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About Us
The Trio is committed to continuing the legacy of fine art music, celebrating its universal language across the globe, and upholding the art of chamber music as an exciting and dynamic performance genre. Their concerts include a wide range of new works, traditional Sapphire works and transcriptions, along with stories and vignettes about the composers and the music.
Maxine Ramey-clarinet
Professor Emeritus of Clarinet, Professor of Music since 1992 and Director of the School of Music at The University of Montana. In 2008 she was named a School of Fine Arts Distinguished Professor and is the Director of the School of Music’s Vienna Program. From 2010-2016 she was President, President-elect and Secretary of the International Clarinet Association. Her students have gone on to be performers, professors, composers, and all manner of musical entrepreneurs. She has received four meritorious teaching awards at UM and in 2013 she was awarded UM’s Administrator of the Year. As a performer and member of the Sapphire Trio, she toured 45 U.S. States, Japan, Italy, Austria, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Korea, South America and extensively in the Middle East. She has premiered works by Vincent Persichetti and David Maslanka. As Solo/Principal Clarinet with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra, she premiered new works by Jean Francaix, Jacques Casterede and William Bolcom during the 1986 re-lighting ceremonies at the Statue of Liberty. Washington Post reviews call her performances "Refreshing, fluid and idiomatic". The Albuquerque Journal states “...she demonstrates extraordinary performing skills” Dr. Ramey is a Smithsonian Lecturer for the Smithsonian Journeys© program. She holds degrees from Arizona State University and Michigan State University (M.M. and D.M.A. with her mentor Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr).
Margaret Nichols Baldridge-violin
Margaret Nichols Baldridge combines an extensive performance calendar with an active teaching schedule. Dr. Baldridge’s diverse performances include concerts with The Sapphire Trio around the United States and abroad. In 2012 Dr. Baldridge and The Sapphire Trio returned to Jerusalem to judge the Palestinian National Music Competition and to perform in the region. Dr. Baldridge recently received outstanding reviews for her 2012 performances at The Park City Chamber Music Festival. Dr. Baldridge is concertmaster of the Missoula Symphony, leader of the String Orchestra of the Rockies, and violinist in the Montana Piano Trio. For nine summers she was artist faculty at the renowned Brevard Music Center. The violin and viola professor at The University of Montana since 1992, Dr. Baldridge is also a sought after teacher across Montana and the Northwest. Dr. Baldridge earned Doctor of Musical Arts and Bachelor of Music degrees from The Eastman School of Music and a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University.
Jody Graves-piano
Jody Graves maintains an exciting, diverse and active performing career, and is recognized nationally as a distinguished performing artist, public speaker, and teacher of piano. Her recital engagements as a soloist and collaborative pianist take her across the United States and abroad. She has performed concerts in Austria, Norway, France, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Japan, the Middle East and in 2013 she returns to Japan to perform concerts and give lectures as the recipient of the Eastern Washington University Faculty Scholar Exchange Award at Mukagowa University... She holds a Doctorate Degree in Piano Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and has been the recipient of two Faculty Meritorious Awards for her creative work, performances and publications.
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