Performance Acts

Pete has been an active composer/arranger for nearly fifty years. His work has featured in several films and has been documented in regional music history books. Pete has had many commissions and grants in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. He has also collaborated with several well known poets, including the late Steven “Jesse” Bernstein and Roberto Valenza. Pete studied composition and arranging with William O. Smith, Gary Peacock, Dave Holland and others. He has a B.A. in music from the University of Washington and has done graduate work with Robert Garfias and John Wittwer.

Email
http://www.originalcast.com
206-522-3326

Local band leader/bassist Pete Leinonen has six bands that range from Swing, Big Band, modern Jazz, Latin, and Hawaiian, to a true Mardi Gras Dixieland Brass band!

www.originalcast.com

Charles offers several performance acts, (to suit your individual style and budget requirements), that include: Solo, Duet, and Full ensembles.

www.facebook.com/pages/Kleer-Cut/163453220379539?sk=info

Susan McLain has been a professional harpist for 27 years. She has played at least 2500 weddings. This gives her a fascinating perspective, much of it poignant, memorable and hilarious!

twitter @grnslevs.com

http://www.greensleevesharp.com/

Maia Santell and House Blend perform a danceable mix of Swing, Blues, Rock, Ballroom, Big Band, Latin, R&B, Motown, Nostalgia and Jazz Standards.

www.MaiaSantell.com

Experience the beautiful sounds and emotional expressiveness of Brian Lally’s classical guitar and vocal performances. Perfect for weddings, parties, fund-raisers, and social events where delightful music is the essential requirement, Brian’s exquisite touch stimulates, soothes, and inspires. His solo guitar repertoire includes classical, Spanish, Brazilian, pop, holiday favorites, original music, and arrangements from a variety of other styles. Depending upon your needs, Brian’s beautiful vocal performances of classical, jazz standards, and contemporary songs may be included as well.

info@briantlally.com

https://briantlally.com

An active performer in the Pacific Northwest, Sarah Viens is Principal Trumpet of the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra, Symphony Tacoma, and the Auburn Symphony. Sarah frequently performs with the Seattle Symphony and Opera, The Fifth Avenue Theater, Oregon Symphony, Oregon Ballet Theater, and the Portland Opera. In the summers, she plays with the Sunriver Music Festival, and has performed with the Britt Festival Orchestra, Chamber Music Northwest, and the Oregon Bach Festival. Sarah is an accomplished teacher, and in addition to fifteen years of experience in higher education, she has taught all ages and levels of trumpet lessons. She has previously taught at the University of Oregon and Willamette University.  Also an accomplished administrator, Sarah is co-founder of Orchestra Next, the resident orchestra for the Eugene Ballet company. Sarah has also performed with a variety of chamber and recording ensembles, broadway shows, jazz ensembles, alternative, funk and rock bands.

www.sarahviens.com

Danielle McCutcheon is available for performances, whether a wedding, commitment ceremony, reception, private or corporate party, or memorial service. You have the choice of solo violin, String Thyme Duo (violin/viola, two violins, violin/cello), String Trio, or String Quartet.

206-462-0835
danielle@stringthyme.com
http://www.StringThyme.com

Julie Cho took studies in Germany. She is currently playing for the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra and coaches group classes for the Seattle Conservatory’s Eastside Chamber Program.

www.juliechocellist.com

Cynthia Swenson is an experienced cello teacher and performer, recently moved up to Port Orchard from the San Francisco area.  She has played cello since age 9, after/while also studying piano and flute, and completed her bachelor’s degree in biology from Stanford University while under music scholarship.  She studied with the esteemed cello instructors Irene Sharp, Irving Klein, Bonnie Hampton and Gabor Rejto, and has performed as principal cellist with numerous professional and community symphonies and chamber groups.  Cynthia also ran and performed in a professional string trio for many years, along with various gigs in musical theatre, choral and church ensembles, opera and ballet pit orchestras, and accompanying some rock, pop and fiddling groups!  Her award, exam and competition winning students have successfully auditioned into many youth orchestras and summer programs; one was even selected to play on NPR’s radio “From the Top” program.  Cynthia teaches all levels and commitments of playing; ages 4 through mature adult.  She is also available as a performer with orchestras, chamber and choir ensembles, and solo events.

