Biographies

JOHN LINDSEY, Concertmaster
John Lindsey, Violin, has been a faculty member of the Crane School of Music since 1981 and has taught at the University of Kentucky and The Governor's School of North Carolina. An active performer, he is now the Concertmaster of the Orchestra of Northern New York and the Eleva Chamber Soloists (VT) as well as first violinist with the Potsdam Piano Quartet and the Aurora Quintet. Professor Lindsey has performed violin recitals at the Carnegie Recital Hall, the Bruno Walter Auditorium in New York's Lincoln Center as well as solo performances in Boston, Chicago, and Montreal. In the summers he has played in festivals in France, Italy, Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Ithaca, and at Interlochen (MI). In May of 2003, he received the prestigious SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching.

SARAH HERSH, Principal, Violin II
Sarah Hersh is Associate Professor of String Education and Violin at The Crane School of Music. As the founding Director of The National String Project, she guides university students as they learn to provide quality education to community children. A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory, Dr. Suzuki's Research Institute in Japan, and the University of Minnesota, she is a designated Teacher Trainer for the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Her presentation topics at national conferences and clinics include string tone development, sequencing upper string skills, assessment, pedagogy tips, national standards, violin master classes, violin duos, and topics related to Suzuki's teaching principles. She is writing a text for violin teachers.

SHELLY TRAMPOSH, Principal Viola
Shelly Tramposh, viola, is the viola professor at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, where she performs in the Potsdam Piano Quartet and other ensembles. As a member of the Ariel Chamber Players, Dr. Tramposh recently completed a music residency in Tullamore and Dublin, Ireland. She has performed recitals abroad in Europe and Central America, and in the United States in Chicago, San Francisco, Denver, and New York. The Irish Times said of her recent performance of the Enesco Concertpiece, "Tramposh reveled in its technicalities ... her tone production had a distinctive complexity." She is in demand as a clinician, and will return to Costa Rica this winter for a residency at the music school of the Sinfonica Nacional de Costa Rica. Dr. Tramposh holds degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Eastman School of Music, and the University of Colorado at Boulder.

HAROLD LEVIN, Guest Principal Viola
Harold Levin has led a varied career as violist, conductor, composer and teacher. He holds a high school diploma from the Interlochen Arts Academy, BM from Ball State University, MM from the University of Cincinnati, and DMA from Rutgers University. After performing in the viola section of the Louisville Orchestra for four seasons, Dr. Levin began a career of college teaching and conducting that has involved positions at the University of Nebraska, University of Memphis, Western Illinois University, and Ball State University. An active performer, Dr. Levin has played viola with the orchestras of Cincinnati, Omaha, Memphis, Long Island, Orlando, and Jacksonville, and has performed and conducted at summer festivals in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Michigan, Colorado, and Vermont. He has served as instructor of Viola and Chamber Music at the Interlochen Center for the Arts from 2000-2007. He currently conducts the Marywood University Orchestra in Pennsylvania.

KAREN KADERAVEK, Guest Principal Cello
Karen Kaderavek, cello, enjoys a diverse and multi-faceted career. In addition to her professional life as a concert cellist, she is also a published poet, playwright and actress. As solo cellist and chamber music artist she has performed throughout North America and Europe. These appearances include: Sound Ways 11th International New Music Festival, St. Petersburg, Russia; Festival Cervantino, Mexico; Moon in August Festival, Greece; soloist in over a dozen recitals and chamber music performances as consultant to the Saint Lucia School of Music, West Indies; solo cellist for Banchetto Musicale's "Messiah" performances at Carnegie Hall; principal cellist for numerous Mark Morris Dance Group performances (Chicago and New York), and three solo recitals at the Edinburgh Festival, Scotland. Her first solo CD, "Cello Alchemy," was released on the GM Recordings label and has received critical acclaim.

