Kathleen Mitchell, Soprano Saxophone

Kathy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and Music Performance from Temple University and a Master of Music Performance in Saxophone from Northwestern University. Kathy studied saxophone with Dr. Frederick L. Hemke and Marshall Taylor. Kathy is an adjunct music professor at The College of New Jersey where she teaches studio saxophone to undergraduate saxophone majors, coaches quartets and ensembles, and instructs master classes. She has taught privately for sixteen years.

In addition to this appointment, Kathy has taught on the music faculty of Rowan University, The Governor’s School of Music, and the Conservatory of Musical Arts. She has also given Master Classes at Temple University and University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

Respected as an outstanding saxophonist, Kathy has performed with Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia. Her orchestral experience includes saxophone performances with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Curtis Institute of Music Symphony, Reading Symphony, Allentown Symphony, and Haddonfield Symphony among others. She has also given solo and chamber music concerts throughout the United States and Canada. Ms. Mitchell has recorded with Karel Husa and has performed with KlezMs, the Ocean City Pops, Ron Thomas, Elvis Costello, and the saxophone quartet “3XY,” whose music consists of their own original works with each member of the group contributing to the compositions. Ms. Mitchell has performed with theater companies throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including the Walnut Street Theater, Media Theater, and the Arden Theater.

John Bachalis, Alto Saxophone

John holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from the College of New Jersey, and the Master of Music degree in Applied Saxophone from West Virginia University. He also studied clarinet, saxophone, music theory and arranging privately with Bill Humenay for many years after graduate school, and arranging under the tutelage of Bill Holcombe and Marion Evans. He has 42 years of experience teaching instrumental music in the public schools of New Jersey and Philadelphia, and as an adjunct teacher at the Lawrenceville School, where he was Director of the Jazz Ensemble and Instructor of Woodwinds. John plays woodwinds professionally with many classical and pop musical groups for concerts, theatrical and social events. He has performed with the Delaware Valley, Trenton, Rhode Island, Hartford, Springfield, Eastern Connecticut, Reading, Bridgeton and Allentown Symphonies, in benefits for the Philadelphia Orchestra and Stamford Symphony, and in the orchestras behind Bob Hope, Carol Channing, Rita Moreno, Chita Rivera, Al Martino, The Temptations, the Drifters, Manhattan Transfer, John Popper, Harry James, Bobby Rydel, the Brian Pastor Big Band, and many others

Warren Fioretti, Tenor Saxophone

Warren is a retired adjunct professor of music at the County College of Morris, where he taught applied music primary and independent study lessons on both Saxophone and Clarinet for undergraduate students. Warren has earned respect among New Jersey Professional musicians, both for his controlled classical playing and his great sight reading and jazz improvisational skills. He considers himself fortunate to be associated with the other talented members of the PSQ, and performing at the high musical level required. Warren is also a member of the saxophone quartet, SaxPlus, two Jersey Shore-area big bands, the Jazz Lobsters, and the Lakewood Jazz Ensemble. He currently plays in the Full Count Band, the Patterson Local 16-248 Big Band and the Underground Jazz Septet, and has appeared in the bands of Harry James, Nelson Riddle, Les Elgart, and Buddy Morrow. His stage credits include appearances with Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, The Manhattan Transfer, Lou Rawls, Louis Bellson, Bob Mintzer, Claudio Roditi, Arturo Sandoval, Carl Saunders, and Phil Woods, among others. Not to ignore his “left-brained” side, prior to becoming a full-time musician, Warren had many years experience in the engineering field, having earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Drew Wierbowski, Baritone Saxophone:

Drew has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from the College of New Jersey, a Master of Music Performance in Clarinet from the University of Southern California and a Certificate in Instructional Computing and Development from the College of New Jersey. Past teachers have included Anthony Gigliotti and Mitchell Lurie (Clarinet), Patricia Garside and Al Regni (Flute), Douglas Masek and Al Regni (Saxophone). He is a past winner of the Young Performers Competition sponsored by the National Association of Composers, USA held in Los Angeles, California.

Active as a freelance musician, Drew specializes in woodwind instruments. He performs regularly with the Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea, NJ Capital Philharmonic Orchestra, Boheme Opera Orchestra, Jazz Celebration Big Band, Philadelphia Saxophone Quartet, the New JerseyFifes and Drums, Asbury Park Concert Band and pit orchestras in various theaters throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Drew has been involved in Music Education for 31 years teaching all levels from Grade 3 through college.