Available for Weddings and Events!

website:   cellogirl.me
email:   cswenson@stanfordalumni.org
phone/text: 650-387-2106

Puget Sounds Quintet and Trio offers the fresh yet classic sound of the woodwind quintet or the elegance of a flute, oboe and cello trio. Puget Sounds performs at festivals, children’s concerts, weddings, private parties and corporate events. For a unique option a vocalist can be added to the ensemble. Puget Sounds’ top-caliber players have performed in numerous professional orchestras and ensembles in the region. For more information as well as audio and video clips, visit:

www.PugetSounds.info

A graduate of Wellesley College, Leslie McMichael’s musical pursuits include performance, teaching, recording, and composition. Her musical arrangements are available from Mel Bay Publishing and Vanderbilt Publications, and she’s currently in the recording studio working on two releases of traditional music for lever harp and original songs on her electric harp.

SeattleHarpist.Com

Solo Guitar and Ensembles Create a memorable occasion with exceptional solo guitar music or an ensemble featuring Glenn Lestz. Choose music to suit your taste, including classical, jazz, blues, rock, folk, pop, and ethnic, to ensure a truly wonderful event. Glenn teaches in-home guitar lessons in Sammamish, WA.  He teaches beginner through advanced levels and can cover rock, pop, blues, folk, classical, jazz, and ethnic. Age level is 4 to 80 and on up.

www.glennlestz.com

South Sound Strings serves the Tacoma and Kitsap Peninsula with exceptional quality wedding and party music. The standard ensemble is string trio, two violins (Mary Manning and Gwen Taylor) and cello (Margaret Thordill). South Sound Strings also offers duos and quartets. See thier website for more information and to hear musical selections.

I’m a Musician for 20+ years & Karaoke/DJ for over 10+ years. Producer, composer, arranger, and audio engineer. Playing in original and cover bands in various genres such as R&B, Soul, Neo-Soul, Hip-Hop, & Reggae. Instruments played are: guitar, bass guitar, piano/keys, and drums/percussion. I’m looking to participate in any performance acts who’s willing to give me the opportunity. Thank you for your time and look forward to working with all musicians or events.

Solo Harp, Flute and Harp and Harp with other ensembles. A trusted professional with 30+ years performing with orchestras, ensembles and as soloist, I perform for weddings, corporate events and for all special occasions.

Seattle-based harpist Marian Sussman will create the perfect ambiance for your wedding, event, or special occasion. Solo or ensemble, classical, popular, or world music including Celtic and Israeli.

harpnote@gmail.com

Violist Aleida Gehrels is a Seattle based performer and recording artist. A leading collaborator in cross-genre music, Aleida has toured with Macklemore and been featured live on KEXP radio with ODESZA and Jeremy Enigk. Other recent highlights include an appearance as wedding violist on the hit Netflix show Love Is Blind, as well as performances, tours, and recordings with Father John Misty, Perfume Genius, Abney Park, and many other international acts. In addition to her work in contemporary music, Aleida maintains an active career as a classical violist performing over 70 events yearly with the Arcobaleno String Quartet and freelancing in area symphonies.

Guitarist with background in theater, rock/pop, classical, and jazz. Held guitar chair in Waitress the Musical, as well as the National Tour for 3 years. Also served as guitarist in the U.S. Army Band for 3 years. Degrees in Music Composition and Guitar Performance.

Maria is a Seattle-based classical and alternative style cellist, and is available for events (weddings, parties, funerals) and shows. After her Graduate studies, Maria moved to Hollywood and performed with Florence Henderson, Cat Power, Beth Thornley and String Theory. Seattle became her home in 2009, and since, Maria has collaborated with: Jherek Bischoff, Eyvind Kang, Wayne Horvitz, Jason Webley, Ahamefule Oluo, Degenerate Art Ensemble, Scrape, B’shnorkestra, Led to Sea, Mirah, Paul Kikuchi, The Angel Band Project, Bill Frisell, Lee Oskar, Hauschka, DeVotchKa, Al Gore, Karin Stevens Dance, and Dance Theater of Harlem. As a recording artist, Maria holds credits with John Zorn, The Head and the Heart, Recess Monkey, Jason Webley, ÄÄNIPÄÄ, Amanda Palmer and Fightstar.

www.groovecello.com

Michael Owcharuk is a composer and pianist working in jazz, classical, Ukrainian folk/trad, rock, pop, and music for dance and theatre. He leads The Owcharuk Ensemble, performing his own compositions and jazz standards.

