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Allégresse
Allegresse, the French word for "joy", aptly depicts the graceful, artistry of this inspiring new trio. Allegresse combines the virtuosic talents of three nationally recognized musicians with careers that have taken them throughout North America, South and Central America, Europe, and Asia both as soloists and chamber musicians. Friends and collaborators for nearly a decade, Annie, Margaret, and Ellen formed this exciting ensemble to explore the rich and varied repertoire for flute, oboe, and piano. The trio plays a wide range of music of the classical masters, including Quantz, Telemann, W.F. Bach, and Rossini, and the contemporary works of Frank Martin, Madeleine Dring, Thea Musgrave, Jean-Michel Damase, and William Grant Still. Driven by a strong committment and a deep passion for their craft, Allegresse infuses every performance with expression, sincerity and a unique, interpretive elegance. Founded in personal wisdom, musical depth, and individual creativity, audiences of all kinds are guaranteed to enjoy Allegresse.
Annie Gnojek
Annie Gnojek is in demand as a free-lance musician, flute educator and clinician in the Lawrence and Kansas City areas, where she manages a successful flute studio. In addition to Allegresse, Annie performs in a variety of solo and chamber music concerts throughout Kansas. Her most recent solo performance was Mozart's Concerto in G Major with the Fort Hays State University Orchestra. Annie placed at the national level at the Music Teacher's National Association competition in 2003, 2004, and 2007. She was also a winner in the first annual University of Kansas Concerto Competition in 2005. She can be heard as principal flutist on the 2006 Naxos Release of Redline Tango with the University of Kansas Wind Ensemble. She holds both a bachelor's and master's degree at the University of Kansas where she studied with John Boulton and David Fedele. Annie is currently the Adjunct Professor of Flute at Ottawa University and the principal flutist of the Lawrence Chamber Orchestra.
Margaret Marco
Margaret has appeared as soloist with numerous orchestras including the Orquesta Sinfònica de Maracaibo, the Rome Festival Orchestra and the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra. She has given master classes and recitals at prestigious venues such as the University of Michigan, the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Costa Rica. Currently she serves as co-principal for the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra and performs frequently with the Kansas City Symphony, the Kansas City Lyric Opera, and the Kansas City Ballet Orchestra. She is a founding member of the Chamber Music Society of Kansas City. Since 1998, she has taught at the University of Kansas where she is the Associate Professor of Oboe. She has been faculty oboist at the Ameropa Chamber Music Festival in Prague, Czech Republic and Mozartissimo in Madrid, Spain. She holds degrees from Northwestern University, the University of Iowa and the University of Illinois.
Ellen Bottorff
Ellen R. Bottorff is highly sought-after as a collaborative artist in the professional community. She has toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada, performing on live radio broadcasts, regional and national conventions, competitions, recital series, and cruise ships. In addition, Ellen can be heard on three professional recordings, Just for Fun, with euphoniumist Pat Stuckemeyer and trumpeter Justin White; Rare Breeds and Dog-Eared Classics, with the Kansas Brass Quintet; and Arrows of Time, with trombonist David Vining. She has been a featured soloist with the Saint Joseph Symphony, having recently performed Rachmaninoff's Second Concerto.
Ellen was on the keyboard and voice faculty at Missouri Western University from 1994-2004, with her students receiving high honors in state and regional competitions. As well, she has taught at the Institute for Young Musicians, Midwestern Music Camp, and has served as staff accompanist at the University of Kansas.
A graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Missouri Western University, Ellen has studied with Richard Cass, Jerry L. Anderson, and Rita Sloan. Currently, Ellen is the interim piano professor at the University of Kansas.
NOTE: A downloadable version of these bios are available in the downloads section.