Avanti Duos and Ensembles
Biography Back to Top
Kim Sopata, flute, has performed at the Kennedy Center, Symphony Space (NYC), the White House, the United Nations, and before HRH Queen Rania of Jordan. She received a B.M. in flute performance from Northwestern University and an M.A. in Ethnomusicology with an emphasis in Middle Eastern music from Bethel University in Minneapolis, MN She has performed with numerous ensembles including the Milwaukee, Elgin, and Charlotte Symphony Orchestras, and the South Carolina Philharmonic, Accio Musica Woodwind Quintet, and with guitarist James Baur as the Avanti Duo. She also regularly performs traditional Arabic music on the flute and Egyptian nāy across the U.S. with Hicham Chami and Karim Nagi Mohammed as the Mosaic Trio, and locally with the Chicago Classical Oriental Ensemble and Hamsa.
James Baur, guitar, is currently pursuing a doctorate in guitar performance from Northwestern University, where he also received his BM and MM. He is amember of the G-Force Quartet, a guitar quartet expressly devoted to new music. In 2000 he was selcted to perform on both the Chicago Classical Guitar Society’s Local Artist Showcase and The Friends of the Windows Second Saturday Concert Series. He was awarded First Prize Winner in Guitar in the 1998 Society of American Musicians Competition. He has performed at numerous masterclasses and concert series throughout Chicago and is on faculty at several area music schools.
Kara Bershad, harp. Kara’s studies include Eastman School of Music, Brown University, and the Paris Conservatory in Paris, France. Appearances with orchestra include numerous prestigious performances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra Hall in Chicago & Chicago Symphony Orchestra Concert Tour, Japan), Ravinia Festival Orchestra (Ravinia Park in Highland Park, Illinois), Symphony II (Lyric Opera Orchestra) & The Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra (Chicago’s Grant Park). In addition, Kara holds the position of principal harpist with the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra. Recent concert appearances include Johnny Mathis, Julie Andrews, The Moody Blues, and the band Kansas, to name a few. Broadway theatre performances include A Little Night Music (Goodman Theatre), Beauty and the Beast (Chicago Theatre), Carousel (Rosemont Theatre) and Showboat (Auditorium Theatre).Kara also has extensive recording studio experience. Among her credits are nationally recognized radio and television commercials for Princess Cruise Lines, Budweiser Beer, and McDonald’s Corporation.Her performances on harp can also be heard in the Hollywood film scores, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Home Alone II, and the Kodak Film documentary, Symphony.
Repertoire Back to Top
We have an extensive repertoire list, and can accomodate most requests. Please contact us for further details.
Availability Back to Top
Available for weddings, corporate events, concert series, residencies, etc. Normal Travel range is 50-mile radius from Chicago.