PAUL SPENCER ADKINS, tenor Winner of the First Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition, Paul Spencer Adkins has established himself as a major talent with opera companies such as the Opera Company of Philadelphia, Miami Opera, Orlando Opera and the Opera New England. He has also performed in a number of world premieres including Menott's The Hero, Anthony Davis' X and Leslie Adams' Blake. Paul made his New York debut at Lincoln Center in the title role of Virgil Thomson's Lord Byron . His appearances with orchestra include the Philadelphia Symphony, Stockholm Philharmonic, Milwaukee Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, Richmond Symphony and the Fresno Philharmonic. Paul has starred in and produced the PBS documentary, The Musical Legacy of Roland Hayes, which has been broadcast nationwide. His education work has taken him to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and the University of Wisconsin- Madison, as an artist in residence. With his own production company, Capella Productions, he is involved in education outreach throughout the Philadelphia area. He also serves as the director of the Wynnewood Vocal Ensemble. Visit Paul's website.

RICHARD ALBAGLI, percussionist Scientist and co-founder of Associated Solo Artists, Inc. and the Adirondack Percussion Ensemble, Richard is principal percussionist for the Albany Symphony Orchestra. He has appeared as soloist and co-soloist with the Albany Symphony in performances of "Concertino for Marimba" by Paul Creston, "Fantasy on Japanese Woodprints" by Alan Hovhaness and "Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra" by Bela Bartok. He has been a soloist with the Capital Chamber Artists and with the Berkshire Symphony in the North American premiere of Irwin Bazelton's "Symphony Concertante". In addition to being a faculty member at the State University of New York at Albany and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Albagli directs three percussion ensembles at these institutions. He also serves as Musical Director of the Empire State Youth Percussion Ensemble and the Empire State Repertory Ensemble for High School and Middle School Students. An avid composer, Albagli has written more than 20 works for marimba, timpani, percussion ensemble, small chamber ensemble, and orchestra. He has written several songs for voice and percussion in collaboration with John Cimino. Mr. Albagli's writings include "Studies for the Development of Musical Expression", the metalogue, "Winged Man--Everyman" (with John Cimino). In the area of science, he has served as an assistant to the distinguished scientist, Dr. Robert Resnick, while he worked on the texts for general physics, relativity and quantum theory.

DONNA WISSINGER, flutist Donna made her New York debut at Carnegie Recital Hall in 1984 to critical acclaim and returned to Carnegie Main Stage with a triumphant concert in 1990. Donna won the 1986 Artists International Distinguished Artist Award and was selected by Musical America as a Young Artist to Watch. She has played solo recitals in New York, Chicago, Paris, Florence, Graz and Munich. She regularly tours the Mid-West and the East Coast and has distinguished herself in radio and television appearances in the US, USSR and Europe. Donna recently played a solo recital at the State Academic M I Glinka Capella in Leningrad. A frequent presenter for the Florida Arts for a Complete Education (ACE) and the Florida Alliance for Arts Education (FAAE), she recently played Samuel Adler's "Solo for "Flute as part of the Keynote address at the ACE/FAAE Conference at the Disney Institute. She is on the roster of the Florida Artist's Residency and Touring Programs. Upcoming is a tour of Europe with composer/pianist Stella Sung and numerous recital/residencies in Florida. In addition to her music, Donna is active on the USTA tennis circuit, is a USPTA teaching pro, a triathlete, a licensed massage therapist and a published poet.  Visit Donna's Website.

JON KLIBONOFF, pianist As a versatile recitalist, orchestra soloist and chamber musician, Jon Klibonoff has performed extensively throughout the US. and abroad. His various honors include first prize in the Kosciuszko Chopin Competition and the Pepsi Cola Young Artists Competition, and the silver medal in the 1984 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition. Jon has appeared as soloist with the Utah, Baltimore, Richmond, Denver, New Orleans, Oakland, Syracuse and North Carolina symphonies, as well as the Buffalo Philharmonic and the Denver Chamber Orchestra. In 1982, he was selected to assist the late Glenn Gould in a special recording project as soloist with the Hamilton (Ontario) Philharmonic. A former Xerox Affiliate Artist and the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts solo recitalist's grant, Mr. Klibonoff has appeared in recital at the 92nd Street Y, Carnegie Recital Hall, Weill Hall, on Chicago's Myra Hess Series, and in other major venues across the country. Through a sponsorship from the Pro Musicus Foundation, Klibonoff has given recitals n New York, Los Angeles and Washington DC. This past season included debut performances in Amsterdam and Hong Kong, as well as, an appearance with cellist Yo-Yo Ma at Princeton University. Jon is the musical arranger of "Fascinatin' Gershwin!", and co-composer and arranger for ASA's "The Imaginative Planet', "The Course of Empire" and "The Great Dinosaur Rescue". He has a recording of contemporary violin and piano music with Maria Bachmann on the BMG record label. Jon's latest recording for Channel Classics features him as guest artist performing the music of Frank Zappa with the Meridian Arts Ensemble. This season he is appearing in an arts residency presented by the Quad City Arts Programs in Illinois and Iowa. He will also be the artist in residence at the Orange County Center for Performing Arts in California.

