DENNIS KAM

Dennis Kam, Professor Emeritus – University of Miami, was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1942. Retired from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida since 2013, Kam was Chair of the Music Theory and Composition Department from 1976 until 2012 and also directed/conducted the Other Music Ensemble (group for the performance of new music) at the University of Miami. Currently he is Music/Worship Director Granada Presbyterian Church in Coral Gables, Florida and also Composer-in- Residence/ Associate Conductor for the South Florida Youth Symphony.

Kam was educated at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio, Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, the East-West Center at the University of Hawaii, Toho Gakuen in Japan, and the University of Illinois. He received many commissions, grants, and awards, including important ones from BMI and the Ford Foundation as Professional (Composer) -in-Residence for Honolulu and the State of Hawaii under the auspices of the Ford Foundation/ MENC Contemporary Music Project during 1970–1972. In addition, he was President of Southern Chapter and National Board Member for Composition in the College Music Society, and has also served as a member of both Executive and National Councils for the Society of Composers, Inc. His solo and chamber music are released on Paladino (Austria), Albany, Capstone, and Living Artist labels. Miami Mix II, an orchestral work performed by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, is released on TNC.

MIA VASSILEV

Pianist Mia Vassilev has concertized throughout the U.S., Europe, Mexico, and China, and has been broadcast on the Classical Radio Network in Bulgaria. Dr. Vassilev's unique programming of important yet neglected repertoire has resulted in critically acclaimed performances of works of Leo Ornstein, Erwin Schulhoff, and others. At Kansas State University, as a student of Dr. Robert Edwards, Dr. Vassilev received a coveted Presser Scholar Award, the Melba C. Budge Fellowship, the Outstanding Performer Award and was winner of the University Concerto Competition. She holds a master's degree in piano performance from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music, graduating in 2001 as a University Graduate Scholar recipient. Dr. Vassilev was awarded a teaching assistantship in Collaborative Piano at the University of Miami Frost School of Music, receiving her doctoral degree in May 20 l O under the direction of Paul Posnak and J.B. Floyd.

An active soloist, accompanist, and chamber musician, she has performed in the Grandin Chamber Music Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio, and performed for tours, outreach programs, workshops, and production rehearsals with the Metropolitan Opera (NY), Glimmerglass Opera (NY), Florida Grand Opea, and Cincinnati Opera. She has been staff accompanist in festivals such as Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca, Italy, the American Institute of Musical Studies Festival in Graz, Austria, and the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts in Miami, Florida among others.

Locally, she is a frequent soloist with the Hallendale Symphonic Pops Orchestra, the Alhambra Orchestra, the Sugar Pops Orchestra, and the Klezmer Company Orchestra, is an adjunct Professor of Piano at Barry University in Miami Shores and piano accompanist for the Second Avenue Jewish Chorale. Dr. Vassilev is founder and artistic director of the Miami Piano Circle, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing quality classical music in unique formats to all audiences. More information can be found on the organization's website.

AMY TARANTINO - TRAFTON

Cleveland-born pianist Amy Tarantino-Trafton has performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician in the U.S. and Europe. Her work as a collaborative artist has afforded her diverse opportunities as a recitalist, studio accompanist and coach at the University of Miami, Oberlin College Conservatory, and at summer festivals such as the University of Miami's program in Salzburg, Austria and the Franco-American Vocal Academy in Perigueux, France. Her love of interdisciplinary and educational projects has resulted in participation in mixed music and dance projects with the ballet company of the Nationaltheater Mannheim, and in working with the Italian pedagogue and musician Andrea Apostoli to offer concerts for parents, toddlers and refugees with musicians of the Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pralz and the Philharmonisches Orchester Hagen. Additionally, she was the founder and director of ArtQuest, a business created to provided diverse music and arts programming for inner-city charter schools, and has maintained an active career as a piano teacher and coach.

Ms. Tarantino-Trafton holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and a Certificate of Nonprofit Management from Case Western Reserve University. Her interest in the music of Dennis Kam began in 1996 at the University of Miami, where she received a Doctorate of Musical Arts in piano performance. Since that time, she has remained an active interpreter of his works, as well as those of many other living composers.

She received a Presser Foundation Music Award for her research towards writing her doctoral thesis, Unconventional Notation: A Pianist's Guide to Intent and Execution, and has been featured at the Gamper Festival of Contemporary Music, Chapter conferences of the College Music Society, and the Society of Composers, Inc. national conference. She currently resides in Hagen, Germany.

