Fairmont Chamber Music Society, Inc. prior shows

BRAVO October 5, 2003 at 7:30 p.m. Traverser Saxophone Quartet

L -R: Curtis Johnson, David Wright, Mike Sakash, Jon Brink
The Traverser Saxophone Quartet was formed in September of 2002. The idea behind the quartet is in the word Traverser, or "crossing over." This can be explained by the varied music that the group performs - everything from core repertoire to jazz and funk styles. Also, the members switch instruments throughout the performances, creating a varied ensemble texture. Although relatively new, the Traverser Quartet has already given concerts across the states of West Virginia and Pennsylvania, hosted the first annual Traverser Saxophone Symposium at West Virginia Wesleyan College in February, and founded the Appalachian Saxophone Orchestra which has 30 members. With a CD to be released in the fall of 2003, the quartet is already booked for concerts well into 2004 and is planning a European concert tour for that summer. The Traverser Saxophone Quartet recently performed at the 13th Annual World Saxophone Congress held in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

BRAVO BRAVO November 9, 2003 at 7:30 p.m. Trumpeter Tim Leasure with Tracy Cowden, piano

Mr. Leasure was a member of the U.S. Navy Band's brass quintet from 1999-2001 and is currently a professor of trumpet at Ohio State University.

He has served as principal trumpet player with the Springfield Symphony during its 1994-1995 season and was second trumpet in the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra of Columbus from 1992-1995. Leasure has performed as acting principal trumpet player in the Arlington Symphony in Virginia, the Annapolis Symphony in Maryland and the U.S. Navy Band.

He is also featured on more than 40 recordings by professional orchestral, band and chamber music ensembles.

Leasure was awarded the 2001 Distinguished Alumni Award from Ohio University's School of Music and College of Fine Arts, and has performed extensively in the U.S. and Europe, including Carnegie Hall, the White House, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and La Chapelle Notre-Dame de Rocamador, France.

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Tracy Cowden, Pianist, is currently Assistant Professor at Ohio Wesleyan University, where she teaches applied and classical piano and serves as departmental staff accompanist.
She maintains an active schedule as a collaborative pianist and has performed in recitals with principal musicians from the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony, and the Boston Symphony orchestra. An enthusiastic chamber music performer, she has performed with the Marble Cliff Chamber Players, at the Fontana Festival of Art and Music, and at the Yellow Barn Music School and Festival, and she serves as a faculty member with the Chamber Music Connection in Columbus, Ohio.
She recently recorded a CD with colleague Nancy Gamso entitled "With Blackwood and Silver." which features duo repertoire for flute with piano and clarinet with piano.
In addition to her diverse performance opportunities as a collaborative pianist, Tracy has appeared as a concerto soloist with the Ohio Wesleyan University Chamber Orchestra. Tracy has received awards for her collaborative performances from the Lansing Matinee Musicale Society and from the Eastman School of Music. She received the D.M.A. and M.M. degrees in Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music from the Eastman School of Music, and a B.M. degree in performance from Western Michigan University. A native of Michigan, she has also served as an adjunct faculty member at Kalamazoo College and Hope College in western Michigan. Her principal teachers have included Jean Barr, Douglas Humphreys, Fernando Laires, and Phyllis Rappeport.

BRAVO February 15, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. Wolfram Koessel, cellist

Multifaceted as a chamber musician, Mr.Koessel is on the faculty of the New York Youth Symphony Chamber Music Program. Upon completion of his Master's degree at the Mannes College of Music, he was awarded the George and Elizabeth Gregory Award for Excellence in Performance.

BRAVO March 28, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. Chester String Quartet

Aaron Berofsky, violin
Kathryn Votapek, violin
Dov Scheindlin, viola
and James Wilson, cello

One of America's most distinguished and sought after chamber ensembles, the Chester String Quartet has been called "the best and brightest of the young string quartets" by The Boston Globe. The Chester is currently Quartet-in-Residence at Indiana University-South Bend, where all of its members are full-time faculty. Their style and deep sense of musical commitment have brought them rave reviews from audiences and critics throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America and Europe. The Chester's interpretations have led to top prizes at international competitions in Munich, Germany, Portsmouth, England and Chicago's Discovery Competition. The ensemble has performed at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, the 92nd Street Y, the Kennedy Center, the Corcoran Gallery, the Doelen in Rotterdam, Holland, and the Museo de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. The Quartet also has recorded for the Koch International Classics, New Albion and Chesky labels.

Contact: John Ashton
5267 Arbogast Lane
Morgantown, WV 26505-9339

Phone (304) 291-8277

EMAIL ME

All performances are held at St. Peter the Fisherman Church How to get there! Church web site 407 Jackson Street Fairmont, WV 26554-2941 in downtown Fairmont, West Virginia.

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Fairmont Chamber Music Society, Inc. is recognized as a publicly supported organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. As such, donors who contribute to the Foundation may deduct their contributions as provided in Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Service Code. Bequests, legacies, devises, transfers or gifts to the FCMS Inc. or for its use are deductible for Federal estate and gift tax purposes if they meet the applicable provisions of sections 2055, 2106 and 2522 of the Code. In "English", this means that a donor may contribute to the FCMS, Inc. and take a tax deduction for that donation on their Federal Income Tax return.

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