Get ready for an unforgettable holiday experience.

A Choral Octet, harp, flute and piano united in a beautiful and intimate space to share some Traditional Christmas Classics from Europe and the Americas as well as some choral masterpieces by Vivaldi and Handel. A fun Christmas Sing-Along followed the performance.

Click here to watch footage of the full concert.

The Performers

Hamilton Gutiérrez, Artistic Director and Pianist

Hamilton Gutierrez has lent his musical abilities to various festivals, regional choirs and special events as classical pianist and arranger. Currently, he is the President of HG Piano Studio, providing piano lessons for people ages 4 and up. He is also the Music Director and St. Dominic Catholic Church and Palm Springs United Methodist Church. Mr. Gutierrez remains active as singer in choirs, festivals and as a pianist, accompanist and musical arranger. He continues to attend music workshops and master classes to grow as a musician and instructor. For more information about Hamilton, please visit http://www.hgpiano.com.

Deborah Fleisher, Harpist

Deborah Fleisher began harp studies with her grandmother, Nettie Druzinsky, at the age of seven.  A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, she received an Artist Diploma from the Peabody Institute and performed at the Marlboro Music Festival.  She was the harpist of the Baltimore Opera and Wilmington Symphony and she has performed with the Mineria Orquesta de Mexico, Sinfonica Nacional de Santo Domingo, and Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Bolivia.  In a return appearance to Baltimore, Ms. Fleisher will play with Concert Artists of Baltimore.  She is currently the harpist of Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet, and the Florida Classical Orquestra.  She teaches at Florida International University in addition to her private studio. For more information about Deborah, please visit www.deborahfleisher.com 

Cassandra Rondinelli Eisenreich, Flautist

Cassandra Rondinelli Eisenreich is currently the Flute Professor at Barry University and a Mancini Fellow and Flute Teaching Assistant at the University of Miami Frost School of Music where she is a DMA candidate in Flute Performance. Cassandra has performed and presented at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels.  She has performed regularly with the Florida Grand Opera and the Walenstein Symphony Orchestra and has performed with orchestras including the Pittsburgh Symphony.  Cassandra was awarded the Co-op Press Recording Grant and will have her debut CD released in 2012 on the Emeritus Label. For more information about Cassandra, please visit http://www.CassandraRondinelli.com.

Joanne Martinez Von Gonten, Soprano

Mrs. Von Gonten was born in New Orleans and has been performing since the age of four, starting as a violinist, and later studying voice.  She has performed throughout the United States and internationally, including roles with Florida Grand Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Treasure Coast Opera Society and Sociedad ProArte Grateli.  She has performed with Placido Domingo, Aprile Millo, Diana Soviero, Maestro Anton Guadagno and with drummer Duffy Jackson.  She currently performs classical, operatic, jazz and sacred repertoire throughout South Florida and beyond, but hangs her hat in Homestead, FL.

Ana María Villazón, Soprano

Ana María Villazón has performed professionally with many musical organizations throughout South Florida, including:  Seraphim Vocal Ensemble, the Archdiocesan Choir, Continuum Vocal Ensemble, and the Florida Grand Opera. Ms. Villazón has also served as music director and soloist for various churches throughout South Florida. She has performed comprisario roles with the Florida Grand Opera and in various musical productions in Spain.  She is presently directing and teaching music at Bridgepoint Preparatory in Miami and is currently working on a recording project with Archdiocesan composers.  In addition, she is an accomplished pianist with an established piano studio.

Linda Deighan, Mezzo-soprano

Linda Deighan has participated in many performing groups since childhood. After studying music at Miami Dade, she transfered to FIU where she received a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education, but continued performing with the FIU Concert and Pep Bands. She was hired by Miami Dade Public Schools to teach the core subjects, but felt the need to continue pursuing development in the field of music. She restarted private voice lessons and participated in college programs. Shortly thereafter, she auditioned for the Greater Miami Opera, currently known as the Florida Grand Opera, and was hired. She is a Regular Chorister and sings mezzo-soprano. Linda Deighan also has performed with local ensembles such as Seraphim, Miami Collegium Musicum, and Continuum. Although she worships and sings at Kendall Presbyterian Church, Miss Deighan continues to sing and play instruments with other church choirs.

Idalia M. Gonzalez, Mezzo-soprano

Idalia has a Music Education Degree from Miami-Dade College, a B.A. in Religious Studies, and an M.S. in Guidance & Counseling. She has been a Music/Liturgy Director at St. Dominic Catholic Church for several years, playing guitar and singing for the English & Spanish Liturgies. To further her musical formation, she studies voice at Sheila Barish Studios, and participates in a Madrigal group.

Michael Clossey, Tenor

Michael, age 20, is a vocal performance major at Florida Atlantic University studying the operatic and choral voice at the Junior level. He has spent the majority of his education in the arts and was a six year member of the Orlando Deanery Boychoir at the Cathedral Church of St. Lukes in Orlando Florida prior to his collegiate education. Michael was a regular cantor at Annunciation Catholic church, and currently holds a position as a cantor and scholar member at The Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola.

Leo Williams, Tenor

Leo (23), an Operatic tenor of West Palm Beach, focusing studies in Voice performance and Linguistics throughout his collegiate career, is also well versed and recognized in Dance and Theatrical Arts. He currently works as a Cantor and Schola at the St. Ignatius cathedral; a staffed soloist at the Unity of Delray Beach; a performing Operatic Young Artist; and finally, a Choreographer and instructor of dance, voice and piano at the Academy of Dance Music and Theatre (Palm Beach). Currently singing opera scenes Concert in the role of the Duke of Mantua, (Rigoletto).

Dionisio Martinez, Bass-baritone

Bass/ Baritone from Caracas Venezuela, Dionisio has been performing locally since the early 90’s in various organizations including Seraphim Vocal Ensemble, Continuum Vocal Ensemble, The Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, Florida Grand Opera, Miami Lyric Opera, as well as singing services at various churches throughout South Florida. He is currently Director of Choirs for Miami Coral Park Senior High school and Founding member of Continuum Vocal Ensemble.

Lloyd Reshard Jr., Bass-baritone

A staple in the South Florida music scene, Lloyd Reshard Jr. has been singing and residing in Dade county since 2001. With a degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Miami’s Philip and Patricia Frost School of Music, he has performed as a featured soloist With MasterWorks Chorale of West Palm Beach, Naples Opera Guild, Naples Bach Ensemble, and more. His opera roles include Sarastro, the Mikado, Dr. Grenvil and Dulcamara to name a few. In addition, he is a soloist in oratorios and masses such as, Messiah, Mass of the Children, Schubert’s Mass in G, Dixit Dominus, Mozart’s Requiem and Saint-Saens Christmas Oratorio. 6 seasons in, Lloyd has also been a frequent singer with Florida Grand Opera Chorus working under John Keene, Richard Bonynge, Ramon Tebar, and Doug K. Frost. Currently, Lloyd teaches voice privately and sings weekly at St. John.