Amanda Lynn Dunning is an aspiring opera singer, who is making her professional debut with the Erato Chamber Orchestra. Originally from New York , she will complete her bachelor’ s degree in vocal performance at the University of Florida in spring 2009. Ms. Dunning is currently a student of Dr. Elizabeth Graham.
Amanda Dunning has most recently been cast as “Gilda” in the famous Rigoletto Quartet for the University of Florida . Her supplementary operatic and oratorio performances include roles in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado, Mozart’s Don Giovanni (2006), Purcell’s Dido and Aneas (2006), Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro (2006), Puccini’s La Boheme (2005), and Mendelssohn’s Elijah (2004). Ms. Dunning has toured Europe as a select member of the Converse College Chamber Singers in 2005, performing in cathedrals in Vienna , Prague , and London . She also has participated in the National Association of Teachers' singing competition in 2001, 2002, and 2006, receiving firs t place in 2002. Amanda also received superior ratings in the Solo and Ensemble Florida Vocal Association Competition from 1999 through 2004.
In 2004, in New York City, composer/percussionist Andrew Beall performed the world premiere of his Testament: Symphony for Marimba and Orchestra with the Tower Philharmonic, marking as the first marimba symphony in history ever to be composed or performed. Since the premiere, he has reduced the opus to a shorter Concerto, which had its world premiere with the Aspen Philharmonic and succeeding performance with the Columbus Philharmonic. His second orchestral work, Affirmation, for solo percussion and orchestra, was just recently premiered at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center. The concert band version will be premiered by the US Navy Band in Washington DC in April ‘09. A multi-faceted performer and educator, Mr. Beall sustains balance between the Symphonic, Broadway, Rock, and Marching arenas. As a freelance percussionist, he has performed on Broadway in The Lion King and Les Miserables, as well as at Carnegie Hall with the Manhattan Pops Orchestra and the New England Symphonic Ensemble. Mr. Beall has appeared as a soloist around the world, including 15 recitals and 7 concerto performances. In 2001, he won the D.C.I. Solo Marimba Competition, D.C.I. Percussion Ensemble Competition (with the Phantom Regiment drum & bugle corps), and the P.A.S.I.C. College Marimba Competition.
As a composer, Mr. Beall’s works have been performed at the top concert halls, conservatories, and music festivals around the world. As a guest artist and clinician, he has presented concerts and workshops across the country, many featuring a portrait of his compositions. In the field of marching percussion, he has taught drum and bugle corps such as the Boston Crusaders, Santa Clara Vanguard, and Carolina Crown (arranging the 2003 winning D.C.I. Percussion Ensemble). He has also written and designed indoor percussion shows for such as Odyssey Percussion Theater, Surround Sound, and Mt. Juliet High School. Most recently, he was commissioned by the US Air Force Band to write a work for solo percussion and brass ensemble. Mr. Beall received his B.M. from the Manhattan School of Music, his M.A. from New York University, and was a Charles Owen Memorial Fellowship winner at the Aspen Music Festival. He is pleased to frequent his alma mater, Manhattan School of Music, on occasion to teach privately at their Pre-College. For more information, please visit www.andrewbeall.com
“Affirmation shocked the audience – they were on their feet right after the performance!” – Da Ji Yuan News
A performer of uncommon flair and versatility, clarinetist Sunshine Simmons currently holds the position of Principal Clarinet of the Oregon Ballet Theater Orchestra, Second Clarinet of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and Rockford Symphony, and Bass Clarinet in the Quad City, and Green Bay Symphony Orchestras. In addition, she has performed with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Grant Park Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Elgin Symphony, Chicago Opera Theater, Chicago Sinfonietta and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic.
Ms. Simmons has enjoyed three successful summers with the Aspen Music Festival as the Bass Clarinet Fellowship recipient. In addition to Aspen, she has been chosen to participate in the Frutillar Music Festival, held in Frutillar, Chile, and Spoleto USA in Charleston, SC. Sunshine is an active chamber musician and is currently a member of two Chicago chamber groups, the Lake Street Trio and the Accende Ensemble. Accende has championed Osvaldo Golijov’s The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind, a work for clarinet and string quartet. She has performed in the Winter Chamber Music Festival in Evanston and was the winner of the Silberman Chamber Music Competition in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania performing Bartók’s Contrasts for Violin, Clarinet, and Piano.
Alyce Johnson plays piccolo with the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra and second flute with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra. Previously she served as the principal flutist in the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra for four years. Ms. Johnson left Shanghai in 2003 to join the New World Symphony Orchestra for one season, which included tours to Rome and Carnegie Hall. She was a winner of the New World Symphony concerto competition and performed Mozart's Flute and Harp Concerto with the orchestra. Other solo appearances have been with the Bach Week Festival, the Shanghai Philharmonic, Shanghai Symphony, Marlboro Symphony, Rochester Oratorio Society, University of North Carolina Symphony , Eastman Chamber Orchestra and the New Eastman Symphony. Ms Johnson was most recently featured as a soloist at the National Flute Convention in a headliner's recital.
Ms. Johnson received both her Masters Degree and a Performers Certificate from the Eastman School of Music and has participated in various summer festivals including the Tanglewood Music Festival, Music Academy of the West and the Aspen Music Festival.
Featured Artists for October 2008
