Robert Martin

Robert Martin currently serves as Concertmaster of the MSO and is a member of the U.S. Army Strings, an ensemble of the United States Army Band, also known as “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, DC. His extensive and diverse musical background includes performances with the Philadelphia, Richmond, Delaware, Lancaster, and Princeton Symphony Orchestras, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and Symphony in C. He has collaborated with touring artists such as Julie Andrews, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Bernadette Peters, Barry Manilow, Elvis Costello, Patti LaBelle, Luciano Pavarotti, Josh Groban, and K.D. Lang.

A native of the Philadelphia area, Robert Martin began his violin studies at age three with Rochelle Walton, a former teaching assistant to famed pedagogue Ivan Galamian. He later studied with Julian Meyer and Sylvia Ahramjian at Temple University’s Center for Gifted Young Musicians. At age 13, Martin made his solo debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra as the winner of the Albert M. Greenfield competition. He continued his studies with Zvi Zeitlin at the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music, where he served as Concertmaster of the Eastman Philharmonia and regularly performed with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

Martin’s extensive and diverse experience includes performances with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Ballet, Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, Orchestra 2001, and the Baltimore and Richmond Symphony Orchestras. He has been a resident artist at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California, and at the Bravo! Vail Valley, Skaneateles, and Vermont Mozart festivals. A member of The U.S. Army Strings since 2011, Martin has performed at numerous high-level diplomatic, political, and military events in Washington, D.C. He served as Concertmaster of the U.S. Army Orchestra from 2015 to 2021. Previously, he served as Principal Second Violin of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia.

Joanna Natalia Owen

Joanna Owen holds a doctoral degree from the Eastman School of Music and serves as a faculty member at both George Mason University and the Mason Arts Academy. Her extensive orchestra experience includes her current position as Associate Concertmaster of Maryland Symphony, as well as previous positions with the Rochester Philharmonic and the Syracuse Symphony. During a four-year contract with the National Symphony, she performed regularly at the Kennedy Center, as well as around the world on four international tours.

A native of Poland, Joanna is co-founder of Concertino, an educational initiative that brings chamber music and literature to school children in the Warsaw metropolitan area. In the past 20 years the organization has presented over ten thousand concerts. Additionally, she has served as a volunteer for the Hospice of the Chesapeake.

Jessica Albrecht

Shawn Alger

Shawn Alger is a double bassist equally at home and in various musical settings including music of the classical cannon, historical performance, and popular genres. As an in-demand performer in the Washington DC area, he serves as the Associate Principal Bassist of the Maryland Symphony and has performed with modern and period ensembles such as the National Symphony Orchestra, American Bach Soloists, Annapolis Symphony, and National Philharmonic. Dr. Alger is a section bassist with the Endless Mountain Music Festival, an organization dedicated to outreach and bringing live musical performances to the under-served counties of northern Pennsylvania and central New York.  

In addition to his performance duties, Dr. Alger is the Double Bass Instructor at Washington Adventist University and has been a guest lecturer and clinician for numerous schools, universities, and ensembles throughout the country. His primary teachers include Anthony Manzo, Jeffrey Weisner, Tyler Abbott, and Thomas Derthick. 

Kristin Bakkegard

Baltimore native Kristin Bakkegard is an active violinist and teacher in the greater Baltimore/Annapolis area. She is the Associate Principal 2nd Violin of Annapolis Symphony, a first violin section member of both the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, and Principal 2nd Violin of the nationally touring Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra. Kristin performs with several other groups across the mid-Atlantic region such as the Richmond Symphony, Delaware Symphony, and Apollo Orchestra as well. She has appeared as soloist with the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra with Vivaldi’s Spring and the Londontowne Symphony Orchestra on Saint-Saëns’ Havanaise. 

An avid chamber musician, Kristin is a member of the Annapolis Chamber Players and Riverhawk String Quartet, as well as a frequent guest musician in chamber ensembles across Maryland, performing with the Allegheny Ensemble, Shepherd Trio, and Karen Lau Quartet. She has been a member of BCO’s Live Wire String Quartet since 2017. Kristin has performed across Europe and North America, including in Spain as part of the Annapolis Symphony’s 2022 Tour. Outside of the classical music world, Kristin has appeared on four NPR Tiny Desk concerts, collaborating with Meg Myers, indie rock band alt-J, lead singer Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, and most recently 2022 Tiny Desk Contest winner Alisa Amador. 

Kristin is an enthusiastic teacher, maintaining a full private studio, teaching for the Apex music program at Broadneck High School in Annapolis, and serving on faculty at the Annapolis Symphony Academy. She is a sought-after coach, having worked with string students at the Columbia Youth Orchestra, College Park Youth Orchestra, Strathmore’s East County Strings program, and the Annapolis Chamber Music Project.  

In her free time, Kristin enjoys making music with her violinist husband, Paul, and watching their greyhound Jovie sleep, where they reside in Arnold, MD. 

Rick Basehore

Rick Basehore, a Rochester, NY native, is an active freelance oboist in the DC metro area. His performing schedule includes orchestral concerts across the mid-Atlantic region from Norfolk, VA to New York City. He is currently the Principal Oboist of the Sarasota Opera, Reading, and Allentown Symphony orchestras, and holds oboe and English Horn positions with the Annapolis, Harrisburg, and Maryland Symphony Orchestras. Rick can be heard on recordings of the Eastman Bach Children’s Choir, the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, and the Grammy-nominated professional choir, Seraphic Fire, including their recording of Bach’s Cantata 84.  

Rick moved to DC in 2008 to assume the duties of Co-Principal Oboist with “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band. He spent his four-year enlistment playing for 2 Presidents, various visiting foreign dignitaries, and tens of thousands of Americans on four separate tours across the country. Other previous positions include Principal Oboist of the Fairfax and Kentucky Symphony orchestras, Second Oboist of the Binghamton Philharmonic, and Third Oboist of the Virginia Symphony. 

For 15 years, Rick travelled across the world, playing with music festivals in places such as Moscow, Jerusalem, Tallinn, Aspen, and Stuttgart. Between 1998 and 2002, Rick toured extensively across the United States with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra. In December of 2000 Rick explored historical sights across the Holy Land in between rehearsing all nine Beethoven Symphonies on an Israeli kibbutz for an international music festival. A few weeks later, he spent two months playing with the Ural Philharmonic Orchestra in Yekaterinburg, Russia, as part of a cross-cultural residency program. It was here, during a sub-zero week in February, that Rick had his stage-speaking debut as the narrator in Arnold Schoenberg’s A Survivor from Warsaw. In 2008, he was part of a new production of Porgy and Bess, featuring an all-American cast and orchestra at Paris’s famed Opera Comìque.

Rick studied with Richard Killmer at the Eastman School of Music and Mark Ostoich at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. He also spent three years in the New World Symphony, America’s only full-time training orchestra for professional musicians, led by Michael Tilson Thomas. 

When he’s not practicing, performing, teaching, making reeds, or driving to a job, he is probably catching a frisbee, preparing someone’s taxes, or running PianoMart: the website his late uncle founded in 1997 to help people buying and selling pianos find each other online.

Mauricio Betanzo

Julie Angelis Boehler

Julie is a native of Worcester, MA, a city which is so much like Hagerstown that she sometimes forgets she’s not from here until she hears someone pronounce the letter “R.” She started playing percussion in a Drum & Bugle Corps at the tender age of eight and spent her final summer in the activity as Timpanist with The Boston Crusaders.  After over a decade of marching, she excitedly made the shift to orchestral percussion and spent a life-altering summer at Tanglewood. She has enjoyed a career that meshes her rudimental and classical training. After summers in Breckenridge, CO, Japan and Italy where she had the surreal honor of performing for Pavarotti, she was abruptly shipped off to boot camp after winning a coveted job with The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” 

She “retired” after 23 years of service, 17 as Principal Timpanist. She continues to enjoy playing Percussion with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra (MSO), the Blossom Festival Band in Cuyahoga Falls, OH, The Venice (FL) Symphony, and as Timpanist of The Brass Band of Battle Creek. Her MSO highlights include the recording Chris Brubeck’s “Affinity” with Grammy Award-winning guitarist Sharon Isbin, the PBS feature “Music to my Ears” with “Bob the Vid Tech” and as soloist in “Gerald McBoing Boing”  by Gail Kubik/Dr. Seuss.

H. Lee Brewster

Born into a musical heritage as the youngest son of the late Principal National Symphony Bassist, H. Stevens Brewster, Jr., Lee received his B.M. in Violin Performance at the Philadelphia Musical Academy in 1991. He studied violin with Assistant Concertmaster William de Pasquale and Section Violinist Frank Costanzo of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Assistant Concertmaster Elisabeth Adkins and Concertmaster William Steck of the National Symphony Orchestra.  He then furthered his Chamber Music and Master Class studies at the Curtis Institute of Music, Temple University, Catholic University, Shenandoah University, The University of Maryland, and Peabody Conservatory. In December of 2000, Lee had the honor to premier the Barber Violin Concerto in Vidin, Bulgaria. In 2008, Lee released his debut recording of the Rode 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, which is currently available on both Itunes and Spotify. He was a member of the Richmond Symphony violin section from 1991 to 1997 and has been a member of the Maryland Symphony violin section since September 2001. He served as Concertmaster of the Piedmont Symphony Orchestra from 2016 to 2023. He was lead violin in String Quartets on board the Celebrity “Infinity” Cruise Ship in 2010 and the Holland America’s “Oosterdam” Cruise Ship in 2011.  He also was a member of the Frederick Symphony as Principal Second Violin from 2016 to 2024. 

Lee now devotes the majority of his time to teaching. He has published a violin scale book “The Brewster Scale Method” that is now available on Amazon.com and through Music and Arts. Lee served on the Violin Faculty at the Levine School of Music in Washington DC from 2012 to 2014 and is currently on the Violin/Viola faculty at the Landon School for Boys in Bethesda and the Mclean School in Potomac. Lee also joined the faculty at Sloans School of Music at the Urbana Maryland location, and Foxes Music in Falls Church, VA. 

