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John Rutter, conductor, a native of London, is well known on both sides of the Atlantic as a composer, conductor, and recording artist. His compositions span choral and orchestral works, carols, school operas, popular music, and music for television. He was director of music at England's Clare College from 1975-79, later forming the Cambridge Singers, a mixed-voice choir that has recorded over two dozen albums, many for his own label, Collegium. In the last few years, several of his recordings have reached Billboard magazine's Classical Top 25 chart. Recently, he initiated the Collegium Choral Series, a music publishing project aimed at making available to choral groups works performed by the Cambridge Singers.

Christopher J. Schwabe is a teacher, a conductor, and a director of orchestras at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, California, where there are three orchestra classes including the string orchestra, chamber ensemble and symphony orchestra. Mr. Schwabe received his bachelor of music education from Indiana University and a master of arts degree from Ball State University. He is enjoying his forty-third year of teaching instrumental music in the public schools. This marks Mr. Schwabe's second appearance in Carnegie Hall, having conducted the Santa Monica High School Symphony Orchestra on Easter Sunday, 2002. He retired in June 2002, but months later he was coaxed out of retirement to begin a new orchestra program at Mira Costa High School. In four years under his leadership, the program has grown from one string class of eighteen students to three orchestra classes including a full symphony orchestra of seventy-nine students. Recently, the California Music Educators Association honored him as the Outstanding Music Educator of the Year. Mr. Schwabe has taught at Santa Monica College, the Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts, and in the School of Performing Arts Early Development String Program at the University of Southern California where he received the Outstanding Teacher Award for extraordinary service to string pedagogy. He has conducted numerous honor groups throughout Southern California and is in demand as a clinician at workshops, conferences, and conventions throughout the state.

Lee Wiesner Stone, conductor, has been teaching strings for twenty three years. She currently teaches at Westminster Christian School and Florida International University. Ms. Stone serves as president of the Florida Orchestra Association and annually adjudicates for the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts and various solo/ensemble and district evaluations. Ms. Stone serves as a clinician and guest conductor for various all-county and all-state orchestras and founded the University of Miami Honor Orchestra. She is published in Florida Perspectives.

Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse, artistic director and principal conductor of the New England Symphonic Ensemble, is a violinist, pianist, composer, and conductor. A graduate of The Juilliard School, Boston University, and the Peabody Conservatory, Dr. Rittenhouse has performed as recitalist and soloist with orchestras throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, South Africa, and the West Indies. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the London Associate Board Overseas Award, the New York Concert Artists Guild Award, the International Music Guild Award, and the New York Madrigal Society Award.

The New England Symphonic Ensemble was organized more than two decades ago by Dr. Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse. Since 1982 the ensemble has toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Africa, Russia, and Israel, and has performed frequently at Carnegie Hall under the auspices of MidAmerica Productions.

Over the past 20 years, MidAmerica Productions has brought together conductors, choruses, soloists, and orchestral musicians for performances at some of the world's greatest venues, especially at New York's Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall.

Under the guidance of MidAmerica's founder, Peter Tiboris, the company has presented over 790 concerts worldwide and more than 640 in New York at Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, and Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall.

More than 2115 American ensembles, representing each of the 50 states, have appeared with MidAmerica in New York, as have 75 symphonic and choral ensembles from Europe, the Far East, South America, and Canada. There have more than 300 guest conductors, 620 solo artists, and 88,000 performers who have appeared on MidAmerica's series in Carnegie Hall.

In addition to presenting classic choral and instrumental works, MidAmerica Productions has championed the works of contemporary composers. On MidAmerica's series in Carnegie Hall and at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, there have been approximately 31 World Premieres, 16 United States Premieres, and 50 New York Premieres.

For more information about MidAmerica Productions, please contact Kathleen Drohan at 212-239-0205 or kdrohan@midamerica-music.com

For more information about MidAmerica Productions, please contact Kathleen Drohan at 212-239-0205 or kdrohan@midamerica-music.com

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Jonathan Griffith, principal conductor-in-residence with MidAmerica Productions in New York City, has guest conducted for the Bialystok State Philharmonic (Poland); Virtuosi Pregensis Chamber Orchestra, Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra, Dvorak Chamber Orchestra and Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonia, (Czech Republic); The European Symphony Orchestra (Spain); Manhattan Philharmonic (New York); Mormon Tabernacle Choir (Salt Lake City); and several regional orchestras and choruses throughout the United States. He has served as chorus master for the Utah and Portland opera companies, founded the Kansas City Chorale and the Jonathan Griffith Singers, and was on the faculties of the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City; Wichita State University; Marylhurst University; and Warner Pacific College. His more than 35 Carnegie Hall appearances include the major works of the classical repertoire. A native of St. Louis, he received his bachelor's in music education from the University of Kansas, a master's in music education. from Wichita State University, and his doctorate in music arts in conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Geoffrey Neuman, is in his tenth year of teaching at Green Valley High School. Under his direction, the Green Valley High School Orchestra program has earned many honors including: twice being named GRAMMY Gold Signature School and first place at Musicfest Orlando in the full orchestra category. The Green Valley High School Orchestra performed at the American String Teachers Association National Conference in 2005. Mr. Neuman is also the conductor of the Las Vegas Youth Symphony Orchestra. In addition to conducting, Mr. Neuman is a professional bass player. He performs with the Las Vegas Philharmonic as well as many other types of performances including a working jazz group. Mr. Neuman earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in music education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Diane Koutsulis is the director of bands and arts department chair at Green Valley High School. Originally from Chicago, Ms. Koutsulis has been teaching in the Clark County School District for the past 23 years. She received a bachelor of arts in music from Western Illinois University, under the baton of Christopher Izzo. After teaching junior high band in Oswego, Illinois, for three years, she went on to complete master's of music education at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she studied with Frank Wickes. During her tenure in Las Vegas, Ms. Koutsulis has built fine band programs and music departments at both Las Vegas High School (1982-91) and Green Valley High School (1991-present). Ms. Koutsulis was named the 1999 Nevada Teacher of the Year and received the 1999 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award. She was inducted into the Nevada State Education Hall of Fame.

