Whitney Cane
PIANO / VOICE (ONLINE ONLY)
Born in the town of Fairfield, Connecticut, Mezzo-Soprano Whitney Cane had always held an interest in music. From the age of eight, Whitney began her classical voice training with the late Pasguale Pappano (father of world-famous conductor Antonio Pappano). A member of numerous select choral groups, she began piano study with former child prodigy, Norma Verrilli, at the age of fifteen.
Jetting to the West Coast to earn a Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis on Vocal Performance at Whittier College, Whitney continued her piano study under Stephen Cook (Susan Egan’s pianist), classical vocal studies under Donna Nesheim, Jazz vocal studies with Melanie Jackson-Cracchiolo (Latin Grammy nominee), and Pop/Rock studies with Angel Wills-Hart, a mentee of the famous Seth Riggs. Her Brazilian and African percussive lessons were under the direction of Grammy-award winning Danilo Lozano, while her Handbell studies were lead by artist Teresa LeVelle (The Shadowlands).
Recently, Whitney was a featured guest vocalist in Rapper Velocity’s “Another Day,” and was an extra in Breathe Caroline’s “I.D.G.A.F.” music video. In addition to her nearly two-decades of vocal study, Whitney is an experienced event planner and launched her own company, Diamond Fêtes, in January of 2013.
Whitney’s number one priority is to instruct students of all ages in the fundamental principles of music and to provide a fun and inquisitive atmosphere for them to learn and excel.”
Hsin Chen
PIANO / CELLO
Hsin Chen is an accomplished cellist and educator with an extensive background in music. Their orchestral experience includes serving as a Sub for the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Principal Cellist for the University of Hartford Orchestra, National Tsing Hua University Orchestra, and National Lo-Tung Senior High School Orchestra.
Hsin’s education includes a Bachelor of Music degree in Cello Performance from National Tsing Hua University, a Master of Music degree in Cello Performance from the University of Hartford, and is currently pursuing a Doctoral of Music degree in Cello Performance from the University of Hartford.
Hsin has had the privilege of studying with exceptional teachers including Mihai Tetel and Meng-Feng Hsieh. Hsin has also received numerous awards for their exceptional musical talent, including the Best Honor Award at the Connecticut Bach Music Festival Competition in November 2020.
Hsin has also demonstrated a passion for music education, teaching at a music school for two years, with students ranging in age from children to adults. Their teaching experience covers classical music.
Additionally, Hsin has participated in various master classes with renowned cellists such as Prof. John Michel, Prof. Jeroen den Herder, Prof. Jennifer Kloetzel, Horacio Contreras, Darrett Adkins, and Michael Reynolds.
As a fluent speaker of Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese, and English, Hsin is a skilled communicator with excellent interpersonal skills. Their diverse background and experiences make them valuable assets to any musical community.
Charlotte Chiu
VIOLIN / VIOLA / PIANO
Ms. Chiu, an experienced violin instructor from Taiwan, has performed in Strings in Harmony Orchestra, led by world-renowned musician Cho-Liang Lin. Ms. Chiu is currently enrolled in the graduate program of UCONN, pursuing an advanced degree in talented and gifted education. Born in Changhua, one of the oldest towns in Taiwan, Ms. Chiu had her first violin lesson at the age of five and won first place in the Youth Violin Competition Awards at the age of nine in her hometown. As a result of the competition, Chiu was selected into a talented and gifted program at the age of ten, for advanced classical music training. This earned her the privilege of early admission into the National College of Art in Taiwan, in which she graduated with a Master’s Degree in Music as a violin major. Based on her extensive experience in the talented and gifted program since childhood, Chiu, quite naturally, became an expert in the field. During her graduate studies, she was invited to teach in gifted students’ classes in top-ranked private and public schools, eventually becoming an advisor to students and staff. By the time she completed her Master’s Degree, she was appointed as Director of the Talented and Gifted Program. For the past ten years, Ms. Chiu nurtured numerous young and talented musicians in Taiwan from her classes. She even assembled her very own youth symphony to perform throughout Asia and various international venues. Ms. Chiu funds and directs a symphony in Taiwan to provide a performance platform for young musicians to develop their careers in the performance arts industry.
George Dewar
CELLO
George Dewar, violoncellist, was a student of Heinrich Joachim, and David Wells at Manhattan School of Music’s preparatory division and received his BMus in performance from Peabody Conservatory as a student of Stephen Kates, and a chamber music student of Karen Tuttle. He has been a member of the graduate string quartets at West Virginia University, and University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and had fellowships to the Waterloo and Aspen Music Festivals, where he studied with David Finkel, Lazlo Varga,Yehuda Hanani, Anthony Elliot, and was also a student and teaching assistant to Frederick Zlotkin. Mr. Dewar freelances in the tri state area , and teaches privately on long island and Connecticut. He has peformed with North Shore Pro Musica, and a recital for Islip Arts Council , and has played concertos with BAFFA Symphony, West Islip Chamber Orchestra, Westchester Chamber Symphony, and with JoAnn Falletta and the Queens Philharmonia. Mr. Dewar is currently the principal ‘cellist with the Westchester Chamber Symphony and has completed a MMus in performance at Brooklyn College with Frederick Zlotkin.
