1999-2007 - Music-USA.org

Meet the Performers
Pianist Margaret Mills combines an extensive performing career with an active commitment to
teaching and lecturing on music. The NY Times referred to her playing "as alzuays setlsitive, characterized
by big, carefiilly cotztrolled and oftetz l~istro~is solind and secure passagezuork."
Coloratura soprano, Kathy McNeil, was a first prize winner in the American Institute of
Music Studies in Graz, Austria Meistersitzger vocal competition. A versatile performer, she has
appeared in opera, oratorio, and recital performances throughout the United States. Ms. McNeil has
been a member of the music faculty at Texas Tech University since 1998.
Linda McNeil, coloratura soprano, performs repertoire ranpg from baroque oratorio to
lieder, chamber music, opera and contemporary art song. Her voice has been described in the press as
a "big silvery itzstninletzt, rich itz overtotzes, )ill of textured sheen, like silk taffeta ... her technique often
hzzled ..." She serves on the music faculty of Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.
Pianist/composer Max Lifchitz was awarded the first prize in the 1976 International
Gaudeamus Competition for Performers of Twentieth Century Music held in Holland. Robert
Commanday, writing for The San Francisco Chronicle described him as "a yoling coniposer of brilliant
it~lagitzatiotz atzd a stzintzitzg, ultra-setzsitive pianist. "
Cellist Ted Hoyle has recorded for the Vox, Desto, CIU, Chesky and Orion labels and for
Spectrum Records and the Musical Heritage Society. He recorded the cello sonatas of Joseph
Fennimore for Albany Records and can be heard with the Capitol Chamber Artists performing works
of George Walker and James Willey on Centaur Records.
Pianist Allison Brewster Franzetti's most recent projects include two solo CD's - "The
Unknown Piazzolla" for Chesky Records and "Scriabin, Ravel and de Falla" for Amapola Records.
She has also recorded for Newport Classics, Premier Recordings and the Musical Heritage Society.
Alexander Kouguell, cellist, has toured extensively in the United State, Europe, and the Near
and Middle East. He has recorded for Columbia, Decca, Monitor, Nonesuch, and CIU. He is
Professor Emeritus at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College (CUNY).
Mezzo-Soprano Hai-Ting Allison Chinn recently appeared with Sequitur and the American
Composer's Alliance and has sung with several early-music ensembles, including L'Antica Musica
New York, Bachworks, The Parthenia 12, and Nova et Antiqua.
Conductor Stephen Black is the artistic director and conductor of the Greater New Haven
Community Chorus. He is an active organ recitalist as well, with several prizes to his credit. He
graduated with honors from the Yale University School of Music, where he studied conducting with
Marguerite Brooks and organ with Thomas Murray.
Violinist Maja Cerar has premiered and recorded numerous works that were written for and
dedicated to her both in the US and Europe .... Violinist Jane Chung spent last year studying in
Vienna as a Fulbright grant recipient and has collaborated with cellist Steven Isserlis .... Cellist Allen
Alexander has taken an active role in local and international festivals throughout the country. He is a
graduate of the Masters and Artists' Diploma programs at Mannes College of Music, where he
studied with Paul Tobias.
The National Association of Composers, USA was founded by Henry Hadley in 1933. Mr.
Hadley senred as an Assocciate Conductor for the New York Philharmonic during the 19301s, the
first American-born conductor ever appointed to the staff of that institution. To learn more about
various the activities sponsored by the organization please visit its website at www.music-usa.org
The prrblic is kirldly rer~~irlded that the lrse of recordirlg eqliipn~erlt of arij kind is strictly forbiciciet~.
Please ti~nr-oflyour \c.atch alar-r~r or. all). other- rroise-procilicirrg device before the program starts.
Make sure to k~lo\v )\.here the a~iditoririr~r exits are.
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM SMOKING and/or EATING WHILE IN AUDITORIUM.