Born on December 8, 1956 in Newark, New Jersey, Jed Distler studied piano at first with Vera Tisheff, who introduced him to his future mentor Dick Hyman. Distler studied composition at the Juilliard School of Music Pre-College with Andrew Thomas.
Janis McKay received her D.M.A. from The Ohio State University, the Master of Music degree from the University of Louisville, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Georgia. Her major teachers were Christopher Weait, Matthew Karr, and William Davis. Dr. McKay previously ta
Violinist Laura Martin-Prokopyk is the former Concert- master of the Cleveland Chamber Symphony (CCS). As soloist with the CCS she has recorded Augusta Read Thomas’ Spirit Musings, Robert Erickson’s Garden, Erica Muhl’s Consolation and with pianist Mark George, Ed London’s Gypsy Heirs. She has given premieres of several additional works as soloist with the CCS. Ms. Martin is an avid chamber musician; she is a chamber music coach at the ENCORE School for Strings, a member of the Trinity Chamber Players, was a frequent performer in the New Music Associates series at Cleveland State University and enjoys playing viola in quartets. A graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music, Ms. Martin earned a B.M. and M.M. as a student of Linda Cerone. Donald Rosenberg of the Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote of her playing, “Laura Martin-Prokopyk…dashed a virtuosic marathon… soloistic flamboyance, from dizzying passage work and Gypsy-like outbursts to contemplative statements of luscious lyricism.” In another review he wrote, “Laura Martin- Prokopyk, the Chamber Symphony’s concertmaster, seized the solo part by the heart and muscles, applying shimmering, intimate and bold strokes.” Laura Martin- Prokopyk currently resides in Bismarck, North Dakota.
