The Capitol Ensemble

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Capitol Ensemble

The Capitol Ensemble is a unique group of musicians dedicated to the performance of an eclectic range of repertoire from baroque to the twenty-first century. Among Los Angeles' finest instrumentalists, the members have collaborated with some of the world's most renowned artists, including Mstislav Rostropovich, Sir Neville Marriner, Michael Tilson Thomas, Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Janos Starker, and Leonard Bernstein.

The ensemble has given live broadcasts on National Public radio, and premiered and recorded new works by several California composers.

They are in frequent demand, appearing regularly in L.A.'s concert halls and recording stages, and teaching at Southern California universities. They also perform as soloists and chamber musicians in many international festivals.

As Ensemble-in-Residence for the Sundays Live radio broadcasts, they are also featured on the programs theme music.

Andrew Duckles

Canadian-born violist Andrew Duckles enjoys a diverse musical life as a recording artist, chamber musician, soloist and teacher. From a very tall family of musicians, Andrew is the "runt" of the Duckles family, standing at a meager 6'4". Formerly principal viola of the Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet orchestras, Mr. Duckles has made guest appearances as principal viola of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Long Beach Symphony and the New West Symphony. From 1999 to 2002, Andrew spent three seasons performing, recording, and touring with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. An enthusiastic chamber musician, Mr. Duckles appears regularly as a guest artist on a number of chamber music series throughout the United States and Europe and shares the stage frequently with the Alexander String Quartet. Andrew teaches viola and chamber music at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB).

As a recording artist, Mr. Duckles is featured on a number of studio albums, television and motion picture soundtracks. Andrew has been featured as a performer on television programs such as Saturday Night Live, The American Music Awards, The Grammys and the Tonight Show. Andrew has degrees from both the Eastman School of Music and the New England Conservatory and is still working hard to pay back the small fortune he borrowed to pay for his musical education. His hobbies include cartooning, following international soccer and collecting great music. Andrew is married to culinary genius, master educator and French horn player extraordinaire Laura Strand. Together they live in Belmont Shore, California with their two sons.

Julie Gigante

Since her Carnegie Hall debut, Ms. Gigante has been in demand as a chamber musician, soloist, and recording artist. Her solo appearances include performances with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Opus Chamber Orchestra, National Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, New York String Orchestra, Music Academy Festival Orchestra, and the Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax symphonies in Virginia. She was also selected to perform on the "Young Artists Series" on the New York City radio station WQXR.

Ms. Gigante, born into a musical family, began her training at the age of five. She graduated from the Eastman School of Music with a Bachelor of Music Degree as well as the prestigious Performer's Certificate. She is an active chamber musician and her former piano trio was the first place prize winner at the Coleman Chamber Music Competition in Pasadena, California.

Previously a member of the Rochester Philharmonic, she was also assistant concertmaster of the Phoenix Symphony, concertmaster of the Festival Orchestra at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, and concertmaster of the Opus Chamber Orchestra in Los Angeles. Now residing in Los Angeles with her husband and two children, Ms. Gigante is a member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and a founding member of both the Angeli Duo and the Capitol Ensemble. She is also currently active in the motion picture and recording industry, having performed on hundreds of movie scores, records and CDs.

Phillip Levy

Hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as the top classical performer of 1995, Phillip Levy has received worldwide critical acclaim at festivals that include Spoleto, Bayreuth, Edinburgh, Israel, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Ojai, Seattle and Aspen.

"Powerful playing, the warmth of his sound and consistently clear interpretive ideas.. clean articulation, appealing tasteful and confident sense of style.. taking no aspect of music at face value" (London Telegraph)

Mr. Levy is the recipient of many prestigious awards and prizes including the International Chamber Music Competition, Florence, Italy; The Royal Overseas League, England; The Myra Hess Trust, Welsh Arts Council, American Israel Cultural Foundation and Rubin Academy Violin Competition, Israel.

His collaborations have included such artists as Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Iona Brown, Sir Neville Marriner, Dawn Upshaw, John O'Connor and Ralf Gothoni. He has also premiered and recorded new works by composers William Bolcom, Henri Lazarof , Donald Crocket and John Harbison.

Born In Cardiff, Wales, he received his musical training in Israel and Europe. Upon returning to England he joined the English Chamber Orchestra and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, with whom he also appeared as soloist. He led the London based Locrian and Amphion String Quartets and was subsequently invited to give a performance of Bartok's Violin Duos on a BBC television broadcast with Sir Yehudi Menuhin.

Concertmaster of The Monterey Symphony Orchestra for six seasons he frequently appeared with them as soloist and conductor. He has also been the principal violinist of the Apple Hill Chamber Players and currently leads the Capitol Ensemble, Artists in residence for the Los Angeles County Museum's Sunday's Live radio broadcasts.

His numerous solo performances have been broadcast on Israel Television and Radio, NPR and the BBC.

As a dedicated pedagogue, Mr. Levy is in demand teaching at festivals throughout the world. For eight years he held a Senior Lectureship in violin and chamber music at Stanford University and led the Stanford String Quartet with whom he performed and recorded extensively. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Mr. Levy is on the faculty at California State University Long Beach.

David Low

David Low studied at the Juilliard School where he received his Bachelors and Masters of Music in cello performance as a student of Harvey Shapiro. He has served as principle cello of the New World Symphony, Ventura Symphony and the Julliard Orchestra. He has recorded chamber music on Harmonie Mundi and Sony records. Mr Low is currently a recording musician and music contractor in the film industry. He lives in Pacific Palisades with his two children, Asher and Dahlia.