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2024

Five 

Seasons

Music

Festival

June 24-29

Where the line between teacher and student becomes a path which leads to mentorship, collaboration, and understanding

Festival Participants will enjoy chamber groups for strings, flute, harp, woodwinds, and jazz combos and get to work with some of the finest musicians in the country.

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We take pride in finding musicians that have performed in all parts of the music industry, from the orchestra hall, big band riser, chamber ensemble, or commercial music setting; students are pleasantly surprised to find the ease with which our faculty slip between genres at the highest level of teaching and performance.

Five Seasons Music Festival

LINE UP
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Registration fee is $285. Upon completion of this form you will be registered and receive additonal information and any updates. 

register now

Registration Form

Area(s) of interest

Thanks for registering!

If you are interested in interning see Intern page for help!!

Five seasons music festival 2024

BUY TICKETS

FESTIVAL details-hosted at Kirkwood Community College

Monday-Friday Daily Schedule

9:30 AM ~ 

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Dance

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Instrumental technique sessions

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lunch

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Singing

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Small Ensemble Rehearsals

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large ensemble rehearsals 

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pick up time

10:00 AM ~ 

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12:00 pM ~ 

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1:00 pM ~ 

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3:00 pM ~ 

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1:30 pM ~ 

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4:00 pM ~ 

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Everyday students will begin with country dancing from the time of shakespeare

The faculty of the festival will break participants into families of instruments. for learning technique, Groups will play a variety of music styles and perform their selection at the Friday or Saturday evening recital.

Participants can purchase lunches at Kirkwood or bring a sack lunch and enjoy socializing with the other festival participants and staff.  At the end of lunch hour, faculty will perform an impromptu recital each day.

Early afternoon brings new opportunities to play in small to mid-sized ensembles. Participants may also enjoy one-on-one break out sessions, as needed.

We close each day in larger ensembles of mixed instruments.  

Rehearsals will conclude promptly at 4:00PM each day.

Concerts

LOCATION

Concert held on

June 27th at 7:00PM for faculty performances.

June 28th at 5:00PM Flute and Harp recital

June 28th at 7:00PM for faculty and student performances.

June 29th at 7:00PM at Ellis Park- Music, dance, and scene from Shakespeare performed by Five Seasons faculty. 

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*all concerts are free and open to the public

6391 Kirkwood Blvd SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

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INFO
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Interested in Interning?

Five Seasons Chamber Music Festival is looking for musicians at the advanced high school and collegiate levels to participate as interns. Intern responsibilities include: Playing in a variety of large and small ensembles including orchestra or jazz, assisting faculty, coaching students, and helping with other needs as they arise. Meals are provided during the festival and home stays are available upon request.

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We will reach out to applicants upon completion of registration form. Feel free to email with any questions. 

INTERN

Register as Intern Here

Upload File

We will reach out soon. 

Festival Director

Stephanie is a founder of the Five Seasons Music Festival. A former vocalist and retired director of the cedar rapids symphony school. Stephanie brings decades of experience to the festival

Jonathon Welch

Conductor, String Coordinator

A native of Cincinnati. Received a Bachelor of Music from Bowling Green State University and received his Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Cincinnati. In his 19th year of teaching, Welch has served as President of the Iowa String Teachers Association and is the Director of Orchestras at Iowa City West High School. 

Ghyas Zeidieh

Cello, Conductor

Earned his Doctor of Musical Arts and Master's Degree from the University of Iowa and other degrees in Music and Dentistry from Damascus Conservatory and University. Ghyas served as Instructor of Cello at Western Illinois University and as music director of the Cedar Rapids Community Orchestra

Richard Wagor

Managing Director, Double Bassist

Richard is a double bassist and electrical bassist. he earned his BA in music from the University of Iowa and a MM from Manhattan School of Music. He has worked with various teachers and played orchestrally as a member in many Symphonies all across America. Richard has taugh at Univerisity of Northern Iowa, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Coe College, Iowa, and Cornell College. Richard is a founder member and board member of Five Seasons Chamber music. 

FACULTY
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Stephanie Wagor

Flute

Director and owner of Music Academy of the Rockies, she began her musical journey at age eight taling flute and piano lessons. Received her BN from San Jose State University and her MM from the University of Iowa both in flute performance.

Lynn Hart

Clarinet/ Saxophone

Teaches saxophone at Luther College and maintains a private studio in Cedar Rapids. Earned master of fine arts in woodwind performance from the University of Iowa and Bachelor of Music in theory/composition from University of Minnesota, Duluth

Fred Kiser

Vocal, Bassoon

Professor/Music Department at Kirkwood Community College, Conducts vocal ensembles: concert chorale, jazz transit, RSVP, and. teaches academic courses in music appreciation and firm music. Choir director at First Presbyterian Church. 

