Margaret Martin Kvamme has been described in The American Organist as "a solid performer with ample technical facility and fine musicianship". The American Record Guide has called her "intelligent and especially sensitive to the lyrical qualities of the music." Margaret Kvamme was named first-prize winner of the 1993 Naples International Organ Festival Competition in Florida. Solo organ engagements have taken her throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, the Central California Coast, to her native Ontario, Canada, and also to Michigan, New York, and Arizona. She has appeared on the "Distinguished Women at the Console" series in Akron, Ohio, was featured as solo artist with the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival, and has been heard several times on Pipedreams. Ms. Kvamme has been a workshop presenter at AGO chapter events and the Region IX convention in Sacramento. Also a conductor, Ms. Kvamme was formerly Director of the Concert Choir at the University of California at Santa Cruz and Director of Choral Activities at Marygrove College in Detroit. She has served Episcopal and Protestant churches as organist and music director. Ms. Kvamme is an honors graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, holds the Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, and Master of Music degrees in Organ Performance and Choral Conducting from the University of Michigan. Her principal organ teachers have been David Craighead, Robert Glasgow, David Higgs, and David Palmer. Her debut solo album, Sevenfold Gifts, was released by the Albany label in 2007 and was recorded on the 1898 Felgemaker organ at Holy Cross Church in Santa Cruz. The American Record Guide called the recording "... beautifully [played] by a sensitive and creative artist" and "an interesting program well played on an exquisite instrument". Currently Ms. Kvamme is active as a private teacher and freelance organist, serving the Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos as Associate Organist.

While in her 30-year career Seattle-based Ms. Harned sang often for that Opera, Symphony and Ballet, she ranged from Vancouver through Portland, San Francisco, San Diego, and Houston to Mexico City's Opèra de Bellas Artes. In leading roles--including Verdi's Lady Macbeth and Azucena, Moore's Augusta Tabor, Amahl's Mother--she won critics' acclaim. Her featured roles (like Nicklausse, Hoffman; Orlovsky, Fledermaus; 2nd Lady, Zauberflöte) and even supporting roles (such as Olga Olsen, Street Scene; Contessa de Coigny, Andrea Chènier) also met praise. She sang 27 complete cycles of Wagner's Ring in Seattle's renowned Festival as Rhinemaiden Wellgunde; Valkyries Siegrune, Waltraute; and Norn 2. With symphonies, her roles ranged from mezzo and alto solos in Bach's B minor Mass (Alaska) to Soprano 2 solos in Mozart's Davidde Penitente (Seattle), including many Messiahs. She appeared as well in theatre, e.g. Seattle Repertory. Recitals in Panama, Japan, Pittsburgh, and the Northwest filled out Ms. Harned's career. In 1999, semi-retired from music, she relocated to San Josè. She soon met Ms. Kvamme with whom she has worked often since as singer and narrator.

For information:
http://www.broadspectrumonline.com/BroadSpecMusic/indexmusic.html

(photo courtesy of Roger Kelley Photography)