose and perform solo piano
music. In 1994, he
was presented an opportunity to focus on his piano work when he was accepted
to the Estonian Music Academy to study Contemporary Composition. In 1995,
following his strong interest and passion for jazz and improvised music
Vardan moved to Finland, to attend the Helsinki Jazz Conservatory. There,
he met and studied with Frank Carlberg, the First Prize winner of the Hennessey
Jazz Search, who opened a new world of jazz for him and brought him one
step closer to achieving his dream of coming to the United States. A couple
of years later, this dream was fulfilled – Vardan was awarded a scholarship
to study piano performance at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Since
graduating from Berklee in May 2000, Vardan has been teaching at The Musical
Suite in Newburyport, MA, and performing solo as well as in groups with
artist like Frank Carlberg ,Hal Crook ,George Garzone ,Mick Goodrick, Tony
Malaby ,Tim Miller ,Bob Weiner ,and others. Over the last few years, Vardan
has won great popularity in Maine where he has taught master classes at
the Maine Jazz Camp. He has also performed and taught at the Alaska Jazz
Festival. Vardan has released three CDs with a Barcelona–based label
Fresh Sound – New Talent . In September 2001, the label launched the
artist with a solo piano CD Abandoned Wheel , which included all original
compositions inspired by music of Philip Glass and Brad Mehldau (especially
'Elegiac Cycle'). A year later, Vardan was invited to bring his quartet
for a recording of his second CD, Sketch Book , with a special guest Mick
Goodrick . Artists featured on the second CD included Monica Yngvesson (voice),
Joshua Davis (bass) and Take Toriyama (drums). And, in September 2004, Fresh
Sound is going to release Vardan's new CD Akunc featuring his quartet and
a cellist Agnieszka Dziubak.
Beata
Pantzer
(POLAND)
Beata is a vocalist, enjoying performing a variety of musical
styles. Beginning with twelve years of classical music training and four
years of voice lessons for opera in Poland, Beata went on to travel the
world, performing folk, pop, and dance tunes. Her travels have taken her
to Bahrain, Egypt, Norway, Germany and the United States. She currently
resides with her husband on Boston’s North Shore.
John
Porter
(USA)
John Porter, clarinet, studied engineering at Case Institute of Technology
and music with Bob Patti in Cleveland with and with Norman Carol in Newton.
His company, On Line Controls, develops ultrasonic equipment for tubing
manufacturers. John has performed with The Wellesley Symphony Orchestra
as principal under Robert Prins, Michael Webster, and Max Hobart. He has
performed with many other Boston area groups including Concord Orchestra,
Concord Band, MIT Gilbert & Sullivan Players, Chaminade Opera Group,
Concord Hill Woodwind Quintet, and Turtle Lane Theatre. John lives in Lexington
with Myra Little-Porter, software architect and French horn musician.
Shunji
Saegusa
(JAPAN)
Shunji has been studying and playing Acoustic Bass in both
Japan and the US. His impressive credits include performances with a Progressive
Rock Band “KENSO”, Berklee Chamber Orchestra, and no less than
at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City where in 2003 Shunji played
at the “JVC JAZZ Festival. Shunji is currently studying Jazz Composition
at Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA)
Klaudia Szlachta
(POLAND)
Native of Debica, Poland, Klaudia studied violin in Debica,
krakow, Warsaw and since 2000 at the Boston Conservatory under Prof. Magdalena
Suchecka Richter. With a great success Klaudia participatedat the International
Competitions in Poland (Warsaw, Krakow, Opole), Israel (Keshet Eilon), Germany
(Hanover, Lehrte, Stuttgart), Belarus (Brest), England (Folkestone) and
in the United States (new York, Norfolk,VA; Boston). In 2001 she received
a “President Award” from the President of Boston Conservatory
for the year 2001-2002.
Maja
Tremiszewska
(POLAND)
Maja was born on August 16th, 1979 in Gdansk (Poland). She
took her first piano lesson at the age of 6 in the National Music School
in Gdansk-Wrzeszcz, from which she graduated in 1997. At the same time she
was preparing herself to Matura exam in public high school. While studying
in music school, she took part in numerous Polish piano competitions and
festivals. She was continuing her music education in the Gdansk Academy
of Music in studios of many marvellous teachers, such as prof. Katarzyna
Popowa-Zydron, ad. Bogdan Kulakowski, prof. Krystyna and Roman Sucheccy.
