Andrew Angelin
Bass
USA

Born in New York City and raised in New Jersey, Andrew Angelin has enjoyed an exciting career as both a contemporary and classical bassist.  His performing credits range from the Vans Warped Tour to Carnegie Hall and his recording credits include Sony Music Studios, Magic Shop Studios, and Portrait Studios in New York City and New Jersey.  In 2008, Andrew earned his Bachelor’s of Music Degree at Rutgers University: Mason Gross School of the Arts, studying under Professor Tim Cobb (Principal Double Bassist, Metropolitan Opera).  Currently, Andrew is pursuing his Master’s of Music Degree at Lynn Conservatory of Music, continuing his studies with Professor Tim Cobb. 

Jasmine Beams
Viola
USA

Jasmine Beams was born in Santa Rosa, California. She began her violin lesson at age of 6, and became the concertmaster of the Shasta Youth Symphony in Redding, CA when she was 13. The following year, Ms. Beams was invited to study with Prof. Mauricio Fuks in Bloomington, Indiana. After a year of intensive work on violin, she took great interest in viola. Subsequently, she received the Friends of Music Scholarship to study at Indiana University under the guidance of viola Prof. Alan de Veritch. Upon graduation, Ms. Beams was offered a full scholarship from IU to pursue her Performer’s Diploma with Prof. Nokuthula Ngwenyama. While at Indiana University, she was principal viola of Indiana University Orchestras, the Musical Arts Symphony Orchestra, and assistant principal viola of the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to playing classical music, Ms. Beams was the violist of the IU Latin American Popular Music Ensemble and collaborated with grammy nominated artists such as Terra Brasil, Gonzalu Grau y la Clave Secreta, Tiempo Libre, and Aquiles Baez.

In the summers of 2007 and 2008 Ms. Beams participated in the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival on tours throughout Europe and South America under the batons of Christopher Hogwood, Ivan Fischer and Christoph Eschenbach. She also participated in the Pacific Music Festival in Japan. She rejoined the SHMF Orchestra on its 2010 Tour through the USA and Canada with Lang Lang and Maestro Eschenbach. Ms. Beams made her solo debut with the Shasta Symphony Orchestra in 2009. The following year, she won the Concerto Competition at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she has an assistantship to pursue the Chamber Music Certificate with Prof. Lewis Rosove. In addition to her school, Ms. Beams also performs frequently with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and chamber music concerts with MSO musicians. She lives with her husband, Zhan Shu, and yorkshire terrier, Rupert.

Elise Blatchford
Flute
USA

Hailed for her "superb command of color and nuance" by Cleveland's Plain Dealer, Elise Blatchford is a flutist involved in many projects. As a flutist with the YOA Orchestra of the Americas, she played at Carnegie Hall for the World Economic Forum in New York in February of 2010. She has also toured Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay with the YOA in 2008. In October of 2009, she traveled to the Dominican Republic with the group Traveling Notes in a project supported by the U.S. Embassy and the Dominican Ministry of Culture to mentor chamber musicians in Santo Domingo. She is currently an associate member of the Chicago Civic Orchestra, and the flutist for the Civic Orchestra Wind Quintet.

Azusa Chapman
Violin
USA

Azusa Chapman is currently pursuing a Masters in Music and Indiana University, under the instruction of Jorja Fleezanis.  Azusa received her Bachelor’s in Music in 2009 from Indiana University, under the instruction of Mimi Zweig, and graduated with Highest Distinction.  As an undergraduate at Indiana University, Azusa achieved the positions of Principal Second of the University Orchestra, Principal Second of the Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as Assistant Concertmaster and Concertmaster positions of the Philharmonic Orchestra.  For two summers she also attended the IU Summer Festival where she acted as Assistant Concertmaster of the Symphony Orchestra, as well as performing with the Festival Orchestra.  In 2008 she was a member of the National Repertory Orchestra, and since 2008 she has been a Semi-Finalist for the New World Symphony.

Jacy Cobalis
Bass
USA

As of May 2010, Jacy Cobalis was awarded his Master's degree in double
bass performance from Arizona State University under the guidance of ASU
professor and world-renowned double bassist Catalin Rotaru.  Jacy began his undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin with Professor
David Neubert. Jacy later graduated from the University of North Texas in
2007 where he studied with Jeff Bradetich.  His final year as an undergraduate, Jacy studied abroad at the Janacek Academy of Music in Brno, Czech Republic with Professor Miloslav Jelinek.  As an undergraduate, Jacy was privileged to work with high level university ensembles such as the UT New Music Ensemble and the North Texas Baroque Ensemble.  While in Europe, he performed with the Young Sound Forum of Central Europe (Junges Klangforum Mitte Europa), and in 2007 he performed throughout the Netherlands as principle/solo double bassist with the Netherlands Youth Orchestra Academy (NJO).  In 2009, Jacy was personally invited to participate in the Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific near Vancouver, Canada where he performed as principle/solo double bass.

Jacy has also begun making a name for himself as an up and coming soloist.  In 2009, he was a featured soloist with the Arizona State University Symphony Orchestra where he performed Frank Proto?s ?A Carmen Fantasy?.  Later that
year, Jacy also won first prize in the International Soloist?s Competition at the Brno Double Bass Convention in the Czech Republic.

David Ellis
Cello
USA

David Ellis, a native of Ohio, began studying the cello at age three in the Cleveland Institute of Music Preparatory Department.  A product of both the Contemporary Youth Orchestra and the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, David served as co-principals in both of these orchestras in high school.  He has won or received honorable mention in numerous competitions, among them the Cleveland Cello Society Competition, and the Firelands Symphony Concerto Competition.  He has attended Encore School for Strings and Aspen Music Festival, and presently is studying during the school year at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.  This past summer, David served as a member of the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado.  His past teachers have included Pam Kelly, Alison Wells, and Amir Eldan.  Presently, he is studying with Catharina Meints on both cello and viola da gamba at the Oberlin Conservatory.

Cristina Enguídanos Campos
Flute
USA

22 years old flutist Cristina Enguídanos Campos just finished her Superior Studies with the highest qualifications at the “Conservatorio Superior de Música Joaquín Rodrígo” of Valencia, Spain. Obtaning the Award of the Conservatory as the best flute student.

Cristina is currently  Principal flutist at the “Joven Orquesta de la Generalitat Valenciana”, as well as the “Orquesta Filharmónica de la Universidad” of Valencia.
She is also a faculty at the School of the “Sociedad Musical Los Silos” of Burjasot (Spain), and the “Centro Estudio Musical” of Almasera (Spain)

She has studied privetly and received Master Classes with: Emmanuel Pahud, David Kremer, Salvador Martinez, Vicens Prats, Virginie Reibel, Teresa Barona, Alvaro Octavio, …

Cristina started her musical studies at the age of  7 at the School of Music of the “Banda Primitiva” of Llíria, Spain. Obtaning the Elemental Degree and the “Pare Antoni” Award as the best student of the school.
In year 2004 she finished her Medium Degree studies at the Conservatory of Lliria, entering the “Conservatorio Superior de Música Joaquín Rodrigo” of Valencia, studing with Maria Dolores Tomás, and graduating in year 2008 with the highest degree.

At her young age, Cristina had played and collaborated with a large list of orchestras and ensembles like:  Orquesta Filharmonica of the University of Valencia, Youth Orchestra of  Valencia, Lyric Orchestra of Valencia, Orchestra of the “Conservatorio Superior de Musica Joaquín Rodrigo” of Valencia, Orchestra of the Conservatory of Lliria, Spain, and Banda Primitiva of Llíria, Spain.

Abraham Feder
Cello
United States

In 2008, Abraham Feder took his position as Principal Cellist of the Sarasota Orchestra and cellist of the Sarasota String Quartet.

He attended The Curtis Institute of Music and studied with David Soyer and Peter Wiley. He served as Principal Cellist of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra, the Curtis Chamber Orchestra and the Curtis Opera Orchestra.

Abraham was chosen as principal cellist of the New York String Orchestra Seminar at Carnegie Hall. He also served as principal cellist of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras. As a youth, Abraham spent five summers as a member of the Disney Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra. During that time, he was selected to serve as principal cellist of the Disney Orchestra at the Ravinia Festival at Avery Fisher Hall.
Abraham has performed solo with the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Youth Concert Orchestra and the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. He was a prizewinner in the Primary, Junior and Intermediate Divisions of the Society of American Musicians and received an Honorable Mention in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Feinberg Competition.

Abraham has been featured as a soloist on “From the Top,” and has been presented in recital with “Music in the Loft.” He has participated in the Rush Hour Concerts at St. James Cathedral in Chicago and was featured in 2007 on WFMT’s “Impromptu.” He was also featured in concert with Christopher O’Riley at the Laguna Beach Music Festival. He has performed with artists Richard Hirschl, Brant Taylor, Kenneth Olson and Yuan-Qing Yu of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO); Rami Solomonow and of the Chicago Chamber Musicians; Stephen Balderston former Assistant Principal cellist of the CSO; Joseph Silverstein; and Leonidas Kavakos.

Abraham has performed in master classes with Janos Starker, Wolfgang Laufer, Yehudi Hanani, Truls Mork, Carter Brey and Eleanore Schoenfeld.
Abraham’s teachers have included Richard Hirschl and Tanya Carey.

Abraham spent the summer of 2008 at the Colorado College Music Festival and the Vail Valley Music Festival.

Abraham plays on a 1785 Joseph Odoardi cello. 

Lauren Hunt
French Horn
United States

Lauren Hunt, 21, attends New England Conservatory, where she studies horn with Richard Mackey. Lauren has given solo performances with the Army Orchestra, the McLean Symphony, the Landon Symphonette, and the American Youth Philharmonic, and has received numerous awards, including first place prizes in the Army Orchestra Competition and the Friday Morning Music Club Competition. An avid chamber musician, Lauren was a quarter-finalist in the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition in both 2004 and 2007, and is currently a member of a community outreach fellowship quintet at the New England Conservatory. She has served as principal for the Virginia All-State Orchestra, as well as the American Youth Philharmonic (four years). She has attended numerous summer programs including the Yellow Barn Music Festival and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and has toured internationally (Spain, Canada, and China) with both the Youth Orchestra of the Americas and the World Orchestra of Jeunesses Musicales. She was a full-scholarship participant in the National Symphony Youth Fellowship Program for three years, and currently receives the Lotta Crabtree Scholarship for study at the New England Conservatory.

Adam Daniel Jones
United States
Trombone

A native of Kansas, Bass Trombonist Adam D. Jones is a graduate student at the New England Conservatory of Music. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Wichita State University, graduating with Honors in 2007. While at WSU Mr. Jones was a featured soloist with the WSU Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Arts Ensemble. He also worked with the Wichita Symphony and Wichita Grand Opera. Now residing in Boston, Mr. Jones is an active freelance musician, regularly performing with multiple area orchestras. He is an alumnus of the Aspen Music Festival and Pierre Monteux School. His principal teachers are Russ Widener, John Rojak and Douglas Yeo. Mr. Jones is also an avid photographer. 

Jina Lee
Violin
USA

Jina Lee completed her undergraduate studies at the Peabody Conservatory and Johns Hopkins University.  She graduated in May 2007 receiving bachelor degrees in violin performance and recording arts and sciences as well as a Spanish minor for the professions.  At Peabody, she studied with Shirley Givens, also serving as her teaching assistant.  She has received fellowships to attend the Tanglewood Music Center and the Aspen Music Festival.  She was also a recipient of a Peabody Career Development Grant in 2007.  Jina is currently a violin fellow with the New World Symphony.

Jolie Lin
Piano
USA

Pianist Jolie Lin has been the recipient of numerous prizes and has performed in countless venues.  As an alumna of the prestigious Young Artists’ Guild of the Music Teachers’ Association of California, Ms. Lin has been a soloist with such orchestras as the Lviv Chamber Orchestra, Ukraine, the University Symphony of Berkeley, California, the Crowden School Orchestra, the Conejo Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Los Angeles Bach Festival Orchestra.  She is currently pursuing a doctorate at Peabody Conservatory and also holds degrees from the University of California and Indiana University, Bloomington.  Her principal teachers include Rosemary Carswell, Sharon Mann, Evelyne Brancart and Boris Slutsky. 

Ms. Lin is also a dedicated music educator and recently returned from a trip to China where she conducted research on the music education systems of Shanghai and Beijing through a generous grant from the Theodor Presser Foundation.  She was a presenter at the Performers’ Voice Symposium at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory in Singapore in 2009 and continues to do research on her project concerning piano pedagogy in China and Russia.  Ms. Lin currently resides in Baltimore, Maryland, and is on the music faculty at the Baltimore School for the Arts, a pre-professional training high school for young artists.

Cathy Litaker
Harp
USA

Catherine Litaker has been playing the harp since she was 7 years old.  A native of San Diego, CA, she grew up studying with Sheila Sterling and Elena Mashkovtseva.  She played with two youth orchestras while in High school and won the San Diego Symphony Hot shots competition in 2003.  In 2007 she attended the Pacific Music Festival in Japan and in 2008 she attended Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific in Canada. 

She received her Bachelors degree from Indiana University, Jacobs School of Music in 2008, where she studied with Susann McDonald.  While at IU she was active in playing in chamber music and orchestra.    Now she is finishing her masters degree at Roosevelt University, Chicago College of Performing Arts where she studies with Sarah Bullen (Chicago Symphony Orchestra).  She will be playing principal harp with Civic Orchestra of Chicago for the upcoming season and is currently a substitute for New World Symphony. 

Sean Maree
Bassoon
USA

Sarah Martin
Violin
USA

“La musique est le médiateur entre le spirituel et la vie sensuelle.” ~Ludwig van Beethoven

Born in Dallas, Texas, Sarah Martin, age 21, began studying the violin at age five. She attended The Dallas International School before attending Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, during which time she studied with University of North Texas professor Julia Bushkova. She is currently attending Oberlin Conservatory and Oberlin College pursuing degrees in Violin Performance and Psychology. At the conservatory, her principle teacher is Gregory Fulkerson. 

An avid orchestral and chamber musician, Sarah has attended such festivals as the International Academy of Music in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Italy, National Symphony Orchestra at Kennedy Center, Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI), ARIA, and Chautauqua Music Festival. At these festivals, she has studied with world-renowned teachers including Almita Vamos, Jacques Israelivitch, Anton Miller and Mikhail Kopelman. She has also completed a masterclass with James Buswell.

As a past member of the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra, the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, and a current member of Oberlin Orchestra, Sarah has performed in Italy, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, China, Hong Kong and in Walt Disney Concert Hall. She has also played under many great conductors including German Guiterrez, Richard Giangiulio, David Hoose, James Gaffigan, Tim Muffit, Bridget Reischl, and Tito Muñoz.

Sarah considers herself a major Foodie, which contributes to her love for traveling. She also enjoys bike riding and all forms of dance.

Farrah O'Shea
Viola
USA

Farrah O’Shea is a senior viola performance major at the Boston University School of Music where she studies with Michelle LaCourse, viola professor and chair of the string department.  As a student at Boston University, Ms. O’Shea has performed at Symphony Hall and the Kennedy Center with the Boston University Symphony Orchestra.  The Journal of the American Viola Society will publish Farrah’s, “The Democracy Known as Chamber Music, the Profile of a Chamber Musician,” in its fall 2010 issue. The piece chronicles the chamber music career of Roger Tapping, former violist of the Takács String Quartet.  Ms. O’Shea has attended Heifetz International Music Institute, Interlochen Summer Arts Camp and was awarded a full fellowship to the Chamber Music Institute at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She played in master classes for Marcus Thompson, Jonah Sirota, and for the Vogler, Muir and Chiara String Quartets.  Additionally, she studied with Karen Ritscher, Martha Katz, and Sheila Browne.

Brian Reese
Trombone
USA

Brian Reese is a tenor trombonist originally from Atlanta, GA.  His solo performances include an appearance with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and his chamber ensembles have twice won the Lillian Fuchs Chamber Music Competition.  During and after his time as a student at the Manhattan School of Music, Brian performed with many ensembles in the New York tri-state area, including the New Jersey Philharmonic, the Garden State Pops Orchestra, Project Opera Manhattan, One World Symphony and the Harlem Repertory Theater Company.  He was most recently a finalist in the International Trombone Association’s Trombone Quartet Competition.  He is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree at the Yale School of Music, under the instruction of Scott Hartman.

Ben Reidhead
Horn
USA

Ben Reidhead began playing horn in 2001 and is a student at the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying with Richard King, principal horn of the Cleveland Orchestra.  He is currently the fourth horn of the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, and has played with the Canton and Firelands Symphony Orchestras. In previous summers, Ben has attended the Kent/Blossom and Colorado College Summer Music Festivals, and was one of four winners of the Dorothy Frizelle Mock Audition Competition at the 2008 International Horn Society Workshop.  Ben earned his International Baccalaureate and High School diplomas from Poudre High School in Fort Collins, Colorado, in 2007.

Matthew Roitstein
Flute
USA

Flutist Matthew Roitstein enjoys a diverse career in performance, music education and outreach, architecture and visual arts.  Originally from Valencia, CA, Matthew has been the Associate Principal Flutist of the Honolulu Symphony and Hawaii Opera Theatre since 2009.  He has also played with the New World Symphony in Miami and has performed under such notable conductors as David Zinman, Leonard Slatkin, Larry Rachleff, Peter Oundjian, and JoAnn Falletta.  He was one of only three Americans invited to the 2006 Nielsen International Flute Competition in Odense, Denmark, and he has been reinvited to compete at the 2010 competition in June.  Matthew is the winner of the 2007 MIT Concerto Competition and 2nd prize winner of the 2002 National Flute Association High School Soloist Competition.  He has also been soloist with the Colburn Orchestra da Camera, CalState Northridge Youth Philharmonic, and the Santa Clarita Valley Young Artist Symphony.  Summer programs Matthew has attended include the Music Academy of the West, Aspen Music Festival, Sarasota Chamber Music Festival, and the  2008 South American tour of the Youth Orchestra of the Americas.  He has taught and performed as an Artist Faculty member of both the Aguas del Chorrillo program in Panama and the Music for Peace Festival in Chicago.  He received Bachelor's Degrees in both architecture and music from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he studied flute with Seta Der Hohannesian, and his Master's Degree in flute performance with Leone Buyse at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music.  Matthew's family has many generations of musicians who enjoy playing together as often as possible, including his grandmother, Cuban pianist Rosalina Sackstein; his mother, Los Angeles based flutist Rosy Sackstein; his father, jazz pianist and composer David Roitstein; his twin brother, double bassist Andrew Roitstein; and his younger sister, vocalist and flutist Alina Roitstein.  His mother was Matthew's primary teacher before college, and he has also studied with Stephen Kujala, Pedro Eustache, Gary Woodward, Marianne Gedigian, Linda Toote, Timothy Day, and Mark Sparks. 

Berk Schneider
Trombone
USA

Berk was born into a musical family and started private study on the trombone at the age of 13. He has attended and/or been selected to perform at many events and festivals such as the Aspen Music Festival (2009), Youth Orchestra of the Americas Latin American Tour (2008), and the Eastern Music Festival.  He has had the privilege to play with YOA on its Vatican and Carnegie tours.  He has subbed with the Akron and Youngstown Symphonies in Ohio and plays bass trombone for the Firelands Symphony in Sandusky.  Berk received honorable mentions in the ITA Gilberto Gagliardi Solo Competition (2007) and Lewis van Haney Philharmonic Prize Tenor Trombone Competition (2008) and most recently been selected as a finalist for the International Marsteller Competition taking place this July.  He has attended master classes lead by the American Brass Quintet, Nay Palm Bones, U.W Eau Claire Trombone Summit, Professors Thomas Ashworth, Norman Bolter, Mark Hetzler, Mike Kris, Nick Keelan, Carl Lenthe, and Douglas Wright.  Berk’s notable private teachers have included Per Brevig, Todd Schendel, James Box, Thomas Klaber and Greg Cox. Berk currently studies with James DeSano at the Oberlin College Conservatory where he is finishing his senior year of studies in Trombone Performance. Berk enjoys photography and painting on his free time as well as spending time with family and friends.

Zhan Shu
Violin
USA

Violinist Zhan Shu was acting associate concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra for the 2008-2009 season. He first performed with the MSO as guest principle second violin in 2006, and joined the first violin section in 2007. Prior to MSO, Mr. Shu has served as concertmaster for the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra, Symphony of Southeast Texas, Indiana University Symphony Orchestras, Texas Music Festival Orchestra and Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival Orchestra in Germany. Ms. Shu has won numerous violin competitions, among them First Prizes at Indiana University Concerto Competition, the Friday Woodmere Music Club Young Artist Competition in New York, the Mannes College of Music Concerto Competition, the Texas Music Festival Concerto Competition, Third Prize at the New Jersey Symphony Young Artist Competition, the Central Conservatory of Music Violin Competition, and Four Prize at the China Youth Violin Competition. The recordings of Mr. Shu’s performances have been heard frequently on WQXR’s ‘Young Artist Showcase’ in New York, WUSF in Tampa, KUHF in Houston and NPR. In 2009, Mr. Shu made his solo debut with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. As an active Chamber Musician, he performs regularly with his MSO colleagues, and has been invited to participate in Sarasota Music Festival, Toronto Summer Music Festival and Pacific Music Festival in Japan. 

A native of China, Mr. Shu received his earlier training from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. At age of 16, he was awarded a full scholarship to study at the Mannes College of Music with Lucie Robert in New York. Upon graduation, Mr. Shu received the George and Elizabeth Gregory Award for Excellence in Performance, and a full scholarship to study at the University of Houston for his master degree with Emanuel Borok. Mr. Shu later became an recipient of both Josef Gingold and Jascha Heifetz Scholarships at Indiana University, where he was an Artist Diploma Student under the guidance of Mauricio Fuks and Alexander Kerr.

Elisabeth Meryl Summers
Bassoon
USA

Meryl Summers, originally from Boston Massachusetts, has been playing the bassoon for 12 years. She is currently studying in Germany on a Fulbright Grant with Gustavo Núñez, the principle bassoonist  of  the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. She has recently graduated from Northwestern University, where she studied with Christopher Millard. She received a double degree in music and environmental policy. As part of her studies, she spent a year studying music in Vienna with David Seidel as well as two summers working at Wrangell St. Elias National Park in Alaska. In 2008-2009, she performed as a regular member with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. In the summer of 2009, she performed with the Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox, Massachusetts. She has also participated in the Domaine Forget Music Festival for two summers.

Brian Viliunas
Clarinet
United States

Twenty-six year old clarinetist Brian Viliunas has given performances in seven states and seven countries. He has played with orchestras in Houston, Racine, and Waukesha, and also the Bergen Philharmonic in Norway, while living there for the past year as a Fulbright Scholar. While in Norway, Brian gave solo recitals and appeared as guest soloist with the Lignum Clarinet Ensemble of Holland. He was also active as an educator and clinician for bands in Bergen and Voss, and frequent guest conductor and performer with the 2007 Norwegian Grand Champions, Dragefjelletmusikkorps. Brian is a member of the Youth Orchestra of the Americas, and accompanied them on their first European tour, where he was principle clarinet on their DVD recording of Verdi’s Requiem with conductor Placido Domingo. He has also performed with Lorin Maazel, Benjamin Zander, and Andrew Litton and has been able to study with excellent teachers, most notably Russ Dagon, Danny Granados, Haakon Nilsen, Dan Roberdeau, and Michael Webster. A native of Greendale, Wisconsin, Brian has been successful in numerous competitions ranging from the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra’s concerto competition in 2000 to being the furthest advancing American in the 2005 Carl Nielsen Clarinet Competition in Odense, Denmark. Brian holds degrees from Northwestern University and Rice University and will be spending the summer performing at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston and touring South America before beginning work on a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in the fall. 

Monika Worchol
French Horn
USA

Monika Warchol, horn, completed her graduate studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 2009, where she studied with Jonathan Ring, Bob Ward, and Bruce Roberts.  Since graduating, Monika has maintained an active schedule as a freelance musician around the Bay Area, performing regularly with local orchestras, including the San Francisco Symphony.  She recently returned from a one-month tour with the Hollywood Concert Orchestra and Shirley Jones (of Partridge Family and movie-musical fame).  A big fan of new music, Monika has performed with Ensemble Parallele, sfSound, the Magik*Magik Orchestra, and Irregular Resolutions.  In May 2009, she gave the world premiere of David Garner’s Horn Concerto with Symphony Parnassus.  In November 2008, she was selected to participate in the Winds and Brass Orchestral Repertoire Professional Training Workshop through Carnegie Hall’s Weill Institute.  Monika was a fellowship recipient with the American Academy of Conducting Orchestra at the Aspen Music Festival and School last summer, where she studied with John Zirbel.  Some of Monika's other previous summer engagements have included the Aspen Music Festival, Eastern Music Festival, Oberlin-in-Italy, International Chamber Music Workshop (Pulawy, Poland), International Lyric Academy in Rome, and the Junges Klangforum tour of Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic.  A native of Savannah, Georgia, Monika received her B.M. from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Roland Pandolfi.

Tracy Wu
Violin
USA

Tracy is a native Los Angeleno and graduate student at Rice University. She holds the  Mullen Scholarship for Advanced Study and studies violin with Kenneth Goldsmith and viola with Ivo-Jan Van der Werff.

In 2007 Tracy was awarded a Peabody Career Grant and in 2008 she graduated from Peabody Conservatory with a B.M. in violin performance and a minor in anthropology. Tracy performed Vieuxtemps Concerto No. 5 in 2007 with the National Repertory Orchestra under the baton of Andres Cardenes. Tracy was chosen as principal second violin of the Shepherd Chamber Orchestra, principal second of the Aspen Sinfonia, concertmaster of the National Repertory Orchestra, and concertmaster of the Peabody Concert Orchestra. In addition Tracy spent much of her final undergraduate semester playing in the New World Symphony. Tracy has performed in master classes with Claude and Pamela Frank, David Kim, Elizabeth Adkins, Mark Steinberg, Timothy Eddy, and Nicholas Kitchen. Tracy’s teachers have included Violaine Melancon, David Perry, Espen Lilleslatten, and Jennifer Johnson.

Outside the world of music, Tracy is an avid backpacker and a Wilderness First Responder. Tracy loves baking gluten-free goodies and frying vegetables in animal fat. She hopes to strengthen her Spanish skills this summer!

Tracy has received a Rich Family Grant from Rice University and will be travelling to Panama in May to work with the Danilo Silva Foundation and the Orquesta Sinfonica Juvenil Istmena. While there she will be teaching, coaching sectionals, and developing a community music program for underprivileged youth.