Faculty
Deirdre McClure, D. M. A. (Executive Director)
Received her Masters and Doctoral degrees in orchestral conducting from the Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University. She has been active as a conductor for 15 years, and currently serves as the Music Director and Conductor of the Oakland Opera Theater in California. In addition to her conducting work, she is a popular music teacher and lecturer, and is on the Faculty of the University of New England. McClure is a member of the Education Committee of PCA Great Performances, and prior to coming to Maine was on the steering committee of the American Composers Forum, San Francisco, and board member of the ROVA Saxophone Quartet and John Sims Center for the Performing Arts. Dr. McClure has been on the jury for numerous musical competitions and awards. She and her family live in Portland, Maine.
Julia Adams (Viola)
B.A., Oberlin College; M.A., San Francisco State College. Honorary Ph.D, Colby College. Artist-in-Residence, Colby College; founding member, Portland String Quartet; touring internationally since 1969 and recording a wide range of literature from Baroque to Contemporary. Long-time principal violinist with the Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra and the Portland Symphony. Studied with Kim Harriman, William Berman, David Schneider, Ferenc Molnar, Ralph Hersh, and Lillian Fuchs. Applied Music Faculty: Bates College, Bowdoin College.
Michael Albert (Voice, Violin, Oboe, Recorder)
Michael Albert studied voice and oboe performance at the University of Southern Maine's School of Music, and has also attended the Interlochen and Blockhaven Arts Schools. His awards include the Lillian Nordica award, the Louise Meyer Chamber Music Awards, and the Maine Governor's Award for musical excellence. He studied privately with Neil Boyer and Lawrence Golan of the Portland Symphony Orchestra and Bruce Fithian, head of the Voice Faculty at U.S.M. Michael has appeared as an oboist with the Maine Music Society, Portland and Bangor Symphony Orchestras, and the Harvard (University) Baroque Orchestra. As a countertenor he has performed throughout New England as a soloist in Bach's Mass in B Minor, Handel's Messiah, Carissimi's Jepthe, Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, as well as in various Bach Cantatas, and performs regularly with the Schola Cantorum of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland, Maine. Michael can also be heard as a baroque violinist and recordist and has performed with Blue Lobster, the SoHIP chamber orchestra, Portland Pro Musica, Ensemble Galant, Pastorello, Ecclesia, Saltarello, Ensemble Suave, and the Southern Maine String Quartet. Michael also enjoys playing whistle and fiddle at various Irish pubs and performs professionally with the Celtic band, The Beggar Boys. Michael can also be heard on the C.D. labels Initial Ascent, Sentences from the Womb, Jan Carter's Packages, and in the soundtracks for the P.B.S. documentaries Haiti's Small Miracles and Sweet Ambition, both of which received a nomination for an Emmy and a pre-nomination for a Grammy award.
Christina Astrachan (Voice)
Teacher Diploma, Oberseminar Zurich; Voice Major, Zurich Conservatory; Voice Diploma Swiss Pedagogic Music Association and Music Conservatory. Studies with Bruce Fithian, Bonnie Scarpelli, Jayne West, Helen Keller, Gloriana Cavalli. Co-founder of Maine Baroque Ensemble and the Portland Early Music Consort with whom she performed at the Boston Early Music Festival. Guest artist with the Maine Music Society, the Androscoggin Chorale, the Oratorio Chorale, the First Parish Choir in Brunswick, the DaPonte String Quartet, the Surrey Opera Company, and the Portland Symphony Orchestra.
Darrell Blackwell (Suzuki Guitar)
Dale Churchill (Classical and Improvisational Piano)
A.B., University of Massachusetts - Boston. Piano studies with Laurence Berman and Ran Blake. Music Director at Dean Junior College and Massasoit Community College. Director of Music at Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church. Mr. Churchill has thirty years' experience as a private piano teacher, conductor, and children’s music teacher.
Christina Chute (Violin, Viola, Cello)
B. Mus. (violin), Oberlin; Performer’s Certificate (cello), Peabody Conservatory; M.M. (cello), San Francisco Conservatory. Studies with Irene Sharp, Bonnie Hampton, Yehuda Hannani, Paul Ross, Marilyn McDonald, and Earl Carlyss. Current Faculty of Bates College, Bowdoin College, and Portland Conservatory. Former Faculty of the San Francisco Community Music Center and the Sequoia Chamber Music Festival. Cellist with the Maine Music Society, Atlantic Piano Trio, Santa Rosa Symphony, Rohnert Park Chamber Orchestra, Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, and others. Violin/Viola, Canton Symphony Orchestra, Club Foot Orchestra, and others. Studio recording artist, and translator of “I Begin the Cello.”
