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About the Directors
VentiCordi
The New
Sound of Chamber Music in Maine
Directors
Kathleen McNerney & Dean Stein
Dean
Stein, Violin
 Violinist
Dean Arthur Stein,
has performed throughout the world in recital, with orchestras, chamber music
ensembles, and as soloist. This season’s highlights included a concerto
performance with the Maine Music Society and an invitation to travel to Seoul,
Korea, where he taught and performed in recital with pianist Jinho Kim.
Audiences throughout America have heard Mr. Stein through his past
performances as violinist with the DaPonte String Quartet. His work with the Quartet frequently
garnered critical acclaim, as in a DaPonte recording of which The Strad magazine wrote, “Dean Arthur Stein excels in the first violin’s improvisatory cadenza,
his fierce yet luxuriant tone setting the mood of bitter intensity.”
In
2003, Mr. Stein was invited to direct the Arcady Music Festival in Bar Harbor,
Maine. At Arcady, Mr. Stein performed in chamber ensembles, set the programming
for the internationally renowned artists he invited, and gave high priority to
educational programs, bringing musicians to schools to perform regularly for
Maine schoolchildren.
He also currently performs as violinist with the
Atlantic Piano Trio, concertmaster of the Maine Music Society, and enjoys a
violin/piano partnership with Pamela Mia Paul. His passion for the solo violin music of
Bach has resulted in many performances of Bach’s masterpieces, of which one
reviewer wrote, “Stein gave a superb and impressive performance of the unaccompanied
Chaconne from Bach’s Partita No. 2...”
A highly sought after teacher and clinician, Mr. Stein is on
the faculty of Bates College and has taught at New England Conservatory’s
Preparatory Division, Bowdoin College, University of North Carolina at
Greensboro, the University of
Maryland at College Park. and the New England Suzuki
Institute.
Kathleen McNerney, Oboe
Oboist Kathleen McNerney graduated from the Hartt School of Music, in Hartford Connecticut,
with a Bachelor of Music Performance, studying with world renowned soloist,
Humbert Lucarelli. Prior to moving to Maine, Kathleen lived in Los Angeles
for nineteen years. It was there at the University of Southern California
that she received her Master of Music in performance. During those years
Kathleen enjoyed a prolific and varied playing career, working in many regional
orchestras, playing all positions and appearing as soloist several times. In
2004, she premiered a commissioned piece for English horn, written for her, as a
long standing member of the Orchestra of St. Matthews. As the oboist for
two professional woodwind quintets, Calico Winds and Imbroglio, she has toured
the United States extensively. In 1999 Calico Winds was selected as a
semi-finalist for the Concert Artist Guild Competition. Additional playing
experience includes orchestral, chamber, recording, opera, ballet and musical
theatre. Some of Kathleen's favorite work while in Los Angeles, was
playing for silent movies and with local pop
artists.
While in California, Kathleen held teaching positions at
Azusa Pacific University, La Sierra University and Glendale Community College.
Currently she teaches at Bowdoin and Bates Colleges and privately. Since
moving to Maine, Kathleen has performed with many New England and Maine based
orchestras such as the Portland Symphony, Maine Music Society, New Hampshire
Symphony, New Hampshire Bach Festival and New Hampshire Summer Music
Festival.
Kathleen has recently been appointed personnel manager
of the Portland Symphony Orchestra.
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