Brett Dillingham
writer
Stefan Hakenberg
composer
Chan
Park
story singer

"The Power of the Otter People"
Mei Han - zheng - is a groundbreaking virtuoso propelling the Chinese zheng into radical new dimensions of musical expression. Presenting music deeply rooted in Chinese culture, Han transforms the zheng into a powerful tool for the contemporary international concert stage. She is a consummate performer, appearing with leading artists around the world in a multitude of musical genres — from symphonic and new music to traditional and world music, from creative improvisation to electronic. Han studied with China’s top zheng masters Zhang Yan and Gao Zicheng, and performed as a featured soloist for over ten years with the Beijing Zhan You Ensemble. Han holds two Master’s degrees in ethnomusicology, from the Musical Research Institute of the Chinese Arts Academy in Beijing (1995), and from the University of British Columbia (2000). Han wrote the zheng entry for the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, and has published articles in numerous music journals in both English and Chinese. A dynamic performer and innovator, Han has been exploring new directions for solo zheng and unique combinations of zheng with other instruments in a contemporary experimental aesthetic. Han’s career spans Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and North America. Her collaboration with composer and multi-instrumentalist Randy Raine-Reusch "Distant Wind (ZA Discs)," reached #1 on the Canadian College Radio Charts, and was nominated for a Juno Award (Best Global). Han performs with the Orchid Ensemble, performing both traditional Chinese music and contemporary scores by Canadian and Chinese composers; and the Crossing Border Ensemble, which explores European and Asian instruments in a contemporary jazz aesthetic. With passion and vigor, Han’s stunning presentations of contemporary music constantly challenge classical Chinese music, and redefining the zheng as a powerful vehicle of innovation and expression.
Ken Wright - violin - is a native of Washington State and began studying violin at the relatively ripe age of 11.  Six years later, Ken became Concertmaster of the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra and was the winner of the Seattle Young Artists Concerto Competition, where he played one of his favorite pieces: the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto.  He attended the University of Washington in Seattle where he studied with Maestro Vilem Sokol and Steven Staryk.  Since then, Ken has become a prolific performer and recording artist, and was recently featured as a soloist in a Showtime documentary.  Ken is a member of the Auburn Symphony and was recently appointed Principal Violin II of the Yakima Symphony Orchestra. Ken plays regularly as a guest with the Juneau Symphony.
Andreas Bräutigam - violin - studied at the "Franz Liszt" conservatory in Weimar, majoring in Violine; he has worked as a Violinist in Orchestra of the Komische Oper Berlin; he is the founder and director since 1989 of the Ensemble UnitedBerlin.
Inés Voglar - violin - joined of the Oregon Symphony Orchestra this past August 2004 and is active as a teacher, coach, chamber music player, and soloist. Ms. Voglar began her musical training at an early age as a member of the Carabobo Youth Orchestra in her native Venezuela. Just a few years later, she bacame the concertmaster of the Carabobo Symphony Orchestra. Following a scholarship to come to the United States, Ms. Voglar earned a Bachelor of Music degree with Honors from Duquesne University, where she won the 2000 Young Artist Competition, and a Master of Music degree from Carnegie Mellon University, where she studied with violinist Andrés Cárdenes and won the CMU Concerto Competition. She has appeared at the Latin American Violin Festival, the Western Slope Summer Music Festival and with the National Repertory Orchestra, where she served as Concertmaster and appeared as a soloist. In 2002, Ms. Voglar was selected as one of the Concertmasters for the UBS Verbier Festival Youth Orchestra, touring and working under the batons of James Levine, M. Rostropovich, Paavo Jarvi, Bobby McFerrin and Kurt Masur. Prior to her arrival in Portland, Ms. Voglar performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony for two seasons, with whom she also appeared as a soloist. Her interest in contemporary music led her to become a member of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble for a few years. During that time, she had the opportunity to premier various works, including a violin solo piece, “Chameleon,” written for her by American Composer David Stock in 2001. Ms. Voglar has been invited to play with Portland based group Fear No Music.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review brought out “the evening’s most musically touching moment occurred when violinst Inés Voglar played [...] with ineffable poignancy, a magical moment that required impressive technical finesse.” The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said she “attacked the music with fierce intensity and absolute precision.”

