About the Artists
Jim Walker
Master Teacher
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Few flutists today could be called living legends, yet Jim Walker is surely among those few. Jim counts among his successes careers as an orchestral flutist, concert artist, jazz flutist, recording artist for hundreds of motion picture soundtracks, ethnic flutist, author, and renowned educator. His tireless contributions to the flute community have raised the visibility of the flute as a medium of expression. He has performed to great acclaim with some of the greatest classical and non-classical artists of our time, including James Galway, Leonard Bernstein, Wayne Shorter, Dudley Moore, and Paul McCartney. His students now have successful careers themselves and are performing, teaching, and contributing to their communities in places around the world over.
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Diana Morgan
Young Performer Teaching Faculty and Director
Canadian-born flutist Diana Morgan is acting piccolo and 3rd flute with the San Diego Symphony. Ms. Morgan has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, among others. She recently appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group conducted by John Adams as part of the Green Umbrella Series. She can be heard playing piccolo on "Fresh Off the Boat" (Season 2: Episodes 2 and 23). Ms. Morgan was second flute with the Star Wars in Concert national tour in 2009 and 2010 international tour. She has participated in numerous national and international festivals, including Arizona MusicFest, the Artosphere Festival, Spoleto Festival (USA), and in Canada, the National Youth Orchestra and National Academy Orchestra. Ms. Morgan received a Graduate Certificate in Performance from the University of Southern California and her master’s from Carnegie Mellon University. Her principal teachers include Jim Walker, Jeanne Baxtresser, Alberto Almarza and Dr. Amy Hamilton. Her trio, The Upside, were the winners of the 2014 Beverly Hills national auditions. Ms. Morgan is an active teacher and clinician and is an adjudicator for the Colburn School flute auditions. Her students have been accepted at prominent conservatories and colleges across the country. For more information visit www.dianamorgan.net.
Cathy Ransom Karoly
Catherine Ransom Karoly was appointed Associate Principal Flute by former Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen in March 2009. She joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic as second flutist in May 1996. In October 2000, she made her solo debut with Salonen conducting the Philharmonic in Ibert’s Flute Concerto. Before coming to Los Angeles, Karoly spent three seasons as flutist in the New World Symphony in Miami, Florida under music director Michael Tilson Thomas. She appeared as soloist with the NWS on several occasions. As a member of the award-winning Dorian Wind Quintet from 1994 to 1996, she appeared regularly on chamber music series throughout the United States. She has participated in numerous music festivals, including Marlboro, Tanglewood, and the Spoleto Festival in Italy. She has been a featured performer at La Jolla Music Society’s “SummerFest” since 1991. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Catherine Ransom Karoly received a Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School, where she studied with Carol Wincenc. Karoly graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with Phi Beta Kappa honors and was the recipient of a Fulbright Grant to England. Her other teachers include Trevor Wye, Mary Kay Fink, Robert Cole, and Susan Morris DeJong. She is married to LA Phil cellist Jonathan Karoly; together they have three children.
Elise Shope Henry
Elise Shope Henry joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic as Second Flutist in September 2012. She is an active chamber musician, teacher, and freelance artist and is involved in the LA Phil’s Green Umbrella and Chamber Music series. Born in Houston, Texas, she received her Bachelor of Music degree with honors at the University of Michigan while studying under Amy Porter. While in Michigan, she made her solo debut performing the Ibert Flute Concerto with the University Symphony Orchestra. Henry also served as the Detroit Civic Orchestra’s flute mentor. She later attended the Manhattan School of Music, earning her Master of Music degree under the tutelage of Robert Langevin. Her other teachers include Pamela Hackney and Nadine Asin. Henry has participated in several music festivals, including Aspen Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, and Atlantic Music Festival. She has performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. In addition to her classical music performances, she plays other genres, such as Brazilian popular, Irish folk, and classical Hindustani.