John Eells is the founder and director of the Farmington Valley Symphony Orchestra. He received his undergraduate degree from York University in England and completed his graduate work in conducting and French horn at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Mr. Eells has been a guest conductor with the Hartford, Manchester, Meriden and New Britain symphony orchestras; the Jacksonville and Spokane symphony orchestras; the Hermitage State Orchestra in St. Petersburg (Russia); Connecticut Concert Opera and the New England High School Festival Orchestra. He is a frequent festival conductor for the Connecticut Music Educator Association and a regular judge of high school and college concerto competitions, including the Hartford Symphony Orchestra's Young Artists Competition. He was the director of music at Miss Porter's School from 1981 until 2005; the music director of the New Britain Opera Association from 1985 - 1998 and served as music director for the Simsbury Light Opera Company from 1999 - 2005. In addition to his work with the FVSO he will continue as the orchestra director at Miss Porter's School and this year will be conducting concerts with the Hartford and New Britain Symphony Orchestras; the Rhode Island Philharmonic's Repertory Youth Orchestra and the newly formed Rhode Island Philharmonic Community Orchestra.

Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse, artistic director and principal conductor of the New England Symphonic Ensemble, is a violinist, pianist, composer, and conductor. A graduate of The Juilliard School, Boston University, and the Peabody Conservatory, Dr. Rittenhouse has performed as recitalist and soloist with orchestras throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, South Africa, and the West Indies. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the London Associate Board Overseas Award, the New York Concert Artists Guild Award, the International Music Guild Award, and the New York Madrigal Society Award.

The New England Symphonic Ensemble was organized more than two decades ago by Dr. Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse. Since 1982 the ensemble has toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Africa, Russia, and Israel, and has performed frequently at Carnegie Hall under the auspices of MidAmerica Productions.

Over the past 20 years, MidAmerica Productions has brought together conductors, choruses, soloists, and orchestral musicians for performances at some of the world's greatest venues, especially at New York's Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall.

Under the guidance of MidAmerica's founder, Peter Tiboris, the company has presented over 790 concerts worldwide and more than 640 in New York at Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, and Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall.

More than 2115 American ensembles, representing each of the 50 states, have appeared with MidAmerica in New York, as have 75 symphonic and choral ensembles from Europe, the Far East, South America, and Canada. There have more than 300 guest conductors, 620 solo artists, and 88,000 performers who have appeared on MidAmerica's series in Carnegie Hall.

In addition to presenting classic choral and instrumental works, MidAmerica Productions has championed the works of contemporary composers. On MidAmerica's series in Carnegie Hall and at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, there have been approximately 31 World Premieres, 16 United States Premieres, and 50 New York Premieres.

For more information about MidAmerica Productions, please contact Kathleen Drohan at 212-239-0205 or kdrohan@midamerica-music.com

For more information about MidAmerica Productions, please contact Kathleen Drohan at 212-239-0205 or kdrohan@midamerica-music.com

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James M. Meaders is the chair of the department of music and director of choral activities at Mississippi College. A member of the Mississippi College faculty since 1998, Mr. Meaders conducts the Mississippi College Singers and the Mississippi College Chorale, teaches applied voice, and heads the graduate program in conducting. The Singers, under Mr. Meaders' direction, have performed with Mississippi, Southern Division, and National American Choral Directors Association convention programs. He has conducted the Singers in Canterbury Cathedral, Washington National Cathedral, Santa Maria di Ricci in Florence, Italy, and will conduct the Rutter Requiem in Carnegie Hall in April 2006. In 2004-2005, he was selected by the Mississippi College faculty as distinguished lecturer in arts and sciences and was humanities professor of the year. Mr. Meaders has served on the board of Mississippi American Choral Directors Association as R&S chair for youth and student activities, and he holds that same position with Southern Division American Choral Directors Association. He was recently chosen as president-elect of the Mississippi American Choral Directors Association. He is a frequent festival adjudicator, presenter, and clinician. In addition to his work at Mississippi College, he is also artistic director of the Jackson Choral Society and minister of music at Northside Baptist Church in Clinton. Professional memberships include American Choral Directors Association, National Association of Teachers of Singing and Music Educators National Conference. After completing undergraduate and graduate degrees from Mississippi College, he received the doctor of musical arts in conducting from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he studied with Milburn Price and John Dickson.

Peter Rosheger attended the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts and received his bachelor's of music education from The Oberlin Conservatory, where he first became affiliated with the American String Teachers Association. His violin teachers have included Paul Rosenthal, William DePasquale, Stephen Clapp, and Gregory Fulkerson. Currently, Mr. Rosheger serves as secretary for the Illinois American String Teachers Association Board. Mr. Roseger has taught elementary, middle school, and high school programs in California, Ohio, Canada, and Michigan. Currently in his twelfth year as director of orchestras at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois, he leads the school's five curricular orchestras and conducts the pit orchestra for its annual musical. He also co-sponsors Soundtraks, New Trier's complete 48-track digital audio and video recording studio.

Susan Vaughan is one of the choral directors at New Trier High School, serving as co-director of the concert choir. A native of Michigan, Ms. Vaughan began her teaching career at the elementary and junior high levels, where she was music director of the Children's Chorus, musical theatre productions and the general music education curriculum in School District 28, in Northbrook, Illinois. At New Trier, Ms. Vaughan also directs the men's chorus and Choraliers, a women's ensemble. In addition, she is co-director of Choir Opera, a mixed musical theatre ensemble, and is co-creator/director of a piloted special education chorus.

David Ladd is the music department chair at New Trier High School where approximately one fourth of the student body is enrolled in music classes. He has conducted concert choir for eight years during which time they performed at Orchestra Hall and Rockefeller Memorial Chapel in Chicago. With a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master's degree in vocal pedagogy from Northeastern Illinois University, Mr. Ladd's background is rich in the areas of both teaching and performance. For eight years he pursued a career in musical theatre that was full of varied stage experiences as well as travel. Prior to his career in academia he resided abroad in Zurich, Switzerland for a year while performing various roles in Cats. Mr. Ladd recently returned from a year's sabbatical leave where he resided in New York City to return to the profession of musical theatre. During his time in the city, he performed on Broadway in The Actors' Fund benefit performance of Chess, earned his equity card while performing in a production of Footloose at Westchester Broadway Theatre and penned a guidebook for high school students called Musical Theatre As Career Choice.

