BRIO RECORDINGS' ARTISTS Click on the Artist's picture to read more...
				Jonathan Bellman				Sofia     Pavlova
		Curtis A. Probel				Steve Larson
								Stephen J. Mato
Anthony J. Patterson				Chérie Noble
		Ritsuko Kubo				Lynne Haeseler
				Roberto Pace

Jonathan Bellman, D.M.A., is Professor and Chair of the Music History Department at the University of Northern Colorado. He earned his B.A. and M.M. degrees in Piano Performance from the University of California, Santa Barbara and the University of Illinois, respectively, and his D.M.A. in Piano Performance Practices from Stanford University. His primary interests are nineteenth-century musical style and piano performance practices, particularly relating to the music of Frédéric Chopin.  Dr. Bellman was a ballet and modern pianist for the National Academy of Arts in Champaign, Illinois and the San Francisco Ballet Company and School. He has participated in the Stanford Baroque Dance Workshops with the late Wendy Hilton and Linda Tomko and has played classes for many notable ballet teachers including Charthel Arthur, Christine Hennessey, Jon Rodriguez, Lupe Serrano, and Michael Smuin.  He began collaborating with Chérie Noble in 1981.

Lynne Haeseler, D.M.A., is a versatile artist who continues to work nationally as a concert soloist, integrated arts performer, music director, dance accompanist, lecturer, and private teacher. Dr. Haeseler received her music degrees from S.U.N.Y Purchase and the University of Arizona. Her studies with Nina Svetlanova, Joel Rosen, Bruce Hungerford, and Jean Casadesus have given her a rich musical heritage of the Russian and French piano traditions. A gifted dance accompanist, Ms. Haeseler has served on staff with the Vail International Dance Festival, Arizona State University Dance Department, and Ballet Arizona Company and School. She has been a guest accompanist for American Ballet Theatre, Paris Opera Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Lynne Haeseler’s recordings include: The Classics for Ballet Class/Brio Recordings, High Seas and Lowlands/Orpheus Male Chorus, and Chase the Moon/solo piano.

Ritsuko (Miki) Kubo, pianist and conductor, holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, Emphasis in Music Education from Musashino Music Academy, located in her native Tokyo, Japan.  Ms. Kubo began her career as Company Pianist for Ballet West and Accompanist for the Ballet West Conservatory.  She currently holds the positions of Company Pianist for the Colorado Ballet and Accompanist for the Academy of Colorado Ballet.  Ms. Kubo has played for Burklyn Ballet Theatre, the Vail International Dance Festival and the Denver Ballet Guild Competition.  She has also been guest pianist and conductor with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra for their ballet repertoire.  She has worked with many noted ballet teachers including Bene Arnold, William Christensen, David Howard, Ben Stevenson, Nadia Tikhonova, and Violette Verdy.  Ms. Kubo’s collaboration with Chérie Noble began in 1998.

Steve Larson, composer and pianist, has been accompanying dancers for over 20 years. He has worked with Ballet Hispanico, Feld Ballets/NY, Milwaukee Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Andahazy School of Classical Ballet, Alaska Dance Theatre, and Minnesota Dance Theatre.  Mr. Larson holds degrees from the University of MN and the University of WI his teachers included Vladimir Levitski, Judith Jaimes and Paul Freed. His compositions have been performed by violinist Hal Grossman, the Interlochen Academy Choir, the Backyard Recorder Consort, and the Concord Chamber Orchestra. For many years, Mr. Larson was editor of The Dusty Corner, a nationally distributed newsletter for ballet accompanists.  Steve Larson is currently on staff at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, where he collaborates daily with dancers and musicians. Otherwise, he can be found indulging his passion for improvising at silent film screenings. He dedicates his music on this CD to his wife, Mary, and daughters, Katie and Zoë.

