Kate Steinbeck • Creative Director
Flutist Kate Steinbeck is recognized across the US and abroad as a unique interpreter of wide-ranging repertoire, innovative producer and collaborator, enthusiastic teacher and coach.
Kate began playing flute in a public school music program in Western North Carolina, where she spent much of her childhood. Musical adventures led her far and wide – from studies with William Hebert of the Cleveland Orchestra (BM, Baldwin-Wallace University) to a Fulbright grant in Belgium (Premier Prix, Royal Conservatory of Music), then several years performing and teaching in Germany, and later to graduate studies with Tim Day of the San Francisco Symphony (MM, San Francisco Conservatory of Music). As a flutist, she has been featured on many of California’s most prestigious stages.
In 1997, Kate moved to Asheville and began raising a family. In 2000, she created Keowee Chamber Music with cellist Liz Austin and violist Andrew Levin. KCM became Pan Harmonia in 2011. Lauded for its excellence and creativity, Pan Harmonia revels in sharing music across the full spectrum of our community including with marginalized people in prisons, homeless shelters and other facilities through its Shining Light Project.
As a teacher, Kate loves guiding students of all ages to discover the joy of making music and to achieve new levels of accomplishment and self-awareness. katesteinbeck.com
Jessica Schaeffer
Jessica Schaeffer lives the adventurous life of a professional freelance harpist. She performs regularly with Pan Harmonia, The Broken Consort, a Portland-based experimental chamber ensemble, and Aiken Symphony Orchestra.
Previously, she served as principal harp with the National Symphony Orchestra of Bolivia and with various regional orchestras, ensembles, and choirs throughout northern California, as well as a concerto soloist with the Castro Valley Orchestra (Saint-Saens Morceau de Concert), Ukiah Symphony Orchestra, and Lake County Symphony (Mozart Concerto for Flute and Harp).
Jessica has recorded two albums as the harpist in the harp-bassoon duo, The Harpoons. As a solo performer, Jessica is known for her tasteful pop and jazz renderings and has a thriving business providing live harp music for high-end weddings, parties and corporate events throughout the south. When not performing, Jessica enjoys teaching harp to students of all ages and skill levels out of her Asheville, NC studio and online.
Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Jessica’s formal education includes Interlochen Center for the Arts, Aspen Music Festival, Northwestern University (B.M.), Longy School of Music (M.M. & Dalcroze Education Certification). www.JessicaSchaeffer.com instagram: @jessicaschaefferharp
Byron Hedgepeth
Byron Hedgepeth enjoys performing on a wide array of percussion instruments, embracing jazz, classical, rock, gospel, new age and world music.
Byron pursues a full career as performer, recording artist, and composer. He currently performs regularly on kit with The B’s at the Grove Park Inn, serves as percussionist for First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, and holds the position of Principal Timpanist with Brevard Philharmonic Orchestra. Byron has performed on marimba, vibraphone and percussion with Kate Steinbeck of Pan Harmonia. This captivating flute and percussion duo generated the CD Light In The Corner and a concert tour of Belgium and France. As drum set artist and percussionist, he recently recorded several songs for the Dorothy Papadakos musical Uncork’d at Sound Temple Studio in Asheville, NC. Byron can also be seen performing on vibes with jazz pianist/composer Garius Hill and drum set artist Jeff Tippins.
Notable ensembles, performances, and recordings include Inside-Out, Con Clave, The Jack Coker Trio, a concert tour of Taiwan with drum set artist Chris Wabich, and Judy Collins: Christmas at the Biltmore House. Byron held the position of principal timpanist with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra for 15 years, and has performed often as timpanist and percussionist with the Charlotte and NC Symphonies.
Byron founded the percussion program at UNCA in 1981, and continued as Adjunct Associate Professor through 2005. He then taught percussion and various ensembles at Appalachian State University from 2009 to 2019.
He holds music degrees from Mars Hill University and the University of Illinois. A native of North Carolina, Byron resides in Fairview with his lovely wife Elise.
Maria Luisa de la Cerda Rohde
Guest flutist María Luisa de la Cerda Rohde, MSG USA (RET) received her BM in Flute Performance from The University of Texas at Austin and attended The Aspen School of Music. Following graduation, she performed with Mid-Texas Symphony under the direction of Maestros James Sedaris and Sung Kwak and tutored flute & piano in the surrounding areas of her hometown, New Braunfels, Texas. Her hometown-based Circle Arts Theatre Co. provided her pit orchestra experience in high school and employment after university as an assistant tech director and children’s drama instructor, receiving invaluable acting experience. Following employment at Sea World of Texas as stage manager for live theatre shows, Maria accepted a flutist/piccolo position in The United States Army Band, Pershing’s Own, after a national audition.
