Elgar and Barber

Edward Elgar

Elizabeth Hale Knox, Mezzo-soprano

Elizabeth Hale Knox has performed as a soloist with the Chattanooga Opera, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Indianapolis Bach Festival, the Evansville Indiana Symphony Orchestra and the Lafayette Bach Chorale Singers. In the Chicago area, she has appeared as a soloist with the DuPage Opera Theatre, Lincoln Opera, Chamber Opera of Chicago and the Tower Chorale.

Ms. Knox currently sings in Chicago with Music of the Baroque. She has been a full-time member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago Chorus and the Grant Park Music Festival Chorus.

Ms. Knox has won scholarships to both the Aspen Music Festival and the Blossom Music Festival. She received her Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in Vocal Performance from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

Ms. Knox is a board member of the Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). She is also a member of the Chicago Singing Teachers Guild. She maintains a private voice studio in River Forest. www.riverforestvoicestudio.com

Samuel Barber

Racheli Galay-Altman, Cellist

Cellist Racheli Galay-Altman performs a broad spectrum of musical styles ranging from baroque, classical and contemporary music to Klezmer and improvisation. Her appearances as soloist and recitalist have received praise from the press and audience alike. Highlights include solo performances with the Zagreb Philharmonic, Lublin Philharmonic, Szolnok Symphony, Rosario Chamber Orchestra, Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra, Indiana University Symphony and The Soloists of Israel. She has performed at the Luoghi di Confine Festival, Italy; The Tzfat Klezmer Festival, Israel; Musica Festival, France; Bruno Schulz Festival, Ukraine; and at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. She has appeared as recitalist and chamber musician in the Dame Myra Hess Series, Pianoforte Series and Etnachta at the Jerusalem Theater. Galay-Altman has premiered numerous works by contemporary Israeli and European composers.

Racheli Galay-Altman received her Doctoral degree in cello performance from Northwestern University, Masters in cello from Indiana University, Bloomington, B.A. in Musicology, magna cum laude, from the University of Tel-Aviv and a diploma from the Conservatory of Strasbourg in France.

Racheli Galay-Altman is currently on the faculty of VanderCook College of Music, Chicago. She plays on a Paul Bailly violoncello, circa 1900. www.rachelgalay.com

Saori Chiba, Pianist

"The brilliant Japanese pianist" Saori Chiba is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades for her superb keyboard artistry. Ms. Chiba is highly sought after as a coach and accompanist for both instrumentalists and singers. Of her six current recordings, three have captured the Daily Herald's coveted "Top Ten Classical CD's of the Year" honor in 2003, 2004 and 2006. She was selected to the Grammy Award Entry List for Best Chamber Music Performance. Ms. Chiba's recordings have been broadcasted regularly on such stations as KUSC, WFIU, KING, WDAV, WGBH, KUSF, KBPS and KUAT.

Her vocal master class credentials include associations with Dalton Baldwin, Martin Katz, David Schraeder and Denyce Graves. In addition, she has also collaborated with Ravinia Festival conductor, Christoph Eschenbach and violinist, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg. Ms. Chiba also frequently accompanies for Chicago Opera Theater and was recently appointed mid-West coordinator and pianist for Opera Santa Barbara.