ROBERT GIFFORD, FLUTE

Bob Gifford is well known to Huntsville audiences through his solo, symphony, and chamber performances. Mr. Gifford holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Cincinnati College - Conservatory and completed his Master of Music while performing as Principal Flute with the U. S. Navy Band in Washington D.C.. During this time, he also served as Principal Flute with the Annapolis Symphony. After returning to Huntsville in 1980, Bob joined the Huntsville Symphony as Principal Flute. Highly regarded as a master teacher, Bob is currently on the faculty of UAH where is students enjoy the benefits of his work with many of the world’s leading flutists including Julius Baker, James Galway, Jeanne Baxtresser, Robert Cavally, and Marcel Moyse. Mr. Gifford is a charter member of Keller Williams Realty where he provides a full range of Realtor services.

SUZANNE PURTEE, PIANO

Suzanne Purtee holds advanced degrees in performance practice from McGill and Duke Universities. She is an honors music history graduate from the University of Kansas. Suzanne studied harpsichord and continuo with Hank Knox (Ensemble Arion) at McGill, and at Duke with Robert Hill (now professor of Historical Keyboard Instruments, Performance, and Chamber Music at the Musikhochschule in Freiburg). Currently, Suzanne is the organist and choirmaster at the Church of the Nativity in Huntsville, AL and Dean of the Greater Huntsville American Guild of Organists.
 
GARY PARKS, OBOE

Gary Parks holds a Masters Degree in Conducting and Oboe Performance from Ithaca College in New York and a Bachelor of Music Degree from Boston University. Mr. Parks was a Fellowship Oboe Student in the orchestra of the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood. He later performed with the U.S. Air Force Band of Washington, D.C. and was a founding member of the U.S. Air Force Woodwind Quintet. Mr. Parks’ other performing experience includes Principal Oboe in the Brockton Symphony, the Hingham Philharmonic, Cambridge Symphony, New Bedford Symphony, and as oboist in the Springfield Symphony, all located in Massachusetts. Mr. Parks served as Music Director/Conductor of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of Huntsville for twenty years.

INGRID von SPAKOVSKY, PIANO

Ingrid von Spakovsky holds a Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance from the University of Illinois. She also studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria with Heinz Scholtz. Ms. von Spakovsky is on the music faculty at UAH and as a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music has an extensive private studio. She is a member of the Classical Blues Cabaret with classical guitarist, Phil Weaver and blues guitarist Dave Gallagher, and pianist for the guitar/piano duo Consonare which has played at New York City’s North River Concert Series, Hofstra University’s International Concert Series, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Vanderbilt University, Birmingham City Stages, and England where the duo was interviewed on BBC radio.