Amanda Balestrieri, soprano
Amanda Balestrieri was born in England, won two scholarships to Oxford University where she received her BA/MA in German and French, studied voice in London and Milan, and performed in London and Germany, after which she moved to the United States. Her varied career has included work with symphony orchestras around the country, nicluding several appearances with the National Symphony in Washington, D.C. under the batons of Leonard Slatkin and Christopher Hogwood in works by Mozart and VaughanWilliams. Renowned for her "radiant intelligence" and the "luminous warmth" of her voice, Ms. Balestrieri is in high demand for her musicianship and for her skills in baroque repertoire. She has appeared with the major peroid instrument ensembles throughout the U.S., such as New York Collegium, Concert Royal and the New York Baroque Dance Compay, St. Thomas Choir New York, the Smithsonian Chamber Players, the Founr Nations Ensemble, the Folger Consort, the Washington Bach Consort, Musica Angelica, American Bach Soloists in San Francisco, and Santa Fe Pro Musica. Recitals have taken her to the 92nd Street Y in New York, and the Phillips Collection and French Embassy in Washington D.C.
Lyn Loewi, harpsichord and organ
Lyn Loewi studied organ and harpsichord at the University of Michigan. She has a DMA from Stanford University and a First Prize in organ from the French National Conservatory where she studied on a Fulbright Scholarship. She has taught at Portland State University and the University of Minnesota. She is currently music director at Christ Episcopal in Denver.
Joseph Howe, cello and co-director
Joseph Howe is pursuing a Master of Music degree in cello performance at the University of Colorado, where he studies with Judith Glyde and serves as a teaching assistant in the string and music theory departments. He recently received a Bachelor of Music degree in cello performance from the University of Oregon (cum laude), where he was a student of Steven Pologe. In Eugene, OR, he was a member of the Oregon Mozart Players. He is assistant principal cellist of the Boulder Chamber Orchestra, and was formerly principal cellist of the Boulder Symphony, a local community orchestra. As a baroque cellist, he has performed with Ensemble Pearl and Seicento Baroque Ensemble (both in Boulder, CO). Joseph is a native of Salem, OR.
Sarah Wood, violin and viola d'amore
Sarah Wood has led a varied career as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. Originally from Northern California, Sarah earned her Bachelor's and Master's in violin performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music as a student of Paul Kantor and William Preucil. She then became the concertmaster of the Auburn Symphony and taught privately in California. She also founded and directed the Foothill Chamber Music Concert Series, presenting free chamber music concerts to the community of Nevada and Placer Counties. In past years, Sarah has soloed with the Villa Sinfonia Chamber Orchestra, the Panache Chamber Orchestra, Music in the Mountains Summer Festival Orchestra, and the Sacramento Youth Symphony. She has participated in programs and master classes around the world: California Summer Music, Icicle Creek Chamber Music Institute, Shrewsbury Music Festival, London Master classes, International Academy in Salzburg, International Musician's Forum in Toledo, Spain, Tafelmusik in Toronto, Canada, and Cultures in Harmony in Tunisia.
Sarah moved to Colorado in 2009 to pursue her doctorate in violin performance at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She enjoys an active teaching and performing schedule in addition to her responsibilities as a T.A. for her violin teacher, Lina Bahn. Currently, Sarah is a member of the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestras, and also plays with the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado and the Baroque group Ensemble Pearl. She received her Suzuki teacher training with William Starr, and is a trainee with Andover Educators in a method of teaching movement related to the Alexander Technique. This past summer she was fortunate to attend the Paul Rolland Workshop in order to learn more about the pedagogy of movement in music. Sarah is incredibly excited to have the opportunity to live in the Netherlands for the 2012-2013 school year, studying with Alexander Technique teacher Crissman Taylor and violinist Lis Perry at the Utrecht Conservatory as part of her doctoral research. She will be learning and observing a method to combine the Alexander Technique with designing custom equipment in order to promote injury prevention and ease of playing in violinists and violists.
Sarah moved to Colorado in 2009 to pursue her doctorate in violin performance at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She enjoys an active teaching and performing schedule in addition to her responsibilities as a T.A. for her violin teacher, Lina Bahn. Currently, Sarah is a member of the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestras, and also plays with the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado and the Baroque group Ensemble Pearl. She received her Suzuki teacher training with William Starr, and is a trainee with Andover Educators in a method of teaching movement related to the Alexander Technique. This past summer she was fortunate to attend the Paul Rolland Workshop in order to learn more about the pedagogy of movement in music. Sarah is incredibly excited to have the opportunity to live in the Netherlands for the 2012-2013 school year, studying with Alexander Technique teacher Crissman Taylor and violinist Lis Perry at the Utrecht Conservatory as part of her doctoral research. She will be learning and observing a method to combine the Alexander Technique with designing custom equipment in order to promote injury prevention and ease of playing in violinists and violists.
Our next concert also features:
Jenny Diaz, violin and co-director
Jenny is a Master's student of Lina Bahn at the University of Colorado Boulder.