Praised by audiences and critics alike, Adele Karam's soprano has been described as "sumptuous," "gorgeous", "a mixture of silver and cream." Recent and upcoming engagements include Donna Elvira with Opera Memphis, Bernstein's Jeremiah Symphony with the Key West Symphony Orchestra, Giannetta with Cleveland Opera, Clorinda at the Sugar Creek Symphony and Song and Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.

Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse, artistic director and principal conductor of the New England Symphonic Ensemble, is a violinist, pianist, composer, and conductor. A graduate of The Juilliard School, Boston University, and the Peabody Conservatory, Dr. Rittenhouse has performed as recitalist and soloist with orchestras throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, South Africa, and the West Indies. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the London Associate Board Overseas Award, the New York Concert Artists Guild Award, the International Music Guild Award, and the New York Madrigal Society Award.

The New England Symphonic Ensemble was organized more than two decades ago by Dr. Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse. Since 1982 the ensemble has toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Africa, Russia, and Israel, and has performed frequently at Carnegie Hall under the auspices of MidAmerica Productions.

Over the past 20 years, MidAmerica Productions has brought together conductors, choruses, soloists, and orchestral musicians for performances at some of the world's greatest venues, especially at New York's Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall.

Under the guidance of MidAmerica's founder, Peter Tiboris, the company has presented over 790 concerts worldwide and more than 640 in New York at Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, and Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall.

More than 2115 American ensembles, representing each of the 50 states, have appeared with MidAmerica in New York, as have 75 symphonic and choral ensembles from Europe, the Far East, South America, and Canada. There have more than 300 guest conductors, 620 solo artists, and 88,000 performers who have appeared on MidAmerica's series in Carnegie Hall.

In addition to presenting classic choral and instrumental works, MidAmerica Productions has championed the works of contemporary composers. On MidAmerica's series in Carnegie Hall and at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, there have been approximately 31 World Premieres, 16 United States Premieres, and 50 New York Premieres.

For more information about MidAmerica Productions, please contact Kathleen Drohan at 212-239-0205 or kdrohan@midamerica-music.com

For more information about MidAmerica Productions, please contact Kathleen Drohan at 212-239-0205 or kdrohan@midamerica-music.com

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General admission tickets to Weill Recital Hall concerts are $35. Tickets may be obtained by calling CarnegieCharge at (212) 247-7800, by going online at www.carnegiehall.org, or by visiting the Carnegie Hall Box Office at 57th Street and 7th Avenue. $15 tickets for students and seniors (with proper ID) are available at the Carnegie Box Office. Weill Recital Hall is located at 154 West 57th Street. For more information, call MidAmerica Productions at (212) 239-4699 or visit our web site at www.midamerica-music.com.

***

Violinist Korbinian Altenberger is a winner of Astral Artistic Services' 2005 national auditions and joined its artist roster that year. The Munich native received first prize and the audience choice award from Munich's Jacob Stainer Violin Competition and was the first-prize recipient of Italy's Andrea Postacchini International Violin Competition; where he was also awarded a special prize for his performance of Bach. He also received third prize and the audience choice award at Switzerland's recent International Tibor Varga Competition. Mr. Altenberger served as concertmaster of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and has appeared as soloist with the Auckland Philharmonia, Munich Philharmonic; Halle Philharmonic; Göttingen Symphony Orchestra; Brno Philharmonic Orchestra; Kassel Chamber Orchestra; Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire; Bad Reichenall Philharmonic; and the New England Conservatory Chamber Orchestra. The recipient of a graduate diploma from the New England Conservatory, he is currently pursuing an artist diploma at NEC.

Second-prize winner of the 2003 Walter W. Naumburg Competition and winner of Astral Artistic Services' 2003 national auditions, violinist Ayano Ninomiya gave her highly acclaimed New York recital debut at Weill Recital Hall under Naumburg's auspices, and Astral recently presented her Philadelphia recital debut. Ms. Ninomiya has appeared extensively across the United States as a recitalist, chamber musician, and orchestral soloist. She made her Boston Pops debut under Keith Lockhart, and has been featured with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Philharmonic, and the Harrisburg and Dubuque symphonies, among many others. She was recently presented in recital in Sofia, Bulgaria, and toured Japan as part of the JAL Classic Special New Artist Series. The recent recipient of both an S&R Washington Award and a Frank Huntington Beebe Fellowship, she received a Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School and holds joint degrees in Music and French from Harvard College.

Recently appointed principal violist of the Toronto Symphony, Teng Li joined the roster of Astral Artistic Services as a winner of its 2003 national auditions. Astral presented her Philadelphia recital debut and has featured her at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including first prize at both the Johansen International and the Holland-America Music Society competitions. She is a member of the Chamber Music Society Two of Lincoln Center and has been a participant at the Marlboro Music, the Santa Fe Chamber Music, and the Music from Angel Fire festivals. Ms. Li recently appeared with the Guarneri Quartet and in a chamber music performance at New York's 92nd Street Y. Upcoming engagements include concerto performances with the Toronto Symphony and the Canadian Sinfonietta, and chamber music performances at Toronto's Glenn Gould Studio. Teng Li graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music in 2005.

In 2001 cellist Clancy Newman won first prize in the prestigious Walter W. Naumburg Competition; Naumburg presented him in recital at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, a performance that garnered enormous critical acclaim. He was also named the recipient of a 2004 Avery Fisher Career Grant. A winner of Astral Artistic Services' year 2000 national auditions, Mr. Newman was the first Astral artist presented in recital in Philadelphia's Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. He frequently tours as a part of the Musicians from Marlboro series and is a member of Chamber Music Society Two of Lincoln Center. He has appeared as soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and with the Juilliard Orchestra in Avery Fisher Hall. Also a composer, his String Quartet, Sonata for Cello and Piano, and The Four Seasons (for cello and chamber orchestra) received their world premieres under Astral's auspices.