A 24-year TUSAB career provided national and international level performance in ceremonies for the Military District of Washington to include conducting Full Honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
María Luisa has taught at Fairfax Conservatory of Music, Columbia Institute of Fine Arts, The Washington Conservatory of Music, Washington Bible College and The Bullis School. María Luisa has performed in DC area concert & pit orchestras, chamber music, flute choirs, National Flute Association Convention performances and held the position of Vice-President ofThe Flute Society of Washington, Inc. Currently, she conducts The Arlington Flute Ensemble and performs with DC Flutes, The Virginia Grand Military Band and continues to freelance musically. Happily, acting professionally has also come back into her life with stage, indie films, network, and commercial work.
Dewitt Tipton
Pianist Dewitt Tipton is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he received a MM in Performance and Literature, studying with Dr. Kenneth Drake. His undergraduate studies took place at Mars Hill College with Dr. John P. Adams. From 1996-1998 he did post-graduate work in Vocal Coaching and Accompanying with John Wustman, also at the University of Illinois.
Mr. Tipton has performed extensively throughout the country and internationally as a soloist and accompanist in vocal and instrumental chamber music. He served as Musical Director for the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre director for 17 seasons and for the Charlottetown Players for five years. From 2000-2013 he was the official accompanist for the North Carolina Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and from 2005-2007 for South Carolina’s MONCA auditions.
In 1991, he became the founding conductor and music director of the Asheville Symphony Chorus, a position he held for 21 years, conducting over 70 major choral works. He has taught on the faculties of Eastern Illinois University, Warren Wilson College, UNC-A where he was Chairman of the Keyboard Department and Director of Choral Activities, Peace College, and the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities as Artist in Residence and Vocal Coach. From 2001 – 2007, he was Director of Music Theatre and Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts at his Alma Mater, Mars Hill College, directing and conducting over 25 productions.
Mr. Tipton recently retired from the Music Department Faculty of Furman University after 13 1/2 years as Collaborative Pianist and Vocal Coach, and as Organist and Music Director of the Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness in Flat Rock, NC and Director Emeritus of the Asheville Symphony Chorus.
Hwa-Jin Kim
Dr. Hwa-Jin Kim, a renowned pianist and educator, was born in Daegu, South Korea. Recognized early for her musical talent, she performed on MBC Television at the age of seven and debuted as a fourteen-year-old soloist with the Daegu Symphony Orchestra. Throughout her youth, she won numerous competitions and received a full scholarship to study at South Korea’s top-ranked Seoul National University. After completing her undergraduate studies, Dr. Kim earned her Master’s and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, where she also taught as the youngest faculty member. Dr. Kim also taught at Brown University in Rhode Island and performed at various venues across South Korea, Italy, Boston, Rhode Island, and New York, including the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.
Since relocating to North Carolina, Dr. Kim has been an influential figure in the local musical community, founding the Asheville Young Musicians Club, which has raised significant funds for educational causes, and launching the Asheville Chopin Club to further engage the community with classical music. Currently a faculty member at UNC Asheville, Dr. Kim teaches a diverse range of courses including Class Piano I & II, Music Theory, Chamber Ensemble, and Applied Piano. Her pedagogical approach includes innovative hands-on learning experiences to nurture both skill development and passion for music in her students.
As the director and creator of the UNC Asheville Summer Piano Camp, Dr. Kim has educated students from 6th to 12th grades since 2018. In June 2023, she introduced the Adult Piano Camp, providing a valuable platform for pianists of all ages to enhance their skills and deepen their love for music. During the summer of 2023, Dr. Kim served as the piano instructor and masterclass clinician for the Online Piano Workshop at the Brevard Music Center Youth Program in Shanghai. Dr. Kim has also launched the lecture-recital series ‘Noontime Classical Music with Dr. Kim’ in January 2023.
Most recently, Dr. Kim was awarded the 2023 Steinway Top Teacher Award, underscoring her ongoing commitment to musical excellence and pedagogical innovation.
Rosalind Buda
Bassoonist and multi-instrumentalist Rosalind Buda is involved in many facets of today’s diverse musical world, and thrives as a performer and teacher of classical bassoon as well as Celtic and early music. Rosalind is in demand as an orchestral, chamber, and solo musician. She regularly performs with the acclaimed chamber music collective Pan Harmonia, Atlanta-based Eclectic Collective, the SC Bach Ensemble, as well as the Greenville Symphony, Asheville Symphony, Spartanburg Philharmonic, and Johnson City Symphony, among others. Rosalind is involved in a number of ensemble projects including the Voices in the Wood bassoon ensemble and her Celtic duo, The Reel Sisters.
