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Guest Artist Moira Smiley

Underwritten by Susan Esco Chandler and Alfred D. Chandler

Ever belt out your favorite song in the car and think, “I wish I could do this with other people?” Here’s your chance! Special guest Moira Smiley, a GRAMMY®-nominated singer, composer, and educator, will lead us through an afternoon of music-making that’s as fun as it is freeing.

Think of this event as a musical gathering place where everyone is welcome and no preparation is required. Moira will guide you through simple vocal warmups that feel like games, folk songs that’ll get stuck in your head (in the best way), and gorgeous harmonies that you’ll help create. With a string quartet of New Mexico musicians adding their magic to the mix, you’ll be amazed at the sound we can all create.

All ages, all levels, all voices are welcome. That includes yours! Minors must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Seating will be available for all, with occasional invitations to stand as songs come together. We can’t wait to sing with you there!

Moira will be presenting a special concert following this workshop. Additional registration for this performance is required; more details coming soon.

SAT, APRIL 25 at 3:00 PM

Chatter ABQ
912 3rd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Presented in partnership with:

Moira Smiley

Guest Artist

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Moira Smiley Bio

Appearance sponsored by Susan Esco Chandler and Alfred D. Chandler

Moira Smiley is renowned for her mastery of the voice and ability to inspire singers of all levels. Moira is a celebrated educator, teaching at leading musical institutions and inspiring singers of all backgrounds. She’s published over 100 choral works that are sung by millions of singers worldwide. With a deep respect for the cultural roles of singing, Moira blends teaching, composing, and performing to empower communities and celebrate the transformative power of music.

Known for her rich voice and dynamic stage presence, Moira has collaborated with some of the most celebrated names in music, including Tune-Yards, Eric Whitacre, Chris Thile, Hilary Hahn, and Morten Lauridsen. As a member of Tune-Yards, she has performed on major platforms such as Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and the UK’s Later… with Jools Holland. Recently, she performed & recorded for Chris Thile’s project ‘Attention!’ and Laurie Anderson’s ARK.

David Felberg

Violin

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David Felberg Bio

Praised by The Santa Fe New Mexican for his “fluid phrases, rich focused tone, rhythmic precision, and spot-on intonation,” Violinist David Felberg, an Albuquerque native, is the Co-founder and artistic director of Chatter, a groundbreaking series exploring both new and old music, and producing and presenting over 130 performances per year. David plays in, and conducts, many of the shows—often presenting twentieth- and twenty-first-century pieces of music that have never before been heard in New Mexico. Chatter was recently mentioned in The New York Times in an article about curated silence, one of the main features of their performances. David is also Concertmaster of The Santa Fe Symphony, and performs with Santa Fe Pro Musica. He has been featured soloist with The Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra, New Mexico Philharmonic, New Mexico Symphony, Albuquerque Philharmonic, Los Alamos Symphony, Palo Alto Philharmonic, Balcones Orchestra, and the Chatter Orchestra. He has performed recitals and chamber music, all over New Mexico and the Southwest, and most recently has performed at the Oregon Bach Festival. David also specializes in contemporary solo violin music, having performed solo works of Berio, Boulez, Sciarrino, John Zorn, and Luigi Nono.

As a conductor, he has directed Santa Fe Pro Musica, New Mexico Philharmonic, The Santa Fe Symphony and Chatter, and has collaborated with such soloists as Anne-Marie McDermott, Rachel Barton Pine, Conor Hanick, and Benjamin Hochman. David, made his New York violin recital debut in Merkin Concert Hall in the spring of 2005. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree, in History, from the University of Arizona and a Master of Music degree in Conducting from the University of New Mexico, and has taken advanced string quartet studies at the University of Colorado with the Takacs Quartet. David has also attended the prestigious American Academy of Conducting at the Aspen Music Festival.

Laura Tait Chang

Violin

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Laura Tait Chang Bio

Violinist and violist Laura Chang, a native of Wisconsin, was born into a musical family, and began her violin studies shortly after her fourth birthday. Laura earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Peabody Conservatory, under the tutelage of Martin Beaver and Pamela Frank, for whom she was a graduate assistant.

