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Artists in residence at the Ball State University School of Music,
the American Piano Trio was the first ensemble to be named Sterling Patrons of the Mu Phi Epsilon fraternity. The American Piano Trio has concertized in
Canada, Israel, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. During the summer months, they have performed and conducted master classes at
renowned music festivals both in the United States and abroad, including the Garth Newell Festival, the Victoria International
Festival, and the Pacific Rim Summer Music Festival.
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The "singing style" of violinist Sherry Kloss
reflects the influence of her study with Nathan
Milstein and Jascha Heifetz. Miss Kloss, acclaimed as "one of the foremost violinists of her
generation," commanded international attention after winning the Concours de Violin in Europe,
the Sterling Staff Competition, and the prestigious Honorary Degree of Excellence from the
Academia Chigiana Musicale in Siena, Italy. In 1980, Jascha Heifetz appointed her as Master
Assistant in charge of his world renowned violin class at the University of Southern California.
She held this position until the death of the master. Heifetz confirmed his belief in Sherry Kloss
by bequeathing to her the Tononi violin with which he made his famous Carnegie Hall debut in
1917. It is upon this historic instrument that she now performs. Her recordings, "Forgotten Gems from the Heifetz Legacy" (Protone label) and "Lost and Found Treasures of the Heifetz Legacy"
have received national recognition evidenced by major critical acclaim. Besides an active concert
schedule, Sherry Kloss is strongly committed to education and presents master classes
throughout the world. She is Founder and Artistic Director of the
"
Music Institute for the Development of Personal Style" at Southern Oregon University, and Co-Founder of Jascha
Heifetz Society. In 1998, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania issued a proclamation recognizing Sherry
Kloss as a prominent Pittsburgh artist. Miss Kloss's current projects include a new publication
about her association with her mentor,
"
Jascha Heifetz Through My Eyes."
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Roger Malitz,
a dynamic performer on five continents, made his
solo debut with the Chicago Symphony at age 16. Before his
twenty-first birthday, he was frequently featured on the
television program "Artists' Showcase," accompanied by the NBC
Symphony Orchestra. A student of Karl Fruh and Raya Garbousova,
Malitz has been principal cellist with the University of Chicago's
Contemporary Chamber Players, Florida Orchestra, Caracas
Philharmonic, and National Symphony of South Africa. Since his
appointment to the Ball State University faculty in 1985, Malitz
has concertized and presented master classes in Argentina, Canada,
the Czech Republic, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Taiwan, and
Thailand. Critics have portrayed Malitz as "an elegant and
evocative musician" (Johannesburg Citizen), "a superlative
romantic musician" (Tampa Tribune), "probing, sensitive, and
thoroughly musical" (Chicago Daily News), "expansive, lyrical, and
aggressive" (Duluth News-Tribune), and "precise, inspired, and
refined" (Buenos Aires La Nacion). During a recent residency at
the Banff Centre, Malitz recorded repertoire for a new CD,
The
Ethnic Cello, which has been released on the Crystal label, and
reviewed by Fanfare Magazine: "...[Roger Malitz] shows a complete
sympathy for the music that he presents, shaping each of the
movements with obvious care and affection...Technically he meets
all of the demands in these most pleasurable scores..He plays a
remarkably fine Antonio Casini cello of 1678, the instrument's
warm tone particularly ideal for the Bloch."
Additional recordings are currently available on the Owl,
Desto, and CRI labels.
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Robert Palmer's career
has spanned the globe, with solo and
orchestral appearances throughout the United States, Europe, and
Asia. Among his numerous radio and television broadcasts are
performances on National Public Radio and public television in the
United States, as well as Spanish Galicia Radio, Taiwanese and
Korean radio and Japanese television. Palmer's many awards include
prizes in the Joanna Hodges Piano Competition and the U.S.
Information Agency National Piano Competition. Since making his
Carnegie Hall debut in 1979, Palmer has performed in over thirty
states, including such important venues as Atlanta, Baltimore,
Boston, Chicago, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York,
Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. and important halls such as
Carnegie Hall (several times), the Library of Congress, and
Orchestra Hall (Minneapolis). He has made seven tours of the Far
East, with performances and master classes in several major
centers including Osaka, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, and Tokyo.
Palmer has premiered several new works, among them a piano
concerto by James Grant. A graduate of the Peabody Conservatory
and the University of Minnesota, Palmer is widely sought after as
a clinician and his students have been prize-winners in
international and national competitions. Dr. Palmer was awarded
the first College of Fine Arts Dean's Teaching Award in 1993
recognizing excellence in teaching and he was named the 1998
"Teacher of the Year" by the Indiana Music Teachers
Association. He is on the international roster of Steinway
artists.
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