The 2024 Alfred Z. Solomon Music Summit empowered the community with expert-led music workshops, hands-on instrument repair training, and inspiring material that enriched music education across the region.
Music Makes Magic

Our Incredible 2024 Clinicians!
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Guitarist
has performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center, and has appeared on dozens of recordings, such as Bach to Brubeck with the London Symphony Orchestra and Live at Zankel Hall with Dave Brubeck. A member of Chris Brubeck's Triple Play, he has toured extensively, performing in 48 states and internationally. Brown is a Distinguished Artist in Residence at Skidmore College and was recently awarded Record of the Year by the Capital Region Thomas Edison Awards for his song "Everyone’s Gone Home.”
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Trumpeter
is a graduate of the esteemed jazz studies program at SUNY Purchase. Dylan was a member of the Purchase Jazz Orchestra and Purchase Latin Jazz Orchestra. Canterbury has performed with the Grammy-winning Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, as well as being a member of the newly-formed Smoke Big Band.
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Instrument Repair Expert
is the owner and operator of Cole’s Woodwind Shop in Saratoga Spring, NY, for over 40 years, servicing not only the local population but also all of the woodwind artists from the NYC Ballet Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and visiting bands during their summer residencies at SPAC. Bill is the founder and president of Horns for Haiti and regular guest clinical for instrument-repair workshops through We Are Instrumental. Check him out at Cole’s Woodwind Shop!
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Saxophonist
teaches Band, Music Technology, and directs Jazz ensembles at Sleepy Hollow Middle/High School in NY, holds a Bachelor's in Music Education from SUNY Potsdam and a Master's in Jazz Studies from the University of Northern Colorado. An experienced educator and professional saxophonist, he performs internationally, serves on the executive board of the New York State Band Directors Association, and maintains an active schedule as a performer, clinician, and guest lecturer.
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Clarinetist
joined the faculty of the Crane School of Music in 2006 and serves as Professor of Clarinet and Admissions/Auditions Coordinator. Dr. Doyle co-coordinates the acclaimed Potsdam Single Reed Summit and Woodwind Summit. She also served as Director of the Crane Youth Music Camp from 2009-2023. Dr. Doyle is the New York State Chair for the International Clarinet Association and served as Pedagogy Coordinator from 2022-2024. Dr. Doyle is honored to be an artist with Backun Musical Services and DANSR/Vandoren. Find more about Julianne on her Website!
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Flutist
is the Assistant Professor of Flute at SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music and co-founder of the Umoja Flute Institute. He has performed nationally and internationally, serving as co-principal flute of the Orchestra of Northern New York and participating in prestigious ensembles such as the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Dunbar holds degrees from Louisiana State University, the University of Michigan, and Stetson University.
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Pianist
is a collaborative pianist in the Departments of Dance and Music at Skidmore College, holding a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the Crane School of Music. She has extensive experience as an accompanist, working with regional high school musicians and serving as organist and Director of Music Ministries at the United Methodist Church of Queensbury. Carol Ann has also played for master classes with renowned artists and founded a comprehensive choral program at St. Mary’s/St. Alphonsus Regional Catholic School.
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Violinist
is a Senior Artist-in-Residence at Skidmore College, and directs the vibrant string program, working with talented students on solo, chamber music, and orchestral repertoire. He is concertmaster and frequent soloist with orchestras in New York and California, and has performed as soloist and concertmaster in Asia, as well as several major European cities. Mr. Emery blends performance with teaching to create an active musical career.He has collaborated in chamber music with many international artists with orchestras and chamber groups.
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Violist
is a sought after chamber music player and has toured throughout Europe and the United States. She currently divides her performance time as Assistant Principal Violist with the Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra, and Principal and Assistant Principal violist with such groups as the Orchestra Santa Monica, Schenectady, Catskill, and Skidmore College Orchestras. She is a Professor of Violin and Viola at Skidmore College.
