Artistic Director
Edward Benyas, Conductor
Edward Benyas is the Emeritus Professor of Oboe and Conducting at SIU Carbondale, Music Director of the New Chicago Chamber Orchestra—with which he made his European conducting debut—Executive Director of the Cascade Symphony, and founder and Artistic Director of the Southern Illinois Music Festival, which presents three-dozen concerts annually each June. The Illinois Council of Orchestras named him “Conductor of the Year” in 2005, the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce presented him the inaugural “Keeping the Arts in Business” Award in 2007, the Southern Business Journal named him a “Leader Among Us” in 2012, he received the Legacy Award from Carbondale Community Arts in 2015, the Carbondale Lions Club gave him the David Kenney Award in 2017, and he was named the Southern Illinois University College of Liberal Arts Outstanding Scholar in 2018. A student of Ray Still, Robert Morgan, Victor Yampolsky, and the late Charles Bruck and Georg Tintner, Mr. Benyas holds graduate degrees in Orchestral Conducting and Oboe Performance from Northwestern University, as well as Bachelor and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Michigan. He has conducted orchestras and opera companies throughout North America and in Europe and China. After conducting Mozart’s Magic Flute, Opera Wire wrote, “Edward Benyas indeed worked some ‘magic’ in the pit with his assured baton eliciting stylish results from a sizable orchestra. It is to Maestro Benyas’ great credit that the musical execution was of a very high order throughout.” His conducted repertoire includes nearly 400 works, including a dozen world premieres and several dozen complete operas and ballets. Mr. Benyas also enjoys an active career as an oboe and English horn player, having performed with the Chicago Symphony under Daniel Barenboim, the Lyric Opera under Zubin Mehta, the Milwaukee and Grant Park Symphonies, the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, at the Spoleto and Banff summer music festivals, as Principal Oboe of the Des Moines Metro Opera for six seasons and for Andrea Bocelli’s National Tour. He is a member of the state bar of Illinois and has been elected to the Jackson County Board and the Carbondale Elementary School District Board of Education. Southern Illinois University awarded Maestro Benyas its 2024 Distinguished Service Award at the May 10, 2025 Commencement at Banterra Arena, in recognition of his three decades of service to the university and the Southern Illinois community.
INSTRUMENTAL ARTISTS
Michael Barta, Violin
Violinist, Michael Barta, studied at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary and received his degree with highest honors. He was chosen concertmaster of the World Youth Orchestra in 1971 under Karel Ancerl. In 1973, he won the 2nd prize at the Joseph Szigeti International Competition in Budapest and the Gold Medal of the Ysaye Society in Brussels, Belgium. In 1974 he received a prize as Finalist of the Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow, Russia. He held the title Soloist of the National Philhamonia in Hungary and was first violinist of the Kodály String Quartet. In the United States he became professor of violin at Central Michigan University. Since 1985 he serves as Professor of Violin and Chamber Music at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Mr. Barta has performed in 32 countries, including most of Europe, China, and Japan. He performed at such venues as Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall in the United States, Wigmore Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, Radio France in Paris, and many others. He recorded on the Hungaroton, Serenus and Melodia labels and at the Scottish BBC in Edinburgh, Radio France, Radio Bremen, Sender Freies Berlin, Südwestfunk, and Radio Bartók Budapest. He served on the summer faculty of the Central Catalonia Music Festival and Academy and the Festival of the Pyrenees in Spain and regularly teaches masterclasses at conservatories in Hungary, Bulgaria, Italy, Malta, Latvia and Austria. He is co-founder of the Southern Illinois Chamber Music Society, and also performers as the Assistant Concertmaster of the Illinois Symphony and Chamber Orchestra and as Concertmaster of Sinfonia de Camera in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois under the direction of Maestro Ian Hobson.
Liam Battle, Cello
Liam Battle is a cellist, curator and composer based in Cleveland who focuses heavily on the study and performance of contemporary classical music. Liam’s work is focused on illuminating modern aesthetics. Most of this work takes place through performance and artistic direction with the Antigone Music Collective. Through the Antigone Music Collective, Liam regularly performs and curates modern music at nontraditional concert locations. The work of the AMC is dedicated to showing the importance of live modern classical music, creating social concert experiences, and putting the work of living composers in dialogue with great composers of the 20th century. Outside of the performance Liam enjoys writing music, writing about music, and talking about music.
