Faculty 2024

Principal Flute Christine Bailey has been the principal flutist of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra since 1995. A graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music, she has also performed as guest flutist with the St. Louis Symphony and Erie Philharmonic. Ms. Bailey has been performing around the Buffalo area as both soloist and ensemble player since she was 11 years old. After soloing with the BPO on two daytime youth concerts in 1990, she made her professional debut in 1992 at age 18 as soloist with New York City chamber orchestra Philharmonic Virtuosi at Artpark in Lewiston, NY. She has also performed as soloist with Ars Nova Musicians, and Amherst Symphony. After two performances of Carl Nielsen's Concerto for Flute and Orchestra with the BPO in 1997, the Buffalo News called her playing "immaculately accurate, but with a winning, casual, often jaunty approach to phrasing, while extremely complex runs and ornamentations seemed artlessly simple, beguiling sculptures of sound." Ms. Bailey has performed on almost a dozen studio and live recordings with the BPO. After the BPO's release of Rhapsodie, a disc of French music, the American Record Guide said that her solo in Ravel's Daphnis et Chloe Suite 2: "… is one of the sweetest and most touching ever captured on records". Christine commissioned Tracing Mississippi, a concerto for flute and orchestra, from American Indian composer Jerod Impinchchaachaaha Tate, and performed the world premiere with the BPO in 2002. The performance was named in the Buffalo News' top ten concerts of 2002. She recorded the concerto in June 2007 with the San Francisco Symphony. The disc was released on Thunderbird Records, a new label dedicated entirely to American Indian music. In 2017, she released her first book, The No-Nonsense Guide to Becoming a Professional Flutist.

Allison is a freelance musician and teacher in Long Island, NY. She has performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Minnesota Orchestra, the New Haven Symphony, and the Erie Philharmonic.

A native of Rochester, NY, she completed her Master’s degree at the Eastman School of Music. Allison has performed in numerous internationally renowned music festivals, including The National Repertory Orchestra, the Music Academy of the West, Banff Centre for the Arts, and the Tanglewood Music Fellows program.

She has also won international competitions as part of several chamber music ensembles. Her former private students are now performing in the Rochester Philharmonic, the Pittsburgh Symphony and the San Francisco Opera.

William Amsel is the principal clarinetist of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, appointed by Music Director JoAnn Falletta during the 2017-2018 season. Before joining the BPO, he was a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Sarasota Opera Orchestra, and principal clarinet of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he has performed with many orchestras across the country, including as guest principal with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Oregon Symphony. He has performed as a soloist with the Buffalo Philharmonic and Rochester Philharmonic and as a chamber musician has appeared with the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Buffalo Chamber Players, Society for Chamber Music in Rochester, Marlboro Music Festival, and the Borromeo String Quartet, among others.

Amsel grew up in Austin and San Antonio, Texas. He is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and received a master’s degree from Temple University in Philadelphia. His primary teachers were Ricardo Morales, Thomas Martin, and Ilya Shterenberg. He spent two summers as a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center, where he was awarded the Gino B. Cioffi Memorial Prize, and was also a fellow at the Pacific Music Festival (Japan), Aspen Music Festival, and New York String Orchestra Seminar. He is currently on faculty at SUNY Buffalo State College, and in addition to teaching privately, has given masterclasses throughout western New York, the US, and internationally.

He lives in North Buffalo with his wife, bassoonist Rose Vrbsky, and their daughter.

Principal Bassoonist of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra since 1999, Glenn Einschlag has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Boston Symphony, the Indianapolis Symphony, and the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra. Mr. Einschlag has performed concerti with the Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Erie Chamber Orchestra, among others. Mr. Einschlag has participated in the Aspen, Tanglewood, Spoleto (USA), and Domaine Forget (Canada) festivals. He can be heard on the Beau Fleuve, Naxos, and EMI recording labels.