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DENNIS KAM

Dennis Kam, Professor Emeritus – University of Miami, was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1942. Retired from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida since 2013, Kam was Chair of the Music Theory and Composition Department from 1976 until 2012 and also directed/conducted the Other Music Ensemble (group for the performance of new music) at the University of Miami. Currently he is Music/Worship Director Granada Presbyterian Church in Coral Gables, Florida and also Composer-in- Residence/ Associate Conductor for the South Florida Youth Symphony.

Kam was educated at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio, Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, the East-West Center at the University of Hawaii, Toho Gakuen in Japan, and the University of Illinois. He received many commissions, grants, and awards, including important ones from BMI and the Ford Foundation as Professional (Composer) -in-Residence for Honolulu and the State of Hawaii under the auspices of the Ford Foundation/ MENC Contemporary Music Project during 1970–1972. In addition, he was President of Southern Chapter and National Board Member for Composition in the College Music Society, and has also served as a member of both Executive and National Councils for the Society of Composers, Inc. His solo and chamber music are released on Paladino (Austria), Albany, Capstone, and Living Artist labels. Miami Mix II, an orchestral work performed by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, is released on TNC.

​

MIA VASSILEV

Pianist Mia Vassilev has concertized throughout the U.S., Europe, Mexico, and China, and has been broadcast on the Classical Radio Network in Bulgaria. Dr. Vassilev's unique programming of important yet neglected repertoire has resulted in critically acclaimed performances of works of Leo Ornstein, Erwin Schulhoff, and others. At Kansas State University, as a student of Dr. Robert Edwards, Dr. Vassilev received a coveted Presser Scholar Award, the Melba C. Budge Fellowship, the Outstanding Performer Award and was winner of the University Concerto Competition. She holds a master's degree in piano performance from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music, graduating in 2001 as a University Graduate Scholar recipient. Dr. Vassilev was awarded a teaching assistantship in Collaborative Piano at the University of Miami Frost School of Music, receiving her doctoral degree in May 20 l O under the direction of Paul Posnak and J.B. Floyd.

An active soloist, accompanist, and chamber musician, she has performed in the Grandin Chamber Music Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio, and performed for tours, outreach programs, workshops, and production rehearsals with the Metropolitan Opera (NY), Glimmerglass Opera (NY), Florida Grand Opea, and Cincinnati Opera. She has been staff accompanist in festivals such as Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca, Italy, the American Institute of Musical Studies Festival in Graz, Austria, and the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts in Miami, Florida among others.

Locally, she is a frequent soloist with the Hallendale Symphonic Pops Orchestra, the Alhambra Orchestra, the Sugar Pops Orchestra, and the Klezmer Company Orchestra, is an adjunct Professor of Piano at Barry University in Miami Shores and piano accompanist for the Second Avenue Jewish Chorale. Dr. Vassilev is founder and artistic director of the Miami Piano Circle, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing quality classical music in unique formats to all audiences. More information can be found on the organization's website.

​

AMY TARANTINO - TRAFTON

Cleveland-born pianist Amy Tarantino-Trafton has performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician in the U.S. and Europe. Her work as a collaborative artist has afforded her diverse opportunities as a recitalist, studio accompanist and coach at the University of Miami, Oberlin College Conservatory, and at summer festivals such as the University of Miami's program in Salzburg, Austria and the Franco-American Vocal Academy in Perigueux, France. Her love of interdisciplinary and educational projects has resulted in participation in mixed music and dance projects with the ballet company of the Nationaltheater Mannheim, and in working with the Italian pedagogue and musician Andrea Apostoli to offer concerts for parents, toddlers and refugees with musicians of the Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pralz and the Philharmonisches Orchester Hagen.

Additionally, she was the founder and director of ArtQuest, a business created to provided diverse music and arts programming for inner-city charter schools, and has maintained an active career as a piano teacher and coach.

Ms. Tarantino-Trafton holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and a Certificate of Nonprofit Management from Case Western Reserve University. Her interest in the music of Dennis Kam began in 1996 at the University of Miami, where she received a Doctorate of Musical Arts in piano performance. Since that time, she has remained an active interpreter of his works, as well as those of many other living composers.

She received a Presser Foundation Music Award for her research towards writing her doctoral thesis, Unconventional Notation: A Pianist's Guide to Intent and Execution, and has been featured at the Gamper Festival of Contemporary Music, Chapter conferences of the College Music Society, and the Society of Composers, Inc. national conference. She currently resides in Hagen, Germany.

