About the Artists...

Kathleen McDonald  -  flutist, is a graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where she studied modern flute with Samuel Baron. She has studied baroque flute with Sandra Miller, master classes with Christopher Krueger, Rachel Brown , Bart Kuijken and chamber music at Mannes College of Music with Martha McGaughey. She was a participant in several early music festivals including the Academy for Early Music, under the direction of Bach scholar Joshua Rifkin in Brixen, Italy and a Bach festival with Barthold Kuijken in Sopron, Hungary 

Kathy is the founder/director of BaroQue Across the River, a baroque chamber music group that performs on period instruments in historical venues.  Since founding the group in 2000, she has taken these concerts to all of Brooklyn’s communities including the Akwaaba Mansion in Stuyvesant Heights, Lefferts Historic House in Prospect Park, Wycoff House in Flatbush and The Brooklyn Historical Society.  Other historical performances have been given at Mt. Vernon House and Museum, the Morris-Jumel Mansion and at the first New York Early Music Festival. The group has received numerous grants from the Brooklyn Arts Council. The Brooklyn Eagle recently reported “attention to detail and historical accuracy is what makes [this group] one of the most treasured ensembles in the borough”.  

While Artist-in-Residence at CUNY LaGuardia Community College, she directed chamber music workshops dedicated to the performance of American Music. She has performed in the US, Canada, Europe and the Caribbean. With classical guitarist, Pasquale Bianculli, she has performed at De Doulen Hall in Holland, the International Trade Center in Willemstad, Curacao and the Edna Manley School of Arts in Kingston, Jamaica.  Kathy is a is a co-founder, along with Pat and Harris Becker,  of “A Midsummer Music Festival – Songe d’été en musique", a music festival in rural Quebec which will take place August 4-10, 2008.

 

 

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Pasquale Bianculli - has been heard in concert across the U.S., Canada, Europe and the Caribbean.  In 1983, he made his New York solo debut at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.  Tim Page, of the New York Times, describing the performance said, "...a sensitive musician...he juxtaposed workmanlike playing with passages of real inspiration".  Of his Nocturnal by Benjamin Britten..."{He} was true to the works improvisatory quality, calling up some ominous, shimmering overtones from the instrument".   

Pat began playing the guitar at the age of 13 under Joseph Cassano. His earliest musical influence was his father, Philip, an accomplished woodwind player and jazz musician. In 1972, he began intensive study in classical guitar at the Guitar Workshop in Oyster Bay, NY under Jerry Willard and Edgard Dana, Other teachers and coaches have included Alexandre Lagoya, Angel Romero and Timothy Walker. He received his M. Mus. degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1981. That year he also performed for the legendary guitarist, Andres Segovia, in Granada, Spain. He has been on the faculties of Dowling College and the Rocky Ridge Music Center in Colorado and has taught at the Edna Manley School of the Arts in Kingston, Jamaica, performing throughout that country. Currently, he is on the faculty of C. W. Post Campus of Long Island University and the United Nations International School. 

He has written two books; "101 Tips and Tricks for the Acoustic Guitar" and "Learn Folk Guitar with the Music of John Denver" published by Cherry Lane Music. He performs regularly in duo with his wife, Kathleen McDonald and with guitarist, Harris Becker. In 1999, the guitar duo released their CD, "Catgut Flambo".  Pat is a co-founder of "A Midsummer Music Festival - Songe d'été en musique", a music festival in rural Quebec which will take place August 3-9, 2009.