Guest Artists

Master Sergeant Christopher D. Jones has been a clarinetist in the West Point Band since September of 1992.  He has a Bachelor of Music degree in music education from the University of North Alabama, Florence; and a Master of Music degree in clarinet performance and conducting from New Mexico State University, Las Cruces.    For 10-years Master Sgt. Jones studied with master clarinet teacher Kalmen Opperman in New York City.   He also worked as a chamber student of Richard Stoltzman during the FestiVal-Gardena, Ortisei, Italy.  

As a soloist, Jones recently performed Dana Wilson’s Liquid Ebony as guest soloist with the NMSU Symphonic Winds for the American Southwest Honor Band participants.   Jones also performs on soprano and bass clarinet as a member of the West Point Clarinet Quartet.   This group performs community concerts and events for high schools, colleges and universities having appeared in New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah.  The quartet performed with Larry Combs, principal clarinetist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, at the 2003 International Clarinet Festival and has premiered works of Paul Harvey and Robert Baksa.   This group also performed on WAMC’s Northeast Public Radio, Albany, New York; WBNR in Beacon, New York; and WRR classical radio in Dallas, Texas.  

Master Sgt. Jones serves as the West Point Band’s Publicity Chief and also as the Assistant Drum Major.    As a member of the West Point Band, some of Jones’ highlights were performing alongside the New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall on July 3^rd and 4^th, 2008; and performing for the U.S. Military Academy’s bicentennial at Carnegie Hall on March 15, 2002.   

Master Sgt. Jones has also performed in the Hudson Valley Region with the Orange County Classic Choral Society and Orchestra; on the Potluck Concerts in Cornwall, New York; and the Pone Ensemble in New Paltz, New York.

Lyric Soprano Kimberly Kahan enjoys an accomplished career with opera companies and orchestras throughout the country. She has earned great acclaim for her musical and dramatic interpretations for such signature roles as Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, as well as title roles in Susannah and Arrabella.

Recent critical acclaim for her role as the Merry Widow:
Golden-voiced soprano Kimberly Kahan brings to life the title role of Hanna Glawari; Kahan’s lilting and soaring soprano is perfection. A treat to the eye as well as the ear.-- New York Times Herald –Record

Ms. Kahan is stunning. She has a beautiful voice and tremendous stage presence. When she sings, it appears effortless. Particularly enjoyable is the number “Villa.” Kahan shines on this critically praised Leher song.—Vinncent Alexander.

Other recent roles include Micaela in Bizets Carmen in Tel Aviv Israel with Josh Majors directing; Featured soprano in the world premier of Kyle Gann’s opera Cinderella’s Bad Magic in Moscow and St Petersburg, Russia.

Ms Kahan performs regularly as a soloist at Bard College, including The Lord Nelson Mass under the baton of James Bagwell, The Angel in the Respighi Laudate Nativita with conductor Sharon Bjorndal, and with the American Symphony, Leon Botstein conducting.

A favorite of European audiences, Ms.Kahan has appeared in concert in many cities including Helsinki, Copenhagen, Nice, Naples, Istanbul and Athens where she has performed such pieces as Braham’s’ Liebeslieder Walzer, Debussy's Arriette Oubliee, and Canteloubes’ Chants D’Auvergne.

Equally comfortable in the Oratorio venue, she has performed as the soprano soloist in works by Beethoven, (Mass in C and the Ninth Symphony), as well as Bach’s (B Minor Mass and Magnificat), Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass and the Requiems of Brahms, Faure, Mozart and Verdi.

Tenor Luigi Boccia spent most of his early life in Italy. While studying musicology at the University of Pavia, Boccia began lessons with renowned tenor Gianni Raimondi, a star of La Scala and frequent colleague of Maria Callas, Renata Tebaldi and other legendary singers. His academic studies included a year at the Freie Universitat in Berlin, which he capped with a complete performance of Schubert's Die Schone Mullerin. He graduated cum laude with a Master's Degree in Musicology from the University of Pavia in 2004.

