Chamber Music Seminar (2017 Summer Camp)
July 24- July 28th 2017
Chamber Music Seminar is an intensive chamber music experience designed to enhance the chamber music and collaborative skills of string, wind and piano students ages 11-18, 9:30am to 4:00pm
Students are instructed by prominent artists and teachers of national and international renown with extensive experience and expertise as educators, chamber musicians and members of major musical groups.
Camp roster includes faculty and guest artists from Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Ballet, Kassia Ensemble, Beo String Quartet, Carnegie Mellon University and Duquesne University.
The Program
Daily Chamber Ensemble Coachings,
Master Classes with guest artists
Larger Chamber Ensembles
Performance Education Class
New Works: create your own play(acting)
Individual guided practice sessions
Final public performance alongside the faculty members
Safe environment-lessons, activities, dining and performances all concentrated in a small supervised area.
Faculty Members and Guest Artists
Katya Janpoladyan, cello – Artistic Director
Jami Bale, violin
Flavio Chamis, composition and conducting
Ashley Freeburn, violin
Alison Fujito, violin
Adam Liu, cello
Roy Sonne, violin
Sandro Leal Santiesteban, violin
Jason Horn, viola
Michael Fujito, drama
Ages 11-18, acceptance based on the results of the auditions. Live or video.
Strings, winds and piano.
Time: All Day Camp (9:00 am - 5:00 pm)
Place: St.Paul's United methodist Church, 1965 Ferguson Rd, Allison Park, PA
Comprehensive tuition of $400 includes tuition, food and activities.
Application Fee : $25 (non-refundable)/ per application
Due to the highly individualized nature of this program, no refunds will be given after July 1, 2017. No refunds will be made for failure to attend or incomplete attendance for any reason.
Download Application Form:
July 24- July 28th 2017
Chamber Music Seminar is an intensive chamber music experience designed to enhance the chamber music and collaborative skills of string, wind and piano students ages 11-18, 9:30am to 4:00pm
Students are instructed by prominent artists and teachers of national and international renown with extensive experience and expertise as educators, chamber musicians and members of major musical groups.
Camp roster includes faculty and guest artists from Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Ballet, Kassia Ensemble, Beo String Quartet, Carnegie Mellon University and Duquesne University.
The Program
Daily Chamber Ensemble Coachings,
Master Classes with guest artists
Larger Chamber Ensembles
Performance Education Class
New Works: create your own play(acting)
Individual guided practice sessions
Final public performance alongside the faculty members
Safe environment-lessons, activities, dining and performances all concentrated in a small supervised area.
Faculty Members and Guest Artists
Katya Janpoladyan, cello – Artistic Director
Jami Bale, violin
Flavio Chamis, composition and conducting
Ashley Freeburn, violin
Alison Fujito, violin
Adam Liu, cello
Roy Sonne, violin
Sandro Leal Santiesteban, violin
Jason Horn, viola
Michael Fujito, drama
Ages 11-18, acceptance based on the results of the auditions. Live or video.
Strings, winds and piano.
Time: All Day Camp (9:00 am - 5:00 pm)
Place: St.Paul's United methodist Church, 1965 Ferguson Rd, Allison Park, PA
Comprehensive tuition of $400 includes tuition, food and activities.
Application Fee : $25 (non-refundable)/ per application
Due to the highly individualized nature of this program, no refunds will be given after July 1, 2017. No refunds will be made for failure to attend or incomplete attendance for any reason.
Download Application Form:
| chamber_music_seminar_-_2017camp.pdf |
Chamber Music Seminar Faculty Members and Guest Artists
Katya Janpoladyan, Artistic Director
Katya Janpoladyan, cellist, a founder of Kassia Ensemble is a native of Armenia, where she completed a Bachelor of Music degree and Artist Diploma from the Yerevan State Conservatory under the direction of Zareh Sargissyan and Medea Abramian. Ms. Janpoladyan continued her studies at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she received her Master of Music degree. As a student of Yehuda Hanani she has received her ABD from the University of Cincinnati.