Zachary Bridges

Zach Bridges currently serves as the Principal Tuba of the Maryland Symphony, a position he has held since 2019. Since 2016, he has also served as a member of The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” Ceremonial Band where his primary duties include supporting funerals at Arlington National Cemetery, wreath-laying ceremonies by heads of state and other foreign dignitaries at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, monthly retirement parades, special reviews, and arrival and departure honors for foreign dignitaries at the White House and Pentagon.

In addition to his performance career, Zach has served as the Adjunct Associate Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Shenandoah University’s Conservatory of Music since the fall of 2022.

Zach received his bachelor’s degree from Baylor University where he studied with Dr. Kent Eshelman. He received his master’s degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where he studied with David Kirk, Principal Tuba of the Houston Symphony.

Ariadna Buonviri

A native of Bogotá, Colombia, Ariadna began studying the violin at the age of three and made her debut at the age of seventeen as a soloist with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá and Orquesta Sinfónica de Colombia. Ariadna attended college in the United States on full scholarships, getting her B.M. in Violin performance at Texas Christian University and M.M. in Violín performance at Southern Methodist University. An avid chamber musician, Ariadna has performed with Cuarteto Rustico and Quartetto Alma among other ensembles. Ariadna has performed as Concertmaster, Principal Second, and in the violin section of several orchestras in the USA and Colombia. Currently, she is the Associate Principal Second Violin of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra. 

Ariadna has taught private violin studio in Lovettsville, VA since 2008 to students of all ages and levels. Ariadna’s method of teaching integrates the knowledge of music theory into violin playing and musical interpretation. As a violin teacher, Ariadna’s goal is to teach discipline, perseverance, diligence, persistence, patience and organization through the joy of playing. 

Beverly Butts

Scott Cassada

Chandra Cervantes

A graduate of both Northwestern University and San Francisco Conservatory, Chandra Cervantes has held positions with The United States Army Field Band, Tulsa Philharmonic, Shanghai Broadcasting Symphony, and Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Now an active freelance musician in the Washington DC/Baltimore area, she is a member of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, American Pops Orchestra, Barclay Brass, Washington Symphonic Brass, and Inscape, a Grammy nominated chamber ensemble committed to presenting emerging American composers. Chandra also performs regularly with Wolf Trap Orchestra, Washington National Opera, Post Classical Ensemble, Baltimore Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, and as a Guest Artist with Seraph Brass and the Little River Band.

Chandra has been involved in several shows in the DC area including a production of Anastasia and Sunset Boulevard at the John F. Kennedy Center, Into the Woods at Ford’s Theater, Signature Theatre and the Kennedy Center, and She Loves Me and Ragtime at Signature Theatre. With the National Symphony Orchestra she has played on three international tours, performing across Europe, Poland, South America, Mexico, Trinidad, and Oman. Since 2020 Chandra has played and spoken at the Wintergreen Music Festival, collaborating with musicians from around the country. 

While maintaining a private home studio, Chandra is also Professor of Horn at University of Maryland Baltimore County, Montgomery College, and Instructor of Horn at the Levine School of Music. She coached the DC Youth Orchestra’s top two orchestra’s sectionals for many years and was an instructor at MATS, a summer camp for adult musicians. 

Her recordings include four with the Washington Symphonic Brass: The Edge, Classic Rock for Brass, Home for the Holidays and Trumpets Ring! Voices Sing!. In December of 2013 she recorded Marcos Galvany’s internationally successful opera, Oh My Son. She is heard on the album Redes, a world premiere recording of the full Revuelatas score, with PostClassical Ensemble. With Maryland Symphony Orchestra she recorded for Sharon Isbin’s Affinity. Chandra has recorded three albums with Inscape: a new arrangement of Petrushka, released in 2015, an exciting collaboration with Phillip Glass, The Fall of the House of Usher, and an upcoming album including Barber’s Medea, recorded in November, 2021. Two pieces by Florence Price are available on YouTube, recorded with Barclay Brass, and with special permission. 

During the pandemic Chandra pursued two additional degrees in both Psychology and Business Administration.

Yen-Jung Chen

Julianna Chitwood

Nathan Clark

Mauricio D. Couto

Fatma Daglar

Katlyn DeGraw

Cellist Katlyn DeGraw is a seasoned performer with appearances around the globe, including concerts throughout the U.S., Canada, Asia, and Europe. Ms. DeGraw is the Associate Principal Cellist of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and appears with the Richmond and Annapolis Symphonies. Additionally, she has performed with the Baltimore and Charleston Symphonies on numerous occasions. Equally passionate about chamber music, Ms. DeGraw is cellist of the Ann Street Trio. She enjoys touring with the trio, performing on chamber music series throughout the region. In addition to her performing, Ms. DeGraw is a dedicated and enthusiastic teacher where she maintains a private studio of successful and engaged students. Ms. DeGraw has served on the faculty of Baltimore School for the Arts, CelloSpeak, and the Hochstein School of Music. 

Ms. DeGraw holds a Bachelor degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music where she studied with Amit Peled, and a Master degree from the Eastman School of Music where she worked with David Ying. 

Amanda Dusold

Ruth Erbe

Ruth H. Erbe is an active violinist, conductor, and educator in the Northern Virginia area and a longtime member of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra. She studied violin with Vernon Summers and Luis Haza of the National Symphony Orchestra and Herbert Greenberg of the Baltimore and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras. Ms. Erbe’s pursued conducting studies with Robert Page, Keith Lockhart, Anthony Maiello and Markand Thakar. In addition to her busy freelance career playing the violin, Ruth is music director and conductor for Ritorno a Musica, a chamber string orchestra for talented amateur musicians based in Northern Virginia. Out of her home studio, she has brought the joy of music to hundreds of violin and viola students of all ages. 

Ms. Erbe’s passion for music, her understanding of music-making from a player’s point of view, and her comprehensive knowledge of the orchestral repertoire come through in her exciting and diverse programs. In addition, she serves as a devoted and enthusiastic advocate for music education for all ages. Ms. Erbe graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music performance. 

Phyllis Freeman

Jeffrey Gaylord

Liam Glendening

Trombonist Liam Glendening holds the principal chair of both the Maryland Symphony and Portland Symphony Orchestras. He has also performed alongside the Baltimore Symphony, Chicago Symphony, and San Diego Symphony orchestras. A passionate chamber musician, Liam is a founding member of the award-winning Kresge Trombone Quartet, and plays with the Terrapin Brass Quintet. As a freelance musician, Liam performs and serves as a teacher and clinician across the east coast.

Liam’s musical career began on the cello but after tendonitis damaged his bowing hand he decided to follow in his father and grandfather’s footsteps by taking up the trombone. While he studied with his father during high school, Liam was a member of the National Youth Orchestra and won the American Trombone Workshop’s solo competition. He attended Vanderbilt University as a Cornelius Vanderbilt scholar and later joined Northwestern University’s world renowned trombone studio during his masters. He spent three years as the trombone fellow for the Aspen Music Festival and School. His past teachers include Jeremy Wilson, Douglas Wright, Per Brevig, Gene Pokorny, Warren Deck, and Michael Mulcahy.

Liam also plays the theremin; he has premiered several new chamber works featuring the instrument and performed in the Nashville production of Be More Chill on both theremin and trombone. He also performs on the bass guitar, and he moonlights as a recording engineer for both classical chamber ensembles and rock bands. In his free time he writes short stories, bakes bread, and runs with his dog, Arlo.

Teresa L. Gordon

Teresa Gordon has been a second violin player at the Maryland Symphony Orchestra since 1994. Teresa is a graduate of the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, VA with her Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance and is a freelance violinist and violist in the greater Washington metropolitan area.  

Ms. Gordon is a licensed public-school educator and currently serves as the Director of Orchestras at Rock Ridge High School in Ashburn, VA. Outside of school, Teresa maintains an active performing career and a small private studio. She is the newly appointed Concertmaster of the Piedmont Symphony in Warrenton, VA, and in addition to the MSO and PSO, Teresa is a member of the Apollo Orchestra, and the Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra. During her summers, Ms. Gordon serves on the faculty of the Shepherd University Strings Camp and is a performing member of the Shippensburg Summer Music Festival in PA. 

Teresa enjoys playing a wide variety of musical styles from Classical, Pop, & Rock, to Bluegrass & Broadway, and has enjoyed performing with an eclectic mix of world-renowned artists at many of our region’s premier venues. In her free time, Teresa enjoys all things music, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. 

Lysiane Gravel-Lacombe

Lysiane Gravel-Lacombe, violinist, was born in Montreal. She has been an active freelance musician in the Baltimore/DC area since 1999 and is currently a member of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and The National Philharmonic. Over the years, she has performed with the Annapolis, Baltimore and Delaware Symphony Orchestras, the Baltimore Opera Company, the Maryland Lyric Opera, and Concert Artists of Baltimore. She has shared the stage with Arlo Guthrie, Mary J Blige, Phish, Sarah McLachlan, Earth Wind and Fire, and Stevie Wonder. 

Lysiane received a college degree from the Vincent d’Indy School of Music in Montreal, where she studied with Luis Grinhauz and was awarded the gold medal from the Governor General of Canada for outstanding academic performances. She then earned her Bachelor and Master degrees in violin performance from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University as a scholarship student of Herbert Greenberg. Lysiane also owns and operates Zoom Zoom Groom,LLC, a mobile pet grooming company servicing the Frederick, MD area since 2014. In her spare time, Lysiane loves to garden, cook, sip gin, tackle home improvement projects, and rescue cats. 

