Principal flutist with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic since 1986, Ms. Gates received her music education at the Eastman School of Music and Ithaca College. An active chamber musician in the Hudson Valley, she has appeared frequently as soloist with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic and with the Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra throughout its existence from 1982-1998.
Ms. Gates was selected by the renowned flutist Julius Baker as a soloist and prize winner in his master classes. In addition to her active role as a performer in the Hudson Valley, Ms. Gates worked for many years as an instrumental music teacher in the Hyde Park Central School District.

Ms. Cowan has been Concertmaster of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic since 1978 and is an active chamber musician, soloist, and teacher. First violinist of the HVP String Quartet (the quartet-in-residence at the State University of New York at New Paltz), Ms. Cowan has performed with many chamber musicians, including the Emerson and Alexander string quartets, and Innisfree. She performed for ten summers at the Festival Casals in Puerto Rico and has served as concertmaster and soloist in festivals in Spain, Italy and Aspen, Colorado.
One of the original members of the Poné Ensemble for New Music, she returned to the Ensemble in 2013 after a leave of absence while she served as Chair of the Department of Music at SUNY-New Paltz. There she is a full professor and Conductor of the College-Youth Symphony. She holds a Doctoral of Musical Arts degree from the Yale University School of Music.

SUSAN SELIGMAN has been principal cellist with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic since 1984, with which she has been a soloist on a number of occasions, including a duo appearance with singer Bobby McFerrin in Vivaldi's Double Cello Concerto; and Haydn's Concerto in D Major and the Sinfonia Concertante. As a chamber musician, she is a member of Innisfree Piano Trio, the Pone Ensemble for New Music, and the Newburgh Chamber Music Ensemble; and performs as basso continuo cellist with Kairos, a chamber choir. Ms. Seligman was favorably reviewed in the New York Times for her performance in works of the late Robert Starer.

Susan Seligman has participated in international music festivals in Brazil, France, Italy and Switzerland. She has appeared on several Compact Discs: Chamber Music for Strings and Piano by Henry Martin, and Voices of the Valley with Danielle Woerner and James Fitzwilliam, both on the Albany label; and works of Meyer Kupferman on Soundspells. She taught in the String Quartet program at Ithaca College for five summers. Ms. Seligman serves as adjunct lecturer and cello faculty in the Music Department at SUNY New Paltz, and has a private cello studio.

Ruthanne Schempf is an active chamber and solo musician and has performed throughout the United States. She is on the faculties of SUNY-New Paltz and Interlochen Arts Camp, and is a member of the Poné Ensemble for New Music.&; She has also taught at Marist College and was the pianist for the Cadet Glee Club at West Point. She earned undergraduate degrees from Michigan State University and a D.M.A. from the Manhattan School of Music. Her teachers include Ralph Votapek, Robert Goldsand, Constance Keene, and Marc Silverman. She is also a co-founder of the non-profit Hudson Valley Society for Music which produces Potluck Concerts and an annual Hudson Valley BachFest.
Her solo piano recording, An American Mirage: Exotic Piano Images, was released in March of 2009 on the MSR Classics label. This recording features works by American composers of the late 19th century and early 20th century. Selected as "CD of the Week" on July 4, 2009 by radio station KBAQ of Phoenix, Arizona, this recording has also been heard on Wisconsin Public Radio. James Manheim of allmusic.com said, "Schempf is technically solid ... she has a very nice singing tone ... A strong recital recommended to those interested in American concert music."

Joël Evans, oboist and solo English hornist with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, has been a familiar musical voice in the valley for many years. In addition to the Poné Ensemble, he plays baroque and classical oboes with Hudson Valley Baroque, the resident historic ensemble at SUNY New Paltz, where he also serves as Associate Professor of music, teaching music history and directing the Symphonic Band and Collegium Musicum.
Dr. Evans has also performed with the American Symphony Orchestra and the Atlantic Chamber Orchestra, and was principal oboist of the Albany Symphony from 1982 to 1985. Dr. Evans retired as principal oboist of the U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point after nearly 30 years of service. He leads a busy teaching and playing schedule, and lives in Newburgh.

Mr. Tietze is principal clarinetist with the Sante Fe based 20th Century Unlimited Contemporary Music Ensemble. He is a founding member of the Virtuosi Woodwind Quintet, named "Young Artists of 1986" by High Fidelity/Musical America Magazine. As general manager and clarinetist with the Atlantic Sinfonietta, he has co-produced and appeared on the CD series, "Music for Martha"—ballet music that is used around the world by the Martha Graham Dance Company when in performance.
Mr. Tietze is principal clarinetist and orchestra manager of the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players at Symphony Space and City Center in New York City, and a member of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic. He performs with such organizations as the New York Philomusica, Joffrey Ballet, Brooklyn Philharmonic and the St. Cecilia Orchestra. The former principal clarinetist with the Goldovsky, Virginia, and Lake George Operas, Mr. Tietze is a woodwind music reviewer for the Music Library Association. He is also the Information Management Officer for the West Point Library, and former solo first clarinetist of the West Point Band.

Jeffrey Marchand is principal bassoonist of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic. He has enjoyed a diverse career having played in the fields of ...
Opera: New York City Opera since 1982 and the Metropolitan Opera, among others.
Orchestra: Brooklyn Philharmonic, Orchestra of St. Lukes, New Jersey Symphony, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, New York Philharmonic. International Touring: Europe, South America, Asia, North America.
Rock: Metallica, Madison Square Garden.
Jazz: Ellington Orchestra recordings.
Movie soundtrack: The Rookie, Ransom, Striptease, Wise Guys, among others.
Commercial jingles: M&M’s, Pepsi, Wendy's, UPS, Macy's, among others.
Broadway: Candide, La Boheme, Beauty and the Beast, Fiddler on the Roof, Miss Saigon, and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Recordings: EMI, Angel, CRI, Capitol, Nonesuch, Musical Heritage Society, Chesky, New York Philomusica, Koch International, Musicmasters, New World, Point, Delos and Deutsch Grammophon.
Mr. Marchand holds the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Juilliard School, is married and has two children.

Bio coming ... some day (soon?).