As a woodwind specialist (flutes, clarinets, saxophones, and double reeds) and pianist specializing in musical theatre and chamber music, I’m passionate about storytelling through music and the sonic mechanisms that convey narrative. My journey has let me to numerous stages and concert halls as both a collaborative pianist, section player, pit musician in a wide range of styles from gospel to musical theatre.

I have had the privilege of being the resident music director for Athens Creative Theatre in Athens, GA for the past decade, where my love of storytelling through music truly grew and developed. In my time as a pit orchestra musician I have performed in numerous musical theatre productions including classic Broadway, and contemporary styles. I strive always to curate creative spaces and experiences that foster community, artistic expression, and education whether I am at the podium or playing in the ensemble.

In addition to performing, I am committed to community arts initiatives. I founded Quintet Athens and the Athens Flute Choir both of which are committed to the enrichment of the local community through free and accessible chamber music performances leading such initiatives as Symphonic Story Times for youth in partnership with local libraries, collaborative music composition projects with K-5 students, and volunteering as guest conductor for educational programs such as HEART Music.

Building community through music is at the heart of my musical practice and I am always striving to find ways to connect and help nurture the arts through participation and advocacy. I am available for a broad range of work including weddings, special events, subbing, musical theatre, religious services, studio sessions, coaching, and more!

website: daniel-self.com
email: daniel.self@gmail.com

Stephen O’Bent is a trombonist, conductor, composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist with extensive experience in a variety of styles and ensembles, including choirs, orchestras, musical theater pits, and jazz/rock/samba bands. Stephen holds the position of Assistant Professor of Music at DigiPen Institute of Technology, where he conducts choirs and teaches courses in music history, conducting, low brass, and orchestration. He also serves as Minister of Music and the Arts at First Congregational Church, Bellevue, UCC, where he regularly composes new works for choir and has conducted works such as Fauré’s Requiem (2017), Street Requiem (2019), and Considering Matthew Shepard (2023). As a performing member and musical director of The Flying Karamazov Brothers, the critically acclaimed vaudeville troupe, Stephen has performed in major commercial theaters in London, Madrid, Chicago, and New York. He has played on five continents and appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman (twice), Good Morning America, and the BBC. Stephen is also half of the indie music duo PepperJill & Jack, where he acts as primary songwriter and performs on guitar, ukulele, piano, trombone, vocals, and percussion. He lives in Seattle with his wife Shannon, two small kiddos, dog Kaylee, and cat Rigby.

www.stephenobent.com

Doug and his groups have a very wide variety of styles and songs in their repertoire. Suitable for background and dancing, Doug covers material from the the Dixieland era to present.

Jay Easton is a Seattle-based multi-instrumentalist who plays a wide variety of woodwinds and other instruments. He is often heard in the orchestras at Village Theatre, the 5th Avenue Theatre, and in many other small and large venues around the region. Jay has served on the woodwinds faculty at San Diego State University, University of San Diego, and Edmonds College as well as maintaining a private teaching studio for many years. He loves helping enthusiastic students find success and enjoyment as they build their musicianship and deepen their relationship with their chosen instruments.

www.jayeaston.com

Performs on flute, whistle and harp, and sings in Gaelic and Norwegian. Involved in both the Gaelic and Scandinavian communities in Seattle, Beth performs solo and with the groups Stone Circle and Greensleeves.

