Administration - Caroga Arts Collective

Kyle Barrett Price
Founder, Artistic & Executive Director

Kyle Barrett Price, Founder, Artistic & Executive Director of the Caroga Arts Collective, member of the Cavani String Quartet, and founding member of KASA Quartet, is nationally recognized for his multi-faceted musical career, innovative leadership style, and advocacy for collaborative programing in the arts and humanities.

His profound love of chamber music stems from a family of dynamic musicians at The Chamber Music Connection, where he had the opportunity to work with some of the most respected and acclaimed musicians of our time, including members of The Cleveland, Cavani, Emerson, Guarneri, St. Lawrence, and Brentano String Quartets. As the cellist of the Cavani Quartet, Kyle has taught and performed across the country including visiting residencies at Peabody Conservatory, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University, Cleveland State University, Ravinia Festival, Maverick Concerts, Chamber Music Connection, among others.

As a soloist, Kyle has performed at internationally renowned music festivals including The Perlman Music Program and Banff School of the Arts. Kyle’s concerto appearances include performances with the LaCrosse Symphony Orchestra, Wisconsin Philharmonic, and Caroga Arts Ensemble. He has made guest teaching appearances at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Peabody Conservatory, DePaul University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Arizona, among others. Honors and solo prizes include Grand Prize Winner of the 2018 Schubert Club Competition, Grand Prize winner of the 2015 Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition, and Honorable Mention in the 2017 Gershwin International Music Competition.

In addition to playing the cello, Kyle has been composing from the age of 10 and has distinguished himself with an original voice, receiving commissions from the Johnstone Fund for New Music, Carpe Diem String Quartet, and the Chamber Music Connection. His compositions have been performed by Calidore Quartet, University of Wisconsin-Madison Symphony Orchestra, National Summer Cello Institute, Caroga Arts Ensemble, and Chamber Music Connection Orchestra.

Kyle’s compositions and arrangements are also regularly featured through his performances as a member of the KASA Quartet, a multi-genre quartet formed at the Caroga Lake Music Festival. Grand Prize winners of the 2017 Coltman Chamber Music Competition, KASA Quartet frequently performs and collaborates with artists such as Eddie Barbash, Sawyer Fredericks, WARP Trio, and Miriam Elhajli.

Kyle’s passion for chamber music and desire to facilitate opportunities for those around him acted as a catalyst for his vision to form an artist-led creative community, resulting in his creation of the Caroga Lake Music Festival in 2012 and the Caroga Arts Collective in 2016. With the help of his family, partner, peers and community, Kyle has grown the organization from a “homemade” music festival of eight musicians in his grandmother’s house to an organization that hosts over fifty events throughout the calendar year, featuring 150+ artists and attracting 8,000+ individuals. It is widely regarded to be the pride and joy of the community and a model for artist-led festivals around the country.

Kyle completed his Masters and Doctoral degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studying under the renowned pedagogue cellist and Feldenkrais practitioner Uri Vardi. He received his Bachelors degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music under the tutelage of the founding Cavani String Quartet cellist Merry Peckham. Outside of music, Kyle enjoys going on adventures with his wife, Hinano Price, Vice President of Artistic Planning at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and playing basketball in his free time. Kyle will also be appearing as a CLMF Resident Artist this summer.

Stephanie Price-Wong
Associate Executive Director

Stephanie Price is a nationally recognized violist, educator, and arts leader known for genre-defying performances, dynamic teaching, and advocacy in music entrepreneurship. She serves as Associate Executive Director of the Caroga Arts Collective, where she developed the SPACE Program to expand affordable string education in the rural Southern Adirondacks of New York. Previously, she served as Adjunct Viola Professor at Ohio University and Assistant Artistic Director and Fellowship Program Director at Chamber Music Connection in Columbus, Ohio. A founding resident artist of CLMF and violist of the award-winning KASA Quartet, Stephanie holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Cleveland Institute of Music.

Elizabeth Macintosh
Director of Artistic Operations

Violist Elizabeth Macintosh, a native of Columbus, OH, began studying the violin at the age of three. When she was 14, she began playing the viola in order to form a string quartet with her pre-existing ensemble of three violins and a cello. Elizabeth has been a part of the Caroga Arts Collective team since 2017 and has been delighted to be a part of its growth over the past seven years. In May of 2022, she graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a B.M. in Viola Performance, a certificate in Musical Entrepreneurship, and minors in Business, Economics, and German Studies. In May of 2024, she graduated from Eastman School of Music with a M.M. in Viola Performance. She currently lives in Boulder, CO, and enjoys baking, reading, and spending time outdoors.

Tara Hanish
S.P.A.C.E. Program Administrative Assistant

Originally from Michigan, Tara called Cleveland and NYC home before landing in Upstate NY. She is currently a member of the Fenimore Chamber Orchestra, Glens Falls Symphony, Catskill Symphony, and performs with the Albany Symphony, Candlelight Concerts, Albany Pro Musical, and with her post-rock band, “You Bred Raptors.” Tara has also enjoyed sharing the stage in support of renowned artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Leonard Slatkin, Joshua Bell, The Foo Fighters, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Michael Buble, Kanye West, and Josh Groban.