Boccia then came to the U.S. to begin his performing career, recently including lead roles in Don Giavanni, Gianni Schicchi, The Merry Widow, The Barber of Seville, Lucia di Lammermoor and Traviata. He has been selected to sing in master classes held by such notable singers as Carlo Bergonzi, Martina Arroyo, Elinor Ross and Licia Albanese and the privilege of working repeatedly with Maestro Anton Coppola. In September 2007, he was invited to prepare the role of Ferrando in Mozarts Cosi Fan Tutte as part of the Young Artists Program of La Scala, Milan. In October 2007, he was featured in an international telecast of the Columbus Foundation's Columbus Day 2007 festivities in New York City. Among other awards and recognitions he has received are the Premio Caripio (National Valedictorian of Musicology) from the University of Pavia, Third Prize in the 2008 Guilio Gari Competition, Winner in the 2008 Licia Albanese Competition and First Prize in the 2008 Gerda Lissner Competition in New York.

Robert Weintraub, a versatile young baritone, is equally at home performing in opera, oratorio, concert, musical theater, and contemporary music. Important engagements include Marcello and Schaunard in La Bohème with Arizona Opera, The Bronx Opera , Center City Opera Theater, Connecticut Grand Opera, and Taconic Opera, Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd with Arizona Opera, Marquis D'Obigny in La Traviata with New Orleans Opera, and an AGMA Apprenticeship with Chautauqua Opera which included the roles of Elder McLean in Susannah, and Perchik in Fiddler on the Roof, as well as two appearances as a soloist with The Chautauqua Symphony, one of which was under the baton of Maestro Julius Rudel. The summer of 2005 brought Mr. Weintraub to Lake George Opera as an Apprentice Artist, where he performed the role of Escamillo in a staged concert of Bizet's Carmen, and the role of Haly in Rossini's L'Italiana in Algeri.

Important concert appearances include being a soloist in The Indianapolis Symphony's Yuletide Celebration, the role of The Narrator in Grant Cooper's Song of the Wolf with The West Virginia Symphony, Bass Soloist in Handel's Messiah with The Queens College Choral Society, Bass Soloist in Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass with Downtown Music at Grace Church (White Plains), the role of Roberto in a staged scene from a new opera, The Theory of Everything by John David Earnest with Encompass New Opera Theatre, and an appearance as a soloist in A Broadway Pops Concert with The New Britain Symphony. Recent engagements include a reprisal of the role of The Narrator in Grant Cooper's Song of the Wolf and being a soloist in A West Side Story Celebration with The Syracuse Symphony. Robert will return to The New Britain Symphony for A Valentine's Day Concert in February 2009.

Mr. Weintraub has been previously featured on the stages of The Ashlawn Opera Festival, The Brevard Music Festival, Ohio Light Opera, Opera Carolina, Opera Memphis, Opera Northeast, and Sarasota Opera. His concert appearances include the role of Beethoven in Beethoven In 'Da House with The Phoenix Symphony, A Concert of Opera Highlights in Laughlin, Nevada with Showcase Concerts Inc., and "pops" concerts featuring the music of Cole Porter and Rodgers & Hammerstein with The Fredonia Chamber Players. He has been heard as a soloist in Mozart's Vespere solennes de Confessore with Arizona State University's Symphony Orchestra and Concert Choir, in addition to Haydn's Missa Sancti Josephi, and Faure's Requiem at Valley Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale, Arizona.

During the course of his Master's Degree in Opera Performance at Arizona State University, Mr. Weintraub performed five roles with Lyric Opera Theater, including the title role in Ullman's Der Kaiser von Atlantis, Guglielmo in Così Fan Tutte, Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus, and Billy Bigelow in Carousel.

Mr. Weintraub was a recipient of Voice, Choral, and Lyric Opera Theater scholarships at Arizona State University, and holds an undergraduate degree from The State University of New York at Fredonia. He lives in Hartsdale, New York with his wife, pianist Lin Li Weintraub, and their dog, CoCo, a Cocker Spaniel.