Jim Beers, Percussion
Jim Beers, percussion, is thrilled to return for his 16th season with the Southern Illinois Music Festival. A native of Chester, IL, Jim moved to Carbondale to study at Southern Illinois University where he earned both his M.M. (2014) and B.M. (2010) in Percussion Performance. He currently teaches drum set at Southeast Missouri State University, percussion at Rend Lake College and John A. Logan College, and works with the local drum line at Carbondale Middle School. Jim works as a freelance percussionist throughout the Southern Illinois region and, in addition to serving as principal percussionist of the Southern Illinois Symphony, is a member of SIU’s faculty jazz group the New Arts Jazztet. He maintains a busy schedule performing with multiple ensembles spanning a variety of genres including orchestral, musical theater, blues, country, jazz, rock, soul/funk, cajun/zydeco, and traditional West-African drumming.
Gabriela Benyas, violin
Gabriela Benyas recently graduated from Columbia University, on the Dean’s List every semester, with a B.A. in History and a Minor in Hispanic Studies. Her senior thesis analyzed the relationship of the artists Pablo Casals and Manuel da Falla to the Franco dictatorship in Spain. She studied violin with Professors Michael Barta and Munro Otani and served as Co-Principal Second Violin of the Columbia University Orchestra. Last summer she performed with Musica Le Mans in France, and has been a featured chamber musician at music festivals in Spain and Italy. Gabriela has appeared twice at Carnegie Hall with her chamber ensembles and at Alice Tully Hall with the Columbia University Orchestra. She was previously Concertmaster of the Southern Illinois Symphony, First Violin of the SISO String Quartet, and a three-year participant in the Illinois All-State and Honors Orchestras. She co-founded the Crown Quartet in January 2023, which has since performed at the Columbia Presidential Inauguration in October 2023 and two Columbia Commencement ceremonies before crowds of 30,000 gusts in May 2023 and 2025. She began work as a paralegal with BraunHagey & Borden in Manhattan in August of 2025.
maya benyas, cello
Maya Benyas is an award-winning cellist and composer currently pursuing an M.S. in Applied and Engineering Physics at Stanford University after receiving her B.S. in Physics last year. She studies cello with artist-in-residence Christopher Costanza and has served as Principal Cellist in both the Stanford Symphony Orchestra and the Stanford Philharmonia. Before Stanford, she studied cello for 9 years with Eric Lenz at Southern Illinois University, film composition at Berklee, and piano with her mother. Formerly Principal Cellist of the Southern Illinois Symphony, Maya has performed at the annual Southern Illinois Music Festival since 2015; at chamber music festivals in France, Spain, and Italy; and as soloist with orchestra in concertos by Dvorak, Saint-Saëns, and Boccherini. Maya’s compositions have been performed by the Stanford Cello Choir, as prize-winner with the Champaign-Urbana Symphony, and on commission from the Chicago Clarinet Ensemble.
AJ Bernal, Horn
Dr. AJ Bernal is a freelance horn player and piano technician based in Carbondale, IL. He currently performs with the Paducah Symphony Orchestra and The Jackson Symphony Orchestra following his tenure with CityMusic, Cleveland. Since returning to Carbondale in 2024, Dr. Bernal founded Maroon Resonance, a 501c3 not-for-profit that promotes quality music education and performance in the Southern Illinois region. In September 2025, he and the organization launched the Maroon Resonance Music Academy, offering affordable private music lessons for students and adults. In 2023, Dr. Bernal had his international debut as a soloist at the International Horn Symposium in Montréal where he performed a rediscovered work by Costa Rican composer Fulvio Villalobos-Sandoval. Dr. Bernal holds a D.M.A. and Certificate in Music Theory Pedagogy from the University of Kentucky (‘24), an M.M. from Southern Illinois University (‘21), and a B.M.E. from Indiana State University (‘18).
melissa bogle, violin
Melissa Bogle has been active in the region as an educator and orchestral musician since 2013. She currently serves as the orchestra director at McCracken County High School in Paducah, Kentucky, and previously held the position of Kentucky Music Educators Association First District Orchestra Chairperson from 2014–2019. Under her direction, her orchestras have consistently earned top honors at every adjudicated event they have entered since 2014. Recently she has served as the director of the Philharmonia Orchestra at the Quad State Orchestra Festival in Murray, KY. In addition to her work as a music educator, Melissa performs with the Paducah Symphony and the Southern Illinois Symphony and maintains an active freelance career. She has appeared with artists including Michael Bublé, Ben Thomas, and Steven Curtis Chapman, and can be heard on The Legendary Shack Shakers’ 2021 album Cockadoodle-Deux, produced by Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys. The album received strong critical acclaim and reached the Billboard Americana charts. Melissa previously served as concertmaster of the Elizabethtown Symphony Orchestra, appearing as soloist in their performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, and has performed for many years with both the Terre Haute Symphony and the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic. She holds undergraduate degrees in Music Education and Violin Performance, as well as an M.M. in Violin Performance, from Indiana State University, where she served as concertmaster of the ISU Symphony Orchestra from 2004–2012. In 2021, she was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Andy Beshear. Melissa is currently pursuing post-graduate violin studies with Michael Barta at Southern Illinois University.
Ben Carter, Viola
Violist Ben Carter was born and raised in Greer, South Carolina. He is a First Prize winner of the King’s Peak International Music Competition, and a second prize winner of the Charleston International Music Competition. He has appeared with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, and the Augusta Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. He has also been a member of the Antigone Quartet since August 2024, and performs new music with them regularly. The Antigone Quartet was praised by Cleveland Classical Magazine as having “...technical mastery, rich tone, and fluid character transitions” in their performance of Charles Ives’ Second String Quartet. Ben Carter’s primary teachers include Daniel Sweaney and Jeffrey Irvine.
William Cernota, Cello
William Cernota, violoncello, has been a member of the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra since 1982. Since 1994 he has been a member and Chair of the Lyric Opera Orchestra Members Committee. From 1982 to 1996 he was a substitute cellist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. While a student of Chicago Symphony Principal Cellist Frank Miller, he was Principal Cellist of the Chicago Civic Orchestra where he performed as soloist in Richard Strauss’s Don Quixote and Ernest Bloch’s Schelomo. He has also been Principal Cellist of the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, Concertante di Chicago, Chicago Opera Theater, Peninsula Music Festival, and is currently Principal Cellist of the Southern Illinois Music Festival. He has performed annual recitals since 2011 on international broadcasts from WFMT Chicago with pianist Eric Weimer. He was a soloist on two European tours of the Chicago Chamber Orchestra and is a member of the music faculties at Loyola University Chicago and Southern Illinois University Carbondale School of Music. Following graduation in Ideas & Methods and Biology from the University of Chicago, he served three years in the Peace Corps, Sierra Leone as a biology teacher and band director. He appears in contemporary music concerts and has also performed on baroque cello. He performed Witold Lutosławski’s works for solo cello at Orchestra Hall, Symphony Center in Chicago with the composer in attendance. With pianist Joy Doran, he issued a CD: On or About December 1910. He also works as a research scientist at Fermalogic Incorporated in Chicago and completed the Masters in Engineering Degree at University of Illinois Chicago. He resides in Chicago with his wife Maria, daughter Naomi, and cellist son-in-law Aleksei.
Kurt Civilette, Horn
Kurt Civilette is a freelance performer and teacher based in Lansing, Michigan. He serves as principal horn with the South Bend and the Midland Symphonies and 3rd horn with the Flint and Ann Arbor Symphonies. He has performed with Chicago, Detroit, Saint Louis, Utah, North Carolina, Grant Park, Jacksonville and Santa Fe Symphonies, with Lyric Opera Chicago, Michigan, Opera Theater and Santa Fe Opera, and as guest principal with the Ann Arbor, Flint, Kalamazoo, Saginaw, Windsor, and West Michigan Symphonies and Michigan Opera Theater. He is the horn instructor at Lansing Community College and Michigan State University’s Community Music School. For 15 years from 1995-2010, Kurt was full-time 3rd horn/associate principal with New Mexico Symphony in Albuquerque, substitution as interim principal horn for the entire 2001-02 season. Before winning the permanent job in New Mexico, he held temporary positions as principal horn with Charleston, Savannah and Honolulu Symphonies, and played many jingles and recording sessions. During the summers, Kurt plays principal horn with the Southern Illinois Music Festival and Baroque on Beaver Island Festival. He has appeared in various US and international summer festivals including Spoleto Festival in USA and Italy, the Assisi Festival in Italy, the Kumamoto Festival in Japan, and Music from Angel Fire.
Wei denton, cello
Cellist, Wei Denton currently resides in Alto Pass Illinois with her husband Bill and their dog Sila. She is a member of the Chicago Philharmonic, the Northwest Indiana Symphony. She also regularly performs with the New Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra. Before moving to Chicago she was a member of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra for thirteen seasons. During and prior to her tenure in Alabama Wei performed as soloist and chamber artist in solo recitals, chamber works, and symphonic repertoire throughout North America, Europe, North Africa, and Asia. Her compact disc recordings include “Musique pour Violoncello” (1999) and “Lou sur la Pierre du Seuil” (1992). Her musical training began in China where she studied at the Beijing Central Conservatory of Music. She won first prize at the 1st Annual National Cello Competition of China when she was only fifteen. After finishing her studies at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, she then trained at the Paris Conservatory of Music with world famous cellist and teacher Philippe Muller; made possible by the prestigious French government scholarship award. During her study in France, she was also a winner of the Douai International Cello Competition. She graduated with "First Prize" diplomas in cello performance, chamber music, and musical analysis.