John Hurley
GUITAR
John has been teaching guitar/music for over 30 years. Born, raised, and currently residing in Fairfield County, he has long-standing roots in the musical and educational communities of the area. A co-founder of The Red Planet, a folk-rock quartet that has enjoyed an eight year weekly residency at the Owl Shop in downtown New Haven, he regularly performs in clubs and theatres from Stamford to Guilford. He’s toured the entire country, and has also enjoyed a couple appearances in Ireland.
John attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, as well as Western CT State University and Albertus Magnus, where he attained his BSBM. He worked for Pitney Bowes and Canon for over 20 years, and has re-dedicated his life to the encouragement of musical development in young people (and all ages!). His personal musical interests range from the Grateful Dead to bluegrass to jazz to Irish traditional music. In addition to the Red Planet, John is currently with the Liz McNichol Band, Once Removed, and performs as a solo act as well.
He has taught in both the Monroe and Bridgeport school districts, and continues to cover as a substitute teacher when his performance schedule permits. He is an enthusiastically proud father and, recently, grandfather! His other interests include recording, animation, and the occasional game of golf.
Kenneth Kuo – President
CELLO
Hailed by the Sydney Morning Harold as a “cellist with great facility and confidence,” and Strings magazine as a cellist “with effortless technique, a beautiful, warm tone, and an unabashedly romantic soul,” Kenneth Kuo is rapidly establishing an international reputation as one of the top cellists of his generation.
Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Kuo began his cello studies at the age of four, and by eight won the first of three consecutive Taipei Youth Cello Competition awards. In 1986 he enrolled in the Preparatory Division at the Manhattan School of Music, studying with Marion Feldman. He continued his studies with Harvey Shapiro at The Juilliard School, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree. In 1997, Kuo enrolled at Yale University where he studied with Aldo Parisot. Upon graduating with a Master’s of Music degree, he received the Aldo Parisot Prize in recognition of his achievements while at Yale.
Kuo has performed throughout Asia, Europe, and the Americas in such venues as Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall, Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, Taiwan National Concert Hall, and Sydney Town Hall with such artists as Pierre Boulez, Itzhak Perlman, Aldo Parisot, and Erick Friedman. In January 2000, he was invited to play for President Lee of Taiwan, and has been invited every year to represent musicians for the 9/11 Memorials in Connecticut by Governor Jodi Rell. Aside from his classical performances, Kuo has also recorded two albums for Jingo Records of Taiwan, The Memories of Boom Mi Pon and Splended Adventure . Both albums were nominated for “Best Crossover Instrumental Album” by the Golden Music Awards in Taiwan. His latest album, The Sky You Decide, recorded on Virgin Records, was featured on Taiwan’s San Li television studio for its Discovery, Food, and History Channels. Kuo’s crossover work also includes collaborations with numerous Asian pop superstars and independent pop and folk artists from around the world.
Along with being the Founder and President of The Connecticut School of Music in Westport and Greenwich, Kuo is also the creator of the Connecticut Musical Artists Foundation, a non-profit organization which assists students with musical and financial needs. He has held positions at Yale University, Taiwan National Teachers College, Thames Valley Music School in Connecticut College, Ithaca Violoncello Institute, University Antonio Nanino in Colombia and the New England Music Camp. Kuo is also the Director of Classical Music Services, a chamber music management agency.
Sharon Levin
FLUTE
Sharon Levin has performed in Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Switzerland, Germany, Israel, and the USA. She has appeared at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, NYC in 1988, 1989, (1991 at Merkin Concert Hall), 1996, 2000, 2002 and 2008 performing solos and chamber music. She has appeared on national television in Brazil, Costa Rica and Ecuador and has been interviewed and performed on New York’s WQXR radio with harpist, Karen Stern. Sharon Levin has won awards from Artists International in 1988, 1989 and 1991 with harpist, Karen Stern and in 1996 as a soloist. She has performed as a concerto soloist in Brazil, Ecuador, France, Connecticut and New Jersey. Since 1988 she was the principal Flutist with the New Jersey Pops Symphony Orchestra until they dissolved in 2002.
Ms. Levin has been performing for over 25 years with harpist Karen Stern. As the Levin/Stern Duo, they performed in Europe, South America, Central America and the USA. They perform recitals, concertos, educational lecture/performances and for private special occasions. Her Ecuadorian group Trio Pasional, consisting of flute and two guitars recorded two CDs called Mi Ultimo Beso (My Last Kiss) and Reir Llorando (To Laugh Crying). She hopes this music will heighten the public’s awareness of the need to conserve the rainforests and the cultures with which they coexist. Some of Trio Pasional’s performances have been at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, CAMI Hall, NYC, The New York Flute Club Flute Fair, and recently at the International Flute Festival in Costa Rica. Other performances include The Newark Museum, (NJ), The Union County Arts Center, (NJ), First Night in Summit, (NJ), The Jefferson Auditorium, Virginia, and at various metropolitan colleges, universities, and diplomatic events. Sharon has spent several years studying Ecuadorian Mestizo Music and created a publication of this style music for Flute and Piano with the help and talent of pianist, Allison Brewster Franzetti. She has explored Brazilian Chorinho music and spent several years studying this style as well.