Mr. Einschlag teaches at the Glenn Gould School in Toronto and SUNY at Buffalo. He has presented master classes at the Colburn Conservatory, the University of Michigan, the Eastman School of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, and Rice University, among others.

Educated at The Juilliard School, The Curtis Institute of Music, and Rice University, he has studied with Harold Goltzer, Marc Goldberg, Bernard Garfield, William Winstead, Norman Herzberg, and Ben Kamins.

Songwriter, singer, and guitarist, Neville Francis, was born in St Thomas, Jamaica; And grew up in Snow Hill, Portland, until age fourteen when he relocated with his family to Jones Town. In Jones Town, Francis was exposed to the musically nurturing and artistically vibrant environment that is Kingston 12, and quickly began learning to play the guitar and to sing back-up vocals. It was probably these early experiences which led to a short stint as a back-up singer with icon, Monty Morris. His initial studio recordings took place at the legendary Studio One recording studio singing back-up for Belltones lead singer, Trevor Shields. In the early 70’s the artist emigrated to Toronto, Canada, and eventually met musical stalwart, Jo Jo Bennet, who became teacher and mentor to the budding guitarist and backup vocalist. It was at Bennett’s, Sattalite music school, that teacher convinced pupil to start singing lead-vocals. When Jo Jo Bennet subsequently decided to form a professional band-The Sattalites- he invited Francis to become a member. Francis established himself as a writer, co-lead singer, and back-up vocalist on several of the band’s recordings. In 1993 Francis relocated to Buffalo, New York, and soon co-founded the band, Strictly Riddim which quickly became one of the area’s most proficient reggae bands. His solo CD was released in 2003 and he continues to live in the Buffalo area fronting his new band, The Riddim Posse. The beat goes on.

Vocals/guitar/drums-

George F. Olmsted has been a contributing member of the Buffalo music scene as a drummer and singer since the late 70’s. Growing up on the West Side of Buffalo as the son of a prominent and talented artist, Westley G. Olmsted, 1934-2011, Olmsted was exposed at an early age to a unique pastiche of art and music. Many of his parents’ friends were artists and musicians in the community and helped to inspire in him a love of expression. Forming Member of Positive Force, Dry Bones, Hayden Fogle and the Ambassadors, and many more musical acts. Now with The Olmsted Dub System, and NRG Reggae, Olmsted is bringing reggae sounds once again.

As an award-winning middle school social studies educator, Olmsted developed a highly successful(2005-2021) after-school rock music program, ROCK.ED. ROCK.ED was focused on helping middle school students find a path to success in middle school. This program attracted students who were normally not part of the traditional school music education curriculum. Students who played “rock instruments” were discounted and shunned by teachers and curriculum leaders as “not serious musicians.” They tended to dislike school because they felt that their creativity and dedication was ignored and unsupported.

Olmsted recognized them and knew this to be a continuing falsehood and spent well over 15 years proving his point. ROCK ED students excelled academically and demonstrated high character values throughout their tenure in the program. ROCK.ED students performed in countless venues throughout the community at very high levels, and found themselves on the largest stages in front of 1000’s of attendees, always amazing audiences and attracting new fans, especially inspiring others like themselves to do the same. Many ROCK.ED students have gone on to be accomplished musicians in their own genres and look back at their time in the program as a defining moment in their lives. Olmsted is also a distant descendant of famed landscape architect, Frederic Law Olmsted Follow him @rockeddirector and @olmsteddubsystem on Instagram/FB

Introducing Anna Rubino, a multi-talented artist whose vibrant spirit and passion for the arts has been inspiring her students for years. Hailing from Buffalo, NY, Anna has dedicated her career to encouraging and supporting the talents of emerging artists of all ages and skill levels.

Presently, Anna is working as a full-time arts educator teaching a diverse range of mediums including drawing, painting, photography, collage, sculpture, and mixed media work. Currently on the cusp of earning her master’s degree in Art Education from Buffalo State College, Anna’s journey through academia is a testament to her unwavering commitment to artistic excellence.