Rosalind is passionate about teaching musicians of all ages, and her years of experience in both classical and folk music give her a unique perspective and a multi-faceted, holistic approach to learning. Rosalind is sought after as a workshop instructor and has served on the faculty of the Mountain Collegium Early Music and Folk Music Workshop, The Pipers Gathering, Upper Potomac Piper’s Weekend, and Cairdeas.
A graduate of the New England Conservatory in Boston, Rosalind earned her Master’s Degree in Bassoon Performance while studying with Boston Symphony Orchestra Principal, Richard Svoboda. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Iowa, her home state, where she studied with Benjamin Coelho.
Katherine Haig Ruhlen
Katherine Ruhlen is a collaborative cellist and Suzuki teacher based in Asheville, NC. Trained in the Suzuki method, she draws upon traditional repertoire, world folk music and contemporary pop music to engage students in developing their individual and ensemble skills.
Katherine is passionate about creating opportunities for collaboration, especially through chamber music. She has attended numerous chamber music festivals, including New Music on the Point, where she performed with the International Contemporary Ensemble and the JACK Quartet.
Katherine’s repertoire includes a wide range of early and new music. She performs on the viola da gamba and baroque cello, and attended baroque institutes at Oberlin College and Longy School of Music. Katherine has collaborated with numerous new and emerging composers, and has premiered and contributed to dozens of new works by her contemporaries.
Katherine is a third-generation professional musician, and began playing cello at age 4. She took private lessons with Suzuki pedagogue Nancy Hair for 14 years, and performed in the Boston Youth Symphony and All Eastern Honors Ensemble. She received a BM from Baldwin Wallace University, where she studied with world-renowned cellist and beloved mentor Regina Mushabac.
Andy Jurik
Guitarist, arranger, and educator Andy Jurik actively explores the intersection of classical and popular music. His solo repertoire includes arrangements ranging from Scottish lute works and Brazilian choro to Radiohead and the Beatles. His duo with vocalist Rachel Hansbury reimagines Edith Piaf classics, Carter family standards, and timeless Celtic folk songs. Duo Cortado, his long-running duo with guitarist Devin Sherman, actively commissions new works to expand the scope of repertoire for guitar.
Andy’s research in third stream music (a hybrid of classical and jazz) and contemporary improvisation has yielded performances on the Southern Exposure concert series, Radford University International Guitar Festival, Clemson University Guitar Festival, Brevard College, the Wired Music series, Carnegie Mellon University, Presbyterian College, Central Piedmont Community College, the ArtFields Festival, and the Southern Guitar Festival.
In 2020, Andy released strive, his debut recording featuring his arrangements for solo guitar. The album was praised by Acoustic Guitar magazine (“A fine album from beginning to end”), Soundboard (“each piece…is well done and eminently enjoyable”), and Divide and Conquer (“Jurik’s playing is so lovely and nuanced”). His arrangements of Brazilian piano works by Ernesto Nazareth have been published by Guitar Chamber Music Press. Andy’s writing for PopMatters and Spectrum Culture has been noted by Nonesuch Records, Kronos Quartet, New Amsterdam Records, and Jazz Weekly.
He earned a DMA from the University of South Carolina, MM from Austin Peay State University and BM from Ithaca College and studied with Christopher Berg, Stanley Yates, Pablo Cohen, and Steve Brown. Andy teaches at Western Carolina University and UNC-Asheville and co-directs the Asheville Classical Guitar Society.
Amy Brucksch
Classical guitarist Amy Brucksch celebrates the guitar’s rich heritage, exploring musical connections with musicians as diverse as Celtic fiddlers, Baroque harpsichordists, African percussionists, and western NC’s first ever melodica band. She has a highly regarded CD, Luminescence, with flutist Kate Steinbeck and has performed with Pan Harmonia since 2005.
Her current collaborations include the Avanti Guitar Trio, Trio Tapestry (violin, cello and guitar) and The Treblemakers, a genre-bending trio that explores new sounds for guitar with effects processors, synthesizers and melodicas.
She is director of the Asheville Classical Guitar Orchestra, a group she started in 2023, open to guitarists of any level, fostering a shared appreciation for the instrument and community. Passionate about sharing her love for the instrument, she taught classical guitar to hundreds of middle and high school students for 10 years at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy. She currently teaches privately through Wild Roots Fine Arts Center in Forest City, NC and plays a guitar custom made for her by luthier Gregory Byers.
A former faculty member of the University of Toledo and Ohio Arts Council Touring Artist, her music degrees are from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Bowling Green State University. Amy lives in Tryon, NC with a horse, two donkeys, and a varying number of cats. She is currently exploring a new interest, the 5-string banjo.
