Artistic Staff

Ariel Rudiakov

Ariel Rudiakov is a third-generation musician receiving his early musical training from his parents, cellist Michael and pianist Judith in Riverdale, NY. In addition to his post as Music Director for the DSO, he was recently appointed conductor of the University of Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and co-coordinator of string chamber music studies there. Ari was Artistic Director of the award-winning Manchester Music Festival for 16 years and is now Co-founder and Director of Taconic Music, Inc. After attending Manhattan School of Music’s Preparatory Division (Pre-College) Ari went on to earn viola performance degrees from SUNY Purchase (BM) and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana (MM), and was a scholarship student at Yale University’s masters program where he studied privately with Jessie Levine and chamber music with members of the Tokyo String Quartet. In both capacities, Rudiakov enjoys a wide-ranging and diverse musical life, performing solo and chamber music throughout the USA and abroad with many fine musicians including the Shanghai and Jupiter Quartets, former members of the Tokyo, Juilliard and Guarneri quartets, pianists Ruth Laredo, David Deveau, Andre Michel Schub, Adam Neiman, Joseph Kalichstein and many others. At the podium, he has collaborated with world-renowned musicians; violinist Jaime Laredo, cellists Sharon Robinson and Bernard Greenhouse, among others of similar note. In addition to his post with the Danbury Symphony and Manchester Chamber Orchestra’s he has been conductor of the Adelphi Chamber Orchestra and Metropolitan symphonies in New Jersey, as a guest for NYC’s Antara Ensemble, Harlem Chamber Players ,Yonkers Philharmonic and others. He is a former member of the New York Piano Quartet and Equinox String Quartet and was a founding member of SONYC (the String Orchestra of New York City).Among his recordings are the complete string quartets by Camille Saint-Saens, the critically acclaimed piano quintet by Vittorio Giannini along with many live performances drawn from decades of concerts at the MMF. American composers Richard Lane, Philip Lasser and Coleridge Taylor Perkinson have dedicated works to Rudiakov, who is also active in commissioning and recording new music.

He has appeared on WAMC, WQXR, NY and Vermont Public Radio and Public Television, and additionally has held positions at Middlebury and Bennington Colleges and Manhattan School of Music, Preparatory Division.Ariel resides in Manchester, VT and Yonkers, NY with his wife, violinist Joana Genova and their two children; Michael Arthur and Liliana Judith. He plays a viola made by Geoffrey Ovington in 2000.

Richard Price

Richard Price was Music Director and Conductor of the Danbury Concert Chorus from 2002 to 2010, when he was named Music Director Emeritus. He is president of Candlewood Digital, called by Fanfare Magazine “one of the most respected classical recording firms in the industry.” As a producer/engineer he has over 1000 commercial CDs to his credit over 24 years, and has produced recordings for many major artists, including an ongoing series of recordings with the London Philharmonic. His work has been honored with three Grammy nominations and one Grammy award. Prior to entering the recording field, he had a 15-year career as a professional French horn player, serving as solo horn in the orchestras of Broadway shows, and as a baritone soloist with numerous choral and church groups in the NY/CT area. He is also a nationally known arranger, with performances by the Toronto, Dallas, Seattle, and Detroit Symphonies, Westminster Choir College, Pro Arte Singers, Canadian Brass, Philadelphia Orchestra Brass, New York Philharmonic Brass, and many others. He is an alumnus of The University of Michigan, The Juilliard School, and the Pierre Monteux Domaine School for Advanced Conducting Study. He lives on Candlewood Isle with his wife, composer Meg Bowles, and their daughter, Hannah.

Arthur FredricArthur Fredric, Artistic Director, Director/Choreographer, is an award-winning teacher with the National Dance Institute and a former Broadway performer. In 1997, he and Lisa Denton, first joined with Nancy Sudik, James Humphreville and the good people of the DMC to re-imagine and deliver anew this beloved holiday tradition, the Nutcracker Ballet. Arthur is directing and choreographing with Lisa for the 20th time. With their leadership, dancer participation has nearly tripled. In 2007, they received a Mayor’s Proclamation from the honorable Mark Boughton for “the exceptional service that Arthur Fredric and Lisa Denton have provided to the Greater Danbury Community.” Arthur is in his 24th year with the National Dance Institute, the brainchild of the great Jacques d’Amboise and the gold standard in arts education in the United States and around the world. He teaches at four public schools in and around Harlem and was a recipient of the Sylvia Gilman Teacher of the Year Award in 2006. Mr. Fredric performed in the 1980 Broadway revival of West Side Story, directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, touring in the role of Action. He collaborated with the jazz dance innovator Ronn Forella for 11 years, helping choreograph for Liza Minnelli, Ann Reinking, Fred Ebb, Marc Shaiman, and Bill Murray (Stripes). Arthur’s choreography was featured in Off Broadway shows for Elizabeth Swados, Carey Perloff, and Carol Hall. He was Stunt Coordinator for the horror movie Mad Man Marz and was the founding choreographer of Park Playhouse in Albany. Arthur and Lisa collaborated with Associate Professor Beth Osnes at the University of Colorado, contributing to her book, Performance for Resilience, while directing and choreographing an ecology-minded theater piece as part of the Rockefeller Foundation 100 Resilient Cities Initiative. They also conducted workshops for Cirque du Soleil in acting, dance, and stage combat, working in Las Vegas with the casts of Michael Jackson ONE and The Beatles LOVE. Arthur and Lisa live in Connecticut and are the proud parents of three children, Will, Maya, and Dylan.

Lisa DentonLisa Denton, Co-Director/Choreographer and Costume Designer, is happy to be celebrating her 24th year collaborating on the staging and designing the costumes for the Danbury Music Centre Nutcracker Ballet. Lisa is a former gymnast and pursued ballet with the Westchester Ballet Company and ballet, modern and jazz at Denison University and UCLA. She also assisted Ronn Forella and trained with David Storey in NYC. She was a principal dancer and costume designer for the New Dance Collective. As an actress, Lisa performed in movies (Back to School, Tonight’s the Night), on television (Riptide, A-Team, As the World Turns), in many commercials, and portrayed a ménage of character voices on radio for the Imus in the Morning program on WNBC. As part of the Rockefeller Foundation 100 Resilient Cities Initiative, she assisted Arthur at a United Nations conference in NYC, and also taught workshops at the University of Colorado and in Las Vegas for Cirque du Soleil. Lisa is on the Board of Directors of the Heart River Healing Center in New York and is in private practice as an intuitive counselor. Since March 2020, Lisa has been leading weekly lectures and meditations offering insights and perspectives for these unprecedented times.

Max Vladimiroff

Max Vladimiroff is a graduate of the Gnessin College of Music in Moscow where he studied piano and improvisation. He obtained his MFA in music composition from the University of California, Irvine, and later studied in New York with composer Philip Lasser. His works have won several prizes, including the Musica Domani International Composition Prize, the Longfellow Chorus Award of Distinction, the Keene State College Department of Music Call for Scores and the National Association of Composers USA Young Composers’ Competition. Vladimiroff lives and works in Brookfield, Connecticut.

Jason Thoms

Jason Thoms is the Director of Choral Activities, Music Area Director, and Dean of Arts and Sciences at Concordia College-New York. At Concordia he directs the Women’s Chorale, Men’s Glee, Tour Choir and Chamber Choir. His choirs have toured 49 states, 2 Canadian provinces, and Germany. He is a published composer through GIA Music, and frequently writes, transcribes and arranges music for choirs and instrumental ensembles. Jason is also a professional bass-baritone chorister and soloist who has sung with multiple professional ensembles including the Tennessee Chamber Choir, Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Bard Festival Chorus, Yale Choral Artists, Collegiate Chorale, and the Spire Chamber Ensemble

Alison Corigliano

Alison Corigliano received her Bachelor of Music, cum laude, in violin performance from Western Connecticut State University in 2001. Since then, she has taught at the Wooster School, Canterbury School, and most recently, New Fairfield Public Schools. Currently, she teaches private violin and viola at her home studio in Danbury, and has been with the DMC’s Summer Strings program since 1999. In addition to teaching, Mrs. Corigliano plays violin with the Danbury Symphony Orchestra and several chamber groups, including the Ives Quartet.