Symphony, MUSO, and Harp Column magazines all featured harpist Bridget Kibbey in their recent issues. A 2004 Avery Fisher career grant winner, Ms. Kibbey is only the second harpist ever to be awarded the grant. She joined the roster of Astral Artistic Services as a winner of its 2003 national auditions; Astral presented her Philadelphia recital debut this season, and recently featured her in a concerto performance with the Haddonfield Symphony Chamber Orchestra at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. She has appeared as soloist with the Juilliard Symphony, the Israel Youth Philharmonic, the Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra. As an orchestral harpist she has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke's, and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. She recently joined soprano Dawn Upshaw in recording Luciano Berio's Folk Songs and Ayre by Osvaldo Golijov for Deutsche Grammophon.

Flutist Jasmine Choi joined the roster of Astral Artistic Services in 2004 as a winner of that year's national auditions; Astral recently presented her at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. A native of Seoul, Korea, Ms. Choi has appeared as soloist with the Philadelphia, Vienna Mozart, and Yewon orchestras; the KBS, Seoul, and Karlsbad symphony orchestras; and the North Czech, Euro-Asian, Seoul, Pusan, Daejon, and Chongju philharmonic orchestras, among many others. Engagements for the 2005-2006 season include concerts as soloist with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, the Nürnberger Symphony, Vienna Classical Players, and the Daejon Philharmonic Orchestra. Among Ms. Choi's numerous competition honors are first prizes in the 2004 Yamaha Young Artist Competition and the 2002 Philadelphia Orchestra Albert M. Greenfield Competition. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, Jasmine Choi is currently pursuing a master of music degree at The Juilliard School.

A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music is a first-prize winner of the 2004 young concert artists international auditions, clarinetist José Franch-Ballester recently made recital debuts at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; in New York at the 92nd Street Y; and in Boston at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. He gave the world-premiere performance of Jake Heggie's Winter Roses with mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and Santa Barbara's Camerata Pacifica, and premiered Kenji Bunch's Cookbook for Clarinet and Piano at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Upcoming engagements include performances of Copland's Clarinet Concerto at both the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (under Astral's auspices) and the new Frederick P. Rose Hall at Lincoln Center.

Pianist Simone Dinnerstein is a year 2000 winner of Astral Artistic Services' national auditions, and as such joined its artist roster that year. Astral presented both her Philadelphia recital and concerto debuts. She has given several recital performances at New York City's 92nd Street Y, and concerto and chamber music performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. Recent performances include Bach's Goldberg Variations in Mexico City, Cuernavaca, Las Cruces, New Mexico, and for El Paso's Pro Musica and Queens College's Chamber Music Live. Recent engagements include a performance of Beethoven's complete sonatas for piano and cello with Zuill Bailey, with whom she also released a CD for the Delos label. She has also recorded Mendelssohn's complete works for cello and piano with cellist Simca Heled for the Danish label Classico, a recording that made Fanfare's top ten list for 2002.

As a winner of Astral Artistic Services' 2001 national auditions, soprano Karen Slack joined Astral's roster that year. Astral recently presented her in Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915 and in The Rim of Love, an Astral-commissioned world premiere by Andrea Clearfield. A 2004 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions finalist and the grand prize winner of the 2005 Florida Grand Opera Competition, she has been a soloist with the San Francisco, Gibraltar, Phoenix, Spokane, and Haddonfield symphonies; as well as with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. For the San Francisco Opera she has sung Henrietta Moore in Virgil Thomson's The Mother of Us All; Irina Arkadina in Pasatieri's The Seagull; Leila in The Pearlfishers; and Agnes Sorel in Tchaikovsky's The Maid of Orleans. In 2006 she performs the role of Desdemona in Otello with the Melbourne Symphony. Ms. Slack received both her graduate and undergraduate music degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music.

Since 1989, MidAmerica Productions has produced over 225 chamber concerts in Weill Recital Hall, presenting some of the most exciting chamber musicians working today. For more information about this concert or MidAmerica Productions contact Genan Zilkha at 212-239-0205 or visit www.midamerica-music.com.

General admission tickets to Weill Recital Hall concerts are $35. Tickets may be obtained by calling CarnegieCharge at (212) 247-7800, by going online at www.carnegiehall.org, or by visiting the Carnegie Hall Box Office at 57th Street and 7th Avenue. $15 tickets for students and seniors (with proper ID) are available at the Carnegie Box Office. Weill Recital Hall is located at 154 West 57th Street. For more information, call MidAmerica Productions at (212) 239-4699 or visit our web site at www.midamerica-music.com.

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The founding musicians of Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings had a simple goal in mind: to perform great music that utilizes more players than one sees in a typical chamber music concert. The founders asked their colleagues to join them in this mission, and they asked their friends and families to organize a board of trustees. From that simple beginning, a complex arts institution has emerged. Now in its 24th year, DCWS provides intimate, world-class presentations of repertoire that vary in instrumentation, with special emphasis on brass and woodwinds. Many of these works go largely unheard in professional concert halls due to the expense of rehearsing unusual sized pieces. The organization is committed to expanding the repertoire, and has annually mounted a world-premiere by a different composer of national stature. DCWS has also established a national reputation for artistic excellence by supplementing its local subscription season with touring and recording.

