Linda White leads an active musical life as both a performer and a teacher. She is a founding member of the BlueWater Chamber Orchestra, and has also performed with The Cleveland Pops Orchestra, The Cleveland Opera Orchestra, The Akron Symphony, The Canton Symphony, Erie Philharmonic, and The New World Symphony.

She regularly performs with classical guitarist Robert Gruca as part of the Gruca White Ensemble (www.grucawhiteensemble.com), whose first album was released in November 2020. As Artists-in-Residence at The Music Settlement, Robert and Linda entertain audiences throughout Greater Cleveland with their fresh approach which combines classical, latin, popular, and improvised music.

An avid chamber musician and champion of contemporary music, Linda regularly works with the composers of The Cleveland Composers Guild and performs their pieces at venues throughout the Great Lakes region. Though classically trained, Linda enjoys improvising and nurtures her love of jazz through collaboration with pianist-composer Marshall Griffith. Together, she and Marshall have debuted many of his new works.

An engaging teacher, Linda teaches at The Music Settlement, where she has students of all ages and abilities. In addition to her nurturing demeanor and her creative teaching methods, her skill as a pianist gives students a more in-depth ensemble experience, and thus, a more complete understanding of music. At The Music Settlement, in addition to her teaching and work with the Gruca White Ensemble, Linda leads the Flautrageous Flute Choir, Champagne Flutes, and coordinates a program called Musical Mix & Mingle for adult amateur musicians to gather and play chamber music.

Linda received a Master of Music degree from The Cleveland Institute of Music as a student of Jeffrey Khaner and a Bachelor of the Arts from the University of Wyoming, where she studied with Dr. Katherine Kemler.

For more information, please visit lindawhiteflute.com.

Education

MM, Cleveland Institute of Music
BA, University of Wyoming Close

Jane has extensive background in conducting flute ensembles, and with Linda White co-directs The Music Settlement’s Flautrageous Flute Choir. She is also the director of the Magnolia Flute Ensemble.

Jane is currently the Director of a summer Flute Choir Camp for adults at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, and was Coordinator of the National Flute Association’s High School Flute Choir, Director of the Northeastern Ohio Flute Association’s Flute Ensembles, and Director of the Summer Flute Experience flute choirs at the University of Akron. Under her direction, The University of Akron Flute Ensemble was invited in both 2006 and 2014 to perform for the National Flute Association, and in 2010, she took the group on a performing tour of Italy.

Jane Berkner was described by Flute Talk Magazine as “a versatile performer...(and) outstanding musician". Named Outstanding Musician in the 2019 Akron Arts Alive Awards, She has played in the Akron, Ashland, Canton and Youngstown Symphonies, the Ohio Ballet Orchestra, and the Botzum Summer Festival Orchestra, as well as for touring shows at EJ Thomas Hall in Akron, Playhouse Square in Cleveland, and Blossom Center’s Porthouse Theater. As a chamber musician, she has performed with the O’Neil Chamber Players, Garth Newel Chamber Players, Solaris Wind Quintet and the Chamber Music Society of Ohio.

Along with guitarist Stephen Aron, she formed The AronBerkner Duo (www.aronberknerduo.com), and they have performed extensively across the US and in Italy and France. Soundboard Magazine said of the duo “both…are gifted with lovely tone, exceptional technique, and a sense of unanimity that bespeaks much experience playing together.” Her CD with pianist Kim Bakkum, “In Cynthia’s Garden”, was described by Cleveland Classical as “wonderfully charming…and magnificently performed.” Together, they have performed at the National Gallery in Washington, DC, as well as Sere Musicale and Corofest Assisi in Italy.

Jane is a well known flute instructor in the Cleveland area, having taught at The University of Akron for 25 years. She has successfully worked with students of all ages, from beginner to masters level. Her students have been winners of National Flute Association, Central Ohio Flute Association, Northeastern Ohio Flute Association and Tuesday Musical Club competitions. They have participated in the Cleveland, Akron and Canton Youth Symphonies, won concerto competitions, and been accepted into prestigious programs, conservatories and universities such as Interlochen, Brevard, Tanglewood, Northwestern, Eastman and Shenendoah.

Education

M.M., Flute Performance - University of Akron
B.M., Flute Performance - Georgia State University Close