Gia Comolli (Composition, Theory, Piano)
D.M.A. Composition, Temple University; M.M., City University; B.M. in Piano, Peabody Conservatory; B.M. in Composition. Studies with David Del Tredici, Morris Cotel. National Endowment for the Arts Aesop's Duets. Charles Ives Scholar. Received commissions and grants for compositions which include Reflections of Southeastern PA. (String Trio), String Quartet No. 2 and New York Suite for String Orchestra.
Ray Cornils (Organ)
Lynda Foster (Piano)
M.A., Loma Linda University; B.A., Andrews University. Other studies: University of South Africa, Royal Schools of Music. Piano with Emmanuele Verona. Private piano studies in South Africa and U.S. Band instructor, elementary classroom teacher. Pianist, Church of Christ Scientist, Fryeburg, Maine; Harpsichordist, Baroque Ensemble, Andrews University. Trumpet, LaSierra College Concert Orchestra.
Robert Gans (Piano, Composition, Jazz and Rock Studies)
Robert received a B.A. in Music from the State University of New York at Oswego. His principal piano teacher was Anthony Crain, D.M.A. After one semester of postgraduate study, he returned home to N.Y.C. to pursue his interests as a teacher, arranger, composer, copyist, and music student with composer Ronald Trogan, concert pianist John Contiguglia, and others. In Maine, Robert has performed in a variety of styles and venues. He is a member of the Maine Composer's Forum, and is currently president and a performing member of the Portland Rossini Club. Robert's latest compositions include Blue Ballet Suite (2004) and his second musical drama, Hail Mary.
Al Guisto (Guitar)
Jara Goodrich (Harp)
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Institute of Music. Studies with Carlos Salzedo and Alice Chalifoux. Principal Harpist with Portland Symphony and Bangor Symphony Orchestras. Soloist with Bay Chamber Concerts, Bangor Symphony, and Portland Symphony Orchestra. Faculty member, University of Southern Maine and Conductor, University Harp Ensemble.
Margaret Hopkins(Suzuki Violin)
Born in Poland and began violin studies at age 7, adding piano at age 12 once she moved to the U.S.A. Ms. Hopkins received a B.M. in Performance from UMass at Lowell where she also pursued Music Education. Ms. Hopkins received Suzuki training at Ithaca College in N.Y., Hartt College at the University of CT, State University of New York in Buffalo, and Capital University in Ohio. She has performed in her native Poland, Switzerland, Israel, England, Scotland, Wales, Canada, and the United States. She is a member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas and a former board member. Ms. Hopkins is the secretary of the Maine ASTA w/NOSA and also serves as board member for the Maine Music Educators Association. Ms. Hopkins also teaches Suzuki violin at Old Orchard Beach public schools and at her home-based studio.
Robin Jellis (Cello, Suzuki Cello)
Performed cello in Maine for more than 10 years. She received a Music Talent Scholarship (4 years) to attend the University of Southern Maine where she graduated cum lade with a Bachelor of Music degree in Cello Performance. She played with the Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra and was principal cellist with the U.S.M. Jazz Philharmonic. She also substitute taught the music education cello class. Since graduation, she has performed with the Bangor Symphony and at the summer Bach festival in North Conway, NH. Robin started Suzuki Cello with Richard Noyes (Portland Symphony Orchestra) and continued her studies with William Rounds (P.S.O. and Boston Pops) and Paul Ross (Portland String Quartet). She studied chamber music with the P.S.Q., at Colby College, with Laura Kargul and Laurence Golan at U.S.M., and at the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music in New Hampshire, among others. She studied jazz improvisation with Gary Pack and has been learning about Medieval and Renaissance music from a very young age with Pamela Blake. She received her teacher training at the Suzuki Institutes of Ithaca College and Hartt School of Music. She teaches theory and Suzuki cello at the Pineland Suzuki School. At the Portland Conservatory, she teaches Suzuki and traditional studies, as well as the Suzuki viola/cello class. She was coordinator of the Conservatory's string camp. Robin performs as Principal Cellist with the Portland Conservatory Festival Orchestra.
John Johnstone (Guitar, Classical, Jazz Styles)
B.M. in Performance, U. of Southern Maine; Assoc. Degree in Music, University of Maine, Augusta. Studied with Tom Hoffman, Bob Sullivan, George Sakellariou, Neil Anderson, and David Leisner. Has performed at Olin Arts Center, Bowdoin Chapel, St. Joseph's College, Corthell Hall, Maine Festival, with Portland Symphony, and Choral Art Society. Faculty member, Bowdoin College and Pine Tree Academy.