An active performer, Ms. Janpoladyan is a former member of the State Piano Trio “Shell” of Armenia and a former member of the Baur Quartet with whom she was the 2001 winner of the Pierre Lantiere International Chamber Music Competition. Ms. Janpoladyan has collaborated with artists such as Cyrus Forough, James Dunham, Yehuda Hanani, Ross Harbaugh, Awadagin Pratt, Piotr Milewsky and the Montclair Quartet. She has been featured as a soloist performing with the Yerevan Chamber Orchestra, the Camerata San Marco (NY), and the Mary Miller Dance Company. Ms. Janpoladyan is a principal cellist with the Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, and a cellist with the Resonance Works/Pittsburgh. As a member of the Freya String Quartet she was a cellist in residence with the Charlotte New Music Festival Ms. Janpoladyan has also collaborated with numerous living composers and is an avid proponent of new music. Ms. Janpoladyan often appears with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, Ohio Valley Symphony Orchestra, Erie Philharmonic and many other groups in the region.
With a dual passion for performing and educating, Ms. Janpoladyan has served on the faculties and directed some of the summer programs for the University of Cincinnati, Wyoming Fine Arts Center, the Cincinnati Starling Project, the Great Wall Music Festival, and the Bacchannalia Festival. She has taught masterclasses throughout the US, China, and Chile. Ms. Janpoladyan currently resides in Pittsburgh where she maintains a private cello studio and performs regularly.
An active performer, Ms. Janpoladyan is a former member of the State Piano Trio “Shell” of Armenia and a former member of the Baur Quartet with whom she was the 2001 winner of the Pierre Lantiere International Chamber Music Competition. Ms. Janpoladyan has collaborated with artists such as Cyrus Forough, James Dunham, Yehuda Hanani, Ross Harbaugh, Awadagin Pratt, Piotr Milewsky and the Montclair Quartet. She has been featured as a soloist performing with the Yerevan Chamber Orchestra, the Camerata San Marco (NY), and the Mary Miller Dance Company. Ms. Janpoladyan is a principal cellist with the Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, and a cellist with the Resonance Works/Pittsburgh. As a member of the Freya String Quartet she was a cellist in residence with the Charlotte New Music Festival Ms. Janpoladyan has also collaborated with numerous living composers and is an avid proponent of new music. Ms. Janpoladyan often appears with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, Ohio Valley Symphony Orchestra, Erie Philharmonic and many other groups in the region.
With a dual passion for performing and educating, Ms. Janpoladyan has served on the faculties and directed some of the summer programs for the University of Cincinnati, Wyoming Fine Arts Center, the Cincinnati Starling Project, the Great Wall Music Festival, and the Bacchannalia Festival. She has taught masterclasses throughout the US, China, and Chile. Ms. Janpoladyan currently resides in Pittsburgh where she maintains a private cello studio and performs regularly.
Adam Liu, Guest Artist, Adjunct Professor of Cello at duquesne university
Assistant Principal Cello, Eileen Dorman Chair at Pittsburgh Symphony
Former Associate Principal Cello and Acting Principal Cello at Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Former Cello at San Antonio Symphony
Studied Grad Certificate with Lynn Harrell at University of Southern California
Studied with Stephen Kates at Peabody Conservatory
Studied Cello Performance at Central Conservatory, Beijing
Assistant Principal Cello, Eileen Dorman Chair at Pittsburgh Symphony
Former Associate Principal Cello and Acting Principal Cello at Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Former Cello at San Antonio Symphony
Studied Grad Certificate with Lynn Harrell at University of Southern California
Studied with Stephen Kates at Peabody Conservatory
Studied Cello Performance at Central Conservatory, Beijing
Alison Peters Fujito, Guest Artist, Violinist Alison Peters Fujito, originally from Glencoe, Ill., is proud to be a product of music in the public schools. She credits her high school orchestra director, Stanley Ackerman, with her love of violin and classical music. She began violin lessons in elementary school at her mother's suggestion, but thoroughly disliked practicing — until she played in string quartets and the four orchestras of New Trier East High School, directed by Ackerman.
She attended University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music as recipient of the Dorothy Richard Starling Fellowship, studying with Dorothy DeLay and Kurt Sassmanshaus and graduating summa cum laude. She received her Master of Music degree from The Julliard School, where she studied with DeLay and Hyo Kang. Other teachers included Wolfgang Schneiderhan, Jaquces Israelievitch, Blair Milton, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Linda Cerone and David Taylor.
