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ABOUT US

OUR

STORY

Cont'd
from Home Page

 

This increase in performers created a more balanced instrumentation. Therefore, the group was able to tackle some ambitious musical selections including, Alice in Wonderland, The Lion King, Themes from La La Land, and Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony. Although our 2020 performance was scheduled for that May, by mid-March, the orchestra members felt it would be unwise to continue meeting in-person due to the pandemic. Sadly, the performance had to be canceled. We brainstormed several possibilities to sustain the orchestra's vigor and unity. Several musicians offered their video and online media expertise to create a Zoom performance for family and friends to safely enjoy at home. Thus, during COVID, AMFN produced two virtual concerts for all to enjoy.

Flute Grungy

PERFORMANCES

OUR

CONCERTS

Since 2017 AMFN has put on live shows for friends and family in community theaters. During COVID restrictions we successfully delivered live zoom concerts with prerecorded music.

MEET OUR MUSICIANS

STRINGS

VIOLIN, VIOLA, CELLO

Ann Miller

Cellist

Michael Paul Miller

Cellist

Gerry Raynor

Violinist

Violinist Emerita, Gerry Raynor, One of AMFN's most talented and treasured Violinist's since its inception in 2003 - 2023. She showed her first interest in music when she was in the fifth grade. Her curiosity about music and instruments resulted in her trying piano, voice, flute and violin. After completing her studies at Ithaca
College for Music Education, Gerry became a public school music teacher and gave private lessons, as well.

Gerry was one of the first musicians to become a part of the orchestra in
2013. Since then, she’s rarely missed a rehearsal, in spite of traveling 100 miles
round trip to attend. Gerry feels music is a gift from Almighty God, and she
says she loves being a part of A Measure for Nothing

Brenda Lawrinet

Violinist

Brenda’s deep love of music was inspired by her mother Elizabeth who, from the beginning, played and sang a variety of music in the home. It was her mother who encouraged her to learn an instrument. She began to study the viola when she was eleven. She played with the school orchestra for two short
years when the school’s string program was canceled.

Thirty four years would pass before she would pick up an instrument again. At that time it was her daughter-in-law Jessica who inspired her to begin to teach herself the violin. She and a small group of friends began to meet to share their love of music. That’s when A Measure for Nothing was born. Since that time the group has expanded, and Brenda has enjoyed the privilege of harmonizing in song with saxophone player Mark Slaver at performances.

Brenda delights in the opportunity to create a beautiful sound with family and friends who love the Creator’s wonderful gift of music as she does. She aspires to continue to study and improve her abilities and enjoy this wonderful gift forever.

Meagan/Megan Reed

Violinist

Gretchen Resendes

Violist

The youngest of a family of 10 children, Gretchen grew up in a music-loving household, and started playing the viola in the third grade. Why the viola? Simply put, she had little choice in the matter – Mom already had two violinists and a cellist, and a viola was needed to make a string quartet! School years included countless lessons, music camp, and many happy hours (and memories) spent in local orchestras, including the Empire State Youth Orchestra and a small orchestra which often rehearsed in the family living room.
After a long break, Gretchen is grateful to have discovered A Measure for Nothing, which provided both the encouragement and the opportunity to play again.

Gwen Elliott

Violist

Gwen’s first exposure to viola was in fourth grade. Currently, she continues
to play with her high school orchestra.
Gwen learned about A Measure for Nothing when a friend encouraged her to
join! She became a member of the orchestra in 2019 and was preparing a duet
for the 2020 concert that was canceled due to the pandemic.

Gwen enjoys playing with the orchestra because she loves playing with a
group and hearing how every part of the music just comes together so nicely.

YOUR CONTRIBUTION RESOUNDS

BECOME A AMFN PATRON

AMFN is a non-for-profit music group creating a platform for those who enjoy playing music together. Our concerts are free and designed to be enjoyed by friends and family. We appreciate donations from AMFN musicians and all supporters.

CONDUCTORS & GROUP LEADS

Melissa Wasko

Bass clarinet / Harpist /Organizer

Shirley Kusek

Conductor / Tenor Sax / Harpist

Brenda Kambeitz

Flautist / Assistant Conductor

WOODWINDS & BRASS

Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Ocarina,Trombone, Trumpet

Melissa Wasko

Bass clarinet / Harpist /Organizer

Melissa Wasko, Harpist, began playing the harp when she was 5 years old—at her father’s request. From a very young age, music was a part of life. Original games and songs were the basis for learning about famous people and important life lessons. Melissa became an excellent team player in a family that often hosted multi-generational activities involving music.

