February 26th SZALON!

1. Classical guitarist Annette Kruisbrink will perform 8 miniatures based on poems by Pablo Neruda, from her apartment room in Zwolle, The Netherlands

2. Puppeteers Sam Lewis with Noah and Parker Maxen-Lewis will perform “Grandpa James”, from their home in Chicago

3. Magdaliz and her Latin Ensemble Crisol perform selections from Latin America and the Caribbean, from Andrea’s Salon in Philadelphia

4. As a belated Valentine, Noëlle Streuber-Eden (violin) and Maria Dell'Orefice (piano) will perform "Romance" from Wieniawski's second violin concerto in D-minor Op. 22 (II), from the Salon

5. Pianist Dave Posmontier, bassist Chico Huff and saxophonist Bob Howell perform Dave’s original compositions, Song in G and US, from the Salon

6. Elegance Quartet: Claudia Pellegrini (violin 1), Julia Kuzmina (violin 2), Jenny Boorum (viola), and Ray Bicolli (cello) will perform “Pirates Around The World” and The Eagles classic “Hotel California”, from the Salon

7. Vocalist Elizabeth Moran will perform pieces by Manuel de Falla (Spanish canción) and Miles Davis with jazz guitarist Robert Nuovo, from the Salon

8. Jay Fluellen will perform an original arrangement for solo piano entitled "For Joe Vallejo", from the Salon

9. Avi Wisnia (singer, songwriter, and storyteller) will perform two original songs about his family and his grandfather's remarkable story of survival from the Salon.

10. Mary Scholz joins us from her home in Los Angeles, where she'll perform acoustic Americana tunes from her newest record, Begin Again

Annette Kruisbrink

Dutch guitarist and composer Annette Kruisbrink has composed over 400 works, primarily for solo guitar and guitar with other instruments. Her compositions have been published by Les Productions d’OZ, Canada and Digital Music Print, Belgium and various European publishers. She has received numerous awards at prestigious composition competitions. Kruisbrink holds guitar and composition seminars throughout the world and is often a jury member at international guitar and composition competitions. She has been performing as a soloist and has been playing in numerous ensembles. From 2000-2010 she taught contemporary music and ethno music at the Conservatory of Music in Zwolle. So far, 19 CD's and 3 DVD which exclusively include Kruisbrink’s works have been recorded. Annette teaches guitar at the Anido Guitar School and wrote a large number of didactic works and methodologies for guitar.

Links:

https://annettekruisbrink.bandcamp.com

www.youtube.com/annettekruisbrink

www.facebook.com/annette.kruisbrink

www.annettekruisbrink.nl

Videos:

Sam Lewis and Parker Maxen-Lewis

“I call myself an accidental puppeteer because in the early 2000s I came across a vintage Black Americana marionette in an attic, which started me on an unexpected puppetry journey. I explored racial issues and negative iconography with that marionette. In late 2018 I learned of incredible family history that has taken me back over 200 years. That revelation redirected my practice. I commissioned the creation of a rod puppet that represents my paternal grandfather. I have been workshopping with a new puppet named Grandpa James. It has been amazing and fulfilling to collaborate with my two sons performing with Grandpa James, while continuing my ongoing research to write a collection of stories for a full-length puppetry and performance piece tentatively titled Everybody Knew Their Place.” – Sam Lewis

https://sites.google.com/view/samuellewis/home?authuser=0

Finding his place: Samuel J. Lewis II’s puppetry explores slippery narratives of American Black History

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Magdaliz and Her Latin Ensemble Crisol

Magdaliz and Her Latin Ensemble Crisol (a.k.a. Trio Crisol), Spanish for melting pot, founded in Philadelphia in 1997, is a Latin ensemble dedicated to the interpretation of a variety of folk and traditional music genres from all over Latin America and the Caribbean. Romantic Puerto Rican Boleros, energetic Mexican Mariachi music, feisty Cuban Sones, sensuous Colombian Cumbias, contagious Dominican Merengues, are among the many styles they perform. They released their first album in 2002: Songs from the New World. In 2009 Magdaliz and Her Latin Ensemble Crisol performed at the Kimmel Center as first place winners in the Philadelphia Best Latin Music Ensemble Category. Some of the venues they have performed at include the Kimmel Center, Penn’s Landing, the Barnes Foundation, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Penn Museum of Anthropology, and World Cafe Live among many others.

You can support this artist electronically (internet or phone apps) via Venmo, CASH, Zelle, or PayPal

You can email her (triocrisol@gmail.com) if you are interested in buying her Latin Trio CD “Songs from the New World” for $10.

