February 22nd SZALON!

1.    Suzanne Teng & Gilbert Levy perform two of original works, “Medicine Wheel” for ocarina and world drums, and “Midnight in Bamako” for alto flute and ngoni (West African harp) from their home studio in Santa Fe, NM

2.    Gabriel Feldt (tenor), Megnot Toggia (soprano), and Sira Jittapirom (piano) perform French duets by Ernest Chausson and Gabriel Fauré, from the Szalon in Philadelphia

3.    Guitarist Laurel Harned performs Lute Suite no. 2 in C minor, BWV 997 by JS Bach, II: Fugue, from the Szalon

4.    Harris Banks (cello) and Maria Dell'Orefice (piano) perform two works by Gabriel Faure: Elegy, a passionate and heartbreaking lament for the dead, and Papillon, a playful depiction of a butterfly, from the Szalon

5.    Vibraphonist Oliver Mayman and vocalist Tina Hashemi perform favorites from the great American songbook, from the Szalon

6.    Pianist Clipper Erickson performs Sonata Romantica, “Scherzo” by Joaquin Turina and Tercera Sonata, “Claro y Conciso “by Carlos Chávez, from the Szalon

7.    ARCX Quartet (Carlos Santiago, Melinda Rice, Tom Kraines, Matt Engle, and Dan Moser) will perform spontaneous chamber music, from the Szalon

8.    The Dirk Quinn Trio (Dirk Quinn, acoustic guitar; Cody Munzert, piano; Rory Flynn, upright bass) perform one of their improvisational jazz/funk compositions from their most recent album, "Another Day in the Ether", from the Szalon

9.    Pianist/Composer Lex Simakas performs The Fate of Eden for Piano and Electronics, an original composition based on Hieronymus Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights, from the Szalon

10. Composer Michael Kim-Sheng presents his work, Through the Veil, from Zipper Hall, Los Angeles

Suzanne Teng and Gilbert Levy

Suzanne Teng and Gilbert Levy are married musical partners who compose original global instrumental music that is influenced by Suzanne’s classical training and Gilbert’s background in jazz and R&B. They have released seven critically acclaimed albums that have garnered numerous prestigious international awards such as the Independent Music Awards (twice), International Acoustic Music Awards, Los Angeles Music Awards, New Mexico Music Awards, Akademia Music Awards, Global Music Awards, Peace Song Awards, Native American Style Flute Awards (album of the year) and the InterContinental Music Awards. Their recordings have been licensed for numerous soundtracks and was featured on NBC’s America’s Got Talent. Suzanne has been described by the Los Angeles Times as a “brilliant flutist” who “plays music for the soul.”  Originally from Berkeley, California, she received her Master’s degree in music from Boston University’s School for the Arts and, after enjoying world travels, furthered her passion for world music, pursuing her Ph.D. in ethnomusicology at UCLA. She plays an array of wind instruments from around the world and is an endorsed artist for YAMAHA representing their alto and bass flutes. She has performed on hundreds of albums, film/television/commercial soundtracks and performed on the Survivor Live final shows that had 50 million viewers. Gilbert was born and raised in New Orleans where he began playing drums at an early age and by his late teens was performing professionally in R&B bands in clubs on Bourbon Street and with jazz greats such as Wynton and Branford Marsalis. He moved to Los Angeles in his late 20’s and played pop music in numerous bands and on several major label recording projects before gravitating towards world drums.

Links:

Website: http://www.suzanneteng.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCW23w6odIMI-KsfBKPratQ?view_as=subscriber
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1fI91xqYyNyyq1DeYfFRAS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzanne.teng |  https://www.facebook.com/MysticJourneyMusic/,
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzteng/

Venmo donations: @Suzanne-Teng

Videos:

Gabriel Feldt, Megnot Toggia, and Sirapat Jittapirom

Based in Philadelphia, tenor Gabriel Feldt, soprano Megnot Toggia and pianist Sirapat Jittapirom started their musical relationship at the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University in 2019. Due to their desire for continued collaboration, the trio created the Not So Opera recital series in 2023. Nestled within the larger Not So Latin initiative, which has been described as “The Tiny Desk of South Philly”, these intimate, relaxed and entertaining cabaret-style performances offer a fresh perspective on classical music for knowledgeable patrons and newcomers alike. The programs created at Not So Latin have had encore performances in venues across the city as well as across the ocean. At the end of 2024, the trio made their African debut in the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. Individually, each member serves as active performers. Gabriel has made appearances with Opera Philadelphia, Raylynmor Opera, Temple University and the Curtis Institute of Music. Megnot has performed in roles with Raylynmor Opera, Opera Ithaca, the Philadelphia Fringe Festival and Temple University. And Sirapat has worked with Opera Delaware, Opera Montana as well as numerous choral ensembles throughout Philadelphia. She currently serves as a collaborative pianist at University of Delaware and Philadelphia Youth Choral Ensembles, and coaches the undergraduate Opera Workshop at Temple University. 