She graduated with honors from this conservatory in 2003 receiving M.M.
Last year she received full scholarship to attend Boston Conservatory, where
she is studing with great Boston pianist and teacher Max Levinson. Apart
from solo music, which is her passion, she is also extremely interested
in chamber music. Together with marvellous violinist Urszula Izak, who is
currently studing in Lemmeninstitiuut in Leuven in Belgium, they gave numerous
recitals in Poland and Belgium. Maja is developing her interests in this
field while studying with Anderw Mark, who has been a member of Boston Pops
for many years and Rhonda Rider, who plays in Boston Conservatory Chamber
Players.
Olga
Talroze
(RUSSIA)
Olga is the daughter of well-known Russian Pianist, Gabriela Talroze. At
the age of six, Olga began to study at the Leningrad (St. Petersburg) Music
School for Gifted Children. From 1993 – 1998 she studies at the San
Francisco Conservatory from which she received both: a bachelor’s
and Master’s Degree in piano performance. She participated in a number
of piano competitions including the San Jose Young Artists Piano Competition,
where she was a First Prize Winner. She appeared as soloist with the Jerusalem
Symphony, Solano Symphony and the Palo Alto Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1999,
Olga received a full scholarship to attend the Boston Conservatory, where
she studies with Michael Lewin. In 2001, she won the Conservatory’s
Concerto Competition and performed the Ravel Piano Concerto for the Left
Hand at the Benjamin Franklin Institute Auditorium. Currently, Miss Talroze
is a staff accompanist at the Boston Conservatory and at the Wellesley College.
Susan
K. Winterbottom
(USA)
Susan K. Winterbottom, french horn. A Rhode Island native,
Susan has a Bachelor of Music Degree in horn performance from the New England
Conservatory and a Master of Music Degree from the State University of New
York at Stony Brook. Susan has studied privately with Paul Anderson, Nedo
Pandolfi, Daniel Katzen, Jon Menkis, William Purvis, and most recently,
with Jean Rife. When she is not playing the horn, Susan enjoys teaching
general, choral and instrumental music. Susan has been a teacher for the
Bristol-Warren Public Schools for the last four years. She is currently
teaching private lessons through the Music School of the Rhode Island Philharmonic
and will begin a new teaching position in the Dedham Public Schools in November.
In addition to playing with Trade Winds, she is a member of Your Favorite
Brass Quintet, HornFest, the Rhode Island Brass, and the Rhode Island Wind
Ensemble. Susan has also played with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra
and Symphony by the Sea.
Karolina
Wozniakiewicz
(POLAND)
Karolina, native of Poland, began her piano studies in 1986
in Pruszkow, Poland. She studied in Warsaw at the Karol Szymanowski Music
School. In 2004 she received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance under
the guidance of Michael Lewin. She played at numerous Piano Competitions
and Festivals in Poland, Slovakia, Belgium, Greece, Switzerland, Portugal,
France, Spain and the United States. She played at the Chopin birth place:
Zelazowa Wola, where she had All-Chopin Recital.
Diane
Zolnaski
(USA)
Diane Zolnaski, bassoon, received a Bachelor of Science in
Music Education and a Master of Arts in Music Education from the University
of Maryland, College Park. Her teachers have included William Allgood, Walter
Maciejewicz, Phillip Kolker and Isabelle Plaster. Diane taught instrumental
music in Prince Georges County, MD. While there, she played in the Prince
Georges Symphony Orchestra, Jewish Community Center Orchestra, University
of Maryland Symphony Orchestra and Symphony Band, and the Clarobass Trio.
Since in Massachusetts, she has performed with the New Philharmonia, Newton
Symphony, Longwood Symphony and Sudbury Savoyards. She is currently teaching
band, chorus and strings at a middle school in Framingham.
Elena
Zoubareva
(RUSSIA)
Elena simultaneously attended Moscow Ippolitov-Ivanov College
of Music as a classical singer and Moscow State University. At the height
of her studies, Elena performed music and poetry for large audiences such
as Moscow Army Theatre (the largest theatre house in Europe), and Summer
Theatre in Evpatoria (Ukraine).
In 1999 she attended Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA) as a Professional
Music Major with concentration on Vocal Performance. Elena was Berklee Scholarship
recipient. She graduated cum laude in May 2003.
Elena has performed at Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory, Holy
Epiphany Church, JFK Library, New Bedford Whaling Museum, The Performance
Center for Arts in Natick, Chapel Arts New England etc.