Tryon Fine Arts Center presents Pan Harmonia, in the Peterson Amphitheater on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. The wild and eclectic trio, consisting of Flutist Kate Steinbeck, clarinetist Frederick Lemmons, and classical guitarist Amy Brucksch features the vibrant Latin music of Argentinian Alberto Ginastera, Brazilian choro master João Pernambuco, plus jazz-infused tunes by American Dana Wilson and Brit Mark Houghton with the Baroque beat of Georg Friedrich Handel thrown in for good measure.

Laura McDowell of web-based arts journal Classical Voice of North Carolina, calls the performance “… ravishingly beautiful… The music was suave and sensual, and a great crowd pleaser,” and goes on to say “… the jazz rhythms and arching lyricism were perfectly suited and was another highlight of the evening.”

Pan Harmonia is an artist-directed repertory company based in Asheville, bringing professional chamber music performances to audiences of all ages in diverse settings ranging from traditional concert halls to homeless shelters and prisons. Now in its 15th season, Pan Harmonia has been awarded grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the North Carolina Arts Council for its artistic excellence. It is a 501c3 non-profit corporation.

Flutist Kate Steinbeck has distinguished herself across the US and abroad as a unique interpreter, passionate teacher and innovative music producer. After moving to Asheville in 1997, she created Pan Harmonia and has produced hundreds of concerts. Kate has two critically acclaimed recordings: Light in the Corner (2004) with percussionist Byron Hedgepeth and Luminescence (2010) with guitarist Amy Brucksch and has also recorded on numerous CDs by other artists. She plays on a modern wooden flute manufactured by her husband, Chris Abell, of the Abell Flute Co. Kate has a Bachelor of Music from Baldwin-Wallace College and then won a Fulbright scholarship to Belgium, where she earned a First Prize in chamber music from the Royal Conservatory in Liège. After four years in Europe, Kate spent a decade free-lancing in San Francisco, and earned a Master’s degree from the San Francisco Conservatory.

Frederick Lemmons, clarinetist, has lived in Asheville since 2009 after serving 21 years with “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in Washington, DC. He performed at the White House for five US Presidents and traveled the United States and Europe in hundreds of concert performances with the band. His education includes a BS in Music Education from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (his hometown) and a Masters in Clarinet Performance from Louisiana State University where he also did Doctoral studies. He is presently the clarinet professor at Mars Hill University, and also performs with the Asheville Lyric Opera, Brevard Philharmonic and the Hendersonville Symphony.

Classical guitarist Amy Brucksch performs throughout the Southeast, celebrating the rich heritage of the classical guitar, and exploring musical connections with world-renowned musicians as diverse as Celtic fiddlers, Baroque harpsichordists and African percussionists. She has a highly regarded CD, Luminescence, with flutist Kate Steinbeck, and has played locally on the Greenville Symphony Spotlight Series, Brevard College, Wofford College Troubadour Series, and Anderson University. Formerly on the faculty of the University of Toledo and Adrian College, she was an Ohio Arts Council Touring Artist. Her music degrees are from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Bowling Green State University. She currently teaches classical guitar at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy and has a private studio at Wild Roots Fine Arts Center in Forest City. Amy lives in Tryon, NC and plays a guitar custom made for her by California luthier, Gregory Byers.

The program will move indoors in case of rain. Admission is by donation at the door. Concessions will be available for purchase. Please leave dogs and coolers at home. For a list of upcoming events at Tryon Fine Arts Center, visit www.tryonarts.org or call 828-859-8322.