Dedicated to the performance of diverse and theatrical repertoire, flutist Mary Matthews and clarinetist Mark J. Cramer formed Duo Elektra in 2018. The duo has been featured at the International Clarinet Association's ClarinetFest, the National Flute Association's annual convention, and in recital throughout the Southeastern United States. Their current season's program, Friends and Foes, features the work of Shulamit Ran, Anne McKennon, Ruth Ellen Harrison, Nicole Chamberlain, and Robert Wykes.

Clarinetist Mark J. Cramer is Associate Professor of Clarinet at Tennessee Tech University. He is a member of the Cumberland Quintet and performs as principal clarinetist of the Bryan Symphony and Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra. Mark frequently performs with the Nashville and Knoxville Symphony and Nashville Opera and is a studio recording artist with the Nashville Scoring Orchestra, where he records soundtracks to television shows, movies, and video games. Mark holds degrees from The Oberlin Conservatory, The University of Michigan, and The University of NC at Greensboro and is a Backun Musical Services, Légère Reeds, and Rovner Products performing artist.

Flutist Mary Matthews enjoys an active career as an international soloist, chamber musician, orchestral flutist, session musician, and pedagogue, and has performed on four continents in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Severance Hall, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Fundação Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Festival Goethe Institut Música Nueva, and Cité Internationale des Arts. Dr. Matthews is Assistant Professor of Flute at Florida State University's College of Music, and prior to her appointment at FSU, she served as Associate Professor of Flute at Tennessee Tech's School of Music. She currently serves as second flute of the Tallahassee Symphony, and she performs regularly with orchestras such as the Nashville Symphony, Knoxville Symphony, and Chattanooga Symphony, among others.

Dr. Brandon Norton joined the TSO as Director of Operations in 2023. In this role, he works in the areas of concert operations, patron services, office management, and guest artist services. He is also an active freelance trumpeter in the Tallahassee area and currently serves as Second Trumpet of the Boulder Chamber Orchestra. Brandon is a native of Phenix City, Alabama. He holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Columbus State University, a Master of Music Degree from The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Noted for “...not only having a beautiful tone and phrasing, but the capacity to reveal the deep soul of a composition” [Martin Rokeach, composer], flutist Christine Erlander Beard enjoys an active international career as a soloist, chamber artist and teacher with engagements throughout North and South America and Europe. An artist for both Sankyo Flutes and Hernandez Flutes, she was awarded Second Place in the 2019 American Prize Professional Soloist division competition, and is currently a finalist in the same category for this year’s competition. Passionate about working with living composers, Christie has commissioned and premiered dozens of pieces including works by Valerie Coleman, Samuel Zyman, Reena Esmail, Kevin Day, Herman Beeftink, and William Linthicum-Blackhorse, among others. Professor of Flute at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, she launched the #flutistactivitst initiative – commissioning composers to write music inspired by social (in)justice issues – in 2019. christiebeard.net

An avid solo and chamber performer, Hannah Weaver is passionate about contemporary music and interdisciplinary collaborations and believes in making the arts more accessible to and representative of all people, advocating for this through her programming choices and commissioning of new works by underrepresented composers. A sought-after soloist, she recently performed as a soloist in the Pittsburgh Chamber Orchestra, at the 2021 World Vibraphone Congress, and at 2023 PASIC convention. Having previously held positions as Principal Timpanist for the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic and Second Percussionist for the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra, she has also performed with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, Omaha Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Roanoke Symphony and Syracuse Symphoria. Assistant Professor of Percussion at University of Nebraska-Omaha, Hannah is chair of the PAS Health & Wellness Committee, President of the Nebraska PAS Chapter, Vice President of CMS, and a proud endorser of Malletech and Zildjian products.

Dr. Lisa Bost-Sandberg is a flutist, composer, and improviser deeply committed to contemporary music as well as its rich roots in the classical repertoire. She is the Teaching Assistant Professor of Flute and Music Entrepreneurship at the University of North Dakota and currently serves as Secretary of the National Flute Association. Engagements include performing as a featured flutist-composer on the New York Flute Club’s “Solo Flute Spectacular”concert, serving as the guest artist for the Utah Flute Festival and the Seattle Flute Society Horsfall Competition, and performing on flute and bass flute for the virtual film premiere of Julia Wolfe’s Oxygen for 12 flutes, presented by Carnegie Hall. Her compositions have been recognized by national competitions, performed at conferenced and festivals across the United States and abroad, and she was honored to be the 2023 North Dakota Music Teachers Association Commissioned Composer. lisabost.com

