Celeste Mittelhauser was raised in Gouldsboro and has been a regular performer at the Schoodic Arts for All Festival for many years. She is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine School of Music where she studied classical voice performance. Her past productions include The Merry Wives of Windsor at USM and Trial by Jury, The Mikado, and Princess Ida with the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Maine. Celeste is also the co-founder and vocalist for Biea Duette with harpist Phoebe Durand-McDonnell, which performs regularly in venues around down east Maine.
Deiran Manning Umberto
Deiran Manning has given performances across the United States, Ireland, England, France and Italy at notable venues such as Merkin Concert Hall, Weil Recital Hall at Carnegie, the National Concert Hall in Dublin and the New York City Mayor’s residence, Gracie Mansion. Originally a Maine native, Mr. Manning spent his formative years in New York City at LaGuardia High School, eventually earning his undergraduate and masters degree from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. His notable teachers include pianists Edmund Battersby, Edward Auer, Karen Shaw, Jeffrey Swann and baritone Wolfgang Brendel. As a singer, Mr. Manning has performed with various companies including IU Opera Theater, WHMF Opera and the Bronx Opera. He regularly works as a vocal coach in the New York area due to his experience as both a pianist and singer. Mr. Manning has also worked at New York University an Adjunct Professor of Piano. Notable awards include; Stanza Governor’s Prize in Composition, LISSMA International Piano Competition, Children’s Foundation for the Arts, Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition and the Ira Gershwin award.
Deirdre McArdle Vespone
Founder of the Winter Harbor Music Festival, and daughter of Irish-American painter Patrick McArdle, Deirdre is the Executive Director of Harbor Music; The Artur Balsam Ensemble Classes for Piano and Strings, supported by Indiana University, the manager of the 92 Y Orchestra artistic director of the Alexander & Buono International Flute Competition, and serves as a member of the executive board of the New York Flute Club. An avid chamber music player, she has had notable performances with members of the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Deirdre has served on the faculties of Manhattan School of Music and Bowdoin College and performed to critical acclaim in solo recital at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall and the South Bank Centre in London. Recent performances include a tour of Taiwan and Japan with the Taipei Philharmonic and the Saga Harmonie, appearances in Israel, France and Ireland and concerts at the 92nd Street Y and the Nicholas Roerich Museum in New York City.