Links:

YouTube: youtube.com/TrioCrisol

FaceBook: facebook.com/TrioCrisol

Instagram: instagram.com/TrioCrisol

Twitter: twitter.com/TrioCrisol

Webpage: triocrisol.com

Hashtag: #triocrisol

Videos:

Noëlle Streuber-Eden and Maria Dell’Orefice

An eighth-grader with a knack for advanced mathematics, Noëlle Streuber-Eden is a transplant from the Greater Chicago Area and currently studies violin with Guillaume Combet in Philadelphia, PA. She has performed in master classes for Almita Vamos, Jennifer Koh, Jung-Min Amy Lee, and Angela Sin Ying Chan and has also taken lessons from Desirée Ruhstrat. Noëlle currently serves as the Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Young Artist's Orchestra and can often be heard performing at Temple University's Center for Gifted Young Musicians and with the Settlement Music School's Ann Newman String Quartet, for which she has received an Advanced Study scholarship. Noëlle has won multiple national and international recognitions and awards, most recently the 2023 Concerto Competition of the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra, the 2022 International Clara Schumann Competition, the 2022 Opus Statewide Competition, and the 2022 Elite International Music Competition (which will take her to Carnegie Hall later this year). She lives on the Main Line with her family and her two cats, Herman and Millie.

Maria Dell’Orefice, a classical pianist and avid violinist, has shared the stage with a multitude of performers including Alexander Markov, Francesca DePasquale and Chris Botti. While Maria frequently presents solo and collaborative performances in the Philadelphia area, she has also performed solo piano in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall after winning the Semper Pro Musica Competition, Elite International Music Competition, and Crescendo International Piano Competition. Maria recently returned from a program in Mondavio, Italy in which she accompanied opera singers in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. As a violinist, she has played as the principal second violinist with the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and has performed as a member of the Baylor Symphony Orchestra and the Waco Symphony Orchestra. Maria is a recipient of the Association of Church Musicians of Philadelphia Organ Grant, which funds private organ lessons and she is currently the organist at Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church in Strafford, PA. 
She has studied under Charles Abramovic, Lambert Orkis, Jane Abbott-Kirk, and Sheila Paige and is a student of the Taubman technique. She earned her B.M. in Piano Performance from Baylor University in Waco, TX and an M.M. in both Piano Performance and Collaborative Piano from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.

Noëlle: noelleviolin.art,  YouTube Playlist

Maria:  mariadellorefice.com

Videos:

Dave Posmontier, Bob Howell, and Chico Huff

Dave Posmontier has been playing piano since the age of 7 and professionally for the past 50 years. He majored in mathematics at Temple University but played with the Temple Jazz Band and knew he would be a full-time musician after graduation.A pianist, organist, composer, arranger and teacher, he has performed and recorded with many jazz artists including Christian McBride, James Moody, Chris Potter, Grover Washington Jr. and Johnny Hartman. Dave has 2 recent CDs to his name as well as a vinyl LP of his original compositions recorded back in the day in 1984. He has also been playing traditional and innovative klezmer music with a band called, “Klingon Klezmer.” They have performed in a number of major concert halls throughout Germany and have released two CDs. In celebration of its 100th birthday in 2007, the renowned Settlement Music School honored 100 alumni who have made a difference in the world of music. Dave and his brother Rich were chosen to receive this honor.

More info on Dave can be found at www.daveposmontier.com

Bob Howell is a Philadelphia native who started his music career as a kid playing clarinet and bassoon in the All City Concert Band and Orchestra. As a teen, while studying bassoon with Ferdinand Del Negro, he discovered the tenor saxophone much to his teacher’s chagrin. Bob attended Berklee College of Music as a composition major, studied saxophone with Joe Viola and from there began to perform nationally and internationally with jazz and R&B artists. Bob also studied improvisation with Dennis Sandole. Bob’s career was interrupted when he was drafted into the Army where he played with the 434th Army band stationed at Fort Gordon in Augusta, GA.

While in Augusta, a hotbed at the time of R&B musicians, Bob gigged with many local jazz and R&B players. He then returned to Philadelphia to continue his career in performing and recording.

He has recorded with national and local artists such as Richie Cole, Odean Pope, Clark Terry, Dave Posmontier and has performed with Richie Cole, Odean Pope, Trudy Pitts, Vic Juris, The Three Degrees, Aretha Franklin, The Four Tops, Lou Rawls, Johnny Mathis and many fine local Philly musicians. Bob has taught saxophone for Settlement Music School and is currently teaching saxophone at Widener University.

More info on Bob can be found at http://www.bobhowellsaxophone.com/

Chico Huff has been playing electric bass professionally for about 40 years. He is primarily self-taught, learning from all the wonderful musicians he’s had the pleasure of making music with over the years. He did his first paying gig when he was about 14, playing standards on Martha’s Vineyard in a restaurant in Katana. What better way to learn fast than to play with older players who neither told him what tune or what key they were going to play, just counted it in and it all worked out! Over the years Chico has had the pleasure of performing and recording with the likes of James Taylor, Carly Simon, Jeff Golub, Solas, Terrance Blanchard, John Belushi, Dr. John and Jefferson Airplane. He’s had the chance to travel to USA and Europe extensively through the gift of music as well as performing in Japan and Morocco.