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Pianist
a lifelong church musician and the director of music at Saint John’s Collegium, leads the church choir and performs as a tenor, conductor, and multi-keyboard artist. He has collaborated with prestigious ensembles, conducted premieres of contemporary works, and is restoring an 1882 Eastlake Style Victorian home in Troy, New York, with his wife, soprano Sabrina Elyse Manna.
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Voice
a tenor active in the Capital Region and across New York State, has performed with numerous ensembles including the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, Saratoga Voices, and the Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra. His notable roles include Peter Quint in Turn of the Screw, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, and Ferrando in Così fan tutte. In addition to his extensive performance work, Mr. Gray is a sought-after voice teacher, vocal coach, and accompanist, currently serving as Organist at Jonesville United Methodist Church and teaching on the voice faculty at Skidmore College.
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Tubist
Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at SUNY-Potsdam's Crane School of Music and chair of the Performance Department, performs with ensembles such as the Potsdam Brass Quintet and the Orchestra of Northern New York. A distinguished soloist and winner of the 1999 Leonard Falcone Festival artist division competition, he is dedicated to educating young musicians and has performed at numerous international conferences, with extensive experience in orchestras like the Syracuse Symphony and Rochester Philharmonic.
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Pianist
with a Bachelor of Music from the Crane School of Music, has been at Skidmore since 1990, where she accompanies and coaches students in lessons, rehearsals, and recitals. She also teaches Class Piano, plays for Skidmore’s Vocal Chamber Ensemble and chorus, and has been accompanying ballet classes since 1997. In addition to her work at Skidmore, Patte maintains a large private piano studio.
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Percussionist
is a versatile musician who keeps a very active teaching, recording and performing schedule with artists from many different disciplines. He has performed with a Who's Who list of jazz musicians in festivals and in clubs throughout the Northeast. His current schedule includes performances with The Empire Jazz Orchestra, Keith Pray’s Big Soul Ensemble, The Capitol Region Wind Ensemble and various club bands and teaching at Skidmore College and SCCC.
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Clarinetist
is an accomplished clarinetist, director, teacher, and creator across a multitude of genres. A New York native now based in Montreal, she fills clarinet positions in numerous orchestras throughout NY and Quebec, including principal clarinet of l'orchestre philharmonique de musiciens de Montreal. Christine is the founder and artistic director of the interdisciplinary chamber music collective Verisimo, which has performed throughout Quebec, Ontario, and New York. You can find more about Christine on her Website or her instagram!
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Saxophonist
is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, Adam has been performing and teaching professionally in New York City since 2013. He is a graduate of the acclaimed University of North Texas jazz studies program, where he played lead alto in the six-time Grammy-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band. Adam is a regular performer in the NYC jazz club scene and most notably performs regularly at Jazz at the Kitano, dubbed “One of the best jazz clubs in NYC” by the NYC Jazz Record.
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Flutist
has been second flutist the Vermont Symphony Orchestra since 1983; she also substitutes as principal flute and piccolo, and is a member of a VSO Woodwind Trio that plays in schools throughout Vermont as part of the Musicians in Schools Program. She is Professor of Flute at the University of Vermont and Middlebury College. Ms. Janson received a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Hartt School of Music and a Master of Music Degree from the Manhattan School of Music.
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Baritonist
is well-known to audiences in the Washington, D.C. area, having performed regularly for more than two decades in opera, concert, recital and intimate cabaret settings, in such venues as the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Opera House and Millennium Stage. During the summer, he travels to Schroon Lake to join the voice faculty at Seagle Music Festival, one of top training programs in the United States for aspiring young opera singers. He is a professor of voice at Shenandoah University. Find more about him Here!
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Bassoonist
D.M.A., a native of Bennington, Vermont, is an active bassoonist, conductor, and teacher who performs with ensembles like the Glens Falls Symphony, Catskill Symphony, and Albany Pro Musica. He currently teaches at Skidmore College and has previously taught at institutions such as Bennington College and the University of Vermont, having earned his doctorate from the University of Southern California, where he served as Principal Bassoon for several orchestras, including the Los Angeles Classical Ballet and the Bakersfield Symphony.