Carmen Llop Kassinger

Freelance violinist in Chicago. Played with Chicago Symphony, Lyric Opera, Joffrey Ballet and many others. Her musical interests range from chamber music to Broadway. Received her Master of violin performance from the University of Miami. 

Violin

Tamara Maddaford

Phil O'Connor

Clarinet/ Saxophone

An extremely accomplished clarinet player. Currently a professor of clarinet of Old Town Conservatory of Music in Pasadena and at colleges in Riverside, California. He has performed with many ensembles/orchestras in southern California such a Long Beach, Pasadena, and Los Angeles Opera. As a clarinetist, he can be heard performing on motion picture soundtracks and television shows. 

Rachel Peters

Performances in Chicago, Beijing, Shanghai, London, and more. Studied at the University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music and at the School for the creative and Performing Arts with a concentration in violin where she received the Artistic Director's Award for her artistic excellence. Currently a member of Orchestra Iowa. 

Violin

Carol Rezabek

Dance

Currently the dance instructor at Coe College, Choreographer for area theater productions. Earned her BFA with honors in dance performance from the University of Iowa, MFA in dance directing from the Ohio State University. Carol teaches ballet at The Dancer's EDGE as an American Ballet Theatre Certified Teacher. 

Robert Rucker

Jazz Drummer, Music Teacher, and Composer

Robert Mansfield Rucker is a jazz drummer, music teacher, and composer who was born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Miami, Florida.   
He has recorded and performed with many notable artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Roberts, Wycliffe Gordon, and Dead Prez  
He also leads his own band called The Robert Rucker Project which plays original compositions and jazz standards. \
He is endorsed by Bosphorus and SoulTone Cymbals and Canopus Drums.

Chuck Bontrager

Violin and Viola

Graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelors degree in vilin and viola, Masters in Violin Performance from College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, plays with the Chicago Sinfonietta, Joffrey Ballet, the Broadway in Chicago series and more. 

Gretchen Brumwell

Principal Harpist of Orchestra Iowa and an active performer around Eastern Iowa
She serves as harp instructor at the University of Northern Iowa and Coe College and teaches many students at her private studio. She holds a Master's degree in harp performance from Rice University and has studied with Paula Page, Mary Bircher, and the legendary Alice Chalifoux.

Harp

Edgar Campos

Trumpet

A native of Costa Rics with a Master of MUsic Degree from Roosevelt University, Edgar Campos has performed with a variety of orchestra including the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, and more

Tal Cohen

Piano

Past winner of the Barry Harris National Piano Competition, his unique style blends traditional jazz with the music of his jewish heritage.

DR. Brett Copeland

Tuba

Ass.Adjunct Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at the University of Northern Iowa previously earned a DMA in Tuba Performance and Literature with a Certificate in Arts Leadership from the Eastman School of Music('20)

Dave Eggar

A grammy award winning cellist and pianist. Graduate of Harvard University and the Julliard School's Doctoral Program, has performed with musicians such as Coldplay, Evanescence, and beyonce. Debuted at Carnegie Hall at age 15 has performed on Broadway and with the metropolitan Opera. 

Cello

Phil Faconti

Guitar

Grammy nominated producer and guitarist who has performed throughout the United States and Europe. Uses a unique blend of classical, flamenco, and contemporary styles. Creates a captivating musical journey for the listener, elegant, and expressive. A Brooklyn native, he now resides in Bristol Virginia/TN. 

Lisa Fako

Violin

A busy freelancer in Chicago. Has performed at many music festivals, including Tanglewood and Aspen. Her teachers include Betty Lambert, Victor Aitay, and Joseph Silverstein. Performas with the Chicago Philharmonic, The Lyric Opera, and many other orchestras. 

Jonathan Greenberg

Trombone

Has a freelance career in NYC. Plays for Broadway shows. Serves on the faculty of Hunter College and The City University of New York. Has appeared with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and others. 

Andy Harris

Horn

Teaches Coe College, Wartburg, Kirkwood, and the Orchestra Iowa Symphony School, performs with the Des MOines Symphony, Orchestra Iowa, and quintets, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre. Featured soloist many times in his career, including Jefferson City Symphony and University of Missouri Symphony Orchestra, 

Matt Kowalski

Trombone

Alex Mincek

Composition and Tenor Saxophone

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