Tickets, at $94, 57, 38, 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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Tickets, at $94, 57, 38, 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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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.

Born in Bucharest, Romania, where she began her violin studies at the age of four, Rodica Oancea-Gonzalez gave her first public performance at the age of eleven while studying at the George Enescu Music School. At the age of eighteen she enrolled in the Ciprian Porumbescu Conservatory in Bucharest to study with Modest Iftinchi. She was awarded a scholarship in 1984 (Lanciano, Italy) and in 1985 (Academie de Lausanne, Switzerland) which gave her the opportunity to study with Sergiu Luca. In 1987, Mr. Luca invited her to study with him at the Shepherd School of Music (Rice University), Houston, where she received her master's degree.

During 1988-1989 Ms. Gonzalez performed with the Houston Ballet Orchestra and was the winner of the Shepherd School Concerto Competition and Campanile Orchestra Concerto Competition. During the summer of 1989, she received a scholarship as concertmaster and soloist with the National Repertory Orchestra in Keystone, Colorado, and was also invited to play as soloist in the Sound Like Fun! Music Festival with the Houston Symphony. In 1992 she appeared as soloist with the Houston Symphony and most recently was featured with them in 2001. In the spring of 1996, Mrs. Gonzalez embarked on her first solo tour of Switzerland and her native Romania. In March 2002, Ms. Gonzalez and colleague John Hendrickson performed their debut recital at Carnegie Hall in New York, returning in 2003 with Tre Voci and in May 2004 with pianist Ilgin Aka. In 2005, she and Tre Voci cellist Jeffrey Butler returned to Carnegie Recital Hall with the Fidelis String Quartet.

Ms. Gonzalez has performed extensively as recitalist and in chamber ensembles in Romania, Italy, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United States. She is currently a member of the first violin section of the Houston Symphony, violinist of the Tre Voci Trio and Fidelis Quartet, and an Affiliate Artist in violin at Houston Baptist University. Of her playing, Atencion San Miguel wrote: "Gonzalez... uses the most delicate and articulate phrasing in her playing, yet her capriciousness at times yields the exciting singing strings that audiences revere... her playing shows a polished and confident style." In February 2003 Rodica performed the Bruch violin concerto with the Doctor's Orchestra of Houston at Rice University. She and cellist Butler performed the Brahms Double Concerto with the Houston Chamber Orchestra in May 2006.

For more information about MidAmerica Productions, please contact David Dutkanicz at 212-239-0205 or ddutkanicz@midamerica-music.com

Tickets, at $94, 57, 38, 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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Carol Nelson, conductor, is director of bands at the McCallum High School Fine Arts Academy in Austin, Texas. She received her undergraduate degree in music Education in 1979, and her graduate degree in applied conducting in 1980, from the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. The McCallum Bands, under her direction, have been finalists in the Texas Music Educators Association Honor Band Competition and University Interscholastic League State Marching Band Contest. In 2004, Ms. Nelson was awarded the University Interscholastic League's Excellence Award for the state of Texas and most recently was named Teacher of the Year at McCallum High School. Today's concert marks the fourth Carnegie Hall performance for the McCallum High School Band.Mr. Bing has performed and recorded with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. For ten years, he was a member of the trumpet section of the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra at the Music Center. Mr. Bing has also played with the following great jazz artists: Gary Foster, Joe LaBarbera, Gary Pratt, Allen Vizzutti, Kim Richmond, and Don Ellis.

Jonathan May, Artistic Director of the Florida Young Artists Orchestra in Orlando and Central Florida Youth Orchestra in Leesburg, also serves as music director of the Flagler Youth Orchestra in Palm Coast Florida. This year, the Florida Young Artists Orchestra celebrates its 10th anniversary under Mr. May's direction. He is also the founder and director of the highly successful string program at Trinity Preparatory School in Winter Park and serves as artistic director of the Academy of Music at Schloss-Ort in Gmunden, Austria where he performs as cellist and conductor. Mr. May has won many awards, including Teachers Who Make a Difference Award, and an ASCAP award at the American Symphony Orchestra League's annual conference. His orchestras have performed in England, Scotland, Australia, Austria, and in major Italian venues including Milan, Fiesole, and at the Academy of Music of Santa Cecelia. Mr. May has worked with professional orchestras in Colorado, Minnesota, Tennessee, Florida and will return to Prague in June as guest conductor of the City of Prague Symphony Orchestra