S. Blake Duncan, oboe/english horn
S. Blake Duncan (Oboe & English Horn) has enjoyed a varied career as an oboist, English Horn player, Baroque Oboist, a performer of recorder and early music, and as a teacher. Mr. Duncan is currently a member of the Music Faculty at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (IL), where is serves as the Instructor of Oboe. He was an affiliate faculty member in the Music Department at Bradley University for 17 years, teaching oboe, recorder, music appreciation, music technology and as the director of the early music Collegium Musicum. He also served on the faculty as oboe instructor, chair of the woodwind department, director of the Collegium Musicum and as a member of the Moveré Woodwind Quintet for the Lutheran Summer Music Academy and Festival for 15 years. As an orchestral player, Mr. Duncan has been a member of the Caracas Philharmonic, in Venezuala, as well as the Illinois, Peoria and Cedar Rapids IA Symphony Orchestras playing English Horn and oboe. Currently plays as principal oboe with the Edwardsville Symphony Orchestra and he continues to perform as a member of the Peoria Bach Festival Orchestra, of which he was a founding member. Additionally, he currently performs throughout southern Illinois and the St Louis area as a free-lance oboist.
Mel Goot, Jive with Jazz
Pianist Mel Goot was born in San Diego, and spent his early years in Mexico City. Self-taught, he was still a teen when he played his first professional job and record date with the Teddy Picou Quartet. Mel later attended San Diego State University, where, for four years, he was the top pianist with the award-winning SDSU Jazz Ensemble. Following college, he gave jazz history presentations and jazz improvisation clinics at schools under the auspices of the National Endowment for the Arts. Mel Goot has appeared at various national and international festivals, including Monterey, San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside, Reno, San Felipe, Borrego Springs, Cairo, and Tijuana. He has performed with artists such as Charles McPherson, Mark Dresser, Nathan East, Hollis Gentry III, Daniel Jackson, Luis Gasca, Cal Tjader, Poncho Sanchez, John Heard, Carol Kaye, Dee Dee McNeil, Kevyn Lettau, Peter Sprague, Jaime Valle, Abraham Laboriel, Leon Pettis, Bobby Shew, and Dave Valentin. Mel has also performed with big bands behind Solomon Burke, Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Steve Allen. In 1995, Mel began playing piano with the New Arts Jazztet, an SIUC faculty group, and is currently on “tenured reserve player” status for them. He remains active performing solo as well as with various groups and artists. From schools throughout the region, he is honored to assemble the youth jazz groups for the “Jive with Jazz” concerts of the SIMFest.
John grigsby, viola
John Garton Grigsby III is a violist from Western Kentucky. Grigsby studied with world renowned pedagogues and violists James Dunham, Jeffrey Irvine, and Lynne Ramsey. He has gotten the opportunity to perform across the country and also in Canada. He has performed in a variety of different venues and styles, including playing with the Eagles at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville. He is passionate about Dalcroze Eurhythmics, Music Theory, and Counterpoint. He incorporates a variety of different teaching styles into his pedagogical method. His goal for his students is for them to be able to create beautiful imaginative sounds out of their instruments. Grigsby is blessed with an opportunity to play beautiful chamber music arranged by Heejung Park at Hopkinsville First United Methodist Church. He currently works at Symphony Supply renting and selling string supplies for the next generation of strings musicians and plays across Western Kentucky.
Liz Hartman, Bass
Cryptic sightings of multi-genre bassist Liz Hartman (MLIS, CA) have been reported in Southern Illinois since 2014. Hartman has been seen serving as Principal Bass of Southern Illinois Music Festival and Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra, as well as performing in chamber, jazz, noise, and fusion groups. Most sightings originate from musical pits throughout the Heartland; some eyewitness statements even recount the cryptic attempting to sing, most notable as a member of the progressive rock trio Porch Fire. It is rumored that Hartman hails from the Hoosierland where, as the legend goes, they played with orchestras in state competitions before moving to Illinois for graduate studies. By day, some say they’ve seen the cryptic masquerading as a Librarian at Carbondale Public Library.
