PIANO

KATIE COSCO
M.A., University of Memphis, jazz piano performance. B.S., Indiana University, music and audio technology. Studied classical piano with Daniel Fletcher, John Ogden, James Tocco and Han Boepple, jazz piano with Gene Rush and Dr. David N. Baker. Former faculty member, University of Memphis. Professional experience ranges from numerous solo piano performances to traveling keyboardist with the Four Tops. Performed with many well-known artists, including Smokey Robinson, Little Anthony and the Imperials, the Coasters, the Chiffons, Lesley Gore, Ben E. King, Peggy March, Jerry Van Dyke, Charo, Jack Sheldon, Billy Swan, Clint Holmes and Billy Eckstein. Performed as the keyboardist/leader for Tony and Tina’s Wedding in NYC, as well as with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, the Mercedes Ellington "Tribute to Duke Ellington" show, and with orchestras under the direction of Bill Conti and Michael Berkowitz.

RON LEVY
B.A., Oberlin Conservatory; Juilliard Preparatory School. Studied with Joseph Schwartz as a scholarship student at Oberlin, Diana Arlyck, and Leland Thompson of the Juilliard School. Former Executive Director of the Bergen Youth Orchestra. Recently elected President of the Professional Music Teachers’ Guild. Currently chairs the Music Department at Felician College, while maintaining active and ongoing affiliation with the Manhattan School of Music, Kean University, and the Juilliard Preparatory School. Regularly appears as a soloist and in partnership with many of the world’s leading singers and instrumentalists, including more than four dozen artists on the roster of the Metropolitan Opera. Founding member of the Hudson Trio, Kaleidoscope, the New World Trio, the Manchester Chamber Players, and the Palisades Virtuosi; has been pianist and harpsichordist of the Oberlin Orchestra, the New Jersey Philharmonic and the Westchester Symphony and is currently keyboardist of the Manchester Music Festival, the Adelphi Chamber Orchestra and the Albany Symphony. Associated with the Manchester Music Festival since 1985, of which he is a faculty and Board member. Composer of many works for voice and piano. Several prominent composers have written works for Mr. Levy, notably James Grant, John Lampkin, Richard Lane, Erik Nielsen, and David Sampson. Adjudicator, conductor, critic, lecturer and writer on musical subjects. Recordings by Mr. Levy are available on the Albany, Centaur, Eroica, Koch International, MMF and Summit labels.

FRANK FELDMAN
M.M., New England Conservatory; B.A., Brown University. Studied classical piano with Constance Keene, Edwin Hymovitz, Victor Rosenbaum; jazz piano with Jaki Byard, Billy Taylor; theory/composition with Wm. T. McKinley, George Russell and Gerald Zaritsky. Has taught classical, jazz and popular piano, as well as theory/composition, both privately and through various music programs. NY performances at Carnegie Hall and Beacon Theater, principal pianist with the Long Island and Island Lyric Opera Companies, soloist at major venues throughout the metro area. Composer of more than 200 classical, popular and jazz pieces for piano, voice, organ, strings. Author of numerous publications, including Jazz Riffs for Piano and Easy Riffs for Piano.

NELSON PADGETT
B.M. and M.M., Peabody Conservatory of Music. Studied with Leon Fleisher. Has taught privately for over twenty years. Currently teaching in New York City at Third Street Music School Settlement, America's oldest community music school. Performance credits range from solo appearances with the Houston and National Symphony Orchestras to world premieres of major works by Philip Glass. In addition to concerts across the United States, he has performed in Canada, Japan, South Korea, and throughout South America and Europe. His many competition successes include a Silver Medal from the William Kapell International Competition and a Beethoven Fellowship from the American Pianists Association. Recital partners have included violinists Nai-Yuan Hu, Pamela Frank, Elmar Oliveira, and cellist Daniel Gaisford. Has been heard at the Mostly Mozart, Caramoor, and Newport Music Festivals.

PAMELA IBETH VERA
M.A., Hunter College/CUNY, conducting and piano. B.M., Queens College/CUNY; Post Graduate Degree, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. Professor of Music at Bergen and Passaic County Community Colleges; and faculty member of the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. Winner of the 1995 Herbert Rogers Performance Studies Award. Varied orchestral and choral conducting experience including Assistant Conductor of the Hunter College Symphony Orchestra, and Founder, Conductor and Music Director of the Maya Chamber Orchestra. Critically acclaimed pianist with numerous live, television and radio performances throughout New York and Ecuador, including performances at Lang Recital Hall, Weill Recital Hall, First Presbyterian Church of New York Choir, Queens College Concert Hall, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music Recital Hall, City University of New York and Teatro Principal Centro de Arte.