THECOMPASSCONCERTS

Cathy Baerg

Cathy Baerg is a graduate of the University of Ottawa performance program where she studied flute with Robert Cram.  As a student, she was awarded the Mrs. O.J. Firestone scholarship and later received a grant from the Floyd S. Chalmers fund which enabled her to study in England with William Bennett and Peter Lloyd.  She held the position of principal flute with the Nepean Symphony Orchestra and also played with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and the National Arts Centre Orchestra. As an ensemble player, Cathy has been heard in recital on CBC Radio with the Rollins Duo and the trio Trillium. She continues to play with local musicians and has recorded a CD as a member of the flute quartet, Opus Four. She enjoys teaching, both in her private studio and as a flute performance instructor at Carleton University.

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Dan DiPaolo

Musician and educator Dan DiPaolo began formal study of the piano at age 8, French horn at 9, and guitar at age 13. His obsession with music was sealed once his guitar teacher introduced him to chords, scales, and approaches to creating and organizing improvisations, unlocking his ears and imagination.

This curiosity lead him to the academic world, where his graduate work focused on tonal theory, popular music (especially Steely Dan, Brad Mehldau, and Frank Zappa), and the history of theory.

From 2010-2018, Dan taught music theory, ear training, and fundamentals at NYU's Steinhardt School. He also taught Music Humanities at Columbia University, History of Rock and Rap at Montclair State University, and Aural Skills at the Eastman School of Music.

Dan holds advanced degrees in historical musicology and music theory from King's College London and Columbia University. He is a piano teacher and freelance pianist in Los Angeles, where he lives with his wife, daughter, and cat.

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Brad Denton

With an early sense of wonder, Brad started piano at the age of 7 and took one year of lessons. Although an abiding love for music continued, formal study did not resume until the last year of high school. It was, however, in University that some talent emerged and quick progression resulted in a deep and enduring love of Classical music. An injury and life circumstances prevented further study and he gave up pursuing further music studies. However, the spark never died. Wanting to complete a formal education in music, Brad returned to music study as an adult completing Level 10 requirements and Pedagogical courses through the Royal Conservatory of Music. Current goals include completing an ARCT diploma and securing a teaching position. Other interests include chess, language study and furthering and expanding his musical education with this year being the year of opera. He is excited and nervous for his first public performance in almost 2 years!

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Mark Frutkin

Mark Frutkin has published eighteen books of fiction, poetry and nonfiction. His most recent novel, The Artist and the Assassin (Porcupine’s Quill, 2021) is based on the fascinating life of famous Italian painter, Caravaggio. His recent collection of poetry, Hermit Thrush (Quattro), was shortlisted for the Ottawa Book Award. His novel, Fabrizio’s Return (Knopf Canada), won the Trillium Award and the Sunburst Prize, and was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Prize (Canada/Caribbean region). A French translation of Fabrizio’s Return was published by Alto Editions of Quebec City in 2017 (under the title Le Saint Patron des Merveilles). His novel, Atmospheres Apollinaire, was a finalist for the Governor General’s Award for fiction. Many of his novels are historical works set in Italy or China. He has taught creative writing at Carleton University, University of Ottawa, and Naropa Institute in Halifax. He has received numerous grants from Canada Council and the Ontario Arts Council, and the City of Ottawa. His works have been translated and published in French, Spanish, Russian, Dutch, Polish, Turkish, Hindi and Korean. His most recent book, Where Angels Come to Earth: an evocation of the Italian piazza (Longbridge, Montreal), is a work of text and photography (with Toronto photographer, Vincenzo Pietropaolo.)

www.markfrutkin.com

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Eric Hunter

Eric Hunter is a pianist, composer, arranger, and educator based in New York City. Working in a wide variety of genres including classical, jazz, film, and electronica, his music has been acclaimed by audiences across the world. In 2019 his score for the animated short "Pin and Pon" went viral; it currently boasts over 3.5 million views. He also scored the multi-award winning short film "Run Little Boy," by Dominick Bedasse. He was a prizewinner in the 2012 operamission Cabaret Night songwriting competition, and contributed music to the multimedia piece Connection commissioned by Arts on Site. His music has been featured on the podcasts "Moveable Do" and "The Heart of the Ark." Recently he completed a set of arrangements for Tag Team Productions and the Las Vegas String Quartet.

Mr. Hunter's solo career has taken him to the stages of such venues as Carnegie Hall and Walt Disney Concert Hall, and he has soloed with the Greenwich, University of Rochester, and University of Southern California Symphony Orchestras. Laureate of numerous competitions, he has since become a dedicated proponent of musical outreach and therapy, working with organizations such as the Austen Riggs Center for Mental Health, VISIONS at Selis Manor, DOROT, and Sacred Music New York. In 2008 he played an all-Liszt recital at the home of the renowned Golden-era pianist Earl Wild at his invitation. Since then Mr. Hunter has drawn on Earl Wild's influence for his own arrangements of popular songs from Broadway musicals.