Her artistic prowess extends beyond the classroom, as evidenced by her active participation in the arts community. Anna’s work has graced group exhibitions, illuminated art festivals, and she eagerly anticipates her upcoming duo show debut in November. Specializing in painting, Anna’s body of work serves as a profound exploration of the human experience. With each composition, she delves into the depths of emotion, capturing evolving perspectives on life through a rich tapestry of media. Join Anna Rubino on a transformative journey through the artistic process that will culminate with a celebration of your art!

Douglas Cone, born in Charleston, SC, has served as a longstanding member of the first violin section, and as acting assistant concertmaster with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. He joined the orchestra during the tenure of Michael Tilson Thomas, and has been an integral part of the orchestra’s musical life.

He is recognized for his outstanding skills not only as a performer, but also as a teacher and coach. His musical education includes studying with great teachers such as Joseph Gingold, Dorothy Delay, and Peter Salaff. Additionally, he received valuable chamber music coaching from members of the Budapest Quartet and the Cleveland Quartet.

Apart from his orchestral duties, Doug has been immersed in Buffalo’s musical community. He was a longstanding concertmaster of the Ars Nova Musicians as well as the first violinist in the Westwood String Quartet and an adjunct faculty member at the University at Buffalo. His performances extended beyond Buffalo, including collaborations with the Caramoor Orchestra in Katonah, NY, and freelancing in New York City. His role as concertmaster for several operas and shows at ArtPark underscores his versatility and dedication to all types of music in various forms.

Throughout his career, Doug has been actively involved in teaching and coaching, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to sharing his expertise with aspiring musicians. His journey in music has been characterized by dedication, skill, and a passion for both performance and education.

Donna Lorenzo is widely known as a violist and teacher. She is a versatile performer and has played extensively as a soloist and chamber musician in numerous major venues throughout the world. She was a member, principal viola, and viola d’amore soloist with the well-known Italian chamber group, I Solisti Veneti and with the Orchestra da Camera di Veneto. With these groups she toured extensively and internationally as a chamber musician and soloist and made recordings for Musical Heritage, Erato, Sony and Fone labels. She has also played as guest principal violist with the Orchestra della Fenice in Venice and the Orchestra di Bologna, Italy.

In the US she has performed solo and chamber music concerts in the Western New York area and was the violist in various string quartets including the Litton Quartet in Pittsburgh. She performs annually at the Roycroft Chamber Music Festival and with the Ars Nova Musicians. Donna is a former member of the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra and plays as a substitute violist in the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra

In addition to performing and teaching, Donna is also the music director of the Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra, Buffalo. Donna has a Doctorate from the Eastman School of Music, a master’s degree and Professional Studies Certificate from the Juilliard School of Music where she was a student of Lillian Fuchs and the Juilliard Quartet, and a Music Education degree from Houghton University. At the Eastman School she was the teaching assistant for violist John Graham and was awarded the prestigious Eastman Prize for excellence in studio teaching. As a Juilliard student she spent many summers at the Aspen Music Festival where she was awarded a fellowship contract.

Donna is also a New York State certified teacher. She taught viola for the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, and was the violin and viola teacher at Houghton University. She has taught in public schools, various string workshops, and has an extensive private studio. When not performing and teaching, Donna enjoys outside activities of any type, organic gardening, and spending time with her family.

David Schmude has been a member of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra since 2000. Prior to his appointment with the BPO, he performed with the Canton Symphony, Florida Orchestra and the New World Symphony. A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, he received his Bachelor of Music degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he was a scholarship student of Stephen Geber, former principal cellist of the Cleveland Orchestra. Mr. Schmude has performed in some of the most prestigious halls in Europe, Japan and the United States. He has performed in numerous festivals including the Kent/Blossom Music Festival, the National Repertory Orchestra, the National Orchestral Institute and the Pacific Music Festival.

