ABOUT RYAN FOGG

The playing of pianist RYAN FOGG has been described as “brilliant, with a high level of polish, impressive technical command, musical understanding and sensitivity.”  Over the past several years, he has performed over 100 solo recitals in 24 states, and he recently made his Carnegie Hall debut at Weill Recital Hall.  

In addition to being an active solo recitalist, he is an avid chamber musician, collaborative pianist, and concerto soloist.  His orchestral debut occurred while performing Stravinsky’s Concerto for Piano and Winds with the Knoxville Wind Symphony at the historic Tennessee Theatre.  In 2011, he released a CD recording through Albany Records entitled “The Fogg Project,” featuring new works by American composers.  A subsequent review of the recording by Fanfare Magazine described Fogg as “an excellent pianist, drawing an impressive range of sounds out of his instrument.”  

Originally from Houston, Texas, Dr. Fogg holds degrees in piano performance from The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Houston, and East Texas Baptist University.  His major teachers include Gregory Allen, Danielle Martin, Robert Brownlee, Randall Sulton, and Annette Chan. He pursued additional studies at the Aspen Music Festival and the Adamant Music School.

ABOUT BETH WIESE

Leading a multi-faceted career as a performer and teacher, Beth Wiese is Associate Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Vanderbilt University and Principal Tuba of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra. As a soloist, she is a laureate of numerous competitions, including the International ‘Citta di Porcia Brass Competition (Italy), Musician’s Club of Women, Union League Civic and Arts Foundation and Leonard Falcone International Tuba and Euphonium Competition. She has been invited to present recitals in a variety of venues, including multiple International Tuba and Euphonium conferences, the United States Army Band Tuba-Euphonium Conference, Amiata Piano Festival (Italy), Chicago Cultural Center and at numerous universities throughout the country. 

Enjoying a diverse career performing in orchestras and other large ensembles, Dr. Wiese spent two years as a fellow of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida. She is also a past fellow of summer programs including the Tanglewood Music Center, Aspen Music Festival and School, National Repertory Orchestra and National Orchestral Institute and spent one summer touring the United States with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra. She has performed with orchestras throughout the country and abroad including the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Charleston Symphony, Aarhus Symphony Orchestra (Denmark), Macao Orchestra and Korean Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, Beth has previously served as Principal E-flat Tuba in the North Carolina Brass Band (the only professional brass band in North Carolina) and has enjoyed performing with Monarch Brass, an all-female brass ensemble, at the International Womens’ Brass Conference and International Trumpet Guild. 

ABOUT CAROLINE HALLECK

Currently based in Italy, Caroline is a free-lance saxophonist and teacher from the United States. Caroline has performed extensively throughout the United States, Italy, Spain, France, Croatia, Cyprus and San Marino; in festivals such as the Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi, Ravenna Festival, Piccolo Spoleto USA, Spinacorona Festival, Lago Maggiore Musica, Festival Novecento and Paesaggi Musicali Toscani; as well as with associations such as New Muse Concerts (USA), the Amici della Musica (Italia), Associazione Musicale Etnea (Sicily), TIMUCUA Arts Foundation (USA) and the Fondazione Gioventù Musicale d’Italia.

Caroline holds first prizes in numerous competitions as a soloist including the University of Georgia’s Concerto Competition, and in chamber music including Italy’s Premio delle Arti, Chamber Music Division. Active in the saxophone community, she has also participated and performed multiple times in the World Saxophone Congress and the North American Saxophone Alliance. She was chosen in 2023 as one of five musicians for the artistic residency Changes with Swedish composer Ellen Arkbro and presented concerts throughout Italy. An avid chamber musician, Caroline gave the European premiere of David Maslanka’s Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Wind Ensemble under the baton of Lorenzo Passerini with the Mestizo Quartet.

Caroline currently teaches saxophone at the Officina della Musica in Ravenna, La Scuola di Musica Malerbi in Lugo, Accademia InArte in Forli and is a member of the organization of the International SaxArts Festival in Italy. Caroline holds degrees from the University of Georgia (2017/ graduated Magna Cum Laude) and the Conservatorio di Musica “F.A. Bonporti” di Trento (2020′ graduated 110/110 lode e menzione), and is the first saxophonist to graduate from the Fondazione Accademia Internazionale di Imola “Incontri col Maestro” (2023′ graduated 110/110 e lode) where she studied Chamber Music. Her primary teachers include Marco Albonetti, Connie Frigo and Marco Zuccarini. 

Caroline is an alum of the Hugh Hodgson School of Music – BM Saxophone Performance 2017