Michel Galante, conductor

Michel Galante has performed as principal, guest, and assistant conductor with orchestras and ensembles in the US, Canada, and Europe. He is a doctoral candidate in composition at Columbia University. His composition awards include Hertz, Fulbright, and Mellon fellowships, and prizes from ASCAP and the Composer's Guild.

Erin Lesser, flute

Erin Lesser performs as soloist and chamber musician throughout Canada, Europe, and the US. Actively involved in contemporary music, she has given the American premieres of works by Murail, Hurel, and Holliger, and worked with Boulez, Crumb, and Mackey. Her performances have been broadcast on CBC's "Jeunes Artistes" series and New York's WQXR.

Carol McGonnell, clarinet

Dublin-born clarinetist Carol McGonnell has a growing reputation as a solo performer and chamber musician in both the United States and Europe. She has performed in both capacities with numerous ensembles across the world. Her involvement in new music has brought her work with leading composers such as Elliott Carter, Oliver Knussen, Lukas Foss, and Tristan Murail. She has recorded on RCA.

Tim Albright, trombone

Originally from the Napa Valley, Tim Albright moved to New York in 1999 where he enjoys a diverse freelance career on the trombone. He graduated from the Eastman School of Music in 1998 with degrees in classical and jazz performance. In addition to performing with Argento, he tours regularly with alto saxophonist Steve Coleman.

Joanna Chao, piano

Joanna Chao has appeared in concerts across the Americas, France, Switzerland, Spain, and Turkey, and performed as soloist with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra and New Britain Symphony Orchestra. She performs in many New York venues, including Carnegie Weill. Her awards include a La Gesse Fellowship. Ms. Chao has been featured on radio stations KKHI, KQED, and the cable TV program "Grand Piano."

Matt Ward, percussion

Matt Ward is a principal member of the American Modern Ensemble, the percussion group Talujon and one of the co-founders of the percussion trio TimeTable. Mr. Ward has received a bachelor of music degree from the Manhattan School of Music, a masters degree from the State University at Stony Brook and is currently enrolled in the school's DMA program. Mr. Ward is also on faculty at Queens College and the Bloomingdale School of Music. He can be heard on the recording labels Aeon, Argo, Capstone Records, Newport Classics, Soundspell, and Albany Records.

Miranda Cuckson, violin

Miranda Cuckson has worked closely with many of the great composers of the present era, performing the concertos of Carter, Dutilleux, and Picker. Her solo performances have included the Indianapolis and Shanghai Symphonies, among others. Centaur Records released her CD of the Korngold and Ponce concertos to critical praise. Ms. Cuckson made her recital debut at Carnegie Halls Weill Recital Hall last season.

Stephanie Griffin, viola

Canadian violist Stephanie Griffin has performed internationally as a soloist and chamber musician, and as a champion of Indonesian composer Tony Prabowo. Reflecting her wide-ranging musical interests, performances have led her across the globe to Belgium, Estonia, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, and Turkey. Ms. Griffin has recorded for Siam Records, Aeon, Koch International, Arte Nova and Harmolodic.

Michael Klingbeil, electronics

Michael Klingbeil is a composer actively involved with concert music and computer music research. His work has been recorded on ICMC and has been played by ensemble include the Oberlin CME, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the Orchestre Lyrique de Région Avignon-Provence. Honors and awards have come from First Music, the Concorso Internazionale "Luigi Russolo," and ASCAP. He currently teaches composition and music technology in the Department of Music at Yale University.

Kimmy Szeto, general manager

Kimmy Szeto has managed the Columbia University Music Performance Program and the University Orchestra, as well as a number of summer festivals in the U.S. and Europe. Kimmy holds licentiate diplomas in piano and violin performance from the Royal Schools of Music, and is active in the community performing and arranging music for chamber ensembles and musical theater. Currently, he is a music librarian at the Queens Borough Public Library and a faculty member at Columbia University and Queens College.

Anne Lovering Rounds, communications director

Anne Lovering Rounds holds a BA in English from the University of Chicago and a doctorate in Comparative Literature from Harvard University. Her scholarly interests include modern and contemporary American poetry, representations of cityscapes, and literary treatment of sound and music. Anne is also an amateur pianist. She is currently adjunct professor of English at Metropolitan College of New York and an editorial assistant at Cambridge University Press.

Argento Interns