katie heise, violin
Performing and teaching since age 16, Katie Joy Heise maintains an active career as a chamber musician, orchestral performer and instructor of both violin and viola. A graduate of Chicago College of Performing Arts (B.M. 2009), and Northern Illinois University (M.M. and Performance Certificate, 2015), she studied with Cyrus Forough, Teresa Fream, Robert Chen and Blaise Magniere. Ms. Heise leads a thriving private teaching Studio in Naperville, in which student accolades include principal and concertmaster positions in top academic orchestras, won ILMEA All State and All State Honors orchestras, and are members of Chicago Youth, Elgin Youth and DuPage Youth Symphonies. Her music major graduates have been admitted into leading programs at Chicago College of Performing Arts, Oberlin College, University of Illinois, Vanderbilt, Indiana, and DePaul University. Ms. Heise performs regularly with Quad City Symphony, Illinois Philharmonic, Rockford Symphony, Orchestra Iowa, and has shared the stage with Michael Buble and Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
jordan knapp, piano
Jordan Knapp is a pianist and composer based in Columbia, South Carolina. He is a co-founder and member of the chamber music group Some Strings Attached, along with fellow SIFest musicians Eunice Koh and Korcan Köstük. He has also performed with the South Carolina Philharmonic on many occasions. In 2022, as composer, he was commissioned by the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and Cincinnati Song Initiative, with major support from Lori Laitman, as part of the NATS Composer Mentorship Program. His music has previously been published by North Star Music. He received his D.M.A. in Piano Performance from the University of South Carolina in 2025. His favorite American composers include Amy Beach, William Bolcom, and Danny Elfman.
Eunice Koh, Cello
A versatile cellist from Singapore, Eunice Koh believes in sharing memorable and diverse experiences with a global audience through the curation of engaging programs and cross-cultural collaborations. She is also passionate about sharing her experiences through maintaining extensive chamber music activities and performing with different musical genres locally and internationally. Eunice was invited to perform in a recital at the South Carolina Chamber Music Festival, and premiered a newly commissioned work, Festivals: from Sounds of Singapore by Chee-Hang See. Eunice is a firm believer of exploring various styles and genres of performing. As an avid advocate for world music, she regularly curates solo and chamber programs that represent different heritages. Eunice is a member of fusion ensembles, Stringwerkz, a Chinese string quintet, and Open Score Project, a syncretic ensemble that uniquely converges different music cultures in Singapore. She is also the cellist of Some Strings Attached, an ensemble that values creativity, flexibility, and diversity in their music programming, juxtaposing classical and popular styles. She graduated from University of South Carolina (DMA), Southern Illinois University (MM), and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore - Royal College of Music, London (BM). Her teachers include Claire Bryant, Eric Lenz, Zhao You Er, Amanda Truelove, and Chen Yang Guang.
Amelia Korbitz, Violin
Amelia Korbitz is an American violinist with a passion for new music and collaboration through chamber music. She is the executive director and founder of the Antigone Music Collective, an organization committed to performing music by underrepresented composers and making classical music accessible to modern audiences. Amelia’s solo performance highlights include “Spring” with the West Suburban Symphony and “Winter” with the SIFest Orchestra from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, and Piazzolla’s Los Cuatros Estaciones Porteñas with the CCM Philharmonia Orchestra. She has also performed in the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, the Southern Illinois Music Festival, and as Concertmaster at Musica Le Mans in France. Amelia earned her Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Dr. Won-Bin Yim with a Spanish language minor from the University of Cincinnati. She began her Master of Music studies in last Fall at the Cleveland Institute of Music under Dr. Olga Dubossarskaya Kaler.
Korcan Köstük, Violin
Korcan Köstük, born in 1995 in the vibrant tapestry of Turkey, discovered his love for the violin early on. His journey began at Dokuz Eylül University State Conservatory, where he embraced the instrument's melodic possibilities. Continuing his musical pilgrimage, he pursued his undergraduate studies at Ankara University State Conservatory, studying under the guidance of the esteemed Orhan Ahiskal. After completing his undergraduate program, Korcan's thirst for musical growth led him to the University of South Carolina, where he earned his Master's degree and graduate certificate. Guided by the accomplished Ari Streisfeld, he refined his skills and expanded his artistic horizons. Undeterred by the culmination of his Master's journey, Korcan chose to continue his education in a Doctoral program at USC while doing concerts with orchestras and his chamber ensemble “Some Strings Attached.”
Kiril Laskarov, Violin
Kirik Laskarov is in his 25th season as Concertmaster of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. A native of Bulgaria, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State Academy of Music in Sofia and a Master’s degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale where he studied with Michael Barta. Laskarov has appeared as a soloist with the Arkansas Symphony, Las Vegas (NV) Philharmonic, Monroe (LA) Symphony, Southern Illinois Symphony, Abilene (TX) Philharmonic, Symphony Irvine (CA), and Texarkana (TX) Symphony and also as a guest concertmaster with the Arkansas Philharmonic, Monroe (LA) Symphony, Texarkana (TX) Symphony, and McCall (ID) Festival Orchestra. Kiril is Associate Concertmaster and a frequent soloist with the Southern Illinois Music Festival, where he has performed concerti to great acclaim by Sibelius, Mendelssohn, and Tchaikovsky.