Mr. Schmude has been a soloist with BPO, Ars Nova Musicians and Camerata di Sant’ Antonio. An active chamber musician, Mr. Schmude has performed with the Buffalo Chamber Players, The Nashville Chamber Players, Kodama Trio, the Clara Quartet and JoAnn Falletta. He is also the cellist of the Browning Duo. In addition to his performance career, Mr. Schmude is also an advocate for music education. He was an adjunct cello professor at the Western Kentucky University at Bowling Green, and teaches at the Orchard Park Music School and Vivace String Camp in the summer. He currently resides in Williamsville with his wife Cindy and their children, Peter and Lilyanna. In his spare time, David enjoys cycling and small woodcraft modeling.

Double Bassist Nicholas Jones began studying violin at an early age in Orchard Park, New York before switching to the Double Bass in high school. Before joining the Buffalo Philharmonic in 2017, Nicholas performed regularly with many ensembles including the Pittsburgh Symphony, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, and Rochester Philharmonic. Nicholas has performed throughout North America, Europe, and Asia as a member of the National Orchestral Institute, Lucerne Festival Academy, and Pacific Music Festival. A graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Paul Johnson, Nicholas went on to study with Jeffrey Turner at Carnegie Mellon University, and Donald Palma at the Yale University School of Music. Nicholas served as a graduate assistant while at Carnegie Mellon University, and as a Double Bass instructor for Yale University undergraduates. He currently lives in Elmwood Village with his wife Mari, a violinist, and their cat Moon.

In the worlds of classical music and jazz, crossover versatility is rarely found in a single individual. Over the past decade, however, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra has witnessed the keen achievements of one of Buffalo's native sons in the person of Salvatore Andolina, who is now the BPO's hottest switch-hitter in his permanent position of clarinetist, bass clarinetist and saxophonist.

While Andolina has been a full-time member of the BPO for the past 21 seasons, his association with the Orchestra began in the late '70s when he was a standout performance major at the University at Buffalo as a full-scholarship student on the clarinet. Upon completion of his degree at UB under former BPO clarinetist James Pyne, Andolina pursued advanced clarinet studies with Stanley Hasty at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester and coaching with the legendary Benny Goodman in New York City.

In addition to appearing as a soloist with the BPO, Andolina has been featured with the Rochester Philharmonic, the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Fresno Philharmonic, the Arts Nova Chamber Orchestra and the North American New Music Festival. More significantly, Andolina has been featured on at least 15 studio recordings, including his prized CD: "Like Benny to Me," a tribute to Goodman.

Todd Macon is a saxophonist and music educator known for nurturing a passion for playing and performing music in students for over 25 years. He honed his saxophone skills under the guidance of Harry Fackelman and Edward Yadzinski while earning his Bachelor of Music Education at the University of Buffalo. He then returned to the university to receive his Master of Music in Conducting, studying under Dr. Sarah McKoin. With over twenty-seven years of teaching experience at Frontier Middle School, Todd directs the 8th-grade band and the high school jazz ensemble, all while serving as the District Standards Leader for Music. His dedication to the saxophone extends beyond the classroom; Todd is a founding member of the Da Capo Saxophone Quartet and has performed with, and recorded for, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. He can also be heard with various local ensembles and bands such as Total Eclipse and Bob Meier & The Hitmen Horns Big Band. As President of the Erie County Music Educators Association, Todd continues to inspire and mentor aspiring musicians, directing All-County and NYSSMA Ensembles statewide. Todd resides in Williamsville with his family, where he enjoys arranging music for saxophone ensembles and big bands.

Alex Jokipii has held the position of Principal Trumpet with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra since 1998. A native of Escanaba, Michigan, Jokipii’s earliest training in music began at the age of 11 when he took his first lessons on the B-flat trumpet his mother had kept from her days in the high school band. Alex began his advanced musical studies at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, majoring in trumpet and music education. As part of his undergraduate curriculum Alex enrolled at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland, where he studied for a year with Timofei Dokschitzer, the celebrated Principal Trumpet of the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra.