www.bethkolle.com

Mary Manning, violinist and violist, is a Tacoma native and a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio where she studied both modern and baroque violin performance with Marilyn McDonald. She is longtime Principal Second Violin of Northwest Sinfonietta as well as the Vashon and Tacoma Opera Orchestras. She has served as guest concertmaster for Northwest Sinfonietta, Seattle Pro Musica, Olympia and Bremerton Symphonies. As a chamber music player she has been a member of the Regency, Tomasini, and Bravura String Quartets, the Chinook Trio, and the Puget Sound Consort. Her extensive work as a baroque orchestral musician has included membership in the Seattle, Portland, and Pacific Baroque Orchestras, Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra, and the Carmel Bach Festival Orchestra. More unique work has included appearing, as a violinist, in a television commercial for Folgers coffee, recording a soundtrack for a silent movie (The Showoff, Turner Classic Movies) and playing backup for Robert Plant and Jimmy Page on their 1995 tour. She taught violin at Pacific Lutheran University and was a member of the faculty string quartet from 2008-2019. Mary lives in Gig Harbor and is a private violin and viola teacher.

Pianist, Angela Rinaldi has been a Dance Musician in the Seattle area since 1979 at Pacific Northwest Ballet, University of Washington, Cornish College of the Arts, Whitman College and Spectrum Dance Theater, to name a few. Of her dance music, the San Francisco Ballet says “Angela’s artistry and knowledge of ballet technique inspires the student to execute the desired quality of movement.” She is also an actor, director and composer. Her new album, Dancer’s Choice, is available from her website.

Snare, Drum Set, Mallets & Percussion
Teaching in Shoreline and Greenwood
206-782-3942

dldieterich1@comcast.net

Briana Bui is a freelance pianist and vocalist based between Seattle and New York. A native Californian, she studied classical piano under Dr. Naira Shahsouvarian at Fresno State for nearly a decade and choral arts under Dr. Tonya Florer. In addition, she studied opera under Sherah Moore Burdick at Fresno Pacific University. After graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara, she relocated to the Seattle area where she expanded on her artistic repertoire by collaborating with local artists and the Densho. Highly involved in the Vietnamese community in Seattle, Briana believes that the best way to learn a language is through music and can sing in Vietnamese, Spanish, and Italian. As a multi-faceted musician, dancer, and actor, Briana plans to pursue her master’s in fine arts in order to further hone her craft.

Maggie Laird’s solo piano adds flair and elegance to any occasion: cocktail jazz, swing, Latin, blues, classical, ragtime, and holiday specials. For higher-energy shows Maggie sings, performing an array of works from Peggy Lee to Bob Dylan, award-winning originals, and has received rave reviews for her solo cabarets featuring songs in French and German.

www.maggielaird.com

Serving the Pacific Northwest, Earthtone Strings performs a blend of Classical, Folk, Rock and Popular style music for your special occasion. We are available for weddings, anniversaries, parties and funerals throughout the year. We are easy to work with, reliable and fun spirits. But mainly we are most interested in creating the perfect musical landscape for your special event

maria@groovecello.com
http://www.groovecello.com/ 

Studied at the renowned Yamaha Music School in Tokyo from age 4 to 18, focusing on theory, piano, composition, ensemble, jazz, and multiple instruments. Holds a B.A. in psychology and a Post-Baccalaureate in music therapy, specializing in piano and healing arts. Certified in Musikgarten and Kindermusik, with an emphasis on eurhythmics. Currently serving as a company and school pianist at Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle. Performs at weddings and events with a diverse repertoire, including originals, classical, jazz, and duo options.

www.seattlesolopiano.com

Josiah Boothby is a versatile hornist devoted to new music, with a particular focus on improvisation and creative collaboration with composers and other artists. Josiah has performed at Warsaw Autumn Music Festival as a soloist with composer Ewa Trębacz, and is a member of Artemisia Winds, a chamber ensemble built around a core trio with composer/performers Angelique Poteat and Ryan Hare. As an orchestral musician, Josiah is a member of the Boise Philharmonic and the Yakima Symphony, and has performed frequently with the Seattle Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, and Seattle Modern Orchestra. In addition, Josiah is a member of the Jim Knapp Orchestra, a 13-piece jazz band, and in December Josiah can also be found playing in a nine-piece jazz band accompanying the glamorous Land of the Sweets: A Burlesque Nutcracker. When not playing his horn or teaching, Josiah can be found hiking and climbing around the Pacific Northwest, blues dancing, or staying in to engage in kitchen alchemy.