Erich Heckscher

Erich Heckscher is Principal Bassoon of both the National Philharmonic and Maryland Symphony Orchestras. He served as Acting Second Bassoon with the National Symphony Orchestra for the 2011/2012 season and guest Principal Bassoon with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 2000, and previously held positions with the Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, and Alabama Symphony Orchestras. Mr. Heckscher has performed with the Baltimore, Dallas, Oregon, Richmond, Virginia and Charleston Symphony Orchestras, as well as locally with the Smithsonian Chamber Players, Eclipse Chamber Orchestra and Washington National Opera. Solo appearances include the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and the Britt Festival Orchestra, where he has been Principal Bassoon since 2000. He has participated in the Sarasota, Kent/Blossom, Chautauqua, National Orchestral Institute and National Repertory Orchestra summer festivals.

Mr. Heckscher holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Southern Methodist University, studying with K. David Van Hoesen, John Hunt and Wilfred Roberts. He was on the bassoon faculty at the University of Maryland from 2012 to 2021.

Rachel Holaday

Mark Hughes

Adriane Benvenuti Irving

Robert Jenkins

Youbin Jun

Cellist Youbin Jun, a graduate of Seoul Arts High School and the New England Conservatory of Music, is dedicated to sharing the beauty of music through performances, teaching, and community engagement. With a diverse career as a soloist, orchestra player, chamber musician, and educator, Jun has graced major venues worldwide, including Jordan Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Seoul Art Center, and the Sejong Arts Center. She has participated in renowned music festivals such as the Sarasota Music Festival, the Bowdoin International Music Festival, and spent an intense summer studying with Laurence Lesser at the Orford Arts Centre. Jun has collaborated with esteemed musicians and completed masterclasses with renowned pedagogues, including Steve Doane, Ronald Leonard, Timothy Eddy, Fans Helmerson, Natalia Gutman, Ronald Leonard, Gary Hoffman, and Peter Wispelwey. 

Jun is a recipient of numerous awards and honors, including first prizes at competitions such as the American Protégé Concerto Competition, the New York International Music Concour, the Grand Prize Virtuoso International Competition, and accolades from competitions such as the Korea Chamber Orchestra Competition, the Strad Competition, the Classical Music Magazine Competition, and the Eumyeon Music Competition. She actively attends Alexander Technique, American String Teachers Association, and String Pedagogy workshops, contributing as a translator to CelloBello for Korean viewers. 

Jun’s dedication to teaching is underscored by her students’ remarkable achievements, including winning positions in the Virginia All-State and All-National Orchestras. She has a successful private studio, where her students have achieved success in regional competitions and orchestral auditions. Currently, Jun performs with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and holds positions with other prestigious ensembles, including the Washington Chamber Orchestra and the non-profit ensemble GoodBeats. Her commitment to music education is further evidenced by her roles as a teaching assistant at the Mason Gross School of Arts, sectional coach of the undergraduate orchestra at Rutgers University, and her certification as a Suzuki teacher. She is also the solo cellist of the Friday Morning Music Club and maintains a busy schedule of solo and chamber music concerts. 

Stephanie Knutsen

Violist Stephanie Knutsen has had a busy performing career based out of the Washington D.C. area where she has played for the past 20 years. She is a native of Montgomery County, MD, and currently lives in Sterling, VA with her husband and two daughters. She performs regularly with many local orchestras including the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, National Philharmonic, and American Pops Orchestra, as well as various performing ensembles and chamber music collaborations. Outside of music-making, Stephanie is a proud co-host of the popular Musician Centric podcast, loves to bake, and considers her gym time sacred. 

Kaz Kruszewski

Melanie Kuperstein

Swiatek Kuznik

Maryanne Meyer

Maryanne Meyer maintains an active performance calendar as orchestral harpist, chamber musician, and soloist throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Maryanne performs regularly as a substitute harpist with the Baltimore and Delaware Symphony Orchestras, among many others, and is Principal Harpist of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra for the current season. A dedicated pedagogue, Maryanne has developed a flourishing private teaching studio and is the resident Teaching Artist at two Philadelphia middle and high schools through the Philadelphia nonprofit Lyra Society, of which she is also Director of Education. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree and Performer Diploma in harp performance from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where she studied with Distinguished Professor of Music Susann McDonald. She completed her Master of Music studies at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance with Elizabeth Hainen, Principal Harpist of The Philadelphia Orchestra.

Sungah Min

Matthew Misener

Matthew Misener is an experienced trumpet performance artist and instructor. He is currently a member of the United States Air Force Band and the Maryland Symphony Orchestra. He earned his Bachelor of Music, Distinction in Performance, degree from the New England Conservatory of Music and his Master of Music degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where he served as Graduate Assistant.

Mr. Misener was a Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center and has participated in such music festivals as the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan, the International Trumpet Guild Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, the Casals Festival in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. Mr. Misener’s performance credits include the The National Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the National Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Washington Concert Opera among many others.

Alyssa Moquin

Laura Kaufman Mowry

Dr. Laura Kaufman Mowry is a soloist, orchestral musician, and chamber musician who has been hailed by the Washington Post for “absolutely gorgeous flute-playing.”

Laura joined the Maryland Symphony Orchestra as Principal Flute in 2023. She has performed with a variety of renowned ensembles, including the National Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Smithsonian Chamber Players, Annapolis Symphony, Fairfax Symphony, Alexandria Symphony, DC Public Opera, Buffalo Philharmonic, and the New World Symphony as a guest musician. Laura performs in District5, a DC-based wind quintet dedicated to innovative ways of presenting classical music. 

Laura is dedicated to fostering the talents of young musicians. In addition to maintaining a private flute studio, she has coached wind players at the University of Maryland at Baltimore County, American Youth Philharmonic, and the University of Maryland High School Academy. She is also the Director of the American Youth Philharmonic Flute Ensemble.

Laura has received national recognition from prize-winning performances at the National Flute Association’s Young Artist Competition, National Society of Arts and Letters Wind Competition, New York Flute Club Competition, Flute Society of Washington Young Artist Competition, and Pasadena Instrumental Competition, among others. 

Laura holds degrees in Flute Performance from Eastman School of Music, The Colburn School, and the University of Maryland. She lives in Springfield, VA with her two children, a golden doodle named Bear (who is also part sesame-street character), and husband (a fantastic oboist!).

Catherine Nelson

Catherine Nelson is an accomplished violinist actively teaching and playing orchestral music. Since 1987 she has been a first violin at the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and has been an active member of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra since 2006 where she has served as Concertmaster and Assistant Concertmaster. Previously, Catherine has played for the Columbus and Canton Symphony Orchestras.  

When not playing on stage, Catherine teaches at String and Orchestra programs in both North Canton City Schools and Middletown City Schools. Additionally, she has served as the Shenandoah Valley Youth Orchestra Conductor for 31 yesrs in Winchester Virginia and was the adjudicator of Music in the Parks and the Festival of Middleton. In her established career, Catherine has performed with Dionne Warwick, Linda Ronstadt, Tony Bennet, among others. 

Scott A. Nelson

Jay Niepoetter

Nicolette Driehuys Oppelt

Flutist Nicolette Driehuys Oppelt was born in the Netherlands and began studying flute at age 11. After immigrating to the United States with her family, she attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, studying with Philip Dunigan. While there, she was a two time concerto competition winner. She also appeared as a soloist on Dutch National Television with her father, the late conductor Leo Driehuys, on the podium.

In addition to being a member of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, Ms. Driehuys Oppelt serves as Principal Flute of Washington Concert Opera, the Washington Ballet Orchestra, the Virginia Chamber Orchestra, the Amadeus Orchestra and the National Gallery Orchestra. She is currently the only tenured member of the National Philharmonic at Strathmore and was Acting Principal Flute for the Maryland Symphony Orchestra for three years. Ms. Driehuys Oppelt is a regular substitute with the National Symphony Orchestra and has accompanied that orchestra on many tours, including performances at Carnegie Hall.

Aneta Otreba

Kimberly Parillo

Double bassist Kimberly Parillo is a performer in the Washington, D.C. area. She is thrilled to be regularly engaged with orchestras and chamber groups at the Kennedy Center, the Washington National Cathedral, the Music Center at Strathmore, and the Smithsonian. She has also recently traveled to perform at Carnegie Hall and at the Herkulessal in Munich, Germany. She has been a section bass member of the Maryland Symphony since 2016 and has also performed with the Baltimore Symphony, Richmond Symphony, Annapolis Symphony, and a wide variety of other groups in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C.  

As a teacher, she maintains a private studio in Northern Virginia as well as teaching at the International School of Music in Potomac, Maryland. She also regularly coaches sectionals for the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras. She can be found teaching at Bass Works every summer as a member of their esteemed faculty. Kimberly is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory and George Mason University. Her primary teachers include Glenn Dewey, Ira Gold, and Paul DeNola. 

Brent Price

Brent Price was formally appointed Assistant Concertmaster of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra in 2024 after previous years playing in the first violin section. Mr. Price has held prior positions with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and served as Concertmaster of the Savannah Philharmonic. 

Magaly Rojas Seay

Petr Skopek

Petr Skopek was born in Prague, Czech Republic, where he began his musical studies at the National School of Music at the age of six. He attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Frederick, MD, and received his Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance degree from the University of North Texas, College of Music. He received his Maryland state professional teaching certificate in 2006.  

Mr. Skopek is currently a member of The Maryland Symphony Orchestra, Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra, Two Rivers String Quartet, Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra, and Shippensburg Festival Orchestra. In the past, Mr. Skopek has performed with orchestras and chamber groups in Texas, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Washington DC, including East Texas Symphony, Richardson Symphony, Amarillo Symphony, Alexandria Symphony, Concert Artists of Baltimore, National Philharmonic, Washington Concert Opera, and The Choral Arts Society of Washington DC. 

From 1996-2002, Mr. Skopek worked as a private lesson violin and viola instructor for the Texas independent school districts of Plano, Richardson, and Lewisville. From 2002 to 2022, he served as a band and orchestra director in the Frederick County (MD) Public Schools system, where his orchestras, bands, and jazz bands consistently received awards, superior ratings, and recognition at county and state music festivals and adjudications. In 2023, Mr. Skopek became the orchestra director at Barbara Ingram School for the Arts, an arts magnet high school in Washington County, Maryland. Mr. Skopek also serves as a clinician, conductor, adjudicator, and string coach. He has worked with many festival ensembles in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, as well as youth orchestras including the Frederick Regional Youth Orchestra, Academy of St. Cecilia, the Maryland Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the Shepherd University Preparatory Orchestra. 