Currently, Ms. Voglar is preparing for future solo appearances with various orchestras in Venezuela, and working in projects with Venezuelan composers to commission pieces to promote and support their music.
Mark Wolbers - Clarinet - ANC is Professor of Music at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) where he serves as Division Head for Wind and Percussion Studies, conducts the University Wind Ensemble, and coordinates music teacher education. His doctoral degree in clarinet performance was earned at the University of Michigan where he was the Associate Conductor of the U of M Youth Band & Wind Ensemble and recipient of both Rackham and School of Music Fellowships. He is a founding member of the UAA faculty trio Alaska Pro Musica and is an active performer, conductor and clinician. His compositions, recordings and published works include A-ri-rang Fanfare for brass and percussion, Singing in the Band Rehearsal (Music Educators Journal), the UAA Fight Song, Mozart Duo K. 423 arranged for two clarinets (Woodwindiana/ANDEL), UAA Alma Mater, Alaska Pro Musica CD Contrasts, and numerous articles for the Alaska Music Educator Journal. Wolbers currently serves as the State of Alaska Chair for the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA).
Kevin Schempf - bass clarinet - is Associate Professor of Clarinet at Bowling Green State University and is active as a teacher, chamber player, soloist, and orchestral musician. After graduating from the Interlochen Arts Academy and the Eastman School of Music, he performed with the United States Coast Guard Band and toured with them throughout the United States and to St. Petersburg, Russia. A frequent soloist with the Band, he was featured on NPR broadcasts and on their 75th Anniversary CD Recording. He was on the faculty at Connecticut College and performed with the New London Contemporary Ensemble. He has also taught at Wesleyan University where he played with the New World Consort, which gave regular concerts throughout Connecticut, in New York City and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Schempf played with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra for nine years, appearing as a concerto soloist on several occasions. He has also performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, the Chautauqua Orchestra, and The Toledo Symphony. Chamber music engagements include performing with the Ying Quartet, several concerts and a CD recording with the Society for New Music in Syracuse, NY, appearances at the Skaneanteles Festival, with the Wall Street Chamber Players, Chamber Music Plus, and Venti da Camera.

He has performed throughout Europe and Japan, and most recently in Stockholm as a recitalist at the International Clarinet Conference in 2002. CD recordings include the premiere recording of Stephen Albert's "Wind Canticle" with the Bowling Green Philharmonia and most recently Appalachian Spring with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra.
John Plucker - horn - HNS
Paul Cox - timpani - SIT Born and raised in Sitka, Alaska, Paul Cox received a bachelor of music degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in 1992. He pursued additional study at London's Royal College of Music, Rice University, the Aspen School of Music, and Yale's Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. In 1999, he became co-director of the internationally recognized Aki Festival of New Music (FOUR-time winner of the ASCAP / CMA Award for Adventurous Programming). Leading a multi-faceted career in the arts as composer, performer, writer, and curator, Paul is currently ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC AT the Cleveland Museum of Art, where he has produced hundreds of performances ranging from baroque opera to Broadway show tunes to the latest avant-garde performance art. An active chamber musician, Cox has performed with numerous soloists and ensembles, including the Cavani String Quartet, Syzygy (Houston), marimbist Robert Van Sice, and organist Karel Paukert, among others. In addition, he has premiered new works written for marimba and various Western and Asian instruments (pipa, kayagum, and koto) at the CrossSound New Music Festival in Alaska. Other CrossSound commissions include Gale in CrossSound for student brass ensemble (Sitka High) (2000), Variations on a Summer Day for Joyce Parry Moore and the CrossSound Sinfonietta (JNU) (2001), Lint for the SitkaSound Ensemble (SIT) (2002), and Albion for piano solo (2003). Paul is a former student of the Sitka Fine Arts Camp. This is his 5th season with CrossSound.


