2013-14 engagements include performances of an original piano score for the 1920 film "The Golem" at the Alberta Rose Theatre, Whiteside Theatre, and the University of Oregon, contemporary classical music for flute and piano at Portland Piano Company with 106 Keys, performances with Classical Revolution PDX, and a commission for the Free Marz String Trio as part of March Music Moderne. In addition to her creative work, Beth serves as an accompanist for the School of Oregon Ballet Theater, Portland Peace Choir, and Bridgeport United Church of Christ. Beth serves as the organizer and pianist for Shaker and Vine wine bar's monthly Classical Variety Show and plays organ with folk/classical ensemble the Waking Guild.
Beth holds an MM in Composition from the Longy School of Music, where her composition "The Phoenix Cycle" won the Longy Chamber Orchestra Composition Competition. She holds a BA in Music, cum laude with Distinction in All Subjects, from Cornell University, where she studied composition with Steven Stucky and Roberto Sierra.
In her free time, Beth kayaks, reads, and volunteers with Portland School Assistance for Refugee Newcomers.
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Mezzo-soprano Valery Saul received her Masters of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of British Columbia School of Music. She has been acclaimed by the Willamette Weekly for her “smoky voice” and by Opera Canada for her “warm mezzo and robust acting.” She also holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Portland State University.
Valery sings with the Portland Opera chorus and last season made her stage debut singing one of the Bridesmaids in The Marriage of Figaro for Portland Opera. Valery was seen recently as Orlofsky in Mock's Crest Production of Die Fledermaus. She has also been a soloist for Portland Summerfest where she sang the role of Mercedes in Carmen under the baton on Keith Clark.
Past roles include Hansel in UBC Opera’s production of Hansel and Gretel. Sesto in Handel’s Giulio Cesare in the Czech Republic with the European Music Academy, Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus for UBC Opera, Rosina in an adapted version of The Barber of Seville for Vancouver Opera in the Schools and Dora in the world premier of The Dream Healer, aired live on the CBC. Valery has been a participant in the Astoria Music Festival. She was a featured soloist for Bravo Vancouver this December for Handel’s Messiah.
Joel Kleinbaum has been playing bassoon since age 12. Joel received a Bachelor of Music in bassoon performance from Boston University. While at Boston University he studied with legendary bassoonists Matthew Ruggiero and Sherman Walt. His chamber music coaches included legendary oboist Ralph Gomberg and former Boston Symphony principle horn, Charles Kavaloski.
Joel has played bassoon professionally with the Des Moines Metro Opera. In Portland, Joel has performed with “Alternate Desitnation,” a unique world chamber jazz trio, with Classical Revolution PDX, and with the “Classical Variety Show” at Shaker & Vine. He is on the faculty of The Music Studio on Harrison Hill, Portland’s only music education cooperative.
In addition to the bassoon, Joel also plays klezmer clarinet, and performs jazz on both the clarinet and bassoon.
Amalia Blumberg is a classically trained flutist originally from Worcester, MA. She is currently residing in Portland, OR, where she is co-founder of 106 Keys, a piano and flute duo. In the past year, some of their performance venues have included Rose Schnitzer Manor, Ford Food and Drink, Shaker and Vine and Portland Piano Company. From 2012-2013 Amalia was also a member of Portland Chamber Music where they performed frequently throughout Portland. In 2009, she received a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to study and work on a peace through music initiative in the Middle East. This led her to the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance in Israel, where she received her M.M. in Flute Performance. During her studies at the Academy she was a member of the Jewish Arab Orchestra, where the music they played was a blend of eastern and western musical traditions. She also partook in the Academy’s classical orchestra. Amalia received her B.M. cum laude in Flute Performance from The University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she was a recipient of a four-year Chancellor’s Scholarship award. While there she was a member of the university orchestra, the wind ensemble, and played in many different chamber music groups. With a background in both classical and Middle Eastern repertoire and years of teaching experience, Amalia has a passion for teaching and believes that while music takes hard work and practice, it should always be enjoyable. Amalia’s past teachers have included Yossi Arnheim, Lars Johannesson, Christopher Krueger and
Taiseer Elias.
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Joel has played bassoon professionally with the Des Moines Metro Opera. In Portland, Joel has performed with “Alternate Desitnation,” a unique world chamber jazz trio, with Classical Revolution PDX, and with the “Classical Variety Show” at Shaker & Vine. He is on the faculty of The Music Studio on Harrison Hill, Portland’s only music education cooperative.
In addition to the bassoon, Joel also plays klezmer clarinet, and performs jazz on both the clarinet and bassoon.
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Taiseer Elias.
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Gulchin Tarabus received her training both in Chicago and New York City. Her piano teachers include: Heidi Mayer, John Bloomfield, Deborah Cleaver and Terry Dybvig. As an accomplished pianist, she received several scholarships to attend Interlochen Arts Academy and State University of Purchase. In New York City, Gulchin was a theory major at the Mannes College of Music. She continued her education and worked in the Chicago metro area as a public music educator for almost twenty years, bringing music to elementary aged children through the use of instruments, singing and movement. She is certified in Orff Schulwerk and is continuing her studies in Dalcroze Eurhythmics. Gulchin is now licensed to teach early childhood music from infants through age 5. She is also a licensed music educator in Oregon and she continues to teach in the Portland Public Schools. In Gulchin’s private piano studio, she begins students as early as age 3 through group lessons to develop children’s musicality and listening abilities. Gulchin created her company, Mindful Musicians, where piano students develop technic with ease of coordination and beautiful tone while receiving a well-rounded education of music theory with opportunities to improvise and compose. To find out more about Gulchin, you can visit her website at www.mindfulmusicians.com