Sunday, August

Jena studied voice at Eastman Conservatory of Music and Canisius College. She also received vocal guidance from Evans Mirageas, artistic director of the Cincinnati Opera, and Giovanni Reggioli, past artistic director of the Washington National Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. Jena is the recipient of the Andy Anselmo Scholarship, and awarded first place in voice for New York State and Eastern United States by the MTNA, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and Eastman Advanced Performance, and has been featured in Classical Singer magazine. Jena was the soloist in the documentaries “Building a Basilica” and “Proving Holiness,” which aired on national and international television. She was a featured singer in “Life Is A Cabaret” at Kleinhans Music Hall and with the Camerata di Sant’ Antonio. Jena is an alumna and past featured soloist of the Canisius Chorale, Chromatic Club, Eastman Rep Singers, and Rochester University Women’s Chorus. She is the featured singer for St. Joseph’s Cathedral and the Buffalo Bisons, and has performed for numerous organizations including Make-A-Wish Foundation, Lewiston Council of the Arts, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, and WCHOB. ArtVoice claimed her portrayal of Musetta in Nickel City Opera’s La Boheme, to be “excellent….her light soprano voice is beautiful.” Buffalo Rising praised Jena in the role of Barbarina, Nickel City Opera’s Le Nozze di Figaro, saying her “voice and demeanor were perfect for the role,” and the Buffalo News further stated her performance was “girlish and engaging.” In June 2016, Jena portrayed the role of Melodie Jones in Nickel City Opera’s world premiere of SHOT! at Shea’s. Jena has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, Summa Cum Laude, in Music, a minor in Women Studies, and Master of Science degree in Anatomy. She is a Professor at ECC in their Biology department. Jena also owns the Music Academy of WNY, a local acclaimed music studio, where she teaches voice, piano, four Show Choirs, and directs five musical productions a year.

Jacek Muzyk, French horn

Jacek Muzyk, born in Krakow, Poland, began to study French horn at the age of 18 and graduated with a master’s degree from the Academy of Music in Krakow. Muzyk earned his second master’s degree at the Mannes College of Music in New York City studying under David Jolley. He continued his education at the Juilliard School of Music under William Purvis and at Rice University in Houston, Texas under William VerMeulen. Then, Muzyk returned to Poland and worked full time with the best Polish orchestras, including Sinfonia Varsovia, the National Philharmonic of Warsaw,