Gliss and Air - Biography

Biography

Gliss and Air, a duo for harp and flute, specializes in fine classical music for special occasions. Founded in 1985 by Jane Kauffman Brye and Darlene Olivio, Gliss and Air has performed for many special events in the Lancaster, Reading, Harrisburg, and York PA areas. In addition to recitals, the duo performs for weddings, rehearsal dinners, various parties including: anniversaries, birthdays, Christmas, Baptisms, Bar Mitzvahs, church services, and fashion shows. The duo has performed recitals for the Lancaster PA Summer Arts Festival as well as for church and club concerts. In 1988, Gliss and Air was featured in a special wedding supplement article for the Lancaster Sunday News. On occasion, Gliss and Air is joined by cellist Peter J. Brye to form a flute, cello, and harp trio, the Lancaster Chamber Ensemble.

Jane Kauffman Brye began studying the harp at age 15 with Isabel Ibach in Mechanicsburg, Pa. While a music education major at Elizabethtown College, she studied with Molly Hahn of Wayne, Pa. and also studied for seven summers at the Salzedo Harp Colony in Camden, Maine with Alice Chalifoux and Jeanne Chalifoux. Jane became a member of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra in Harrisburg, Pa. in 1972 while still a student in Elizabethtown College. She appeared as soloist with the HSO playing Debussy's Danses Sacred and Profane in February, 1973. Jane also has been a member of the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra where she performed Mozart's Concerto in C Major for Flute and Harp, K. 299 with her father, the late Ray W. Kauffman in October, 1976. She is currently the principal harpist with the Reading Symphony Orchestra, a position which she has held since 1977. Jane appeared as soloist with the RSO in May, 1994 again performing Debussy's Danses Sacred and Profane. She has performed with the Lancaster Chamber Ensemble, Lancaster Opera Company, and the Berk's Grand Opera Orchestra. She has also played for various chorales and churches in the Lancaster and Reading areas. Jane is currently a music teacher in the Conestoga Valley School District in Lancaster, where she teaches strings and orchestra, Orff classrom music, and harp. Jane and Darlene Olivio have been performing together as a harp and flute duo, Gliss and Air, since 1985. She has appeared in recitals with her husband, Peter Brye, who is the assistant principal cellist of the Reading Symphony Orchestra and the conductor of the Reading Symphony Youth Orchestra. Jane also performes in a harp duo with her sister, Rebecca Kauffman.

Darlene Olivio, a member of the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, Lancaser, Pa. for 25 years, held the principal flute position for 11 years and has soloed with the symphony, performing Mozart's Concerto for Flute in G Major, K. 313 in 1991. A flute instructor since 1970, Darlene serves as the private flute teacher at Lancaster Country Day School and in her home. She has performed with the Lancaster Opera Company orchestra, Gliss and Air, Suite Silver, a professional flute quartet, as well as for various area chorales and church programs. She appeared as soloist at the inauguaral concert for Allegro: The Chamber Orchestra of Lancaster. Darlene earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education at Millersville University, where she studied flute with the late Ray W. Kauffman, principal flutist of the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra for 25 years. She also was a student of Frank Stachow, Loren Lind of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Dr. William Montgomery of the University of Maryland.