GUEST MUSICIANS
JOY ZALKIND, FLUTE
Joy Zalkind is currently a member of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, Juarez Symphony in Mexico, Las Cruces Symphony in New Mexico, and the El Paso Opera Company. In addition, she plays second flute for Santa Fe Pro Musica in Santa Fe, NM.
Her most recent concerts include a performance of the Nielsen Flute Concerto in Wuhan, China in April, 2009, with the Wuhan Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Benjamin Loeb. She often performs chamber music recitals including two concerts for El Paso’s Music Forum, and solo recitals in Las Vegas, NV and Montclair, NJ.
She has been part of the Ivories on the Border Series, a chamber series through the University of Texas at El Paso and is on the faculty of the El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestras as a flute instructor. She received her Bachelor’s of Music degree in 2001 at The Hartt School in Connecticut, where she studied with John Wion.
While in Connecticut, she played for the Connecticut State Opera Company. She received her Master’s of Music Degree in 2003 from the University of New Mexico, studying with Valerie Potter. In 2007, she received an Advanced Flute Studies Certificate from Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA) studying with Alberto Almarza and Jeanne Baxtresser.
In addition to playing and teaching, Joy, an avid runner, completed the San Antonio Marathon in November 2009.
GRACE CLOUTIER, HARP
Known for her expressive musicality and rich, warm sound, concert harpist Grace Cloutier trained at The Juilliard School, Yale University and in France. She gave her solo début and encore solo recital at Carnegie Hall (2006, 2008) as first prize winner of the International Competition of Artist International Presentations.
A recipient of many prestigious awards, Miss Cloutier has performed before audiences across the United States, Canada, Europe and the Middle East. She regularly appears in recital for the American Harp Society and the World Harp Congress, and as guest soloist for the Ukrainian National Music Festival (Kiev, Kharkov).Miss Cloutier recently co-founded the first international harp competition based in Ukraine, where she continues to perform, give master classes and serve as head juror of a panel comprised of musicians from Moscow’s Bolshoi Theater for Ukraine’s International Harp Competition.
She recently gave a solo performance with celebrated baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, regularly appears in concert with Jennifer Black of The Metropolitan Opera, and has performed with the Biava String Quartet, and the Calder String Quartet.
Miss Cloutier has been privileged to serve under the baton of many respected conductors including Leonard Slatkin, David Robertson, Julius Rudel, Andrew Litton, James De Priest and the Bolshoi’s Alexander Vedernikov. She performed with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra and the Moscow Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall, participated at both the Aspen and Tanglewood music festivals, and served as a substitute with the New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas from 2002-2006. In 2007, she won the position of principal harp with the El Paso Symphony Orchestra; a position she held until 2009.
Miss Cloutier also performs on Broadway, and has given solo concerts for celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Donald Trump, the President and the First Lady. A dynamic and engaging musician, Miss Cloutier has appeared on NBC, CNN, and CBS and the national television networks of German, French and Urkaine.
Miss Cloutier is an advocate of new music and has collaborated with numerous composers, including Pulitzer Prize-winner David Del Tredici, whose newest harp work, Aeolian Ballade, she premiered at Carnegie Hall in 2008. She has also performed many new works as principal harp for the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, Continuum, New Juilliard Ensemble, Look and Listen Festival and New Music New Haven.
An active proponent for increased public awareness concerning the intrinsic value of music for all people at every stage of life, Grace Cloutier regularly gives workshops for the young and has received the Gluck Fellowship from the The Juilliard School for her work with victims of AIDS, the elderly and children in the NYC metro region. In addition, she has been honored with a Presidential Point of Light Award for her musical contributions to Hospice.
As an educator, Miss Cloutier teaches privately, has given masterclasses and workshops world wide, held a performing residency at UCLA, and has served on faculty at The University of Texas at El Paso. She maintains an active concert schedule throughout North America and Europe and celebrates her recordings “Radiant” and “Winter Solace,” which were released by HIP Records in 2004 and 2008.
For up-to-date concert schedule, bookings, reviews and recording, visit gracecloutier.com
GUY PIDDINGTON, TRUMPET
Trumpeter Guy Piddington has performed with prestigious orchestras and ensembles throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Canada.
As an active freelance musician based in New York City, Mr. Piddington performs regularly and can be heard on recordings with The New York Philharmonic, The Metropolitan Opera, and The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to having held one year positions as Second Trumpet with The Metropolitan Opera and The Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, he regularly performs in acclaimed Broadway musicals such as Mary Poppins and West Side Story.
