About the Artists

Violinist/Vocalist Andy Stein has been a long-time member of the Guys All Star Shoe Band, featured weekly on public radio’s “A Prairie Home Companion, with Garrison Keillor.” He also appeared in The Robert Altman film of the same name.

With a background in classical music and old-time country music, he helped form the rock band, Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, in the late 1960’s. This led to a 40-year plus career of performances and recordings with many major Pop and Country artists, from Asleep at the Wheel, Emmy Lou Harris and Willie Nelson, to Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin. While with Commander Cody, he became interested in Western Swing, and, through his association with Vince Giordano in New York, he got the Jazz bug, leading to performances/recordings with Winton Marsallis, Phil Woods, among others. He also maintains a classical career, having toured China with a string quartet, performed violin concertos with orchestras throughout the United States, and recorded with Itzakh Perlman, Placido Domingo and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s.

As a composer and arranger, he has written film scores (for National Lampoon and others), an opera with librettist Garrison Keillor, a piano concerto for André Watts, and other Symphonic and Pops works performed by most of the major orchestras of the United States. He recently finished a composition celebrating the 30^th anniversary of Jaime Laredo and Sharon Robinson. He has also had his works for violin and orchestra performed by Joshua Bell, Nadia Solerno-Sonnenberg, Cho-Liang Lin and many others.

Conal Fowkes, born in Zambia and a graduate of the Royal College of Music in London, moved to New York in 1996 and has been in constant demand as both a pianist and double-bassist. He is a member of the Woody Allen Jazz Band, Orange Kellin’s New Orleans Serenaders, Eddy Davis’ NY Jazz Allstars, the Manhattan Ragtime Orchestra, award-winning Cuban group, Los Soneros de Oriente and is pianist for movie star, Danny Aiello. He has performed all over the world in many of the premier concert halls, jazz clubs and festivals, as well as appearing on radio, television and film. Other credits include performances with Wynton Marsalis, Bob Wilber, Paquito D’Rivera, The Manhattan Rhythm Kings, Bette Midler and Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks Orchestra. He was featured soloist in the hit Broadway Show, One Mo’ Time, and can be seen and/or heard in the films Madame Suzatska, Ghost World, Finding Forester and five-time Oscar winner, The Aviator.

Over thirty years ago, a volunteer with the Seattle Public Schools placed a harp in Bronn’s hands for the first time and began teaching the 11 year old boy how to play. He advanced rapidly, and soon moved on to study with harpist Edith Lundgren. By the time he was 16, he was performing professionally in fine hotels and restaurants in the Seattle area.

After high school, Bronn was accepted to the School of Music at the University of Washington where he received instruction from Pamela Vokelek. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1985.

Today, Bronn’s musical accomplishments are known and appreciated throughout Washington State and the Northwest. His amazing versatility and humorous approach to a seriously classical instrument have made him a favorite with concert goers. “Because of the experience of playing in a variety of settings, I am very comfortable playing in many different styles,” comments Bronn, and his concert selections range from classical to Broadway to hymns. Bronn has even played the National Anthem at Seattle Seahawk and Sonics games!

Katherine Journey (soprano), a native of Calgary, Alberta, began her musical training at age 8 with piano lessons after school. She continued taking lessons through high school and college, graduating from Dordt College in Iowa with a degree in Music Education in 1982. Although piano was her primary instrument, Katherine always loved to sing in choirs and small ensembles.

Katherine’s solo voice training began in 1984, when she auditioned for and received the opportunity to study voice at the Music School at Arizona State University. She studied under Darlene Kliewer and graduated in 1987 with a Masters degree in Vocal Performance.