After graduating from Julliard, Fujito was hired by Gerard Schwarz for the first violin section of the Seattle Symphony, and in 1987, she was appointed to the first violin section of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra by Lorin Maazel.
Fujito has appeared as soloist with several orchestra, including the Pittsburgh Symphony on several occasions. She was a founding member of Roy Sonne's Ionian Chamber Players, has performed in several summer music festivals and, with some of her Pittsburgh Symphony colleagues, delights in performing string quartets at local schools.
Fujito is an advocate of the Suzuki method of teaching violin to all ages and is registered with the Suzuki Association of the Americas, having completed teacher training for books 1-4 with notable instructors such as Michele George and Ed Kreitman. She is a firm believer in the importance of instrumental music instruction in the public schools and has spoken at many school board meetings. She was formerly an adjunct violin instructor at Duquesne University, and currently enjoys providing assistance to the many fine public school string instructors in the Pittsburgh area.
Fujito is married to Dr. Don Fujito, chemistry professor at LaRoche College. They are the proud and sleepless parents of three children, as well as three cats and a Border Collie/Newfoundland mix who likes to sleep on the feet of violin students.
She attended University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music as recipient of the Dorothy Richard Starling Fellowship, studying with Dorothy DeLay and Kurt Sassmanshaus and graduating summa cum laude. She received her Master of Music degree from The Julliard School, where she studied with DeLay and Hyo Kang. Other teachers included Wolfgang Schneiderhan, Jaquces Israelievitch, Blair Milton, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Linda Cerone and David Taylor.
After graduating from Julliard, Fujito was hired by Gerard Schwarz for the first violin section of the Seattle Symphony, and in 1987, she was appointed to the first violin section of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra by Lorin Maazel.
Fujito has appeared as soloist with several orchestra, including the Pittsburgh Symphony on several occasions. She was a founding member of Roy Sonne's Ionian Chamber Players, has performed in several summer music festivals and, with some of her Pittsburgh Symphony colleagues, delights in performing string quartets at local schools.
Fujito is an advocate of the Suzuki method of teaching violin to all ages and is registered with the Suzuki Association of the Americas, having completed teacher training for books 1-4 with notable instructors such as Michele George and Ed Kreitman. She is a firm believer in the importance of instrumental music instruction in the public schools and has spoken at many school board meetings. She was formerly an adjunct violin instructor at Duquesne University, and currently enjoys providing assistance to the many fine public school string instructors in the Pittsburgh area.
Fujito is married to Dr. Don Fujito, chemistry professor at LaRoche College. They are the proud and sleepless parents of three children, as well as three cats and a Border Collie/Newfoundland mix who likes to sleep on the feet of violin students.
Roy Sonne, Guest Artist: Violinist, Conductor, Educator. After 28 years in the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and 12 years as Music Director of the Edgewood Symphony Orchestra, Roy Sonne took early retirement in order to devote himself to an ever-increasing number of musical projects and interests.
“SCHOOL OF VIOLIN ARTISTRY” — Instructional videos for violin students: Continuing a project he started several years ago, Roy’s new venture can be found online at http://SchoolofViolinArtistry.com . The focus is “Finding the Pathway between technique and musical expression.”
Organizing an El Sistema type program in Pittsburgh: Roy is the President and Project Director of “Orchestra on the Hill,” an after school music program in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, based on the spectacularly successful El Sistemaprogram in Venezuela, which has transformed the lives of over 800,000 Venezuelan children from impoverished circumstances.
Private violin teaching: He is currently on the faculty of Carnegie Mellon University Preparatory Dept . and The Music Room, Irwin, PA. He also maintains a large private teaching studio in his home in Mt. Lebanon, PA.
Concert appearances: Recitals, chamber music, concertos, and conducting appearances in the Pittsburgh area.
String teaching project in Bolivia: From 2009-2011 Roy designed, organized and led an Educational Festival/Seminar for strings in La Paz, Bolivia, working with string players from the Bolivian National Symphony and the National Conservatory of Music.
Clinics and workshops for student orchestras: Roy continues the work he started as a Pittsburgh Symphony Ambassador, making frequent visits to high schools in the Pittsburgh area, to do workshops and coaching sessions. His innovative string workshops for community and student orchestras combine group technical instruction, masterclasses and string orchestra.
