Chelsea Natseway is a seasoned conductor and music educator based in Washington State. With a degree in Music Education from Northern Arizona University, she brings over 20 years of instrumental experience-particularly on trombone-and excels in leading both youth and adult ensembles in orchestral and wind formats.

-Squidco 6/11/2025

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Janet Putnam is an accomplished American oboist and English horn player whose versatile career spans jazz, rock, and classical genres. She is notably featured on projects such as Zubatto Syndicate and has been praised in ensembles like All About Jazz for her expressive work on records such as Mechas Over Manhattan. With roots in both orchestral and contemporary music, Janet seamlessly bridges stylistic boundaries, making her a distinguished and sought-after wind instrumentalist.

-Squidco 6/11/2025

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Erik Likkel is a Seattle-based clarinetist and saxophonist whose musical work spans jazz, tango, and new music. He is featured in ensembles such as the Ben Thomas Tango Quartet and TORCH Collective, performing both standards and original compositions across the Pacific Northwest.

-Squidco 6/11/2025

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David Wall is the principal bassoonist of the Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra, a classical radio host, and a professional photographer. A graduate of the University of Washington (studied with Seth Krimsky), he balances performance with visual storytelling-sharing his love for the bassoon through concert plays, radio features, and photo essays.

-Squidco 6/11/2025

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Matt Anderson, aka Crank Sturgeon, is an experimental noise musician and performance artist based in Maine. He also performs under the names C. Sturgeon, Crank (S), Crank St.urge.on, Crank Sturgen, Crankst Urge On, Crankst Urgeon, CS, He Who Cranks With Sturgeon, Reverend Crank Sturgeon, Sturgeon Y Crank, Sturgeon, C.(rank), Thee Crank Sturgeon.

-Discogs (https://www.discogs.com/artist/75606-Crank-Sturgeon)
6/11/2025

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Rachel Nesvig is a Seattle-based violinist, violist, and Hardanger fiddle specialist whose music is deeply rooted in her Norwegian heritage. She earned a BA in Music and Norwegian from St. Olaf College in 2007 and a Master's in Violin Performance plus K-12 Teaching Certificate from Central Washington University in 2011. Rachel further honed her classical and jazz violin skills at the University of Stavanger in Norway, while also refining her Norwegian fluency. An enthusiastic conductor and improv actor, she teaches and coaches at summer camps like Seattle Rock Orchestra Summer Intensive and Icicle Creek Summer Symphony, and leads the West Seattle Community Orchestras' Debut Symphony. A passionate educator, Rachel also creates tutorial content for Pizzicato Peeps and frequently performs with local ensembles including Symphony Tacoma, Seattle Rock Orchestra, and the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra

-Squidco 6/11/2025

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Matty Noble is a versatile violinist and vocalist, best known as a core member of Seattle's boundary-pushing Balkan fusion group Kultur Shock, where he contributes dynamic performances that blend folk punk, metal, and traditional Eastern European melodies.

-Squidco 6/11/2025

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Briana Atwell is a Seattle-based violist who holds a BA from Central Washington University and a MFA in viola performance from the University of Washington. An advocate for contemporary and non-standard repertoire, she works as a freelance performer, music editor, and educator, regularly collaborating with local composers and chamber ensembles.

-Squidco 6/11/2025

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Rachael Beaver is a versatile cellist, vocalist, composer, and arranger active in Seattle's music scenes. With roots dating back to Dallas, she performs across genres-from rock and R&B to classical-and teaches vocals (including at School of Rock). She's also been involved in writing, sound design, and advocating for artist rights.

-Squidco 6/11/2025

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Lamar Lofton is a jazz and swing bassist hailing from Seattle, with a BFA in Music Performance from Cornish College of the Arts. He performs widely in local ensembles, including jazz trios and orchestras (5th Avenue Theatre, Swing 3PO), and brings a rich improvisational sensibility to each project.

-Squidco 6/11/2025

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Marina Albero is a Barcelona-born, Seattle-based virtuoso whose mastery spans piano, hammered dulcimer (psalterium), and vibraphone. Trained in classical and jazz traditions across Spain, Cuba, and the US, she leads the acclaimed Marina Albero Project and has been honored multiple times-earning Golden Ear Awards for her genre-defying recordings.

-Squidco 6/11/2025

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Gabriela Garza (Canales) is a Mexican conductor and percussionist completing doctoral studies at the University of Washington School of Music. She serves as co-conductor of the UW Campus Philharmonia and assistant conductor of the UW Symphony and Modern Ensemble, while also performing on cajón and percussion in community and university settings.

-Squidco 6/11/2025

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"Denio (rhymes with 'Ohio' or 'gennaio') is an internationally recognized record producer, composer, improviser, singer and multi-instrumentalist.
Her main instruments are voice, alto saxophone, clarinet, accordion, acoustic and electric guitars, electric bass, and theremin.

Awards
Denio created and produced the soundtrack for choreographer Pat Graney's piece 'Girl Gods', which was awarded two NYC Bessie Awards at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in October 2016, including one for Best Overall Production.
In 2015 she was inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame by Earshot Jazz.
In 1997 Denio received her first NYC Bessie Award for her soundtrack to choreographer David Dorfman's piece 'Sky Down'.
She received the Mayor's Award for Artistic Achievement from the City of Seattle in 1990.

Collaborator
Denio co-founded The Tiptons Sax Quartet and Drums (1988-present).
She has recorded many CDs and videos with Bosnian metal/punk/folk group Kultur Shock since 1999. They've toured internationally since 2002.
From 2006-2009 she composed for, recorded and toured with Austrian trio Die Resonanz Stanonczi.
She co-founded Ama Trio with Correo Aereo in 2004.
You can hear Denio's limpid voice as featured vocalist on A Beautiful Western Saddle (1993) and with The Science Group in 1999.