Elegance Quartet

Elegance Quartet performs a wide array of programs on both traditional and electric strings, enhanced with effects pedals, live rhythm, and vocals. Their signature arrangements blend styles and bend genres to create a sound that is uniquely their own. In addition to running a busy live events business, they have been guest artists at Google and ComiCon, and are featured in the popular Showtime series, "The L Word: Generation Q." Members of the ensemble are Claudia Pellegrini (violin 1), Julia Kuzmina (violin 2), Jenny Boorum (viola), and Ray Bicolli (cello).

We welcome new followers on social media! You can find us on Instagram, @onlywithesq, and on Facebook as Elegance Quartet. We also have a new CD available for purchase (inquire within), and streaming on all platforms along with previous recordings (Spotify, iTunes, etc.). We graciously accept donations via Venmo, @eleganceSQ, and we’ll hope you’ll keep up with our performance dates on our website: www.elegancequartet.com

Videos of our group can be found on our website, Instagram/Facebook, and of course YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elegancequartet

Videos:

Elizabeth Moran and Robert Nuovo

Soprano Elizabeth Moran has received international praise for her “brilliant coloratura” (Opera Magazine), “moving and expressive” performances (Echo), and “vocal acrobatics and élan.” (Bangkok Post). She has taken the stage in Europe, Asia, and the United States and has sung with prestigious international artists, theatres and orchestras. As a jazz vocalist, Lizzie is quickly capturing attention with her “soulful vocals” and “natural use of colors and technical abilities." She performs regularly at NYC hotspots and regularly travels to Europe. Robert Nuovo is a composer and jazz guitarist in New York City. With a career spanning several decades, he's received accolades for his “natural musical intuition for phrasing," his brilliant ear and creative melodies, and has built a strong presence by performing at some of NYC’s jazz hot-spots as a guest artist with ensembles as well as a soloist, premiering many original compositions. Together, Moran and Nuovo offer a unique collaboration that blends their jazz and operatic backgrounds to present soulful and diverse interpretations of jazz, classical standards, international music as well as original compositions.

Links:

Instagram: @eamoran, @moran.nuovo

Websites: elizabeth-moran.com, morannuovo.com

Venmo: @eamoran

Recordings: Soundcloud and Spotify/AppleMusic as of April 2023!

Recording:

Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix 

Video:

Jay Fluellen

Jay Fluellen, D.M.A. is a Philadelphia born musician known as a composer, educator, pianist, singer, and organist/choir director. He has a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Composition from Temple University along with his K-12 Music Pennsylvania State certification from Eastern University. Fluellen is currently the Arts Academy Coordinator at Northeast High School, where he also teaches Piano, Music Technology and IB Music. Since January 11th 1997, he has been a co-minister of music, with Walt Blocker, at the historic African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, Fr. Martini Shaw, Rector. He is also an adjunct professor at Montgomery County Community College, where he teaches a piano class.

Avi Wisnia

Singer/songwriter Avi WIsnia tours in support of his newest album of jazz/pop compositions, "Catching Leaves," performing in venues around the world – from the Philadelphia Museum of Art to The Kennedy Center in Washington DC to concert tours in Poland, Japan, and Brazil. Avi Wisnia has given a TED Talk and performed with The Moth storytellers, and also hosts the monthly concert series "Philly Songwriters In The Round" presented by the Philadelphia Folksong Society. His most recent project, which explores family history and intergenerational connection through the music he performed with his late grandfather, renown Cantor and Auschwitz survivor David Wisnia, has been turned into a feature documentary called "How Saba Kept Singing" which will premiere this spring on PBS.

Donations & Contributions accepted with Venmo: @ AviWisnia or PayPal: paypal.me/aviwisnia
Link to listen/stream/buy music on any platform: https://ffm.to/CatchingLeaves 
Sign up for upcoming concert alerts & mailing list: https://tinyurl.com/AviWisniaMailingList

Connect on Social Media: @ AviWisnia

More Info at www.aviwisnia.com

Videos:

Mary Scholz

Philly native, Los Angeles based singer/songwriter Mary Scholz is a live circuit favorite, making a home in listeners’ hearts with her lyrical voice, introspective lyrics, and intricate guitar work. An internationally touring artist, Mary's most recent record, Begin Again, is being released on vinyl on Feb. 24th, with the expanded edition out later this year!

Website: www.maryscholz.com
Website Store: www.maryscholz.com/store

Donations: www.paypal.me/maryscholzmusic

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/MaryScholz
Instagram: www.instagram.com/maryscholz 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maryscholzmusic 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/maryscholzmusic 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/maryscholz 

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