Jazz Violin Excursion and “STRINGS WITHOUT BOUNDARIES” Roy started playing jazz violin at age 60, after a 40 year career as a symphony musician. studied jazz improvisation with Christian Howes and James Johnson. Currently he is the violinist with the “Hot Club of Pittsburgh” which specializes in Gypsy Jazz.
Through playing jazz, Roy’s musical universe became so much richer that he became determined to share this experience with other classically trained string players. Working with some exciting and phenomenally talented folks, he founded the Pittsburgh Jazz and Fiddling Camp at Duquesne University, now renamed Strings Without Boundaries.
In May, 2014 Roy will appear as soloist with Sheldon Bair and the Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra, performing the Concerto for Jazz Violin by Scott Routenberg.
This is Mr. Sonne’s first event with the Horman Violin Studio.
“SCHOOL OF VIOLIN ARTISTRY” — Instructional videos for violin students: Continuing a project he started several years ago, Roy’s new venture can be found online at http://SchoolofViolinArtistry.com . The focus is “Finding the Pathway between technique and musical expression.”
Organizing an El Sistema type program in Pittsburgh: Roy is the President and Project Director of “Orchestra on the Hill,” an after school music program in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, based on the spectacularly successful El Sistemaprogram in Venezuela, which has transformed the lives of over 800,000 Venezuelan children from impoverished circumstances.
Private violin teaching: He is currently on the faculty of Carnegie Mellon University Preparatory Dept . and The Music Room, Irwin, PA. He also maintains a large private teaching studio in his home in Mt. Lebanon, PA.
Concert appearances: Recitals, chamber music, concertos, and conducting appearances in the Pittsburgh area.
String teaching project in Bolivia: From 2009-2011 Roy designed, organized and led an Educational Festival/Seminar for strings in La Paz, Bolivia, working with string players from the Bolivian National Symphony and the National Conservatory of Music.
Clinics and workshops for student orchestras: Roy continues the work he started as a Pittsburgh Symphony Ambassador, making frequent visits to high schools in the Pittsburgh area, to do workshops and coaching sessions. His innovative string workshops for community and student orchestras combine group technical instruction, masterclasses and string orchestra.
Jazz Violin Excursion and “STRINGS WITHOUT BOUNDARIES” Roy started playing jazz violin at age 60, after a 40 year career as a symphony musician. studied jazz improvisation with Christian Howes and James Johnson. Currently he is the violinist with the “Hot Club of Pittsburgh” which specializes in Gypsy Jazz.
Through playing jazz, Roy’s musical universe became so much richer that he became determined to share this experience with other classically trained string players. Working with some exciting and phenomenally talented folks, he founded the Pittsburgh Jazz and Fiddling Camp at Duquesne University, now renamed Strings Without Boundaries.
In May, 2014 Roy will appear as soloist with Sheldon Bair and the Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra, performing the Concerto for Jazz Violin by Scott Routenberg.
This is Mr. Sonne’s first event with the Horman Violin Studio.
Flavio Chamis: Conductor, Flavio Chamis began his formal training in conducting and composition at the Rubin Academy of Music (Tel Aviv University) under S. Ronli Riklis, assistant to Zubin Mehta of the Israel Philharmonic. He continued his studies with Martin Stephani in Detmold, Germany, graduating from the Nordwestdeutsche Musikakademie. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Chamis moved to Vienna, where he was appointed Music Director of the Villa Lobos Ensemble. While in Europe, Chamis made recordings for RIAS with the Radio Sinfonie Orchester Berlin and the Nouvelle Philharmonique de Radio France – his conducting of the world premiere of Michel Phillipot’s Concerto for Violin and/or Viola has been released by the label Solstice. His European engagements have included, among many others, performances at the Musikverein (Vienna), the Wiener Festwochen and the Royal Festival Hall in London. In 1985, Chamis was named conducting assistant to Leonard Bernstein.
In this capacity, he led the Israel Philharmonic in preparation for tours of Europe, Japan and the United States, featuring performances of Mahler’s 9th Symphony. The following year, he conducted in New York the rehearsals for the world premiere of Bernstein’s Jubilee Games, later renamed Concerto for Orchestra. In 1989, he again assisted Maestro Bernstein, this time on the European tour of the London Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Chamis returned to Brazil in 1987, as Music Director of the Porto Alegre Symphony Orchestra. There he won enthusiastic critical acclaim for his performances and appearances on Brazilian radio and television. As well as having conducted all of the major orchestras in Brazil, Mr. Chamis enjoys engagements as guest conductor throughout Europe and Latin America. Chamis has collaborated with such highly acclaimed international soloists as Mischa Maisky, Paul Badura Skoda, Ileana Cotrubas, Bruno Leonardo Gelber, Dang Thai-Son, Ransom Wilson, Antonio Meneses, Jean Louis Steuerman and Arnaldo Cohen, among others. He has also participated in numerous international music festivals, including the Tanglewood Music Festival, Bayreuther Festspiel, and Schleswig Holstein Music Festival.
As a composer, his works embrace a wide range of styles, from solo, chamber, and symphonic pieces, to jazz and Brazilian music. This versatile musician has also written the text for many of his vocal compositions. “Especiaria”, a Latin Grammy nominated CD exclusively with Mr. Chamis Brazilian Jazz compositions has been released by the Brazilian label Biscoito Fino. In 2007 Flavio Chamis received the International Press Award as Outstanding Brazilian Musician based in the U.S. A frequent guest lecturer, his presentations on both Brazilian and classical music have been heard in Universities, as well as several cultural and educational organizations across the country. Since 2008, Mr. Chamis has been a permanent member of the Screening Committee of the Latin Grammy. Flavio resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with his wife Tatjana, Associate Principal violist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and their three children.
In this capacity, he led the Israel Philharmonic in preparation for tours of Europe, Japan and the United States, featuring performances of Mahler’s 9th Symphony. The following year, he conducted in New York the rehearsals for the world premiere of Bernstein’s Jubilee Games, later renamed Concerto for Orchestra. In 1989, he again assisted Maestro Bernstein, this time on the European tour of the London Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Chamis returned to Brazil in 1987, as Music Director of the Porto Alegre Symphony Orchestra. There he won enthusiastic critical acclaim for his performances and appearances on Brazilian radio and television. As well as having conducted all of the major orchestras in Brazil, Mr. Chamis enjoys engagements as guest conductor throughout Europe and Latin America. Chamis has collaborated with such highly acclaimed international soloists as Mischa Maisky, Paul Badura Skoda, Ileana Cotrubas, Bruno Leonardo Gelber, Dang Thai-Son, Ransom Wilson, Antonio Meneses, Jean Louis Steuerman and Arnaldo Cohen, among others. He has also participated in numerous international music festivals, including the Tanglewood Music Festival, Bayreuther Festspiel, and Schleswig Holstein Music Festival.
As a composer, his works embrace a wide range of styles, from solo, chamber, and symphonic pieces, to jazz and Brazilian music. This versatile musician has also written the text for many of his vocal compositions. “Especiaria”, a Latin Grammy nominated CD exclusively with Mr. Chamis Brazilian Jazz compositions has been released by the Brazilian label Biscoito Fino. In 2007 Flavio Chamis received the International Press Award as Outstanding Brazilian Musician based in the U.S. A frequent guest lecturer, his presentations on both Brazilian and classical music have been heard in Universities, as well as several cultural and educational organizations across the country. Since 2008, Mr. Chamis has been a permanent member of the Screening Committee of the Latin Grammy. Flavio resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with his wife Tatjana, Associate Principal violist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and their three children.
Jami Bale (Suzuki): Taking a "road less traveled," violinist/flutist Jami Bale has spent a lifetime pursuing achievements on two diverse orchestral instruments. She is an active free lance musician on both instruments in Pittsburgh, PA and the surrounding tri-state region of Ohio and West Virginia. She currently serves as a tenured member of the violin section in the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra, and performs frequently with the Pittsburgh Ballet Orchestra and the Wheeling, WV Symphony.
Versatile in many musical styles, Jami is in high demand as a classical chamber musician and recitalist, plays for Broadway shows with Pittsburgh's Civic Light Opera, and has also performed in concert with such artists as Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart and the Moody Blues in addition to engagements with Finesse, a popular Pittsburgh band. Other career highlights include performing in concert with Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, and appearing in several installments of the acclaimed PBS Doo Wop television series.
