DUET
CLAUDIA FOREST
Claudia began studying violin at age 9, taking private lessons and playing in orchestras, including the New York Youth Symphony, which performed in Carnegie Hall. As a teen, she played in the pit for community musical theatre, spent several summers at Meadowmount School of Music and The Quartet Program, played with Barnard-Columbia Philharmonia, and in college was part of the Sarah Lawrence Orchestra and Opera Orchestra. After leaving school, she dabbled in folk music and jazz standards, busking on the streets of Burlington, VT, NYC, and Montpelier, France. While raising her family, she took a 20- year hiatus from violin. More recently, Claudia played with Woodstock Symphony, Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra, and various classical chamber music ensembles. Since forming DUET with guitarist Jon Ahmadjian, Claudia has focused on learning swing music, fiddle tunes, and the art of improvisation. She loves performing and enjoys occasionally stepping off the bandstand and onto the dance floor.
JON AHMADJIAN
Jon has been living and playing music in the Hudson valley for 30 years. Playing a variety of musical genres, he's previously played with the bands Incognito, and
Me and Mario. Currently, in addition to performing with DUET, he can be found playing square dances with the Slide Mountain String Band and is on the board of directors of the Hudson Valley Bluegrass Association. A self taught vocalist, and a guitar player since the age of 14, Jon has also previously studied guitar with Russ Nolan in his JazzLab workshop in New York City,
and continues to study with guitarist Frank Vignola.