Joana Genova

Joana Genova is Assistant Professor of Violin and Director of Chamber Music Initiatives at University of Indianapolis, Artist Associate at Williams College and Artistic Director of Taconic Music in Manchester, VT. Ms. Genova began playing violin at the age of six in her native Bulgaria, made her solo debut at the age of twelve with the Plovdiv Chamber Orchestra, and is a prizewinner of Bulgaria’s National Competition. She earned Bachelor of Music degree at the Conservatory of Amsterdam and Master’s in chamber music at the Rotterdam Conservatory in the Netherlands. Her former teachers include Peter Brunt, Ilya Grubert and Samuel Thaviu. In Holland, Ms. Genova was concertmaster of the Amsterdam Bach Consort and a member of Amsterdam Sinfonietta.
Since 2000, Ms. Genova has lived in the United States, maintaining an active career as a chamber musician, orchestral player, teacher and soloist. She has taught at the Manchester Music Festival, Michael Rudiakov Music Academy, Smith College, Bennington Chamber Music Conference, Kinhaven Young Artist Seminar, InterHarmony International Music Festival and Music&More SummerFest. Orchestral positions include principal second violin of the Berkshire Symphony Orchestra, concertmaster of the Manchester Festival Orchestra, member of the Brooklyn Philharmonic, New Haven Symphony Orchestra, and others. Ms. Genova has been guest soloist with Adelphi Chamber Orchestra, Harlem Chamber Players, Metropolitan, Rockaway, Danbury and Berkshire Symphonies, Manchester Festival Orchestra, Yonkers Philharmonic and most recently with the University of Indianapolis Gala Orchestra under the baton of Raymond Leppard. Collaborations include performances with the Shanghai Quartet, Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio, Horszowski Trio, Enso Quartet, members of the Lark Quartet, Toby Appel, Atar Arad, Andrés Cárdenes, Carmit Zori, Nathaniel Rosen, Michael Haber, Eric Kim, Danwen Jiang, Austin Hartman, Renee Jolles, Michael Rudiakov, Yehuda Hanani, Tom Landschoot, Sophie Shao, Jon Klibonoff, Drew Petersen, Ran Dank, Soyeon Kate Lee, Ruth Laredo, Davide Cabassi, David Deveau, Michael Brown, Todd Palmer and David Krakauer, among others.

Ms. Genova performs as second violinist of The Indianapolis Quartet, Taconic and Williams Chamber Players and is a frequent guest at festivals and concert series on the East Coast, the Midwest, Wyoming, Colorado, and Arizona, as well as internationally in Bulgaria, Holland, Germany, Italy and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Albert Montecalvo

Albert Montecalvo has directed the Danbury Music Centre Summer Band Program since 2002. He retired from the Carmel School District in 1998 as director of music K-12 and director of bands. He has performed as drummer and percussionist with many local orchestras, theater groups and big bands. He conducted the Danbury Symphony Orchestra in Charles Ives’ Third Symphony in 2011, at the Danbury Music Centre Grand Gala in 2012, and at the Pops Concert hosted by CityCenter Danbury in 2013.

Mr. Montecalvo has served as adjunct music professor at WCSU where he taught music education, conducted the Symphonic Band and supervised student teachers. He directs the Western Connecticut Youth Wind Ensemble and has conducted Broadway Shows for Ridgefield High School since 2004.

Lori Abbott

Lori Abbott, violinist, received a BM from New England Conservatory and a MA from NYU. She has performed with many NY area orchestras and chamber groups including American Ballet Theater, Opera Orchestra of NY, NJ Symphony, Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Chautauqua Symphony, Bronx Arts Ensemble, NY Choral Society, NY Composers Circle and the Queen’s Chamber Band. She has played in the pit orchestras of over 20 Broadway shows and recorded/ performed with many popular artists including Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Alicia Keys, Josh Stone and Kelly Clarkson. Lori and musician husband, Jim Abbott, live in Manhattan and Danbury.

Stephen Michael Smith

Stephen Michael Smith, an American symphonic and choral conductor, is noted for his ability to communicate his infectious passion for music to fellow musicians and audiences alike. Currently serving as Music Director for three symphony orchestras in the greater New York City area, he is in his twelfth season as Music Director of the Danbury Community Orchestra, tenth as Music Director of The Orchestra at Shelter Rock, and sixth as Music Director of the The Senior Pops Orchestra of Long Island. In addition, Maestro Smith has served as Music Director of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock since 1999, where he directs a large semi-professional choir and professional concert series. Mr. Smith has performed through the United States, Europe, Eastern Europe, and Russian, and his guest conducting credits include the Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra (Poland), St. Petersburg Camerata (Russia), Karlovy Vary Philharmonic (Czech Republic), Danbury Symphony Orchestra, New Britain Symphony, Massapequa Philharmonic Orchestra, St. Luke’s Orchestra (San Francisco), Riverside Choral Society and Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra. He was twice chosen to participate in the International Northern Baltic Festival at the historic Hermitage Theatre of the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia.