Burak Besir
Ethnic Flutist
Ethnic Flutist
Internationally acclaimed and award winning flutist, film music composer and producer, Burak Besir was born in Cyprus and received his early classical music education in Ankara State Conservatory and graduated with distinction. He then attended The Royal Scottish Academy where he received his master’s degree as a Flute Soloist and studied with David Nicholson. In 2003, Burak received the UK Young Concert Artist Award. The award gave him the opportunity to give a number of concerts and recitals at many distinguished festivals and concerts halls one of which was the famous Wigmore Hall Concert Hall.
Burak took the legendary flutist, Sir James Galway’s, attention at a the flute workshop in and thus found his mentor Sir James. As Guest Artist Burak appeared many times at the Galway Flute Conventions as Guest Artist thus makes flute choir arrangements to the Galway Flute Choir. He received the 2nd Best Performer Award in 2008 at the Galway Flute Convention.
Burak held principal and second chair flute in the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet and at the Istanbul Borusan Philharmonic Orchestra from 2003 to 2008.
In 2008, Burak received Berklee College of Music’s “World Scholarship” and moved to America. He received Contemporary Writing and Production degree switched his focus on tv and film music composing in addition to his performance career.
During his years in Boston, Burak was the Principal Flute at the Berklee Contemporary Symphony and at the Video Game Orchestra, VGP (rockestra project that consists of rock band, orchestra and choir performing epic arrangements of music from timeless video games).
He received the Arif Mardin Achievement and Best Concerto Performer Awards from Berklee College of Music and was chosen to represent the school at the 5th Conservatory Project and performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. In 2012, Burak moved to Los Angeles with his family where he continues his career as composer, performer, and recording artist. In 2014, Burak performed at the very first live concert of the 86th Oscar Concert at the UCLA Royce Hall. The concert featured all five nominated original scores, conducted by their composers including The Book Thief by John Williams, Gravity by Steven Price , Her by William Butler- Owen Pallet, Saving Mr. Banks by Thomas Newman and Philomena by Alexandra Desplat.
Burak performed many times at the most prestigious National Flute Association Conventions in Charlotte (2011) , Las Vegas(2012) and Chicago (2014). Here he performed his original compositions and arrangements with his trio, The World Flute Ensemble.
Most recently, in the role of Music Director, Burak Besir directs and performsfor the International Committee of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Benefit Balls.
In June 2017, he released his flute- piano album "PASSION" through Albany Records. Album received Global Music Award in Best Album and Best Instrumental Solo categories in November 2017. His flute choir arrangement of Smetana's Moldau is published by Italian Publisher Vigor Music in July 2017.
Burak took the legendary flutist, Sir James Galway’s, attention at a the flute workshop in and thus found his mentor Sir James. As Guest Artist Burak appeared many times at the Galway Flute Conventions as Guest Artist thus makes flute choir arrangements to the Galway Flute Choir. He received the 2nd Best Performer Award in 2008 at the Galway Flute Convention.
Burak held principal and second chair flute in the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet and at the Istanbul Borusan Philharmonic Orchestra from 2003 to 2008.
In 2008, Burak received Berklee College of Music’s “World Scholarship” and moved to America. He received Contemporary Writing and Production degree switched his focus on tv and film music composing in addition to his performance career.
During his years in Boston, Burak was the Principal Flute at the Berklee Contemporary Symphony and at the Video Game Orchestra, VGP (rockestra project that consists of rock band, orchestra and choir performing epic arrangements of music from timeless video games).
He received the Arif Mardin Achievement and Best Concerto Performer Awards from Berklee College of Music and was chosen to represent the school at the 5th Conservatory Project and performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. In 2012, Burak moved to Los Angeles with his family where he continues his career as composer, performer, and recording artist. In 2014, Burak performed at the very first live concert of the 86th Oscar Concert at the UCLA Royce Hall. The concert featured all five nominated original scores, conducted by their composers including The Book Thief by John Williams, Gravity by Steven Price , Her by William Butler- Owen Pallet, Saving Mr. Banks by Thomas Newman and Philomena by Alexandra Desplat.
Burak performed many times at the most prestigious National Flute Association Conventions in Charlotte (2011) , Las Vegas(2012) and Chicago (2014). Here he performed his original compositions and arrangements with his trio, The World Flute Ensemble.