From 2012 until 2018, Melissa and her husband hosted the orchestra in their home once a month. When the group outgrew their living room, the orchestra moved to a more spacious rehearsal space at Fulton-Montgomery Community College. Besides playing the harp, Melissa has taken charge of moving instruments and sound equipment, arranging chairs and music stands, copying and handing out music, communicating with participants, and much more.

Bonnie Graf

Clarinetist

Kris Fiddler

Clarinetist

Shirley Kusek

Conductor / Tenor Sax / Harpist

Shirley Kusek, Conductor, had already been involved in playing saxophone and bassoon in school and running a dance studio when she began studying harp at the Schenectady Conservatory of Music. Thereafter, playing harp at weddings, conventions, and recording sessions eclipsed other musical endeavors.

When she wasn’t playing the harp, Shirley was carving wooden signs, painting landscapes, organizing children’s events, and writing songs. In 1995, writing for fun turned into more than 20 years of developing educational lessons, activities, books, songs, and videos.

Kayla Deats

Flautist

Madeline Deats

Flautist

Sandy Faulkner

Flautist

Julie Deden

Flautist / Admin Assistant

Julie began playing the flute as a 6th grader and continued all through high school.
In recent years, Julie’s appreciation for music led her to picking up her flute again. She learned a great variety of music and observed the process involved in composing, arranging and recording orchestral music. This has inspired her to give music a more prominent place in her life.


Brenda Kambeitz

Flautist / Assistant Conductor

Music has been an integral part of Brenda’s life since infancy. Her music-loving parents wisely trained her from a very young age to appreciate this gift from God and to use it properly. As a preschooler, Brenda began to explore musical instruments, starting with oboe, flute, xylophone, and drums. As she grew up, her family was frequently involved with activities that included music and musicians.


Music was put on the back burner during the time Brenda and her husband, Tony, were raising their four children. The family was living outside the US when A Measure for Nothing was just taking root in 2011. Nevertheless, Brenda often connected by Skype to play along with those early practice sessions. Brenda likes challenges and has become skilled at decoding complex rhythm patterns in music. She now enjoys being one of the eight flutists in the ensemble. Brenda says she loves music because it defies evolution, gives voice to the heart, and praises its originator.

Lori Wisenburn

French Hornist

Rodis Diaz

Trombonist

Marcus Zavala

Trumpeter

Marcus had little choice but to play the trumpet, as all firstborn men in his
family had played it for 4 generations. He started playing at 6 yrs. old,
reluctantly, as he wanted to play the saxophone. But in obedience to his father
he pursued the trumpet, and soon grew fond of it.
Through the years, he came to appreciate all aspects of trumpet playing, with
special attention to Jazz, Classical, and Latin musical styles. In his early adult
life, he had the opportunity to play and sing with Mariachis throughout the
Southwest of the US, and with several classical ensembles. Circumstances
changed however, and he decided to focus on other priorities, removing
himself from his exposure to music.
Once he and his family moved to New York, after not playing the trumpet for
some 20 years, his wife Jessica mentioned how much he missed playing to
Gerry Raynor (a member of A Measure for Nothing) who encouraged him to
join the group. Since then, Marcus has enjoyed the work of renewing his
‘chops’ and the association that being with other musicians brings, as well as
helping his two children, Elias and Sophia, to enjoy the gift of making music.

SUPPORT TEAM

Assistant,A/AV Technical

Yvonne Kambeitz

Cheerleader

Yvonne brings the sunshine. Participating in a group can be intimidating. Yvonne's inviting presence, positivity, and gift ideas always keeps the team on a high note.

Ruth Hurtt

Website Designer

Ruth was a violinist with AMFN in 2019-2021. She now continues as an enthusiast of the group supporting in a technical role. She continues to play whenever she gets the chance.

Julie Deden

Flautist / Admin Assistant

In addition to being one of the groups flautists, Julie spearheads as assistant organizer and website co-editor. Many hands make the load light.

Piano, Harp & Percussion

Piano, Keyboard, Harp, Drums

Darien Williams

Drummer

Angeline Schell

Keyboardist

Jeannette Carman

Percussionist / Support

Oxana Ignatova

Pianist

Oxana began studying piano at Sergei Prokofiev Musical School in Moscow, at the age of 6. After her graduation in 2009, she continued her studies at Sergey Prokofiev Musical Academy, graduating from the Academy in 2014. Oxana has performed in numerous solo piano concerts as well as the 2008 Olympiads. Recently Oxana has been employed as a piano instructor and continues as both a soloist and orchestra member of A Measure for Nothing music ensemble. Playing with an orchestra was a new experience for Oxana, but she has come to love it and has become an invaluable asset to the group.
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