Dr. Ryan Pearson is a percussionist and educator dedicated to the exploration and creation of exciting, diverse, and artistic percussion music. A prolific performer, Ryan has played throughout the continental United States and Europe. As a Heartland Marimba Concert Artist, he has toured throughout the U.S. performing numerous world premieres, collaborating with a diverse group of composers, and advancing the classical marimba art form. Ryan is a passionate collaborator, he has worked with composers such as Jenni Brandon, Cassie Wieland, and Andrew Rodriguez, and he performs regularly with the Hays Symphony Orchestra, the Ad Astra Music Festival, the Lawrence Community Orchestra, and is a former member of the Champaign-Urbana Symphony and Sinfonia da Camera. Currently, the Assistant Professor of Percussion and Assistant Director of Bands at Fort Hays State University in Hays, KS, Ryan teaches private lessons, directs the Percussion Ensemble, the Symphonic Winds, and the Marching Tigers Drumline. He is a proud Marimba One and JG Percussion Artist. https://rpearsonmusic.com/

XY duo (Christine Beard, flute and Hannah Weaver, percussion) is a contemporary flute and percussion duo based in Omaha, NE. Founded in 2020, the duo has performed for the Festival Internacional de Flautistas de Lima-Peru, the National Composers Orchestra Chamber Music Series, in addition to numerous recitals around Omaha. Upcoming engagements include performing Andrea Renkmeyer's "Wrought Iron" at the 2024 FNMC New Music Festival, and plans for a recital tour in 2025. The ensemble’s name XY is representative of the generations during which each artist was born (i.e. Gen X and Gen Y). www.facebook.com/XYduo

Amy Guffey serves as Instructor of Clarinet at Kansas State University. She holds degrees from Shenandoah University, Ball State University, and Florida State University, where her doctoral treatise explored clarinet concerti composed between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2013. Her career as a clarinetist has taken her to South Korea, Europe, and throughout the United States. Her principal teachers include Deborah Bish, Caroline Hartig, Frank Kowalsky, Kathleen Mulcahy, and Charlene Zimmerman. In addition to her studies with the aforementioned teachers, she has worked with esteemed clarinetists such as Mark Nuccio, Pascual Martinez-Forteza, Lawrie Bloom, Victoria Luperi, and Michael Lowenstern. Dr. Guffey is a clarinetist with the Chamber Orchestra of the Smoky Valley and currently serves on the International Clarinet Association (ICA) Youth Involvement Committee. She is also a Backun Musical Services Artist and faculty member at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. Prior to receiving her doctorate, she taught elementary instrumental music in the Washington, D.C. area, woodwinds at Yongsan International School (South Korea), blockflöte at Otfried-Preußler-Grundschule (Germany), and early childhood music at Cornerstone Center for the Arts (IN). While working in these various learning environments, she gained experience differentiating learning experiences for non-typical learners, ages pre-K-12.

Dr. Gözde Çakır Ramsey, a native of Turkey, is an active flute performer and teacher. Before joining the faculty at Tennessee Tech University, Gözde was second flute with the Topeka Symphony Orchestra and was flute professor at both Missouri Western State University and Benedictine College. She served as teaching artist at Harmony Project Kansas City, flute instructor for the Blue Valley School district, and managed her own private flute studio both online and in the Kansas City area. She also performed with Trio Fiore KC, Midwest Chamber Ensemble, and the Kansas City Lyric Opera. Dr. Çakır has performed throughout Turkey, United States, France, Switzerland, and Kosovo, including: National Flute Association, Opus Erasmus III Mélodie et poésie dans la musique contemporaine, where she performed both orchestral and chamber music in Paris, International Istanbul Pera Music Festival, and the International Kosovo Music Festival called Zgijime Art. She has received recognition at various competitions including second prize at the Coltman Chamber Music competition, second prize in the Izmir International Flute Competition, first place in the Yamaha Scholarship Award, honorable mention at the Nixon Woodwind Competition, and winner of the concerto competition at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. She is active creating content to present and perform at national conferences throughout the United States. She is passionate about research on Turkish music as well as collaborating with living composers. Dr. Çakır earned her DMA in flute performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, her Master of Music from Central Michigan University, and her undergraduate degree from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University-Istanbul State Conservatory. Dr. Çakır is looking forward to joining the wonderful faculty and students at Tennessee Tech University.