Most recently, in the role of Music Director, Burak Besir directs and performsfor the International Committee of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Benefit Balls.
In June 2017, he released his flute- piano album "PASSION" through Albany Records. Album received Global Music Award in Best Album and Best Instrumental Solo categories in November 2017. His flute choir arrangement of Smetana's Moldau is published by Italian Publisher Vigor Music in July 2017.
Mitsuko Morikawa
Pianist
Pianist Mitsuko Morikawa has been an active soloist, accompanist and chamber musician in United States as well as in Asia. She has collaborated with highly acclaimed musicians from a vast array of genres spanning instrumental music, vocal music, musical theater and chamber ensembles. Some of the artists that Ms. Morikawa has performed with include Julia Migenes, Rodney Gilfry, Kristinn Sigmundsson, Timothy Mussard, Michel Debost, James Walker, Leone Buyse, Carol Wincenc, Jean Ferrandis, Marianne Gedigian, Martin Chalifour, Roberto Cani, Megumi Kanda, Randy Hawes, and Rodell Rosel. Ms. Morikawa has also recorded music for the New World Records label and has been featured on radio programs such as KUSC, WCLV, Cleveland and NHK-FM, Japan.
Apart from her accomplishments as a performer, Ms. Morikawa has also distinguished herself as a unique and highly regarded coach/accompanist. She has served on the faculties at Occidental College, Santa Monica College, the Meadowmount School of Music, Idyllwild Arts Academy Summer Program, National Flute Association Annual Convention, Oberlin College Conservatory, the Oberlin Flute Institute, Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory and the ENCORE School of Strings. She is currently working as an accompanist at the Colburn School, UCLA and Los Angeles Children’s Chorus.
Ms. Morikawa’s degrees consist of a B.M. in piano performance from the Toho School of Music, Japan, an M.M. in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music, a Professional Studies Certificate in piano performance from The Cleveland Institute of Music and a D.M.A. in Keyboard Collaborative Arts at the University of Southern California. Some of Ms. Morikawa’s teachers include Alan Smith, Norman Krieger, Sergei Babayan, Cheng-Zong Yin, Paul Schenly, Sara Davis Buechner and Hisako Ueno.
Apart from her accomplishments as a performer, Ms. Morikawa has also distinguished herself as a unique and highly regarded coach/accompanist. She has served on the faculties at Occidental College, Santa Monica College, the Meadowmount School of Music, Idyllwild Arts Academy Summer Program, National Flute Association Annual Convention, Oberlin College Conservatory, the Oberlin Flute Institute, Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory and the ENCORE School of Strings. She is currently working as an accompanist at the Colburn School, UCLA and Los Angeles Children’s Chorus.
Ms. Morikawa’s degrees consist of a B.M. in piano performance from the Toho School of Music, Japan, an M.M. in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music, a Professional Studies Certificate in piano performance from The Cleveland Institute of Music and a D.M.A. in Keyboard Collaborative Arts at the University of Southern California. Some of Ms. Morikawa’s teachers include Alan Smith, Norman Krieger, Sergei Babayan, Cheng-Zong Yin, Paul Schenly, Sara Davis Buechner and Hisako Ueno.
Vivian Fan
Pianist
Vivan Fan currently holds the staff accompanist position at the Colburn Conservatory. Prior to this position, she was on the piano faculty at the Idyllwild Arts Academy and was a teaching assistant to Professor John Perry at USC. She was accompanist at the International Music Course of Benidorm in Spain, the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, and the Montecito Summer Music Festival, and was awarded the “Best Accompanist Award” by The Edith Knox Performance Competition in 2009 and 2010.
