Musicians of Ma'alwyck: Bio
Ann Marie Schwartz - Violin
Ann-Marie Barker Schwartz attended Boston University where she studied with Roger Shermont. From 1982-1997 a member of the first violin section of the Albany Symphony Orchestra, she currently performs with the Glimmerglass Opera Orchestra and is director and violinist of Musicians of Ma'alwyck, a chamber ensemble in residence at the Schuyler Mansion New York State historic Site and at the University at Albany. Co-founder and director of the St. Cecilia Chamber Orchestra from 1987-1998, Schwartz now runs the Siena College Music Series, where she founded the Franciscan Chamber Orchestra. She teaches violin and viola at the University at Albany and Schenectady County Community College and is a former instructor at the Emma Willard School in Troy. Currently attending graduate school at the University at Albany, she studies music in America during the 1700s. She has published articles in Archives Magazine and recently reconstructed and produced the 1750s opera Alfred of Sir Thomas Arne. Ms. Schwartz was also a producer for Dorian Recordings.
Sten Yngvar Isachsen - Guitar
Sten Yngvar Isachsen performs extensively as a solo artist giving concerts in such venues as the Adirondack Center for the Arts at Blue Lake Mountain, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Ithaca College, Eastman School of Music, Hyde Museum, College of St. Rose and the University at Albany. Isachsen holds a Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Guitar Performance from Ithaca College, Associates of Music degree from Schenctady County Community College, and has studied guitar with Frederick Hand, Ed Flower, and Joel Brown. He has participated in master classes with Manuel Barrueco, Sergio and Odair Assad and Benjamin Verdery. Isachsen is a founding member of the Finger Lakes Guitar Quartet, which has commissioned works from Anthony Holland. He is a member of the chamber group Musicians of Ma'alwyck. Isachsen teaches at the University at Albany, Schenectady County Community College and the College of St. Rose.
Petia Kassarova - Cello
Born in Bourgas, Bulgaria, Petia Kassarova began studying cello at age ten. She attended the Bulgarian Conservatory working with Zdravko Jordanov, a student of Mstislav Rostropovich. During that time she worked in the Vidin Philharmonia and toured with the orchestra of Western Europe. In 1992 Petia became principal cellist of Orquestra Sinfonica de Ribeirao Preto, Brazil and was also professor of cello at the Music Academy of Ribeirao Preto. In 1993 she attended Duquesne University School of Music pursuing an Artist's Diploma with cellist Jennifer Langham. Since 1998 she has been a member of the Albany Symphony Orchestra and Glimmerglass Opera Orchestra. She has been a member of Musicians of Ma'alwyck since its founding.
Norman Thibodeau - Flutist
Norman Thibodeau, flutist is a new addition to Musicians of Ma'alwyck, replacing founding member Linda Greene, who won a position with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra (Congratulations, Linda!). Norman is a native resident of the Capital Region. He studied at both the University at Albany and the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore. Norman has performed with the Albany Symphony Orchestra and the St. Cecilia Chamber Orchestra. For several years he worked down in Mexico as an orchestral flutist. Musicians of Ma'alwyck is delighted to have Norm as our flutist and look forward to many wonderful concerts with him this season. Norm is also a published composer.
Gene Marie Callahan Kern - Soprano
Gene Marie Callahan Kern, soprano, has been described by critics as touchingly expressive, superlatives such as spectacular, perfect, and a model character for her singing in a wide variety of music on the operatic and concert stage. She made a national debut as the Chicago Lyric Opera and an international debut in Graz, Austria, and has since sung leading roles with some of the world's finest conductors including James Levine, Zdeneck Macal, Adam Fischer, and the late Lee Schaenen.
She has worked with stage directors Lotfi Mansouri, Christopher Alden, Marc Verzatt, Graziella Scuitti, Nick Muni, David Gately, and Sheldon Patinkin and has shared the stage with artists including Renata Scotto, Sherrill Milnes, Josephine Barstow, Harolyn Blackwell, and Paul Plishka.
In addition to her performance career, Ms. Callahan Kern maintains a private studio, and is currently an adjunct Professor of Applied Voice at Castleton State College, Castleton, Vermont. She earned a B.Mus. degree from Hope College, and is an alumna of the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists, American Institute of Musical Studies, and has studied at the Goethe Institute in Chicago, Illinois. She is a Metropolitan Opera Regional Finalist, Opera America winner, Sullivan Grant recipient, and a Friends of Austria Grant winner, and was the first recipient of a Carol Fox Memorial Scholarship.