Paul Berlinsky is a composer and performer based in Kansas City, MO. His music explores the intangible space between tone and noise, as well as the emotional impact of layering these elements. Paul’s music has been described as “dark and satisfying to listen to” (Sound Currents) and “beautiful, mysterious and eerie” (Nan Dale). He writes music for soloists, chamber groups, and large ensembles. Paul’s music has been performed and recorded by musicians and ensembles around the country, including JACK Quartet, duo per se, Hub New Music, Transient Canvas, Plaza Winds, Florida Gulf Coast University Wind Orchestra, and soloist Gözde Çakir (flute). Paul has received honors and awards for his work, including a 2021 and 2022 ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award, with the panel recognizing him with the 2021 Leo Kaplan Award, first prize in the 2019 Arnold Salop Memorial Competition, and an appointment as the 2019 composer in residence with wind quintet Plaza Winds. Berlinsky received his master’s degree in music composition from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he studied with Chen Yi, Zhou Long, Paul Rudy and Yotam Haber. During his time at UMKC, he was able to take lessons with composers Anthony R. Green, Amy Williams, Evan Chambers and Ingrid Stölzel. He holds an undergraduate degree in music education from Florida Gulf Coast University, studied composition with Jason Bahr and Shawn Allison.

Darrian Lee is a violinist devoted to pedagogy, advocating for women in music, and expanding the classical canon. During her time at Florida State University as a graduate assistant and doctoral student, Darrian has performed with many regional orchestras, worked as an adjunct faculty member at Enterprise State Community College, and has performed in a variety of chamber music programs that focus on women in music and contemporary classical music. In 2023, she premiered the violin version of Song Without Words by Augusta Read-Thomas. In the previous year, she founded the nonprofit, HERo Music, that focuses on promoting and connecting women in music. Through HERo, Darrian has put on many community concerts, a joint concert with the FSU University Symphony Orchestra, and the inaugural HERo Conference in 2023 to advocate for inclusive programming in classical music. The HERo Conference is also where she facilitated the U.S. Premiere of the Madeleine Dring Festival Scherzo with international piano soloist, Antonio Oyarzabal. Darrian is also the host of the HERo Talk podcast where she interviews women in classical music, such as Chee Yun-Kim, Miranda Cuckson, and Ellen Taafe Zwilich. The HERo Talk podcast is currently ranked #4 in Women in Music Podcasts.

Rebecca Edmiston is a pianist dedicated to collaboration, pedagogy, and community engagement. As a graduate assistant and doctoral student in collaborative piano at Florida State University (FSU), she has recently worked as rehearsal pianist for the FSU opera department’s mainstage productions of The Barber of Seville and The Cunning Little Vixen. In December 2023, she was invited to work as pianist-coach at Music On Site, Inc., where she performed Amahl and the Night Visitors in productions throughout central Kansas. In past summers, she has worked as a collaborative pianist at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan and has received training at Emerald Coast Chamber Music Festival and The Collaborative Piano Institute. A committed educator, Rebecca is involved with Music Teachers National Association as a collegiate chapter board member, and she has directed community engagement initiatives such as a Young Collaborative Pianists Workshop at FSU.

Alondra Esperanza Nina Meneces is a clarinet performer, clinician, and teacher based in the DFW Metroplex. She won the first version of the Bolivian Clarinetists and Saxophonists National Competition in 2006 in Bolivia, her birth country. In 2014 she migrated to the United States pursuing an undergraduate degree at Sam Houston State University and a graduate degree at University of North Texas under Dr. Patricia Card and Dr. Phillip Paglialonga respectively. She has performed in festivals in Bolivia, Argentina, Houston, Dallas, and Denver. Alondra performs with the Mansfield Philharmonic Orchestra, Mansfield Winds, and NCTC Winds, subs for the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra and the San Angelo Symphony and is a private instructor at Richardson ISD and Garland ISD.

Jess Hill performs as a freelance clarinetist and clinician in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She holds a master's degree in clarinet performance from the University of North Texas, where she studied with Dr. Philip Paglialonga and earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Oklahoma, where she studied with Dr. Suzanne Tirk. Jess performs regularly with the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra and has performed at festivals in Belgium, Austria, and Colorado.

