Biographies

Kenneth Andrews Flute, is the former Associate Principal Flute with the Montreal Symphony and has performed as soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. At Crane, Professor Andrews performs with the Potsdam Woodwind Quintet. Professor Andrews received his B.M., M.M., and Performer's Certificate from Indiana University where he studied with flutist James Pellerite and has done further studies in conducting with Dr. Karl Ahrendt. A former faculty member at Indiana University and Ohio University, among others, Mr. Andrews is currently Music Director/Conductor for The Orchestra of Northern New York and the Syracuse Symphony Youth Orchestra and is a frequent guest conductor throughout the U.S. and Canada.

John Lindsey Violin, is the Concertmaster of the Chamber Orchestra of Northern New York, The Hanover Chamber Orchestra (NH), and the ELEVA Chamber Players (VT). He is the First Violinist of Aurora String Quintet, the violinist in the Ruggieri Chamber Soloists, and Full Professor of Music of the State University of New York at Potsdam. He has also served as Concertmaster of the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra (KY), the Dallas Chamber Players, the Castle Farm Summer Festival Orchestra in Charlevois (MI), the Warren (OH) Chamber Orchestra and the Champlain Valley Symphony Orchestra (Plattsburgh). Mr. Lindsey has appeared in solo recitals at The Carnegie Recital Hall, Bruno Walter Auditorium in Lincoln Center (five times) and in Boston, Montreal, and Chicago on the Dame Myra Hess Series.

Prior to his appointment at The Crane School of Music in 1981, Mr. Lindsey was chairman of Strings at Baylor University, The Governor's School of North Carolina, and the University of Kentucky. In the summer, Mr. Lindsey is a member of the violin faculties of the Ameropa Festival in Prague (CZ), the Adult Chamber Music Conference at Interlochen Michigan, and the Mozart Festival in Woodstock, Vermont. In previous summers he was on the faculties of the Ithaca Chamber Music Institute (NY), the National Music Camp at Interlochen, the Ottawa Suzuki Institute (KS), the Southeastern Music Camp (GA), the Illinois Chamber Music Festival, the Stage de Musique in Marcillat-en-Combraille, France, and the Canna International Chamber Music Festival in Canna, Italy. In 1993, Mr. Lindsey was the recipient of the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching (Teacher of the Year Award) for SUNY Potsdam and the prestigious State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2003.

Peter J. Durow, Chorus Master, is Visiting Assistant Professor of Music at the Crane School of Music, conductor of the Potsdam Community Choir, the Crane Men's Ensemble, and the Crane Chorus. In addition he teaches courses in choral conducting and choral music methods. Dr. Durow holds a Ph.D. in Choral Music Education from Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL; a Masters Degree in Choral Conducting from Butler University in Indianapolis, IN; a Bachelors Degree in Vocal Music Education from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN and an Associates of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts from Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, MN. An active composer and arranger, Dr. Durow has been privileged to study privately with James Mullholland and André Thomas. He has written for public school mixed and treble choirs, church choirs, men's choruses and children's choirs. He has completed a number of commissions and has several compositions published in the Henry Leck Choral Series and Rodney Eichenberger Choral Series with Colla Voce Music, Inc. Prior to moving to upstate New York, Dr. Durow taught at the secondary levels in Minnesota, Texas, Indiana and Florida and at the University level as a graduate teaching assistant in the choral departments of Butler University and Florida State University. He lives with his wife, Jodi and their two children, Jonah and Nadia.

Anna Hendrickson Oboist, joined the Crane School of Music faculty as Assistant Professor of Oboe. 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 the Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as a student of Marc Fink. Dr. Hendrickson held teaching positions at SUNY Geneseo, the Community Music School of the Eastman School of Music, and the Hochstein Music School, where she performed on the live radio broadcast recital series and other faculty recital series. 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. Spending a year in France as a Fulbright scholar, Dr. Hendrickson performed at the US Embassy in Paris, the American Church in Paris, and the Château de Champs with pianist Mieko Hironaka Bergt. She performs now with the Potsdam Wind Quintet, the Orchestra of Northern New York, and the Northern Symphonic Winds.

James Madeja is Professor of Music at The Crane School of Music, State University of New York at Potsdam where he teaches studio trumpet and courses in instrumental music education. He received his B.S., M.S., and Ed.D. degrees in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has toured as cornetist with Keith Brion's New Sousa Band and performs regularly with the Orchestra of Northern New York, Northern Symphonic Winds, and the Potsdam Brass Quintet. From 1990 to 2002, Madeja served as Associate Editor of The Journal of the International Trumpet Guild. His research interests are in the history of the American wind band and in particular the contribution of Herbert L. Clarke. His written work has appeared in the Journal of Band Research, College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Journal, The Journal of the International Trumpet Guild, The Instrumentalist, The Brass Player, New York State School Music News, Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC) Journal, and Music Educators Journal (MEJ).

Jill Pearon Soprano, holds degrees from the University of Evansville (BMMT, Music Therapy), Southern Methodist University (MM, Voice and MMT, Music Therapy) and the University of Michigan (DMA, Voice and Graduate Certificate in Music Theory Pedagogy) having studied with professionals such as Shirley Verrett, Martin Katz, Lorna Haywood, and Robin Rice. She has performed in opera, recital, and concert venues across the United States and in Europe. She specializes in creating unique themed recital programs often incorporating staged, costumed, and visual components. Additionally, she has a particular interest in 20th century and chamber music and has premiered several new works with one currently under commission. Dr. Pearon is currently on the faculty of the Crane School of Music (SUNY Potsdam) and has previously held faculty positions at Capital University, Kenyon College, and was also a Graduate Instructor at the University of Michigan and Southern Methodist University. She was selected to participate in the 2000 National Association of Teachers of Singing Internship Program where she studied with Shirlee Emmons and has been honored to present Master Classes from Massachusetts to California.

Paul Siskind, Composer, has had music commissioned and performed across the U.S. and abroad by ensembles and performers such as the Minnesota Orchestra, the Arditti String Quartet, the Dale Warland Singers, Continuum, and Stephanie Blythe. His music is published by G. Schirmer, Cantando, and Sweet Child Music, and has been recorded on the Innova, ERM, and New Ariel labels. He has worked as a composer-in-residence for the education department of Minnesota Opera, and as an auditor for the New York State Council on the Arts. He is also active as an adjudicator and presenter for the College Music Society, the Society of Composers Inc., the New York State School Music Association, and the Music Educators National Conference. Dr. Siskind joined the Crane faculty in 1998, and holds degrees in composition and theory from the University of Minnesota (Ph.D.), Queens College (M.A.) and the Crane School of Music (B.M.), as well as a B.S. in biology (Phi Beta Kappa) from Tufts University. He is currently on the faculty at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam.