Eapen Leubner, tenor
Eapen recently relocated from Brooklyn, NY and continues to perform with many NYC opera companies. He has performed around the world and locally with Opera Colorado, the Messiah Chorus of Grand Junction and, of course, the Denver Art Song Project. Eapen is known for singing world-premiere, classical and romantic opera. Secretly, he wishes he could sing recitals all the time and share his love for the art song genre with the world. Eapen and his family recently upgraded from a one-bedroom in a brownstone to his very first house in the Denver area. You can keep up with wherever he is and whatever he is up to at www.eapenleubner.com and facebook.com/eapenleubner
Mallory Bernstein, piano
Born in White Plains, New York, pianist Mallory Bernstein has given solo performances throughout the United States as well as in Germany, Italy and Portugal. Highlights of this season included performances with the Sonoma Philharmonic, solo and collaborative recitals in Colorado, the completion of her Artist Diploma from the University of Denver and three performances of Rhapsody in Blue with the Aurora Symphony. Mallory went to graduate school in Fairbanks, Alaska to study with Dr. Eduard Zilberkant and during her time there performed Mozart’s “Jeunehomme” Piano Concerto, Erik Griswold’s Concerto for Prepared Piano and Percussion with Ensemble 64.8, and Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns with the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra. Mallory maintains a full private studio of piano students and is active as a collaborative pianist in Denver.
Michael Bevers, guitar/engineer
Michael Bevers is committed to giving authentic performances to audiences everywhere. Whenever he plays, he strives to maintain the composer’s intentions as best as can be on the classical guitar. This usually leads him to making his own transcription for almost everything that he plays. One of his most exciting endeavors involved transcribing and playing the B minor suite by Robert de Viseé written for Baroque guitar. Even when the composer is more modern Mr. Bevers does his best to try and work from an unedited score. Sometimes even a score in the composer’s own hand!
Michael plays a wide range of repertoire ranging from the courtly Baroque to the Brazilian jungle, from tonal J. S. Bach to atonal Reginald Smith-Brindle. Not limited to solo guitar, he performs with instrumentalists of all sorts. Recently he performed with the Collegiate Chorale playing Reconciliation a choir and guitar piece by Jeffrey Van.
Michael is a veteran performer of the Denver Metro Area and the Front Range. He has appeared as a featured soloist at churches, coffee shops, retirement homes, libraries and almost anywhere there are people who want to hear him. In addition, Michael enjoys competing in both local and international guitar competitions.
Mr. Bevers has a Bachelor of Music from the University of Denver where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and was awarded the Dorthe Garrett Carillo Award for Outstanding Graduating Guitarist as well as a Recital of Distinction award for his junior recital. Michael has studied with Ricardo Iznaola at the University of Denver as well as Jonathan Leathwood and Nicoló Spera at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Jack Branning, oboe
Mississippi native Jack Branning currently studies graduate oboe performance at the Lamont School of Music, University of Denver under Ian Wisekal, where he has served as principal for the Lamont Symphony Orchestra and Lamont Wind Ensemble. Jack received his undergraduate degree in music education from the University of Southern Mississippi, where he performed on tour in Ireland. He has previously studied with oboe teachers, Dr. Euridice Alvarez, Dr. Anna Pennington, and Sabina Ivy.
With past performances in the Meridian Symphony Orchestra, Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Magnolia Chamber Orchestra, Denver Pops Orchestra, Steamboat Symphony Orchestra, Boulder Opera Company, and several community theatre pit orchestras, Jack has much experience in principal, 2nd, and English horn positions.
Jack currently serves as 2nd oboist for the Lakewood Symphony Orchestra and also works as an early childhood music teacher. When he is not playing in orchestras or making reeds, Jack enjoys choir, dancing, hiking, and running.