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	Lage Lund		Maia Quartet
	Alpin Hung		Arlene Malinowski
	Destino		RhumbaTap

Lage Lund

Guitarist Lage Lund was born in Norway. His interest in jazz led him to Berklee College of Music and the Juilliard School where he was the first electric guitarist in the history of the school. Since then Lage has worked with Wynton Marsalis, Ron Carter, Mulgrew Miller, Seamus Blake, Carmen Lundy, Aaron Parks, Marcus Strickland, the Mingus Band and others. He is currently a member of the David Sanchez Quartet. Lage’s latest record, “Lage Lund Trio: Standards,” features bassist Orlando Le Fleming and drummer Rodney Green. In September 2008 his quintet released an album of original compositions on Criss Cross Jazz.

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Maia Quartet

Since its formation in 1990, the Maia Quartet, Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Iowa, has established itself nationally as an ensemble of innovation and versatility. Praised by critics for its “sparkling musical intelligence, “ the quartet has appeared in major concert halls, including New York’s Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Hall and the 92nd Street Y, Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center, Beijing’s Forbidden City Concert Hall and the Aspen Music Festival’s Harris Hall. Collaborations with leading chamber musicians include performances with Joel Krosnick, Andre-Michel Schub and Cynthia Phelps. The Maia’s commit to the work of living composers with premieres of compositions by Pierre Jalbert, Dan Coleman, Vivian Fung and Ronn Yedidia.

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Alpin Hung

Alpin Hung Pianist Alpin Hong has earned the reputation as a modern day Pied Piper. Opening the ears, eyes and imaginations of hundreds of thousands of Americans, his combination of stunning technique, emotional range and rare humor continues to bring audiences young and old to their feet. In recognition of the pianist’s immense gifts for communicating his passion for music to audiences of all ages, The McGraw-Hill Companies honored him in September 2005 with the $10,000 Robert Sherman Award for Music Education and Community Outreach. His standing-room only New York recital debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall was the result of his winning First Prize in the 2001 Concert Artists Guild International Competition.

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Arlene Malinowski

Arlene Malinowski’s stories are about parents and children, love and forgiveness and finding yourself amid the clash of cultures in this melting pot we call America. Her award-winning solo shows have played to sold-out houses and standing ovations throughout the country. Funny, touching and poignant, these stories are told through sign language and voice using both deaf and hearing storytelling techniques which challenges the audience to share a world beyond their experience. As actor, educator and writer Arlene views solo work as an artistic extension of the social justice work she has been doing for the last 25 years. Her solo work has been honored with an LA Garland Award. As an actor she has appeared in numerous theatre productions including the world premiere of “By the Music of the Spheres" at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago.

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Destino

Destino is fast becoming Canada’s classical crossover sensation, following the recent release of their critically acclaimed CD Forte, returning from an exclusive performance engagement at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, and performing at some of Canada’s renowned summer music festivals. In 2006, classically trained, award-winning, professional tenors Leon Leontaridis, Paul Ouellette and Joey Niceforo formed Destino after meeting and working together on a project. Before collaborating as a trio, the three Canadian vocalists were in established solo careers, performing pop, opera, gospel, soul, R&B, jazz and musical theatre. Destino has received critical acclaim, selling out concert halls in Canada and the U.S.

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RhumbaTap

RumbaTap: Artistic Director Max Pollak was the first person to merge American Rhythm Tap with authentic Afro-Cuban music and dance. Capturing the charged electricity and power of a Latin jazz Orquesta, “RumbaTap features a multi-talented international cast of musicians and dancers and has toured throughout Europe, Japan, and the United States; recently performing to a capacity crowd at New York City’s Central Park Summer Stage. Pollak has recorded with the Cyro Baptista, Paul Carlon Octet, Grupo Los Santos, TrioNada, and members of the Tito Puente Orchestra; has appeared in films and documentaries including the critically claimed Como Se Forma Una Rumba with some of Cuba’s most prestigious salsa musicians; and was the tap coach for lead actor Pablo Veron on the Sally Potter film The Tango Lesson. Pollak is a 2008 recipient of the New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Choreography.

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