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On the concert stage Kristen has performed a broad spectrum of works, from classical pieces (Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Haydn’s Mass in Time of War at Carnegie Hall, Handel’s Messiah and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony) to An Evening of Gilbert and Sullivan with the symphony orchestras of St. Louis, Richmond, Memphis and Minnesota. She also greatly enjoys pops concerts, and her favorite is Sci-Fi Spectacular (music from science fiction movies and television shows, hosted by Star Trek series luminaries such as George Takei, Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis), which she has performed with the Cleveland, Indianapolis, Seattle, Baltimore, Edmonton and Ottawa Symphonies, under the baton of Maestro Jack Everly.  In 2011 Kristen performed in the North American premiere of Handel’s first opera, Almira, with opera mission in New York City. She is currently involved with recording projects for several composers around the country, with everything from settings of contemporary Spanish poetry to new, Jewish liturgical music. She makes time to pay it forward by acting as president of the Ridgewood Friends of Music, which supports the music programs in Ridgewood’s public schools, and she greatly appreciates the support of her husband, Jeff, and fifteen-year-old twins, Annie and Henry. Please visit her website at www.kristenplumley.com.

She was a prize winner at the 2002 National Flute Association’s Young Artist Competition, a participant in the First Beijing Nicolet International Flute Competition and has appeared as a semi-finalist in the Myrna Brown and Ducrest Young Artist Competitions. Dr. Bacchiocchi-Stewart is principal flute with The New Jersey Wind Symphony and is a member of the Lyra Ensemble. She has performed with TRITONIS (flute, cello, and guitar), guitarist Joel Brown, percussionist Michael Zell, I Venti Semplice, the Evolution Contemporary Music Series, and the After Now: Nothing You’ve Heard Before music series, among others. She has given concerts, lectures, workshops and master classes throughout the United States and has also performed in several groups throughout Europe and Japan. She has maintained large flute studios for over 20 years both privately and in the college setting. She has taught levels ranging from beginner, intermediate, adult amateur, advanced, college and professionals. Her students have been among the flute sections of several youth orchestras and admitted into prestigious schools such as The Eastman School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, Carnegie Mellon, New England Conservatory, The Peabody Institute, Indiana University and Ithaca College. Her academic achievements include a Doctoral of Musical Arts Degree from the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Music Degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and a Bachelor of Music Degree from Ithaca College. She has participated in the Aspen Music Festival, the Colorado College Music Festival, and the Zurich Masterclass series. Her main teachers have been Marina Piccinini, Bradley Garner, Wendy Mehne, Claudia Anderson and Selma Moore.