H. Robert Reynolds, conductor, is the principal conductor of the wind ensemble at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California after retiring from the School of Music of the University of Michigan where he served as the Henry F. Thurnau Professor of Music, director of university bands, and director of the division of instrumental studies. Mr. Reynolds has conducted recordings for Koch International, Pro Arte, Caprice, and Deutsche Grammophon. In the United States, he has conducted at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center (New York); Orchestra Hall (Chicago); Kennedy Center (Washington, D. C.); Powell Symphony Hall (St. Louis); and the Academy of Music (Philadelphia). In Europe, he conducted the premiere of an opera for La Scala Opera (Milan, Italy); and concerts at the Maggio Musicale (Florence, Italy); the Tonhalle (Zurich, Switzerland); the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam, Holland) as part of the Holland Festival; and at the 750th Anniversary of the City of Berlin. He has conducted numerous premiere performances and has won the praise of composers: Leslie Bassett, William Bolcom, Aaron Copland, Michael Daugherty, Henryk Gorecki, Karel Husa, Gyorgy Ligeti, Darius Milhaud, Bernard Rands, Gunther Schuller, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and many others for his interpretive conducting of their compositions. Robert Reynolds has been a featured conductor and lecturer at international conferences in Austria, Norway, Belgium, England, Holland, and Switzerland. He is the only American to have conducted the famed Kongelige Musikkorps Koncertfond (Royal Danish Band) of Copenhagen, Denmark. Many of his former students now hold major conducting positions at leading universities.

Kimberly Kaloyanides Kennedy, violin, became a member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1998 at age 22 and was awarded the prestigious position of associate concertmaster in 2003. She received her professional training at the University of Michigan and the Harid Conservatory, and holds several top prizes in regional and national string competitions. She has appeared as soloist with numerous orchestras and maintains an active chamber music career.

Debra Fayroian, cello, joined the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1975, leaving her post as principal cellist of the Toledo Symphony. She appears as a performer/clinician at the Interlochen Center for the Arts; Bravo! Colorado Music Festival; the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival; the University of Michigan; Eastern Michigan Oakland and Ball State universities. From 1990 to 2004 she served as artistic director of Nightnotes. She is now music director of the Manitou Music Festival in northern Michigan.

Craig Rifel, bass, has been a member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's double bass section since 1980 and has also appeared as needed with the orchestra on piano, harpsichord, organ, celeste, electric bass, and even banjo. Rifel received his formal training at the University of Wisconsin and subsequently performed with the Syracuse Symphony and the Florida Symphony Orchestra as principal bass. He also can be heard regularly playing in many Detroit-area churches as an organist.

Philip Dikeman, assistant principal flutist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, began playing with the DSO in 1992. A graduate of the music schools at Oberlin and Yale, he holds the distinction of having won first prize in both the National Flute Association's Young Artist and Orchestral Audition Competitions. Prior to joining the DSO, Mr. Dikeman was principal flutist of the Hong Kong Philharmonic and the San Antonio Symphony. He is also an accomplished pianist.

Donald Baker, oboe, assumed the position of principal oboe with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1973 after spending nine years in the same role with the Dallas Symphony. Baker attended Oberlin College and studied with legendary oboist Marcel Tabuteau in Nice, France. A soloist with the DSO well over thirty times, he can be heard on numerous recordings and has performed and taught at the Aspen Festival, Santa Fe Opera, Grand Tetons Music Festival and the National Music Camp at Interlochen, MI.

Sally Pituch plays English horn and second oboe with the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra. For nine years she was English hornist/associate principal oboist of the Honolulu Symphony and also served on the faculty at the University of Hawaii. Ms. Pituch studied at the University of Michigan and has also held the position of principal oboe of the Colorado Philharmonic in addition to performing with the Jacksonville, Savannah, Ft. Worth and Dallas Opera Orchestras.

Douglas Cornelsen, clarinet, joined the DSO in 1970 after attending the Cleveland Institute and the University of Cincinnati Conservatory. He performed as a member of the United States Marine Band and the White House Orchestra in Washington, D.C., and later played as an extra with the Cincinnati Symphony. He has been affiliated with the music faculties at the University of Michigan, Wayne State University, and Oakland University, and is one of the founding members of Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings.

A Detroit native, Laurence Liberson was principal clarinet with the Grand Rapids Symphony for five years before his appointment as assistant principal clarinet and E-flat clarinet of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1981. A graduate of the University of Michigan, he has appeared as soloist with the orchestras of Detroit and Grand Rapids in addition to teaching at Wayne State University and appearing as performer and clinician at several music festivals around the country.

Victoria King, bassoon, joined the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1984 after holding a position with the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra. A co-founder and board member of Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings, King received her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Michigan, and pursued post-graduate studies at Wayne State University. She has appeared at numerous music festivals around the country and maintains and active teaching studio.

Christine Prince, bassoon, is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan. She joined DCWS in 1982 and has also been a member of the bassoon sections of the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra and the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. In addition to freelancing in the Ann Arbor-Detroit area, Ms. Prince currently teaches music at Honey Creek Community School in Ann Arbor and maintains a private studio.

Bryan Kennedy, horn, has been a member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's horn section for over 18 years. He has also played with the Michigan Opera Theatre; the Richmond Symphony; and the National Symphony of Costa Rica; where he served as Principal Horn. A former Professor of Horn at the University of Michigan, Kennedy graduated from that school and is a two-time prizewinner at the Heldenleben International Horn Competition.

Corbin Wagner, horn, joined the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1979 directly after completing his bachelor's degree at the University of Michigan, where he also obtained a master's degree. He was a prizewinner at the 1983 Munich International Horn Competition and took first prize at the Heldenleben International Horn Competition in hand horn, valve horn, and horn quartet. Wagner is an adjunct Professor of Horn at Oakland University.

Sören Hermansson, horn, was a member of the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra and the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra before devoting his time to a solo career and teaching in 1988. He has performed with many orchestras in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, England, the United States, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Currently on faculty at the University of Michigan, Hermansson has commissioned and premiered considerable new repertory for horn, much of which is included on significant recordings that he has made to wide critical acclaim.

Kevin Good, trumpet, a co-founder of Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings, has served in the trumpet section of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra since 1979. He received a master's degree from Northwestern and subsequently taught at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, the University of Michigan, and the University of Windsor. In addition to performing and teaching, Good is also an active composer and arranger and has co-produced several CD's with DCWS on the Koch label.