JosiahBoothby.org

Judith Hanna is an accomplished pianist, orchestral bassist and educator. Ms. Hanna is a native of New York and received her Bachelor of Music degree in both performance and education from Ithaca College, School of Music. She completed her degree in the spring of 1981 at which time she relocated to the Chicago area where she continued her studies with members of the Chicago Symphony.

Since that time she has performed extensively throughout the midwest with such organizations as The Chautauqua Ensemble, Rosewood Trio, Lake Forest Symphony, Illinois Chamber Symphony, South Bend Symphony, Springfield Symphony, Elgin Symphony and Fort Wayne Philharmonic and is currently a substitute with the Milwaukee Symphony. Through a recent Civic Orchestra fellowship Judith has just completed her masters of music degree at Northwestern University.

Ms. Hanna, principal bassist with the Civic Orchestra from 1994-96, has had the pleasure of working with such distinguished conductors as Daniel Barenboim, George Solti, Zubin Mehta, Pierre Boulez and Neemi Yarvi and has recently performed as an extra with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She also performs for the International Music Foundation (supplies programs for the Chicago Public Schools), is on the faculty of the Merit Music Program, teaching Orchestral Bass and Music Theory, the Sherwood Conservatory and has a private studio in Oak Park. She has taught at Concordia College, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Birch Creek Music Farm and Lagrange School District as a string specialist and was the conductor of the West Suburban Youth Orchestra for seven seasons.

Her teachers include Warren Benfield, Joseph Guastefeste, Jeff Bradetich and Mike Hovnanian. Ms. Hanna was on the faculty of the Double Bass at Illinois Wesleyan University from 1995-2013 and is currently on the faculty at Concordia University 1995-2019.

Ramon Salumbides began his studies of the double bass with Barry Lieberman, former Assistant Principal of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Artist in Residence at the University of Washington, and would eventually attend UW for a Bachelor’s Degree in Double Bass Performance. In the summer of 2013, Ramon won the position of Section Bass for the Yakima Symphony Orchestra and has since then been granted tenure. In addition, he performs with Bellevue Symphony (Principal), North Corner Chamber Orchestra, Lake Washington Symphony Orchestra and the 5th Ave Theater.

Ramon has also played for the Thalia Symphony Orchestra (Principal), Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra (Principal) and has subbed with the Auburn Symphony, Northwest Sinfonietta, Village Theater, Bremerton Symphony, Bellingham Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra, Northwest Symphony Orchestra, and the Maui Pops Orchestra.

Ramon has served as double bass coach for the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra, and various schools within the Seattle, Bellevue, and Lake Washington School Districts since 2013. His current studio located at Hammond Ashley Violins in Issaquah WA. Students have gone on to receive recognition within Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra, Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra, All-State/All-Northwest, and acceptance into various collegiate music programs across the country.

Robert Gale has been playing and teaching trumpet in the Seattle area for 20 years. His teachers include Fred Sautter (Oregon Symphony), Christopher Leuba (Chicago Symphony) Jerry Oram, and Claude Gordon. He plays in the Northwest Sinfonietta, Federal Way Symphony, Seattle Trumpet Consort, and Pacific Brass Quintet. He also teaches band and private lessons at several locations in Renton, Kent, and his home in Mountlake Terrace.

www.robertgaletrumpet.com

Enhance your gathering with the elegant sounds of jazz, played by Seattle’s finest musicians. Pianist Bill Anschell was voted “Northwest Jazz Instrumentalist the Year” in 2005 and 2010 by the Seattle jazz community, and his trio was voted “Northwest Acoustic Jazz Ensemble of the Year.” He’ll put together an ensemble to suit your needs, adding any configuration of bass, drums, sax, guitar, trumpet, and/or vocals. Anschell has a huge repertoire of standards from the American songbook, and also plays compositions by the great jazz composers. Free demo CD available on request.

