HVSM DIRECTORS
ABOUT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Pianist Ruthanne Schempf is an active chamber and solo musician and has performed throughout the United States. She is on the faculties of SUNY-New Paltz and is a member of the Poné Ensemble for New Music. She has also taught at Marist College and was the pianist for the Cadet Glee Club at West Point. She earned undergraduate degrees from Michigan State University and a D.M.A. from the Manhattan School of Music. Her teachers include Ralph Votapek, Robert Goldsand, Constance Keene, and Marc Silverman. She is also a co-founder of the non-profit Hudson Valley Society for Music which produces Potluck Concerts and an annual Hudson Valley BachFest. Her solo piano recording, An American Mirage: Exotic Piano Images, was released in March of 2009 on the MSR Classics label. This recording features works by American composers of the late 19th century and early 20th century. Selected as “CD of the week” on July 4, 2009 by radio station KBAQ of Phoenix, Arizona, this recording has also been heard on Wisconsin Public Radio. James Manheim of allmusic.com said, “Schempf is technically solid…she has a very nice singing tone… A strong recital recommended to those interested in American concert music.”
Cellist Susan Seligman studied with Janos Starker at Indiana University, and received her Master’s degree from Yale University under the tutelage of Aldo Parisot. She is Artist-in-Residence and Adjunct Lecturer at SUNY New Paltz. As Principal Cellist of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic since 1984, she has appeared as soloist several times. In addition to the HVP String Quartet, she performs with La Grand Écurie (an historic instrument ensemble), Innisfree Piano Trio (ensemble in residence at the Poughkeepsie Day School), and the Poné Ensemble for New Music. International music festivals in Brazil, France, Italy and Switzerland have welcomed her participation. Teaching pupils, whether at Vassar College or in her private studio, completes her life in music. She would like to spend all remaining time pulling weeds.
Principal flutist with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic since 1986, Marcia Gates received her music education at the Eastman School of Music and Ithaca College. An active chamber musician in the Hudson Valley, she has appeared frequently as soloist with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, the Poné Ensemble, and with the Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra throughout its existence from 1982-1998. Ms. Gates was selected by the renowned flutist Julius Baker as a soloist and prize winner in his master classes. She is an active performer in the Hudson Valley as well as a retired instrumental music teacher in the Hyde Park Central School District.
Valentina Shatalova holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and a Master of Arts Degree from SUNY New Paltz with a major in Piano Pedagogy under the auspices of Vladimir Feltsman. A frequent performer throughout the NY Metropolitan and Mid-Hudson areas as a soloist and collaborative pianist, Valentina plays keyboards with both the Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra and the Woodstock Symphony Orchestra. Other concerts include duo piano with Carol Losee as the "Two For You" piano duo and collaboration with violinist Marka Young. Valentina is currently on staff as an adjunct at SUNY New Paltz and accompanies the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers under the direction of Janet Gehres. In the spring, Valentina accompanies and coaches dozens of vocalists for the NYSSMA solo festivals. As a teacher, Valentina maintains a full piano studio in New Paltz, NY. Some of her award-winning students have continued their piano studies at Eastman, The Crane School of Music SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Fredonia, Hartt School of Music, Ithaca College, and Oberlin College. Valentina is on the teaching roster at the Ulster County Community College and has also conducted choirs and taught general music in public and private schools. Valentina is the choir conductor at the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Parish in Poughkeepsie and teaches Music Theory and Solfege at the summer session of the Synodal School of Liturgical Music.