Chris Leverenz, Bass
Chris Leverenz is a 2006 Southern Illinois University graduate currently living in Lexington, Kentucky. After graduating from SIU Chris attended the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati where he earned his Masters and Doctorate in double bass performance. Chris has performed with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Springfield (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra, Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Virginia Arts Festival and the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. While living in Virginia he served as Adjunct Professor of Double Bass at Christopher Newport University teaching bass, string masterclass, string pedagogy, jazz combo, and directed the jazz big band. Chris spent four years living in Germany performing with the Deutsche Philharmonie Merck and Heidelberger Kantanenorchestre. Chris is currently attending the University of Kentucky, GoBigBlue, pursing a degree in Music Education. Chris has always enjoyed returning to Southern Illinois and has performed with the Southern Illinois Music Festival in ten prior seasons including the inaugural SIFest of 2005. Chris looks forward to hiking in Giant City, eating Quatro’s pizza, and making beautiful music with the Southern Illinois Music Festival once again.
kyle lorning, trombone
Kyle Loring is a senior Music Education and German Major at SIU. He spent the summers of 2023 and 2025 marching baritone with the Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps, a prestigious organization that has been promoting excellence in the marching arts for over 75 years. During his sophomore year, he studied abroad in Dortmund, Germany, where he performed in his host university’s orchestra, jazz band, and brass band. He was also a drum major for the Marching Salukis during their fall 2025 season. Kyle is heavily involved in the School of Music, performing in and arranging for many different ensembles. After he graduates, he plans to get his Master’s degree in Trombone Performance.
nina morwell, bassoon
Nina Morwell arrived in Southern Illinois in 2013, bringing a vibrant bassoon career spanning orchestras in Galesburg, Quincy, Springfield, Peoria, and Paducah. She has performed as a featured soloist with wind ensembles in the Quad Cities and Peoria and helped champion new works as a member of a double reed trio selected to premiere pieces at four International Double Reed Society conventions. Since arriving in Southern Illinois, Ms. Morwell has served as principal bassoon of the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra and the Knox Galesburg Symphony Orchestra. She performs annually with the Southern Illinois Music Festival, and at Carbondale First United Methodist Church whenever the call for a bassoonist arrises. She also works in the church office as administrative assistant, and sings in the church choir.
Alisha Owner, Viola
Alisha Owner is a violist, violinist, and high school orchestra director in Fort Worth, Texas. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from Baylor University in Waco, TX and her master’s and doctoral degrees from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Alisha has held the position of principal violist in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and the Waco Symphony, and section viola in the Richmond Symphony. She has performed with the Chicago Symphony, the Virginia Symphony, and most recently the Fort Smith Symphony. Alisha just finished her thirteenth year of teaching orchestra in the Texas public school system, and she is married to her husband Tim, a trombonist. They have two beautiful daughters, ages 8 and 5, and have recently begun taking family camping/road trips, which they have all enjoyed very much.
Tim Owner, Trombone
Originally from Australia, Dr. Timothy Owner moved to the United States in the fall of 2004 to pursue a Masters Degree in Trombone Performance at Northwestern University. Since that time, he has built an exciting career performing on Alto, Tenor and Bass Trombones as well as Bass Trumpet and Euphonium in some of the United States’ finest orchestral and chamber ensembles. He has been a member of the Buffalo Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony and Virginia Symphony Orchestras as well as the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. In 2023 he obtained his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas. He has acted as interim professor at the University of North Texas (2023/2024) and Baylor University (2025).
David Peshlakai, Cello
David Peshlakai was born and educated in Michigan. He received his Bachelor of Music from Michigan State University and his Master of Music from the University of Michigan. David Peshlakai was Principal Cellist with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra from 2004 to 2017 where he held the Diether Haenicke Principal Cello Chair. Mr. Peshlakai is also in great demand as an extra cellist with several regional orchestras throughout Michigan, including performing as principal cellist with the Battle Creek, Flint, Jackson, and Lansing Symphonies. He has performed in many chamber recitals and festivals throughout Michigan and the Midwest. His coaches have included members of the Juilliard, Alban Berg, Concord, Vermeer, Emerson, Muir, and Kronos String Quartets. Mr. Peshlakai has been teaching cello at Hillsdale College since 1992. In 2010 he was invited to teach at Kalamazoo College as well. he previously taught at Albion and Alma Colleges and Grand Valley State University.
Stephen Prutsman, Piano
Stephen Prutsman has been described as one of the most innovative musicians of his time. Moving easily from classical to jazz to world music styles as a pianist and composer, Prutsman continues to explore and seek common ground and relationships in the music of all cultures and languages.