www.billanschell.com/events
billanschell@mindspring.com
206/365-4759

As a performer, I enjoy singing and playing a variety of styles. As a bassist, I have performed everything from orchestral music to circus/cabaret to dive bar rock and as a vocalist, I have trained in the operatic, jazz, and musical theatre genres. But I love singing funk any day of the week! I was raised on a diverse musical diet, frequently consuming Beethoven, Rush, Miles Davis, Janis Joplin, Queen, Schostakovitch, and Leonard Cohen in the same day. Because of this, I have always been happiest when I can look at a gig holistically, letting my musical experiences inform each other across genre lines. Striving for holistic and consummate musicianship happily also impacts me as an actor and as a teacher.

Music has a tendency to permeate everything in my life, but when I am not performing, teaching, composing, arranging, or practicing, I enjoy living into my viking domesticity and can frequently be found cooking, sewing, spinning yarn, SCUBA diving, or studying and practicing herbalism. Also, I am very happy to be household staff to the most exquisite of Fur Beasts (see pictures here).

I have been teaching a variety of instruments privately for over twelve years and have enjoyed giving both individual lessons and coaching sectionals as well as being part of masterclasses and workshops for bands and small ensembles. In addition to providing coaching for Bass and Voice, I also tutor in music theory and consult on songwriting and composition/orchestration.

My teaching philosophy for both bass and voice is that every student is an individual and their instruments are as unique as they are. I work with my students to reach whatever goals we may have set together, whether that is polishing their skills in a specific genre, or focusing on sustainable technique and navigating changes in voice or a growing body. I have had the privilege of working with students of all ages, skill levels, and identities.

If you are interested in more details about my private studio or would like to book me, feel free to send me a message!

Shelly Devlin received her Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance and Education from the University of Iowa and her Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from the University of Washington. She currently serves as adjunct trumpet instructor at Pierce College in Puyallup, Washington.

An active performer, Shelly currently plays principal trumpet with the Bremerton West Sound Symphony, the Choppers Brass Quintet, and the Choppers Brass Trio.  Shelly’s solo appearances include Telemann’s Sonata for piccolo trumpet and Handel’s Messiah with the Bremerton West Sound Symphony, Vincent Persichetti’s The Hollow Men on trumpet with the Pierce College Orchestra, and Adagio from Concierto de Aranjuez for flugelhorn with the Evergreen Brass. Shelly frequently performs as a featured trumpet soloist on chamber music series, and has been sponsored on solo tours to the Midwest.  Shelly formerly served as a trumpeter with Navy Band Northwest.

Based in Seattle, harpist Jared Parsons strives to defy the expectations of the harp in both classical and modern music. He has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral member throughout the United States, most recently with Symphony Tacoma, Olympia Symphony, North Carolina Opera and North Carolina Ballet. Jared received professional training at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts studying under Jacquelyn Barteltt. During his time at conservatory he became fascinated with combining mediums and merging the visual elements of playing the harp with dance, film and technology. Jared is available for freelance projects throughout the Pacific Northwest area.

jaredparsonsharp@gmail.com

Julian Catford – guitarist, plays Spanish and classical guitar, Latin, jazz, swing, Brazilian, tango, French waltzes and Flamenco. From studies in classical guitar with Guillermo Fierens (a student of Andre Segovia), jazz performances with Cab Calloway and Rosemary Clooney, appearances at many local festivals, including Bumbershoot, and release of his Latin jazz CD ŒSonoroso, Julian has over 25 years performing experience. He teaches guitar at Seattle Pacific University. Solo & Small Groups available.

www.juliancatford.com

Bassist, Composer, Producer, Nate Omdal has establishing himself as one of the Northwest’s most dependable producers and his work can be heard all over the city of Seattle. Nate has provided arrangements or worked as musical director for The Seattle International Film Festival, million dollar fundraisers, (Celebrate Swedish 2014) prestigious winery events, (Chateau St. Michelle Riesling Roundup) as well as the Seattle Art Museum and Bumbershoot. In 2010, Omdal began a partnership with MC/Producer Spekulation. Their work has received critical praise, their music being described as reaching “highbrow requirements, leveraging elegance and elevation on the boards.” (Dave Segal, The Stranger). In the beginning of 2016, Nate began an apprenticeship with Hollywood Composer Ron Jones (Family Guy, Star Trek: The Next Generation) as Nate continues to earn a reputation as a leading composer/arranger in the Seattle music community.