A lifelong educator, Mr. Hunter's private piano studio reflects his creative and innovative approach. He has been Head of Professional Development at The Piano Teachers Congress of New York, where he spearheaded the Open Forum program for teacher enrichment. As guest lecturer at the School for Visual Arts, New York University, and Columbia University, he taught creative process and gave lecture recitals on composers as varied as Liszt, Hindemith, Medtner, Shostakovich, and Cage. Formerly a co-host of "The Piano Pod," a piano-centered podcast, he interviewed industry groundbreakers across the globe. A prolific writer, his thoughts on composition, piano pedagogy, and other topics can be found at erichuntermusicstudio.com/blog.

Mr. Hunter is currently at work on an album of piano and orchestral works to be released in 2023. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and two sons. For more information, please visit www.erichuntermusic.com.

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Mari Hwang

American pianist Mari Hwang believes in creating a safe world where people are inspired to live wholeheartedly. As a co-producer of The COMPASS Concerts (Community Online Meditation Performance and Salon Series), she and her partners, Shinichiro Inaji and Louis Yungling, have established a welcoming, safe environment for music performance where people from all over the world feel a sense of community, support, and healing.

Ms. Hwang’s earlier experiences and challenges with stage fright for solo performances has guided her to share mindfulness awareness practice, easing psychological tension, and connecting heart to music. She performs in variety of venues, in concert halls such as Carnegie Hall, DiMenna Center for Classical Music, Merkin Hall, Walt Disney Hall, and in cathedrals, hospitals, libraries, music schools, and private residences.

Her programming frequently shines light on works by unknown, undervalued, minor works of well known composers, and women composers. Her embodiment of often deeply personal storytelling resonates profoundly with audiences and leads to open and courageous dialogue.

In addition to her private teaching studio and being on the faculty for MSM Summer Program, she serves as a collaborative pianist at Manhattan School of Music in NYC.

Ms. Hwang has moved from a sunny suburb of Los Angeles, CA, to attend Manhattan School of Music, where she has received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance. Subsequently, she has received a Master’s in Music from Mannes School of Music and a minor in impact entrepreneurship from The New School.

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Shinichiro Inaji

Shin loves piano and has been learning on his own since he was a child, and finally started long-sought piano lessons under teacher and friend Louis Yungling since 2018. Piano and music are a big part of the joy of his life and he is very curious and appreciative to learn the connection of mind and body through piano playing. Currently he works as a freelance illustrator/animator and Licensed Massage Therapist in Portland Oregon where he lives with his husband Walter and Shiba-inu Yuki.

Shin is very happy to be a part of the COMPASS Concerts as a performer, an audience and co-producer with Mari and Louis through which he has been able to meet and interact with wonderful friends and musicians.

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Christina Urner

Christina began her music journey at the age of 7 when her grandma gave her family a piano. From then on, she enrolled in lessons. At 14, Christina still has an amazing love for music and piano. Her teacher, Dan DiPaolo, who also participates in the COMPASS concerts, has been Christina's mentor and teacher for a few years. Christina is an aspiring composer and loves all things art. She especially enjoys playing Beethoven, Chopin, Bach, and many more. She mostly has experience in playing classical pieces but loves a variety of genres.

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Louis Yungling

Hello, my name is Louis Yungling and I'm the founder of COMPASS. I'm also a pianist and teacher.

Meditation, mindfulness and awareness exercises are an integral part of my teaching and practice. Musicians benefit greatly from these practices by being able to fine tune their focus and get more out of their practice as well as increase their responsiveness to sound and be more present and confident in performance.

I created COMPASS concerts to extend these practices to audiences and give everyone a moment to pause and go inward. We do this by sharing a brief contemplation exercise before every concert. In this way we practice being aware of one another and give ourselves a chance to feel and appreciate our unique contribution.

Preparing our minds and bodies to receive and make music allows us to be more receptive to the beauty and generosity that goes into a musical performance. And practicing this type of mindful preparation regularly can help us open our hearts more to the experiences of our day to day lives.

I am thrilled to share this journey with you and the very talented, generous artists who perform here. Thank you to all my musician friends for sharing your gifts and creating beautiful programs of music for our COMPASS community. And thank you to all who come and partake in these heart-warming community concerts.

I currently live and teach piano in Valencia, Spain. My teaching website: Yungling Piano Studio.

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