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| Master Class and Guitar Alumni Performers |
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JAMES ERICKSON received his B.F.A in music performance from the C.W. Post Campus at Long Island University. James is currently an academic assistant at C.W. Post working towards a Master’s degree in Music History and Literature. James is a member of the C.W. Post Guitar Ensemble and has performed with the Merriweather Consort in the United States and Europe. He has also participated in Long Island Guitar Festival’s ’98 ’99 and 2000 in both solo and chamber performances. He has also performed in master classes for Sharon Isbin, Harris Becker and Pasquale Bianculli, and David Starobin.
JUSTIN PUZZO is a transfer student from SUNY Fredonia, and is currently a senior at C.W. Post. He has been a member of such performing ensembles as the Fredonia Guitar Ensemble and the Fredonia Guitar Quintet. As a student at C.W. Post, he is in the Guitar Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and Chorus. Justin has performed in master classes for artists such as Stanley Yates, David Leisner, Michael Lorimer, Pasquale Bianculli, and Harris Becker.
JAMES SMITH JR. received his Master’s in Music History and Literature from Long Island University. Mr. Smith, as well as being a classical guitarist, has been focusing on early music specializing in period instruments: renaissance guitar, lute, and theorbo. He has performed with the Merriweather Consort in the United States, Korea, England, Scotland, Wales, and Italy. He was featured playing lute for mezzo-soprano, Serafina Martino, at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Mr. Smith performs with the New York Continuo Collective, Stony Brook Baroque Ensemble, and has been involved in several joint concerts with Artek. As well as being a performer, Mr. Smith is active as a Teaching Artist for Tilles Center. He is currently studying with early music specialist Pat O’Brian in New York City.
DAVID VENTURA, 28, has been a guitarist for the past eighteen years, ten of which he has also been performing on classical guitar. He is a graduate of the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University where he earned a B.F.A. degree in guitar performance, and a former student of Prof. Harris Becker. Mr. Ventura was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Stony Brook, w h e re he completed his Master’s degree in music and was a student of Jerry Wi l l a rd . Mr.Ventura has performed in numerous master classes at C.W. Post for such notable classical guitarists such as Benjamin Verdery, Elliot Fisk, David Starobin, Michael Lorimer and Eduardo Fernandez. David currently divides his time teaching and performing music.
MICHAEL ROBERTS, 26, has been a guitarist for the past eleven years, eight of which he has devoted to classical guitar. Michael is a former student of Harris Becker, and a graduate of C.W. Post Campus where he earned a B.F.A. degree in music education and guitar performance. He has performed in master classes for guitarists Manuel Barrueco, Sharon Isbin, David Leisner, Michael Lorimer, David Starobin, and Carlo Domeniconi. Michael currently divides his time teaching, composing, and performing.
MARY FUKUSHIMA, flutist, is the winner of the 2000 C.W. Post Orchestra Concerto Competition. She received her B.F.A. in December from the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University. Ms. Fukushima studies with Ms. Karla Moe and is currently the principal flutist of the C.W. Post Symphonic Band. She attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) from 1996-1998. While at UCLA, she performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic as guest soloist. She also performed as a soloist with the Westchester, Brentwood, Torrance Symphonies. In 1998, Ms. Fukushima was voted on as the "Best Classical Soloist", in the U.S. and Canada by Downbeat Magazine. She is a recipient of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Young Musicians Foundation, Gluck Foundation and Leni Fe Bland grants. Ms. Fukushima has been invited to perform in Master Classes for artists such as Julius Baker, Jeanne Baxtresser, Donald Peck, Linda Chesis, Anne Diener-Zentner, Jill Felber, Mishel Debost, Marina Puccinini, and Bradley Garner. She has recorded a compact disc album entitled. “An Intimate Christmas” and has also recorded on the album “Wild New Music For Flute” with Sheridon Stokes. Ms. Fukushima is formerly the principal flutist of the West Coast Symphony, the UCLA Philharmonia and was principal piccoloist of the American Youth Svmphony. conducted by Mehli Mehta. She is currently the principal flutist of the Hunter Symphony in Manhattan. Ms. Fukushima plans to continue her advanced studies at a music conservatory.