 Social Media Handles:

@gabrielfeldt
@megnot
@sirapatj
@notsolatin

Laurel Harned

“Laurel Harned offers captivating performances combining technical mastery with heartfelt expression… nuanced interpretations and an engaging presence have made Laurel a standout in the classical guitar world” – Carmel Guitar Society.  Born in 2005 and raised in Southern California, Harned began studying guitar at age nine. In Fall 2025, she entered the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, where she is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Guitar Performance under Maestro Manuel Barrueco, after earning an Associate’s degree in Music from Moreno Valley College. She has given solo recitals across the United States and has appeared as a soloist performing the first movement of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the Oklahoma Chamber Orchestra. She has been featured on NPR’s From the Top, is a prizewinner in multiple competitions, a Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Scholar, and a 2024 Volterra Project fellow. Harned’s recordings for Guitar Salon International and Siccas Guitars have garnered over one million views on YouTube. She performs on a 2005 Andrea Tacchi guitar.

Links:

YouTube - @guitar.laurel
Instagram - @guitar.laurel 

Videos: 

Harris Banks and Maria Dell’Orefice

Harris Banks is an accomplished cellist with a rich educational background and a passion for teaching. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Presbyterian College, where he studied under Dr. Richard Thomas, and a Master of Music in Cello Performance from Temple University, under the guidance of Jeffrey Solow. Throughout his career, Harris has garnered several accolades, including first prize at the 2018 Orval Oleson Performance Competition and an Honorable Mention from the Mary Smart Concerto Competition at the Summit Music Festival. In addition to his performance achievements, Harris is dedicated to music education. He began his teaching career at the Laurens County Academy of Music (2018-2020) and continued to inspire young musicians at the Community Music Scholars Program, a division of Temple Prep (2020-2022). Most recently, he served as a Teaching Artist at Play On Philly from 2023-2025 where he taught cello to underprivileged children in Philadelphia's school system. He currently serves as faculty at the Antioch Music School in Conshohocken, PA, and runs a private teaching studio in Philadelphia. 

Maria Dell’Orefice, a classical pianist and avid violinist, has shared the stage with a multitude of performers including Chris Botti, Alexander Markov, and Francesca DePasquale. 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 and performed with multiple orchestras on the Marian Anderson Hall stage at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.Maria performed for a program in Italy in which she accompanied opera singers in Mozart’s Don Giovanni and she is musical director for the Delaware Valley Opera Company. Maria recently made her debut in the Walnut Street Theatre pit orchestra with their production of Elf the Musical. She is a recipient of the Association of Church Musicians of Philadelphia Organ Grant and is currently the organist at Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church in Strafford, PA. Maria is the pianist for the Haverford College choirs, Staff Pianist Artist in Residence at Temple University and Staff Pianist at the University of Delaware.Maria has studied under Charles Abramovic, Lambert Orkis, Jane Abbott-Kirk, and Sheila Paige and is an advocate of the Taubman technique. She earned her B.M. in Piano Performance from Baylor University in Waco, TX and a double M.M. in Piano Performance and Collaborative Piano from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA

Links:

Websites: www.harrisbankscello.com | www.mariadellorefice.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@harrisbanks2813 | https://www.youtube.com/@mariadelloreficemusic/playlists
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088490236997 | https://www.facebook.com/mariadelloreficemusic

Videos:

Oliver Mayman and Tina Hashemi

From Ann Arbor, MI, and now based in Philadelphia, Oliver Mayman is a vibraphonist, composer, and educator. Beginning on the drums and piano, the vibraphone was an apt discovery as a teenager – the instrument essentially fusing the mechanics of drumming with the harmonic capabilities of the piano. He has since become a distinguished voice on the instrument, reimagining its role in music through an inventive technical approach and a discerning creative ear. He has performed as a bandleader across the Midwest and East Coast at storied venues like Cliff Bell’s, the Blue LLama, and Chris’ Jazz Cafe, and has also been featured in several larger, iconic events like the Detroit Jazz Festival and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. He also has extensive experience as an educator, teaching a handful of vibraphone students in addition to being on faculty at vibesworkshop.com, the largest online vibraphone community in the world. He earned a B.M. in 2023 from Temple University, studying with Tony Miceli and Bruce Barth, and endorses Malletech instruments and mallets.

Tina Hashemi is an emerging jazz vocalist who brings a sweet sensibility to classic jazz standards and the Great American Songbook. Her pure, unaffected tone, her sense of swing, and her creativity as an improviser with big ears and stores of imagination has made her a favorite throughout the Virginia/D.C. area. In 2024, Tina was awarded 3rd place in the international Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition based out of Blues Alley that was judged by the New York Voices. 

