Karl-Heinz Schultz (1991, violin, student of Donald Weilerstein) is the concertmaster of the “Hessisches Staatsorchester Weisbaden.”

 

Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir (2006, cello, student of Richard Aaron) writes, “Hi! Just wanted to let you know that I recently took part in the Antonio Janigro Cello Competition in Zagreb Croatia and received the Janigro Family Award. You can get more information about the competition on the website: http://www.antoniojanigro.com.hr._/

 

Stephen Marchionda (1990, guitar, student of John Holmquist): Stephen's recording of the "Complete Variations and 24 Preludes by Manuel Maria Ponce" on ASV / Sanctuary was re-released 3 September 2007 (with new cover art). "With this recording Stephen Marchionda maintains his reputation as one of the best masters of the guitar."(DeutschlandRadio Magazine, Berlin) Stephen lives in Barcelona, Spain.

 

Julie Ann (Powell) Bridge (1991, horn, student of Richard Solis), lives in DeWitt, NY, and has been assistant principal horn with Syracuse Symphony since 1994.

 

Lee Glendening Koss (1977, flute, student of Maurice Sharp) writes, “Eight years ago I founded an Intergenerational Orchestra at my church in Maplewood, NJ. I also enjoy playing flute in the Maplewood Community Band. I have played with the Livingston Symphony, Livingston, NJ for 20 years ( I am presently Acting Principal) and have a small private studio in my home. I completed the Music Teacher Certification program at Kean University, NJ and am a tenured teacher in the Milburn Township Schools, where I have taught for 17 years. I am the flute specialist at the Middle School and have the pleasure of directing 2 beginning band in the school district. After a not so long detour away from music after I left CIM, I discovered that music teaching in the public schools gives me a way to immerse myself in music at whatever the level may be. I use knowledge that I learned at CIM on a daily basis in my teaching. I have 2 wonderful children (the elder is a general music teacher and hornist). My younger child will be attending RIT next year to major in computer science. He is a fine violin player. I married the Casie I met while I was studying at CIM, Rich Koss.

 

Karin Tooley (1989, piano, student of Harriet Goler) is an accompanist and Music Committee Chair at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Cleveland. She writes, “My husband and I take ballroom dance lessons at the Cavana Ballroom. I have spent 20 years accompanying dance (Cleveland Ballet, Cleveland State University, Cleveland City Dance, Dancing Wheels, Mather Dance Center at Case, Cleveland School of Dance, Verb Ballets, Cleveland School of the Arts). I also accompany Windsong, Cleveland's Feminist Chorus. I've had a career as an accompanist, mostly for dance, since 1987. Right now I have more jobs (6!) than ever, but they add up to fewer hours than ever. Dance schools and companies are struggling financially these days, and looking for places to cut expenses (such as live music). I've been thinking about other things I would like to do, as when I look back, this trend has been steady for the whole 20 years. I've decided to get an accounting degree so I can supplement my music jobs with some part-time bookkeeping. It's tough, but energizing. It's amazing how much I don't know. I am enjoying learning new things.”

 

Ross Mann (2000, guitar, student of John Holmquist) writes, “Since 2000, I have served as a part-time faculty member with Settlement Music School and Bucks County Community College as well as performing recitals and for special events throughout the region.”

 

Houston Dunleavy (1991, composition, student of Donald Erb and Gilbert Brooks) writes, “I am currently Co-ordinator of the Sound - Composition and Music Production program at the University of Wollongong, Australia, where I am Senior Lecturer (in the the US this equates to the rank of Associate Professor) in Composition”. Houston was Guest Artist at The American University in Washington D.C., and has been Visiting Composer at James Madison University, The Cleveland Institute of Music, Ball State University, the University of Florida, Georgia State University and The University of Southern Florida in the U.S.A. He has conducted, and had performances of his music, in Australia, the USA, the UK, France, China, and Puerto Rico. He was a participant the June in Buffalo Festivals, The North American New Music Festival and at the 1995 Hoy Composers Course, where he was invited by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies to write for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra String Quartet. Further engagements include the Florida Electro-acoustic Music Festival (April 2007), The Albert Rousel Festival (September 2008), The Delaware New Music Festival (October 2008), Visiting Composer at Brevard College, North Carolina ((September 2008) and a number of recording projects of his music. He is married to American writer Laura Goodin. They have one daughter, Margaret, two horses and no spare time.

 

Dan Visconti (2005, composition, student of Margaret Brouwer) writes, “I won the Berlin Prize in Music Composition--beginning in the fall of 2008. I'll spend a full year in residence at the Hans Arnhold Center located in the Wannsee district of Berlin, where I will work on commissions from the Minnesota Orchestra, Albany Symphony, and Jupiter String Quartet, among other projects. I'm the youngest composer to have won this prize, and also the first to be offered an entire year in Berlin with stipend.”

 

Jay Jung (2004, voice, student of George Vassos) writes, “I've got good news regarding my operatic career which I would like to share with CIM family. Recently, I have won the Grand Prize and Dicrector/Conductor Award of 20th Annapolis Opera Competition. And I will make debut as the role of Morales of Opera Carmen with Annapolis Opera in March, 2008. I hope all CIM students and alumni are doing well and do their best everywhere in the world. CIM is great place and I made lots of fond memories through my CIM life.”

 

Kathleen Wilson (1985, 1987, harp, student of Alice Chalifoux) was recently voted Mayor Pro Tempore of the city of Charleston (SC) for 2008, representing the city when the mayor is unavailable. She currently serving her first term as a city councilmember. In August, 2008 she became the first female swimmer in history to complete a difficult 20 mile crossing of the Santa Barbara channel, swimming from Santa Cruz Island into Oxnard, CA. Kathleen is in her 21st season as principal harpist with the Charleston Symphony.