For more information about MidAmerica Productions, please contact David Dutkanicz at 212-239-0205 or ddutkanicz@midamerica-music.com

Tickets, at $94, 57, 38, 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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Conductor Gregory R. Gentry was named Chorusmaster of The Phoenix Symphony in June 2006. Mr.. Gentry is a conductor of choral music at Arizona State University School of Music with the Herberger College of Fine Arts. Mr. Gentry has worked in many facets of choral research and conducting. He has prepared choirs for Eph Ehly, Shinik Hahm, George Lynn, John Rutter, Gunther Schuller, and Richard Westerfield. His choirs have toured worldwide, in such varied venues as The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Cleveland, the Music Educators Southern Regional Conference in Savannah, St. Andrew's Church in Plymouth, UK, and The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. Mr. Gentry made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut in 1994. His technique has been primarily guided by his studies with Eph Ehly and George Lynn, as well as additional work with Brian Priestman, Dale Warland, and Gary Hill. Both a singer and percussionist, Mr. Gentry has performed under the baton of Dave Brubeck, Aaron Copland, Karel Husa, Jorge Mester and Robert Shaw. Among many professional organizations, Mr. Gentry is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, Chorus America, the National Association for Music Education, the National Collegiate Choral Organization, and a founding member of Southwestern Liederkranz. Mr. Gentry earned his doctorate from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Conductor Ernest Hoetzel has led such prestigious orchestras as the Vienna Symphony, Musikverein Wien, Bregenzer Festspiele Grazer Symphonisches Orchester, Stefaniensaal Graz, Festival della Valle d´Itria Martina Franca, Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Heremitage St. Petersburg; Ukrainian National Philharmonic Orchestra, Toronto Philharmonic, Austin Symphony, Orquestra Metropolitana Lisboa, Singapore Symphony, Philharmonic Orchestra of Brno; Budapest Symphony Orchestra MAV, and the North Czech Philharmonic at Rudolfinum, among others. In 2008 he will conduct at the Festival della Emila Romagna, and the Herzeliya Center for the Performing Arts in Tel Aviv with the Israel Symphony. Mr. Hoetzl has collaborated with such prestigous soloists as Gabiele Lechner, Eva Liebau, Daniela Fally, Janez Lotric, Benamin Schmid, Carl Grante, Mariana Shirinyan (ARD Preisträgerin), and Alicia Weilerstein.

Often referred to as an "Austrian Ambassador of Music," Ernest Hoetzl regularly works with over 30 orchestras around the world, including the Bombay Chamber Orchestra (principal guest conductor), Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Delhi Symphony, Nairobi Orchestra (Kenya), Manila Symphony, Monterrey Symphony (Mexico), Penang Festival Orchestra (Malaysia), Orquestra Classica di Madeira, Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional del Ecuador, Quito, Izmir Symphony Orchestra, Adana State Symphony Orchestra (Turkey), Teheran Chamber Orchestra (Iran) and the Orchestra de l´Institut Musical Alger, Algeria. Having conducted concerts in Pyonyang and Changwon, Mr. Hoetzl is the only conductor to have performed in both Koreas. He performed with the Murandong National Symphony in Pyongyang, North Korea, as well as the Changwon Symphony in South Korea. He is also the first western musician to perform in post-revolutionary Iran, and the first Austrian artist to perform in Nigeria's new capital, Abouja.

Julius-Jeongwon Kim began playing piano at a very young age, quickly succeeding at the Korean National Piano Competition. Studying at Yewon School of Music and Arts in Seoul, he was admitted to the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts at the age of 15, where he studied under the supervision of Professor Michael Krist, who laid the foundation for his future career. By recommendation of Professor Krist, Julius-Jeongwon Kim became the youngest piano student at the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts. Two years later he won the International Elena Rombro-Stepanow Piano Competition, earning first merits in the Viennese music society. He performed Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor at the "Goldener Saal" (Golden Hall) of the world-famous "Wiener Musikverein" with the Vienna Academy Symphony Orchestra and, by a wealthy listener, was offered a scholarship on the spot. Julius-Jeongwon Kim currently lives in Vienna, which serves as his base for concert activities around the world as well as recordings of solo and chamber music.