After returning from his European study and travel, Mr. Jokipii completed his studies at WMU with a bachelor’s degree in music education. Jokipii was awarded a Master of Music degree in trumpet performance from the Juilliard School of Music and began to pursue his Doctor of Musical Arts degree. Prior to being awarded his DMA, he won the position of Principal Trumpet with the Charleston (South Carolina) Symphony Orchestra. During that time, he also performed with the Spoleto Festival Brass Quintet and the Charleston Brass Quintet and served on the performance faculty of Charleston Southern University as adjunct professor of trumpet.

Mr. Jokipii has appeared as a soloist and the 1992 and 1994 International Trumpet Guild Conferences. He also has appeared on numerous occasions as a soloist with the Buffalo Philharmonic performing Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, Arutunian’s Concerto, Haydn’s Concerto, the Concerto for Trumpet, Piano, and Strings by Shostakovich, and Copland’s Quiet City. Away from the BPO, Alex has appeared as a soloist with the Ars Nova Chamber Musicians, the Amherst Symphony, and the SUNY Fredonia Wind Ensemble. Mr. Jokipii recorded the Jerzy Sapieyevski Mercury Concerto for Trumpet and Wind Orchestra with the SUNY Fredonia Wind Ensemble and this recording is available on Albany records. In November 2017 Mr. Jokipii performed the world premiere of Finnish composer Jaakko Kuusisto’s Trumpet Concerto. The new addition to the solo trumpet repertoire was commissioned by John and Pauline Kiltinen and written for Mr. Jokipii. The concerto was performed and recorded by the Buffalo Philharmonic in May of 2018.

Internationally, Mr. Jokipii has appeared in master classes and recitals in Krakow, Bydgoszcz, and Walbrzych, Poland with fellow BPO brass principals Jacek Muzyk and Jonathan Lombardo. Alex was also the featured soloist with the West Bend (Wisconsin) Orchestra on their tour of Scotland in the spring of 2009.

Additionally, Jokipii has performed as a guest Principal Trumpet with the Dallas Symphony, the Florida Orchestra, and the Aspen Festival Orchestra. He has also performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Helsinki Philharmonic, the Savannah Symphony, and the Rochester Philharmonic. After a nation-wide search in 1998, Jokipii was awarded the position of Principal Trumpet with the Buffalo Philharmonic. In addition to playing with the BPO and teaching privately, Jokipii is also on the performance faculty at the State University of New York at Fredonia. In his spare time Alex enjoys playing golf, attending Buffalo Sabres hockey games, and traveling with his wife Shari.

Trombone Faculty, The State University of New York at Fredonia

Faculty, University at Buffalo

Faculty, Interlochen Trombone, Tuba and Euphonium Institute

Instructor of Trombone, Interlochen Arts Camp

B.M. The Juilliard School, M.M. University at Buffalo

Jonathan Lombardo is Principal Trombone of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, a position he has held since 2005. He has also performed with the Boston, Baltimore, Detroit, Cincinnati, Rochester, San Antonio, and Sarasota Orchestras. Jonathan began playing trombone in San Antonio, Texas and went on to study in high school at Interlochen Arts Academy. Jonathan received a Bachelor of Music from The Juilliard School where he was a student of Joseph Alessi and Per Brevig. While a student at Juilliard Jonathan was the 2003 winner of the concerto competition which resulted in a solo performance of Nina Rota’s Trombone concerto accompanied by the Juilliard Orchestra. This performance was featured numerous time of NPR’S Performance Today. Additional summer study took place at the following nationally recognized music festivals; Aspen Music Festival (Aspen, CO); Music Academy of the West (Santa Barbara, CA), Hot Springs Music Festival (Hot Springs, AK) as well as international study at the American Institute of Music (Graz, Austria) and the Spoleto Music Festival (Spoleto, Italy.)