While enjoying an active performing career, Jami also serves on the faculty of Lydia Music Center, and has previously held the positions of violin and flute instructor at Musik Innovations, Adjunct Instructor at Duquesne University and with the City Music Center. Jami holds the degrees of Bachelor of Music, Master of Music (violin) and Master of Music (flute) from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and the Artist Diploma from Duquesne University.
Versatile in many musical styles, Jami is in high demand as a classical chamber musician and recitalist, plays for Broadway shows with Pittsburgh's Civic Light Opera, and has also performed in concert with such artists as Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart and the Moody Blues in addition to engagements with Finesse, a popular Pittsburgh band. Other career highlights include performing in concert with Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, and appearing in several installments of the acclaimed PBS Doo Wop television series.
While enjoying an active performing career, Jami also serves on the faculty of Lydia Music Center, and has previously held the positions of violin and flute instructor at Musik Innovations, Adjunct Instructor at Duquesne University and with the City Music Center. Jami holds the degrees of Bachelor of Music, Master of Music (violin) and Master of Music (flute) from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and the Artist Diploma from Duquesne University.
Sandro Leal, Sandro Leal Santiesteban began his musical journey in Havana, Cuba. While living in Cuba, he performed with many orchestras in the Americas including the Oakland Youth Symphony Orchestra, the New England Conservatory Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, the Gustav Mahler Youth Symphony Orchestra, and throughout Europe with the Cuban Dance Company of Lizt Alfonso and the Sinfónica de Matanzas. At age sixteen, Sandro was selected to perform Sarasate’s “Zigeunerweisen” for Claudio Abbado and was featured with the Sinfónica de Matanzas, performing Khachaturian’s Violin Concerto under the baton of his mother, Lourdes Santiesteban.\
After immigrating to the U.S. in 2001, Sandro studied for a year at the preparatory school of New England Conservatory with former Boston Symphony principal second violin Marylou Churchill. Sandro continued his studies at the Eastman School of Music with Mikhail Kopelman, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in violin performance and then subsequently studying with Cyrus Forough at the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music where he obtained both his Master’s degree in Violin Performance and a certificate from the Performance Residency Program.
Sandro has received fellowships to notable festivals such as Musicorda String Summer Camp; the Manchester Music Festival; Round Top Festival Institute; the Spoleto Festival as assistant concertmaster; and the Youth Orchestra of the Americas, where he toured throughout Europe and South America. Mr. Leal has studied with the Shanghai String Quartet, the Ying Quartet, the Brentano Quartet, the Cuarteto Latinoamericano, the Miami String Quartet, and with violinists Elmira Darvarova, Ilya Kaler, Jorja Fleezanis, and Ian Swensen.
Memorable performances for Sandro include the Mendelssohn String Octet alongside former concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Andrés Cárdenes, Behzad Ranjbaran’s Violin Concerto with the Carnegie Mellon University Philharmonic as first prize winner of the Carnegie Mellon University concerto competition, and an American tour with the Sphinx Chamber Orchestra following a semi-finalist award for the 2006 Sphinx Competition. Other notable concerts include playing under the direction of Plácido Domingo, Kent Nagano, and Carlos Miguel Prieto.
Sandro is currently a member of the first violin section of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the Erie Philharmonic, the Erie Chamber Orchestra, and is concertmaster of Resonance Works. Additionally, Sandro has a private violin studio in the Pittsburgh area. Sandro is currently a member of the Beo String Quartet taking him as far as Charlotte New Music Festival, NC, and a tour in North Dakota this year. Sandro has been winner of the Pittsburgh Concert Society for the last two years. The first time as a soloist and the second time as a member of the quartet.
After immigrating to the U.S. in 2001, Sandro studied for a year at the preparatory school of New England Conservatory with former Boston Symphony principal second violin Marylou Churchill. Sandro continued his studies at the Eastman School of Music with Mikhail Kopelman, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in violin performance and then subsequently studying with Cyrus Forough at the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music where he obtained both his Master’s degree in Violin Performance and a certificate from the Performance Residency Program.
Sandro has received fellowships to notable festivals such as Musicorda String Summer Camp; the Manchester Music Festival; Round Top Festival Institute; the Spoleto Festival as assistant concertmaster; and the Youth Orchestra of the Americas, where he toured throughout Europe and South America. Mr. Leal has studied with the Shanghai String Quartet, the Ying Quartet, the Brentano Quartet, the Cuarteto Latinoamericano, the Miami String Quartet, and with violinists Elmira Darvarova, Ilya Kaler, Jorja Fleezanis, and Ian Swensen.