Omdal has been honored to have worked with such artists as LeRoy Bell, (X-Factor) Stephanie Ann Johnson (The Voice) NPR’s RadioLab, Tiler Peck (Principal Ballerina, New York City Ballet) Matthew Rushing, (Rehearsal Director, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre) Animation Dancer Marquese “Nonstop” Scott, GRAMMY Award Winning Artists Josh Rawlings and Jeremy Jones, Latin Grammy Nominee Jovino Santos-Neto. Nate has had the honors to be featured with jazz legends Bob Hammer (Charles Mingus, Gene Krupa), and the great Tenor Saxophonist Pete Christlieb (The Tonight Show)

For several years, Omdal has been an active advocate for musicians rights. In 2014, he worked as a consultant with the Seattle Mayor’s Office, Dept. of Transportation and the Office of Film and Music to create a pilot program to introduce musicians’ loading zones in Seattle’s busiest nightlife districts. Nate was also asked to speak at The Recording Academy Pacific Northwest Chapter’s 2nd Annual Songwriters Summit as a expert on musicians’ advocacy. In January of 2016, Nate was honored to testify before the Washington State House of Representatives as an advocate for musicians.

Omdal has earned a Bachelor of Music from Cornish College of the Arts. He has been financially supported by Jack Straw, 4Culture, and the Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs. Currently Nate is serving on the Directors’ Board of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 76-493 and works as a contractor for SkyMuse Studios.

Born and raised in Seattle, I am a Freelance Cellist for hire in the Pacific Northwest with over a decade of professional experience in orchestral work, chamber music, and modern music. Currently performing with groups including but not limited to: Symphony Tacoma, NW Sinfonietta, Auburn Symphony, The Sound Ensemble, Village Theatre, and The 5th Avenue Theatre.

Monica Schley is a classically trained Seattle harpist who freelances in many styles: classical, new music, improvisational, jazz and rock. She has 20 years of experience playing for private engagements, weddings, recording, live performance, and funerals. Some of the musicians she has worked with are Butch Morris, Evan Flory-Barnes, Jherek Bischoff, Masada, Jesse Sykes, Jim Knapp, Hey Marsailles and Kanye West. She has played at venues such as Bumbershoot, The Triple Door, Fairmont Olympic Hotel, and Microsoft.

www.monicaschley.com

Storyteller. author, historian, poet, riddler, folklorist, puppeteer, musician, singer, singing teacher, dad, and now a grandpa!
Al Hirsch performs for Schools, Libraries, Fairs and Festivals He knows more songs, stories and riddles, than anybody else his size or shape. He has at least one story or song for every occasion. He has more whistles than you can shake a stick at. Children of all ages love his “Limberjack” routine. His original musical games are a hoot! He often uses puppets with the younger children, including “Billy Bear the Silly Bear”, “Jack Rabbit Dagnabbit”. and “Toby the Tortoise.”

Website

Performing and recording harpist from Sultan, WA.

bronn@bronnjourney.com
BronnJourney.com

B.M. Cornish College
Graduate Studies; Sweelink Conservatory, Amsterdam,
Film Composition Berklee College of Music

David George has been active in the Seattle music scene for years. He is presently owner of Shoreline Music and
an adjunct faculty member at North Seattle College. David leads his own 4tet , “The Blues Union” and
his big band “Northwest Passage”.

This experienced and respected local guitarist is at home in any setting as a soloist or with orchestras and small ensembles. He is noted for his warm and engaging performance style, along with great attention to detail. In addition to classical music he is well versed in a range of other styles including Jazz, Latin and Brazilian. Peter is also a sought after instructor and keeps a private teaching studio on the east side.

www.carusoguitar.com

Performance, recording, private teaching, coaching, sectionals, and conductor.

