Sarah McQuaid’s lush, velvety voice combines with her engaging personality and “brilliant musicianship” (fRoots) on acoustic and electric guitars, keyboards and (occasionally) drum to create a truly immersive experience. Her live performances are full of warmth, wit, and intimacy, and have earned her loyal followings on both sides of the Atlantic.

Born in Spain, raised in Chicago, holding dual Irish and American citizenship and now settled in rural England, she brings the eclecticism of her background to her “captivating, unorthodox songwriting” (PopMatters) and choice of material. From contemplative ballads to playful blues to atmospheric instrumentals, Sarah’s music invites reflection, connection, and a deep appreciation of the quiet power of a well-crafted song.

California singer/songwriter Claudia Russell and her trusty sidekick Bruce Kaplan traverse a wide Americana landscape, stopping at wondrous musical landmarks along the way, tipping their hat to string bands, blues divas, jazz cats, Village folkies, Bakersfield cowboys and Laurel Canyon troubadours. Driven by Claudia’s expressive voice and distinctive guitar style, it all comes together beautifully.

Claudia has a knack for crafting tightly written songs that carry you to the sweet spots of life. Bruce’s melodic accompaniment, on mandolin and electric guitar, is spot-on. All of this is served up with a generous helping of homespun humor and shaggy-dog stories, making for a heartfelt, humorous show of deeply engaging music.

The C-O-X Trio is comprised of Rochester musicians violinist Kathleen Covalt, cellist John Osborn, and pianist Tianyao Xie. Kathleen Covalt, violin, is a passionate chamber musician and has performed in venues across the United States and in Europe. Kathleen played first violin with the Rochester Symphony Orchestra for a decade. Dr. Tianyao Xie is a pianist with D.M.A. and M.M. degrees in piano performance from Boston University, where she studied under Pavel Nersessian and Boaz Sharon. She currently works as a concert pianist and a private piano teacher. John Osborn works as the Operations Manager in the Department of Surgery at the Mayo Clinic. He studied poly/sci at Notre Dame, then headed to the London School of Economics to focus on decision science. But his beloved cello always held a special place in his life. He wishes now he'd double-majored in music, but lugging the cello around - even leaving it in the dorm unattended - was daunting. That's not to say John doesn't play now. He plays up a storm. He plays with the Rochester Symphony and makes his stand partner jealous with all the chamber music he's explored.

The Dakotah Boyz are a traditional Native American powwow drum group that frequently performs at community events, cultural gatherings, and school celebrations in Rochester, Minnesota.

Celebrated for its artistry, virtuosity, and exquisitely blended sound, the ANCIA Saxophone Quartet has delighted audiences throughout North America, Europe, and Asia for more than a quarter century. Dedicated to creating and performing new works for saxophone quartet, ANCIA collaborates with composers to premiere, perform, and record the music of our time.