Directory

Conductor Matthew Westgate “leads with a combination of expressivity and crispness” (San Francisco Chronicle). His performances are praised as “dramatic, incisive, and passionate” (Audiophile Audition) and full of “verve and swagger” (MusicWeb International).

Duane Lee Holland Jr. began his professional dance career at the age of 17, dancing for Hip-Hop theater dance company, Rennie Harris Puremovement (RHPM); he was later named Assistant Artistic Director of the company. He received his Master of Fine Arts in Dance (Magna Cum Laude), with a focus in Choreography, from the University of Iowa.

A strong proponent of partnerships with K-12 music educators and arts organizations, Albert continues to be active as a presenter at state, regional, and national music education conferences, has been a featured clinician at schools throughout New England, and, as a public school music teacher, has collaborated with composers and the Community Music School of Springfield (Massachusetts) to create artist-in-residence programs and commissioning projects that enrich the education of school music students.

Cellist Edward Arron has garnered recognition worldwide for his elegant musicianship, impassioned performances, and creative programming. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Arron made his New York recital debut in 2000 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Since that time, he has appeared in recital, as a soloist with major orchestras, and as a chamber musician throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

Dr. Auerbach's research focuses primarily on extending the concept of the musical motive as it pertains to analysis. Other research interests include the group-mathematic properties of harmonic sequences, pedagogy, and the aesthetics of Baroque composition and counterpoint.

Ben Barnett has made a name for himself in NYC's jazz scene as a consummate musician and educator. He is from Long Island, NY, and is a graduate of the Conservatory of Music, Purchase College, SUNY ('16). There, he studied with John Fedchock and Tim Albright. Ben also received an M.M.Ed. from Hofstra University ('22).

A recent New York concert by pianist Steven Beck was described as “exemplary” and “deeply satisfying” by Anthony Tommasini in the New York Times.  He is a graduate of the Juilliard School, where his teachers were Seymour Lipkin, Peter Serkin and Bruce Brubaker.

Yamaha Performing Artist Eric Berlin has made the music of our time the focus of his career. As a soloist, he has commissioned, premiered and recorded new works for trumpet from some of today’s most important composers, including Christopher Rouse, George Tsontakis, Stephen Paulus, Joseph Turrin, Anthony Plog, Eric Ewazen, and James Stephenson.

Ann Biddle has been a dance educator, staff developer, curriculum consultant, writer, and choreographer for the past 30 years. In addition to teaching with UMass Amherst’s Dance Program, she is currently the Director of the Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) Institute for Professional Learning and Advancement and the Director of DEL at Jacob’s Pillow.