Richard Balestra, Teacher of Guitar
He has performed in many different jazz, commercial, and classical settings and is a member of the group "Spaces." He is also on the faculty at SUNY Oswego and Hamilton College, he coordinates a jazz guitar festival in Owsego, and he coaches the rhythm section of the "315 All-Stars," a hand-picked group of high school jazz students from the Syracuse area. B.A., Syracuse University; M.M., Ithaca College.
Laura Campbell, Instructor of Flute
She has performed as a member of the St. Louis Municipal Opera Orchestra, the Springfield (IL) Symphony, the Gateway Festival Orchestra (St. Louis), Ithaca Opera Orchestra, and SATI: A Group for Contemporary Music. She has also been a soloist at the Composers' Forum in New York City. She is the Manager and Principal Flute in the Colgate University Orchestra. B.A., Ithaca College; B.M., M.S., University of Illinois.
Michael Cleveland, Teacher of Violin
He is also Concertmaster of the Colgate University Orchestra and a member of the Glimmerglass Opera Orchestra. He is currently orchestra director for the Whitesboro Middle and High School Orchestras, and has been guest conductor for twenty All-County and Area All-State Music Festivals. Bachelor's in Music Education, Ithaca College.
Murray Decock '80
His doctoral dissertation, The Piano Sonatas of Sophie-Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatte was published by the Eckhardt-Gramatte Foundation, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. At Colgate, Murray served as the accompanist and assistant conductor to the Colgate University Chorus from 1987 until 1994. He accompanied the Colgate Chorus on two tours of Europe, performing on the piano and organ in the churches and catherals of Venice, Milan, Paris, Salzburg, and Vienna, as well as St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. He also performed as soloist with several regional and college orchestras throughout the northeast and mid-atlantic, including several appearances with the Colgate University Concert Orchestra. B.A., Colgate; Master's in piano performance, Indiana University School of Music; Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Performance, University of Maryland.
Ralph Dudgeon, Teacher of Trumpet
He is a versatile musician/scholar who is known for historically informed performance on period instruments as well as performances of contemporary repertoire. He has appeared throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, and Mexico as a trumpet soloist and conductor. His debut solo album, Music for Keyed Bugle, was the first full-length recording devoted to the keyed bugle. He has recorded for Musical Heritage Society, Music Masters, Newport Classic, Nimbus, Hyperion, Innova, and Spring Tree labels. He is a Professor of Music at State University of New York, College at Cortland. Ph.D. in musicology, University of California, San Diego; M.A. in trumpet and B.A. in music education, San Diego State University.
Steven Heyman, Artist-in-Residence, Piano
He has won top prizes in over a dozen national and international competitions, including the Beethoven in Vienna, the Gina Bachauer in Salt Lake City, and the Palm Beach Invitational in Palm Beach. He has recordings on the Opus One and Leonarda labels. He also serves on the faculties at Syracuse University and Hamilton College. He has performed for several years with the Chenango Summer MusicFest. He holds Bachelor's, MM, and Professional Studies degrees from the Juilliard School. teaches music history and trumpet. He is also Teacher of Trumpet and Principal Trumpet in the Orchestra at Colgate University. For two months a year, he is a research consultant for Instrumentenmuseum, Schloß Kremsegg in Kremsmünster, Upper Austria and performs annually in Europe.
James "Jimmy" Johns, Teacher of Drum Set
He has an extensive background in various venues. He has performed with such noted jazz artists as Cedar Walton, Hank Jones, Stam Stewart, and Mose Allison, among others. He has recorded with The Dean Brothers, Bluegrass master musician Tony Trischka, and several others. Jimmy is also an accomplished vibraphonist and is as equally busy around Central New York in that role. He has accompanied many national touring acts at the Turning Stone Casino.
Glenn Kime, Teacher of Organ and Accompanist for the choral ensembles
He is Director of Music for May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, and Organist for Temple Adath Yeshurun in Syracuse. For many years he was accompanist for the Syracuse Oratorio Society and the Syracuse Children’s Chorus. With the Children’s Chorus he performed many world premieres, and recorded and toured throughout the United States, Europe, Hong Kong, and mainland China. He has performed many solo organ recitals, including performances for the American Guild of Organists and the Organ Historical Society. He recorded French Romantic Organ Symphonies on the Raven label at Old First Church, San Francisco. He studied at Syracuse University, the University of Southern California, and privately in London and Cambridge, England, with Dame Gillian Weir.