Amanda DeBoer Bartlett - S o p r a n o
Amanda DeBoer has been performing as an ensemble member and soloist
with Ensemble Dal Niente, the Color Field Ensemble, and Quince Contemporary Vocal Ensemble. As a collaborator, Ms. DeBoer has commissioned dozens of new works from both emerging and established
composers, and has helped develop large-scale projects including operas, musicals, and multi-instrumental chamber works.
DeBoer was recently a guest faculty member at the SoundSCAPE Festival for Composition and Performance in Pavia, Italy where she received the award for Outstanding Contemporary Performer as a participant in 2008. Other festivals include the Bang on a Can Summer Music Festival in Massachusetts and MusicX in Switzerland.
Miss DeBoer hails from Omaha, Nebraska. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from DePaul University in Chicago where she studied with Chris Lorimer, and received her Master of Music degree in vocal performance from the University at Buffalo, where she studied with acclaimed soprano Tony Arnold. Ms. DeBoer will complete a Doctorate in Contemporary Music from Bowling Green State University in spring of 2012.
James Fusik- S a x o p h o n e
A dynamic and versatile soloist and chamber musician, saxophonist James Fusik has garnered numerous accomplishments worldwide. Fusik has commissioned and/or premiered many works by established and emerging composers, including Marilyn Shrude, Walter Mays, Shane Hoose, Octavio Mas-Arocas, Adam Hawes, and Jamie Sampson. In November of 2010 Fusik was semi-finalist at the 5th International Adolphe Sax Competition in Dinant, Belgium, one of only 6 Americans in the entire history of the competition to advance to that round. In addition he has won 1st prize in the 2010 Richardson Woodwind Competition, 1st prize in the 2007 Arizona University Recordings’ Competition, and been named a winner of the Concerto Competitions of Central Michigan University, Bowling Green State University, and the staff Competition of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.
Notable past performances include presentations at the 2008 and 2010 biennial conferences of the North American Saxophone alliance, the 2006 World Saxophone Congress in Ljubliana, Slovenia, and a tour of Ontario, Canada in February 2009.
Currently pursuing his DMA in Contemporary Music from Bowling Green State University, Fusik holds a Master’s Degree in Saxophone Performance from BGSU, where he served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the studio of John Sampen. Jim received a B.M. in Theory/Composition and a B.M.E. in Music Education from Central Michigan University. His teachers include John Sampen, John Nichol, Marilyn Shrude, David Gillingham, and José-Luis Maurtua.
Notable past performances include presentations at the 2008 and 2010 biennial conferences of the North American Saxophone alliance, the 2006 World Saxophone Congress in Ljubliana, Slovenia, and a tour of Ontario, Canada in February 2009.
Currently pursuing his DMA in Contemporary Music from Bowling Green State University, Fusik holds a Master’s Degree in Saxophone Performance from BGSU, where he served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the studio of John Sampen. Jim received a B.M. in Theory/Composition and a B.M.E. in Music Education from Central Michigan University. His teachers include John Sampen, John Nichol, Marilyn Shrude, David Gillingham, and José-Luis Maurtua.
Karl Larson- P i a n o
Karl Larson is devoted teacher, chamber musician, and soloist. An avid performer
of contemporary music, Karl Larson has premiered many solo piano and chamber
works, including David Rakowski’s recently completed Preludes for Piano, which
he will record during January of 2012. Karl is also well versed in the canonic
repertoire of the 20th century with performances spanning from Boulez to Reich.
A sought after collaborator, Karl has made frequent appearances with the BGSU
New Music Ensemble, most recently as the soloist for Alban Berg’s monumental
Chamber Concerto for Violin, Piano, and 13 Winds. Karl has also recently
performed with members of the Bang On a Can All-Stars, Eighth Blackbird, the
California E.A.R. Unit, and the Sleeping Giant Composers Collective. Larson is
a founding member of the Color Field Ensemble, a collective of musicians and
composers dedicated to the promotion and performance of a variety of
contemporary genres.
Karl received a Master of Music in Piano Performance degree at Bowling Green State University, where he studied with Dr. Laura Melton. Larson completed his undergraduate degree at Luther College in Decorah Iowa as a pupil of Dr. John Strauss. Karl is currently pursuing a DMA in Contemporary Music at Bowling Green State University.
of contemporary music, Karl Larson has premiered many solo piano and chamber
works, including David Rakowski’s recently completed Preludes for Piano, which
he will record during January of 2012. Karl is also well versed in the canonic
repertoire of the 20th century with performances spanning from Boulez to Reich.
A sought after collaborator, Karl has made frequent appearances with the BGSU
New Music Ensemble, most recently as the soloist for Alban Berg’s monumental
Chamber Concerto for Violin, Piano, and 13 Winds. Karl has also recently
performed with members of the Bang On a Can All-Stars, Eighth Blackbird, the
California E.A.R. Unit, and the Sleeping Giant Composers Collective. Larson is
a founding member of the Color Field Ensemble, a collective of musicians and
composers dedicated to the promotion and performance of a variety of
contemporary genres.
Karl received a Master of Music in Piano Performance degree at Bowling Green State University, where he studied with Dr. Laura Melton. Larson completed his undergraduate degree at Luther College in Decorah Iowa as a pupil of Dr. John Strauss. Karl is currently pursuing a DMA in Contemporary Music at Bowling Green State University.
Jeff Weston- C o m p o s e r a n d S t r i n g B a s s
Jeff Weston is a visual, electronic and acoustic music maker intrigued by simple forms, complex systems and irregular repetition. Currently, Weston is a second year Master's student in composition at Bowling Green State University where he is studying with Christopher Dietz, Mikel Kuehn and Elainie Lillios and is the Graduate Assistant for the MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music. Weston has garnered performances and fellowships at such venues as the Cal State New Music Festival, Iowa Composers’ Forum, Bowling Green State University New Music Festival, University of Alberta NCounters Festival, University of Toronto, soundSCAPE Festival in Maccagno, Italy and Radio France.
A Passionate advocate for contemporary music and composition in the K-12 classroom, Weston currently teaches composition at the Toledo School for the Arts and has served as music educator at the Haugland Learning Center for Autistic Children and Pine Island Public Schools. Additional information can be found on the composer's website: http://jeffwestonmusic.weebly.com/index.html
A Passionate advocate for contemporary music and composition in the K-12 classroom, Weston currently teaches composition at the Toledo School for the Arts and has served as music educator at the Haugland Learning Center for Autistic Children and Pine Island Public Schools. Additional information can be found on the composer's website: http://jeffwestonmusic.weebly.com/index.html
