CONRAD A, MANHOFF began
his study of flute at the age of 12 under the instruction
of Edith M. Hemingway at the Settlement
Music School in Philadelphia, PA. He played several recitals
at the school and was also involved in flute master classes,
composition and sight singing classes.
In 1982 Mr. Manhoff attended the Berklee College of Music
where he studied jazz as well as continuing his study of
classical flute music under the instruction of Matthew
Marvuglio. In 1983 Mr. Manhoff transferred to The Boston
Conservatory
of Music for full time classical study with Boston Ballet
/ Boston Pops flutist William Grass. He received his bachelor's
of music degree in Flute Performance in 1987 at which time
he had already began working with Harpist
Lois
Francello to form The Linden Duet.
Mr.
Manhoff has also been a private instructor of flute and
recorder for the Shady Hill School, Mount Alvernia High
School,
Newton Public Schools and Watertown Public Schools where
he has been teaching for 16 years. He is also the founder
and director of the Watertown Flute Ensemble.
For the past 17 years Mr. Manhoff has performed throughout
the New England area exclusively as part of The Linden
Duet. They have done recital performances at Mount Ida
College,
Boston
College and WMSX Radio in Brockton. Mr. Manhoff has also
been a flute craftsman for the Verne Q. Powell Flute Company
in Maynard for the past 16 years.
LOIS FRANCELLO was immediately fascinated the first time
she saw a harp featured in a local concert in her hometown
of Allentown, PA. Her parents arranged a meeting with the
harpist, Dorothy R. Knauss, and Miss Francello began lessons
at age 13. Since she had already played the piano for some
years, the technique of the new instrument came easily, and
soon harp practice consumed most of her free time.
Deciding to pursue a career in music, Miss Francello enrolled
in the Boston Conservatory in the Harp Performance program.
For three years, she studied with Louise C. Pappoutsakis,
former harpist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. When Mrs.
Pappoutsakis retired, Cynthia Price-Glynn, harpist with the
Boston Ballet, became head of the harp department for Lois'
senior year. It was also at the Conservatory that Miss Francello
and
Conrad Manhoff, flutist, formed
The Linden Duet. For the past 17 years, they have performed
extensively
throughout the area.
From the courtyard at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
to the shores of Walden Pond, the harp has taken Miss Francello
to many different locations. Her broad repertoire ranges
from classical music to Broadway show tunes and light jazz.
Recently, she has begun composing music for the harp and
hopes to soon incorporate some of her original material
into her performances.
