Melvin Kaplan has been for more than fifty years one of America's most influential forces in chamber music, both as a renowned performer and as manager, teacher, lecturer, and writer. As a soloist, he has premiered works by Vaughan Williams, Ezra Laderman, Hugh Aitken, Gunther Schuller, Mel Powell, Heitor Villa-Lobos and Jean Francaix. On the faculty of the Juilliard School for thirty years, Mel was also for many years featured regularly as a lecturer/performer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He founded, and is Artistic Director of, the New York Chamber Soloists, Festival Winds, and Vermont Mozart Festival.

Growing up in a household of amateur musicians, playing the violin and singing--which he continues to do--music has played an important role throughout Matthew's life. Outside of music, he enjoys backcountry skiing, alpine ski racing, hiking, sailing, biking, and a good read.

Jessica Shook joined the Melvin Kaplan, Inc. team in 2001, following her graduation from Syracuse University's Setnor School of Music. Outside the office, she plays French horn with various local musical organizations, teaches swimming to students ranging from infants to adults, brews and tastes beer, knits ferociously, and has varied adventures together with her husband John and their lab/beagle mix, Cabot.

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John Zion is a graduate of the Hartt School of Music with a degree in violin performance. He previously studied history and music at Lawrence University.  Before coming to Melvin Kaplan, Inc., he performed regularly with orchestras throughout New England, toured Vietnam with his string quartet, and taught both elementary and high school strings students in the public schools of Simsbury, CT. 

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(Programming)

Kate joined Melvin Kaplan, Inc., in 2006, after returning home to Vermont from San Francisco. A graduate of Brown University, where she studied history and creative writing, Kate spends her free time with her four-year-old daughter Anna-Rose, her two-year-old son Henry, her husband Jonathan, and their new puppy Jed. Another baby will join the family in November! When she has a moment to herself, Kate loves to read, garden, run, and see live music.

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