Cecilia Kim
composer
Roblin G. Davis
storyteller
John Straley
writer

"The Story of Rain"
Jenny Quinn - viola - JNU studied violin from age 8 and as a student, played viola with the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras' Senior Orchestra under Joel Bard, the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra of the New England Conservatory under Benjamin Zander, and the Middlebury College Orchestra. She studied viola under Boston Symphony Orchestra's Ed Gazouleas and Emily Bruell, and throughout her undergraduate program was a member of various chamber emsembles. Jenny became interested in East Asian music and culture during her year at Sophia University in Tokyo, where she privately studied tsugaru shamisen and traditional festival music of Japan. Jenny holds a B.A. from Middlebury College in East Asian Studies, Japanese Literature and Culture, and a minor in Music Performance. In 2003, she became an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer for the Southeast Regional Resource Center in Juneau, Alaska. Currently she is the administrator of the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council. Jenny plays with the Juneau Symphony, the CrossSound new music festival, and as a chamber musician. This is her 2nd season with CrossSound.
Sally Schlichting - Flute - JNU began playing flute at the age of ten in her home town, Juneau, Alaska. She played flute through high school, and attended music workshops and summer camps including Interlochen before continuing her music studies at the University of Southern California and the University of Washington, where she earned a degree in music in 1990. She has studied flute with Pamela Ryker, Mary Louise Poor, Felix Skowronek, Gary Woodward and Mel Flood. Ms. Schlichting currently enjoys a full life in music, playing regularly with the Juneau Symphony, the Nimbus Ensemble, the Dal Segno flute and guitar duo and especially with her aunt, pianist Mary Watson. She has been the concert coordinator for the Symphony Showcase chamber music concerts since 1995, and firmly believes there can not ever be too much chamber music in the world. This is her 5th season with CrossSound.
Karl Pasch - clarinet ANC
Roger Schmidt - trombone - SIT grew up in his present home, Sitka. As a musician he has studied music at the Bruckner Konservatorium in Linz, Austria, at Oberlin Conservatory and at the Aspen Music Festival. His principal teachers have been Raymond Premru of the Philharmonia Orchestra and Paul Welcomer of the San Francisco Symphony. He has worked as a free lance musician in the San Francisco Bay area playing with various groups in a wide range of musicall styles. He currently teaches music in Sitka. Roger is a former student of the Sitka Fine Arts Camp. This is his 4th season with CrossSound.
Clea Will - tuba SIT - has been studying tuba for 7 years. She lives in Sitka, Alaska, where she studies with Roger Schmidt. She also studies piano and has recently begun to study organ as well. In addition to her instrumental studies, Clea also composes. She will graduate from Sitka High School in May and hopes to pursue a career in tuba performance after graduation.
Ed Littlefield - percussion SIT - attended the University of Idaho where he majored in Vocal and Instrumental Music Education, with an emphasis in percussion. There he studied percussion with Mr. Daniel Bukvich. Last summer, he worked with Carnival Cruise Lines where he played in the show band on the Carnival Holiday. He is now teaching music at Sitka High School. Ed is a former student of the Sitka Fine Arts Camp.


Fred Ho
composer
Tongass School of Arts and Sciences Writer's Workshop
Keith Smith
storyteller/writer