Brandon Smith

Todd Thiel

Alice Tung

Jessica Siegel Weaver

Kat Whitesides

Susan Copeland Wilson

Patricia Wnek-Schram

Elena Yakovleva

Elena Yakovleva is the principal Piccoloist with the United States Navy Band since 2015. She also holds Piccolo/3rd Flute chair position with the Delaware Symphony since 2008 and the Maryland Symphony Orchestra since 2010.

Elena has performed with the Baltimore, Cleveland, and Annapolis Symphony Orchestras, the National Orchestra Institute, and the Kent-Blossom and Sun Festival in Singapore. Elena is also on the Flute faculty at the International School of Music in Bethesda.

Elena Yakovleva graduated from the Rachmaninoff Music College with Honors in Kaliningrad, Russia. She continued her studies at the Hochschule für Music Detmold and at the Folkwanghochschule Essen, Germany, studying under Prof. Wegner and Prof. Ott, and later, under renown Jeanne Baxtresser as a Performance Residence Program student at the Carnegie Mellon University on full scholarship.

Elena Yakovleva has received her Master of Music, GPD in Flute and Graduate Performance Diploma in Chamber Music with Marina Piccinini at Peabody Conservatory on full scholarship.

A scholarship recipient from the Russian Ministry of Culture, she was selected for the artist roster of Yehudi Menuhin’s Foundation “Live Music Now”, in 2006 she was a prizewinner in the New York Flute Club Competition and in 2011 prizewinner in the Baltimore Music Club Competition. Elena was chosen to perform solo with the United States Navy Band at the Military Tattoo in Norway in 2022.

Shawn Alger

Shawn Alger is a double bassist equally at home and in various musical settings including music of the classical cannon, historical performance, and popular genres. As an in-demand performer in the Washington DC area, he serves as the Associate Principal Bassist of the Maryland Symphony and has performed with modern and period ensembles such as the National Symphony Orchestra, American Bach Soloists, Annapolis Symphony, and National Philharmonic. Dr. Alger is a section bassist with the Endless Mountain Music Festival, an organization dedicated to outreach and bringing live musical performances to the under-served counties of northern Pennsylvania and central New York.  

In addition to his performance duties, Dr. Alger is the Double Bass Instructor at Washington Adventist University and has been a guest lecturer and clinician for numerous schools, universities, and ensembles throughout the country. His primary teachers include Anthony Manzo, Jeffrey Weisner, Tyler Abbott, and Thomas Derthick. 

Adriane Benvenuti Irving

Kimberly Parillo

Double bassist Kimberly Parillo is a performer in the Washington, D.C. area. She is thrilled to be regularly engaged with orchestras and chamber groups at the Kennedy Center, the Washington National Cathedral, the Music Center at Strathmore, and the Smithsonian. She has also recently traveled to perform at Carnegie Hall and at the Herkulessal in Munich, Germany. She has been a section bass member of the Maryland Symphony since 2016 and has also performed with the Baltimore Symphony, Richmond Symphony, Annapolis Symphony, and a wide variety of other groups in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C.  

As a teacher, she maintains a private studio in Northern Virginia as well as teaching at the International School of Music in Potomac, Maryland. She also regularly coaches sectionals for the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras. She can be found teaching at Bass Works every summer as a member of their esteemed faculty. Kimberly is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory and George Mason University. Her primary teachers include Glenn Dewey, Ira Gold, and Paul DeNola. 

Brandon Smith

Scott Cassada

Erich Heckscher

Erich Heckscher is Principal Bassoon of both the National Philharmonic and Maryland Symphony Orchestras. He served as Acting Second Bassoon with the National Symphony Orchestra for the 2011/2012 season and guest Principal Bassoon with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 2000, and previously held positions with the Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, and Alabama Symphony Orchestras. Mr. Heckscher has performed with the Baltimore, Dallas, Oregon, Richmond, Virginia and Charleston Symphony Orchestras, as well as locally with the Smithsonian Chamber Players, Eclipse Chamber Orchestra and Washington National Opera. Solo appearances include the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and the Britt Festival Orchestra, where he has been Principal Bassoon since 2000. He has participated in the Sarasota, Kent/Blossom, Chautauqua, National Orchestral Institute and National Repertory Orchestra summer festivals.

Mr. Heckscher holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Southern Methodist University, studying with K. David Van Hoesen, John Hunt and Wilfred Roberts. He was on the bassoon faculty at the University of Maryland from 2012 to 2021.

Susan Copeland Wilson

Jessica Albrecht

Mauricio Betanzo

Katlyn DeGraw

Cellist Katlyn DeGraw is a seasoned performer with appearances around the globe, including concerts throughout the U.S., Canada, Asia, and Europe. Ms. DeGraw is the Associate Principal Cellist of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and appears with the Richmond and Annapolis Symphonies. Additionally, she has performed with the Baltimore and Charleston Symphonies on numerous occasions. Equally passionate about chamber music, Ms. DeGraw is cellist of the Ann Street Trio. She enjoys touring with the trio, performing on chamber music series throughout the region. In addition to her performing, Ms. DeGraw is a dedicated and enthusiastic teacher where she maintains a private studio of successful and engaged students. Ms. DeGraw has served on the faculty of Baltimore School for the Arts, CelloSpeak, and the Hochstein School of Music. 

Ms. DeGraw holds a Bachelor degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music where she studied with Amit Peled, and a Master degree from the Eastman School of Music where she worked with David Ying. 

Youbin Jun

Cellist Youbin Jun, a graduate of Seoul Arts High School and the New England Conservatory of Music, is dedicated to sharing the beauty of music through performances, teaching, and community engagement. With a diverse career as a soloist, orchestra player, chamber musician, and educator, Jun has graced major venues worldwide, including Jordan Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Seoul Art Center, and the Sejong Arts Center. She has participated in renowned music festivals such as the Sarasota Music Festival, the Bowdoin International Music Festival, and spent an intense summer studying with Laurence Lesser at the Orford Arts Centre. Jun has collaborated with esteemed musicians and completed masterclasses with renowned pedagogues, including Steve Doane, Ronald Leonard, Timothy Eddy, Fans Helmerson, Natalia Gutman, Ronald Leonard, Gary Hoffman, and Peter Wispelwey. 

Jun is a recipient of numerous awards and honors, including first prizes at competitions such as the American Protégé Concerto Competition, the New York International Music Concour, the Grand Prize Virtuoso International Competition, and accolades from competitions such as the Korea Chamber Orchestra Competition, the Strad Competition, the Classical Music Magazine Competition, and the Eumyeon Music Competition. She actively attends Alexander Technique, American String Teachers Association, and String Pedagogy workshops, contributing as a translator to CelloBello for Korean viewers. 

Jun’s dedication to teaching is underscored by her students’ remarkable achievements, including winning positions in the Virginia All-State and All-National Orchestras. She has a successful private studio, where her students have achieved success in regional competitions and orchestral auditions. Currently, Jun performs with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and holds positions with other prestigious ensembles, including the Washington Chamber Orchestra and the non-profit ensemble GoodBeats. Her commitment to music education is further evidenced by her roles as a teaching assistant at the Mason Gross School of Arts, sectional coach of the undergraduate orchestra at Rutgers University, and her certification as a Suzuki teacher. She is also the solo cellist of the Friday Morning Music Club and maintains a busy schedule of solo and chamber music concerts. 

Alyssa Moquin

Aneta Otreba

Todd Thiel

Jessica Siegel Weaver

Beverly Butts

Jay Niepoetter

Susan Copeland Wilson

Rick Basehore

Rick Basehore, a Rochester, NY native, is an active freelance oboist in the DC metro area. His performing schedule includes orchestral concerts across the mid-Atlantic region from Norfolk, VA to New York City. He is currently the Principal Oboist of the Sarasota Opera, Reading, and Allentown Symphony orchestras, and holds oboe and English Horn positions with the Annapolis, Harrisburg, and Maryland Symphony Orchestras. Rick can be heard on recordings of the Eastman Bach Children’s Choir, the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, and the Grammy-nominated professional choir, Seraphic Fire, including their recording of Bach’s Cantata 84.  

Rick moved to DC in 2008 to assume the duties of Co-Principal Oboist with “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band. He spent his four-year enlistment playing for 2 Presidents, various visiting foreign dignitaries, and tens of thousands of Americans on four separate tours across the country. Other previous positions include Principal Oboist of the Fairfax and Kentucky Symphony orchestras, Second Oboist of the Binghamton Philharmonic, and Third Oboist of the Virginia Symphony. 

For 15 years, Rick travelled across the world, playing with music festivals in places such as Moscow, Jerusalem, Tallinn, Aspen, and Stuttgart. Between 1998 and 2002, Rick toured extensively across the United States with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra. In December of 2000 Rick explored historical sights across the Holy Land in between rehearsing all nine Beethoven Symphonies on an Israeli kibbutz for an international music festival. A few weeks later, he spent two months playing with the Ural Philharmonic Orchestra in Yekaterinburg, Russia, as part of a cross-cultural residency program. It was here, during a sub-zero week in February, that Rick had his stage-speaking debut as the narrator in Arnold Schoenberg’s A Survivor from Warsaw. In 2008, he was part of a new production of Porgy and Bess, featuring an all-American cast and orchestra at Paris’s famed Opera Comìque.

Rick studied with Richard Killmer at the Eastman School of Music and Mark Ostoich at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. He also spent three years in the New World Symphony, America’s only full-time training orchestra for professional musicians, led by Michael Tilson Thomas. 

When he’s not practicing, performing, teaching, making reeds, or driving to a job, he is probably catching a frisbee, preparing someone’s taxes, or running PianoMart: the website his late uncle founded in 1997 to help people buying and selling pianos find each other online.

Robert Martin

Robert Martin currently serves as Concertmaster of the MSO and is a member of the U.S. Army Strings, an ensemble of the United States Army Band, also known as “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, DC. His extensive and diverse musical background includes performances with the Philadelphia, Richmond, Delaware, Lancaster, and Princeton Symphony Orchestras, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and Symphony in C. He has collaborated with touring artists such as Julie Andrews, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Bernadette Peters, Barry Manilow, Elvis Costello, Patti LaBelle, Luciano Pavarotti, Josh Groban, and K.D. Lang.

A native of the Philadelphia area, Robert Martin began his violin studies at age three with Rochelle Walton, a former teaching assistant to famed pedagogue Ivan Galamian. He later studied with Julian Meyer and Sylvia Ahramjian at Temple University’s Center for Gifted Young Musicians. At age 13, Martin made his solo debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra as the winner of the Albert M. Greenfield competition. He continued his studies with Zvi Zeitlin at the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music, where he served as Concertmaster of the Eastman Philharmonia and regularly performed with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

Martin’s extensive and diverse experience includes performances with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Ballet, Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, Orchestra 2001, and the Baltimore and Richmond Symphony Orchestras. He has been a resident artist at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California, and at the Bravo! Vail Valley, Skaneateles, and Vermont Mozart festivals. A member of The U.S. Army Strings since 2011, Martin has performed at numerous high-level diplomatic, political, and military events in Washington, D.C. He served as Concertmaster of the U.S. Army Orchestra from 2015 to 2021. Previously, he served as Principal Second Violin of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia.

Joanna Natalia Owen

Joanna Owen holds a doctoral degree from the Eastman School of Music and serves as a faculty member at both George Mason University and the Mason Arts Academy. Her extensive orchestra experience includes her current position as Associate Concertmaster of Maryland Symphony, as well as previous positions with the Rochester Philharmonic and the Syracuse Symphony. During a four-year contract with the National Symphony, she performed regularly at the Kennedy Center, as well as around the world on four international tours.

A native of Poland, Joanna is co-founder of Concertino, an educational initiative that brings chamber music and literature to school children in the Warsaw metropolitan area. In the past 20 years the organization has presented over ten thousand concerts. Additionally, she has served as a volunteer for the Hospice of the Chesapeake.

Kristin Bakkegard

Baltimore native Kristin Bakkegard is an active violinist and teacher in the greater Baltimore/Annapolis area. She is the Associate Principal 2nd Violin of Annapolis Symphony, a first violin section member of both the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, and Principal 2nd Violin of the nationally touring Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra. Kristin performs with several other groups across the mid-Atlantic region such as the Richmond Symphony, Delaware Symphony, and Apollo Orchestra as well. She has appeared as soloist with the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra with Vivaldi’s Spring and the Londontowne Symphony Orchestra on Saint-Saëns’ Havanaise. 

An avid chamber musician, Kristin is a member of the Annapolis Chamber Players and Riverhawk String Quartet, as well as a frequent guest musician in chamber ensembles across Maryland, performing with the Allegheny Ensemble, Shepherd Trio, and Karen Lau Quartet. She has been a member of BCO’s Live Wire String Quartet since 2017. Kristin has performed across Europe and North America, including in Spain as part of the Annapolis Symphony’s 2022 Tour. Outside of the classical music world, Kristin has appeared on four NPR Tiny Desk concerts, collaborating with Meg Myers, indie rock band alt-J, lead singer Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, and most recently 2022 Tiny Desk Contest winner Alisa Amador. 

Kristin is an enthusiastic teacher, maintaining a full private studio, teaching for the Apex music program at Broadneck High School in Annapolis, and serving on faculty at the Annapolis Symphony Academy. She is a sought-after coach, having worked with string students at the Columbia Youth Orchestra, College Park Youth Orchestra, Strathmore’s East County Strings program, and the Annapolis Chamber Music Project.  

In her free time, Kristin enjoys making music with her violinist husband, Paul, and watching their greyhound Jovie sleep, where they reside in Arnold, MD. 

H. Lee Brewster

Born into a musical heritage as the youngest son of the late Principal National Symphony Bassist, H. Stevens Brewster, Jr., Lee received his B.M. in Violin Performance at the Philadelphia Musical Academy in 1991. He studied violin with Assistant Concertmaster William de Pasquale and Section Violinist Frank Costanzo of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Assistant Concertmaster Elisabeth Adkins and Concertmaster William Steck of the National Symphony Orchestra.  He then furthered his Chamber Music and Master Class studies at the Curtis Institute of Music, Temple University, Catholic University, Shenandoah University, The University of Maryland, and Peabody Conservatory. In December of 2000, Lee had the honor to premier the Barber Violin Concerto in Vidin, Bulgaria. In 2008, Lee released his debut recording of the Rode 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, which is currently available on both Itunes and Spotify. He was a member of the Richmond Symphony violin section from 1991 to 1997 and has been a member of the Maryland Symphony violin section since September 2001. He served as Concertmaster of the Piedmont Symphony Orchestra from 2016 to 2023. He was lead violin in String Quartets on board the Celebrity “Infinity” Cruise Ship in 2010 and the Holland America’s “Oosterdam” Cruise Ship in 2011.  He also was a member of the Frederick Symphony as Principal Second Violin from 2016 to 2024. 

Lee now devotes the majority of his time to teaching. He has published a violin scale book “The Brewster Scale Method” that is now available on Amazon.com and through Music and Arts. Lee served on the Violin Faculty at the Levine School of Music in Washington DC from 2012 to 2014 and is currently on the Violin/Viola faculty at the Landon School for Boys in Bethesda and the Mclean School in Potomac. Lee also joined the faculty at Sloans School of Music at the Urbana Maryland location, and Foxes Music in Falls Church, VA. 

Yen-Jung Chen

Mauricio D. Couto

Lysiane Gravel-Lacombe

Lysiane Gravel-Lacombe, violinist, was born in Montreal. She has been an active freelance musician in the Baltimore/DC area since 1999 and is currently a member of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and The National Philharmonic. Over the years, she has performed with the Annapolis, Baltimore and Delaware Symphony Orchestras, the Baltimore Opera Company, the Maryland Lyric Opera, and Concert Artists of Baltimore. She has shared the stage with Arlo Guthrie, Mary J Blige, Phish, Sarah McLachlan, Earth Wind and Fire, and Stevie Wonder. 

Lysiane received a college degree from the Vincent d’Indy School of Music in Montreal, where she studied with Luis Grinhauz and was awarded the gold medal from the Governor General of Canada for outstanding academic performances. She then earned her Bachelor and Master degrees in violin performance from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University as a scholarship student of Herbert Greenberg. Lysiane also owns and operates Zoom Zoom Groom,LLC, a mobile pet grooming company servicing the Frederick, MD area since 2014. In her spare time, Lysiane loves to garden, cook, sip gin, tackle home improvement projects, and rescue cats. 

Catherine Nelson

Catherine Nelson is an accomplished violinist actively teaching and playing orchestral music. Since 1987 she has been a first violin at the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and has been an active member of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra since 2006 where she has served as Concertmaster and Assistant Concertmaster. Previously, Catherine has played for the Columbus and Canton Symphony Orchestras.  

When not playing on stage, Catherine teaches at String and Orchestra programs in both North Canton City Schools and Middletown City Schools. Additionally, she has served as the Shenandoah Valley Youth Orchestra Conductor for 31 yesrs in Winchester Virginia and was the adjudicator of Music in the Parks and the Festival of Middleton. In her established career, Catherine has performed with Dionne Warwick, Linda Ronstadt, Tony Bennet, among others. 

Brent Price

Brent Price was formally appointed Assistant Concertmaster of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra in 2024 after previous years playing in the first violin section. Mr. Price has held prior positions with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and served as Concertmaster of the Savannah Philharmonic. 

Petr Skopek

Petr Skopek was born in Prague, Czech Republic, where he began his musical studies at the National School of Music at the age of six. He attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Frederick, MD, and received his Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance degree from the University of North Texas, College of Music. He received his Maryland state professional teaching certificate in 2006.  

Mr. Skopek is currently a member of The Maryland Symphony Orchestra, Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra, Two Rivers String Quartet, Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra, and Shippensburg Festival Orchestra. In the past, Mr. Skopek has performed with orchestras and chamber groups in Texas, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Washington DC, including East Texas Symphony, Richardson Symphony, Amarillo Symphony, Alexandria Symphony, Concert Artists of Baltimore, National Philharmonic, Washington Concert Opera, and The Choral Arts Society of Washington DC. 

From 1996-2002, Mr. Skopek worked as a private lesson violin and viola instructor for the Texas independent school districts of Plano, Richardson, and Lewisville. From 2002 to 2022, he served as a band and orchestra director in the Frederick County (MD) Public Schools system, where his orchestras, bands, and jazz bands consistently received awards, superior ratings, and recognition at county and state music festivals and adjudications. In 2023, Mr. Skopek became the orchestra director at Barbara Ingram School for the Arts, an arts magnet high school in Washington County, Maryland. Mr. Skopek also serves as a clinician, conductor, adjudicator, and string coach. He has worked with many festival ensembles in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, as well as youth orchestras including the Frederick Regional Youth Orchestra, Academy of St. Cecilia, the Maryland Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the Shepherd University Preparatory Orchestra. 

Laura Kaufman Mowry

Dr. Laura Kaufman Mowry is a soloist, orchestral musician, and chamber musician who has been hailed by the Washington Post for “absolutely gorgeous flute-playing.”

Laura joined the Maryland Symphony Orchestra as Principal Flute in 2023. She has performed with a variety of renowned ensembles, including the National Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Smithsonian Chamber Players, Annapolis Symphony, Fairfax Symphony, Alexandria Symphony, DC Public Opera, Buffalo Philharmonic, and the New World Symphony as a guest musician. Laura performs in District5, a DC-based wind quintet dedicated to innovative ways of presenting classical music. 

Laura is dedicated to fostering the talents of young musicians. In addition to maintaining a private flute studio, she has coached wind players at the University of Maryland at Baltimore County, American Youth Philharmonic, and the University of Maryland High School Academy. She is also the Director of the American Youth Philharmonic Flute Ensemble.

Laura has received national recognition from prize-winning performances at the National Flute Association’s Young Artist Competition, National Society of Arts and Letters Wind Competition, New York Flute Club Competition, Flute Society of Washington Young Artist Competition, and Pasadena Instrumental Competition, among others. 

Laura holds degrees in Flute Performance from Eastman School of Music, The Colburn School, and the University of Maryland. She lives in Springfield, VA with her two children, a golden doodle named Bear (who is also part sesame-street character), and husband (a fantastic oboist!).

Nicolette Driehuys Oppelt

Flutist Nicolette Driehuys Oppelt was born in the Netherlands and began studying flute at age 11. After immigrating to the United States with her family, she attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, studying with Philip Dunigan. While there, she was a two time concerto competition winner. She also appeared as a soloist on Dutch National Television with her father, the late conductor Leo Driehuys, on the podium.

In addition to being a member of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, Ms. Driehuys Oppelt serves as Principal Flute of Washington Concert Opera, the Washington Ballet Orchestra, the Virginia Chamber Orchestra, the Amadeus Orchestra and the National Gallery Orchestra. She is currently the only tenured member of the National Philharmonic at Strathmore and was Acting Principal Flute for the Maryland Symphony Orchestra for three years. Ms. Driehuys Oppelt is a regular substitute with the National Symphony Orchestra and has accompanied that orchestra on many tours, including performances at Carnegie Hall.

Elena Yakovleva

Elena Yakovleva is the principal Piccoloist with the United States Navy Band since 2015. She also holds Piccolo/3rd Flute chair position with the Delaware Symphony since 2008 and the Maryland Symphony Orchestra since 2010.

Elena has performed with the Baltimore, Cleveland, and Annapolis Symphony Orchestras, the National Orchestra Institute, and the Kent-Blossom and Sun Festival in Singapore. Elena is also on the Flute faculty at the International School of Music in Bethesda.

Elena Yakovleva graduated from the Rachmaninoff Music College with Honors in Kaliningrad, Russia. She continued her studies at the Hochschule für Music Detmold and at the Folkwanghochschule Essen, Germany, studying under Prof. Wegner and Prof. Ott, and later, under renown Jeanne Baxtresser as a Performance Residence Program student at the Carnegie Mellon University on full scholarship.

Elena Yakovleva has received her Master of Music, GPD in Flute and Graduate Performance Diploma in Chamber Music with Marina Piccinini at Peabody Conservatory on full scholarship.

A scholarship recipient from the Russian Ministry of Culture, she was selected for the artist roster of Yehudi Menuhin’s Foundation “Live Music Now”, in 2006 she was a prizewinner in the New York Flute Club Competition and in 2011 prizewinner in the Baltimore Music Club Competition. Elena was chosen to perform solo with the United States Navy Band at the Military Tattoo in Norway in 2022.

Maryanne Meyer

Maryanne Meyer maintains an active performance calendar as orchestral harpist, chamber musician, and soloist throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Maryanne performs regularly as a substitute harpist with the Baltimore and Delaware Symphony Orchestras, among many others, and is Principal Harpist of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra for the current season. A dedicated pedagogue, Maryanne has developed a flourishing private teaching studio and is the resident Teaching Artist at two Philadelphia middle and high schools through the Philadelphia nonprofit Lyra Society, of which she is also Director of Education. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree and Performer Diploma in harp performance from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where she studied with Distinguished Professor of Music Susann McDonald. She completed her Master of Music studies at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance with Elizabeth Hainen, Principal Harpist of The Philadelphia Orchestra.

Chandra Cervantes

A graduate of both Northwestern University and San Francisco Conservatory, Chandra Cervantes has held positions with The United States Army Field Band, Tulsa Philharmonic, Shanghai Broadcasting Symphony, and Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Now an active freelance musician in the Washington DC/Baltimore area, she is a member of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, American Pops Orchestra, Barclay Brass, Washington Symphonic Brass, and Inscape, a Grammy nominated chamber ensemble committed to presenting emerging American composers. Chandra also performs regularly with Wolf Trap Orchestra, Washington National Opera, Post Classical Ensemble, Baltimore Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, and as a Guest Artist with Seraph Brass and the Little River Band.

Chandra has been involved in several shows in the DC area including a production of Anastasia and Sunset Boulevard at the John F. Kennedy Center, Into the Woods at Ford’s Theater, Signature Theatre and the Kennedy Center, and She Loves Me and Ragtime at Signature Theatre. With the National Symphony Orchestra she has played on three international tours, performing across Europe, Poland, South America, Mexico, Trinidad, and Oman. Since 2020 Chandra has played and spoken at the Wintergreen Music Festival, collaborating with musicians from around the country. 

While maintaining a private home studio, Chandra is also Professor of Horn at University of Maryland Baltimore County, Montgomery College, and Instructor of Horn at the Levine School of Music. She coached the DC Youth Orchestra’s top two orchestra’s sectionals for many years and was an instructor at MATS, a summer camp for adult musicians. 

Her recordings include four with the Washington Symphonic Brass: The Edge, Classic Rock for Brass, Home for the Holidays and Trumpets Ring! Voices Sing!. In December of 2013 she recorded Marcos Galvany’s internationally successful opera, Oh My Son. She is heard on the album Redes, a world premiere recording of the full Revuelatas score, with PostClassical Ensemble. With Maryland Symphony Orchestra she recorded for Sharon Isbin’s Affinity. Chandra has recorded three albums with Inscape: a new arrangement of Petrushka, released in 2015, an exciting collaboration with Phillip Glass, The Fall of the House of Usher, and an upcoming album including Barber’s Medea, recorded in November, 2021. Two pieces by Florence Price are available on YouTube, recorded with Barclay Brass, and with special permission. 

During the pandemic Chandra pursued two additional degrees in both Psychology and Business Administration.

Mark Hughes

Rick Basehore

Rick Basehore, a Rochester, NY native, is an active freelance oboist in the DC metro area. His performing schedule includes orchestral concerts across the mid-Atlantic region from Norfolk, VA to New York City. He is currently the Principal Oboist of the Sarasota Opera, Reading, and Allentown Symphony orchestras, and holds oboe and English Horn positions with the Annapolis, Harrisburg, and Maryland Symphony Orchestras. Rick can be heard on recordings of the Eastman Bach Children’s Choir, the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, and the Grammy-nominated professional choir, Seraphic Fire, including their recording of Bach’s Cantata 84.  

Rick moved to DC in 2008 to assume the duties of Co-Principal Oboist with “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band. He spent his four-year enlistment playing for 2 Presidents, various visiting foreign dignitaries, and tens of thousands of Americans on four separate tours across the country. Other previous positions include Principal Oboist of the Fairfax and Kentucky Symphony orchestras, Second Oboist of the Binghamton Philharmonic, and Third Oboist of the Virginia Symphony. 

For 15 years, Rick travelled across the world, playing with music festivals in places such as Moscow, Jerusalem, Tallinn, Aspen, and Stuttgart. Between 1998 and 2002, Rick toured extensively across the United States with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra. In December of 2000 Rick explored historical sights across the Holy Land in between rehearsing all nine Beethoven Symphonies on an Israeli kibbutz for an international music festival. A few weeks later, he spent two months playing with the Ural Philharmonic Orchestra in Yekaterinburg, Russia, as part of a cross-cultural residency program. It was here, during a sub-zero week in February, that Rick had his stage-speaking debut as the narrator in Arnold Schoenberg’s A Survivor from Warsaw. In 2008, he was part of a new production of Porgy and Bess, featuring an all-American cast and orchestra at Paris’s famed Opera Comìque.

Rick studied with Richard Killmer at the Eastman School of Music and Mark Ostoich at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. He also spent three years in the New World Symphony, America’s only full-time training orchestra for professional musicians, led by Michael Tilson Thomas. 

When he’s not practicing, performing, teaching, making reeds, or driving to a job, he is probably catching a frisbee, preparing someone’s taxes, or running PianoMart: the website his late uncle founded in 1997 to help people buying and selling pianos find each other online.

Fatma Daglar

Amanda Dusold

Julie Angelis Boehler

Julie is a native of Worcester, MA, a city which is so much like Hagerstown that she sometimes forgets she’s not from here until she hears someone pronounce the letter “R.” She started playing percussion in a Drum & Bugle Corps at the tender age of eight and spent her final summer in the activity as Timpanist with The Boston Crusaders.  After over a decade of marching, she excitedly made the shift to orchestral percussion and spent a life-altering summer at Tanglewood. She has enjoyed a career that meshes her rudimental and classical training. After summers in Breckenridge, CO, Japan and Italy where she had the surreal honor of performing for Pavarotti, she was abruptly shipped off to boot camp after winning a coveted job with The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” 

She “retired” after 23 years of service, 17 as Principal Timpanist. She continues to enjoy playing Percussion with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra (MSO), the Blossom Festival Band in Cuyahoga Falls, OH, The Venice (FL) Symphony, and as Timpanist of The Brass Band of Battle Creek. Her MSO highlights include the recording Chris Brubeck’s “Affinity” with Grammy Award-winning guitarist Sharon Isbin, the PBS feature “Music to my Ears” with “Bob the Vid Tech” and as soloist in “Gerald McBoing Boing”  by Gail Kubik/Dr. Seuss.

Robert Jenkins

Elena Yakovleva

Elena Yakovleva is the principal Piccoloist with the United States Navy Band since 2015. She also holds Piccolo/3rd Flute chair position with the Delaware Symphony since 2008 and the Maryland Symphony Orchestra since 2010.

Elena has performed with the Baltimore, Cleveland, and Annapolis Symphony Orchestras, the National Orchestra Institute, and the Kent-Blossom and Sun Festival in Singapore. Elena is also on the Flute faculty at the International School of Music in Bethesda.

Elena Yakovleva graduated from the Rachmaninoff Music College with Honors in Kaliningrad, Russia. She continued her studies at the Hochschule für Music Detmold and at the Folkwanghochschule Essen, Germany, studying under Prof. Wegner and Prof. Ott, and later, under renown Jeanne Baxtresser as a Performance Residence Program student at the Carnegie Mellon University on full scholarship.

Elena Yakovleva has received her Master of Music, GPD in Flute and Graduate Performance Diploma in Chamber Music with Marina Piccinini at Peabody Conservatory on full scholarship.

A scholarship recipient from the Russian Ministry of Culture, she was selected for the artist roster of Yehudi Menuhin’s Foundation “Live Music Now”, in 2006 she was a prizewinner in the New York Flute Club Competition and in 2011 prizewinner in the Baltimore Music Club Competition. Elena was chosen to perform solo with the United States Navy Band at the Military Tattoo in Norway in 2022.

Robert Martin

Robert Martin currently serves as Concertmaster of the MSO and is a member of the U.S. Army Strings, an ensemble of the United States Army Band, also known as “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, DC. His extensive and diverse musical background includes performances with the Philadelphia, Richmond, Delaware, Lancaster, and Princeton Symphony Orchestras, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and Symphony in C. He has collaborated with touring artists such as Julie Andrews, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Bernadette Peters, Barry Manilow, Elvis Costello, Patti LaBelle, Luciano Pavarotti, Josh Groban, and K.D. Lang.

A native of the Philadelphia area, Robert Martin began his violin studies at age three with Rochelle Walton, a former teaching assistant to famed pedagogue Ivan Galamian. He later studied with Julian Meyer and Sylvia Ahramjian at Temple University’s Center for Gifted Young Musicians. At age 13, Martin made his solo debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra as the winner of the Albert M. Greenfield competition. He continued his studies with Zvi Zeitlin at the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music, where he served as Concertmaster of the Eastman Philharmonia and regularly performed with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

Martin’s extensive and diverse experience includes performances with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Ballet, Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, Orchestra 2001, and the Baltimore and Richmond Symphony Orchestras. He has been a resident artist at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California, and at the Bravo! Vail Valley, Skaneateles, and Vermont Mozart festivals. A member of The U.S. Army Strings since 2011, Martin has performed at numerous high-level diplomatic, political, and military events in Washington, D.C. He served as Concertmaster of the U.S. Army Orchestra from 2015 to 2021. Previously, he served as Principal Second Violin of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia.

Joanna Natalia Owen

Joanna Owen holds a doctoral degree from the Eastman School of Music and serves as a faculty member at both George Mason University and the Mason Arts Academy. Her extensive orchestra experience includes her current position as Associate Concertmaster of Maryland Symphony, as well as previous positions with the Rochester Philharmonic and the Syracuse Symphony. During a four-year contract with the National Symphony, she performed regularly at the Kennedy Center, as well as around the world on four international tours.

A native of Poland, Joanna is co-founder of Concertino, an educational initiative that brings chamber music and literature to school children in the Warsaw metropolitan area. In the past 20 years the organization has presented over ten thousand concerts. Additionally, she has served as a volunteer for the Hospice of the Chesapeake.

Jessica Albrecht

Shawn Alger

Shawn Alger is a double bassist equally at home and in various musical settings including music of the classical cannon, historical performance, and popular genres. As an in-demand performer in the Washington DC area, he serves as the Associate Principal Bassist of the Maryland Symphony and has performed with modern and period ensembles such as the National Symphony Orchestra, American Bach Soloists, Annapolis Symphony, and National Philharmonic. Dr. Alger is a section bassist with the Endless Mountain Music Festival, an organization dedicated to outreach and bringing live musical performances to the under-served counties of northern Pennsylvania and central New York.  

In addition to his performance duties, Dr. Alger is the Double Bass Instructor at Washington Adventist University and has been a guest lecturer and clinician for numerous schools, universities, and ensembles throughout the country. His primary teachers include Anthony Manzo, Jeffrey Weisner, Tyler Abbott, and Thomas Derthick. 

Julie Angelis Boehler

Julie is a native of Worcester, MA, a city which is so much like Hagerstown that she sometimes forgets she’s not from here until she hears someone pronounce the letter “R.” She started playing percussion in a Drum & Bugle Corps at the tender age of eight and spent her final summer in the activity as Timpanist with The Boston Crusaders.  After over a decade of marching, she excitedly made the shift to orchestral percussion and spent a life-altering summer at Tanglewood. She has enjoyed a career that meshes her rudimental and classical training. After summers in Breckenridge, CO, Japan and Italy where she had the surreal honor of performing for Pavarotti, she was abruptly shipped off to boot camp after winning a coveted job with The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” 

She “retired” after 23 years of service, 17 as Principal Timpanist. She continues to enjoy playing Percussion with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra (MSO), the Blossom Festival Band in Cuyahoga Falls, OH, The Venice (FL) Symphony, and as Timpanist of The Brass Band of Battle Creek. Her MSO highlights include the recording Chris Brubeck’s “Affinity” with Grammy Award-winning guitarist Sharon Isbin, the PBS feature “Music to my Ears” with “Bob the Vid Tech” and as soloist in “Gerald McBoing Boing”  by Gail Kubik/Dr. Seuss.

Zachary Bridges

Zach Bridges currently serves as the Principal Tuba of the Maryland Symphony, a position he has held since 2019. Since 2016, he has also served as a member of The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” Ceremonial Band where his primary duties include supporting funerals at Arlington National Cemetery, wreath-laying ceremonies by heads of state and other foreign dignitaries at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, monthly retirement parades, special reviews, and arrival and departure honors for foreign dignitaries at the White House and Pentagon.

In addition to his performance career, Zach has served as the Adjunct Associate Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Shenandoah University’s Conservatory of Music since the fall of 2022.

Zach received his bachelor’s degree from Baylor University where he studied with Dr. Kent Eshelman. He received his master’s degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where he studied with David Kirk, Principal Tuba of the Houston Symphony.

Ariadna Buonviri

A native of Bogotá, Colombia, Ariadna began studying the violin at the age of three and made her debut at the age of seventeen as a soloist with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá and Orquesta Sinfónica de Colombia. Ariadna attended college in the United States on full scholarships, getting her B.M. in Violin performance at Texas Christian University and M.M. in Violín performance at Southern Methodist University. An avid chamber musician, Ariadna has performed with Cuarteto Rustico and Quartetto Alma among other ensembles. Ariadna has performed as Concertmaster, Principal Second, and in the violin section of several orchestras in the USA and Colombia. Currently, she is the Associate Principal Second Violin of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra. 

Ariadna has taught private violin studio in Lovettsville, VA since 2008 to students of all ages and levels. Ariadna’s method of teaching integrates the knowledge of music theory into violin playing and musical interpretation. As a violin teacher, Ariadna’s goal is to teach discipline, perseverance, diligence, persistence, patience and organization through the joy of playing. 

Beverly Butts

Julianna Chitwood

Nathan Clark

Fatma Daglar

Katlyn DeGraw

Cellist Katlyn DeGraw is a seasoned performer with appearances around the globe, including concerts throughout the U.S., Canada, Asia, and Europe. Ms. DeGraw is the Associate Principal Cellist of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and appears with the Richmond and Annapolis Symphonies. Additionally, she has performed with the Baltimore and Charleston Symphonies on numerous occasions. Equally passionate about chamber music, Ms. DeGraw is cellist of the Ann Street Trio. She enjoys touring with the trio, performing on chamber music series throughout the region. In addition to her performing, Ms. DeGraw is a dedicated and enthusiastic teacher where she maintains a private studio of successful and engaged students. Ms. DeGraw has served on the faculty of Baltimore School for the Arts, CelloSpeak, and the Hochstein School of Music. 

Ms. DeGraw holds a Bachelor degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music where she studied with Amit Peled, and a Master degree from the Eastman School of Music where she worked with David Ying. 

Phyllis Freeman

Liam Glendening

Trombonist Liam Glendening holds the principal chair of both the Maryland Symphony and Portland Symphony Orchestras. He has also performed alongside the Baltimore Symphony, Chicago Symphony, and San Diego Symphony orchestras. A passionate chamber musician, Liam is a founding member of the award-winning Kresge Trombone Quartet, and plays with the Terrapin Brass Quintet. As a freelance musician, Liam performs and serves as a teacher and clinician across the east coast.

Liam’s musical career began on the cello but after tendonitis damaged his bowing hand he decided to follow in his father and grandfather’s footsteps by taking up the trombone. While he studied with his father during high school, Liam was a member of the National Youth Orchestra and won the American Trombone Workshop’s solo competition. He attended Vanderbilt University as a Cornelius Vanderbilt scholar and later joined Northwestern University’s world renowned trombone studio during his masters. He spent three years as the trombone fellow for the Aspen Music Festival and School. His past teachers include Jeremy Wilson, Douglas Wright, Per Brevig, Gene Pokorny, Warren Deck, and Michael Mulcahy.

Liam also plays the theremin; he has premiered several new chamber works featuring the instrument and performed in the Nashville production of Be More Chill on both theremin and trombone. He also performs on the bass guitar, and he moonlights as a recording engineer for both classical chamber ensembles and rock bands. In his free time he writes short stories, bakes bread, and runs with his dog, Arlo.

