Michael G. Ronstadt

Musician Michael G. Ronstadt has traversed a wide range of musical styles from singer-songwriter, folk, jazz, classical, Americana to new age. Ronstadt displays genre-blending explorations on cello and guitar in complement to thought-provoking lyrics, as well as instrumental work. In addition to his solo and group recordings with Ronstadt Brothers, Trotta & Ronstadt, Serenity Fisher & The Cardboard Hearts, Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt, he is a much sought-after studio musician, who has appeared on more than 200 albums in the last 20 years. Michael has recorded in studios across the United States in Philadelphia, Tucson, Phoenix, Nashville, New York City, New Jersey, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Germany & North Wales (UK).

His versatile work has been tapped for studio and concert work by such artists as David Bromberg, Linda Ronstadt, Murial Anderson and Craig Bickhardt (SKB). He has opened up for artists like Ruthie Foster, Jorma Kaukonen (Hot Tuna, Jefferson Airplane), Steve Katz (Blood, Sweat & Tears), Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Neil Young, Death Cab For Cutie, Smashing Pumpkins and Josh Groban. He has toured and performed with the late, great Rick Rosas (Crazy Horse) and Dave Krusen (Pearl Jam). His performances have been heard at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering (Elko, NV), Philadelphia Folk Festival, San Diego Sail Festival, Musical Instrument Museum (MIM), Common Ground On The Hill Music Festival, and Tucson Folk Festival to name a few.

Michael holds a Master of Music in Cello Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, under the tutelage of Yehuda Hanani. He also holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Cello Performance from the University of Arizona under Nancy Green and Nelzimar Neves. Michael regularly premiers new works by modern composers such as Bjørn Bolstad Skjelbred, Kenneth Stewart, Michael Ippolito, and his own compositions. He is co-founder of Shaken Earth Media, which sells instrumental sheet music and original instrumental recordings.

Valerie Thompson

Valerie has enjoyed an active freelance career in the Boston area with chamber performances, recording session work, and sharing the stage with such notable artists as jazz pianist, Fred Hirsch; rock-icon, Amanda Palmer; multi- media artist, Christopher Janney; and with pop-chamber ensemble, Vitamin String Quartet (including a television appearance on Warner Brothers’ Gossip Girl.) She has toured nationally and internationally with ensembles that range from art-rock to chamber folk such as Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards, Long Time Courting, Fluttr Effect, and Goli. In the winter of 2014, Valerie performed and taught on a cultural diplomacy tour of India, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Bangladesh sponsored in part by the U.S. State Department and American Music Abroad.

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