Sinfonia
2010
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Paonia Harvest Festival 2008 Photos
KATHRYN MIENTKA, piano TYME MIENTKA, cello
As the classical Mientka Duo, this husband and wife team has performed internationally to critical acclaim. They have given concerts to enthusiastic audiences in Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, and the USA, where they have been featured nationally on radio and television. Their sensational debut at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. was received with an enthusiastic standing ovation. They have been featured numerous times on NPR's "Performance Today". In 1995 they were selected by an American film company to be the subject of a documentary. The resulting hour-long film was shown nationwide on PBS television and was nominated for an Emmy. Both Tyme and Kathryn graduated from the University of Southern California, and hold a Master’s Degree in Music Performance. They taught at Montana State University for two years. Subsequently they moved to Germany, where they lived for eight years, touring internationally. The Mientka Duo is the recipient of many honors and awards, including a special prize at the Concours International De Musique De Chambre in Paris. Residents of Grand Junction, Colorado, they founded and direct the Western Slope Chamber Music Series.
“Russian Soul, Spanish Fire! Winning naturalness and obvious joy in playing. .. The temperaments of the artists complement each other superbly: Tyme, the intelligent, sensitive musician; Kathryn, the spontaneous but calm virtuoso. . . an exciting and entertaining debut!”
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE NEWS
"An unforgettable concert!”
OUEST-FRANCE NEWS
DAVID ALDERDICE, percussion
David was introduced to music through violin study at age 5, then switched focus to percussion and rhythm at age 10. He attended Montgomery College in Maryland for two years, taking music and art courses, focusing on applying the aesthetics, concepts, and mysticism of the arts to his different musical endeavors. David has been actively performing in local and national music groups for the past 13 years. He has been first call drummer for studios in the D.C. area and sits in for many sessions at Third Stream Music. His sensitive and inspiring style has been recorded dozens of times throughout the past 12 years. His expertise includes trap kit, frame drums, and tambourines, with a focus in jazz studies, grooveability, and ethnomusicology. He has worked with dance troops, theater companies, church choirs, percussion ensembles, symphonies, pit orchestras, big bands, and small ensembles. Highlight performances include the Kennedy Center, the Romanian Embassy, Blues Alley Jazz Club, and the Western Slope Chamber Music Series. David presents lessons and workshops on the metaphysics of sound, silence, rhythm, and motion, and resides in Paonia, Colorado.
“Alderdice’s licks on the percussion were texturally appropriate and blending, diplomatically “win-win” and occasionally zen, instead of the usual ear-splitting whack-you!”
DELTA COUNTY INDEPENDENT
STEPHANIE MIENTA, viola
Presently a viola major at the University of Colorado in Boulder, where she received a full four-year merit scholarship, Stephanie’s rich tone and facile technique has already won her many honors. After winning first prizes in the Rocky Ridge Music Center competition and the Symphony of the Valley young artist competition, she soloed with both orchestras, one of the performances taking place in Harris Hall, Aspen. She has performed many times with FEAST, most notably at the Harvest Festivals in Paonia, where her expressive playing and charismatic stage presence brings explosive cheering from the audience. She plans on furthering her studies in Europe after she finishes her bachelor’s degree.
ELISE HELMKE, harp
Elise’s masterful command of the harp won acceptance into the prestigious Guild Hall Music Conservatory in England. After graduating, she returned to her home in Colorado and since then has been in great demand as a performer. FEAST is her first foray into the “band” scene and her enchanting and sensuous performances have astounded audiences on the western slope.
GABE MIENTKA, bass
Truly a cellist, Gabe loves to take a break from his cello to play string bass and electric bass. He was a member of the Mesa State College Jazz Combo on bass and has performed at the Wells Fargo Art and Jazz Festival in Grand Junction. Though Gabe was classically trained on cello, he has an avid love of dipping into jazz, crossing over from his classical side and playing bass as well as composing. On cello, he has won many awards and prizes, including the Grand Junction Symphony Young Artist competition. He received scholarships for music festivals in California, Italy, and the Aspen Music Festival and is presently studying cello at the Frankfurt Hochschule in Germany.