Who
Tylor Neist :: Artistic Director
Tylor has been seen throughout the Northwest playing with the Oregon and Eugene Symphonies and has been heard on Portland’s All Classical 89.9 and the Seattle’s King 98.1. During the 2004-2005 season, as a soloist with the Bravo chamber orchestra, he played Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.
As a composer, Neist’s works have been performed by such ensembles as the Tactus Ensemble and Greensboro Chamber Music Festival, and have been heard in concerts throughout Boston and New York.
Tylor earned his Master’s in Violin Performance from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Midori and Mitchell Stern, and his Bachelor’s in Violin Performance from Boston University studying with Bayla Keyes.
He studied composition with Tyson Street and Charles Fussel at Boston University, Reiko Fueting at Manhattan School of Music, and most recently with David Schiff in Portland, Oregon.
Throughout his studies, Tylor immersed himself in chamber music and has been coached by many leading chamber ensembles including the Juilliard, Emerson, American, Muir, Lydian, and Lark Quartets.
Tylor is also a dedicated teacher, designing and performing residency programs and teaching violin from his home studio.
Justin Mackewich, violin
Justin studied chamber music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music with Mark Sokol, Paul Hersh, Ian Swensen, Robert Mann, and many other world-renowned chamber musicians. He also studied with David Harrington, Artistic Director and First Violinist of the Kronos Quartet. An experienced chamber performer, Justin has played at the Park City Music Festival, and The Cascade Head Music Festival. He is currently a founding member of the San Francisco based 7th Ave. String Quartet, and performs with them on a regular basis.
Vio Bejenaru, viola
Vio didn’t give me his bio (this is Tylor), so he is stuck with whatever I write. Oh the power–Mwah HA HAHAHAHAHHA!! We do know that he is a member of the Oregon Symphony. Also, well…he may not want me to tell you this, but he has one of the world’s greatest My Little Pony collections. In fact, I think he wants to start a museum or something.
Justin Kagan, cello
Since adopting Portland as home just over four years ago, cellist Justin Kagan has been a member of the Oregon Symphony, Portland Cello Project, Red Sneaker, Agnieszka Laska Dancers, Astoria Music Festival, Nu Shooz Orchestra, Echo Helstrom, fEARnoMusic, Free Marz Trio,Third Angle, and many other organizations. Formerly of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and a well-known freelancer in NYC, Kagan also runs Badbeard’s Microroastery, an artisan craft roasting coffee company in SW Portland.
Galen Huckins, composer
Galen has been performing, composing and teaching for many years in the greater Boston area and abroad. He grew up in Massachusetts, developed an affinity and love for original and improvised music at a young age. Learning the piano and studying under several mentors, he honed and informed his creative urges with the theory or modern music and the language of jazz, writing for and playing with a wide variety of musicians and instruments. Galen is currently living in Portland, Oregon where he performs, teaches and leads a revolutionary film music ensemble called Filmusik.
Jason Hussa, actor
take 1 gallon sea water
– add the following –
2 cups protein
1 cup nitrogen
1/4 cup calcium
1 tbsp iron
1 DNA starter packet (available at most high-end baby supply houses)
Mix contents and cook at 98.6 degrees for 40 weeks. Place in room and keep supplied with comic books. Let set 18 years. Place on stage and enjoy. Serves 96.
Brandy Hussa, actor
Brandy just does it for the shoes.