Born in the United States of Russian parentage, RUFINA JAMES is a superb interpreter of Russian art songs and arias and enjoys drawing upon her Russian heritage in concerts and recitals. Her voice and ability to execute a beautiful vocal line allow her to also excel in Italian opera, particularly the dramatic soprano roles of Verdi. Rufina James has performed leading operatic roles in Europe, Canada and the United States. A few of her recent highlights include singing Amelia in Un Ballo in Maschera and Leonora in Il Trovatore at the Silezian State Opera Theater in the Czech Republic, after which she performed in Prague's historic recital hall, The Old Stone House. Last fall, she sang the role of Mozart's Countess in The Marriage of Figaro in Boston and performed to an audience of thousands in Japan. Some of the roles she has performed in the United States include Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, the Mother in Hansel and Gretel, and Carmen, as well as numerous recitals, concerts and oratorios, and orchestral appearances, including a particularly thrilling performance of the Beethoven 9th Symphony with the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra. Her voice has been heard in television commercials and studio recordings. In 1998, she was the Grand Prize winner in the Art Song Division of the San Francisco Concerto Orchestra's International Vocal Competition.

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TYLER LINCOLN received his musical education in his native Southern California earning a BA from UC Riverside and a MA from San Diego State University, after when he moved to Northern California. His finishing studies in piano were with Karl Ulrich Schnabel (son of the famous Arthur Schnabel). In 1983 while living in Mendocino Mr. Lincoln founded Symphony of the Redwood which he directed until 1989. He has studied singing with baritone Joseph Shore, bass Jerome Hines, and Italian tenor Gianni Raimondi. He also composes and arranges. Mr. Lincoln lives in Vallejo, California (SF Bay area) where he is active as a freelance musician.