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Violinist
KIMBERLY FITCH
Violist Kimberly Fitch’s solo appearances include the Carl Stamitz Viola Concerto with the Rogue Valley Symphony in Ashland, OR and the Bartok Viola Concerto with the University Symphony Orchestra in Santa Barbara as a first place winner of the Concerto Soloists Competition. Fitch was a semifinalist at the 2005 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, winner of the 2002 Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon Concerto Competition, and recipient of the John Celentano Award for Excellence in Chamber Music at the Eastman School. Kimberly studied with world-renowned teachers in the United States and Europe including Helen Callus, Phillip Ying, James Dunham, Jeffrey Irvine, Mikhail Kopelman, Carol Rodland and Richard Wolfe.
An enthusiast for contemporary music, Kimberly performed music by composers such as Beat Furrer, Matthias Pintscher, Steve Reich and Wolfgang Rihm, as well as works by faculty members and students of Eastman as a member of Musica Nova, OSSIA, and The Cape Cod Ensemble. Kimberly studied with new music expert Brad Lubman as well as period music scholars Christel Thielmann and Kristian Bezeidenhout. As a scholarship recipient, Fitch attended the Aspen Music Festival, Fontainebleau Schools in France, The Britt Institute with the Cavani and Pacifica Quartets, Soundfest Quartet Institute with the Colorado Quartet, and the Port Townsend Chamber Music Festival with the Tokyo Quartet.
Fitch performed as a violist and string coach for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s 2014 production of Into the Woods, and as a violinist in the 2015 world-premier musical by Jeff Whitty, Head Over Heels, and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in 2017. Kimberly Fitch holds a Bachelor of Music from the Eastman School of Music, and Master of Music in Viola Performance from UC Santa Barbara; and she shares her home in Pasadena with her two cats, Mister and Saké.
Guitarist
CAMERON O’CONNOR
Cameron O’Connor, whose playing has been described as “stunning and emotive” (Eugene Register-Guard), enjoys a diverse career in solo, chamber, contemporary, and popular music. Recent highlights include performances with LA Opera singers in the premiere of Neely Bruce’s “Circular 14: The Apotheosis of Aristides;” solo and duo recitals throughout Japan; chamber music and opera appearances with musicians of the Oregon Symphony and Eugene Opera; as a chamber music soloist at the New World Symphony in Miami (for which the South Florida Classical Review noted that he was “especially effective in the quick and diabolical figures”); appearing as a guest artist and performing duos with Sharon Isbin at the Aspen Music Festival and School; performing with Michael Tilson Thomas and the New World Symphony; and appearing under the baton of Chinese composer Tan Dun in his Eastern-tingedConcerto for Six, for which the New York Times reviewed that “O’Connor fluttered on his guitar strings in a manner reminiscent of a pipa player’s technique.”
Additionally, O’Connor is a prizewinner in ten international competitions, including the Tokyo and Frances Walton. His performances have been featured in films, from James Franco’s Don Quixote to Some Kind of Spark (a documentary made on The Juilliard School’s Music Advancement Program) to Scott Tennant’s instructional classic Pumping Nylon, and on radio broadcasts such as KPFK’s Global Village, KingFM’s Northwest Live!, Portland All-Classical, and American Public Media’s Performance Today. His articles and music are published by LACG Editions. O’Connor also performs regularly in musical theatre productions on electric guitar, banjo, and mandolin, and now serves on the faculty of Oregon State University. O’Connor was a full scholarship recipient at CSU Northridge, where he studied with Ron Borczon; the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied with Sharon Isbin; and at the USC Thornton School of Music under William Kanengiser. Upon completion of that degree, the Thornton School designated him as Outstanding Doctoral Graduate.
Healers
THE HUNTER SISTERS, (DR. TAMMY HUNTER and DR. STEPHANIE HUNTER)
Dynamic, Empowering, Informative and Feisty times two! These talented and compassionate healers are like no other! Combining the knowledge, education and expertise of their individual, thriving practices, these sisters deliver the results you have been seeking in your life. With each show they will take you and their clients on astonishing journeys toward empowerment from their own unique experiences, knowledge, and successes of overcoming their own personal struggles and traumas.
If magic is what you need to make a change in your life, look no further. From metaphysical to clinical, these sisters have the wisdom and insight to guide you towards freedom! Each are experts in their fields, when these sisters combine their talents…….magic is made!
Dr. Tammy, “The Mind Doc” is a nationally recognized expert in her field holding a degree in Clinical Hypnosis, a Doctorate in Philosophy with a Ph.D. in Metaphysical Science, specializing in Counseling. She also holds a degree as a Certified Hypnotherapist and is certified in Sex, Pornography and Love Addiction Counseling. She is a publisher writer and guest lecturer at Harvard Faculty Club, Harvard University. She has also appeared on the hit reality television show “Braxton Family Values.” Her specializations include trauma (emotional and sexual), sex addiction, porn addiction, anxiety, fears, erectile dysfunction, pain management and infertility.
Dr. Stephanie, “The Sex Guru” is a Clinical Sexologist who holds a Ph.D. in Human Sexuality, a Masters in Clinical Psychology, and is a certified sex coach. As a nationally recognized sex expert she has been featured in Playboy, People Magazine, Time Magazine, Psychology Tomorrow, Self.com, and other national publications. Her specializations include sex therapy, relationship counseling, alternative lifestyles and sexual behaviors, sexual trauma (male & female), and empowerment therapy. She is also a published writer.