David Jackson, trombone, has performed with the Chicago Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, the Fort Worth Symphony, the New World Symphony, the Cabrillo Music Festival Orchestra and the Spoleto, Italy Festival Orchestra. He is an advocate of new music and has commissioned and performed the premieres of eight works for trombone. His chamber music experience includes performances with the Canadian Brass; the American Brass Quintet; Nexus Percussion Ensemble; and the Galliard Brass Ensemble. Mr. Jackson serves on the faculty at the University of Michigan

Since 1989, MidAmerica Productions has produced over 230 chamber concerts in Weill Recital Hall, presenting some of the most exciting chamber musicians working today. For more information about this concert or MidAmerica Productions contact Genan Zilkha at 212-239-0205 or visit www.midamerica-music.com.

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James Benjamin Kinchen, Jr. is a native of Jacksonville, Florida and, prior to joining the UW-Parkside faculty in 1989, taught music and directed choral groups at Stanton High School, Jacksonville; Florida Community College at Jacksonville; Southern Illinois College; Hampton University; and Winston-Salem State University. Courses which Mr. Kinchen teaches, or has taught, at the university include conducting, choral conducting, vocal materials and methods, applied voice, music fundamentals, music appreciation, and African American music. Additionally, he conducts three choirs (University Chorale, Master Singers, and Voice of Parkside) and vocal jazz ensemble. As music director of the Milwaukee Choristers, a 66 year old, 90-voice community chorus since 1993, he conducted the group in concert in Germany, Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic in the summer of 1994 and in Italy in the summer 1999. As a conductor or choral scholar, Mr. Kinchen has also traveled to Germany (1988, 1992), Sweden (1993), and Cuba (1998, 1999). Mr. Kinchen has guest conducted the Chicago Choral Artists (formerly known as James Chorale), a Chicago based professional chorus, and the Kenosha and Racine Symphony Orchestras in recent years, and made his Carnegie Hall debut in April 1998, sharing a MidAmerica Productions program with Maestro John Rutter, one of England's foremost choral composers and conductors. Mr. Kinchen holds membership in several organization including Music Educators National Conference and the American Choral Directors Association, in which he has served in a number of key leadership capacities. He is also an affiliate of the Center for Black Music Research. He is in frequent demand as a choral clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator, and has been listed in the International Who's Who in Music; Personalities of the South; and Outstanding Young Men of America. His degrees are a B.M.E. from Jacksonville University, M.M.E. from Southern Illinois University, and a Ed.D. from the University of North Carlina-Grensboro.

Marion Nesvadba studied Gregorian chant at St. Mary Seminary, Houston, Texas before pursuing a music degree. He has a BA in music education from Sacred Heart Dominican College, Houston, Texas, and a master of music from the University of Houston. He has post graduate work from a number of universities including The University of North Texas and Texas Women's University. He has conducted the Baytown Community Chorus, the Bel Canto Singers, Fort Worth Civic Chorus, Dallas/Fort Worth Civic Orchestra, Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, and the Fort Worth Civic Orchestra, all for several years at a time. He was the liturgist-choir master with St. Patrick Cathedral, Fort Worth, Texas, for several years. He taught at Sacred Hear Dominican College for two years; was the first choral graduate assistant at the University of Houston; taught at Baytown Lee College for 4 years; and has been in the Tarrant County College system for the past 28 years. While in that system he teaches 3 choirs, opera, and voice. In the past, he has conducted the orchestra program as well.

Judith Willoughby has conducted high school, junior high/middle school, collegiate, and professional singers in honor, all-state and festival choirs throughout North America and abroad. She has appeared internationally as a guest conductor and clinician in the major concert halls in China, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, Australia, Canada, Wales, Hungary, the Czech Republic, St. Petersburg, Russia, and the United States. In 2003, Ms. Willoughby conducted the Women's Honor Choir at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) national convention in New York City. Ms. Willoughby holds degrees from Northwestern University and Temple University's Boyer College of Music, has served on the summer institute faculty of the Eastman School of Music, Westminster Choir College, and Central Connecticut State University, as a guest lecturer at the Central Conservatory in Beijing, China, and as professor of conducting and music education at Oklahoma City University. Ms. Willoughby has also served as state president of Pennsylvania's branches of the American Choral Directors Association, the Collegiate Choral Association, and Pennsylvania (Arts) Presenters. She has served on panels for the National Endowment of the Arts, state arts agencies and private foundations. She is also editor for a new choral series published by Alliance Music. She has served nine years on the board of Chorus America (two as secretary), and currently dedicates her efforts to work on Chorus America's conducting task force, as national co-chair of the Children and Youth constituency group and as a member of the governance committee. Judith Willoughby is a member of the International Federation for Choral Music, Chorus America, the College Music Society and the Music Educators National Conference.

Mark F. Lawlor is currently associate director of choral studies at Oklahoma State University, director of the Stillwater Chamber Singers and choir director at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. Prior to his appointment at OSU, Mr. Lawlor was director of choral activities at Idaho State University and associate director of choral activities at Arizona State University. At Idaho State, he taught both undergraduates and masters students and conducted the Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, and the 100 voice community Camerata Singers. Mr. Lawlor also taught voice and organ. While at Arizona State he conducted the 80 voice University Choir, the 210 voice Choral Union and supervised student teachers. Mr. Lawlor was a member of the faculty and chair of the music department at Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York, for eleven years. He held the position of choral conductor at the United States Military Academy at West Point for eight years, conducting six of the choirs, traveling extensively throughout the United States and Canada. He has prepared choirs to sing for several United States presidents, the Bob Hope Show, and the Kenny Rogers Holiday Tour. His choirs have recorded with New York City Opera soprano Rosemarie Freni, and have sung for Lincoln Center Special Events Programming, and the Fox Television Network. Mr. Lawlor has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Milwaukee Symphony, the Florida State Symphony, the New Jersey Symphony, the Arizona State University Orchestra, the Phoenix (Arizona) Symphony, the Hudson Valley (New York) Philharmonic, the Academia Vivaldiana (Italy), and the Orchestra Sinfonica Nova Amadeus (Italy). He has sung with Florida State Opera, and Taconic Opera (New York). He is an active member of the American Choral Directors Associations, the American Guild of Organists, and the Music Educators National Conference.

