Writers in the Round
2008 - 2009, 19th Season
Performing Artist in Residence

Founding Artistic Director 1990 - 2009

Linda Lowe - guitar, singing, songwriting, Summer Music Camp, Kids in Concert, Spot Light concerts, recording, performance group, microphone etiquette, Young Performing Artists, Women in the Round on the Road & WITR Main Stage Concerts.

Linda is the founding Artistic Director of the Writers in the Round Concert series. She is a prolific poet, songwriter, producer, and recording artist who has released three books of poetry and six original albums, which have won critical acclaim internationally. She won the 1984 Kerrville Folk festival with "Blow Out The Light”, and “Please Don't Run”. “Let Her Go Gently” was published in Sing Out Magazine and is used in Hospice’s across the country. Linda helped to launch House Concerts and songwriting series in Seaside, FL, Wilmington, NC, Little Rock, AR, Cotter, AR, Lafayette, IN, and in Houston, Texas. She has hosted and performed in numerous radio and TV shows including Bob Hope's Telethon for the Healing, as well as in major concert venues across the country. She has opened shows and performed with Bonnie Rait, Donovan, Carolyn Hester, Jesse Collin Young, Steve Gillette, Loudon Wainwright, III, Nancy Griffith, Arlo Guthrie, Trout Fishing in America, Lucinda Williams, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Townes Van Zandt to name a few. She was the Music Designer for Main Street Theater’s production of "A Piece of my Heart" in Houston and the Assistant Producer/Director of Mid America Hot Springs National Parks production of “Papa Bear Mama Bear". She has directed over 400 musical events. Linda has been teaching and performing for 35 years, and helps her students to record original albums, perform in concert and play music for the pure personal joy of it. Her teaching method is contemporary folk incorporating 60’s music, and she is well known for her laid-back, nurturing style. Linda helps kids to explore their creativity.

PERFORMING ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE

Violin, Fiddle

Mary Ann Willis - Violin - Fiddle

Mary Ann wrote the book on violin - literally. She Is the author of Eleven books / recording volumes of ethnic and classical music for Mel Bay Publications, as well as various articles for Strings, Strad, and American String Teachers magazines. Mary has played with numerous symphony orchestras throughout the United States, and has transcribed and studied recordings In Hungarian Gypsy, Romanian, Klezmer, Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, Czech, Scandinavian, Irish, Mexican, Texas Style, Old Time, Bluegrass, and Cajun styles. Mary Ann is a well-known Musician author in Texas. Her methods are taught worldwide and her books are a must for any Violin or Fiddle student.

Ruth Zeger - Violin, Summer Music Camp

Ruth Zeger has been a member of the Houston Symphony since 1981, and was a member of the Kansas City Philharmonic from 1971-1980. She attended Cal State Northridge, in Los Angeles. She has played in many symphony and
chamber music festivals, among them the Aspen Music Festival and the Colorado Music Festival, Boulder. Ruth enjoys playing for a variety of
events in Houston with her husband, Dave, and the Zeger Strings. She also participates in community concerts with a trio from the Houston Symphony. She has studied violin, with an emphasis on relaxation, with Kato Havas, in
Oxford, England, and Brattleboro, Vermont, and is anxious to pass these wonderful techniques on to her students.

Writers in the Round 2008 –2009 Season

PERFORMING ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE

Piano, Voice, Flute, Songwriting, Music Theory

Susan Elliott - Voice

Susan Elliott began her professional career in 1984 when she teamed up with guitarist Joe Romano to form the jazz duo Mood Indigo (named "Best Vocal Ensemble" in the 1992 Public News Reader's Poll). An award winning studio singer, her recordings for Silver Burdett and Ginn have been used in public school systems throughout the world. Susan believes that everyone can sing and that singing should always be a joyful experience; she teaches with an emphasis on sensitivity to the music, proper breathing and developing good listening and sight-singing skills.

Gary Gillispie - Piano – Linda Lowe’s Spot Light Series - Summer Music Camp

Gary Gillispie attended the University of St. Thomas, U of H and the Philladelphia Music Academy. He has worked with the Houston Ballet Company, Houston Dance Center and the Up Town Dance Center. He was the Musical director for Company on Stage where he recently directed the “Fantastics”, “God spell”, “Snoopy”, “Pied Piper of Hamilton”, and the “Nutcracker”. Gary is the founding Director of the Houston Music Conservatory formed in 1985, performing in concerts across the country and currently accompanies well known performing and recording artists in the Houston area. He has been with WITR since 2005. He is a regular concert performer at Shermann Clay. He performed for President Bush and has worked with Steve Allen, Arnnett Cobb, and Chuck Mangione, to name a few. For the past four years Gary has been the Organist for Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral. He helped to start up Tele-conference Music Lessons for Florida State Hospital in Orlando. Gary has been a teacher of piano and music theory for 35 years. He teaches with an emphasis on traditional and Improv.

