Musician Bios
We are seasoned players with diverse backgrounds – fun to talk to too!
Norman Dee Flute
“Refined tone and sensitive musicianship” (Washington Evening Star) have characterized the performances of Norman Dee who has appeared as soloist and chamber player here in the United States and South America. Mr. Dee is a graduate of the Juilliard School and has been on the faculties of the University of New Hampshire and the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. He has studied flute with Neal Zaslaw, James Pappoutsakis, and Julius Baker. Composition studies were with Hugo Kauder. He has given numerous recitals in New England, Boston, New York and Sao Paulo, Brazil, as well as concerto appearances with the Boston Pops, The State Orchestra of Sao Paulo, and the New York Virtuosi. He can be heard on recordings issued by the U.S. Information Service, Voice of America, Desto and RCA Records. Mr. Dee sits on the boards of the Hugo Kauder Society and Music for all Seasons.
Ann Churukian Oboe
Ann Churukian earned an A.B. in music from Oberlin College and an M.M. in oboe performance from Southern Methodist University. She has performed as an orchestral musician in Texas, Illinois, and Indiana, and since 1989 has been a freelance musician in the Hudson Valley, where she has performed with Hudson Opera Theatre, Cappella Festiva Chamber Choir, Putnam Chorale, and Orange County Classic Choral Society, among others. She is currently a member of the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra, and the Woodstock Symphony Orchestra, and she has been a frequent performer at the annual Hudson Valley BachFest. Ms. Churukian is the Assistant Music Librarian at Vassar College
Leigh Myers Clarinet
Leigh Myers is an experienced orchestral and chamber music clarinetist. He was principal clarinetist of the Haifa Symphony in Israel as well as principal clarinetist of the Queensborough Orchestra, Manhasset Bay Opera, Great Neck Symphony, Great Neck Philharmonic and New Jersey Intergenerational Orchestra. He was also a founding member of the Greater Newburgh Symphony. In addition, he toured with the South Florida Symphony, the Goldovsky Opera as well as Europe with the New Jersey Wind Symphony. Mr. Myers has a Master’s Degree from the Juilliard School in New York City where he studied with Leon Russianoff.
Terry Watson Horn
Terry Watson played horn professionally after having studied horn at Manhattan School of Music and Hunter College. In 1976 she formed the Metropolitan Brass Quartet and was awarded a New York State Council on the Arts Grant where the group was artists in residence at Church of St. Mary the Virgin and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NY. In 1980 Ms. Watson received her Master’s in Music Therapy from New York University. As adjunct faculty at NYU she has enjoyed a long career as a Music Therapist. Five years ago Ms. Watson returned to the horn and has joined several community orchestras including the UN Symphony Orchestra and chamber music ensembles. In 2018 she toured Spain and France with the New Jersey Wind Symphony. In 2020 she helped establish the Hudson Valley Chamber Musicians. She is very grateful to be able to have music in her life in so many capacities.
Donald Venezia Bassoon
Donald Venezia graduated with a BM in Performance from Fredonia University and worked toward his Masters at The Manhattan School of Music. He has performed orchestrally throughout New York State, New Jersey, Western Pennsylvania and Connecticut, and also as an Opera bassoonist on tour through West Virginia. In the past he has performed with The Pittsburgh Symphony, The Buffalo Philharmonic, New York Grand Opera and Piccolo Opera Theatre of West Virginia, among others. Donald Venezia is also a former Music Director of WQXR-FM, New York City.