MUSICIANS
DANIEL SPERRY
Daniel Sperry is a cellist, composer, spoken-word artist, street musician and community artist, living in Ashland, Oregon. You can follow him at danielaustinsperry.com. He’s also the founder and director of Beautiful Music In The Park. He’s the creator of five albums of instrumental music, featuring his “musical portraits” - pieces composed for individuals as a touchstone for an occasion or passage in people’s lives. He also created three albums of spoken word with musical landscapes, featuring the poetry of Rumi, Kabir, William Stafford, Naomi Shihab Nye, among others, as well as his own work. He spends many hours during the warm season playing his cello in Lithia Park, and in the winter time composing music for people and for movie soundtracks. Daniel grew up in a musical household, first studying with his mother, also a cellist, and later with the Principal Cellist of the London Symphony, Nelson Cooke. His first professional symphony engagement came at 17 and later he played with the Nashville Symphony in Nashville, TN. While in Nashville, he joined the band, Skyboat, led by his friend and hit songwriter, Mac Gayden. He has had extensive experience recording as well as playing with the Midwestern eclectic band, Sage, with Krishna Das, and Gypsy Soul.
Celia Harris
Multi-genre violinist Celia Harris plays styles ranging from classical to hip-hop, tango to jazz, and beyond. She currently performs with Southern Oregon bands Rogue Hot Club, Malinka, Blue Mountain, and Modern Prometheus Bossa Nova Experience. In the past, she’s performed, recorded, and toured with Bay Area-based groups including Deltron 3030, Lyrics Born, Chuck Prophet, Jazz Mafia, and Redwood Tango Ensemble.
Felipe Luz
Felipe Luz is a multi-instrumentalist composer who has been in Ashland for about six years. Growing up in Brazil, he was exposed to diverse rhythms, melodies, and a rich culture. He currently leads two musical facets. One is his solo project, creating peaceful soundscapes painted with a mix of ancient world instruments and modern technology. The other project is the band Alquimistas, where he gets to show off his roots in a 10-piece Brazilian band.
Esther Platt
Esther grew up in Ashland and has enjoyed playing in ensembles through the years such as Rogue Valley Symphony and the Britt Orchestra. She has completed degree programs in Violin Performance with scholarships, in Michigan and now SE Florida, where she plays in many classical ensembles. She counts two productions fondly playing fiddler in Always…Patsy Cline, the first being at age 13 at the old Camelot Theatre in Talent. Another favorite experience was participating in the National Youth Orchestra of the USA in its coast-to-coast performance tour in 2014.
Kathleen Strahm
Kathleen Strahm, violinist, was born and raised in Southern Oregon. She has been assistant concertmaster of Rogue Valley Symphony as well as a member of Jefferson Baroque Orchestra and many other ensembles in the region. Kathleen has a Doctorate of Music in Violin Performance from Arizona State University. She is a local busker in the area and currently works as a project manager and content specialist.
Ila Cantor
Ila is devoted to creativity. Her music career began as a teen in New York City playing jazz guitar. She went on to tour internationally and recorded four full-length studio albums. She has taught at institutions like Stanford University, Frank Sinatra High School, Aquinas College, and SF Jazz. In 2019, she co-founded Sonora Guitar Intensive –an online learning platform for intermediate guitarists. Beyond music, Ila is deeply connected to the creative process through her writing, lifestyle choices, movement and devotional practices.
Dayton Mason
Dayton Mason is a born and raised Ashland local. He began playing music at ten years old. Locally, he’s been playing gypsy jazz, classical, and Spanish guitar around the valley at wineries and restaurants for the last decade. He is dedicated to keeping classical and jazz standards alive.
