For the past seven years, Karen has served as a self-employed consultant and has supported several national trade associations and arts organizations by helping them improve marketing and build their revenue streams.

Before starting her business, Karen served for 13 years as a senior executive for the National Retail Federation (NRF) with the last seven years in the role of senior vice president, member services. Prior to joining NRF, she held a number of roles including federal lobbyist, political action committee manager, and director of membership for the Food Marketing Institute.

Karen earned her M.S. in Public Relations from the American University and B.A. in Communication Arts from James Madison University.

Dr. Laurie Hudicek has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from St. Mary’s College of Maryland (1995), a Master of Music Degree from The University of Maryland (1998), and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from The University of Maryland (2002), where she studied contemporary piano with Bradford Gowen.

Dr. Hudicek focuses on the performance of 20th- and 21st-Century Music, specifically the works of American composers.  Her performances and lectures have been regarded as “engaging” and “remarkable for thoughtfulness and expression” (21st Century Music), and she has also been described as a “vivid” and “virtuoso” performer (The Washington Post).  She has premiered works by Dary John Mizelle, Sean Hickey, Francis McKay, and Steve Antosca.

Dr. Hudicek can be heard on the Furious Artisans label.  Her debut recording of George Crumb’s Makroksomos volumes I and II, hailed by 21st Century Music as a “brilliant, commanding, and virtuosic new recording,” has been highly praised by the composer as “superb” and “effectively and sensitively interpreted.”  Her recording was also featured on National Public Radio’s Composer’s Datebook.  She recently collaborated with her daughter, Eva Ulreich, and Steve Antosca on an award-winning film featuring her recording of Henry Cowell’s The Banshee.

In addition to performing, Dr. Hudicek has also been on the piano faculty at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and Levine Music in Washington D.C. where she held the positions of Associate Piano Department Chair and Suzuki Piano Department Chair. She has given pre-performance lectures and talks for Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at Strathmore, George Mason University, and City Dance.  She is a Registered Suzuki Piano Instructor, a Certified Royal Conservatory of Music theory and piano instructor, and has been published in both The New Music Connoisseur and 21st  Century Music.

Michael has been principal bass for the Loudoun Symphony since it began in 1991, and is also principal bass with the Reston-based Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra and the self-conducted Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra.  In addition to those groups, he plays regularly with Washington Sinfonietta and the Symphony of the Potomac An active freelancer and chamber music player, he has performed with numerous other ensembles over the years.

Michael is also the bassist for The Bitter Liberals, a 5-piece band performing all-original music, and likes to sit in with other bands in the area when he gets the chance.

In addition to his musical activities, he served for several years as board member, Treasurer and Executive Director of the Loudoun Symphony, and continues to work as LSO’s bookkeeper and accounting manager.

Lindsey Smith is a highly sought-after teacher and performer in the Washington, D.C. area. He served for 26 years in The United States Air Force Band. As a member of The Air Force Concert Band, Mr. Smith performed as tenor trombonist as well bass trombone and euphonium when needed. He performed concerts in all 50 states and around the world. He also was in charge of The United States Air Force Brass Quintet which presented concerts and clinics throughout the US and abroad as well as engagements for the highest level of Military and Government leaders. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Michigan State University and a Masters of Music degree from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

After leaving the Air Force, he worked 10 years for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, three of those as Chief of Staff for Braddock Supervisor John C. Cook. Mr. Smith also acts as Office Manager for his church, Christ Presbyterian in Fairfax.

Mr. Smith is currently the Personnel Manager and bass trombonist with the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra and principal trombonist with the Manassas Ballet Theater Orchestra. In 2014, Mr. Smith was asked to travel to Taiwan as a soloist and clinician for the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra’s youth program. He is in great demand as a private teacher and clinician in the Washington, D.C. area. He is also a very active free-lance musician and has performed with many prestigious groups around the country.

He resides in Oak Hill, VA with his wife Jill, and three beagles, Sully, Zeke, and Buzz.