Founded in 2023 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Trío Líneas is a flute, cello, and piano trio passionate about commissioning and advocating for new works. Consisting of University of Michigan graduate students Lexi Eubanks (flute), Adalus Low-Manzini (cello), and John Solari (piano), the trio has engaged in coachings from violinists Matt Albert, former member of Eighth Blackbird, and Annie Fullard of the Cavani Quartet. Their debut performance was George Crumb’s Vox Balaenae at Hill Auditorium, as part of a concert series in honor of Crumb’s legacy. In January 2024, they were featured in the University of Michigan’s annual Collage Concert, performing Tepito by Gabriela Ortiz. Trío Líneas enjoys the creative and collaborative aspects of working with living composers. Recent projects include working with Paola Márquez to adapt her piano trio Monarch for flute trio, and commissions from composers around the United States including Mikeila McQueston, Grace O’Duffy, and Jelani Surpris.

Adalus Low-Manzini is an emerging Venezuelan cellist based in Ann Arbor, pursuing a Specialist of Music degree in Cello Performance at the University of Michigan. Passionate about creating educational music content, she serves as Social Media Director for the International Cello Institute and occasionally collaborates with content creation for Strings of Latin America (SOLA) and Center Stage Strings. Adalus is passionate about advocating for new compositions, particularly by Latin American and women composers. She regularly commissions works for both solo cello, and for her ensemble, Trío Líneas. Adalus began her musical journey in "El Sistema," performing with renowned maestros like Gustavo Dudamel and Sir Simon Rattle. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and a Master’s degree from the University of Michigan. Adalus has soloed with orchestras all around Venezuela, as weel as in Louisiana and Michigan.

Lexi Eubanks, a flutist hailing from Bremen, Georgia, is pursuing a Master's degree at the University of Michigan in flute performance and chamber music. She earned her Bachelor's degree in flute performance at the Schwob School of Music in Georgia in 2022 under the guidance of Dr. Andrée Martin. Currently mentored by acclaimed flutist Amy Porter, Alexis actively performs with various ensembles at the University of Michigan, including the Contemporary Directions Ensemble, Symphony Band, and University Symphony Orchestra. She is a member of Trío Líneas and FLYDLPHN Sextet. Passionate about new music, Alexis has premiered many compositions and collaborates with composers nationwide. Beyond her studies, she maintains a private teaching studio, freelances in southeast Michigan, and serves as a social media coordinator for the Southeast Michigan Flute Association.

John Solari is an Ann Arbor based pianist, currently pursuing a doctoral degree in piano performance at the University of Michigan studying under Professor Christopher Harding. An avid collaborator and soloist alike, John has appeared onstage nationally and internationally. As a guest artist, he has performed in the 2023 Scarab Club Mozart project, the 2022 PRISMS Contemporary Music Festival, the 2020 Walled City Music Festival, and the 2019 American Liszt Society Festival. John Solari regularly collaborates with student performers on competition winning recordings and performances including the 2024 University of Michigan Concerto Competition and the 2023 International String Bass Competition. Solo awards include the first prize at the 2022 NSALAZ Competition, second prize in the 2021 MTNA Piano Competition, and silver prize in the 2021 Conero International Competition. He is a member of Trío Líneas, consisting of flute, cello, and piano, and a saxophone and piano duo called Azure Duo.

Currently pursuing her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Flute at the University of Nebraska Omaha, Erica Wilkins is a Substitute Musician and Music Mentor for the Omaha Symphony. During her schooling she has been acting principal for the Steamboat Springs Orchestra, placed first at the 2024 Florida Flute Association Nancy Clew Eller Artist Competition for Adults, won UNO’s Aria & Concerto Competition as well as the Nebraska Wind Symphony Memorial Scholarship, and placed second in an International Music competition. She was also accepted to play in multiple ensembles for the National Flute Association. Erica has performed in masterclasses for Sergio Pallottelli, Sir James Galway, Ervin Monroe, Jim Walker and Damarre McGill. She studies with Dr. Christine Erlander Beard (UNO Professor of Flute).

Sofia Cormack is a multi-faceted musician involved in many aspects of classical music festivals as a performer and clinician, as well as behind-the-scenes work. Past work includes the 2019 Chicago Flute Festival, 2022 Tampere Flute Fest (Finland), 2022 Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival, University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) Flute Festival in 2019 and 2022. She was a member of one of the original 12 ensembles selected to perform the NFA commissioned piece, “Oxygen,” by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Julia Wolfe. Sofia earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Flute Performance from UNO in 2022, with Dr. Christine Beard. Continuing her studies at UNO, Sofia will complete her Master of Music degree in Flute Performance in 2024. Through performance, teaching, and sales service, Sofia enjoys connecting with the musical community of Omaha. Currently, Sofia serves as flute specialist at the Omaha location for Schmitt Music.