Mr.Piddington’s reputation has led him to perform with celebrated groups such as The Colorado Symphony, The Music of the Baroque in Chicago, The New World Symphony, The Civic Orchestra of Chicago as well as being the featured soloist performing Shostakovich’s Concerto for Piano and Trumpet with the chamber orchestra I Musici de Montreal of Canada.
Mr. Piddington has appeared on national and international tours with The New York Philharmonic. Most recently he was invited to perform on their Asian tour which included The New York Philharmonic’s highly acclaimed and historic concert in Pyongyang, North Korea.
He has performed with numerous summer festivals, including the Spoleto Festival in Italy, theAspen Summer Music Festival, Chautauqua Music Festival, Interlochen Arts Camp Music Festival andthe Orford Arts Center. While at Orford, he was selected to be a member of the Faculty Brass Quintet, which included Paul Merkelo, Principal Trumpet of the Montreal Symphony.
Mr. Piddington has studied with Paul Merkelo, Douglas Prosser (Principal Trumpet, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra) and has received his Bachelor of Music degree under the direction of Charles Geyer at both The Eastman School of Music and Northwestern University. He completed his Master of Music degree at The Juilliard School with Philip Smith, the Principal Trumpet of the New YorkPhilharmonic.
For more information on Mr. Piddington, please visit his upcoming website guypiddington.com
JOHN DUNLOP, CELLO
Cellist John Dunlop has been performing in the Northeast for over twenty years as principal cellist with the Vermont Symphony, Burlington Chamber Orchestra, Opera North, the Vermont Mozart Festival (RIP), and the Green Mountain Opera Festival.
He has performed as soloist with both the VSO and BCO, as well as many chamber music performances with notable area musicians.
He studied under Richard Kapuscinski at Oberlin Conservatory and Bonnie Hampton at the San Francisco Conservatory, and has played in master classes for Yo Yo Ma, Jerry Grossman, Steve Doane and others.
John has also composed and recorded several award-wining film soundtracks for short films, including a documentary on childhood hunger in Vermont, where he called on his skills as a guitarist and bouzouki player in addition to cello.
He has worked with Trey Anastasio of Phish on many of his solo albums. Besides teaching at Dartmouth, John teaches privately in Richmond, Vermont where he shares a studio with his partner, VSO violinist Laura Markowitz.
GARY MOREAU, BARITONE
Gary Moreau, a native of Burlington, received his B.S. in Music Education, and M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instructional Development from the University of Vermont. He studied voice with Ms. Shari Fleming at UVM and Mr. Raymond Murcell and Mr. Charles Bressler from New York City.
Mr. Moreau is very much in demand as a soloist throughout Vermont. He has performed with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Vermont Mozart Festival, Oriana Singers, and Burlington Choral Society, to name a few. He has also performed internationally in Canada and Italy.
Mr. Moreau has taught music at the A.D. Lawton Intermediate School in Essex Junction since 1976. As an advocate for arts education, he is currently the Past-President of the Vermont Music Educators Association and serves on the board of the Vermont Alliance for Arts Education where his duties include being Treasurer.
Additional music activities include Mr. Moreau’s work in various churches throughout the Burlington area, most specifically, Holy Family and St. Lawrence churches in Essex Junction where he serves as choir director, cantor and organist. He is the director of the Vermont Catholic Diocesan Choir for major diocesan services including ordinations of priests and bishops. Mr. Moreau was also the director of the Vermont Choral Union from 2005 to 2010.
Gary lives in Essex Junction with his wife, Lynn. They have three grown children: Matthew, Christine, and Bryan.
AMY FROSTMAN, SOPRANO
Amy Frostman grew up in Moretown, VT, where she attended Harwood Union High School. While there, she performed in numerous school musicals. Her roles included The Baker’s Wife in Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” and Maria in “West Side Story.” She participated in the Vermont All-State, New England, and All-Eastern Choral Festivals.
Amy studied voice with Jill Levis. In 1999, she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. During her tenure there, Amy studied with John Leman, Gary Kendall, and George Gibson.
Her solo performances include works of Purcell, Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, Rossini, Schumann, Faure, Rorem, and Rutter.
Amy currently teaches general Music at Orchard Elementary School in South Burlington. She has sung with numerous local groups, including Counterpoint, Simple Gifts, Melisma, Oriana, the VSO Chorus, South County Chorus, and In Accord.
Amy has recently appeared as a featured soloist with the Hinesburg Artist Series, the Rutland Area Chorus, and the Vermont Mozart Festival Orchestra.
Amy resides in South Burlington with her husband, Dan and their sons, Samuel and Maximus.
