2008 Baroque on Beaver Directors
Jason Economides
Jason Economides is the newest member of the Magellan String Quartet, an ensemble in
residence at Georgia Southern University. Mr. Economides is the violin instructor at
Wesleyan College in Macon , Georgia. Jason performs with the Macon, Gainesville ,
Ocmulgee and Valdosta Symphonies, as well as with the Atlanta Pops, Augusta Opera, and
the Hilton Head Symphony in South Carolina .
Mr. Economides earned music performance degrees from Arizona State University and the
University of Michigan where he studied with Camilla Wicks. He has performed in master
classes for Josef Gingold, Daniel Majeski, Mischa Mischakoff and Samuel
Thaviu; he has been coached in chamber music by Martin Katz, Eckhart Sellheim, and
members of the Emerson Quartet.
Mr. Economides has performed with the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Chicago Opera Theater,
New World Symphony, Greater Lansing Symphony, Flint Symphony, Ann Arbor Chamber
Orchestra and the Elgin Symphony. He has also taught at Aquinas College and
Calvin College .
This is Jason’s fifth year as director and the seventh year as a “Baroque and Beaver”
participant. Jason is married to Patty Baser a past director and participant of
Baroque on Beaver. Patty and Jason have two daughters Zoe (6 ½) and Eleni (5) who have
both been to Beaver Island almost every year (missed last summer) of their fun filled lives.
Jason Economides is the newest member of the Magellan String Quartet, an ensemble in
residence at Georgia Southern University. Mr. Economides is the violin instructor at
Wesleyan College in Macon , Georgia. Jason performs with the Macon, Gainesville ,
Ocmulgee and Valdosta Symphonies, as well as with the Atlanta Pops, Augusta Opera, and
the Hilton Head Symphony in South Carolina .
Mr. Economides earned music performance degrees from Arizona State University and the
University of Michigan where he studied with Camilla Wicks. He has performed in master
classes for Josef Gingold, Daniel Majeski, Mischa Mischakoff and Samuel
Thaviu; he has been coached in chamber music by Martin Katz, Eckhart Sellheim, and
members of the Emerson Quartet.
Mr. Economides has performed with the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Chicago Opera Theater,
New World Symphony, Greater Lansing Symphony, Flint Symphony, Ann Arbor Chamber
Orchestra and the Elgin Symphony. He has also taught at Aquinas College and
Calvin College .
This is Jason’s fifth year as director and the seventh year as a “Baroque and Beaver”
participant. Jason is married to Patty Baser a past director and participant of
Baroque on Beaver. Patty and Jason have two daughters Zoe (6 ½) and Eleni (5) who have
both been to Beaver Island almost every year (missed last summer) of their fun filled lives.
Kevin Simons
Kevin Simons is an active choral conductor, singer and organist and is in demand as a performer
as well as clinician in all three disciplines. A native of Pinckney, Michigan, he holds a degree in
Vocal Performance from the University of Oklahoma and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting
from Central Michigan University. He has studied voice with Sean Daniel as well as with Gary
Arvin and Marilyn Horne. His choral conducting studies have been with Nina Nash-Robertson
and Steven Curtis. He has also studied organ with Donald Williams, Carol Muehlig and Steven
Egler.
Mr. Simons is active in several professional organizations including the Royal School of Church
Music and the American Choral Directors Association. He has also been elected to membership
in the National Association of Teachers of Singing and the Association of Anglican Musicians and
is a Colleague of the American Guild of Organists. He is the Director of Music and Organist at St.
John’s Episcopal Church in Saginaw, Michigan, where he oversees a very active choral program.
In addition, he conducts the semi-professional Steiner Chorale of Lansing and is an adjunct
instructor of voice at Saginaw Valley State University. He resides in Saginaw with his wife, Amy,
and enjoys cooking and reading trashy mysteries.
Kevin Simons is an active choral conductor, singer and organist and is in demand as a performer
as well as clinician in all three disciplines. A native of Pinckney, Michigan, he holds a degree in
Vocal Performance from the University of Oklahoma and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting
from Central Michigan University. He has studied voice with Sean Daniel as well as with Gary
Arvin and Marilyn Horne. His choral conducting studies have been with Nina Nash-Robertson
and Steven Curtis. He has also studied organ with Donald Williams, Carol Muehlig and Steven
Egler.
Mr. Simons is active in several professional organizations including the Royal School of Church
Music and the American Choral Directors Association. He has also been elected to membership
in the National Association of Teachers of Singing and the Association of Anglican Musicians and
is a Colleague of the American Guild of Organists. He is the Director of Music and Organist at St.
John’s Episcopal Church in Saginaw, Michigan, where he oversees a very active choral program.
In addition, he conducts the semi-professional Steiner Chorale of Lansing and is an adjunct
instructor of voice at Saginaw Valley State University. He resides in Saginaw with his wife, Amy,
and enjoys cooking and reading trashy mysteries.