During his tenures as Music Director/Conductor of the Shrewsbury Chorale (New Jersey) and the Dalton Alumni Chorale (New York City), Mr. Smith prepared both institutions for their Carnegie Hall debuts (Verdi’s Requiem and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9/Missa Solemnis respectively) with New York Grand Opera.

A champion of new works, Stephen Michael Smith has conducted numerous premieres, including the world premieres of Paula Kimper’s Where Everything Is Music and Orchestral Suite from the Bridge of San Luis Rey, Allen Hill’s Toward the Light and The Gift, Larry Deming’s Variations on Blackberry Blossom, and Gerald Busby’s Quatrains, Dances for Piano and Others, Where Everything Is Music and A View of the Landscape (written for Stephen Smith Singers). He also led the New York premiere of William Bolcom’s May-Day, and the US premieres of Mickelson reconstructions of 16th century Venetian works by Gabrieli, Bassano, Obrecht, Zarlino, and Croce.

A native of upstate New York, Mr. Smith received his first professional appointment at the age of 11. He studied conducting with Vincent La Selva at The Juilliard School, and coached privately with Alexander Polishchuck (N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory of St. Petersburg, Russia) and Mariusz Smolij (Northwestern University). In addition, he has participated in international master classes with Robert Shaw, Gunther Schuller and Victor Yampolsky. His early training as an organist was under the tutelage of the renowned concert organist, Claire Coci.

Glen Lebetkin

Glen Lebetkin, Music Director & Conductor, has been the director of the Danbury Centre Strings since 1999. The program, under his direction, continues to grow in size and popularity. Mr. Lebetkin was the music teacher at Ridgebury Elementary School from 1973 – 2008. He directed strings, band, chorus, general music, as well as musicals. Along with his wife Harriet, he directed Danbury Talent Education, a Suzuki School, for over 35 years. Mr. Lebetkin, a violinist, graduated cum laude from Ithaca College with a major in music education. He received his Master of Science degree from Western Connecticut State University, also with a major in music education. He is a recipient of many awards and honors recognizing his work on behalf of world health and hunger, and active community service.

James Humphreville

Mr. Humphreville retired in April, 2000 as Music Director and Conductor of the Danbury Symphony Orchestra, a position he held since 1977. Mr. Humphreville has shaped the musical activities of the Danbury Music Centre since 1955. He is credited with the development of the Nutcracker Ballet and Messiah, two highlights of the Music Centre’s annual season. In 1992 the Music Centre Board of Directors established the James E. Humphreville Endowment Fund in his honor. Upon his retirement, Mr. Humphreville was named Music Director, Emeritus by the Board of Directors. He was also Director of the Danbury Opera for many years, and the Music Coordinator for the Danbury Public School System. Despite his retirement, Mr. Humphreville will continue to be a presence at the Music Centre, and directed Messiah, Nutcracker, and the Young Peoples’ Concert while we searched for new conductors for the DSO and DCC during the 2000 – 2002 seasons.

Larry Deming

Larry Deming began his study of violin in the Danbury Music Centre’s Summer Strings Program with John Burnett. He received a B.S. Degree With Distinction from the Indiana University School of Music in 1981, studying violin with Henryk Kowalski and composition with John Eaton. He played violin in the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, serves as Concertmaster of the Danbury Symphony Orchestra, and is first violinist of the Deming String Quartet. He has played violin and viola in many settings with musical luminaries, performing on stages from Hartford to Hong Kong with such diverse musicians as Chet Atkins, Sarah Chang, John Denver, Placido Domingo, the Electric Light Orchestra II, Luciano Pavarotti, Kenny Rogers, L. Subramaniam, James Taylor, Earl Wild and Paul Winter to name a few.Deming loves to arrange, compose, conduct, perform and teach many types of music. Along with fellow Ives enthusiast Nancy Sudik, he helps to celebrate Charles Ives Day in Danbury every October. For several years running he has been leading a Bach Birthday Bash in March at King Street United Church of Christ in Danbury. His CD, “Journey to the East”, was released in 2005. He has been director of the Summer Strings Program at the Danbury Music Centre since 2002.