Cellist Robert Burkhart combines a deep commitment to the existing cello repertoire with what the New Yorker magazine calls an “adventurous” spirit in new music. With performance credits at Alice Tully Hall, Bargemusic, Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, Merkin Hall, and The Rose Studio at Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Robert has also appeared as a soloist throughout Japan as a member of the New York Symphonic Ensemble, and been featured in recital on WQXR’s “Young Artist Showcase.”

At the center of new music in New York, Robert has performed with the American Modern Ensemble, Argento New Music Project, Fireworks Ensemble, Newspeak, and SONYC. Recent collaborations include Uri Caine, Georg Friedrich Haas, Aaron Jay Kernis, Steve Mackey, Joan Tower, Charles Wourinen, and Chen Yi. He has performed the New York premiere of John Harbison’s Abu Ghraib for cello and piano, and was the soloist in Augusta Read Thomas’s Passion Prayers for cello and chamber ensemble at the New York Times Center.

Robert’s major teachers include Paul Tobias at The Mannes College of Music and Uri Vardi at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and he has worked with Timothy Eddy, Aldo Parisot, and Janos Starker at festivals and masterclasses. Robert has taught at Juilliard Pre-college, Mannes Prep, Syracuse University, and Music Conservatory of Westchester, and been artist-in-residence at Yale University and the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada.  His recent CD “20/21: Music for Cello and Piano from the 20th and 21st Centuries,” features pianist Blair McMillen and the premiere of a work for cello and piano by composer Andrew Waggoner. Robert’s recording of solo Bach on the American Express commercial “Don’t Take Chances, Take Charge” has garnered national attention.

Robert E. Wills has had a long career in music, for the past several years in Maui Hawaii but originally in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. Bob has been a member of the Minnesota Opera, Minnesota Chorale, and the Edgewater Eight. He has been the music director for the Minneapolis JCC Orchestra, the Nativity Choir, Maternity of Mary Choir, the St. Paul Community Orchestra and the 3M Women’s Chorus. Bob has also been a church music director for 38 years.

His baritone solo and conducting career has given him the opportunity to give five concert tours of Europe including conducting twice by invitation at the Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican and concerts in Dublin, Rome, Assisi, Venice, Vienna, Munich, Lucerne and Jerusalem.

Mr. Wills has appeared as soloist for the opening concert of the Sixth World Choral Symposium with the Minnesota Orchestra, Chanticleer and the Harlem Boys’ Choir.

Bob has also appeared as a soloist with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Duluth Symphony, Austin MN Symphony, Rochester Symphony Orchestra, and the Minnesota Music Fest.

As a music director for theatrical productions, he has been the music director for Matilda the Musical, The King and I, Spirit of the Iao (80th anniversary of the Historic Iao Theater), The Sound of Music and Annie with Maui On Stage.

As a musical theater performer he has performed the roles of Billy in Carousel, Lancelot in
Camelot, Sky in Guys & Dolls, El Gallo in The Fantasticks, Nicely Nicely in Guys and Dolls,
Warbucks in Annie, George in La Cage Aux Folles and Narrator/Mysterious Man in Into The Woods. Bob was the winner of the 2009 Hawaii Public Radio Art song Festival where he sang the Mahler Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen.

He sings in English, Latin, German, Italian, Spanish, French. Some experience in Russian,
Polish, Hebrew, Arabic and even ancient Mayan!

He is the founder and director emeritus of The Maui Chamber Orchestra and Chorus and the Summer Maui Masterworks Festival Chorus.

Bob holds his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Professionally, Ms. Hunter Ashley specializes as a soloist in oratorio, opera, concert, sacred, musical, and cabaret settings. She performs in and around the San Francisco Bay area,  the United States and internationally with renowned conductors.  As a private voice teacher, Elizabeth is the sole proprietor of “The Performance Studio” in Danville, California.  Her orchestra  solo performances have included the Diablo Symphony with conductor Matilda Hofman, concerts with The Austin MN Symphony, the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra in California, the California Symphony and as a soloist with The Blackhawk Chorus under the direction of founder/conductor Diane Gilfether.

Ms. Hunter Ashley has lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay area for the past 24 years.  “The Performance Studio” is comprised of  performers of all ages above 13 years of age. The Performance Studio’s voice students perform bi-yearly in recitals, churches, and other performance venues. Her students are performing professionally with regional and community choruses, opera companies, musical theatre, high school choirs and drama.  For each recital Elizabeth and her students choose a fundraiser to raise money and awareness. She instills the importance of always “giving back” to others with song and heart.

Philanthropy is very important to her.  Several years ago she founded “The Pure Delight Foundation” and continues to volunteer as a soloist for charitable organizations. Elizabeth performs regularly for various fundraisers and donates the sale of her CD “A Season of Serenity” to various charities.

Prior to settling in California, Ms. Hunter Ashley worked with The Opera Omaha Company as an Assistant Resident Artist for their Heartland Opera Theatre, as well as a member and soloist of the Opera Chorus for 3 seasons.  She enjoyed solo opportunities in the operas Turandot and The Merry Widow. She has also performed excerpts from Hansel and Gretel, Die Fledermaus and other notable operas.

Morgan Dickman, is a native of Blue Earth, MN, but has called Austin home now for over a decade.  She is a second-grade teacher at Austin Public Schools.  When not teaching, she also loves to be involved in the arts within the community.  Morgan has served on the boards of the Austin MN Symphony Orchestra and Summerset Theatre.  She also loves to participate in the Austin Symphony Chorus, act on the Summerset stage, and sing with her church choir and praise band.  In her free time Morgan enjoys daily walks with her dog, cross-stitching with her family, and playing board games with friends.  Morgan is extremely grateful to work with the Austin MN Symphony again this season!