Inspired by her Norwegian roots, Rachel has built a career around her love of music, performance, teaching, and Scandinavian tradition. She earned her BA in Music and Norwegian from St. Olaf College in 2007, followed by a master’s degree in Violin Performance and K-12 Teaching Certificate from Central Washington University in 2011. Rachel completed additional studies in classical violin at the Music Conservatory of the University of Stavanger, Norway, also using the opportunity to polish her Norwegian language skills. Although violin is her main jam, Rachel is an avid Hardanger Fiddler (the national folk instrument of Norway), an aspiring violist, an enthusiastic conductor, and a novice improv actor!

website

As a young child in Texas, trombonist/vocalist/composer, Marc Smason learned to sing from his mother and later studied classical and jazz trombone with Ken Cloud, Stu Dempster, Julian Priester & Slide Hampton. He studied voice with Jay Clayton (jazz), Yo Jin Chong (Korean) & Ki Wasitodipuro (Javanese), and composition with Michael Young. Marc has a BFA from CA Institute of the Arts and is a long-time member of the AFM. He has performed with Big Joe Turner, the Funk Brothers, Carlos Santana, Eddie Henderson, Type A, Mark Levine, Wilbur Morris, Sam Shepard, Julian Priester, Buel Neidlinger, Rick Mandyke, Sonny Simmons, Eyvind Kang, Marc Graham and Baby Gramps. His playing encompasses many styles including jazz, latin, Brazilian, collective improv, klezmer and R&B.

www.marcsmason.com

Murl Allen Sanders is a free-lance musician, composer, teacher and recording artist who has been active in the Seattle area music scene and across the United States, Canada, England, Brazil and Japan for over thirty years. He performs and records regularly with his own bands, as a soloist, and with numerous bands in the Northwest.

Murl plays piano, accordion, Hammond B-3 organ, electronic keyboards, harmonica, sings, teaches and composes music. Murl has worked with such diverse artists as Chuck Berry, Etta James, Il Divo, Glenn Yarbrough, Leroy Bell, Peter Duchin, Alarm Will Sound, The Von Trapp Children, Theodore Bikel, Leslie Gore, Barbara Lamb, Susan Pascal, Pearl Django, Michael Tomlinson and Kelly Harland, among many others.

Email
Website

Kareem is a versatile saxophonist and composer with strong roots in the traditions of Jazz, Blues, Classical and Funk, and has been performing throughout the U.S. and abroad for years, gaining attention from critics and audiences alike. While staying true to musical styles of the past, he also keeps an eye towards the future by composing original music as well as new arrangements of timeless songs from the great American songbook.

kareemkandi@hotmail.com

www.kkworldorchestra.org

Seumas Gagné has been playing the music of the Highland and Irish Gaels on the Celtic harp for more than thirty years. After finishing his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Music at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, his attention returned to his first love, the traditional music of Scotland and Ireland. This music led him deeper into the world of the Gael until learning the Gaelic language became the natural next step. Seumas was one of the founding members of the band Wicked Celts and recorded one CD with them, Prophecy and Blessing in 1997.

Lori Shepherd is a freelance woodwind specialist and private instructor. She holds a Master’s degree in Clarinet performance, and has interests in chamber music, orchestra, jazz ensembles, salsa, and musical theater. She currently plays clarinet with Compass Winds Quintet (https://compasswinds.com), and Trio de Bois, who recently released a new album Taking Root, available on all streaming services.

Lori also actively performs with Blackwood&Silver Trio, and the Ladies’ Quintessential Quintet. She plays alto saxophone with Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra, and baritone saxophone with Bamboo and Brass Ltd. Saxophone Quartet. Her instrument doublings include all clarinets, all saxes, flute, piccolo, and oboe, and performs extensively in musical theater.

www.shepherdmusicstudios.com

Bren Plummer is a double bassist and composer from Seattle, Washington. Known as an insightful interpreter of both jazz and classical music, Plummer is a member of two professional orchestras in Washington state and a regular contributor to jazz venues and night clubs all around Seattle. With access to some of the best musicians in the Seattle area, Bren can always assemble a great jazz group for any event or occasion. Solo, Duos, Trios and larger ensembles available.

www.brenplummer.com