Tara is an Associated Faculty member and Administrative Assistant for the Caroga Arts SPACE program, and also maintains a private studio in the Capital District area. Tara received her Professional Studies diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music (Richard Aaron), M.M. from the University of Miami (Ross Harbaugh), and B.M. from the University of Michigan (Anthony Elliott).

More information on Tara can be found at: www.TaraHanish.com

Kathy Manning
On-Site Manager

Kathy Manning is a retired Registered Nurse, has been married 47 years, and has 2 sons and 3 grandchildren. She was employed by Valley Central Middle School as a school nurse for 20 years, where she cared for students and staff and handled their medical needs. During her time at Valley Central Middle School, Kathy was a member of the New York State School Nurses Association and organized first aid classes, blood drives, exercise classes, medical education classes, food/gift/clothing drives, and developed the district emergency response plan. Additionally, Kathy has worked for 40 years for her family’s private contracting business as Vice President and Bookkeeper.

Kathy is a long-standing Caroga Arts volunteer and member of the Advisory Board. Prior to becoming the On-Site Manager, Kathy was responsible for selling CAC merchandise, organizing the annual gala, and helping to maintain the gardens at Sherman’s. In addition to her work with Caroga Arts, Kathy is a Trustee of the Caroga Historical Museum.

Kris Smith
Facilities and Grounds Coordinator

From Gloversville, NY, Kris Smith manages the facilities and grounds at Sherman’s Park and plays an integral part in executing Caroga Arts events and concerts at Sherman’s throughout the year. Kris has been operating the Sherman’s Carousel prior to Caroga Arts owning the property and it has become one of his favorite parts of the job. Prior to joining Caroga Arts as Facilities and Grounds Coordinator, Kris was employed at the Magic Forest Amusement Park in Lake George, NY.

Lorrie Mott
Financial Administrator

Lorrie Mott began her love for music in the first grade while taking piano lessons. Being part of yearly competitions and taking on flute lessons only solidified that joy. She taught herself every instrument that her friends and family played and took a year of cello which turned out to be a favorite instrument. While her career went in another direction, music was always a focal point and it even helped her gain employment in the computer field due to the logic they knew came from a musical background. Lorrie retired from Eaton/Crouse-Hinds with a 23-year career in electronic data interchange and computer programming. A degree in Accounting brings her back to Caroga Arts as their Financial Administrator. She is a long-standing Caroga Arts volunteer and very excited about the future here at Sherman’s where she once enjoyed many Sundays as a child. Lorrie and her husband Bob have decided to make Caroga their year-round home which they will enjoy with their three daughters and their families. She looks forward to making Sherman memories with their grandchildren.

Concetta Sager
Administrative Coordinator

Concetta and her husband, Richard, are long-time Johnstown residents and have two daughters and 4 grandchildren. She retired after a long career in telecommunications, holding numerous management and leadership roles throughout her tenure. She possesses a Business Administration Degree from FMCC, Bachelor of Professional Studies Degree and MBA from Empire State College. She is a Trustee for the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Johnstown, a volunteer at the Sunflower Shoppe and a member of the 100 Women Who Care organization.

Deborah Barrett Price
Artistic Advisor

Violist Deborah Barrett Price is recognized throughout the country as an innovative pedagogue and versatile performer. She is the founder and artistic director of the Chamber Music Connection, Inc. (CMC), a nationally recognized program providing education, service and performance opportunities to students of all ages and skill levels. In recognition of her work as a chamber music entrepreneur, pedagogue, and performer, Debbie has received numerous awards, including the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Award for Extraordinary Service to Chamber Music, the Alumni Achievement Award from Baldwin Wallace Conservatory and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra Community Educator of the Year. She has also received multiple nominations for the Ohio Governor’s Award for Arts Education and Arts Administration.

Hinano Price
Executive Advisor

Hinano (Hina) Price is the Vice President of Artistic Planning at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), where she oversees programming for SPAC’s resident companies – including The Philadelphia Orchestra, New York City Ballet, and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center – as well as the Saratoga Jazz Festival and year-round performances in the Spa Little Theater.

Prior to joining SPAC, Hina spent nine seasons at Ravinia Festival, the oldest music festival in North America. She most recently served as Director of Programming, overseeing all classical programming and curating the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s six-week residency, in addition to performances in the Martin Theatre and Bennett Gordon Hall.

Earlier in her career, Hina worked with concert touring company Classical Movements and held seasonal positions with the National Symphony Orchestra at The Kennedy Center, Bravo! Vail Music Festival, and Overture Center for the Arts. Since 2015, she has played a key role in the growth of Caroga Arts Collective and the Caroga Lake Music Festival.

Born in Tokyo, Hina spent her childhood in Hong Kong, Singapore, and New York. A classically trained flutist, she has appeared as a concerto soloist at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall and holds a Bachelor of Music Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She currently resides in Saratoga Springs, NY, with her husband, cellist Kyle Price.

Kim Hart, Marketing Liason

Kate Healey, Development Coordinator

Cassandra Lyons Querques, Branding & Design Consultant

Mary Grace Rohrs, Marketing & Communications Coordinator