German conductor Dirk Meyer currently serves as assistant conductor to the Florida West Coast Symphony and the Missouri Symphony Orchestra. Since his arrival in Florida in 2006 he has earned an outstanding reputation with musicians, patrons and critics alike. While critics described his performances as "superb," audience members hailed them as "outstanding" and "out of this world." Maestro Meyer also serves as music director of the Florida West Coast Symphony Youth Orchestras. Prior to these appointments Meyer held the position of assistant conductor to the Traverse Symphony Orchestra and music director of the Mason Symphony Orchestra in Michigan. As guest conductor, Maestro Meyer has appeared with many orchestras in the Unite States and abroad. He has led performances with the Florida Orchestra, the Jackson Symphony Orchestra, and the Michigan State University Symphony Orchestra. In 2003 he conducted the Odeion Sinfonia in Bloemfontein (South Africa) and shortly thereafter led performances of Carmen and Don Giovanni with the Plovdiv Opera in Bulgaria. After studying in the Czech Republic, Meyer was invited to conduct the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra in a performance of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra.

For more information about MidAmerica Productions, please contact David Dutkanicz at 212-239-0205 or ddutkanicz@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.

The Russian Chamber Chorus of New York (RCCNY) was founded in 1984 by Artistic Director Nikolai Kachanov. Over the course of its 24 year history, the chorus has become America's preeminent Russian vocal ensemble, and one of the world's greatest ambassadors of the Russian creative spirit. Known for stylistic versatility and heartfelt singing, RCCNY commands a repertoire spanning many centuries and styles, from ancient liturgical chants, through Russian Baroque, classical and folk music, to world premieres by leading contemporary composers. RCCNY has introduced a long list of compositions, including the recently discovered Holy Week and Easter by the Russian-American composer Alexei Haieff, and works celebrated in Russia but unfamiliar in America, such as: Gretchaninoff's Liturgia Domestica, Taneyev's John of Damascus, Sviridov's Kursk Songs, Kalistratov's Russian Choral Concerto, Efraim Pogdait's New York Mass, as well as numerous ancient chants and landmark works by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Stravinsky. RCCNY has become a regular presence in Carnegie Hall, performing Mahler's Symphony No. 2 with the Kirov Orchestra under Valery Gergiev, as well as the American premiere of Sergei Taneyev's opera Agamemnon and Mikis Theodorakis' opera Electra (concert versions) with the Manhattan Philharmonic under Peter Tiboris. In 2003, RCCNY performed at Carnegie in a concert series Music and Dictatorship: Russia under Stalin under Maestro Ashkenazy, as well as in a program celebrating the 300th anniversary of the city of St. Petersburg as part of St. Petersburg Through American Eyes. RCCNY has received critical acclaim for its recordings of Tchaikovsky's Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Vespers (The All Night Vigil) and Yuri Yukechev's My Heart Is Ready.


Nikolai Kachanov was born in Russia in the Siberian city of Barnaul and holds a Ph.D. in choral conducting from the Novosibirsk Conservatory. He brings a unique sensitivity and authentic interpretation to this well-known repertoire and to the ancient chants previously banned in his homeland. He is devoted to presenting new and underexposed works that illustrate Russia's rich heritage, commissioning new works for RCNNY. Mr. Kachanov created the Ussachevsky Festival of Russian-American Contemporary Music, held in 1992 at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and music series Parallels and Crossings featuring contemporary composers from different cultures and countries. He has prepared concert choruses for Vladimir Ashkenazy, Leon Botstein, Valery Gergiev, Vladimir Spivakov, and Peter Tiboris. As a composer, Mr. Kachanov has written numerous compositions. Two of his choral works, Benevolence and Reflections on Stanzas from the Book of Dzyan were premiered by the Russian Chamber Chorus at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in May 2003. Mr. Kachanov has trained his singers in the use of the Pythagorean and natural scale tuning systems, as well as in harmonic uses of the voice characteristic of the Tuva region of Siberia.

For more information about MidAmerica Productions, please contact David Dutkanicz at 212-239-0205 or ddutkanicz@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.

Vladimir Tsypin, violin, was born in the Soviet Union and was a top prize-winner there in three major competitions among five Soviet Republics, including the Tchaikovsky National Competition in 1972. He graduated from the Latvian State Conservatory in Riga. After emigrating to the United States, Mr. Tsypin made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1979. He was concertmaster and soloist with the Camerata of Los Angeles, and joined the New York Philharmonic in 1983. He participates in chamber music as often as possible, and has performed with the New York Philharmonic Ensembles at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. In 1994 and 1995, Mr. Tsypin toured Japan as part of the New York Trio, Concertant. Mr. Tsypin is the music director-and his wife is the organizer-of the Artistic Club Luba in New Jersey. Through this chamber-music salon, founded in 1992, they present concerts in other people's homes as well as in their own.

