Classical Artists

The Bechtler Ensemble gives concerts in intimate settings as well as in museums and educational institutions. During many of these concerts, which are usually about one hour in length, slides of the art from the Bechtler collection as well as images from the art in its original setting in the Zürich home, are shown. Musical compositions are chosen from the same time period as the art and, before each piece, a brief explanation is given as to why the composer and artist were paired. This multi-disciplinary approach seems to greatly enhance the experience of the audience. The concerts are described as: "exciting," "de-stressing," "fun and 'informative " to name a few.

The Charlotte Symphony performs everywhere from community parks and schools to jails, breweries, and senior care centers. We are deeply committed to the notion that music, accessible to all and experienced in many forms, unifies our community. We actively nurture the next generation of musicians and music lovers by supporting two youth orchestras

The Red Clay Saxophone Quartet was formed in 2003 when the fates conspired to bring four internationally recognized saxophonists (Susan Fancher, Robert Faub, Steven Stusek and Mark Engebretson) together in Greensboro, North Carolina. The RCSQ takes its name from the area's luscious red soil. The Quartet presents a varied repertoire from classical to jazz to new music to tango, featuring music by composers such as Ben Johnston, György Ligeti, Chick Corea, Perry Goldstein, Francis Poulenc, Alejandro Rutty, Ben Boone, Steve Reich, Mark Engebretson, Martin Bresnick, Burton Beerman and Gavin Bryars. Red Clay offers a variety of concert programs, including Sax Appeal, French Connections, Composers of the Carolinas, Never Too Tango and Tikvah.

"Carolina Pro Musica was established in 1977 to promote the performance of music written before 1800,
especially from the Baroque, Renaissance and Medieval periods of music history. In the 1970s there
was a great renewal of interest in the performance practices of these periods and in the use of
copies of historical instruments to help bring the old music to life. The ensemble has had a concert
series since that time utilizing local churches and historic St. Mary's Chapel in Charlotte. They have
performed in the Southeast, in Boston during the Early Music Festival, and in Europe, taking trips to
Poland and the UK. In London they performed in Handel's home, which is now a museum. Belmont Abbey
College has honored them as Abbey Artists since 2001.

The group includes Karen Hite Jacob - artistic director and harpsichordist, Holly Wright Maurer - viola da gamba,

Rebecca Miller Saunders - soprano vocals, and Edward Ferrell - recorder and baroque flute. These four
have been performing together as Carolina Pro Musica since 1994."

"I'm a full-time professional musician and have been so for more than 40 years - 30 of those years in Charlotte NC - averaging 150-200 performances per year. I have a Music Performance Degree in Classical Guitar and Voice and I've been voted "Best Local Acoustic" musician by Charlotte's Best magazine. Although I play a traditional classical guitar and use classical technique, my repertoire is weighted by Jazz standards, classic mellow Pop (James Taylor, Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Chet Atkins...), Bossa Nova and Classical music. I can perform all instrumental pieces or a combination of vocal and instrumental selections. Although my repertoire is diverse, my sound is mellow and best-suited for easy-listening venues and events. I also send out a monthly e-newsletter which lists the venues and events at which I perform.

I have received accolades from:
The Charlotte Observer; Creative Loafing Weekly; Charlotte Taste Magazine; Charlotte Monthly Magazine; City of Charlotte NC; Vineyard Gazette, Martha's Vineyard MA; WCNC TV; WBT & WFAE Radio; Mint Museum Uptown; Charlotte's Arts & Science Council; Sound Amazing Studio, Charlotte NC; Southern Shows; Hensley Fontana Public Relations & Marketing, Charlotte NC; King & Spalding (International Law Firm); Stonebridge Church Community...I also have received 5-star ratings from Gigmasters.com (and their Rapid Responder Badge) and WeddingWire.com (online booking agencies).

Amongst my performances of note, I performed with former musical director and arranger of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Branford Marsalis at a Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend event, hosted by former Duke and NBA basketball player, Mike Gminski; at another Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend wine dinner hosted by renowned author John Grisham (The Firm, The Pelican Brief, The Client, The Rainmaker...); at a private event for Fortune 500 company Sonic Automotive and CEO Bruton Smith, and at a gala wine dinner at the home of former Head Coach of the Carolina Panthers, John Fox. I've appeared on NBC affiliate station WCNC TV's Charlotte Today show, WBT TV's Morning Show and John Hancock Show, WFAE-FM's Charlotte Talks with host Mike Collins, and I've performed as prelude act for The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra more than twenty times for Summer Pops concerts. In 2012, I performed in concert on Martha's Vineyard, MA with Arnold McCuller, a world-renowned vocalist who has performed and recorded with James Taylor for the past thirty years, and has also worked with Phil Collins, Lyle Lovett, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Luther Vandross, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Bette Midler, Lionel Ritchie..."

Dylan Gilbert is a songwriter, producer and performer from Charlotte, North Carolina, and is a founding member of genre-bending punk band Hectorina. His compositions range from wild guitar-based indie rock to experimental electronic music, taking inspiration from artists such as Kate Bush, Talk Talk and Prince.

Vadim Kolpakov is one of the most prominent and renowned Russian Roma (Gypsy) 7-string guitarists in the world. He was a lead musician of the Moscow Roma (Gypsy) Theatre, Romen, where he performed as a guitarist, composer, vocalist, dancer and dramatic actor. To this day, his original guitar compositions are performed in many prominent plays at the theatre as part of the vibrant oral tradition of the Russian Roma culture. Vadim has also performed and recorded Romani activist songs with Eugene Hutz (the lead singer of Gogol Bordello), which he hopes will promote understanding of the Roma nationality and human rights.

Vadim works exclusively in the oral tradition and has been teaching traditional Roma guitar, dance and vocal repertoire.

Vadim has been based in Charlotte since 2006. For two semesters in 2006 and in 2007 he was an Artist-In-Residence at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte.