Our Story
Keith Torgan
Keith Torgan is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, actor, author, teacher, storyteller and visual artist. He is a multi-disciplinary artist with decades of experience who has appeared at hundreds of theaters, cabarets, universities, museums, schools, and libraries throughout the United States and around the world. As composer Torgan created scores for The Tempest and Ring Round the Moon at the Williamstown Theater Festival, as a solo cabaret artist Torgan has performed in such noted New York venues as The Knitting Factory and The Green Room 42. Torgan was the founder and songwriter for “Morgan, Torgan & Teri;” guest performer and writer for BMG’s Early Ears” series, and composer and lyricist for the Simply Elementary flagship program, “There’s Always a Dragon to Slay”. He has written a multitude of songs and is the author of all the Green Golly stories including the Parents’ Choice Gold Award/Family Choice Award Winning Green Golly & Her Golden Flute.
Torgan is also the author of two children’s books: 'Green Golly & Her Golden Flute,' which he co-authored with Barbara Siesel and illustrator Suzanne Langelier Lebeda, and the “Little Kids Little Songs Illustrated Album,' which he wrote and illustrated, both published by Eifrig Publishing. Mr. Torgan has taught and lead acting workshops for musicians, at New York University, the College of St. Rose, the Boston Flute Academy and the China Conservatory of Music in Beijing, as well as the Hannover University for Music, Theater and Media in Germany.
BARBARA SIESEL
Barbara Siesel is an accomplished flutist, educator, producer, and entrepreneur. Her journey towards flute mastery has been a profound and spiritual one. As the co-founder of the award-winning organization Green Golly, Barbara is dedicated to introducing children to classical music through live interdisciplinary performances, curricula, books, sheet music, flutes, and meaningful education. Green Golly has established partnerships with esteemed institutions such as The Ravinia Festival and Midori and Friends.
Barbara has showcased her flute expertise as a soloist in prestigious venues across the globe, including China, Korea, Spain, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, and the United States. She has also conducted master classes in China, Russia, Germany, Istanbul, and Korea. Barbara served as a flute professor and director of woodwinds and the contemporary ensemble at The New World School of the Arts in Miami and Colby College in Maine. In addition, she has lectured on entrepreneurship at The Juilliard School and NYU, while participating in flute festivals worldwide.
As a pioneering artist and producer, Barbara co-founded ACT (Art Culture & Technology), an organization focused on assisting artists in utilizing new technology for performance and production. Through ACT, she commissioned and produced new works that combined composition, performance, and visual arts, resulting in performances throughout the United States, some of which are now part of the MOMA Library collection. Barbara also served as the Artistic Director and Co-founder of the Storm King Music Festival, which showcased composers at the intersection of new music and technology, featuring 60 composers over five years.
Barbara's contributions extend to the realm of music journalism as a founding editor of The Flute View online magazine. This publication aims to support flutists in navigating the evolving music industry through articles, interviews, reviews, podcasts, and more.
Throughout her career, Barbara has received grants and awards from esteemed organizations such as the NEA, NYSCA, Ars Veritas Foundation, Aaron Copland Fund for Music, and Edward Cone Foundation. She was also honored with the 2015 "Deserving Person Award" from the Dr. David Milch Foundation. Her books and CDs have earned recognition, including a Parent's Choice Gold Award and a Family Choice Award, and her music editions are published by the Theodore Presser Company.
Barbara Siesel holds BM and MM degrees from The Juilliard School, where she honed her craft. Ms. Siesel’s most recent tour included recitals and master classes in Chicago (in collaboration with Ravinia), Beijing (China), Hannover (Germany), and Istanbul (Turkey).