consists of Kim Portnoy on piano, Clancy Newell (Drums) and Ric Vice (Bass).
Kim Portnoy, is a composer, arranger, jazz pianist and Director of Composition Studies at Webster University, St. Louis.In 2018 Portnoy was awarded one of ten St. Louis Regional Arts Commission Artist Fellowships.
His compositions have been featured at national and international institutes and conferences and he has been commissioned by such diverse organizations as the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America, the St. Louis Children’s Choir, the Sheldon Arts Foundation and the St. Louis Low Brass Collective,
As a jazz pianist Portnoy has performed in clubs and concert halls and has appeared with such artists as vocalists Erin Bode, Roseanna Vitro and St. Louis Symphony concertmaster David Halen. His work as a pianist can be heard on the Max Jazz release “All in Good Time” featuring vocalist Asa Harris and “Great Day” on the Victoria Records label (with bassist Ric Vice and drummer Clarence Newell).
Portnoy’s new recording, “Caprice”, features performances of his original chamber music by the Trombones of the St. Louis Symphony, the Arianna String Quartet and other notable St. Louis musicians.
Clancy Newell is a free lance percussionist who performs locally with the Kim Portnoy Trio and recently toured Europe with the Jim Widner Orchestra. He has performed with Bill Watrous, David “Fathead” Newman, Mike Vax, Kim Park and the Route 66 Jazz Orchestra. He is currently a member of the New Line Theatre Co. band and performs with We The People, a 10-piece rock band.
Ric Vice is a free-lance bassist in the St. Louis area. Predominantly a jazz player his credits include performing locally with Herb Ellis, Diana Krall, Jeff Clayton, Oleta Adams, and Rob McConnell. Ric’s performances as a long time member of the Kim Portnoy trio have been at many venues, including the Sheldon Concert Hall with St. Louis Symphony Concertmaster, David Halen. In 2008, Ric had the privilege to play with Mary Wilson of the Supremes on her Midwest tour. He has performed on the Jazz at Holmes Lounge series at Washington University and the Webster University Jazz Series.
is made up of Lindsey Miller-Jones (Violin), James Nacy (Cello) and Diana Umali (Piano).
LINDSEY MILLER-JONES, violin, received a scholarship from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1994 and graduated with a BM in violin and then master’s degree in 1999 at the University of Florida-Gainesville. In St. Louis, she has been teaching private violin lessons, group lessons and playing in a number of local groups including the Union Avenue Opera Orchestra, St. Louis Chamber Orchestra, and the Fox Theatre Orchestra.
JAMES NACY, cellist, is the Director of Orchestras at Marquette High School in the Rockwood School District. Additionally, James serves on the faculty of Saint Louis University where he teaches cello, chamber music and conducts the orchestra. In 2006 the Missouri Chapter of the American String Teachers Association named him Outstanding Secondary School Educator. During the summers of 2008 and 2009, James traveled to Iraq and Lebanon where he taught cello, conducted various orchestras and provided training for string teachers.
DIANA UMALI, piano, earned her master’s degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in May 2006 after receiving a B.A. in music performance and B.S. in Finance from Saint Louis University. She is currently an adjunct music teacher at Saint Louis University, East Central College in Union, MO, on the faculty of Community Music School of Webster University and has served as a staff accompanist with the Saint Louis Children’s Choirs since January 2002. Her teachers include Linda Perry, Jennifer Lim-Judd and Pamela Dees.
The performers on half of the February 24, 2019 program will be Beverly Field and Toni Pearson performing Brahms, Sonata in e minor, op. 38 for cello and piano. The other half of the program will feature the Missouri Women’s Chorus, Scott Schoonover, director.
Beverly Field, Cello
Stay tuned. The performance is still to be determined...
Stay tuned. The performance is still to be determined...
Every summer, the Arianna String Quartet hosts an intensive chamber music festival right here in St. Louis. Young artists from St. Louis to Santiago (Chile), California to Korea, engage in a cultural exchange of musical ideas.
The Arianna Chamber Music Festival uses the art of chamber music playing to teach life skills of creative and critical thinking, collaborative team work, and self-expression. Skills and ideas that they take back with them to build connections and communities.
Dear Viewers,
Friends of Music Concerts has entered into a mutually beneficial relationship this year with the Arianna String Quartet and its summer program, the Arianna Chamber Music Festival. The Arianna String Quartet will be performing a free concert on our series on Sunday, December 2nd, featuring Schubert’s “Death and the Maiden” Quartet (based on a Schubert song by that name) and the remarkable Quartet in C# minor Op. 131 by Beethoven.
The 2018/2019 season schedule has been announced. New concerts have been added including one featuring the Arianna String Quartet.