A recitalist in demand, Irina Mozyleva performs a variety of chamber programs in collaboration with leading musicians on the New York Metropolitan area. Ms. Mozyleva has sung at Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and Trinity Church in New York City. She also appeared as a soprano soloist with the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra in a performance of Shostakovich's From Jewish Poetry. Often highlighting the music of Russian composers, she is a frequent guest performer at venues such as the New York Public Library, the Russian Consulate, the United Nations, and Caramoor in Katonah, New York. Ms. Mozyleva's dedication to the art of song led to establishing the series, "History Through Song."

Susan Walters, pianist, studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and the Mannes College of Music. While at Mannes she won the Performance Award and a scholarship to study at L'Ecole d'Arts Americaines in Fontainbleau, France. Her great love of chamber music was inspired by her studies with Rudolf Serkin, Nathan Milstein, and Felix Galimir, and in 1988 she co-founded the Golden Isles Chamber Music Festival on the Sea Islands of Georgia. Ms. Walters' collaborations include concerts with Midori, cellists Peter Wiley and Sharon Robinson, the Mendelssohn String Quartet, Orpheus Chamber Ensemble, and members of the New York Philharmonic. She has appeared with orchestras throughout the United States and has been a featured performer at the Caramoor Festival and Mostly Mozart Festival. Ms. Walters has been a solo pianist with the New York City Ballet since 1997.


For more information about MidAmerica Productions, please contact David Dutkanicz at 212-239-0205 or ddutkanicz@midamerica-music.com

Tickets, at $94, 57, 38, 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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David Thye, Principal Conductor-in-Residence with MidAmerica Productions in New York City, is a passionate conductor, educator, lecturer and clinician. With over 30 years of leadership experience in music, Mr. Thye has conducted and managed numerous music and drama organizations, from elementary to high school, university to adults, and community to professional ensembles-encompassing such varied genres as jazz, symphonic works, musical theatre, opera and oratorio. At ease with conducting instrumentalists or vocalists, orchestras or choirs, he enjoys combining musical forces in performance. Mr. Thye is the Robert L. Burton Chair of Graduate Conducting at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Chorus master of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.

Mark Hayes was raised in a creative music environment, beginning piano lessons at ten years of age and developing his improvisational skills at an early age. His musical talents grew through the support of his family and through playing at church and school events. Mr. Hayes' music is now found in the music libraries of churches and universities around the world. His compositions and arrangements are known for their unique American sound, drawing from diverse musical styles such as gospel, jazz, pop, folk, and classical. He is honored to have his works regularly featured at conventions of the American Choral Directors' Association and the Music Educators' National Conference.

Winner of various national and international competitions, Piero Romano has performed both as pianist and conductor in many Italian cities and throughout the world. He has worked with the Philharmonias of Greensboro and the State of Mexico, Alicante Symphony Orchestra, Baden-Baden Philharmonic Orchestra (the oldest orchestra in Europe), Orchestra of Madeira, Nuevo Leòn Symphony Orchestra, Orchester Pforzheim, United European Chamber Orchestra, Athens State Orchestra, Solisti Aquilani, and the Everett Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Romano teaches at the Matera Conservatoire, and is Artistic Director for the Comune di Taranto Opera Season and Artistic Director of the Orchestra della Magna Grecia since 1993.

Paolo Cuccaro started to play the piano at age six, and advanced to study with such notable pedagogues as V. Pellegrini, G. Francavilla, A. Delle Vigne, P. Camicia as well as chamber repertoire with the Trio di Trieste. In 1996, he was awarded the Musical Diploma with honors and distinction from the G. Donizetti Conservatory of Bergamo. Mr. Cuccaro continued his studies at the Ducal Music Academy in Genoa and at the Mozarteum of Salzburg. He soon made a name for himself in numerous national and international competitions, winning the esteemed "Nino Rota" competion and is professor of piano at the G. Paisiello Conservatory in Taranto.

For more information about MidAmerica Productions, please contact David Dutkanicz at 212-239-0205 or ddutkanicz@midamerica-music.com