Laura is an avid chamber and orchestral musician whose performances have taken her to venues across the US, Canada, and Europe. While a resident of Washington, DC, she was a member of the National Philharmonic, and the Maryland Symphony, the South Florida Symphony, and frequently performed as an extra with the major orchestras in the Baltimore/Washington metro area. More recently, she performed with the Colorado Symphony and the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. In 2020, Laura and her family relocated to Albuquerque, where she is the Principal Violist with the New Mexico Philharmonic, Assistant Principal violist in Santa Fe Pro Musica, and a first violinist in the Santa Fe Symphony. Laura is also performs regularly with the Santa Fe Opera.

Kimberly Fredenburgh

Viola

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Kimberly Fredenburgh Bio

Violist Kimberly Fredenburgh has been featured as a soloist across the United States, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, Canada, Portugal, Spain, Germany and Italy. She is Principal Violist of The Santa Fe Symphony, Santa Fe Promusica Chamber Orchestra, and is Assistant Principal of the New Mexico Philharmonic. She has performed many times with the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival and the Santa Fe Opera. Ms. Fredenburgh is Professor of Viola and Head of String Area at the University of New Mexico. She is a founder and co-director of the UNM Summer Music Institute chamber music festival and also teaches on the faculty at the Montecito International Music Festival and the Soundwaves Festival. She previously served on the faculty at Arizona State University while also performing as Associate Principal of the Phoenix Symphony for seven years. She was a principal violist in the New World Symphony (Miami, FL) under Michael Tilson Thomas. She has delivered papers and performed at national string conferences and viola congresses. Her interest in contemporary music has resulted in a large number of premiers of new works for her instrument.

Amy Huzjak

Cello

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Amy Huzjak Bio

Cellist Amy Huzjak lives in Albuquerque, NM and serves as Principal Cellist of the New Mexico Philharmonic. She also freelances throughout New Mexico and West Texas, and collaborates with other area organizations including Chatter ABQ, Opera Southwest, and the Santa Fe Symphony and Chorus. She is a founding member of Chaski Quartet, touring Colorado in August 2025.

Recent solo appearances include Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1 with the Midland-Odessa Symphony and Abilene Christian University Orchestra, the Adagio from the Dvorak Cello Concerto and Haydn C Major Concerto with the University of Texas-Permian Basin (UTPB) Philharmonic and duo recitals in Midland, Abilene, San Angelo, Dallas, and Levelland Texas.

Previously, Amy played with the Abilene Philharmonic and served as the Principal Cellist of the Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale (MOSC) for over a decade. An avid chamber musician, Amy was the cellist for the MOSC resident ensemble Permian Basin String Quartet (PBSQ) during her tenure as Principal Cellist, performing concerts and educational outreach throughout West Texas. PBSQ has recently performed in Abilene, San Angelo, Alpine, Seminole, Midland and Odessa Texas.

Before moving to Texas, Amy was the Principal Cellist of the Huntington (WV) Symphony Orchestra and played with several D.C area orchestras including the Fairfax (VA) Symphony Orchestra, Apollo Chamber Orchestra (MD), and the Prince William (VA) Symphony. She was a faculty member at the International School of Music in Bethesda, MD and had a private studio in College Park, MD.

A committed educator, Amy is a member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas and has a studio of over 25 students. She is sought after as a clinician and coach for middle and high school orchestras and chamber programs in New Mexico and West Texas. Previous posts include Adjunct Professor at University of Texas-Permian Basin, Angelo State University, University of New Mexico, Abilene Christian University, Hardin-Simmons University, Midland College, and Odessa College.

Amy’s mentors include David Teie, Thomas Landschoot, and Jenny Yopp. She holds MM in cello performance from University of Maryland and a BM Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University.

When not playing, Amy loves hiking and skiing in her native Colorado and travels around the world to hike with her dad. She is looking forward to exploring the Sandias and skiing in New Mexico. www.amyhuzjak.com

Thank You To Our Sponsors

Santa Fe Desert Chorale is supported in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and by the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional funding is provided by the County of Santa Fe Lodgers’ Tax, and the City of Santa Fe Arts and Culture Department and the 1% Lodgers’ Tax.