Join us for a musical happy hour concert featuring some of Cleveland's finest classical musicians, from pre-college to professional! The artists include talented pre-college pianists, plus NEOMTA president Andrew Focks (pianist) and BlueWaterCO cellist Kent Collier. Proceeds from this concert will help fund the first ever BlueWater - NEOMTA Young Artist competition and concert.

For more information about BlueWater Chamber Orchestra: www.bluewaterorchestra.com

For more information about Northeast Ohio Music Teachers Association:www.neomta.org

Award-winning concert pianist Andrew Focks has performed across the United States, Europe, and Asia as a solo recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician. He has made successful solo debuts in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Austria’s Vienna Hall, Italy’s Pavone Theater, China’s Grand Hall of the Sichuan Conservatory, Flachau’s Schlosskonzert series, Boston’s Williams Recital Hall, Rockport’s Shalin Liu Performance Center, the Lakeland Center, and Tampa’s Neel Performing Arts Center among many others. He has appeared at numerous festivals throughout Europe and Asia and is a frequent performers in the Salzburg Mozarteum Sommerakademie (from where he holds four diplomas). Performing a repertoire spanning five centuries of music, he has been met with enthusiastic critical and public response citing his poetic lyricism, depth of interpretation and ferocious intensity. A passionate educator, Mr. Focks is President of the Northeast Ohio Music Teachers Association and has lectured and performed in over one hundred recitals including multiple performances in schools across the United States. He is also sought after as an adjudicator for various piano festivals and competitions. Mr. Focks is on the faculty of the Aurora School of Music where he teaches piano and advanced theory/composition for pianists and is completing his doctor of musical arts degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Kent Collier, Principal Cello of BlueWater Chamber Orchestra, has enjoyed being a member of Cleveland’s freelance musician community for over 30 years. He received his Bachelor and Master degrees from the Eastman School of Music. A native Clevelander, he has been principal cellist for Cleveland Opera, Cleveland Ballet, Ohio Chamber Orchestra, Lyric Opera, and Red {an Orchestra}. Currently he serves as Principal for Cleveland Pops Orchestra and Blossom Festival Orchestra. He has taught cello at Allegheny College, Baldwin Wallace Conservatory, and the Cleveland Music School Settlement. Kent has spent many summers playing with the Cullowhee Music Festival and the North Carolina Symphony.