Heather Kahill (Suzuki violin/viola)
Nathan Kolosko (Guitar)
B.M., University of Buffalo; M.M., University of Denver. Studies with Joanne Castollani, Ricardo Iznaola, Jonathan Leathwood, Masakazu Ito. Master classes with Oscar Ghiglia, Marco Socias, Ignacio Rodes, Stanley Yates, John Holmquist, Sharon Isbin, and Christopher Parkening. 2003 premier of Ricardo Iznaola's "Blood Wedding" score. Grants from Allied Arts Foundation, D'Addario Strings. Winner in the MTNA national guitar competition. Faculty, Bowdoin Music Festival.
Chiharu Naruse (Piano)
Chiharu Naruse began studying piano at age 4 and continued her studies in Japan until 1996 at Nishinomiya High School for Music. During this time, she performed numerous solo and trio recitals at the Itami City Concert House. In 1977, Chiharu moved to Germany after being accepted to the Hans Eisler Hochschule Fur Musik in Berlin and began study under Klaus Bassler. In Berlin, Chiharu performed recitals on a regular basis including a Piano concert to benefit Amnesty International. Chiharu also attended numerous Piano competitions throughout Europe including the Clara Haskin in Switzerland, Peccary Academia Piano Competition in Italy, and the International Mozart Wettbewerb in Salzburg, Austria. She also obtained an M.D. in Music Performance and an M.D. in Music Instruction. In the spring of 2002, Chiharu moved to the United States to study under Frank Glazer, who is the Artist-in-Residence at Bates College. Chiharu has given several concerts at Bates College, played with the Portland String Quartet, and regularly performed Beethoven's Fifth Piano Concerto and the Rachmaninoff Second Piano Concerto with the Augusta Symphony.
Edward Pearlman (Fiddle, Violin)
B.A., Yale University. Violin with Dan Stepner, Perry Crafton (Chicago Symphony), and Roger Shermont (Boston Symphony). Fiddle work with Alasdair Fraser, Aly Bain, Buddy MacMaster, and others. Private and group instruction since 1981. Member of Highland Soles (http://www.highlandsoles.com), Ed has performed fiddle and classical music throughout the U.S. and Canada; fiddle styles include Celtic, American, jazz, contra. Founder/director Boston Scottish Fiddle Club, 1981-1999. Fiddle instructor, Ohio Scottish Arts School at Oberlin College since 1995. Adjudicator for 3 U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Championships. Music columnist for Scottish Life magazine. Directed Roaring Jelly contra dance band.
Gay Pearson (Piano)
B.M., Lawrence Conservatory; B.S. in Meteorology, Purdue University. Jazz theory/improv. studies with Gerald Price, Laurie Altman, Eric Shaw, and Jim Ridl. Performed in various venues (coffeehouses, clubs, bookstores, museums, libraries) in the Trenton area through 2002. Taught piano and violin at Trenton Community Music School and Trenton Conservatory, 2002-2004. House pianist (jazz and traditional) of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Trenton, NJ, 1991-2002. Gay currently performs locally and has released 4 self-produced CDs to local and national acclaim: "Pearson gives her audience a double barrel of swinging excitement that's married with a love for the lyrical melody." (Jim Santella, Cadence)
Caitlin Ramsey (French Horn)
Graduate of Miami University (summa cum lade) with degrees in horn performance and music education. She currently teaches instrumental music at the Willard School (Sanford, ME) and has maintained a private studio since 2001. Ms. Ramsey, a Presser Scholar, has performed nationally and internationally with such groups as the Lennox Trio, the Echternach Chamber Orchestra (Luxembourg), and the Oxford Chamber Orchestra. Additionally, Ms. Ramsey was a finalist in the internationally recognized Coleman Chamber Music Competition. Ms. Ramsey's teachers have included John Boden of the P.S.O., Greg Phillips of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, and Peter Kurau of the Eastman School of Music.
Wren Saunders (Bassoon)
Ms. Saunders holds a B.M. from the University of Southern Maine and a M.M. from New England Conservatory. Her primary teachers were Ardith Keef (Portland Symphony) and Richard Svoboda (principal, Boston Symphony). Ms. Saunders performs regularly with the Maine Chamber Ensemble, the Hingham (Massachusetts) Symphony, Boston Philharmonic, Rhode Island Philharmonic, BMOP, and the New Hampshire Music Festival, among others. Ms. Saunders's students are regularly accepted into the Portland Youth Ensembles and regularly hold top chairs in the state's district and All-State festivals.
Harold Stover (Organ, Music Theory, Music History)
B.M., the Julliard School. Studies with Vernon de Tar, Bronson Ragan, John R. Lively; Choral Conducting with Abraham Kaplan; Theory and Composition with Anthony Newman, Arnold Fish, Suzan Bloch. Numerous organ recitals in New York City including St. John the Divine and St. Patrick's Cathedral, Washington Cathedral, Washington Cathedral, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, England, and many others. Composer of numerous works for organ, chorus, orchestra, solo instruments, voice, and electronic instruments. Organist and Director of Music, Woodford's Congregational Church.