Ms. Levin has a Master’s Degree from Manhattan School of Music and prior to that she studied in Paris, France, where she was awarded the “Certificat de Musique de Chambre” from the Ecole Normale de Musique. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY. She has given several Master Classes in Spanish in Costa Rica and Ecuador, and has translated for Master Classes in Costa Rica for other flute Artists. In August of 2005 Ms. Levin gave a lecture/performance on Ecuadorian Mestizo Music at the National Flute Association Convention in San Diego. In 2006 she published Ecuadorian Mestizo Music for Flute and Piano. Ms. Levin performs and teaches at the International Flute Festival in Costa Rica. She was conductor of the Young Artists and Young People’s Flute Choirs of the Stamford Young Artist Philharmonic from 2006 – 2010. Ms. Levin performs regularly in the northeast region and teaches privately.
One of Sharon’s specialties is preparing students for competitions and auditions. Many of her high school and middle school students have received high scores with the Connecticut State Regional Auditions and have been invited to participate in Regional Band and Orchestra Concerts. Some of Sharon’s students have even gone on to participate in All State, be invited to play with professional orchestras, perform honors recitals, and even be selected as a concerto competition finalist.
Several of her students also participate in the Norwalk Youth Symphony, Stamford Young Artists Philharmonic and The Greater Bridgeport Youth Symphony programs.
Dylan McCarthy
BAND
Originally from Portland, Connecticut, Dylan McCarthy is a lifelong musician and is thrilled to be joining the team at The Connecticut School of Music.
After finishing high school, Dylan went to Western Connecticut State University to pursue a BS in Music Education. While there, he studied classical trumpet under Rich Clymer and jazz trumpet under Dave Scott. During his studies, he collaborated with percussionist Sean Charles to win the 2019 Furman Chamber Music Competition at WCSU.
Additionally, while at WCSU, he studied Edwin Gordon’s Music Learning Theory under Dr. Matthew Doiron. Dylan incorporates this into his teaching, using singing and solfege to develop students’ musical abilities and encourage creativity.
Dylan has previously worked in Greenwich as the conductor of the Beginning Band at the 2022 Greenwich Music & Arts Summer Camp. He currently works at Naugatuck High School, teaching guitar and music production. Outside of music, Dylan enjoys baseball, fishing, and working on his car.
Joe Meo
CLARINET / SAXOPHONE
Joe Meo is a multi-woodwind player who has had a wide-ranging musical career that seemed preordained – his first instrument (a clarinet) fell out of a car and landed across the street from his house when he was 8 years old! He has played all his life from that moment on, shelving a career in electrical engineering (he holds both BS and MS degrees in that subject) to pursue his first love of music. He has played in numerous rock, funk and jazz bands from New Jersey to Massachusetts. He has toured the world with the Jeff Holmes Big Band and the Ed Palermo band and has played with the Tonight Show orchestra under Doc Severinsen. He has played with many pop artists including Billy Vera, the Pointer Sisters, the Four Tops, the Temptations, and Johnny Mathis. He has played on several cruise ships including on the maiden voyage of the Queen Mary 2. He has played on many recordings ranging from albums and CDs to commercials. He has arranged and played the horn parts for the last two CDs by Johnny Winter, the last of which, entitled Step Back, won a Grammy award for best blues album in 2015. His abilities on clarinet, sax and flute have allowed him to play in pit orchestras for Broadway productions. Lately he has added guitar and vocals to his musical arsenal. He also has a thriving teaching career, teaching privately and substituting in private and public schools. He is equally adept at all genres of music combining outstanding reading skills and the ability to improvise, allowing him to fit seamlessly into any musical situation.
Jennifer Quian-Lopez
VIOLIN/ VIOLA
Jennifer Quian-Lopez is a Cuban violist who started her music studies at the age of 7. After graduating from the National School of Arts in Havana, Jennifer began to play and teach professionally in Cuba 2013 before going to Mexico to teach music. In Mexico she continued Music studies and finished undergrad at the Instituto Superior de Musica Esperanza Azteca. During her years in Mexico she played with musicians such as Yo-yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Shlomo Mintz and many other important Latin American musicians. In 2021, Jennifer received a full scholarship to come to the United States to pursue a master’s degree with Rita Porfiris as her professor. That same year she won the Harmony Fellowship with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. After graduating in May 2023, Jennifer has continued playing with NHSO, and has recently become their Community Engagement Associate.