a m a n d a d e b o e r b a r t l e t t - s o p r a n o
Amanda DeBoer Bartlett has been performing as an ensemble member and soloist with Ensemble Dal Niente, the Color Field Ensemble, Quince Contemporary Vocal Ensemble, Aetherplough, and Opera Omaha. Her work centers on the development of collaborative projects including contemporary chamber music, operas, musicals, and multi-media pieces.
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.
Having recently completed a Doctorate in Contemporary Music from Bowling Green State University, Miss DeBoer is currently an instructor at Iowa Western Community College and will release her first solo album, "I Vapor Breath" in February of 2013.
j a m e s f u s i k - 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.
k a r l l a r s o n - 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 recently completed 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 recently completed a DMA in Contemporary Music at Bowling Green State University.
o w e n w e a v e r - p e r c u s s i o n
Owen Weaver performs adventurous, versatile, and portable percussion music that utilizes recycled objects and electronic sounds ranging from the visceral to the sublime, clangorous to hypnotic–to form a complex sound world. As a soloist he has appeared twice in the New York-based Wordless Music Series as well as the Gershwin Hotel’s Contagious Sounds Series, the Bang on a Can Summer Institute at MassMoCA, and the Percussion Festival at Round Top. Owen was recently featured on National Public Radio’s All Songs Considered in conjunction with a South by Southwest music festival performance presented by the UK’s Nonclassical label. Dedicated to diversity in venue and audience, he has shared concert bills with artists from the Calder Quartet, Gabriel Prokofiev, and Percussion Group Cincinnati to internationally renowned turntablist DJ/rupture and indie rockers WHY?. In 2008 Owen collaborated with Conspirare: A Company of Voices for a television special aired nationally on PBS, the recording of which was release on the Harmonia Mundi label and nominated for a Grammy award. http://owenweaver.blogspot.com/
j e f f w e s t o n - 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