DIANNE LEGRO, soprano Dianne is a concert performer and opera singer who has starred in countless musical theater productions including the Broadway revival of My Fair Lady. Trained at the New England Conservatory and the Juilliard School, she also completed fellowships at the Bel Canto School in Italy and the Aspen Music Festival. Dianne recently co-starred with opera luminaries Carlo Bergonzi and Roberta Peters in the NJ State Opera production of L'Elisir d'Amore. She has concertized with the Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea, the Gershwin Orchestra, the Altoona Symphony and the Fresno Philharmonic. Dianne created the lead role of "Geralyn" in the 1989 New York State Imagination Celebration production The Great Dinosaur Rescue and has been featured as a leading lady in The Most Happy Fella, How to Succeed in Business and Man of La Mancha. Dianne's current projects include an artist residency at the Orange County Performing Art Center in Costa Mesa, California and a new recording with Jon Klibonoff entitled "Our Sentiments Exactly". Visit Dianne's website.

Krista Apple is an actor and movement artist originally from Columbus, Ohio. Before relocating to New York, Krista most recently worked as an artist and educator with Columbus Children's Theatre and the Center Of Science and Industry (COSI). She is also a senior faculty member (Voice/Movement) at Northwestern University's National High School Institute. In Ohio, she was a member of Blue Forms Theatre Group and Red Herring Theatre Ensemble, where she appeared numerous times as a performer (Touch, Anna Weiss) in addition to producing unique award-winning theatrical events. Krista holds a Bachelor's Degree from Kenyon College in English & Theatre. Additional training credits include BADA (London, England) and The Ohio State University, as well as with artists from Theatre de Complicite, Ecole Lecoq, and the London Royal National Theatre.

Mary Ann Stewart, mezzo-soprano, is a “…major operatic talent” who sings with “…intelligence, emotive power and a fine precision in the meaningful projection of words”(Joseph McLellan, The Washington Post). She has performed in France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Bulgaria and Mexico as well as various cities in the United States. Favorite roles to her credit include Dorabella, Hansel, Penelope, Dinah, Cherubino, the Marquise de Merteuil (The Dangerous Liaisons by Conrad Susa) and Urbain in Les Huguenots which she performed in concert with the Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de México under the baton of Eve Queler. Her most recent engagements include singing the Sixth Flower Maiden in Parsifal at The Washington Opera with Plácido Domingo in the title role as well as Mercedes in Carmen conducted by Maestro Domingo with Jennifer Larmore in the title role. She was a World Finalist in the Luciano Pavarotti International Competition, a Regional Finalist and Study Grant Winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and most recently a winner in the Liederkranz Foundation Scholarship Competition. For further information, please visit www.Maryannstewart.com

Tom McCoy - In his youth, Tom McCoy studied piano with Heifitz’s accompanist, Louis Greenwald, and later with Busoni-specialist, Peter Armstrong. He studied composition with Richard Winslow at Wesleyan, where he also studied Javanese, Balinese and South Indian music. As a jazz pianist, he is mostly self-taught. He has performed at Town Hall, the Village Vanguard, Broadway, national television, NPR, worldwide and has shared the concert stage with Ray Charles, James Taylor, Judy Collins among many others. He is on the faculty of the State University of New York, and co-founded Footlights Music Theater Workshop. McCoy’s compositions include jazz and classical concert music, orchestral scores as well as the scores of two new musicals, An Orphan’s Tale, which premiered in 1999 and Madam President. He resides in Cold Spring, NY.

Rebecca Carr began her musical education in her hometown of Auburn, New York. She earned degrees in Vocal Performance from Ithaca College (BM) and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (MM) and was led, ultimately, to the prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts. Philadelphia audiences have heard her often in oratorio performances and in concert and recital, but it is Miss Carr*s operatic performances that have led her across this country and abroad. She has sung the leading soprano roles in La Traviata, Susannah, Don Giovanni, Die Fledermaus, Cosi fan tutte and Madama Butterfly, among others. Ms. Carr continues to expand her repertoire, currently studying the early operas of Verdi with renowned soprano, Renata Scotto.

Navida Stein is a professional storyteller & actor. She created the role of Beth in the Off Broadway production of Carbondale Dreams and has worked Off-Off Broadway and regionally doing new plays, musicals and the classics. As a storyteller, her one-woman show combines stories from around the world with original music. Recent theater credits include Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival (Romeo & Juliet, As You Like It), The Northeast Theatre (A Perfect Ganesh) & Prospect Theater Company (The Alchemists, a new musical). Film: Knowing Lisa. As an artist-in-residence (Arts-in-Education) Navida has worked with a variety of populations from gifted and talented to at-risk and special needs students. Her workshops are eclectic in nature and combine the elements of story, music, movement, songs, instruments, poetry and playwriting. She has trained and mentored artists and teachers, enabling them to weave the arts and curriculum together. Her work as a teaching artist can be seen on the website www.arts4learning.org. Training: Shakespeare & Company, Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London (Post-Graduate diploma). She is also an accomplished violinist and playwright.

