Clare Fontenot is a native of Suffolk, England. She began studying violin at age 8 and viola at 12 progressing to the county's youth orchestras on both instruments. She received her Bachelor's degree from Trinity College of Music, London, studying viola with Elizabeth Turnbull. Highlights included performing with chamber ensembles and the symphony orchestra at The Royal Festival Hall, The Barbican, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and Westminster Abbey. After graduating, Clare returned to Suffolk to teach upper strings for the County Music Service where she particularly enjoyed directing string groups for performances and workshops, and coaching viola sections for the county's youth orchestras. She was also an active musician in the community. In 2006 Clare relocated to the United States where she continues to perform with community ensembles and teaches privately.
Dr. Olga Kravets, a native of Moscow, received her musical education in that city, first at Ippolitov-Ivanov Musical College for her bachelor’s degree in Choral Conducting, and subsequently at Moscow Pedagogical University for her graduate degree. She has experience in directing many types of music: Renaissance, Baroque, classical and romantic, contemporary, sacred, folk music of different countries and jazz, together with experience in both piano and conducting instruction at all levels and for all ages. A resident of the Peninsula for over twenty years, she is the owner of Art of Music, offering instruction in piano, theory and conducting. Dr. Kravets was for fourteen years the Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church of Gloucester, and she directed the Gloucester Choral Society for six years.
Jerome Minor, of Hampton, VA is a Staff Sergeant in the U.S.Air Force and bassoonist of the Heritage of America Band at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. He attended Western Illinois and also Northern Illinois University. His teachers and mentors include Williard Eliot, former principal of Chicago Symphony, Jim Berkenstock of the Chicago Lyric Opera, and Michael Sweeney principal of the Toronto Symphony. He has been a member of the Hawkinsville Symphony in Georgia, the Galesburg and Kishwaukee Orchestras in Illinois, and the Chicago Classical Symphony. His early introduction and interest in music came during his first season with the Chicago Youth Symphony. He began his military music career in 1992 with the U.S. Marine Corps and transitioned to the U.S. Air Force and is now stationed at his third base.
