Austin Chamber Ensemble Artists For Season 2021-2022
Martha Mortensen Ahern, Pianist
Martha Mortensen Ahern, voted 2021 ‘Teacher of the Year’ by Austin District Music Teachers Association, an educator and pianist/collaborative artist, has performed in Europe and throughout the United States. In addition to performing and teaching, Martha also serves as Artistic Director for the Austin Chamber Ensemble. 'Marti' has been heard live in interviews and performances on local FM radio stations KMFA and KUT. She holds leadership positions with Music Teachers National Association (State and Local), American Guild of Organists, and is a member of Mu Phi Epsilon. As an educator, her students continue to receive Superior ratings in contests and festivals, as well as scholarships to attend colleges and universities as music majors and solos with the Austin Lyric Opera. She presented a Grammy Foundation ProSession piano master class in June 2006. For more information, see Martha's website.
Anthony Tobin, Pianist
Steinway Artist Anthony Tobin, born in Salt Lake City, grew up in Ithaca New York where he studied with Malcolm Bilson. He received degrees in piano performance from the Eastman School with Anton Nel, a MM from the University of Southern California with Daniel Pollack, and a DMA from UT Austin. In addition to teaching students of all levels and abilities, he has performed as a touring collaborative and solo pianist for the past 20 years. After annual tours of the US and later Europe as pianist and music director with a dance company, he was able to transform those connections and has a few solo tours a year in Europe. 2019 dates included May and November tours of Switzerland, performances at TAMIU in Laredo, Steinway Piano Gallery of Austin, and Adam’s Music House, where Dr. Tobin is Artistic Director.
Dr.Tobin, a Debussy specialist, has completed two films, the most recent, Le piano du Reve, includes footage from the only piano Debussy purchased and on which presumably composed his piano works. https://youtu.be/UG2SA7WlHKA
During the 2018 Debussy Centennial Tobin performed numerous programs in Switzerland and the US of the Preludes Book I and II. Tobin performs, teaches and oversees a series of master classss and performances at Adam’s Music House, a new venue dedicated to spreading the love and study of the piano. In 2019 Tobin performed at Laredo Community College, at Steinway Piano Gallery in Austin, Paris, and Zurich, and gave repeat performances in Davos, Wetzikon, and Ruti Switzerland. Though Covid-19 has forced the cancellation of many performances and several Swiss tours,, Tobin hopes to return soon to Switzerland and is performing regularly in Austin. He recently hosted a weekly Zoom concert series through Adams’ Music House, https://www.facebook.com/adamsmusichouse/ .
Dr. Tobin is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda and has received Steinway’s Top Teacher award in 2016 and 2018.
Rebecca Fairweather Haskins, Oboist
Rebecca Fairweather Haskins is the principal oboist of both the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra and the Temple Symphony, and plays second oboe in the Central Texas Philharmonic. She has performed with numerous other orchestras and festivals, including the Austin Symphony, Austin Opera, Mid-Texas Symphony, Corpus Christi Symphony, and ZACH Scott Theatre. Rebecca is adjunct instructor of oboe at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, as well as a private teacher for many oboe students in central Texas. As a sought-after chamber musician, she has performed several times with Austin Chamber Ensemble, as well as for the Georgetown (TX) Festival of the Arts and Austin Chamber Music Center. She has appeared twice at Carnegie Hall, including as soloist with Irish singer-songwriter Liam Lawton, and can be heard on the soundtrack to Richard Linklater’s film Bernie. Rebecca holds a master’s degree in Oboe Performance from the University of Texas and a bachelor’s degree in Oboe Performance with Teacher Certification from the University of Michigan.