Ransom Wilson

Ransom Wilson is an Artist Member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and Professor of Flute at Yale University, as well as Music Director of the orchestra at the Idyllwild Academy of the Arts. Ransom has appeared with major orchestras around the world, and has played in recital with many of the greatest musicians of our time. He was educated at the North Carolina School of the Arts and The Juilliard School. For post-graduate work, he was an Atlantique Foundation scholar in Paris for a year, studying privately with Jean-Pierre Rampal. His other flute teachers have included Alain Marion, Philip Dunigan, Sandra Taylor, Lawrence Morgan, Severino Gazzelloni, Julius Baker, Christian Lardé, and Arthur Lora. Mr. Wilson has recorded 30 albums as either flutist and conductor, and was three times nominated for the "Grammy" award. Other awards he has received include the Alabama Prize from the New York Times Foundation, and the Award of Merit in Gold, from the Republic of Austria. Ransom is a frequent jury member of international competitions and recently gave a weeklong masterclass at the Paris Conservatory.

Daniel Alexander

Daniel Alexander, originally from England, obtained a Masters at the Yale School of Music under Ransom Wilson, and a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Houston, studying with Aralee Dorough and Sydney Carlson. He can be heard on a CD of chamber works by Christopher Rouse with the Calder Quartet released in 2009 on E1 records, and runs the Cambridge Flute Masterclass in England with Ransom Wilson. He has taught flute as an assistant at the University of Houston, and has performed live on Houston's KUHF radio and at the National Flute Association in New York. Daniel won first prize at the 2009 Myrna Brown Competition in Denton, Texas, and also won the 2008 University of Houston concerto competition. He currently serves as 3rd flute and piccolo with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, and has also performed with Ballet Hawaii and the Hawaii Opera Theatre.

José Menor

José Menor’s musical talents were recognized in his early teens, when he gained attention as the First Prize winner in consecutive years at the World Piano Competition (youth divisions) in Cincinnati (USA), performing as a winner at the Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall) in New York, at the age of fifteen. In 2004 he was a Finalist of the Young Concert Artist Trust (YCAT) audition series in London, performing at the Wigmore Hall.
José made his debut in 1996 at the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, which awarded him with First Prize in the series 'El Primer Palau'. Since then he has given solo recitals throughout Spain, the UK, Netherlands, Germany and Italy, performing in prestigious Spanish International Festivals, such as the 'Festival Internacional de Música y Danza de Granada', the 'Festival Internacional de Música' in Torroella de Montgrí, etc. London appearances include Steinway Hall, St Martin in the Fields, St James’ Piccadilly, St John´s Smith Square, etc., including a recent performance of Rachmaninov´s second piano concerto (St John´s Smith Square).

José was born in Sabadell, Spain, and he studied at the Conservatorio Superior Municipal de Música de Barcelona, from where he graduated in Piano, Chamber Music, Composition and Conducting. José has been awarded with different prizes in piano competitions, both nationally and internationally. These include: the 'Ricard Viñes' Competition in Lleida, Spain; the 'Concurso Permanente de Juventudes Musicales de España' -JJMM Spain-; the 'Premi Ciutat de Berga' competition (Barcelona), in all the categories; 'Ciutat de Carlet' competition; International Competition 'Maria Canals' (Piano-Juniors division), in Barcelona, etc. As well as performing as a solo pianist, he has been member of several chamber music groups such as the 'Trio Guinjoan', giving a number of recitals in Spain.

As a composer, he had several premieres, including the string quartet 'Limits', performed in Barcelona, by the 'Quartet Homs' (April 2001). He also created the show Para Neruda, homage to the chilean poet, recently performed at L’Auditori (Barcelona), participating as a pianist as well. Jose also developed an interest in music for theatre, working in different shows and becoming musical director and pianist of chamber-opera shows at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona (recording for TV3 and a commercial DVD).