Soprano Julie Aubin Heller, a native of New Jersey, began vocal training at an early age with International soprano, Ana Riera. She continued her studies at New York University where she received her B. Mus. in Vocal Performance under the tutelage of Carolann Page. Currently residing between New York City and Providenciales, T.C.I.,

Ms. Heller is a frequent performer on the operatic stage having performed with Chelsea Opera, Regina Opera, Rockland Opera, New York Opera Productions, Opera for Humanity, and the New York Metro Vocal Arts Ensemble. Roles performed include the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, the First Lady in The Magic Flute, Sally in Die Fledermaus, the Sandmann/Dew Fairy in Hansel and Gretel, and Juliska in The Gypsy Princess.

Equally at home in musical theatre and dance, Ms. Heller has performed regionally as Laurey (Oklahoma!), Julie Jordan (Carousel), Marion (The Music Man), and in various supporting roles. Ms. Heller is presently the Music and Theatre Arts specialist at the Ashcroft School in Turks & Caicos.

Eric Barsness has appeared as Leporello (Don Giovanni), Don Andres (La Périchole), Mars (Orpheus in the Underworld), and Balthazaar (Amahl and the Night Visitors), all with Delaware Valley Opera. He has sung the premieres of works by composers David Behrman, Jill Kroesen, Joe Hannan, and David Tcimpidis at venues including Roulette in New York City and the Delaware Valley Chamber Orchestra's "Music of Our Time" series. His recital repertory ranges from Henry Purcell and Franz Schubert to Charles Ives and Noel Coward. He can be heard on CD in David Behrman's "My Dear Siegfried" (XI Records) and on DVD in Frankie Mann's "Island." Career highlights include creating the role of God in Joe Hannan and Mary Griffin's opera "Christina the Astonishing" (DVCO, 2000) and portraying Jesus in Terri Hanlon's video "Inversion of Solitude," which premiered at the New York Film Festival.

Eric sang in choirs at Riverside Church and trained as a pianist with Ellen Rust in New York and with Lydia Frumkin at Oberlin Conservatory before he began dancing at Oberlin College and embarked on an extensive career as a dancer and choreographer. A recipient of three NEA choreography fellowships, he was a founding member of ODC/San Francisco, then performed with his own company in regular seasons at Dance Theater Workshop and The Kitchen in New York and on tour throughout the US and Italy. His critically acclaimed dance-theater works include "Blood on the Keys," a docudance about Frederic Chopin, and "Death in Vienna," a madman's tribute to Wolfgang Amadé Mozart and to The Lovely New Zealand Soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. Since shifting his focus back to music, he has studied voice with Richard Dorr and Erik Thorendahl and continues his studies with Sharon Claveau.

Edward Lundergan is Director of Choral Activities and Chairman of the Music Department at the State University of New York at New Paltz.  He is Artistic Director of Kairos: A Consort of Singers, a select vocal ensemble specializing in a cappella repertoire from the Middle Ages to the present, and in the cantatas of J. S. Bach.  He holds a M.M. from the University of   Michigan and a D.M.A. in Choral Conducting from the University of Texas at Austin.  His doctoral treatise on Benjamin Britten's War Requiem received the Julius Herford Award as the outstanding dissertation in the field of choral music for the year 1991.  He has been Music Director of many productions for the Gilbert & Sullivan Musical Theatre Company, including Kismet, The Medium, Sweeney Todd, Iolanthe, The Merry Widow, A Little Night Music, Tomfoolery and Bernstein's Candide.  He has appeared as guest conductor with the Music in the Mountains Festival, the Poné Ensemble, and the Hudson Valley Society for Music.  For several summers he has served as guest conductor for the Hudson Valley Philharmonic. As a performer, he has been a member of the Emmanuel Church Cantata Choir and the John Oliver Chorale in Boston, the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Albany Pro Musica, and the Riverside Choral Society in NYC, and is a frequent soloist in the Hudson Valley.  Dr. Lundergan is a member of the editorial board of the Choral Journal.