Johnny Appleseed Plus at 52 Sumner

Clifton J. Noble, Jr.

Clifton J. Noble, Jr., pianist, is a composer, arranger and pianist based in Western Massachusetts. From 1987 until his retirement in 2020, he has served as a collaborative pianist for Smith College choral ensembles, students, and faculty as the Staff Accompanist in the Smith Music Department. He has produced original works and arrangements for a broad range of vocal and instrumental ensembles and soloists, and his music has been performed by acclaimed artists throughout the United States and internationally. In January 2023, he became the Music Director at the Episcopal Church of the Atonement in Westfield, MA.

Michael Nix

Michael Nix, banjoist, performs on Banjar, classical guitar, banjo, lute, and mandolin, throughout the United States and Asia; has recorded for the PBS series "American Experience", several independent documentaries, numerous CD projects; and his compositions are performed internationally. His music has been heard "Weekend Edition", and other NPR programs. His awards and commissions includes a 2002 assignment by The Ann Sorvino Dance Project, to compose and perform a dance work "Labyrinth" commemorating the 9-11 tragedy, and was awarded grants to perform "New Music From the Northeast," a program of original music and works by composers from New York and New England. His work combines traditional classical techniques, with influences from classical, folk, jazz and world music.

Marsha Harbison

Marsha Harbison, violinist, is the Assistant Concertmistress of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, which she joined in 1977. She is also a frequent performer of chamber music and was one of the founders, artistic directors, and performers of the Longmeadow Chamber Music Society for 38 seasons. She is currently organizing and performing chamber music concerts with the Springfield Chamber Players (formerly known as MOSSO -Musicians of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra). Ms. Harbison has performed in numerous music festivals and was a freelance performer in New York City. She received a B.A. from Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota, and a Master of Music from The Juilliard School in NYC, where she studied with Ivan Galamian. She has taught numerous music courses at Westfield State University and Bay Path University, violin lessons at Mount Holyoke College, and continues to teach private violin lessons. She is married to Dr. William Harbison, and they have 3 grown children and 9 grandchildren.

Ellen Redman

Ellen Redman, flutist, received her training with renowned teachers and performers such as John Krell, Carol Wincenc, Harvey Sollberger and Thomas Nyfenger. She has been the piccoloist with the Springfield (MA) Symphony Orchestra since 1985 and has twice appeared as soloist with them. Miss Redman has also concertized extensively in Italy, including appearances in Rome at the American and British Academies, the American Embassy, and the Vatican. A resident of Westfield, MA, she has worked with various ensembles, including the Boston Symphony, Berkshire Bach, Boston Classical Orchestra, New Hampshire Symphony and the Nashua Symphony. She teaches flute and Irish flute at Smith College, directed the Smith College Wind Ensemble from 2006-2019, and has a thriving private teaching studio. As a performer on the Irish flute, she qualified to compete in the 2006 and 2007 All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Ireland. Miss Redman is the founder and director of The Wailing Banshees at Smith College, teaches Irish flute and tin whistle at the Connecticut Academy of Irish Music, and co-hosts a weekly Irish session at the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England.

Boris Kogan

Boris Kogan, cellist, was born in Leningrad, now St. Petersburg, Russia. He began studying the cello at age 5, attending the School for Musically Gifted Children. He then received his Bachelor’s degree from the Leningrad College of Music and his Master’s degree from the Leningrad Conservatory of Music. He served as Assistant Principal Cellist with the Leningrad Symphony, and with the television and radio symphony orchestras. Mr. Kogan moved to the United States in 1991, and was the principal cellist with the New England Symphony, the Thayer Symphony Orchestra, and the Central Massachusetts Symphony. He currently plays in the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, teaches at the Springfield Community Music School, and has a private cello studio.

Kara Noble

Kara Noble is a professional writer, editor, and publications designer who spent 10 years on the editorial staff of Merriam-Webster. She was inspired to play bass by Carol Kaye—one of the first professionally successful female bass players—and got her first electric bass in 1972. She (briefly) attended the Hartt School as a classical guitarist, got hooked on jazz in college, and has performed with various popular/rock music bands since the 1970s. She played and recorded with her husband Jerry Noble and clarinetist Bob Sparkman as part of the Bob Sparkman Trio from 2016 to 2023. Kara is the president of ArtistTec, Inc., a company she co-founded with Jerry to help musicians, theater professionals, writers, and visual artists use technology in creating their art. She is also the president of the Tuesday Morning Music Club, which presents 12 concerts of classical, jazz, musical theater, opera, folk, and popular music between October and May each year. Kara narrated the world premiere of Johnny Appleseed.

Martin Kluger

Martin Kluger, principal timpanist for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, joined the orchestra upon completing percussion and conducting studies at the Yale School of Music, and has performed in every concert season since 1980. With the SSO, he has been featured as concert soloist in Symphony Hall and more recently (in 2021) as a composer/arranger for percussion ensemble. Mr. Kluger’s early music education began at the Juilliard School’s Pre-College program and then graduating with honors from Yale College, where he expanded his studies to include science. As a Yale undergraduate he organized a student chamber orchestra, which led to several conducting positions, including with the Youth Symphony Orchestra of NY where he led several performances in Carnegie Hall. Soon thereafter, while a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center, he won the outstanding instrumentalist award in percussion awarded by Seiji Ozawa and Gunther Schuller. A believer in life-long education, he accepted positions as faculty instructor of percussion at Westfield State University and at the University of Connecticut. Concurrently he began work towards a PhD in biochemistry that led to a second and longer-lived academic career, studying and publishing on the molecular mechanisms of inflammation as a faculty scientist at the Yale School of Medicine. Mr. Kluger is the proud father of three grown children and resides with his wife, Miriam Kluger, in South Glastonbury, CT.

Mark G. Auerbach

Mark Auerbach is host/anchor of ArtsBeat and On The Mark on Westfield Community Programming and 89.5fm/WSKB, and an ArtsBeat contributor to Westfield News and Pioneer Valley Radio. Before becoming a public relations consultant and reporter, he studied theater at Northfield Mount Hermon, American University and the Yale School of Drama. His performance credits include: Oliver, Little Mary Sunshine, The Pirates of Penzance, Fiddler on The Roof, La Perichole, Wonderful Town, and Goat Song…a long time ago.