Anne La Berge is a pioneer flutist/composer, working since the late '70's with interactive computer systems, microtonality, improvisation and as a leading interpreter of contemporary chamber music. At the core of her work lies the sound that first gained her an international reputation, paving the way for a new, more physical approach to the flute: "The miracle of her sound technique is supported by, among other things, different lip-positions, attacks, ways of breathing, distance from the microphone-everything has been foreseen and elaborated," writes Muusika. "Her textures are often two-voiced. It is all so complicated that it defies description and yet it sounds very natural, like a bird's song." Entracte adds, "This next to, and often combined with, normal flute playing; her playing is fully virtuosic." Anne La Berge grew up in Minnesota, USA and has lived since 1989 in Amsterdam. She currently performs with David Dramm, Cor Fuhler, Gert Jan Prins, Anna McMichael and in numerous improvisation and chamber music projects in Europe and the US. In the fall of 2000 she toured the US with Gert-Jan Prins with their duo "United Noise Toys" and will be touring again in May 2001. Their CD has been released by X-OR on Tour (08). She can be heard in a range of settings from modern ballet music in the music theaters of Holland to improvised electronic music in the local squat buildings. In October 1999 she co-founded the series "kraakgeluiden in de binnenstad" for weekly electro-acoustic improvisatiion sessions in Amsterdam. This series has received national recognition for it's adventuresome programming. It has also received financial support for it's third year from the Dutch government for the 2001-2002 season. In the 2001 season she commissioned Anne Wellmer and Alison Isadora to compose solo works for her with interactive/improvised music and video. These works, Travelling barefoot and Native Tongue have toured Holland and will continue to receive performances in the next season. She commissioned and performed the Flute Concerto #1 by Hanna Kulenty with the Dutch ensemble, The Ereprijs, and performed her own works, The Freaks went to sea and Cross at festivals in Holland, Austria and the US. In November 2001 the city of Groningen, Holland is dedicating a week long festival called "anne around" to her recent projects, most of which involve interactive technology including powerbooks running MAX/MSP, LiSa, Imagine and the Clavia MicroModular. She is adviser for Brannen and Kingma flute companies, specifically for the development of extended-system flutes. Her repertoire is composed for these instruments. Her works and CD blow are published by Frog Peak Music. She has received regular funding for her projects from the Dutch Funds for the Performing Arts. An agenda of current performances and projects can be found at: www.annelaberge.com Peter Zummo (born 1948) has been composing for ensemble since 1967 and for trombone since 1971, in pursuit of the evolving boundary between music-making and brass culture. From 1975 to the present he has performed and recorded the work of composers including David Behrman, Barbara Benary, Rhys Chatham, Nick Didkovsky, David First, Jon Gibson, Daniel Goode, William Hellermann, Annea Lockwood, Jackson MacLow, Phill Niblock, Larry Polansky, Elizabeth Swados, Yasunao Tone, and Yoshi Wada. As a professor of music at Ohio Wesleyan University, he teaches in the New York Arts Program, a program of the Great Lakes Colleges Association. Since 1978, he has been Artistic Director of The Loris Bend Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit producer and presenter of music, dance, and media. He has taught master classes at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, the National Conservatory of Music, Tbilisi, and at colleges throughout the United States. Zummo received a B.A. with Honors in Music (1970) and an M.A. (1975) from Wesleyan University. Additional professional studies were with Stuart Dempster, James Fulkerson, Dick Griffin, Makanda Ken McIntyre, and Sam Rivers. He has been an Harvestworks ArtistinResidence and has received a New York Foundation for the Arts fellowship. Zummo received a Bessie award for Lateral Pass.http://www.myspace.com/peterzummo Xavier Verhelst is both a composer and musician, whose skills range from baroque to jazz. Next to freelance work for symphony and opera orchestras, baroque and contemporary music ensembles and leading his own 'virtually big band' The Mean Team he now explores the fringe of jazz with his Wofo combo. (cf. http://www.myspace.com/wofo) J D Parran's credits as a musician on the ground in New York as a clarinetist, saxophonist and flutist include Muhal Richard Abrams, Lena Horne, Leroy Jenkins, George E. Lewis, Douglas Ewart, Andrew Hill, Stevie Wonder, Anthony Braxton, The Band and many others. J D has appeared as soloist in Anthony Davis' chamber music, opera premieres and recordings (X: the life and times of Malcolm X) as well as Peroxide by Henry Threadgill commissioned by and premiered at Columbia University and the Miller Theater, Flexible Orchestra performing the music of Peter Zummo and as an original member of James Jabbo Ware's Me, We and Them Orchestra alongside musicians such as Cecil Bridgewater and the late Hilton Ruiz. Parran played bass saxophone with Cecil Taylor at the New York premiere of Taylor's composition, With Blazing Eyes and Open'd Mouth, commissioned by SoundVision Orchestra and also the Skopje Jazz Festival (Macedonia). He has appeared with Cecil's own orchestra for three recent engagements at Iridium. NYC. About J D Parran and Spirit Stage, the CD, Alvin Batiste writes: "J D has captured threads of expression that connect the diversity of diasporan idioms resonating in the African American experience, and has done so in a hip and urbane manner." Mr. Parran teaches at The Harlem School of the Arts and City University of New York (BMCC). Guy De Bièvre (b. Brussels, 1961) is a composer, musician, arranger, sound designer and sound art curator. As a composer/performer he focuses on experiments which combine computer, live electronics, acoustics and standard arrangement formats. He had works commissioned and/or performed by musicians such as Guy Klucevsek, Seth Josel, Anne La Berge, The Bozza Mansion Project, Annette Sachs, Zivatar Trio and various local and international organizations. As a performer next to his works, he collaborated with various composers and musicians such as Phill Niblock, Anne La Berge, Tom Hamilton, Ensemble Champ d'Action, and Peter Zummo. He curates the Earwitness sound art series at the CCNOA space in Brussels, and after working for various contemporary and experimental music related organisations (e.g. the Logos Foundation and the IPEM) and completing a two year research term at the Jan Van Eyck Academy in Maastricht he now freelances in various outfits and trades. www.guydebievre.org