HARRY SCHENAWOLF, Principal Bass
Harry Schenawolf received his master's degree in Music Education from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and his doctorate in double bass performance from the University of Colorado. For the past thirty years, he has performed and taught in the United States and in England. While a member of the Arkansas Symphony, he was on the faculty of the University of Arkansas. In more recent years, he has taught in public school, was Adjunct Professor at the University of Vermont and Middlebury College, and a member of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his current teaching load, Harry coaches the bass section of the Vermont Youth Orchestra, plays with the Vermont Jazz Ensemble, and has a private bass studio. Harry has been a member of The Orchestra of Northern New York since 1991.

GALE SCHABERG, Principal Flute
Gail Schaberg is a former member of the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra and the Lansing Symphony. Her flute teachers included William Hebert of the Cleveland Orchestra and Russell Friedewald of Michigan State University. A graduate of Michigan State University, she is certified in music education and special education. Ms. Schaberg earned her Master of Music Education degree at the State University of New York at Potsdam where she later taught courses in music for special learners. She was the chair of music education at the Crane School of Music and the National Chair for Exceptional Learners of the Music Educators National Conference (MENC).

ALAN WOY, Principal Clarinet
Dr. Alan Woy joined the faculty of the Crane School of Music in 1971. He taught studio clarinet, woodwind techniques, and conducting, and was also a chamber music coach and band director. Since his retirement from Crane in 2004, he continues to lead an active musical life as a performer, teacher, and conductor. He recently relocated to Rochester, NY, where he teaches in the New Horizons Adult Education program, Eastman Community Music School, and has a private studio. Dr. Woy has been principal clarinet with the Orchestra of Northern New York since it began 20 years ago. He continues to perform with Northern Symphonic Winds and the Potsdam Clarinet Quartet.

ANNA HENDRICKSON, Principal Oboe
Anna Hendrickson is Assistant Professor of Oboe at the Crane School of Music. She holds the Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from the Eastman School of Music where she studied with Richard Killmer, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as a student of Marc Fink. She has been a member of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra (Ontario) and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and is currently a member of the summer Britt Festival Orchestra in Jacksonville, Oregon. She performs now with the Potsdam Wind Quintet, the Orchestra of Northern New York, and the Northern Symphonic Winds.

CAROL LOWE, Principal Bassoon
Carol Lowe, bassoon, has performed as principal bassoon and as soloist with orchestras across the southeastern United States and has toured and recorded in London, Paris, and Munich. Mrs. Lowe has been a member of numerous chamber ensembles including the Taft Quintet, first-prize winners of the 1989 Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition. She is an active member of the International Double Reed Society and has performed at the two most recent conferences. Her degrees are from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, the University of Cincinnati College - Conservatory of Music, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before coming to Potsdam, Mrs. Lowe was the bassoon instructor for Furman University and the University of South Carolina.

KELLY DRIFMEYER, Principal Horn
Kelly Drifmeyer teaches the Horn Studio at the Crane School of Music. With horn performance degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the University of Michigan, her teachers include Verne Reynolds, Peter Kurau, Lowell Greer, John Cerminaro, and Greg Hustis. A member of both the Potsdam Brass Quintet and the Potsdam Woodwind Quintet, Ms. Drifmeyer has also enjoyed tenures with New Ear Contemporary Music Ensemble and the Detroit Chamber Winds. Ms. Drifmeyer is currently Principal Horn of the award-winning Colorado Mahlerfest Orchestra. Her international experience includes the Windsor Symphony (Ontario), the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional of the Dominican Republic, the Detroit Metropolitan Ballet, the North Carolina Symphony, and the Kansas City Symphony.

JOHN ELLIS, Principal Trumpet
John Ellis, trumpet, has appeared with a variety of musical organizations and artists, including the Canadian Brass, U.S. Army Brass Band, Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montreal, Calgary Philharmonic, the Moody Blues, as well as Grammy Award winners Diana Krall, Tony Bennett and Anne Murray. He performs frequently with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, and has been heard internationally on several broadcasts by the CBC and PBS. He is Principal Trumpet of the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, is a member of the Capital BrassWorks and the Potsdam Brass Quintet. Dr. Ellis holds the position of Professor of Music at The Crane School of Music.

