About the Artists:

Laura Larson, flute
Laura Larson began her professional flute career at the age of 20, playing flute and piccolo in the Miami Philharmonic, while continuing her studies at the University of Miami.  She was awarded prizes in the National Flute Association Young Artist Competition (1976 and 1977) and the Financial Federal Musical Showcase Competition in Miami Beach (1975).  After moving to the Detroit area, she was appointed principal flutist of the Flint Symphony Orchestra.  Ms. Larson also plays flute and piccolo with the Michigan Opera Theater Orchestra, is on the adjunct applied faculty at Wayne State University and is a Suzuki Flute teacher trainer.

Angelina Pashmakova, piano
Angelina Pashmakova is a winner of prizes at international competitions and holds degrees in piano performance and conducting.  She performs frequently with musicians from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Michigan Opera Theater Orchestra for Nightnotes, Brunch with Bach, Friday with the Arts, Scarab Club, Vivace and Birmingham Musicale.  Ms. Pashmakova has been a soloist with the Rochester and Warren Symphony Orchestras in piano concerti of Brahms, Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky and Beethoven and is on the faculty at Oakland University.

Kerstin Allvin, harp
Kerstin Allvin has won numerous awards throughout her career as a concert harpist and has performed across the United States from Weill Recital Hall in New York City to the historic Carmel Mission in California.  Ms. Allvin was guest principal harpist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on their most recent European tour, was voted “Best Classical Instrumentalist” by the Detroit Music Awards and is president of High Heel Records, Inc., which has produced and recorded many CDs.  She teaches harp at Oakland University and the Cranbrook Educational Community.

Valrie Kantorski, piano
Valrie Kantorski teaches applied piano and keyboard classes and accompanies the choral ensembles at Adrian College.  She has been on the faculties of Florida International University, the University of Miami, Florida State University, and Bowling Green State University as an adjunct instructor of piano.

Ms. Kantorski is a member of the Toledo Symphony and the Kantorski-Pope Piano Duo, an ensemble that was awarded the Virginia E. Schrader Residency in Performing Arts, and was a three-time winner of the Graves Duo Piano competition.  They have recently released a recording of Brahms 21 Hungarian Dances for Piano Four Hands on the Whaling City label.

Lucas Drew, double bass
Lucas Drew, after a distinguished career of more than 40 years, is now Professor Emeritus at the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Principal Double Bass Emeritus of the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra.  Also, he is Founder/Artistic Director Emeritus of the Highlands - Cashiers (NC) Chamber Music Festival (1982-1999).  Dr. Drew served as President of the American String Teacher’s Association (1982-1984) and was editor for the International Society of Bassists (1974-1982), from which he received the Recognition Award for Scholarship in 2007. His many published editions of music for double bass are played throughout the world and his CDs are now available through St. Francis Music Publications, www.stfrancismusic.com.  Dr. Drew is editor for St. Francis Music Publications and continues to be dedicated to enhancing the literature for double bass.