"The Raven Suite"
Fred Ho - bari sax/composer - is a composer, activist and creator of large-scale works whose recent pieces include "Journey Beyond the West: The New Adventures of Monkey", the "Warrior Sisters" opera, and "Voice of the Dragon: Once Upon a Time in Chinese America...The Martial Arts Epic". Ho has been based in New York since 1981, where his activism in community and Asian-American issues has influenced and informed his work. Attaining international acclaim for his numerous recordings with his band, the Afro Asian Music Ensemble, Ho has combined jazz-based writing with Asian music. In his theater work, Ho has collaborated with librettists Ann T. Greene and playwright Ruth Margraff, premiering works at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Next Wave Festival, The Kitchen, and the Walker Arts Center in Minneapolis. In 2003 “Voice of the Dragon” toured 30 cities throughout the USA. Ho is the founder of Big Red Media, Inc. and co-founder of the Brooklyn Sax Quartet.
Dale Curtis - trumpet - KTN teaches band at the high school in Ketchikan, Alaska. He holds a BA and MA in music education from the the University of Idaho's Lionel Hampton School of Music. He also has attended the US Armed Forces School of Music in Norfolk, VA and holds an AA degree in business. He has a wide range of experience and is comfortable with all styles of music from jazz to classical. Awards include first place (twice) in the Jazz Soloist Competition at the University of Idaho/Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. His professional experience includes principle trumpeter and section leader for the 82nd Airborne Division US Army Band as well as numerous clubs and studio work in California before moving to Alaska. While in Alaska he has performed as lead/jazz trumpeter for the Ketchikan Jazz Society Big Band, and the Mel Flood Big Band in Juneau. He has also performed as principle trumpeter and soloist for the S.E. Symphony in Ketchikan and has performed with the Juneau Symphony. Notable artists he has performed with incloude Bobby Shew, Diane Reeves, Urbie Green, Lionel Hampton, The Supremes, and others. During a recent leave of absence from teaching he was employed by Princess Cruises where he performed in a show band aboard the Dawn Princess in Alaskan and Caribbean waters. This is his 2nd season with CrossSound.
Tia Wilhelm - Horn - KTN grew up in Ketchikan. In 1984 she received two Bachelor of Music degrees from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, one in horn performance and one in music education. She returned to Ketchikan to teach music. In 1986 and 1988 she was an Artist in Residence in Perryville and Chignik, Alaska. Through the 1980's Tia performed regularly with the Southeast Symphony and gave several solo recitals. In 1990 Tia and her husband Chris (rustygate.com) began Ketchikan City Tours (citytours.alaskamade.com) offering double decker bus tours. This will be Tia's 3rd season with CrossSound. Tia and Chris currently live in Ketchikan with their two children, Gretchen and Matthew along with 6 cats and 1 dog.

Wayne Houtcooper - trombone - KTN an Assistant Professor of Science with the University of Alaska Southeast in Ketchikan, has been playing trombone for over four decades.  He is a past member of the 1964 International Peace Garden European Tour Band, the Prestigious University of North Dakota Wind Ensemble, the Pierre-South Dakota City Band, and the Over Forte' Big Band Orchestra.  He currently performs with the Ketchikan Community Concert Band, the Ketchikan Community Orchestra, and the Ketchikan Jazz Society Big Band.  During the day, Dr. Houtcooper teaches Biology and Society, Fundamentals of Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Histology, and the Science of Nutrition.  Dr. Houtcooper has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Natural Sciences from the University of North Dakota.  He received his Master of Arts and Ph.D. degrees in Vertebrate Ecology and Systematics from Indiana State University. Prior to teaching, he worked as an Environment Senior Scientist for the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Director and Chief Zoologist at the South Dakota Natural Heritage Program, and was a Field Representative of Zoology at the Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission. He and his wife, two daughters, and four dogs enjoy living in Ketchikan. This is his 1st season with CrossSound.
Rob Holston - tuba - KTN was born in rural Montana, previous century, ‘48. He received his first trombone at the age of 12 and has been playing since. Rob began tenor sax in Jr. College and played trombone and bari sax in the University of Montana’s jazz bands I & II, graduating with a Music Ed. Degree in 1973. Rob brags of playing for a national college football championship game. Asked “what position?” he replies, “All seven, I was a trombone player.” Rob founded the Rob’N’Hoods 15 piece big band which he directed for 7 years prior to moving to Ketchikan, Alaska in 1981 to teach music. He is a founding member of the Ketchikan Jazz Society Big Band. He performs weekly at his church on trumpet and flute. Rob’s last real gig on tuba was playing Dixieland for tourists in downtown Ketchikan. Rob has performed with nationally acclaimed artists including: Alan Visutti, Bobby Shew, Dale Curtis & now Fred Ho. Rob currently owns an excursion business, Google “Lighthouse Excursion” or “Loggerville” to learn more. This is his 1st season with CrossSound.