As a soloist Jonathan premiered Eric Ewazenʼs Concerto for Three Trombones, a work written for the Buffalo Philharmonic and its trombone section. He has also appeared as guest soloist at the Mid-West Band and Orchestra Clinic, American Trombone Workshop with the U.S. Army Orchestra, the Amherst Symphony, and with the World Youth Symphony Orchestra. Jonathan has given solo recitals and masterclasses around Europe, Central and South America as well as throughout the United States. Jonathan has been the first place price winner in the following International Trombone Competitions, 1998 ITA Award, 2000 Larry Wiehe Tenor Trombone Competition, 2002 Robert Marsteller Tenor Trombone Competition.

You can hear Jonathan on dozens of recordings with the Buffalo Philharmonic, most notably “Built for Buffalo” where the Ewazen Concerto can be heard. He also appears as a guest on “In Gabrieli’s Day” recorded by the American Brass Quintet, and various Fisher-Price sound tracks.

Jacek Muzyk, born in Krakow, Poland, began to study French horn at the age of 18 and graduated with a master's degree from the Academy of Music in Krakow. Muzyk earned his second master's degree at the Mannes College of Music in New York City studying under David Jolley. He continued his education at the Juilliard School of Music under William Purvis and at Rice University in Houston, Texas under William VerMeulen.

Then, Muzyk returned to Poland and worked full time with the best Polish orchestras, including Sinfonia Varsovia, the National Philharmonic of Warsaw, Polish Radio Orchestra, and the Krakow Philharmonic. In 1999, he was nominated the Principal Horn for Krystian Zimerman's Polish Festival Orchestra, the elite group of Poland's finest musicians that toured Europe and the United States with more than 40 performances of Chopin's concertos. The tour won numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award.

In 2002, Muzyk moved to the United States where he played with the Houston Grand Opera and the Dallas Symphony before being appointed the Principal Horn with the Buffalo Philharmonic. He made guest appearances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Saint Louis Symphony, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and other orchestras in the USA, Asia, Europe, and South America, often performing as a guest soloist. Muzyk has given numerous master classes and recitals throughout all habitable continents and has made solo recordings under the Polish Radio label.

Currently, there are three CD recordings of Muzyk's performances: Mozart's Concertos (including all concertos); Bach Music for French Horn (Cello Suites No. 1, 2, and 3); and Horn Constellation (French horn played in various configurations from solo and duets with various instruments; Michal Muzyk, Mr. Muzyk's talented young son, plays first horn in a duet with his father in one of the selections). After winning the Associate Principal Horn position with the Houston Symphony and performing there for a year, Mr. Muzyk decided to return to Buffalo and continues as Principal French Horn for the BPO.

Seth Rawleigh joined the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in 2022 after having spent nearly a decade living, studying, and performing in Switzerland. He moved to Switzerland to study tuba with Anne Jelle Visser at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK). While at the ZHdK, he completed his Master of Music Performance: Orchestra and his Master of Music Specialized Performance: Solo. In the following years, he completed four additional performance certificates, also with Anne Jelle. During his time in Zurich, Seth completed two internships playing with the Bern Symphony Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra Biel Solothurn. Additionally, he worked regularly with many of the orchestras and operas in Switzerland while also performing often as a soloist and chamber musician. When possible, he returned to the U.S. to perform with orchestras such as the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

Before moving to Switzerland, Seth completed his Bachelor degree with W. Craig Sutherland at Roberts Wesleyan College in 2013. While growing up in Strasburg, Pennsylvania, he studied with Matthew K. Brown and Jonathan R. Hinkson. Although, he has lived in many different places, his father’s family is from Western New York, where many family members still reside. This makes living in Buffalo feel like returning home.