In the early 2000s Stephen was Artistic Partner with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, where he wrote several new works for the orchestra, led performances of other composers as a conductor and pianist, and developed the orchestra's contemporary and world music series. Later he was the Artistic Director of the Cartagena International Festival of Music, South America’s largest festival of its kind, programming and curating concerts with themes ranging from Mozart celebrations, to eclectic evenings of folk and popular music of the Americas, to hybrid programs fusing art and dance music of multiple musical dimensions.
In the early 90’s he was a medal winner at the Tchaikovsky and Queen Elisabeth Piano Competitions, and received the Avery Fisher Career Grant. Since then Stephen has performed the classical concerto repertoire as soloist with many of the world’s leading orchestras and his classical discography includes acclaimed recordings of the Barber and McDowell concerti with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, recordings of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, and a solo jazz album entitled "Passengers".
nina saito, violin
Nina Saito is a freelance musician and violin teacher in the Chicago area. Some of the groups with which she plays include Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, Elgin Symphony, New Philharmonic Orchestra and Chicago Sinfonietta. She was also the former co-concertmaster of Music Theater Works. Nina has performed throughout the country touring as a member of the New York City Opera National Company and Western Opera Theater (San Francisco). She formerly played with the Sarasota Opera and with the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida. Nina has played many summer festivals including the AIMS Orchestra in Graz, Austria and the Spoleto Festival both in Spoleto, Italy and Charleston, SC. She received her BM from Northwestern University and her MM from the University of Houston.
Kristin Sarvela, Oboe
A native of Southern Illinois, Kristin Sarvela joined the faculty of Sam Houston State University as Assistant Professor of Oboe and Music Theory in 2021. Previous appointments include Professor of Oboe and Music Theory at Eastern Illinois University and Instructor of Oboe at the University of Illinois at Springfield. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Oboe Performance from the University of Illinois with a Minor in Mathematics, a Master of Music in Oboe Performance from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University with a Masters Minor in Music History, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Oboe Performance and Literature from the University of Illinois with a Cognate in Musicology. Dr. Sarvela has an active performing career and has held many positions in orchestras around the Midwest, including principal oboe of the Danville Symphony Orchestra, second oboe in the Sinfonia da Camera, English horn in the Heartland Festival Orchestra, and oboe and English horn in the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra. She has participated in Le Domaine Forget, Ad Astra, Outside the Box, Madeline Island, and Southern Illinois Music Festivals and has performed with such artists as Menahem Pressler, Emmanuel Ax, and the Mark Morris Dance Group. She has performed in such halls as the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and Carnegie Hall.
Charles Shapera, Bassoon
Charles Shapera is Principal Bassoon of the New Chicago Chamber Orchestra and the Southern Illinois Music Festival. He is a founding member of the Oak Street Winds and the NCCO Wind Quintet, and has performed with those ensembles at chamber music festivals in Italy and Luxembourg. He is formerly Principal Bassoon of the Green Bay Symphony and currently serves as Executive Director of Temple Har Zion in River Forest, Illinois. Next season he performs Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante with the Skagit Symphony for his first solo appearance in the Pacific Northwest, alongside fellow SIFest artists Amelia Korbitz, Edward and Maya Benyas.
Abby Simoneau, Flute
Dr. Abby Simoneau, a New Hampshire native, received her Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is on faculty at Alamance Community College, Guilford College, and Central Carolina Community College. Abby earned her Master of Music degree in Flute Performance from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of New Hampshire. She also performs regularly with the Western Piedmont Symphony, Salisbury Symphony, Piedmont Wind Symphony, Hickory Choral Society, Carolina Ballet, North Carolina Opera, the North Carolina Symphony, and Musica La Mans. Abby is thrilled to be back for her 13th season with SIFest!
Juan Carlos Siviero, Viola
Juan Carlos Siviero was born in Argentina. He studied viola with several teachers in Buenos Aires before moving to Chicago to pursue advanced degrees. He received a Master in Viola Performance from Roosevelt University under the tutelage of Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s violist Richard Ferrin. Juan Carlos also earned a Performance Certificate at DePaul University where he studied with Rami Solomonof, former principal viola of the Lyric Opera of Chicago orchestra. Juan Carlos has been a member of several ensembles: National Symphony of Argentina, 1st Latinoamerican Youth Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra of Tucuman, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, South Bend Symphony, Rockford Symphony and many others in the American Midwest. Currently, Juan Carlos is a member of the Villages Philharmonic Orchestra, Space Coast Symphony Orchestra, The Gainesville Orchestra and many other groups in and around Central Florida. Juan Carlos enjoys teaching viola and violin as well as playing chamber music.
ricky spears, trumpet
Dr. Ricky Spears is the Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. His dynamic and inspirational teaching style has made him a highly sought-after teacher for musicians of all ages and abilities. His students regularly appear at the National Trumpet Competition and maintain professional work as performers and teachers. An accomplished trumpeter, Spears has performed with artists such as the Temptations, the Four Tops, Dave Koz, Wycliff Gordan, and Sandi Patty; for numerous Broadway tours; as part of the Dragone - Cirque De Soleil show “Taboo” in Macau, China; and with countless orchestras, big bands, and chamber groups across the country. Spears holds degrees from Morehead State University (BME '08), Eastern Kentucky University (MM '11), and the University of Oklahoma (DMA '23).