MARK HARTMAN, Principal Trombone
Mark Hartman is Professor of Trombone at the Crane School of Music. He teaches studio trombone, brass techniques, coaches brass quintets and conducts The Crane Trombone Ensemble. Mark has been a soloist with ensembles throughout the northeast and has presented numerous recitals and clinics at major conventions, universities and colleges. He has performed and presented at five International Trombone Festivals, numerous New York State School Music Conferences, and other professional brass conferences. Mark is also the principal trombonist with Northern Symphonic Winds and Potsdam Brass Quintet. Mark has performed with the Ottawa Symphony, Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Skyline Brass Ensemble, Summit Brass and many other prestigious organizations.

CHARLES GUY, Principal Tuba
Charles Guy teaches tuba and euphonium and is the director of the Crane Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble. He holds the Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from Michigan State University and the Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Akron. Recent solo performances include the 2004 United States Army Band Tuba-Euphonium Conference, and the 2002 and 2003 Symphonia Tuba and Euphonium Workshops. He performs with the Potsdam Brass Quintet, Northern Symphonic Winds and has played in the Rochester Philharmonic, Syracuse Symphony and Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestras. In 1999 he won the Artist Division of Leonard Falcone International Solo Competition. He is a clinician for DEG Music and Willson Tubas.

SCOTT LAVINE, Timpani
Scott Lavine recently retired as Professor of Music and Co-director of Music Technology. Professor LaVine spent nearly 20 years as a high school director of bands and music department chair before returning to Potsdam in 1991. He played a vital role in the Crane Youth Music Summer Program as a conductor of bands and served as CYM Director from 1998-2003. Professor LaVine is a past president of the Crane Faculty Association, the New York State Band Directors Association and a recipient of the NYSBDA Distinguished Service Award. He is a founder and co-conductor of the Northern Symphonic Winds.

JAMES A. PETERCSAK, Guest Principal Percussion
James Petercsak holds degrees in percussion performance from the Crane School of Music (B.M.), and the Schulich School of Music at McGill University (M.M.), where he was the recipient of the Schulich Graduate Fellowship Award and the SSHRC Graduate Research Assistantship. He has performed in venues across New York, Canada, Germany, Belgium, and as a marimba soloist with the McGill Percussion Ensemble in France. This past summer, James performed as a soloist, chamber musician and timpanist with the festival orchestra at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Alberta, Canada.

KIRK SEVERTSON, Keyboard
Pianist Kirk Severtson joined the faculty at The Crane School of Music in 2001. He is musical director for the Crane Opera Ensemble, coaches singers and pianists, and teaches classes in art song repertoire and accompanying. During the summer, he coaches for Lake George Opera (NY) and has coached at Opera North (NH), the Opera Theater of Lucca (Italy), other opera major programs and held a fellowship at the Aspen Music Festival in vocal chamber music. He holds a B.A. from Luther College with majors in music, math, and computer science, and M.M. and D.M.A. degrees in piano performance from the University of Cincinnati.

JESSICA SUCHY-PILALIS, Harp
Harpist Jessica Suchy-Pilalis has performed both in the U.S. and abroad as a recitalist and soloist with orchestra. Dr. Suchy-Pilalis holds advanced degrees in harp performance and theory from the Univeristy of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, The Eastman School of Music and Indiana University. She has been awarded a Master Fellowship by the Indiana Arts Commission/National Endowment for the Arts. She toured Greece as a soloist under the auspices of the U.S. State Department, while also representing the U.S. at the international music festival Diethnis Mousikes Hmeres and giving performances on Greek National Radio-Television. She is featured on compact disc releases of new music compositions and on our own recording, Invitation to the Dance.