Stephen J. Mato, a native of Philadelphia, PA, studied piano with Susan Starr and Eleanor Sokoloff. He earned his BA in English from Temple University and a Masters in Education from Arcadia University with which he taught English daily for thirty years. Mr. Mato sustained a long term association with The Pennsylvania Ballet and The Rock School and also worked with Nashville Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Philadanco, and The University of the Arts. He was equally capable playing for modern and character classes and worked with many eminent teachers including Lupe Serrano, Benjamin Harkarvy, Chérie Noble, Yvonne Patterson, Jeffrey Gribler, Fiona Fuerstner, Dane LaFontsee, Gloria Govrin, James Truitte, and Yuriko, to name a few. Mr. Mato was commissioned to write five original ballet scores and recorded fifteen albums of his music for ballet classes in collaboration with Halina Lutomski. Stephen J. Mato died unexpectedly August 30, 2001, much to the loss of the dance world.

Chérie Noble, choreographer, ballet master, and teacher, danced professionally as a charter member and soloist of the Pennsylvania Ballet Company. Ms. Noble has served as Associate Director of Ballet Arizona and as Ballet Master and Company Teacher for the Pennsylvania Ballet Company, the Iranian National Ballet, and Ballet Oklahoma. She has taught several American College Dance Festivals and Regional Dance America Festivals, and has participated as a master teacher for the RDA Craft of Choreography Conference and for the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. Ms. Noble has choreographed more than sixty commissioned works and enjoys staging the full-length classics. Nationally recognized for her extensive teaching residencies in the U.S. and abroad, Ms. Noble is respected for her knowledge, caring guidance, and ability to develop artistic potential.

Roberto Pace, composer, pianist, and conductor, has achieved distinction in the fields of concert music, opera, theatre, and dance. Mr. Pace received a full scholarship for composition to New England Conservatory and also attended Manhattan School of Music and Milan Conservatory. He graduated summa cum laude receiving his MFA from SUNY-Purchase. Mr. Pace has been a Company Pianist for Dance Theatre of Harlem and Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre. He has played for American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet and has accompanied Suzanne Farrell for thirteen spots on Sesame Street. Original works composed by Mr. Pace include scores for Chicago City Ballet, the Tristler Danscompany, and three works for American Opera Projects. Mr. Pace teaches composition and theory at Settlement Music School in Philadelphia, PA and is Music Director of Terpsichore Sanctuary of Art, Nature, and Dance.

Anthony J. Patterson, pianist, conductor, and composer, made his debut at age seven with the Lima Symphony Orchestra (OH) and has since won prestigious piano competitions and appeared as soloist with various orchestras. His teachers include Richard Syracuse, Jerome Rose, Don Hurless, Andre Watts, and Earl Wild. Mr. Patterson is currently Artist-in Residence at Alma College (MI) where he contributes his talents within the music and dance departments.  He spends his summers on faculty at the Bay View Music Festival (MI) where he plays numerous concerts and has served as Music Director for the Bay View Opera. His composition credits include instrumental, dance, and vocal music commissioned by universities, chamber ensembles, and individuals.

Sofia Pavlova, pianist with advanced degrees in Music History and Music Theory, studied at the Zaporozhye State Music College and Donetsk Music and Pedagogical University, Ukraine.  She was the music theory department chair at the Vladimir State College of Choreography, Russia, and has written textbooks on musical accompaniment for Dance. Ms. Pavlova is an accompanist at S.U.N.Y. Purchase and Coupé Dance Theatre in Nanuet, NY. She has played master classes at Steps On Broadway and Ballet Academy East in NYC and has received high praise for her skills from numerous teachers including Fabrice Herrault, Ted Kivitt, Michelle Lucci, Alexander Proia, Rosanna Seravalli, and Ethan Stiefel. Ms. Pavlova dedicates this CD to her best friend and mentor, Olga Trusova, and to her children, Anton and Goldy. 

Curtis A. Probel, is a graduate of Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.  He began his career with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and, subsequently, was on staff at the North Carolina School for the Arts, Ballet Florida, and the Dreyfoos School of the Arts.  He served as Company Pianist for the Atlanta Ballet under the artistic direction of John McFall before moving to the UK where he is currently on staff with the English National Ballet School.  Mr. Probel  has played for many international companies including: American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Hungarian National Ballet, Miami City Ballet, New York City Ballet, The Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, State Ballet of San Paulo (Brazil), and Baryshnikov’s White Oak Project.  Mr. Probel dedicates his music to his wife, Patricia Glover, with grateful appreciation for her inspiration and support.