Charles F. Campbell, Jr., a native of Louisville, Kentucky, received his BA in music education from Eastern Kentucky University and his MA from Austin Peay State University. He is currently in his thirty-first year of teaching and his sixteenth year as director at North Hardin High School. Under his direction, the band program at North Hardin has received national recognition for musical excellence in both the marching and concert venues. The marching band has received the Sudler Shield from the John Philip Sousa Foundation. At the 2003 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic the wind symphony received the John Philip Sousa Foundation Flag of Honor. Under Mr. Campbell's direction, the wind symphony has performed four times at the Kentucky Music Educators Conference and has twice been invited to perform at the Bands of America National Concert Festival. In December 2004, the wind symphony performed at the Mid-West Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. Mr. Campbell currently serves as the chair of the Arts and Humanities Department and is teaching two sections of Arts and Humanities in addition to his duties as director of bands. His professional affiliations include American Bandmaster Association, National Band Association, Music Educators National Conference, Kentucky Music Educators Association, and Phi Beta Mu.

Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse, artistic director and principal conductor of the New England Symphonic Ensemble, is a violinist, pianist, composer, and conductor. A graduate of The Juilliard School, Boston University, and the Peabody Conservatory, Dr. Rittenhouse has performed as recitalist and soloist with orchestras throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, South Africa, and the West Indies. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the London Associate Board Overseas Award, the New York Concert Artists Guild Award, the International Music Guild Award, and the New York Madrigal Society Award.

The New England Symphonic Ensemble was organized more than two decades ago by Dr. Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse. Since 1982 the ensemble has toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Africa, Russia, and Israel, and has performed frequently at Carnegie Hall under the auspices of MidAmerica Productions.

Over the past 20 years, MidAmerica Productions has brought together conductors, choruses, soloists, and orchestral musicians for performances at some of the world's greatest venues, especially at New York's Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall.

Under the guidance of MidAmerica's founder, Peter Tiboris, the company has presented over 790 concerts worldwide and more than 640 in New York at Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, and Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall.

More than 2115 American ensembles, representing each of the 50 states, have appeared with MidAmerica in New York, as have 75 symphonic and choral ensembles from Europe, the Far East, South America, and Canada. There have more than 300 guest conductors, 620 solo artists, and 88,000 performers who have appeared on MidAmerica's series in Carnegie Hall.

In addition to presenting classic choral and instrumental works, MidAmerica Productions has championed the works of contemporary composers. On MidAmerica's series in Carnegie Hall and at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, there have been approximately 31 World Premieres, 16 United States Premieres, and 50 New York Premieres.

For more information about MidAmerica Productions, please contact Kathleen Drohan at 212-239-0205 or kdrohan@midamerica-music.com

For more information about MidAmerica Productions, please contact Kathleen Drohan at 212-239-0205 or kdrohan@midamerica-music.com

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Tickets, at $89, 54, 35, may be obtained by calling CarnegieCharge at (212) 247-7800, going online at www.carnegiehall.org, or by visiting the Carnegie Hall Box Office at West 57th Street and Seventh Avenue in NYC. For more information, call our Box Office at (212) 239-4699, or visit our web site at www.midamerica-music.com.

Tickets, at $89, 54, 35, may be obtained by calling CarnegieCharge at (212) 247-7800, going online at www.carnegiehall.org, or by visiting the Carnegie Hall Box Office at West 57th Street and Seventh Avenue in NYC. For more information, call our Box Office at (212) 239-4699, or visit our web site at www.midamerica-music.com.

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Born in 1943 in Ventspils, Latvia, Imant Raminsh came to Canada in 1948. After completing an ARCT diploma in violin at the Royal Conservatory of Toronto and a bachelor of music program at the University of Toronto, he spent two years at the Akademie "Mozarteum" in Salzburg, Austria, studying composition, fugue, violin and conducting, and playing in the professional Camerata Academica Orchestra.

He is the founding conductor of the Prince George Symphony, the Youth Symphony of the Okanagan, NOVA Children's Choir, and AURA Chamber Choir. His compositions have been performed on six continents by such ensembles as the Vancouver, Edmonton, Hamilton, Toronto, Okanagan, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick Symphonies, the Vancouver Chamber Choir, the Tafelmusik Baroque Chamber Choir, the Tokyo Philharmonic Chamber Choir, the Stockholm Chamber Choir, the Finnish Radio Chamber Choir, Ave Sol (Latvian Chamber Choir), and many others. His music has been heard in such world-renowned concert halls as Carnegie Hall (New York), Tchaikovsky Hall (Moscow), the Orpheum (Vancouver), Canterbury Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Notre Dame (Paris) and Santa Maria del'Fiore (Florence).

Recent major commissions have included a violin concerto for the Vancouver Symphony; a bassoon concerto for George Zukerman; and a choral-symphonic setting for baritone solo, large choir and orchestra of Rilke's Sonnets to Orpheus for the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. In July 2000, he conducted the world premiere of his Recordare at the Banff Summer Festival, in a program that also featured Krzysztof Penderecki conducting the Canadian premiere of his Credo. In April 2002, his 9-movement, 8-language Symphony of Psalms was premiered at Carnegie Hall, New York, with a massed choir of 170 voices and orchestra. He and his wife Becky were co-commissioned to create a theme song for the fourth International Children's Conference on the Environment, held May 2002 in Victoria, BC, with 800 children from 120 countries participating.

Candace Wicke, conductor-in-residence for MidAmerica Productions, made her Carnegie Hall conducting debut in 2002, premiering the Symphony of Psalms by Imant Raminsh. Ensembles under her baton have received national and international acclaim, performing for the Global International Women's Summit, Musica Mundi International, Legatus International, and the Miami Civic Associations Young Artist Debut. In 2004, Ms. Wicke conducted the world premiere of Bernadette, a one-act opera by Ramon Dominguez, at the Roca Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida. A popular clinician and judge, she has also appeared as conductor in Notre Dame Cathedral, Sacre Coeur, Massabielle and the Théatre Fountaine in France. Ms. Wicke's international experience also includes conducting the United States representative wind ensemble at the Taipei Presidential Inauguration. Prior to MidAmerica Productions, she served as fine arts chair, director of choral and instrumental studies at Lourdes Academy, and director of music at Central Presbyterian Church in Miami, Florida. She is a graduate of the University of Miami and Evangel University, majoring in vocal and instrumental performance, music education and conducting. Her discography includes Raminsh's Symphony of Psalms, Dominguez's Bernadette, Live from St. Mary's Cathedral, What a Wonderful World and A Lourdes Christmas.