Colby Stevens is an avid performer, musicologist and conductor. He is seen in the western United States performing with various regional orchestras. He is currently the second oboist of the Salina Symphony. On top of performing, Colby has presented at various prestigious musicological conferences such as the American Musicological Society Conference. He also conducts and is on the artistic board for the Manhattan Symphony Orchestra. Colby holds two music degrees: a Masters in Music from Kansas State University (2024) and a Bachelors in Music from Snow College (2022). Colby’s notable teachers are Dr. Alyssa Morris, Luca de la Florin, Mary Lynch, Brooks Fischer, Dr. Rachel Dirks, Dr. Craig B. Parker, and Dr. Brent Smith.

Dr. Trent Hanna has been awarded for his achievements both as a composer and performer. His original works have been commissioned and performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Dr. Hanna premiered his piano concert, The Rorschach Test, with the Sam Houston State University Symphony Orchestra in 2004 and later that year conducted his Fanfare for Peace in the Czech Republic, Austria, and Hungary. His composition Dorland (for solo piano) won first prize in the Contemporary Japanese and American Music Composition Competition resulting in a two performances by the composer in Japan. In 2009 he was invited as keynote speaker to the International Crime and Pop Culture conference and premiered his piece Quyannanana (for four percussionists), which was written for the 20-year anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. As a pianist, Dr. Hanna has performed extensively as soloist with various symphony orchestras, including John Corigliano’s Concerto for Piano and Orchestra with the San Angelo and Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestras, plus the Rhapsody in Blue with the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Hanna received his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Composition from the University of Texas at Austin. He is currently a member of the Society of Composers, and has been awarded artist residencies at the Dorland Mountain Arts Colony (California), the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Villa Montalvo (California), the Isle Royale Artists-in-Residence Program (Michigan), the Djerassi Resident Artists Program (California), and most recently the Millay Colony for the Arts (New York). His music can be heard on his full-length CD of original works for solo piano entitled Sojournal and chroma:new music for piano (Capstone Records). He also has a CD of 14 arrangements of holiday favorites entitled Christmas Like This. Dr. Hanna is currently the Coordinator of Theory and Composition at Snow College in Utah.

Kat Sterbenz received a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Kansas in 2018. From 2018-2022 she taught in Topeka as the district orchestra director, working with students grades 6-12. She has maintained a small studio of middle and high school cello students since 2017, and in 2022 took the position of the head cello instructor for the Community School of the Performing Arts in Manhattan Kansas. Kat has been playing the cello since age 9, and studied under Ed Laut, Lawrence Figg, and Hannah Collins. Kat is currently a cellist in the Lawrence Community Orchestra (as well as an active board member) and a violinist in the Manhattan Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed numerous gigs in the Lawrence and Kansas City area, has experience adjudicating solo competitions, and in the Fall will be attending Kansas State University to get her Masters in Music Education.

Russell Clark (viola) holds a B.M.E. from the University of Kansas and a M.M.E. from Kansas State University. His area of specialty is string pedagogy in both the classical and jazz settings. During his time at K-State he served as the Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Orchestras, under the direction of Dr. Rachel Dirks. Prior to attending K-State, Russell worked as the Assistant Director of High School Orchestras in the Lawrence public school district from 2017-2022. During his time there he was named the NEKMEA Outstanding Young Music Educator for Orchestra in 2019-2020, and was the NEKMEA High School Orchestra Chair from 2019-2021. He is currently the Executive Director of the Manhattan Youth Symphony, and was also a director of the Lawrence Youth Symphony from 2017-2023. Russell continues to stay active in the musical community at large by maintaining a studio of private students on violin, viola and bass, working Summer Camps including the K-State String Leadership Institute, and playing in and conducting community ensembles such as the Manhattan Symphony Orchestra, Lawrence Community Orchestra, and the Topeka Jazz Workshop Big Band. His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, the National Educators Association, and the Kansas American String Teachers Association.

Violinist Regan Lattey is a current student at Kansas State University. At KSU, Regan is involved with the Kansas State University Symphony Orchestra, as well as other small chamber ensembles. Regan is expected to graduate in the spring of 2026 with a Bachelors in Violin Performance. Regan also works at the Manhattan Arts Center teaching group violin classes and private lessons.

SMF 2024 Invited Performers