Meara McIntrye recently finished a run of Riverdance on Broadway. She has been featured on the Today Show with the Riverdance Singers. Other roles include Julie Jordan in Carousel, Rosabella in The Most Happy Fella, Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof. Opera roles include Zerlina in Don Giovanni and Susanna in the Marriage of Figaro. She holds a Masters of Music from the New England Conservatory.

Matthew Ward has performed with groups such as the Boston Symphony, Albany Symphony, New World Symphony, New Music Consort and Associated Solo Artists. In 1998, Mr. Ward received his bachelor of music degree from the Manhattan School of Music where he studied with Duncan Patton and Chris Lamb. Currently, he is working towards a masters degree in performance from State University at Stony Brook under the direction of Ray DesRoches. He has also been working as a chamber and sectional coach with the Empire State Youth Orchestra, New York Inter-School Orchestra and the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Ward was the recipient of the Ripley-Tree Fellowship at the Music Academy of the West in 1998, and in 1999, he participated in the Tanglewood Music Center under the direction of Seiji Ozawa and returned the following year as a member of the 60th Anniversary TMC Alumni Concert. Recent performance highlights include a concert with Emmanuel Ax on the Great Performers series at Lincoln Center as well as a concerto performance with the North Shore Philharmonic. He can be heard on the recording labels Argo, Newport Classics and Winston Ma.

Sergei Burbank has worked with True Colors, Inc. and Theatregarden- both are New York City based educational theatre programs. He worked for nearly a decade with the Berkley Carroll Creative Arts Program, a summer arts educational program in Brooklyn, New York. Based in New York, Sergei has worked with off-Broadway companies such as the Storm Theatre, Theatre Space Incorporated and the Gallem Players. Regionally he has worked with companies such as Opera North, (Dartmouth, New Hampshire), G.R.E.A.T., (Gambier, Ohio), and Capital Classics, (Hartford, Connecticut). Television work includes regional commercials for Comcast Internet and industrial training videos for Applied Systems International. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Drama (cum laude) from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio.

Desiree Halac, mezzo, enjoys a versatile career singing oratorio, opera and song recitals. This year her debut at Carnegie Hall singing Bach's Magnificat and Beethoven's CMajor Mass. She appeared as soloist with the Stamford Symphony, American Composers Orchestra, Jupiter Symphony, and the Metamorphoses Orhcestra. She has performed Mozart, Rossini and Bizet with the Virginia Opera, Teatro Colon, Kloster Mozart and Aspen Festival's. She is a winner of the Joy in Singing Award, the Jennie Tourel Prize of the Poulenc Competition! the Shoshana Foundation Award and this spring was a finalist at the Marya Kraya Opera Competition in Europe

Lisa Daltirus, soprano, is from Plainfield, NJ and is an alumnae of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. She currently resides in suburban Philadelphia. This season marked her critically acclaimed, professional operatic debut in the title role of Tosca with the New York Grand Opera. She additionally debuted with OperaDelaware in the same role with equal success. "Dazzling Discovery :.. reminiscent of an even more missed retiree - Leontyne Price." - Philadelphia Inquirer. Lisa has been featured with the Bel Canto Lyric Opera Company of Philadelphia, Pa., the Maine Grand Opera in Camden, ME, the Philadelphia Chamber Chorus, the Trinity Opera Theater of Philadelphia, Peter Nero and the Philly Pops Orchestra and is an acclaimed soloist with the Richard Tucker Foundation concert series. She recently made her Carnegie Hall debut with New York Grand Opera singing the title role of Aida in the "Triumphal Scene". Lisa's repertoire extends to Oratorio and Symphonic roles which include Beethoven's 9th Symphony and Handel's Messiah. She has received many awards and recognition which include the NJ State Opera Vocal competition and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Lisa enjoys teaching voice both privately and in workshops settings.

Gulnara Mitzanova, mezzo-soprano, a native of Moscow, received her training at the Moscow Conservatory, at the Juilliard School and at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. Her operatic repertiore includes Dorabella, Rosina, Cherubino, Carmen, Nicklausse, Romeo in I Capuleti e I Montecchi, Olga in Eugene Onegin, Pauline/Molovsor in Pique Dame, Ljubasha in Tzar's bride, Orlofsky, Hansel, Oktavian and der Komponist. Ms.Mitzanova has given numerous recitals, including a concert with Will Crutchfield at the Bard Music festival and she has appeared as soloist in oratorios and orchestral concerts, under batons of Claudio Abbado, Helmuth Rilling, Peter Tiboris and Mariuz Smolij. Her impeccable musicianship, striking appearance and "beautiful rich voice of wide range" have won her numerous awards including the new York Oratorio Society's Outstanding Vocal achievements award, 2001: Liederkranz Foundation Finalist, 2001; Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation Finalist, 2000, among others.