Brian Lamb is the director of bands at the University of Central Oklahoma, where he conducts the wind symphony, teaches conducting and instrumental music education courses, and guides all aspects of the UCO band program. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Lamb was the director of instrumental studies at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri. Mr. Lamb received the bachelor's degree in music education from Baylor University, the master's degree in trumpet performance and literature from the University of Notre Dame, and the doctor of musical arts degree in conducting from the University of North Texas. He has studied conducting with Eugene Corporon, Michael Haithcock, Larry Rachleff, Alan McMurray, and Jack Stamp. Still active as a trumpet performer, he currently plays in the UCO faculty brass quintet, and he has been a member of the Texas Wind Symphony, the Waco Symphony and the South Bend Symphony. Prior to his doctoral study, he was director of bands and chairman of the fine arts department at James Bowie High School in Arlington, Texas. Having taught in Texas, Missouri, Indiana, and now Oklahoma, Mr. Lamb is very active as a clinician and guest conductor all over the southwest, and his groups have received acclaim for performances at regional, state, and national conventions. Mr. Lamb made his Carnegie Hall debut in May 2005, performing with UCO friend and colleague Tess Remy-Schumacher's recital in Weill Recital Hall. The UCO Wind Symphony, with Mr. Lamb as conductor, has been very active in commissioning projects and consortiums, including work with Carolyn Bremer, Richard Danielpour, and the National Wind Ensemble Consortium Group. Mr. Lamb is currently serving as the conductor of the Oklahoma Youth Wind Symphony. He has contributed several published works to various journals and textbooks, and he is the author of Music is Magic a children's radio program airing on KCSC-90.1 FM. He is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society, the College Band Directors National Association, Oklahoma Music Educators Association, Oklahoma Bandmasters Association, Music Educators National Conference, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse, artistic director and principal conductor of the New England Symphonic Ensemble, is a violinist, pianist, composer, and conductor. A graduate of The Juilliard School, Boston University, and the Peabody Conservatory, Dr. Rittenhouse has performed as recitalist and soloist with orchestras throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, South Africa, and the West Indies. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the London Associate Board Overseas Award, the New York Concert Artists Guild Award, the International Music Guild Award, and the New York Madrigal Society Award.

New England Symphonic Ensemble was organized more than two decades ago by Dr. Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse. Since 1982 the ensemble has toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Africa, Russia, and Israel, and has performed frequently at Carnegie Hall under the auspices of MidAmerica Productions.

Over the past 21 years, MidAmerica Productions has brought together conductors, choruses, soloists, and orchestral musicians for performances at some of the world's greatest venues, especially at New York's Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall.

Under the guidance of MidAmerica's founder, Peter Tiboris, the company has presented over 780 concerts worldwide and more than 600 in New York at Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, and Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall.

More than 2115 American ensembles, representing each of the 50 states, have appeared with MidAmerica in New York, as have 75 symphonic and choral ensembles from Europe, the Far East, South America, and Canada. There have more than 300 guest conductors, 620 solo artists, and 88,000 performers who have appeared on MidAmerica's series in Carnegie Hall.

In addition to presenting classic choral and instrumental works, MidAmerica Productions has championed the works of contemporary composers. On MidAmerica's series in Carnegie Hall and at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, there have been approximately 31 World Premieres, 16 United States Premieres, and 50 New York Premieres.

For more information about MidAmerica Productions, please contact Kathleen Drohan at 212-239-0205 or kdrohan@midamerica-music.com

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Critics have hailed her performances as "masterful." Aglaia Koras, piano made her debut at age eleven with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Recognition by her mentor, Greek pianist Gina Bachauer, drew the attention of Rudolf Serkin, then director of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where Ms. Koras studied for several years on full scholarship with Serkin and Mieczyslaw Horszowski. After receiving the Curtis Alumni Award for three consecutive years, she graduated with a bachelor's degree in piano.

In 1983, the City of New York and the Queens Council on the Arts sponsored her New York debut at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, where she received a standing ovation. She has returned several times to Lincoln Center; and also performed at Weill Recital Hall; Merkin Concert Hall; at the Kennedy Center; and in major concert halls throughout the United States and in France, England, Switzerland, Greece, Spain, Canada, and Mexico; and has been featured on European and American television and radio broadcasts.

Ms. Koras has received top prizes in several international and national piano competitions, including: the International Chopin Young Pianists Competition, first prize; the International American Music Scholarship Association Piano Competition, first prize; the International Concert Artists Guild Competition, "Fine Artistry and Musical Excellence Award"; the National Young Musicians Foundation Competition, first prize; the Koszciusko Foundation Competition; and the La Gesse Foundation Fellowship of France; the Adopt-An-Artist Award of New York City; the Ruth Slenszynska Award for Piano, as well as other awards.

Ms. Koras's musical lineage can be traced to Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Cortot. Horszowski studied with Leschetizky, who studied with Carl Czerny, a pupil of Beethoven. Horszowski's mother studied with Mikuli, a pupil of Chopin. Bachauer studied with Rachmaninoff and Cortot. This rich heritage, combined with Ms. Koras's own unique passion, intelligence, imagination and tremendous capacity for expression brings an extraordinarily wide range of stylistic insight to her unusually broad repertoire.

Ms. Koras has served on the faculties of Temple University (where she simultaneously received a master's degree on full scholarship) and the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Her latest CD recording, "Aglaia," contains works by Mozart, Bach, Brahms, Chopin, Mussorgsky, Prokofieff, and Barber.

Since 1989, MidAmerica Productions has produced over 225 chamber concerts in Weill Recital Hall, presenting some of the most exciting chamber musicians working today. For more information about this concert or MidAmerica Productions contact Genan Zilkha at 212-239-0205 or visit www.midamerica-music.com.

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