Gary Keller is an Emeritus Professor of Practice who taught at the University of Miami Frost School from 1982 – 2021. He specializes in jazz as well as all aspects of saxophone performance and has toured the world as a soloist and sideman with major artists. He received his bachelor’s degree in music education from New York State University at Fredonia in 1975 and his master’s degree in jazz performance from University of Miami in 1980.

Immediately after graduation Keller took the third tenor chair with the Woody Herman Orchestra, (following in the footsteps of legends Sal Nistico and Joe Lovano) before returning to Miami where he became Professor of Saxophone in 1982. Since that time, he has since launched hundreds of saxophonists into professional careers throughout the music industry, as internationally recognized solo artists, sidemen, composers, producers, and educators.

Keller became a fixture on the South Florida music scene virtually from the day of his arrival in 1978 and has since logged thousands of performances on saxophones and woodwinds, including backing up major artists on stage and in studio recordings, performing with classical and pit orchestras, and touring with Miami based groups such as the Jaco Pastorius Big Band. As a soloist Keller has made multiple appearances with the Frost Symphony and Henry Mancini Orchestras, as well as at local, national, and international jazz clubs and festivals. In 2001 Keller founded the acclaimed Miami Saxophone Quartet, which created a signature sound based on the legendary precision of Miami horn sections.

Keller debut solo CD, Blues for an Old New Age received a near perfect score from Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, which termed it “a thinker’s delight” and “extremely well done.” Other publications include The Jazz Chord/Scale Handbook, which has been used in universities worldwide, and articles and interviews in The Saxophone Journal, Jazz Educator’s Journal, Woodwind Player, and the NASA Saxophone Symposium.

In the worlds of classical music and jazz, crossover versatility is rarely found in a single individual. Over the past decade, however, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra has witnessed the keen achievements of one of Buffalo's native sons in the person of Salvatore Andolina, who is now the BPO's hottest switch-hitter in his permanent position of clarinetist, bass clarinetist and saxophonist.

While Andolina has been a full-time member of the BPO for the past 21 seasons, his association with the Orchestra began in the late '70s when he was a standout performance major at the University at Buffalo as a full-scholarship student on the clarinet. Upon completion of his degree at UB under former BPO clarinetist James Pyne, Andolina pursued advanced clarinet studies with Stanley Hasty at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester and coaching with the legendary Benny Goodman in New York City.

In addition to appearing as a soloist with the BPO, Andolina has been featured with the Rochester Philharmonic, the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Fresno Philharmonic, the Arts Nova Chamber Orchestra and the North American New Music Festival. More significantly, Andolina has been featured on at least 15 studio recordings, including his prized CD: "Like Benny to Me," a tribute to Goodman.

DMA, Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester | MM, New Jersey City University BM, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil)

César Haas is a guitarist, composer, and educator. César is an Assistant Professor (tenure-track) at Washington State University School of Music where he teaches Jazz and Classical Guitar, Jazz Improvisation, Jazz Combos, Jazz History, and Guitar Ensembles. César recorded and performed nationally and internationally with renowned jazz, classical, pop, and Brazilian musicians, such as Heather Bambrick (Juno/ECMA Nominee), Bobby Militello (former Dave Brubeck Quartet), Francisco Torres (Grammy Award Winner), Clay Jenkins (Eastman School of Music), Jeff Campbell (Eastman School of Music), John Benitez (Grammy Award Winner), Chris Byars, Alex Noris, Brian Dickinson, Fernando Huergo (Berklee College of Music), Paul Meyers (William Paterson University), Richie Vitale (Tonny Bennett), Angélica de la Riva(internationally acclaimed opera singer), Anaadi (Latin Grammy Award Winner), Luciane Dom (Africa Entertainment Awards USA 2022). César presented clinics, workshops, and lectures nationally and internationally at conferences and institutions, such as the Midwest Clinic, the All-NW NAFME Conference, Eastman School of Music, the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul(Brazil), the ANPPOM Conference (Brazilian National Association for Music Research), at New Jersey City University, at University of Idaho, at Columbia Basin College, among others.