Erich Heckscher

Erich Heckscher is Principal Bassoon of both the National Philharmonic and Maryland Symphony Orchestras. He served as Acting Second Bassoon with the National Symphony Orchestra for the 2011/2012 season and guest Principal Bassoon with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 2000, and previously held positions with the Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, and Alabama Symphony Orchestras. Mr. Heckscher has performed with the Baltimore, Dallas, Oregon, Richmond, Virginia and Charleston Symphony Orchestras, as well as locally with the Smithsonian Chamber Players, Eclipse Chamber Orchestra and Washington National Opera. Solo appearances include the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and the Britt Festival Orchestra, where he has been Principal Bassoon since 2000. He has participated in the Sarasota, Kent/Blossom, Chautauqua, National Orchestral Institute and National Repertory Orchestra summer festivals.

Mr. Heckscher holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Southern Methodist University, studying with K. David Van Hoesen, John Hunt and Wilfred Roberts. He was on the bassoon faculty at the University of Maryland from 2012 to 2021.

Mark Hughes

Adriane Benvenuti Irving

Stephanie Knutsen

Violist Stephanie Knutsen has had a busy performing career based out of the Washington D.C. area where she has played for the past 20 years. She is a native of Montgomery County, MD, and currently lives in Sterling, VA with her husband and two daughters. She performs regularly with many local orchestras including the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, National Philharmonic, and American Pops Orchestra, as well as various performing ensembles and chamber music collaborations. Outside of music-making, Stephanie is a proud co-host of the popular Musician Centric podcast, loves to bake, and considers her gym time sacred. 

Maryanne Meyer

Maryanne Meyer maintains an active performance calendar as orchestral harpist, chamber musician, and soloist throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Maryanne performs regularly as a substitute harpist with the Baltimore and Delaware Symphony Orchestras, among many others, and is Principal Harpist of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra for the current season. A dedicated pedagogue, Maryanne has developed a flourishing private teaching studio and is the resident Teaching Artist at two Philadelphia middle and high schools through the Philadelphia nonprofit Lyra Society, of which she is also Director of Education. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree and Performer Diploma in harp performance from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where she studied with Distinguished Professor of Music Susann McDonald. She completed her Master of Music studies at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance with Elizabeth Hainen, Principal Harpist of The Philadelphia Orchestra.

Laura Kaufman Mowry

Dr. Laura Kaufman Mowry is a soloist, orchestral musician, and chamber musician who has been hailed by the Washington Post for “absolutely gorgeous flute-playing.”

Laura joined the Maryland Symphony Orchestra as Principal Flute in 2023. She has performed with a variety of renowned ensembles, including the National Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Smithsonian Chamber Players, Annapolis Symphony, Fairfax Symphony, Alexandria Symphony, DC Public Opera, Buffalo Philharmonic, and the New World Symphony as a guest musician. Laura performs in District5, a DC-based wind quintet dedicated to innovative ways of presenting classical music. 

Laura is dedicated to fostering the talents of young musicians. In addition to maintaining a private flute studio, she has coached wind players at the University of Maryland at Baltimore County, American Youth Philharmonic, and the University of Maryland High School Academy. She is also the Director of the American Youth Philharmonic Flute Ensemble.

Laura has received national recognition from prize-winning performances at the National Flute Association’s Young Artist Competition, National Society of Arts and Letters Wind Competition, New York Flute Club Competition, Flute Society of Washington Young Artist Competition, and Pasadena Instrumental Competition, among others. 

Laura holds degrees in Flute Performance from Eastman School of Music, The Colburn School, and the University of Maryland. She lives in Springfield, VA with her two children, a golden doodle named Bear (who is also part sesame-street character), and husband (a fantastic oboist!).

Brent Price

Brent Price was formally appointed Assistant Concertmaster of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra in 2024 after previous years playing in the first violin section. Mr. Price has held prior positions with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and served as Concertmaster of the Savannah Philharmonic. 

Magaly Rojas Seay

Todd Thiel

Ariadna Buonviri

A native of Bogotá, Colombia, Ariadna began studying the violin at the age of three and made her debut at the age of seventeen as a soloist with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá and Orquesta Sinfónica de Colombia. Ariadna attended college in the United States on full scholarships, getting her B.M. in Violin performance at Texas Christian University and M.M. in Violín performance at Southern Methodist University. An avid chamber musician, Ariadna has performed with Cuarteto Rustico and Quartetto Alma among other ensembles. Ariadna has performed as Concertmaster, Principal Second, and in the violin section of several orchestras in the USA and Colombia. Currently, she is the Associate Principal Second Violin of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra. 

Ariadna has taught private violin studio in Lovettsville, VA since 2008 to students of all ages and levels. Ariadna’s method of teaching integrates the knowledge of music theory into violin playing and musical interpretation. As a violin teacher, Ariadna’s goal is to teach discipline, perseverance, diligence, persistence, patience and organization through the joy of playing. 

Julianna Chitwood

Ruth Erbe

Ruth H. Erbe is an active violinist, conductor, and educator in the Northern Virginia area and a longtime member of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra. She studied violin with Vernon Summers and Luis Haza of the National Symphony Orchestra and Herbert Greenberg of the Baltimore and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras. Ms. Erbe’s pursued conducting studies with Robert Page, Keith Lockhart, Anthony Maiello and Markand Thakar. In addition to her busy freelance career playing the violin, Ruth is music director and conductor for Ritorno a Musica, a chamber string orchestra for talented amateur musicians based in Northern Virginia. Out of her home studio, she has brought the joy of music to hundreds of violin and viola students of all ages. 

Ms. Erbe’s passion for music, her understanding of music-making from a player’s point of view, and her comprehensive knowledge of the orchestral repertoire come through in her exciting and diverse programs. In addition, she serves as a devoted and enthusiastic advocate for music education for all ages. Ms. Erbe graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music performance. 

Teresa L. Gordon

Teresa Gordon has been a second violin player at the Maryland Symphony Orchestra since 1994. Teresa is a graduate of the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, VA with her Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance and is a freelance violinist and violist in the greater Washington metropolitan area.  

Ms. Gordon is a licensed public-school educator and currently serves as the Director of Orchestras at Rock Ridge High School in Ashburn, VA. Outside of school, Teresa maintains an active performing career and a small private studio. She is the newly appointed Concertmaster of the Piedmont Symphony in Warrenton, VA, and in addition to the MSO and PSO, Teresa is a member of the Apollo Orchestra, and the Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra. During her summers, Ms. Gordon serves on the faculty of the Shepherd University Strings Camp and is a performing member of the Shippensburg Summer Music Festival in PA. 

Teresa enjoys playing a wide variety of musical styles from Classical, Pop, & Rock, to Bluegrass & Broadway, and has enjoyed performing with an eclectic mix of world-renowned artists at many of our region’s premier venues. In her free time, Teresa enjoys all things music, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. 

Melanie Kuperstein

Swiatek Kuznik

Kat Whitesides

Patricia Wnek-Schram

Jeffrey Gaylord

Liam Glendening

Trombonist Liam Glendening holds the principal chair of both the Maryland Symphony and Portland Symphony Orchestras. He has also performed alongside the Baltimore Symphony, Chicago Symphony, and San Diego Symphony orchestras. A passionate chamber musician, Liam is a founding member of the award-winning Kresge Trombone Quartet, and plays with the Terrapin Brass Quintet. As a freelance musician, Liam performs and serves as a teacher and clinician across the east coast.

Liam’s musical career began on the cello but after tendonitis damaged his bowing hand he decided to follow in his father and grandfather’s footsteps by taking up the trombone. While he studied with his father during high school, Liam was a member of the National Youth Orchestra and won the American Trombone Workshop’s solo competition. He attended Vanderbilt University as a Cornelius Vanderbilt scholar and later joined Northwestern University’s world renowned trombone studio during his masters. He spent three years as the trombone fellow for the Aspen Music Festival and School. His past teachers include Jeremy Wilson, Douglas Wright, Per Brevig, Gene Pokorny, Warren Deck, and Michael Mulcahy.

Liam also plays the theremin; he has premiered several new chamber works featuring the instrument and performed in the Nashville production of Be More Chill on both theremin and trombone. He also performs on the bass guitar, and he moonlights as a recording engineer for both classical chamber ensembles and rock bands. In his free time he writes short stories, bakes bread, and runs with his dog, Arlo.

Kaz Kruszewski

Nathan Clark

Matthew Misener

Matthew Misener is an experienced trumpet performance artist and instructor. He is currently a member of the United States Air Force Band and the Maryland Symphony Orchestra. He earned his Bachelor of Music, Distinction in Performance, degree from the New England Conservatory of Music and his Master of Music degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where he served as Graduate Assistant.

Mr. Misener was a Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center and has participated in such music festivals as the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan, the International Trumpet Guild Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, the Casals Festival in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. Mr. Misener’s performance credits include the The National Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the National Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Washington Concert Opera among many others.

Scott A. Nelson

Zachary Bridges

Zach Bridges currently serves as the Principal Tuba of the Maryland Symphony, a position he has held since 2019. Since 2016, he has also served as a member of The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” Ceremonial Band where his primary duties include supporting funerals at Arlington National Cemetery, wreath-laying ceremonies by heads of state and other foreign dignitaries at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, monthly retirement parades, special reviews, and arrival and departure honors for foreign dignitaries at the White House and Pentagon.

In addition to his performance career, Zach has served as the Adjunct Associate Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Shenandoah University’s Conservatory of Music since the fall of 2022.

Zach received his bachelor’s degree from Baylor University where he studied with Dr. Kent Eshelman. He received his master’s degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where he studied with David Kirk, Principal Tuba of the Houston Symphony.

Phyllis Freeman

Rachel Holaday

Stephanie Knutsen

Violist Stephanie Knutsen has had a busy performing career based out of the Washington D.C. area where she has played for the past 20 years. She is a native of Montgomery County, MD, and currently lives in Sterling, VA with her husband and two daughters. She performs regularly with many local orchestras including the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, National Philharmonic, and American Pops Orchestra, as well as various performing ensembles and chamber music collaborations. Outside of music-making, Stephanie is a proud co-host of the popular Musician Centric podcast, loves to bake, and considers her gym time sacred. 

Sungah Min

Magaly Rojas Seay

Alice Tung