Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius & Heard: Bio

Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius - composer-pianist

HEARD
new music for modern chamber ensemble

The original repertoire of HEARD is the work of composer-arranger-pianist ELIZABETH WOODBURY KASIUS who brings a wide array of styles --jazz, classical and world music-- into her captivating soundscape. Her inspirations come from her diverse experiences and interests and are often drawn from the raw and powerful sources that nature provides. Heard's dynamic and eclectic lineup of musicians provides Elizabeth with a multitude of talents and textures to compose for, and to perform with.

Elizabeth received her formal musical training at the University of Washington and Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, where she studied ethnomusicology, piano performance and composition with Jovino Santos Neto, Julian Priester and Jim Knapp.

In addition to teaching composition and piano privately, she is an adjunct professor in the Dance Department at Russell Sage College in Troy, NY, where she works as a dance musician and composer-in-residence. Her collaborations with dancers have also led her to work with the NYC-based Mark Morris, Jose Limon, and Doug Varone Companies, and the NYC Ballet, as well as with the Capital-District based Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company and Saratoga Springs' TangoFusion.

Elizabeth's music was recently featured on the NPR program “Theme & Variations”, and she is currently at work on her second cd, “Lullabies & River Songs”. A release with writer/monologue artist David Greenberger's Duplex Planet project is also in the works for 2007.

Rebecca Kleinmann - flutes

Flutist and Singer Rebecca Kleinmann was raised in Charlotte North Carolina steeped in gospel and classical music. She began her studies at Indiana University as a classical flutist and emerged with a Jazz degree. She currently is based in Southern California, and travels widely performing Jazz, Flamenco, and Brazilian music. She just released her first CD, "Raio de Sol" of jazz with world-music influences. For more information on Rebecca, please visit rebeccakleinmann.com

Jeffrey Parker - cello/bass

Jeffrey Parker is a classically trained cellist who began his musical studies in Chicago at the age of six. A Filene Scholar while at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, Parker studied cello with Ann Alton and bass with Rich Syracuse. A versatile musician, Parker has extensive experience in orchestral, chamber, jazz and rock performance and is now based back in Chicago, and performing all over the country.