Karen Batten, Flute
Born and bred in Lower Hutt, Wellington, Karen completed
her first music degree at Victoria University where she
studied with Alexa Still. Karen then went on to complete
a Master of Music at the State University of New York at
Stony Brook. While living in New York, Karen studied with
several leading flutists and attended summer schools in
Florida and later, Banff, Canada.
Upon returning to Wellington, Karen has developed a varied
freelance career. She is Principal Flute for the Wellington
Vector Orchestra and frequently works with the New Zealand
Symphony Orchestra. Karen has also taught extensively throughout
the region and continues to teach privately and at one high
school. She was Principal Flute and Piccolo with the Central
Band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force for several years.
Chamber Music is a passion for Karen. She is a founding
member of the flute, clarinet and piano ensemble “Ethos”.
The ensemble has performed throughout New Zealand and has
commissioned works from New Zealand composers. In 2010 Karen
will be part of the “Elios Ensemble” (flute
and string quartet) which will tour for Chamber Music New
Zealand.
Madeline Sakofsky, Oboe
Born and raised in Auckland, Madeline Sakofsky began a Bachelor
of Music degree in 1992 at the University of Auckland which
she completed in Melbourne at the Victorian College of the
Arts three years later. During this time she studied oboe
with Stanley Jackson and with Anne Gilby.
In 1995 Madeline headed for Germany where she completed
two post-graduate diplomas in performance music, firstly
in Mannheim studying with Prof. Winfried Liebermann, and
then in Cologne with Prof. Christian Schneider. During this
time she played with many orchestras, including the Cologne
Chamber Orchestra, the Volkwang Chamber Orchestra in Essen,
and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Hagen.
Upon returning to New Zealand in 2000, Madeline took up
the position of Associate Principal Cor Anglais/Oboe in
the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, which she held until
moving to Wellington in 2009. She performs regularly with
the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Vector Wellington
Orchestra as well as chamber music with the Nikau Trio.
Margaret Guldborg,
Cello
A newcomer to New Zealand, cellist Margaret Guldborg is
originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United
States. As well as participating in various music festivals
such as Yellow Barn and Encore School for Strings, Margaret
studied at the Harid Music Conservatory for her Bachelor
of Music, and the New England Conservatory for her Masters
in Music.
Upon graduation, she and her husband moved to Denmark
where she won a job as Associate Assistant Principal Cellist
with the Odense Symphony Orchestra. From there she moved
to Malaysia and worked as a freelancer with the Malaysian
Philharmonic Orchestra and the Singapore Symphony.
In 2008, Margaret and her family moved to Wellington where
she is a casual player with various orchestras including
the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Vector Wellington
Orchestra. She is also a devoted music teacher and chamber
musician.
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