Las Cruces Friends of Chamber Music- Friends

Current Executive Board:

Alexandra Aguirre; Director of Public Relations
John Pleasant; Artistic Director
Barbara Toth; Administrative Director

Esteemed Colleagues:

Alexandra Aguirre, flute, clinician
Kerry Alt, guitar
Mike Armendariz, percussion
Maria Elena Armijo, mezzo-soprano
Monica Arredondo, viola
Bethania Baray, soprano
Page Bartz, bassoon, clinician
Ann Berman, oboe
Nathaniel Berman, clarinet, flute, saxophone
Laroy Borchert, clarinet
Irene Brink, soprano
Fred Bugbee, percussion
Gordon Butler, violin
Cesar Camarena, cello
Cathy Carver, piano
Yihan Chen, traditionally Chinese instruments: pipa and guzheng
Sovankonthea (Thea) Chip, soprano
Philip Christiansen, tenor
John De La Paz, clarinet
Bob Diven, baritone
Dave Edwards - actor
Carl Fels, oboe
Federico Garcia, tenor
Paul Halstead, recorder
Steve Helmreich, piano
Ernie Hoffman, piano
Amanda Husson, soprano
Marco Jimenez, piano
Nancy Joy, horn
Rob Keedy, percussion
Bill Kuyper, horn
Alan Lara, trumpet
Georgina Lavery, piano
Dan Levenson, fiddler
Janet Loman, harpsichord
Allan Kaplan, clinician
Mardi Mahaffey, harp
Joseph Mancilla, guitar
Monika Mojica, actress
Daniel Molloy, baritone
Nancy Morey, viola, violin
Carrie Oliver, soprano
Oscar Perez, baritone
Ed Pias, drummer
Allegra Quezada, violin
Guillermo Quzada, viola
Alison Reynolds, cello
Stephanie Robinson, mezzo-soprano
Pancho Romero, clinician
Aaron Rosenthal, piano
Bettina Ross, clarinet, chalumeaux
David Ross, clarinet, chalumeaux
Martha Rowe, soprano, piano
Johanna Royo, mezzo-soprano, artwork
Christine Sanders, mezzo-soprano
William Scholten, bass
James Sclater, composer
Celeste Shearer, horn
James Shearer, tuba
Laura Spitzer, piano
J.R. Spurlin, bass
Michael Staehle, cello
William Scholten, bass
Anita Steadman, violin
Rhonda Taylor, saxophone
Tracey Trambley, vocalist and Flamenco dancer
Lisa Van Winkle, flute
Andrew Zimmerman, tenor

Performing Ensembles:

Berman Trio: Alexandra Aguirre, Ann Berman, and Nathaniel Berman

Cielo Azul: Flute (Lisa Van Winkle), Oboe (Carl Fels) and Bassoon (Page Bartz)

Doña Ana Youth Choir, under the direction of Geri Brink and Paul Halstead, accompanied by Lauri Norman

"La Catrina" String Quartet: Daniel Vega-Albela (violin), Blake Espy (violin), Jorge A. Martinez (viola), and Alan Daowz (cello). www.lacatrinaquartet.com || "La Catrina" Press Release

Madera Wind Duo: Alexandra Aguirre & Nathaniel Berman www.maderawinds.com

Mesa Street Trio: Lesley Chen (violin), Oscar Macchioni (piano), and Benjamin Vickers (cello)

Mesilla Valley Brass Quintet: Trumpets (Steve Schiller & Paul McLaughlin), French Horn (William Kuyper), Trombone (Sander Schiller), and Bass Trombone (John Feeney)

NMSU Woodwind Quintet: Lisa Van Winkle (flute), Carl Fels (oboe), Nancy Joy (horn), Page Bartz (bassoon), and Laroy Borchert (clarinet)

Quintessential Brass: Jawn Glass (trumpet), Steve Haddad (tuba), Martin Huerta (trumpet), Bill Kuyper (horn) and Frank Otero (trombone)

Rio Baroque: Recorders (Paul Hallsted, Joyce Henry, and Steven Weston); Viola da gamba & vielle (Marcia Fountain); Harpsichord (James Sperry)