Henry Darragh - Piano - Voice - Trombone

Henry Darragh has been working as a jazz trombonist since 1994 and as a jazz pianist and vocalist since 2003. An in demand freelance musician, he currently works with many of Houston's finest jazz musicians. He was a composer for Stuart Ostrow's Music Theatre Lab in 2005 and 2006. He also composed music for “The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg” and “One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest”, at Zilkha Hall in the Hobby Center for Performing Arts. Henry performed with national recording artists Adela Dalto and Steve Lippia, for the touring company of Jersey Boys. As a student in the jazz department at University of Houston, he played with Lou Soloff, Randy Brecker, Tim Hagans, David Sanchez, Conrad Herwig, Vincent Herring, Wayne Bergeron, saxophonist Bill Evans, Ann Hampton Callaway, and Dianne Schurr. As a trombonist he performed with: Elsie, John Q. Public, Boom Theory 8, Zin, T.J. Funk, TKOH! Carey Richards Orchestra, Toomy Starks Band, Ronnie Renfro Big Band, Joe Miller Dixieland Band, The Trade, The Free Radiclas, and Los Skarnales. He has recorded and played live electronic music producers and DJs, most closely with Soular Grooves and the Rebel Crew. Henry recently recorded his first CD with an all star ensemble including fellow WITR performing artist in residence, Erin Wright. The CD will be released late spring or early summer 2009. His ensemble will be playing at the Bayou City Art Festival at Memorial Park March 28th at 1pm.

Basirah Dean - Piano – Flute – Bassoon

Composer/songwriter, pianist & electric keyboard artist. Bachelor of Music degree with major in Composition theory; minor in applied piano; minor in applied bassoon. Basirah worked extensively as concert jazz pianist with her own group as well as with Milt Larkin, Jimmy Ford, Kinney Abair, Conrad Johnson, Barrie Lee Hall, Rock Romano, Sylvester LeBlanc, Carolyn Blanchard, & Vicky Davis. She has had engagements with Arnett Cobb and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson and many other Houston area locals. Worked as theatre musical director, resident composer for City Ballet of Houston and composed for several other dance companies including Farrell Dyde's Theatre Dance Unlimited. She worked as copyist and musical score editor for renowned composer, Anthony Braxton. Artist in residence with Texas Institute for the Arts in Education. She worked as Basirah & Co. for 20 years, playing jazz festivals, concerts, hotels, restaurants and jazz venues such as Sambuca, Red Cat, Cezanne, Cody's and extended gigs at Paradise Bar and Grill, Tosca, St. Michel, and many others. She served 5 years as Executive Director for SumArts, Inc., which organized the Houston Jazz Festival and Juneteenth Blues Festival. Currently Basirah is working as composer/ songwriter to complete an album in progress, and developing a portfolio of songs in various idioms for the purpose of pursuing contracts with publishers, recording labels, movie & TV sound tracks, etc. Basirah has been with Writers in the Round for 5 years.

Joe Romano - Guitar - Bass - Harmonica

Joe is an actor, musician, composer and songwriter with 39 years of experience. Among many TV Shows, he was a writer for “Sesame Street”. His Children’s programs have been taught in schools and on stage across the country and he has released several children’s CD’s from his Non Toxic Band for children. He performs publicly In Houston area clubs with his wife Susan Elliott as the jazz duo, Mood Indigo, voted best jazz duo In Houston by the Houston Press. Joe teaches jazz with an emphasis on structure and music theory. He has been with WITR since 2001.

Bill Royall - Guitar – Bass – Drums – Camp songwriting – Linda Lowe’s Spotlight Series
Guitar - Summer Music Camp

Bill has been playing music for 20 years and has performed internationally. He is currently recording and performing with five bands. His first solo recording will be released this summer. Bill teaches classical, jazz, rock, and blues. He teaches with an emphasis on structure, music theory, rhythm and electric lead guitar. Bill Royall's background in music is diverse. His degree is in Psychology with a minor in Music from SHSU. He understands the importance of teaching foundational music concepts. He encourages the parents to take an active part in creating the best atmosphere for music in their house. He has a direct teaching style and helps his students to connect with others through music. Through carefully selected songs lessons focus on rhythm, reading literacy, practical theory, aural training (singing), flat pick/finger picking style, songwriting and performance. Students are encouraged to bring their favorite music to lessons also. Bill has been teaching full time for 10 years and performs regularly with the 60's and 70's cover act, Picture Book. They perform at mostly private events and parties but also play at Discovery Green, Central Market, Lights in the Heights, The Continental Club and Rudyard's. Bill also performs with a classic soul band, Mirror Image.

Erin Wright - Guitar - Bass - Songwriting Summer Music Camp

Erin started studying piano at six and guitar at fourteen. While she was studying jazz under the great jazz educator and pianist Shelton Berg at San
Jacinto College she began studying the bass violin. She also had the opportunity to study studio recording
techniques, music business, and perform with the internationally award winning big band that Shelly led. She performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall, and in Mexico City she toured as a good will ambassador. Erin later attended The University of Houston studying music composition with an emphasis in Jazz Studies. An in demand “bassist”, both electric and acoustic, Erin has Performed with countless bands and recording artists including Ray Charles. She is currently working as a lead jazz guitarist in a trio performing standard jazz and original compositions.

Gary Burgess - Guitar, Bass, Songwriting

Gary Burgess is an East Texas singer songwriter from the Beaumont and Longview area. He came to Houston when he was 22. Gary attended the Kilgore Jr. College and North Texas University where he performed on and off campus coffee houses. He worked with Sean Walters, Phil Freeman, Eric Taylor, Bob Neuwirth, Steve Young, Peter Case, Tom Russell, Steve Fromholz and Rock Romano. Numerous Performing Artists who currently tour throughout the United States have covered his songs.

Mike Viteri - Guitar, Bass, Songwriting

Clyde Adams - Drums - Percussion

Ashley Kozak - Classical Voice, Guitar, Songwriting

Ashley Kozak is the youngest member of Linda Lowe’s Women in the Round on the Road touring group. She was 16 years old when asked to join Linda on the road with Becky Smith, Carolyn Hester, Ann Armstrong, Selia Qynn, Carla Maywald, Ronnie Levine and Aura Lee Reoch to perform in this concert series and a Wilmington, NC film documentary entitled “Women in Music”. She finished her 6 song sampler produced by Linda and released it as an LP on that tour selling out of them. She has been a guitar/songwriting student of Linda’s since 2002. Ashley graduated in 2009 from Belmont University in Nashville, TN. This summer she was asked to join the Italian Opera in Italy. Ashley will be back in Houston teaching at WITR on Saturdays for our 20th anniversary season 2009 – 2010.

Music Camp Counselors: Student Teachers –TBA

LINDA LOWE
guitar, singing, songwriting, Kids in Concert performance group, microphone etiquette, Young Performing Artists, Women in the Round on the Road & WITR Main Stage Concerts

Linda is the founding Artistic Director of the Writers in the Round Concert series. She is a prolific poet/songwriter, producer, and recording artist who has released three books of poetry and six original albums which have won critical acclaim internationally. She won the 1984 Kerrville Folk festival with "Bahama Marna and Please Don't Run. Linda helped to launch concert series in Seaside, FL, Wilmington, NC, Little Rock, AR, Cotter, AR, Lafayette, IN, and Houston, Texas. She has hosted and performed in numerous radio and TV shows including Bob Hope's Telethon for the Healing, as well as in major concert venues across the country. She was the Music Designer for MST's production of "A Piece of my Heart" and the Assistant Producer/Director of Mid America Hot Springs National Parks production of Papa Bear Mama Bear". She has been teaching and performing for 35 years, and helps her students to record original albums, perform in concert and play music for the pure personal joy of it. Her teaching method is contemporary folk, rhythm, and blues, and she is well known for her finger-picking and laid-back, nurturing style. Linda helps kids to explore their creativity.

STEVE CARR
guitar, piano, and bass
Steve, who studied classical piano In his youth, started playing music with local rock bands. He has played nearly every city between Texas and Florida. Steve has recorded several albums, and worked on production and recording. His teaching method Includes pop-rock-Eagles-Beetles and the music of the 60's. His latest CD Includes a cut used In the Made for TV Movie entitled Last Call with Carson Daily aired on NBC

SUSAN ELLIOTT
Voice
Susan Elliott began her professional career in 1984 when she teamed guitarist Joe Romano to form the jazz duo Mood Indigo (named "Best Vocal Ensemble" in the 1992 Public News Reader's Poll). An award winning studio singer, her recordings for Silver Burdett and Ginn have been used in public school systems throughout the world. Susan believes that everyone can sing and that singing should always be a joyful experience; she teaches with an emphasis on sensitivity to the music, proper breathing and developing good listening and sight-singing skills.

AL PAGLIUSO
congas, percussion
Al Is one of the most versatile studio musicians In Houston. He was a teacher at the Shepherd School of Music and has performed In jazz clubs throughout the States. His expertise Includes Brazilian, Cuban, and jazz styles. He has played with Diane Warwick, Lou Rawls, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Joan Rivers and Calvin Owens (music director for B.S. King 0 to name a few. He has also performed with some of the top Brazilian recording artists and traveled through the middle east performing at music venues Including The Red Sea Jazz Festival.

MARY ANN WILLIS
Violin - special appointment only
Mary Ann wrote the book on violin - literally. She Is the author of seven books/ recording volumes of ethnic and classical music for Mel Bay Publications, as well as various articles for Strings, Strad, and American String Teachers magazines. Mary has played with numerous symphony orchestras throughout the United States, and has transcribed and studied recordings In Hungarian Gypsy, Romanian, Klezmer, Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, Czech, Scandinavian, Irish, Mexican, Texas Style, Old Time, Bluegrass, and Cajun styles.