MEET THE MUSICIANS

Jozefius Vaatierz Rattus - aka Joseph Waters (b. 1952) - is a member of the first generation of American classical composers who grew up playing in rock bands. Since childhood he has been intrigued by the confluence and tensions that bind the music of Europe and Africa. These frequently inspire his electro-acoustic compositions. His interests also include the investigation of physiological, sub-cultural pattern seeking mechanisms. He is working on a theory of cognition based on fractals and pattern recognition, with applications in music theory and composition.

Fiddlus el Gato - aka Felix Olschofka - is originally from Bonn, Germany. He began his violin studies at the age of five with his mother, and at fourteen he entered pre-college studies with Professor Michael Gaiser at the "Robert Schumann School of Music" in Düsseldorf. Felix is a winner of numerous awards and competitions, including 1st prize of the prestigious German Youth Music Competition (Solo Instrument and Chamber Music Category), 2nd prize of the International Chamber Music Competition "Charles Hennen" in the Netherlands and a grant of the Oscar and Vera Ritter Foundation.

His professional background includes service as Concertmaster of the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra from 2000-2003 and Assistant Concertmaster of the Brandenburg Philharmonic in Potsdam, Germany, for its 1998 / 99 -season. In August 2003 Mr. Olschofka jointed the faculty of the School of Music and Dance at San Diego State University as Associate Professor of Violin.

SAXMIUS - aka Todd Rewoldt -A former sponsored amateur skateboarder and punk bassist, Todd discovered the saxophone at the age of 12. Since graduating from the Eastman School of Music in 2001, Todd has established himself as a vital member of the modern music community. Equally comfortable performing the music of Glazunov or Stockhausen, recent solo performances have taken him throughout the United States and to important concert venues in Sweden, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Canada, Ireland, and Australia.

As a solo saxophonist and founding member of the internationally acclaimed SWARMIUS trio, critics have characterized his performances as “first-rate,” “virtuosic,” and “displaying amazing technique.”

In addition to numerous solo, chamber, and concerto performances across the U.S. and the world, Todd is frequently invited to perform at international music festivals, such as the Society for Electroacoustic Music in Sweden, Mexican Center for Music and Sonic Arts, New West Electro-Acoustic Music Organization, World Saxophone Congress, and the Ussachevsky Memorial Festival. His recording credits include Nonesuch Records, Warner Bros., Aleppo, and live performances on WTTW-Chicago with the New Arts Jazz Quintet.

Currently, Dr. Rewoldt is Professor of Saxophone at San Diego State University, an on-call saxophonist for the San Diego Symphony Orchestra and the La Jolla Music Society SummerFest. He holds MM and DMA degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the BM from the University of Toledo.

BA from UCSD. Studied with Jean-Charles Francois. Played in Sonor and the La Jolla Civic Orchestra.
Post UCSD Joel was off to New York to receive his M.M. and D.M.A. from the State University of New York, at Stony Brook. His principal teachers there were the contemporary percussionists Raymond Des Roches and Richard Horowitz, Principal Timpanist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

Current day job is being a Music Professor at Portland State University, where he has been the head of the percussion department since 1989. In addition, he is the Assistant Chairperson of the Music Department and the Graduate coordinator. He is entering his 16th year as Co-Founder/Percussionist with the Northwest premiere contemporary new music ensemble "Fear No Music". He is the Principal Timpanist with Sinfonia Concertante Orchestra and has been the Principal Timpanist with the Missouri Symphony.