Denio has toured solo and has collaborated and recorded with various groups and musicians such as Matt Cameron, Bill Frisell, Chris Cutler, Guy Klucevsek, Pauline Oliveros, Tarik Abouzied, Francisco Lopez, Danny Barnes, the Relache Ensemble, Faust, Fred Frith, Hoppy Kamiyama, KMFDM, Il Parto delle Nuvole Pesanti, and Ronin. She played alto sax in the horn section of Chuck D's Fine Arts Militia at the Experience Music Project in Seattle.

Fellowships and Residencies
Denio has been awarded Fellowships from Artist Trust (Seattle, Westport Ireland) Seattle Arts Commission (Seattle) and Civitella Ranieri (Umbertide Italy). She was Rosencranz Artist In Residence at Mills College in Oakland, CA. In 2006-2007 the Dream Community in Taipei Taiwan commissioned Denio to arrange and produce a recording of Taiwanese indigenous and pop music with Samba rhythms, performed by 25 teenagers from the Amis Tribe who played samba drums particularly well. She entitled it Naruwan: Brazil meets Taiwan.

Film Composer
Kino Lorber commissioned Denio to compose a soundtrack for 'Daughter of the Law' written, produced and starring Grace Cunard in 1921 for their Women Film Makers / Women Composers series.
Denio scored 2 animated films by Thomas Edward ~ 'Pangaea's Brood' which won 'Best Animated Film' at the 1999 NY Underground Film Festival, and 'Synchrony in Estrus' which won 'Strangest Film' at the 2003 Motion Arts Festival in California.
She scored Jamie Hook's feature film 'The Naked Proof,' which received honourable mention at its premiere in the 2003 Seattle International Film Festival, and was voted 'Best Undistributed Film' by the Village Voice (NYC).

Film Maker
Denio loves making documentary films about her voyages.
Check out the Deniaural Youtube Channel

Founding Member
She's a founding member of The Tiptons Sax Quartet and Drums
(formerly Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet)
Ama Trio
Tone Dogs
Danubians
Pale Nudes
Lao Tse and The Entropics
and her Italian chamber/kitchen quintet Quintetto alla Busara.

Onboard
President of The Tiptons Sax Quartet and Drums, LLC
Vice President of Seattle Composers Alliance
Board member Kultur Shock, LLC

Selected Denio Commissions and Projects:
2017 Truth Is Up For Grabs
Denio composed music for 20 piece chamber orchestra for a multi-media event inspired by current events, poetry by Pablo Neruda and the political economy of war, which included projected images created by James Drage. Funded in part by 4Culture
2016 Pat Graney Dance Company: GIRL GODS
~ Denio composed and produced the soundtrack. Girl Gods received 2 NYC Bessie Awards in October, 2016, one for overall production.
2013-2015 Tiptons Sax Quartet: Mythunderstandings
~ Produced by Denio, a collaboration between her Tiptons Sax Quartet, Salish master musician Paul 'Che oke ten' Wagner, film maker Adam Sekuler, and directed by Lisa Halpern.
2010 Dan Hurlin and Dan Froot: Who's Hungry? Santa Monica
(funded by Meet the Composer)
2009 Sonic Bench
~ Denio's interactive public art on permanent exhibit at the Vashon Island Parks Department (Funded by Seattle Arts Commission and 4Culture)
2006 The Tiptons Sax Quartet and Drums: House of Wild Dreams
~ a collaboration between artist Danijel Zezelj, film maker Aric Mayer and the Tiptons (Funded by Seattle Arts Commission)
1999 The Danubians
~ a collaboration with Csaba Hajnoczy, Gabi Kenderesi, Pavel Fajt and AD, produced in Budapest, Hungary (funded by Arts Link/CEC International Partners)
1997 False Prophets or Dang Good Guessers
~ A collaboration with the Shaking Ray Levi Society, Jessica Lurie and AD (funded by King County Arts Commission)
1996 Pollo d'Oro
~ A collaboration with Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet and Ne Zhdali. Produced in Tallinn, Estonia (funded by Arts Link/CEC International Partners)
1992 Pat Graney Dance Company: Saxhouse
~ Performed by her all-women group The Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet (funded by National Endowment For the Arts)
Denio has received additional support from Washington State Arts Commission, Pew Charitable Trust, Arts International, as well as composition commissions from various philanthropists.

Other commissions include creating and producing compositions and recordings for Italian National Radio, the Berkeley Symphony, The New York Festival of Song, Relache Ensemble, the Austrian chamber octet Die Knodel, choreographers Victoria Marks, Aiko Kinoshita, Li Chiao-Ping, Cheronne Wong and Carla Barragan; multi-media performance group Run/Remain Ensemble, UMO Ensemble, The Cabiri, and choreographer/actor/clown Lorenzo Pickle.

Spoot Music
Home-taper since the Dark Ages of Analog, she started her label and publishing company Spoot Music in 1986, with the release of her first cassette, No Bones. Since then, she has recorded & released over 50 cassettes, LPs, CDs and short videos, created solo and with an array of international musicians.
Listen to her newest release, The Big Embrace, released in the Fall of 2017.

Teacher
Denio teaches at the Kultur Shock was the featured group at the Nilüfer Festival in Bursa Turkey, performing for more than 25,000 people."-Amy Denio Website (http://www.amydenio.com/body/Biography.htm)
6/11/2025

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