Kelly Sulick, Flute
Flutist Kelly Sulick currently teaches at the University of Virginia and at Longwood University, and serves as Principal Flute in the Charlottesville Symphony. She earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts from the Peabody Conservatory, her Master of Music degree in Flute Performance from the University of Southern California, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Flute Performance and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Michigan, where she graduated with highest honors and was name a James B. Angelo Scholar for her academic achievements. A champion of new music, she has commissioned and recorded dozens of works for solo flute with electronics, and has premiered several additional works for solo flute and chamber ensemble. She can be heard on the Centaur, Equilibrium, Other Minds, Naxos, and Ravello record labels, including on William Bolcom’s Songs of Innocence and of Experience under Leonard Slatkin, a Naxos release that received four Grammy awards including Best Classical Album. Her CD of American works for flute and piano, recorded with pianist John Maywood, was recently released on Centaur Records.
Metiney Suwanawongse, viola
Metiney Suwanawongse currently serves as Principal Viola with the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, acting Principal Viola of the Chattanooga Bach Choir, and as Section Viola with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. Metiney also enjoys performing as a substitute violist with the Nashville and Alabama Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Nashville Opera and the New Hampshire Music Festival. Past engagements include a section position with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and appearances with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, the Florida Orchestra, and Paducah Symphony Orchestra. In addition to her Classical work, she has performed with a range of popular artists including Bernadette Peters, Michael Bublé, LeAnn Rimes, and the Eagles.
james thompson, flute
An enthusiastic flutist and teacher, Dr. James Thompson has performed across North America, Italy, and China. James has been named a winner of the National Flute Association’s Graduate Research and Masterclass competitions, and has appeared as a concerto soloist with the Grand Valley Symphony Orchestra, New Chicago Chamber Orchestra, the Southern Illinois Symphony, the Ball State Symphony Orchestra, and the Illinois State Symphony Orchestra. During the summers, James has appeared with festivals such as Domaine Forget (Canada), the Southern Illinois Music Festival, and Festival Suoni d’Abruzzo (Italy). He also holds the 3rd Flute/Piccolo chair with Symphony of the Lakes (Indiana). James joined the faculty of Grand Valley State University as Affiliate Professor of Flute in Fall 2024. He previously taught at Ball State University, Taylor University, and Earlham College. James’s degrees are from Ball State University (D.A.), Illinois State University (M.M.), and Truman State University (B.M.).
David Tuttle, Clarinet
David Tuttle is an active freelance musician who has performed with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Milwaukee Symphony, the Honolulu Symphony, Ars Viva Chicago, and the Lake Forest Symphony. He has been performing as an extra player with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 50 years! He can be heard on the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s recordings of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, Wagner’s Prelude and Love Death, and Prokofiev’s Scythian Suite. In addition to his extensive freelancing, David currently serves as principal clarinetist in the New Chicago Chamber Orchestra, Light Opera Works, and the Southern Illinois Music Festival, for which he is also personnel manager. He is the founder and director of Chicago Winds, Inc., which has presented more than 2,000 programs in Chicago Public Schools. Tuttle has been on the roster of Vandoren Performing Artists since 2011.
Joe Walczyk, Trumpet
Joe Walczyk is an active trumpet player in both the classical and commercial music scenes. After receiving his master's degree from Southern Illinois University in 2020, Joe moved to northern Virginia where he taught and regularly. While maintaining his playing and teaching career, Joe also acted as operations manager and DJ for Summit Events from 2021-2023. Joe's recording career includes soundtracks for Novel Effect, multiple rock bands, projects for classical composers, and the virtual ensemble Cinematic Brass, who recorded the Big Ten Saturday Night theme for NBC. He is currently working on his D.M.A in trumpet performance at West Virginia University where he teaches trumpet and chamber music. Joe is excited to return for his fifth year with the Southern Illinois Music Festival!
Robert Weiss, trombone
Robert Weiss is Professor Emeritus of Southern Illinois University Carbondale where he taught for 29 years, the last 13 of which he was Director of the School of Music. Prior to that he taught in the public schools of Puerto Rico and Quincy, Illinois. Bob is currently (and for 44 years) Director of Music of First United Methodist Church in Carbondale, Illinois, and remains active as a performing trombonist. He has Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education from the University of Illinois and a Ph.D. in Education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.