ABOUT  |  2011 CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL

Artists

 

Gabriel Ayala

A member of the Yaqui people of southern Arizona, Gabriel Ayala is at the forefront of a new generation of Native Americans making a career performing classical music. He began playing the guitar as a child. He earned a Master's Degree in Music Performance from the University of Arizona in 1997, has taught at all educational levels from elementary through college, and serves as a competition adjudicator. Although Gabriel truly enjoys being a teacher his busy touring schedule allows him to only teach in masterclass settings.

 

Voices of Change

Voices of Change is the Southwest's premiere professional chamber music ensemble dedicated to the performance of music of our time. Now in its 36th year, Voices of Change fills a unique niche in the music world by performing small ensemble works by 20th and 21st century composers, encouraging and preserving the impulse of musical creativity and imagination.

 

ETHEL

Acclaimed as America's premier postclassical string quartet, ETHEL boldly infuses contemporary concert music with fierce intensity, questioning the boundaries between performer and audience, tradition and technology. Formed in 1998, New York's high-octane ETHEL is comprised of Juilliard-trained performers.

 

Barbara McAlister

American dramatic mezzo-soprano Barbara McAlister, of Cherokee Indian heritage, began her operatic career as an apprentice with the Santa Fe Opera Company and Central City Opera Company. After Santa Fe and Central City, she has gone on to perform with the The Washington Opera Company, Cherokee Heritage Center, Arizona Opera, San Diego Opera, Tulsa Opera, Florentine Opera, New York Grand Opera and Opera New England.