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ORIGIN: Native of Washington, DC. CURRENT RESIDENCE: Troy, NY having moved here in 1992. BECAUSE: Read about the Shostakovich festival in the city of Troy. REAL REASON: Followed my husband who took a job at RPI. OFFICIAL DUTY: Playing cello for whoever will let me (Glens Falls Symphony, Schenectady Symphony). Also, board member Friends of Chamber Music. FORMER OFFICIAL DUTY: Teaching and playing for whoever would let me in DC. INTERESTING FACT: Founding member of the Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield String Quartet, a quartet of African-American women. Performed twice by invitation for members of the U.S. Supreme Court. HOBBY: Taking piano lessons from my 2-year-old grandson (expressionism). FAVORITE FOOD: Starbuck’s coffee ice cream. The whole pint. www.friendsofchambermusic.org www.gfso.org www.schenectadysymphony.org

Joseph Dalton is the founder of Hudson Sounds and the author of "Artists & Activists: Making Culture in New York's Capital Region." He has been a freelance classical music critic and general arts reports for the Times Union since 2002. A veteran of the recording industry, he was director of Composers Recordings, Inc. (CRI) from 1990 to 2000 and began his career at Sony Classical. He writes about the GLTB community in in classical music at www.MyBigGayEars.com. www.JosephDalton.net

Evan Tublitz is a registered piano technician and owner of the Used Piano Center in Mechanicville, NY (www.usedpianocenter.com). With 35 years of experience in the field, he is a specialist in European pianos and concert preparation and has pioneered techniques in achieving world class performances on everyday pianos. He trained at the factories of Ibach, Steinway, Yamaha, Petrof and other piano manufacturers and has worked with numerous prominent concert artists including Andre Watts, Earl Wild, Mstislav Rostropovich, Marilyn Horne, Jean-Pierre Rampal and many more. Tublitz recently joined the board of Troy Chromatic Concerts, Inc. Tublitz welcomes questions about pianos, which he will answer on his Hudson Sounds blog. Send your questions through the comments field at the end of his posts or contact him by phone at 518-664-4367 or email at etap1@juno.com.

Robert B. Rosoff has been the Executive Director of the Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra since 1998. He previously served on its board from January 1992 including as chairman of the Orchestra Committee from 1993 to1998 and President of the Board from 1996 to 1998. During his board tenure he was actively involved with programming, negotiations, budgeting and fund raising. He has been a member of Board of Directors of the League of American Orchestras since 2003 and serves on the Finance & Investment, Audit, and Learning and Leadership Development committees. He championed the Ford Made in America consortium and is a member of the Steering Committee. www.gfso.org

Mary Jane Leach is a composer/performer who lived many years in NYC and is now living in "The Brick Elephant," a former church in northern Rensselaer County, which she uses as a studio, as well as a place to present an occasional concert. Her work reveals a fascination with the physicality of sound, its acoustic properties and how they interact with space, creating what The New Yorker called "an acoustic 'Through the Looking Glass' world based on sound that the performer is not making."
 www.mjleach.com www.resoundings.net

Rain Worthington is a composer living in Nassau, Rensselaer County. Before moving upstate in 2003, she was part of the Manhattan new music scene for more than 25 years. Her music “…take(s) ideas of American musical style to a new place, like a walk in a familiar, yet very different park... and isn't afraid to come up with its own startling conclusions.” Rain’s orchestra compositions are released on CDBaby and PARMA and her piano music on North/South Recordings. A new orchestra work is scheduled for 2012 release on PARMA. She currently serves as director of development for the New York Women Composers. www.rainworthington.com

Violinist Ann-Marie Barker Schwartz is the founder of the Musicians of Ma’alwyck, a chamber ensemble in residence at the Schuyler Mansion (a New York State historic site) and at the Schenectady County Community College. She currently performs with the Glimmerglass Opera Orchestra and was a member of the first violin section of the Albany Symphony Orchestra from 1982 to 1997. She was also co-founder and director of the St. Cecilia Chamber Orchestra (1987-1998). She attended Boston University where she studied with Roger Shermont. In 2007, she received her Masters Degree in American History from the University at Albany, where she specialized in music in early America. www.musiciansofmaalwyck.org

Anne Zwick Turner is a professional soprano and voice teacher who has been a vital contributor to the musical life of the Capital District for more than 30 years. She holds the position of artist-in-residence in voice at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs. You can find out more about Anne by viewing her website, www.annezwickturner.info.

Gregory Anderson is a singer, actor, and producer. He has for the past ten years worked with Three Dollar Bill Productions producing musicals, original revues and plays in the Capital Region. He has released two CDs, "The Heart Of A Good Song" and "Songs From Hudson Avenue" both with Nate Buccieri. He's a board member of the Troy Chromatics and is currently finishing up his first novel. www.queertheater.org

Findlay Cockrell has been a pianist, educator and beloved musical citizen of the Capital Region for more than 40 years. A native of Berkeley, he has homes in Albany, the California wine country and Barbados. Now a professor emeritus at the University at Albany, he's the founder and director of the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra and has recorded with the Albany Symphony Orchestra.