Generations Chamber Ensemble Musician Page

Chamber Ensemble Director: Jim Garcia

Jim Garcia attended West Chester University of Pennsylvania and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Music Degree in Music Education. His principal instruments are flute, clarinet, and saxophone. While attending West Chester University, he played alto saxophone in the Golden Rams Marching Band. Jim is a retired Master Chief Petty Officer... more info...

Our Musicians

The chamber ensemble is comprised of adult and student musicians from the community. The ensemble performs a repertoire of chamber music from the Baroque and Classical eras. Music selections are played by various combinations of instruments which includes clarinet duet/with piano accompaniment, flute trio/with piano accompaniment, flute or clarinet solo/with piano accompaniment, flute trio, clarinet trio and/or quartet, woodwind trio, and woodwind quartet.

Musician Biographies

Rebecca Tuszynski – Flutist
Becky Tuszynski has provided flute music for receptions, weddings, church services, graduation ceremonies, and other events throughout Eastern Pennsylvania. She studied flute and chamber music with Robin Kani and Carol Temlin at the Moravian College Music Institute.
She is a member of the Quakertown Band (www.quakertownband.org) and coaches a flute choir at First UCC in Quakertown, PA (www.firstucc.net). She also regularly accompanies the Unitas Chorale, an organization dedicated to the performance of Moravian music. In addition to playing the flute, piccolo, and alto flute, Becky enjoys choral music and has the privilege of singing with the well-known Bach Choir of Bethlehem.

Ginny Arana – Flutist
Ginny started playing flute in 1953 under the direction of Warren Grim, then Bert Wavrek, and continued with Joseph Blewett. Enjoying playing in groups, she was a member of the Citizens Band in Quakertown, Red Hill Band, and Ambler Symphony. Most recently she has been playing with the flute choir at First United Church in Quakertown. She also enjoys teaching flute, playing hand bells, and singing.

Sandra Cowperthewaite – Pianist
Sandra began her musical career at age nine at the piano with Mr. Alex Molnar of California. Two years later she began studying the organ with Mr. Arthur Luckin, also of California. She has played the organ professionally since age twelve in Bethany Lutheran Church and First Methodist Church in California. Locally, she has played in St. Luke Lutheran Church in Dublin and is currently Music Director at St. Luke’s United Church of Christ in Dublin, PA. Sandra has also studied the harp under the direction of Jan Christiansen. For the past ten years, Sandra has accompanied the Pennridge Cluster Choir in Perkasie and many other local soloists. The Generations Chamber Ensemble is her latest musical endeavor.
Dave Matthews - Violin
Katie Steinly – Celloist/Piano

Pete Cowan - Bass Clarinet

Michelle Pugliese – Flutist
Michelle is a senior at Pennridge High School in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. Her goal is to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts to major in music education. She is serving as a drum major for the high school marching band.

Jennie Hoose – Viola
Jennie is attending Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania majoring in music education. She is in her junior year at the college.

Jennifer Palmer – Violinist
Jennifer's passion for music was fostered at a young age. She began to play the violin when she was ten years old and has been playing for the past thirteen years. Jennifer has played with various groups throughout the Pennridge School District and Bucks County. She was an original member of the Moravian College-Community Orchestra, playing with the ensemble from its inception in August 2002 until her graduation in May 2004. In addition, Jennifer was a member of the Pennridge Marching Band Color Guard and the Pennridge Indoor Color Guard. In the summer of 1999, she wrote, choreographed, and directed a color guard show to the Beach Boys' "Surfin' USA." She taught girls in the community the basics of color guard, hoping to spark interest in the sport. This endeavor earned Jennifer the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouting. Jennifer has a B.A. in English from Moravian College and is currently employed by Penn Foundation, Inc. in Sellersville.

Director Jim Garcia (continued)

Jim is a retired Master Chief Petty Officer who spent twenty-five years on active duty in the United States Coast Guard working as an electronics technician. While in the Coast Guard, he was involved and performed with various community bands and ensembles. In 1986, he joined the Southern Maryland Concert Band and was a member of the band until 1997. During this time, he played clarinet, alto saxophone, and flute. In 1989, while assigned to Coast Guard Headquarter, he formed and managed a Coast Guard jazz band in Washington, DC. The band was comprised of volunteer military and civilian employees. In 1995, he organized and directed the Peace Chamber Ensemble that was sponsored by Peace Lutheran Church in Waldorf, Maryland. In this ensemble, he played flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, and bass clarinet. In 1998, Jim decided to make a career change and retire from the Coast Guard to attend college to major in music. He found his musical experiences to be very rewarding and resulted in his decision to pursue a career in music education. Recently, he worked on the Central Bucks High School Marching Band staff as the woodwind instructor for the Fall 2004 marching band season. Jim’s favorite music to perform in small ensembles. His latest endeavor was to form Generations Chamber Ensemble.