Biographies
Danielle Turano, Violinist, and founder of Divina Strings,
has performed in diverse venues throughout the world. She has appeared as a
violin soloist with The World Scholar-Athlete Games Orchestra at The University
of Rhode Island, and as a section leader with The New Britain, Waterbury,
and West Hartford Symphonies as well as The Hartford Festival Orchestra.
She has participated in various festivals including the Kulturfestival in
Switzerland, the Sessione Senese per la Musica Festival, in Italy,
the Arcady International Music Festival in Maine. She has taken part in
master classes at The Juilliard School of Music and at New York University
with world-renowned classical violinists that include Itzak Pearlman, Almita
and Roland Vamos, Danielle has studied violin with premier artists such as
Anton Miller, Brunalinda Myftari, and Anthea Kreston at The Hartt School
of Music from where she holds a Cum Laude Bachelors Degree in Classical
Violin Performance. Danielle also performs non classical music on violin
and cello with her group Loukoum, based in Brooklyn NY, which performs
world music compositions in a setting of violin, cello and accordion, and
are currently in the process of releasing their album. She recently
participated in The Creative Strings Workshop at Otterbein College in
Columbus, Ohio, where she worked with master violinists of Jazz and
improvisation including Christian Howes, Billy Contreras, and Rob Thomas.
In May of 2010, Danielle will receive her Teaching Certification in Music
Education from Central Connecticut State University. Danielle is also the
current Chamber Orchestra Director at Newington High School where she directs
and conducts a very talented group of devoted string students.
Benjamin Dean, violinist, Ben Dean (Violin, Piano)
began musical studies on the violin at age five. Since then,
his love for music has led to the pursuit of a dual major in
Violin Performance and Music Education at the Hartt School of
Music. He currently studies under Micky Reisman, a nationally
renowned classical violin instructor. In addition to training
as a classical violinist, Ben is accomplished in the realms
of bluegrass, folk music, and jazz violin. He recently won first
place in the adult division of the 2004 D’Addario competition
at the Podunk Bluegrass music festival. Benjamin is available
for performances as a strolling violinist, information about
these services and his recent CD are available at his web page.
He teaches lessons, performs regularly and has done innovative
work as a studio violinist for his own CD and recorded for others.
John Biatowas, 2nd violinist and violist, studied under
Phoebe Barron for 13 years. He has played in numerous small
baroque ensembles affiliated with the Neighborhood Music School
in New Haven. John is a graduate of Colgate University in central
New York where he was an active member of the Colgate University
Orchestra. In addition to orchestral performance, John was a
member of the Colgate Chamber Players. He holds a performers
certificate from the University of Connecticut and has completed
all coursework for his Masters in Performance of Violin and
Viola. He is currently a member of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony
Orchestra.
Christopher Jones, cellist, business manager and musical director,
has studied cello performance with Jennifer Sills, Ann West,
Rebecca Patterson, Mary Lou Rylands and Natalia Khoma. Christopher
performs frequently in chamber ensembles throughout New England
at public performances, private engagements and even world premieres
at Carnegie Hall. He has served as adjunct music faculty in
the Manchester middle school, performed in orchestras and rock
bands, and judged Connecticut's High School All-State auditions.
From '03-05 he taught a studio of over 20 cello and violin students
at "Summit Studios," also in Manchester. He has taught an infancy
to pre-kindergarten music class in the CT shoreline area called
"Teddy Bear Rhythms" for the past three years. Christopher has
studied voice at the collegiate level and directed semi-professional
a cappella groups. He is a member of the CT American string teacher executive board.
Cristopher holds a BA of music and BS in
education from The University of Connecticut. Currently, Christopher
is a music teacher at Adams Middle School in Guilford, CT where
he directs the orchestra and teaches general music classes.
Katherine Postovoit, Voice, has been classically singing since the age of twelve.
Recently, Katherine performed chamber music at Bethesda Lutheran of New Haven and
has sung cantata solos with the Sacred Heart Choir of Taftville, CT. She held the
position of soprano section leader at the First Congregational Church of Branford.
Katherine now sings with the Yale Camerata in New Haven, CT. In 2007, Katherine
participated in the Sieur Duluth Opera Festival, where she sang the role of Frasquita
in Carmen. Katherine’s favorite performed roles include Silvertone in The Impresario,
Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, and the title role in Little Red Riding Hood. Katherine
holds a BM in Classical Performance from Western Connecticut State University. Upon
graduation from college, Katherine traveled to China to perform Western opera and
to study traditional Chinese singing. Katherine currently teaches general and
choral music at Tyrrell Middle School in Wolcott, CT.
Susan K. Smith, Organist and Church musician, has been "on the bench" on Sunday mornings
since age 13. She has served as organist and director of music in various denominations,
including Lutheran, Episcopal, Congregational (UCC) and Methodist. Sue has a strong background
in liturgical music and has a solid repertoire of organ and choral music appropriate
to the liturgical calendar. She also has an affinity for contemporary, gospel and
rhythmic styles. Sue served for more than 20 years at the Avon Congregational
Church and recently served as Director of Adult Music Ministries at the Simsbury
United Methodist Church. Sue attended Smith College 1980 (A.B., magna cum laude,
Phi Beta Kappa, Ada Comstock Scholar) as a Music Major, with independent study in
organ performance. She has won two prizes in organ performance.