Links:
OliverMayman.com
TinaHashemiMusic.com

Videos:

Clipper Erickson

Described as “one of the finest pianists of his generation…a consummate musician” by Fanfare, Clipper Erickson has dedicated much of his long career to bringing new works to life as an enthusiastic musical explorer. Erickson made his debut at age 19 in Los Angeles as soloist with the Young Musicians Foundation Orchestra, followed by studies at The Juilliard School, Yale University, and Indiana University. While at Indiana, Clipper trained with the great British pianist John Ogdon, whose dedication to the performance of new music and lesser-known works of the past inspired Clipper to follow in his footsteps. His artistry continues to win international critical acclaim through recordings and performances as soloist in major concert halls including the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, and Carnegie Hall. Last November marked the 10th anniversary of his release of the complete piano music of the great African-American composer R. Nathaniel Dett, My Cup Runneth Over. It continues to be played on radio and streamed worldwide, including on our own WRTI, and was honored by Gramophone UK in 2016 as a critic’s choice and best album of the year. His latest recording of the Florence Price Sonata in E minor is releasing in February 2026.

All links: LinkTree
Website: www.clippererickson.com
Venmo: @clippererickson1

Videos:

ARCX Quartet

ARCX Quartet guides listeners on an audio trip through hallucinogenic trancepts, foldable shadows and metonymic nebulae, skirting the boundaries of Arcx's labyrinth collective sound-mind. Arcx Quartet seek to find truths/untruths within ever-present interstitial spaces. 

 Instagram - @arcxstringquartet

Video:

The Dirk Quinn Trio (Dirk Quinn, Cody Minaret, and Rory Flynn)

Dirk Quinn is the guitarist for the jazz-funk outfit that coincidentally bears his name. Based out of Philadelphia, the group travels extensively, boasting well over a decade of relentless performing. Alongside longtime members Rory Flynn (bass) and Cody Munzert (keys), as well as a dynamic lineup of talented drummers and percussionists, the band has diligently crafted a unique and sincere style that truly transcends genre - blending groove, improvisation, and soul into a sound that feels both refined and loose. Their infectious energy and musical chemistry consistently captivate diverse audiences, with fans ranging from the beard-stroking jazz heads to the jam-band wanderers. Their extended improvisations are rich with great melodic sensibilities and playful rhythmic experimentation – this is music to awaken and uplift the soul!

Links:

Website: http://www.dirkquinn.com
Virtual Tip Jar: https://dirkquinn.com/tip-jars/1332
Venmo: DirkQuinn
Paypal: DirkQuinn@Gmail.com

DQB Spotify:   https://open.spotify.com/album/5BEtfCvoBWcvevLFJewZWh
DQB Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/DirkQuinnBand/
DQB YouTube:   https://www.youtube.com/@dirkquinn7486/videos

Videos:

Lex Simakas

Lex Simakas is a composer, pianist, arranger, producer, audio engineer, and Emmy®-nominated music editor based in Philadelphia. A recipient of a master’s degree in Music Technology from Temple University, Lex has applied his skills as a music editor at NFL Films, where he has worked on shows that have aired on network TV and streamed on Netflix, HBO, ESPN+, and YouTube. These shows include Hard Knocks, Quarterback, Receiver, NFL Films Presents, Peyton’s Places, and several others. As a composer, Lex comfortably writes in multiple musical styles, including contemporary classical, jazz, electronic, funk, folk, and ambient.  In his music, Lex enjoys exploring alternate tuning systems, as well as the use of piano, voice, and kalimba. He strives to strike the right balance between synthetic/organic, immaculate/imperfect, and complexity/accessibility. He finds inspiration in literature, art, film, nature, and countless musicians the world over. After recently recovering from a performance injury sustained several years ago, Lex has happily returned to performing piano, and is thrilled to be playing at the Salon for the first time.

Links:

Website: LexSimakas.com
YouTube: @LexSimakas
Instagram: @LexSimakasMusic
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lex-simakas/
Venmo: @Lex-Simakas
PayPal: @LexSimakas

Videos:

Michael Kim-Sheng

Michael Kim-Sheng is a producer and composer between musical worlds. Born into a musical family, he started piano lessons at the age of 4. The music of Chopin and Debussy was always playing in the background at home, and it continues to resonate in his compositional voice. As a teenager, his friends introduced him to new genres of music, and he was driven to learn electric guitar, drums, and sound recording. His musical work is a meeting between these backgrounds, falling between classical and popular genres, and combining acoustic instruments with electronic rhythms and textures. He pursued formal studies in composition at Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, and at McGill University. He won the SOCAN grand prize for emerging composers in 2018 and the Audience Prize and Honorable Mention in the 2020 Graham Sommer Competition. As an artist, he is always considering the feelings that composition can evoke in his body, and it is often a sensation that drives him to create. Many of his compositions have come from a spontaneous feeling of being moved, and he considers it his duty to bring these feelings to life through music. 

Links: 

Instagram - @MichaelKimSheng
Video: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=741180015305151

Michael will present his work Through the Veil
Zipper Hall - Los Angeles

Performers: Soprano 1: Andrea Zomorodian Soprano 2: Kathryn Shuman Soprano 3: Natalie Buickians Soprano 4: Jessie Shulman Piano: Aaron McClaskey Violin 1: Yasmeen Al-Mazeedi Violin 2: Sarena Hsu Viola: Rita Andrade Cello: Marza Wilks Bass: Alan Wang

Conductor: Michael Kim-Sheng