DENNIS KAM

Dennis Kam, Professor Emeritus – University of Miami, was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1942. Retired from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida since 2013, Kam was Chair of the Music Theory and Composition Department from 1976 until 2012 and also directed/conducted the Other Music Ensemble (group for the performance of new music) at the University of Miami. Currently he is Music/Worship Director Granada Presbyterian Church in Coral Gables, Florida and also Composer-in- Residence/ Associate Conductor for the South Florida Youth Symphony.

Kam was educated at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio, Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, the East-West Center at the University of Hawaii, Toho Gakuen in Japan, and the University of Illinois. He received many commissions, grants, and awards, including important ones from BMI and the Ford Foundation as Professional (Composer) -in-Residence for Honolulu and the State of Hawaii under the auspices of the Ford Foundation/ MENC Contemporary Music Project during 1970–1972. In addition, he was President of Southern Chapter and National Board Member for Composition in the College Music Society, and has also served as a member of both Executive and National Councils for the Society of Composers, Inc. His solo and chamber music are released on Paladino (Austria), Albany, Capstone, and Living Artist labels. Miami Mix II, an orchestral work performed by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, is released on TNC.

MIA VASSILEV

Pianist Mia Vassilev has concertized throughout the U.S., Europe, Mexico, and China, and has been broadcast on the Classical Radio Network in Bulgaria. Dr. Vassilev's unique programming of important yet neglected repertoire has resulted in critically acclaimed performances of works of Leo Ornstein, Erwin Schulhoff, and others. At Kansas State University, as a student of Dr. Robert Edwards, Dr. Vassilev received a coveted Presser Scholar Award, the Melba C. Budge Fellowship, the Outstanding Performer Award and was winner of the University Concerto Competition. She holds a master's degree in piano performance from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music, graduating in 2001 as a University Graduate Scholar recipient. Dr. Vassilev was awarded a teaching assistantship in Collaborative Piano at the University of Miami Frost School of Music, receiving her doctoral degree in May 20 l O under the direction of Paul Posnak and J.B. Floyd.

An active soloist, accompanist, and chamber musician, she has performed in the Grandin Chamber Music Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio, and performed for tours, outreach programs, workshops, and production rehearsals with the Metropolitan Opera (NY), Glimmerglass Opera (NY), Florida Grand Opea, and Cincinnati Opera. She has been staff accompanist in festivals such as Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca, Italy, the American Institute of Musical Studies Festival in Graz, Austria, and the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts in Miami, Florida among others.

Locally, she is a frequent soloist with the Hallendale Symphonic Pops Orchestra, the Alhambra Orchestra, the Sugar Pops Orchestra, and the Klezmer Company Orchestra, is an adjunct Professor of Piano at Barry University in Miami Shores and piano accompanist for the Second Avenue Jewish Chorale. Dr. Vassilev is founder and artistic director of the Miami Piano Circle, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing quality classical music in unique formats to all audiences. More information can be found on the organization's website.

AMY TARANTINO - TRAFTON

Cleveland-born pianist Amy Tarantino-Trafton has performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician in the U.S. and Europe. Her work as a collaborative artist has afforded her diverse opportunities as a recitalist, studio accompanist and coach at the University of Miami, Oberlin College Conservatory, and at summer festivals such as the University of Miami's program in Salzburg, Austria and the Franco-American Vocal Academy in Perigueux, France. Her love of interdisciplinary and educational projects has resulted in participation in mixed music and dance projects with the ballet company of the Nationaltheater Mannheim, and in working with the Italian pedagogue and musician Andrea Apostoli to offer concerts for parents, toddlers and refugees with musicians of the Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pralz and the Philharmonisches Orchester Hagen.

Additionally, she was the founder and director of ArtQuest, a business created to provided diverse music and arts programming for inner-city charter schools, and has maintained an active career as a piano teacher and coach.

Ms. Tarantino-Trafton holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and a Certificate of Nonprofit Management from Case Western Reserve University. Her interest in the music of Dennis Kam began in 1996 at the University of Miami, where she received a Doctorate of Musical Arts in piano performance. Since that time, she has remained an active interpreter of his works, as well as those of many other living composers.

She received a Presser Foundation Music Award for her research towards writing her doctoral thesis, Unconventional Notation: A Pianist's Guide to Intent and Execution, and has been featured at the Gamper Festival of Contemporary Music, Chapter conferences of the College Music Society, and the Society of Composers, Inc. national conference. She currently resides in Hagen, Germany.