St. Petersburg String Quartet: Alla Aranovskaya (1st violin), Alla Krolevich (2nd violin), Boris Vayner (viola) and Leonid Shukayev (cello). www.stpetersburgquartet.com

Community Partners:

The Artist Inside Program www.ArtistInside.org
The Black Box Theatre
Border Book Festival, Inc.
Branigan Cultural Center
Doña Ana Arts Council
"First Step" Foundation
Foundation for Las Cruces Museums
Good Samaritan Village
KRWG – FM
Las Cruces Museum of Art
Mayfield High School Orchestra
New Mexico State University Art Gallery
New Mexico State University, Dept. of Music
Rio Grande Theatre
Salvation Army’s “Dress a Child” outreach
San Albino Basilica
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
White's Music Box

Exceptional Volunteers:

Website design and maintenance, Jordan Train

"In-Kind" Donations:

Our second annual Victorian Tea Fundraiser (Jan., 2009) was a huge success, in large part to our wonderful hostesses, Beverly and Lavina, at the Victorian Tea Room. Also, we are most appreciative of the lovely background music provided by our friends, “La Cella Bella” (Tatianna Dickens, Alicia Dolan, Debbie Eckles, and Alison Reynolds).

Our 2008-2009 program cover as well as the season poster for the same period of time feature the distinctive photography of Paul Schrantz, Preston Gallery of Contemporary Art

The beautiful photography and design for the Victorian Tea poster (February, 2008) compliments of Cheryl Fallstead, Fallstead Arts and Services.

In support of our Fundraiser/Victorian Tea (February, 2008), Leonard Jimenez of Studio 037 donated a generous gift basket of hair care products and Charlotte Jones of Nana's Dolls contributed a beautiful porcelain doll for our Silent Auction.

Maria Kruse, fractal artist, graciously donated the use of her striking artwork to promote our concert, “Una GALA para Gala”, (October, 2007).

Hotel Encanto provided beautiful accommodations for visiting artists, the St. Petersburg Quartet, (June, 2007.)

Del Valle Printing generously donated the posters for "The Christmas Gift", (December, 2006).

Johanna Royo designed and graciously donated the original artwork used to publicize our production of "The Christmas Gift", (December, 2006).

Endowments and Grants:

Use of the Rio Grande Theatre for June 12, 2007 performance provided compliments of a mini-grant from Doña Ana Arts Council.

Thanks to the generous financial contributions and “in-kind” gifts of these Padinos y Madrinas de La Catrina/Patrons and Sponsors of La Catrina, the Quartet’s November, 2007 concert was a huge success:
The Basilica Endowment Fund of San Albino Roman Catholic Church and Monsignor Robert Getz.; Patricia Swanson and Laura Robles from Gadsden Middle School; as well as grant funding from “Gear-Up” (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs). Jerean and Tom Hutchinson of La Posta Restaurant; Elsa and Jesús Rodríquez of Ranchway BBQ and Mexican Restaurant ; Lorenzo’s Italian Restaurant; Luna Rossa & St. Clair Wineries ; and Spirit Winds Café. Official BBF “Cake-ista”, Laura Robles; ; Rotoract Club ushers with Judy Messal and Teresa Angel; La Quinta Inn and manager, Amy Miller; also Gerald Nevárez and Jorge Robles. KRWG-FM’s Emily Guerra and Leora Zeitlin.

June 12, 2007 performance by the St. Petersburg String Quartet generously underwritten, in part, by Bank of America and Exit Realty.

September 23, 2006 performance underwritten through the generosity of a friend who wishes to remain anonymous.

* Las Cruces Friends of Chamber Music depends upon the generous financial support of our friends, which enables us to serve our community with fine music. As a 501-C3, not-for-profit organization, gifts are tax deductible.

Professional Affiliations

Member, Artforms: Artists Association of New Mexico
Member, BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.)
Member, Chamber Music America

Awards

Recipients of Doña Ana Arts Council’s Community Arts Award (2007); recognizing co-founders John Pleasant, Joseph Sylvan and Barbara Toth as “possessing the highest standards of motivation, service, and by example making a marked impact on the cultural fabric of our community”.

Las Cruces Friends of Chamber Music Founders:

John Pleasant
Joseph Sylvan
Barbara Toth