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Trumpeter
a professional trumpeter since age 15, earned his Bachelor's in Trumpet Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music and currently performs with the Grammy-winning Albany Symphony Orchestra. He has collaborated with renowned artists like Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, and Luciano Pavarotti, and serves as Trumpet Professor at Skidmore College while maintaining an active freelance and teaching career.
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Percussionist
began playing the drums at age 17. With not much formal music training he joined the SUNY Plattsburgh Jazz Ensemble and Symphonic Band where he began his journey learning how to read and perform music. While studying music Education in Athens, OH, he maintained a busy performance schedule in as many genres of music as possible. Today, Michael performs with the Latin Thugtet, Adirondack Jazz Orchestra, and the Adirondack Wind Ensemble.
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String Repair Expert
is an instrument maker (luthier) who has been making stringed instruments for over 30 years. He runs the Macica Workshop in Schuylerville, NY. Mostly working by hand, Martin builds mandolins, violins, violas, cellos and viols. A musician as well, Martin plays in a bluegrass gospel band called True Grass. Martin has been teaching instrument-repair workshops with We Are Instrumental. Many of his beautiful creations can be found at The Macica Workshop!
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Hornist
is a member of the Glens Falls and Schenectady Symphonies, a founding member of fünf – woodwind quintet, and a chorister in Albany’s Historic St. Peter’s Church Choir. She works as a freelance French horninst in the Capital region and has been a member of North Winds, On Cor, and performs with musical theater productions, opera and national tours Patrice teaches at Skidmore College and maintains an active private teaching studio.
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Pianist
teaches PreK-12 music at Willsboro Central School and serves as music director and organist for St. John's Episcopal Church in Essex, NY. She is an active pianist, recently performing with the Trillium Chamber Players, and will be the collaborative pianist for several upcoming NYSSMA choruses. Jennifer is also completing her DMA in Music Education at Boston University, focusing on rural music education practices in the Adirondacks. Find out more on her Website!
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Trombonist
originally from Troy, NY, began studying trombone in 4th grade and later earned his Music Education degree from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, followed by a Master’s in Music Performance from Arizona State University. He has performed with numerous prestigious ensembles, including Wally Seibel’s All Star Big Band, and has accompanied renowned artists such as Ray Vega and John Pizzarelli. For the past sixteen years, Mike has been a music faculty member at Beekmantown High School, where he teaches instrumental music and music theory.
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Voice
a versatile and gifted performer, she is equally comfortable in genres ranging from opera and operetta to musical theater, jazz and traditional ethnic music. Irina is a passionate cultural ambassador for her beloved homeland and considers it her artistic mission to bring global awareness to Ukraine and its rich heritage.
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Cellist
maintains an active career both as a performer and a teacher. He is currently a member of the critically acclaimed Duo 92 with pianist/composer Matthew Quayle. A frequent recitalist in NYC, he’s been featured in Carnegie Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Lincoln Center and the 92nd St. Y, among others. His recitals have been heard throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Mr. Platte is Artist/Faculty at the Atlantic Music Festival and Skidmore college.
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Voice
is an award-winning conductor, music director, and educator, serving as Artist-in-Residence and Director of Choirs at Skidmore College. He is the Artistic Director of Ensemble Noir, a Montreal chamber choir specializing in music from underrepresented communities, and the chorusmaster for L'orchestre Philarmonique et Choeur des Mélomanes. Dr. Ricketts is also known for his expertise in African-American Spiritual performance practice and diversity initiatives.
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Violist
is the assistant principal violist of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and a member of its Juke Box Quartet. She has performed with numerous ensembles, including the Craftsbury Chamber Players, Vermont Virtuosi, and the Manchester Music Festival, and was previously a regular with the New York Philharmonic and guest principal violist for the American Symphony. Stefanie teaches viola at Middlebury College and is the Artistic Director of the Manchester and the Mountains Chamber Music Workshop.