César arranges and composes for a variety of ensembles in assorted styles, ranging from classical chamber music to large jazz ensemble. In 2023, he arranged and recorded a Brazilian folk piece for guitar, violin, cello, and double bass for a soundtrack of a Brazilian documentary named Doutor Araguaia, to be released in 2024 in Brazil. In 2023, César had two of his compositions performed at the Silverthorne Chamber Series featuring Washington-Idaho Symphony Jazz Band. César’s compositions are performed regularly by WSU jazz faculty ensemble Jazz Northwest, including performances at the 2023 National Association for Music Education All-Northwest Conference.

Wayne Moose is an in-demand bassist, educator and clinician in western NY and Canada. He has been teaching orchestra, jazz, composition, arranging and improvisation in the Williamsville Central School District for 24 years.

He performs with many great local and regional musicians in NY and Canada on a regular basis. He has also had the pleasure of performing with artists such as Regina Carter, Houston Person, Kevin Mahogany, Cyrus Chestnut, Gene Bertoncini, Annie ross, Bill Charlap, John Pizzarelli, Veronica Swift, Heather Bambrick, Kelly Jefferson, Chase Sanborn, Freddie Cole and The Glenn Miller Orchestra to name a few. He has also had the pleasure of performing on many occasions with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestras.

JUNO/ECMA-nominated vocalist Heather Bambrick has collaborated with Fred Hirsch, Gene DiNovi, Guido Basso, Rob McConnell, Peter Appleyard, Phil Nimmons, Dave Young, Ian Shaw, Mike Murley, Robi Botos, Ofra Harnoy, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, and many others. Her shows have been described as “Carol Burnett meets Ella Fitzgerald at a Newfoundland kitchen party,” featuring music ranging from jazz standards and pop hits to Newfoundland folk music and sitcom theme songs. Add to that side-splitting stories, and some of the best musicians around – all delivered with warmth, wit, and pure East Coast Canadian charm – and you’ll know why audiences everywhere are left wanting more!

Heather has released four solo recordings, all of which were nominated for Jazz Recording of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards, including You’ll Never Know, which was also nominated for JUNO Award (Canada’s version of the Grammy) for Vocal Jazz Recording of the Year. Her most recent recording, Fine State was praised by critics and fans alike as her best work to date. (“Bambrick is simply going to blow you away with what she brings forward here.” – Chris Spector, Midwest Record; “Clearly an album to die for … “- Raul daGama, Wholenote)

Heather is also one of Canada’s top voice actors (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood; Wild Kratts; Hotel Transylvania, Doozers) and an award-winning broadcaster, hosting and producing shows on JAZZ.FM91 in Toronto for more than 20 years.

www.heatherbambrick.ca

Screenwriter/Director, Co-Founder of La Famiglia Pictures

John is an LA-based feature film writer and director originally from Rochester, NY. After graduating from McQuaid Jesuit, he studied Screenwriting and Film Production at Loyola Marymount University’s Film School in Los Angeles and studied the Meisner Technique and Dramaturgy at the Baron Brown Studio in Santa Monica.

He spent his years after college developing multiple film and television projects for La Famiglia Pictures, the company he co-founded with his producing partner and wife, Buffalo native Giovanna Andolina Capone.

His curiosity for multi-dimensional characters and rich story worlds together with his passion for visual expression and the human condition has made him a prolific writer and developer of story material.

John has written and directed three festival-recognized short films and most recently his debut feature film NEON BLEED. He was nominated for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Neon Bleed at the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema in March 2022 and won Best Screenplay at the Scotland International Festival of Cinema in April 2022. Neon Bleed is now streaming domestically on VUDU & Tubi Free TV and in the UK on Amazon Prime.