MUSICIAN BIOS

Wes Krygsman of Clifton, NJ is a freelance tuba player and has performed with ensembles such as the New Jersey Symphony, Queens Symphony, Garden State Philharmonic, New Jersey Festival Orchestra, The Orchestra Now at Bard, Richmond County Orchestra, Gramercy Brass Orchestra, Imperial Brass Band, as well as Rhebel Brass quintet, and many others.

Wes also teaches beginning band & strings full time in four elementary schools in Clifton NJ. He teaches applied tuba and euphonium lessons at Kean University since 2016, as well as maintaining a private studio of all ages and levels.

Julie Passaro Krygsman of Clifton, NJ s a trombonist on the ground or in the air, depending on the day. For over twenty years, she has been an active freelance trombonist, performing with many different pit orchestras, symphonic orchestras, brass bands, brass quintets and a wide variety of chamber ensembles. Julie has also been an aerial musician for over a decade. In 2012 Julie began performing aerial silks with her trombone after training at Circus Warehouse in NYC. She has since enjoyed an exciting career in circus arts; performing alongside international acts such as Maroon 5 and Cirque du Soleil. In 2017 and 2018 she was a featured cast member and soloist for Big Top Broadway. 

Julie has been an Assistant Marching Band Director at Cresskill High School for nineteen years where she teaches trombone students, drum majors and all twirling disciplines. Julie is in her second year at Paterson Music Project, an El Sistema program, as a Brass Teaching Artist specializing in teaching all levels of brass studies. She is also a Coach in Residence for The New Jersey Symphony Youth Orchestra. She also maintains a private studio of young musicians of all ages. 

Pianist Martha Locker of New York is a soloist, collaborative artist and teacher. She has performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Nova, the New Juilliard Ensemble and the New York University Symphony Orchestra.  Martha regularly performs at Juilliard and New York University and many other NY venues, including Bargemusic, Symphony Space, Greenwich House and Bloomingdale House.  

Martha has been a fellow of the Tanglewood Music Center, and has attended the Sarasota Music Festival, the Chautauqua Music Festival, and the Eastern Music Festival. She has been a guest artist at the Kyoto International Music Festival.  She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Juilliard School and completed an Advanced Certificate in Music Education at NYU. She is an adjunct faculty member at the Packer Collegiate Institute and a collaborative pianist at Juilliard and NYU.