CONCERT I GUEST ARTISTS

FRED THIERGARTNER, percussionist, has a BME degree from Miami University and a MM Performancedegree from Wichita State University. He performs regularly with many area professional groups including the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Cincinnati Ballet Orchestra and the Cincinnati Opera Orchestra. In addition, Fred is
Principal Timpanist with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and Section Percussionist with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra.

CONCERT II GUEST ARTISTS

LEAH ESTES, harpist, began her musical study on the piano at the age of eight, and began her study of harp under the late Joan Seymour at the age of  sixteen.  She graduated from Cedarville University in 2005 after majoring in harp performance and piano pedagogy.  While there, she studied harp under Leslie Norris and Jackie Davis.  Leah currently teaches, privately, both piano and harp students, and enjoys playing the harp for various occasions in the Dayton area. Leah and her husband, Joel, reside in Dayton with their two young children, and are members of Kemp Road Baptist Church, where Leah serves as a pianist.

MICHAEL LAMATTINA, percussionist, is currently the Principal Percussionist and assistant Timpanist with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. Michael began his position with the Philharmonic in December of 2001, shortly before completing his Master's degree at Cleveland State University. He recieved his BM from the Oberlin Conservatory. Before joining the DPO he was Principal Percussionist of the Canton Symphony, Section Percussionist with the Erie Philharmonic, and Principal Timpani/Percussion with the ProMusica Chamber Orchetsra of Columbus. In addition to his position with the DPO Michael also plays in the Columbus Symphony, is the percussion/timpani instructor at Cedarville University, performs with the DPO trio and DPO percussion trio, and teaches privately in Centerville and at his home studio.

RODNEY STUCKY, guitarist, is currently head of classical guitar in CCM’s Preparatory Department and a co-director of the Early Music Lab in the collegiate division of CCM, has perfromed throughout the mid west and eastern U.S. as well as in Central and South America.  In addition to classical guitar he performs on lute, archlute, vihuela, and baroque guitar.  He is a member of Mano y Arco (a baroque improv and continuo ensemble), Apollo’s Cabinet (a baroque chamber ensemble), and has performed numerous voice/guitar recitals with his wife, mezzo soprano Mary Henderson Stucky. He has appeared with the Vocal Arts Ensemble, Dayton Bach Society and the Hickory Hills  Chamber Players.  He and his wife have done performances at the École Normale de Musique and the Conservatoire Supérieure in Paris, France, as well as throughout the U.S.  and can be heard on the Fleur de Son Classics recording label.

CONCERT III GUEST ARTISTS

LINDA KESSLER, pianist, earned a Bachelors in Piano Performance, cum laude, from Heidelberg College, She also attended Interlochen National Music Camp and has performed throughout the US, Europe and Australia.  Linda has spent the past 30 years as a free lance solo performer and accompanist at L'auberge, LaComedia Dinner Theatre, White Water Opera Co., Forest View Gardens, Dayton Choral Academy, Kettering Childrens Choir and numerous churches, soloists and groups.  She also teaches private piano lessons.

MICHAEL SHARFE, bassist, has been a long time staple in the tri-state jazz scene. He is a founding and current member of the Blue Wisp Jazz Orchestra, the Psychoacoustic Orchestra and Latin X-posure, a 16-piece Latin Jazz ensemble. Mike makes regular appearances at the tri-state's jazz clubs: the world famous Jazz Kitchen (Indianapolis, Indiana), the nationally known Jazz Factory (Louisville, Kentucky), and the legendary Blue Wisp Jazz Club (Cincinnati, Ohio). He also plays with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
and has completed two European tours with the Lynne Ariale Trio. Some of his current CD projects include recordings with the Cincinnati Pops, with jazz guitarist, John Pizzarelli and the Manhattan Transfer.

JAMES E. SMITH is an associate professor of jazz studies at Central State University. He holds the M.M. in Composition (Jazz) from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. As a jazz guitarist, Mr. Smith has performed on three national broadcasts on National Public Radio and at the Nancy Jazz Festival in Nancy, France, and the Newport Jazz Festival (Saratoga Springs site). He has recorded with the Cincinnati Seven on the Mark (NY) and Klavier (CA} labels and has published seven texts on jazz guitar. In concerts and/or club dates, he has performed with jazz artists Joe Henderson, Woody Shaw, Frank Foster, Slide Hampton, and many others. He is also an adjunct professor of jazz guitar at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.