As a solo pianist, Fan has performed with conductors Jorge Mester, Jung Ho Pak, Mario Miragliotta, Sharon Lavery, Peter Askim, and Marc Riley. Her performances have been broadcasted on KTLA and KNBC television as well as KUSC and WFMT radio. Her recent performances include recital collaborations with artists such as Paul Coletti, Shigenori Kudo, Lindsay Deutsch, Paul Wiancko, John Hayhurst, and Richard O’Neill in venues such as Camerata Pacifica, the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series, the Maestro Foundation Chamber Music Series, the LA Phil Affiliates Recital Series, the Music in the Mansion Concert Series, and Violafest Los Angeles. In the summer of 2006, Fan gave a symposium presentation at the ISME World Conference in Malaysia. She receives her DMA from the USC Thornton School of Music in May 2011, where she was awarded the Michael Kamen Music Scholarship.
As a solo pianist, Fan has performed with conductors Jorge Mester, Jung Ho Pak, Mario Miragliotta, Sharon Lavery, Peter Askim, and Marc Riley. Her performances have been broadcasted on KTLA and KNBC television as well as KUSC and WFMT radio. Her recent performances include recital collaborations with artists such as Paul Coletti, Shigenori Kudo, Lindsay Deutsch, Paul Wiancko, John Hayhurst, and Richard O’Neill in venues such as Camerata Pacifica, the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series, the Maestro Foundation Chamber Music Series, the LA Phil Affiliates Recital Series, the Music in the Mansion Concert Series, and Violafest Los Angeles. In the summer of 2006, Fan gave a symposium presentation at the ISME World Conference in Malaysia. She receives her DMA from the USC Thornton School of Music in May 2011, where she was awarded the Michael Kamen Music Scholarship.
Emma Neiman
Program Administrator
Originally from California, Emma Neiman currently resides in the New York Hudson Valley where she studies with Tara Helen O’Connor at the Bard College Conservatory of Music. She is in the process of completing the conservatory’s dual-degree program, pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. In 2014, she became the program assistant for Jim Walker’s Beyond the Masterclass in Los Angeles, and in 2016, she began to work as a faculty member and the program coordinator for Mid Peninsula Music Academy in Redwood City, California. She attended the woodwind masterclass series at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in 2013 and 2014, and she attended Beyond the Masterclass as a performer in 2012 and 2013. Her woodwind quintet performed for Milan Turkovic in the Master Class Series at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in 2017. Prior to Bard, Emma lived in Los Angeles where she studied with Diana Morgan and volunteered at the Harmony Project as a teaching aide for flute and clarinet, as well as an administrative assistant. Emma graduated from Idyllwild Arts Academy in 2013 after attending for two years.
Past Guest Artists
2018: Denis Bouriakov
2017: Rose Lombardo, Ben Smolen, Denis Bouriakov & Bryan Pezzone (Piano)
2016: Denis Bouriakov and Jose Valentino
2015: Sarah Jackson
2014: Catherine Ransom Karoly, Elise Shope
2013: Catherine Ransom Karoly, Richard Beene
2012: Greg Pattillo, Sarah Jackson, Benjamin Smolen, Heather Clark, Rose Lombardo
2011: Molly Barth, Demarre McGill, Greg Milliren, Jed Wentz, Phil Ayling
2010: Cathy Ransom-Karoly, Jed Wentz, Heather Clark, Sarah Jackson, Steve Kujala, Greg Milliren
2009: Elizabeth Rowe, Heather Clark, Sarah Jackson, Steve Kujala
2008: Viviana Cumplido, Heather Clark, Phil Ayling
2017: Rose Lombardo, Ben Smolen, Denis Bouriakov & Bryan Pezzone (Piano)
2016: Denis Bouriakov and Jose Valentino
2015: Sarah Jackson
2014: Catherine Ransom Karoly, Elise Shope
2013: Catherine Ransom Karoly, Richard Beene
2012: Greg Pattillo, Sarah Jackson, Benjamin Smolen, Heather Clark, Rose Lombardo
2011: Molly Barth, Demarre McGill, Greg Milliren, Jed Wentz, Phil Ayling
2010: Cathy Ransom-Karoly, Jed Wentz, Heather Clark, Sarah Jackson, Steve Kujala, Greg Milliren
2009: Elizabeth Rowe, Heather Clark, Sarah Jackson, Steve Kujala
2008: Viviana Cumplido, Heather Clark, Phil Ayling