Writer, Singer, Actor, Entertainer, Vocalist Producer
LAURNEA:
Laurnea started her career in New York on Broadway straight out of high school, followed up with one of the starring roles in the National and International touring company of “Ain’t Misbehavin”. Prior to her debut in 1997 and solo recording project on a major label, Laurnea was a member of three groups in the 1990s. Bobby McFerrin’s acapella group VOICESTRA, the British GroupLoose Ends,and later a member of the Grammy Winning group ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT in the mid 1990’s.
She produced and wrote several songs on each project. Joining the R&B industry in1997 with the release of her debut album ”Betta Listen”, the album featured production by Omar, Raphael Saadiq, and Jon Jon Robinson. After 4 years of working with Sony, Laurnea left in 2002 to form her own label, Era Sound 1 Records.
On her own label, Laurnea released several albums. In 2000, the album“Laurnea II” was released in Japan, South East Asia and Australia.The album featured well-known producers, Jon B, Craig Love and Dwayne Wiggins. Following up this release, Laurnea released “New Territory”in 2002. This album, too,was released exclusively overseas. In 2004, Laurnea released “I Remember ” in Japan with production by India Arie and Billy Odum. In 2005, Laurnea returned to the United States with the album “The Collection”which was actually a compilation of four songs from each of her past four cds.
Laurnea worked with India Arie on her first 4 CDs and wrotefor film and television, including American Idol. She also collaborated with Rachelle Farrell, co-writing five songs in2015.
She recorded background vocals with Lalah Hathaway, Rahsaan Patterson, Shanice Wilson, Ledesi and N’Dambi on aRachelle Farrell project.
Laurnea has now completed her 6th CD, titled “UNIVERSAL LOVE”, released overseas in Japan in 2016.
In addition to releasing these CDs,Laurnea has recorded for film and TV including commercials for Microsoft 8, and an acting role on “Judge Ross”as Dana Fuller.
Laurnea also invented a bad hair scary monster for the DARK HARBOR QUEEN MARY Haunted House in 2013/15. The character played won her won her the award for the best new monster for the Queen Maryin 2013/2014.
In May 2014, Laurnea recordeda song with Japanese producer Volta Master and Steph Pocketts (female rapper out of Philadelphia)for a Cubase ad.
Fortwo years, Laurnea hosted a monthly Pro Vocal Jam session in Sherman Oaks, CA,with professional singers and musicians only, including celebrity guests.
Laurnea was also a booking agent for an exclusive supper club in Beverly Hills called HOME where she has booked entertainers such as BILAL,RAHSAAN PATTERSON, SHANICE WILSON, DWELE, RAHEEM DAVAUGHN and more to the Los Angeles area.
Laurnea was cast in the role of jazz singer night club /host on Kim Whitley “Raising Whitley in February,2015. Laurnea has been cast in two Broadway plays “THE WIZ”& “Ain’t Misbehavin'”. She has been cast as a jigaboo in Spike Lee’s film “School Daze”, Bill Duke’s “Hoodlum”, “My Past is My Own”(with Whoopi Goldberg), including producing sound tracks for a feature film/T.V. in 2014.
Entrepreneur and Social Innovator
Rita Egizii, B. Comm., C. Mgr., MEd, EdD(c)
Rita has founded several successful businesses and was the Western Regional Finalist for the Canadian Women Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 1997. She has been an international delegate on Government of Canada Trade Missions and trade summits and has sat on several federal task forces. Other awards include Global Television/YWCA Woman of Vision, the Western Legacy Award for Innovation, University of Calgary's Women Resource Centre Distinguished Alumna Award, and in June 2012, she was honored with the Order of the University of Calgary. She is a founding Director of the Quickdraw Animation Society, the Chickwagon! Foundation for Women, Wellspring Calgary and Legacy of Tao (US-based).
Rita continues to serve on various Boards, Advisory Groups and committees in both the for-profit (small business, entrepreneurship, investment, international business) and not-for-profit sectors (arts, education, health care, community development, women’s issues, animal causes, fund-raising).
She served as a Certified Facilitator for the Alberta Government’s Board Development Program and was selected as one of two individuals to help train the program’s 2012 team of 70 facilitators. She is currently an Associate Faculty at Royal Roads University (Victoria, BC) teaching entrepreneurship and leadership. She offers consulting services in non-profit start-up and board governance; entrepreneurial start-up; fundraising; event-planning, networking, community outreach, and cancer survivorship through IMAGE Consulting (Insight Management for Action, Growth and Expansion).
Rita’s personal journey includes being a two-time cancer survivor. Diagnosed with Stage III/IV breast cancer in 1997, she was only 38 years old. At that time, she had just returned from the Team Canada mission (with Prime Minister Jean Cretien). Given a 6-8 month prognosis, she sold her business interest and set off on a journey of discovery. It was during her cancer recovery that Rita’s passion for community building and social innovation took hold. It was a time of healing, personal discovery and growth.
In 2005, she was diagnosed with a second bout of breast cancer, unrelated to the first – a completely different primary cancer. Her recovery from cancer has encompassed a broad range of approaches including mastectomy and other surgeries, TRAM reconstruction and clinical trial chemotherapy (over a 2-8 year period); these treatments were augmented with guided meditation, medical qigong, reiki, Chinese herbs and indigenous shamanic healing. Her self-discovery included exploring integrative health therapies and travel around the world, including Madagascar, Kenya, South Africa, Bora Bora, the mountains of HuaShan (Shaanxi Province, China) and the Buddhist monasteries of Tibet.
An avid believer in the power of the mind, Rita believes healing and growth lies in the ability to honor the intrinsic knowledge of the mind, body and soul.