 

Amie Tishkoff (1986, cello, student of Jennifer Langham and Alan Harris) currently plays cello part time with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and the Brevard Symphony Orchestra as she works full-time as a Pediatric Speech/Language Pathologist.

 

Jacob Braun (2002, cello, student of Richard Aaron) writes, “I am playing with the Formosa Quartet, 1st prize winners of the London String Quartet Competition. Recently, we have performed at Wigmore Hall, BBC in Tune, Miller Theatre in NYC, Vassar University and San Francisco State U. Upcoming events: La Jolla Summer Festival, Cornell Music Festival, Steamboat Springs Summer Festival with the Formosa Quartet. I am teaching at the Innsbrook Institute and The Hotchkiss Summer Portals.”

 

David Margolis (2007, guitar, student of Jason Vieaux) is currently studying in Koblenz, Germany with Aniello Desiderio.

 

Michael Priddy (attended 1994-1999, trombone, student of Thomas Klaber) writes, “Since leaving CIM, I have been a member of the United States Air Force Band located at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, VA. After 4 1/2 years there, I became the bass trombonist with the Quebec Symphony in Quebec City, Canada. While there for 4 years, I also taught trombone at McGill University in Montreal and played as a sub and extra with the Montreal Symphony. I have recently won the bass trombone chair with the Hong Kong Philharmonic and have become a permanent member here.” * Rachel Morin (1984, piano, student of Jack Radunsky) writes, “Currently I am ABD at the University of Iowa. I have finished writing the paper and plan to graduate in May. I am an adjunct faculty member at Macomb Community College, teach piano privately, and direct a church choir.

 

Jessica Eve Dicus (Braren) (2003, voice, student of George Vassos) writes, “I live in Mayfield Hts with my husband David and 2 sons, Casey and Ethan. My husband and I have our own landscaping company, Cleveland Greens Landscaping, which serves all of Cleveland's eastern suburbs.”

 

Michi Wiancko (1998, violin, student of Donald Weilerstein) continues to tour internationally as soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. Recent performances include concertos with the Victoria, Columbus, Ohio Valley, Bangor, and New York Repertory Orchestras. Last season, Michi gave the world premiere of the Concerto for Violin and Chamber Orchestra by Margaret Brouwer with CityMusic Cleveland and conductor James Gaffigan, to rave reviews in Gramophone Magazine and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. She performs with Yo Yo Ma's Silk Road Project this season, and continues to tour the country with the Los Angeles Piano Quartet, whose newest member is renowned cellist Steve Doane. Michi will record the complete violin works of Emile Sauret for Naxos next season, and has recently recorded a chamber piece by Mario Diaz de Leon for John Zorn's label, Tzadik. She arranged/re-composed Corelli/Geminiani's "La Follia" for the East Coast Chamber Orchestra, which was performed throughout New York and broadcast on NPR's Performance Today. Michi is also busy composing, producing and recording for her non-classical project Kono Michi, and her first recording "The Livingroom Disappearance E.P." will be released by the UK-based indie label, Shark Batter Records this spring. http://www.michiwiancko.com/

 

John K. Vining (1980, voice, student of George Vassos) writes, “Following CIM, I sang with the Santa Fe Opera, Opera Memphis, West Michigan Opera, Chicago Opera Theatre, Pittsburgh Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, The Opera Ensemble of New York, Chamber Opera Theatre of New York, Eugene Opera, Lysenko Ukrainian Opera, I was a founding member of what was Lyric Opera of Cleveland. I founded and toured my own opera company Magic Lantern Opera, performed Virgil Thomson's The Mother Of Us All, in New York, Washington and Lenox MA with the Music Theater Group in a cast hand picked by Thomson. (1983 OBIE award) Performed Dr. Selavy's Magic Theatre with punk rocker Annie Golden and film star Jessica Harper (Drama Desk Award). Became assistant Director of the Northern Westchester Center for the Arts in NY. Moved back to Ohio in 1988 and now I am Director of Music at The St. Vincent School in Mount Vernon. For fun I play piano and sing in a Jazz trio. I have a private pilot's license, I enjoy sailing, skiing, motor cycling, reading about physics and geology. I love teaching and I am grateful to every one at CIM who helped me get the most from my experience there. The five years spent at CIM were unforgettable.”

 

Forrest Covington Jr. (1984, composition, student of Donald Erb, Alvaretta West and Eugene O’Brien) writes, “I am still going strong and composing long. Visit my webpage and drop me a line! If you remember me fondly.....or if not.....I'll write you some music! I have mellowed out, duh. But boring, I will never be! I went to Iowa University after CIM, but stopped short of my DMA... oops. I have a recording studio in Burlington, NC. I have since attended the School of Hard Knocks.”

 

Eric Schwartz (1999, composition, student of Margaret Brouwer) The Orchestra of Southern Utah has released a ninety minute podcast dedicated to the work of composer Eric Schwartz. It includes a lengthy interview and recordings of numerous chamber, orchestral, and electronic works by the composer, and can be heard at: http://khedgecock.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2008-04-05T16_10_57-07_00

 

Dr. William H. Hinkie III (1993 viola, student of Heidi Castleman) writes, “I am located in Lafayette, CO, where I am the Co-Director and Co-founder of my own school called the New Millennium Conservatory for Strings. I also teach at the Interlochen Arts Academy during the summers.”