Angela Massey’s debut album has been described as “beautiful and enchanting, the performances on this CD are magical!” by Jeanne Baxtresser, former principal flute of the New York Philharmonic. As a soloist, she has been a featured guest artist with the Tryon Concert Association, Kosciuszko Foundation in New York City, National Flute Association Convention, and invited to perform a Vivaldi Piccolo Concerto with the Southwest Florida Symphony. Outside of the United States, she has performed in England, France, Germany, Italy, Romania, and Switzerland. In regard to chamber music, she serves as Artistic Director and founder of the Astralis Chamber Ensemble arranging and performing numerous recitals each year. She holds a flute/piccolo position with the Southwest Florida Symphony and performs regularly with the Sarasota Orchestra. She was awarded prizes in the Alexander and Buono Competition, Frank Bowen Competition, Myrna Brown Competition, and certificate in the Gheorghe Dima International Competition in Romania. Her instructors have been Alberto Almarza, Jeanne Baxtresser, Martha Kitterman, Jack Wellbaum, and Brooks de Wetter-Smith. She received degrees in flute performance from Carnegie Mellon University, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For more information, visit her website at www.angelamasseyflute.com.
Kris Marshall is principal trumpet with the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and has built an active career performing with multiple orchestras across the state of Florida, including the Jacksonville Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, Venice Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, and regular performances with The Florida Orchestra. Marshall has been a featured soloist with the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra on many occasions and with the Fifth Avenue Chamber Orchestra in Naples, Florida. As a founding member of the Astralis Chamber Ensemble, he presents several chamber recital tours each year and participates in commission projects to increase the chamber repertoire for trumpet. He won first prize in the Florida Orchestra Young Artist Competition and was later selected to attend the Chautauqua Institution Summer Music Festival where he studied with Chuck Berginc, principal trumpet with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra. Other significant instructors include Robert Smith, principal trumpet with The Florida Orchestra, and Ed Cord, former principal trumpet with the Israel Philharmonic and Utah Symphony. Marshall pursued degrees in trumpet performance at Florida State University, Indiana University, and the University of South Florida.
Cellist, Claire Marie Solomon is an avid solo, chamber, and orchestral musician. She recently toured the US with the Weimar Staatskapelle from Germany, performing major orchestral works in cities along the east coast with Maestro Kirill Karabits. Solomon performs regularly as part of the Gossamer Trio with flutist, Carol Wincenc and harpist, Nancy Allen. As an orchestral musician, she performs with the Sarasota Orchestra in Florida and is a regular participant in the Aspen Music Festival where she has worked for the Perlman Music Program on Long Island, NY and in Sarasota, FL. She also has a passion for academic subjects and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University while studying the cello with Ole Akahoshi. After completing her undergraduate degree, Ms. Solomon attended the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, studying privately with Eric Kim and receiving chamber music instruction from members of the Pacifica Quartet. Ms. Solomon won the Jacobs School’s Concerto Competition, culminating in a performance of the Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1 with the IU Philharmonic. Ms. Solomon plays a 2011 Whedbee cello and a late 18th century German Knopf bow.
A native of Portland, Oregon, Alexis Colner began her classical harp studies at the age of five while living abroad in the Netherlands. Over the course of her 20 plus years of private study, Alexis has worked with such distinguished teachers as Valerie Muzzolini, Principal Harpist of the Seattle Symphony; Marie-Pierre Langlamet, Principal Harpist of the Berlin Philharmonic; and Nancy Allen, Principal Harpist of the New York Philharmonic. As an orchestral musician, she has a recurring position as a substitute player with the New World Symphony, The Orchestra NOW, and The New York Philharmonic where she has had the pleasure of playing under the batons of world-renowned conductors such as Alan Gilbert, Peter Oundjian, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Jaap van Sweden. Alexis has spent summers at the Music Academy of the West, Aspen Music Festival and School where she was the recipient of the Harp Fellowship, Spoleto USA Festival, and touring with the Orchestra of the Americas. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the USC Thornton School of Music where she graduated suma cum laude and a Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School.
Dr. Catherine Lan has performed across the US, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Mexico, Thailand, China, England, Italy, France, Switzerland, Spain, the Netherlands, Finland, Estonia, Croatia, and Slovenia at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York and Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. Upcoming recitals include concerts at the distinguished Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C. and Bartók Hall in Budapest, Hungary. A soloist with Milwaukee Symphony, Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Vancouver Symphony, and Edmonton Symphony, Lan has collaborated with Aspen String Trio, and String Quartets such as Henschel, Bergonzi, and Maxwell. Born in Taiwan, Lan began her international concert career at the age of eight after winning the Junior Original International Composition Competition. Lan currently serves on the faculty of Broward College and received degrees from the University of British-Columbia (BM), Indiana University in Bloomington (MM), and the University of Miami (DMA). She is the co-artistic director of Beaux Arts Chamber Music Series and Rosemary Duffy Larson Classical Series, as well as the pianist at Duo Beaux Arts, Duo Formosa, Duo Arpeggione, Tallinn Piano Trio, Delray Piano Trio, and Atlantic Classical Piano Trio. Lan records for Centaur Records. For more information, visit her website at www.catherinelan.com.
"The Captiva Civic Association is in love with Astralis!"
“The performance was dazzling! What a great pleasure to hear such sensitive musicianship. It was a rare treat!”
Brooks de Wetter-Smith (UNC Chapel Hill former professor of flute)
“‘That was a terrific day in Erskine College's music department –
your masterclass and recital both were SO well done and enthusiastically received by the students! Bravo!”
Mark Nabholz (Erskine College former professor)
“The performance was dazzling! What a great pleasure to hear such sensitive musicianship. It was a rare treat!”
Brooks de Wetter-Smith (UNC Chapel Hill former professor of flute)
“‘That was a terrific day in Erskine College's music department –
your masterclass and recital both were SO well done and enthusiastically received by the students! Bravo!”
Mark Nabholz (Erskine College former professor)