About the Conductor
Originally from Fairbanks, Alaska, composer, conductor, percussionist Cayenna Ponchione has made her home in Alpine, New York. A graduate of the University of Alaska-Fairbanks and Ithaca College she has received Masters degrees in both instrumental conducting and percussion performance. She currently serves as the music director for the Binghamton Community Orchestra, the Ithaca Community Orchestra and the GrassRoots Festival Chamber Orchestra. Her percussion ensemble work “The Creation†won the 2003 Percussive Arts Society Composition Contest and, in addition to her other works for percussion, has been performed throughout the country. A recent commission from marimbist Gilmar Goulart is scheduled for performance in Brazil in October 2006. As a percussionist Ms. Ponchione has been a soloist with the Ithaca College Chamber Orchestra, Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra and the University of Alaska Wind Ensemble and currently maintains an active performing career. She currently serves as the director of Tabula Rasa, a new music organization that is dedicated to the performance of local composers works, the secretary of the Zeltsman Marimba Festival and on the board of directors of the Tompkins County Center for Cultural and Performing Arts.