Doug is one of the most versatile percussionists in the Chicago area. Doug trained in classical music at the American Conservatory of Music and Roosevelt University, graduating with honors. His teachers include percussion legends Jesus Diaz of Cuba and Mamady Kieta of Guinea.  Doug is involved in a diverse range of projects from producing the critically acclaimed jazzy alt-country album Thorny Devil by Kristen Shout and Smoking Kitten, to performing in Chicago’s premier avant-garde chamber music, CUBE, as well as playing traditional music from all over the world (The Guitars of Spain, Holy Goat Ensemble, Rhythmunity Ensemble). He recently played for the delegates at the U.N. Headquarters in New York and at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. with an Arab classical orchestra (The Chicago Classical Oriental Ensemble). Doug has extensive experience in theater having written music and performed in many of Chicago’s major theaters. In 1997, the production ‘Blade to the Heat’ won a Jeff Award for the original Afro-Cuban inspired music he co-composed with Andy Jones. He helped design the instruments for Steppenwolf Theatre’s production of ‘A Clockwork Orange’ and designed and built instruments for Red Moon Theatre’s ‘Drumtree’, both of which he also performed. Currently, he plays for the Chicago production of the hit Broadway musical, ‘Wicked.'  As the Sara Lee Chair of the percussion department for the Merit School of Music, Doug is involved in the early training of talented teenagers from all over the Chicago area. Doug has performed and lectured to over 100,000 Chicago public school students in the last decade as part of inner-city outreach programs. Doug also has been internationally published dozens of times in articles he has written of the jazz and blues magazine, Downbeat.

Clarinet and saxophone teacher and performer for over 25 years. Don has performed World music since 1983 with Terran Doehrer in the Jewish Klezmer revival band M'chaiya (1983-present), Jutta & the Hi-Dukes (Balkan, eastern-European and Scandinavian, 1990-present) and Razzematazz, a swing group (since 2002). He have played with Las Guitarras de España since the spring of 2003. He has also studied with Chicagoans Rich Corpolongo for jazz improv, Jim Stoynoff for Greek music, Kurt Bjorling for Klezmer, and George Silfies of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra for classical music.
 

Kassandra began playing percussion in 1995 with Clay Arnett and in 1999 with Dr. Erwin Mueller.  In 2006 she received her Bachelors of Music in Percussion Performance at DePaul University under the instruction of Eric Millstein, Michael Green, Fred Selvaggio, and Al Payson.  During her college years, she also studied with the world-renown percussion group, NEXUS. As well as playing with DePaul University’s major ensembles, she has performed with the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra, as a marimba soloist with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra, Concertante di Chicago, Sacred Winds Ensemble, & the Aspen Opera Theater.  In 2004, Kassandra began playing flamenco. She has studied with Francisco Orozco Fernandez "El Yiyi,” and has taken workshops with Timo Lozano and Oscar Valero.  Kassandra has been performing with various flamenco artists around Chicago including Jose Cortes "Pansequito hijo", Paco Fonta, Diego Alonso, Alfonso Ponticelli, Chiara Mangiameli, David Chiriboga, Jim Collinsworth, Michelle Nascimento, Las Guitarras de España, Ensemble Español, and others.  In 2006 she was featured as one of 6 flamenco women in the Chicago tribune's article "Flamenco: A way of life.”  Kassandra also contributed as a guest artist on Las Guitarras de España’s 2007 album, “Cuatro por Arriba.”
 

Patricia has Mexican/Cuban musical roots and has performed with groups ranging from the Lyric Opera Children's Choir to several original and cover bands before venturing on her solo musical path and work with Las Guitarras de España. Patty has displayed amazing versatility and musicality in the two Las Guitarras releases. She has the ability to create vocal phrasing on the spot in many genres including Cuban music, Rhythm and Blues, Soul and flamenco music. Patricia's considerable contributions to the ensemble are most clearly displayed in the latest CD release of the group. Patty also continues to study traditional flamenco cante - she has worked with recently with Curro Cueto, Antonia Vargas, and Vicente Griego.
 

Chiara Mangiameli, a native Italian, began her flamenco studies in Chicago with Michelle Nascimento “La Caoba,” and continued in Seville to study extensively with Carmen Gamero, Yolanda Heredia, and Juan Polvio.  Although dance came first, Chiara's interest in learning the "cante" followed shortly thereafter, leading her to master guitarist and flamencologist Tomas De Utrera who guided her through the basic "palos" or forms of flamenco song. She later pursued further instruction with Sevillian locals such as Emilio Cabello, as well as visiting artists such as Antonio Pitingo.  Locally, Chiara collaborates both as a singer and dancer, with various flamenco artists and musicians. Among them, Alfonso Ponticelli and his group Swing Gitan, with whom she presented the first ever Flamenco Night at Chicago's legendary Green Mill.  In 2005 she began collaborating with Chicago's flamenco and world music group The Guitars Of Spain appearing at, among other venues, the HotHouse and The Chicago Culture Center. In November of 2006 Chiara had the opportunity to travel to Poland and perform alongside guitarist and Cadiz native Jose Cortez "Pansekyto," as a guest singer with Ensemble Español. Educational performances include collaborations with Raices Gitanas, and Edna Manteca's Flamenquisimo as part of the Learning On Stage concert series.  Currently, Chiara is working on a traditional flamenco repertoire with guitarist Diego Alonso and collaborating regularly with The Guitars Of Spain. The group's latest cd to be released at The Old Town School Of Folk Music concert on May 11, 2007 marks Chiara's recording debut....