Memorable performances for Sandro include the Mendelssohn String Octet alongside former concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Andrés Cárdenes, Behzad Ranjbaran’s Violin Concerto with the Carnegie Mellon University Philharmonic as first prize winner of the Carnegie Mellon University concerto competition, and an American tour with the Sphinx Chamber Orchestra following a semi-finalist award for the 2006 Sphinx Competition. Other notable concerts include playing under the direction of Plácido Domingo, Kent Nagano, and Carlos Miguel Prieto.
Sandro is currently a member of the first violin section of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the Erie Philharmonic, the Erie Chamber Orchestra, and is concertmaster of Resonance Works. Additionally, Sandro has a private violin studio in the Pittsburgh area. Sandro is currently a member of the Beo String Quartet taking him as far as Charlotte New Music Festival, NC, and a tour in North Dakota this year. Sandro has been winner of the Pittsburgh Concert Society for the last two years. The first time as a soloist and the second time as a member of the quartet.
Jason Horn: Praised for his "exquisite tone" (CVNC: Classical Voice of North Carolina), violist and violinist Jason Hohn received his Bachelor of Arts in Music and German Studies from Minot State University as a student of Dr. Jon Rumney and completed graduate studies at the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music as a student of Toby Appel. As a member of the Freya String Quartet, he cultivated the string quartet residency program at the Charlotte New Music Festival, where he premiered over twenty new works by living composers. He has appeared as soloist with the Pittsburgh Philharmonic Orchestra in Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante, Resonance Works | Pittsburgh in Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Flos Campi. Currently residing in Pittsburgh, PA, Mr. Hohn maintains a viola and violin studio, and performs regularly with the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater Orchestra, the Wheeling Symphony, the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh Summerfest and Resonance Works | Pittsburgh. As an arts entrepreneur and administrator, he is particularly passionate about the evolution of the classical musician and concert experience for a 21st century audience, and making music and art accessible to all. He serves as the current President of the Board of Directors for Resonance Works | Pittsburgh, and is co-owner of the Chamber Light Players, a premium event music service. In his spare time he enjoys distance running, gardening, trying new foods and reading. He is currently a graduate student at the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh.
Ashley Freeburn, violin : Ashley Holds Master of Music degree at Carnegie Mellon University, co-founder of the Kassia Ensemble, Ashley is a founding member of the Bell’Art Ensemble. Ashley has been featured in chamber concerts throughout the United States including performances at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Severance Hall while a member of the Starling Foundation String Quartet, in the Grand County Series as a member of the Parnassus String Quartet, and in the Treefalls Series of South Carolina with the Freya String Quartet. Ashley has been coached by members of the world’s greatest chamber groups, including the Cleveland Quartet, Pacifica Quartet, Alexander String Quartet and Cavani String Quartet. As a member of the Freya String Quartet, she has held residencies with the Charlotte New Music Festival and Opera Theater Summerfest, and has collaborated with a wide variety of artists spanning the genres from pop to classical. Ashley has appeared with the Erie Philharmonic, and the Canton, Youngstown, West Virginia, Wheeling, and Westmoreland Symphony Orchestras, among others. Most recently, she has been heard in performance with Resonance Works and the Opera Theater of Pittsburgh. Ashley has also shared the stage with such international artists as Barry Manilow, Belle and Sebastian, Josh Groban, Clay Aiken, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Ashley is frequently heard on Pittsburgh’s classical music station, 89.3 WQED. Ashley is also frequently heard on Pittsburgh’s independent radio station, 91.3 WYEP, in recording with several of Pittsburgh’s finest singer-songwriters, including Joy Ike, Ben Hardt, Tim Ruff, Paul Luc, and Juliana Carr.
Ashley is frequently heard on Pittsburgh’s classical music station, 89.3 WQED. Ashley is also frequently heard on Pittsburgh’s independent radio station, 91.3 WYEP, in recording with several of Pittsburgh’s finest singer-songwriters, including Joy Ike, Ben Hardt, Tim Ruff, Paul Luc, and Juliana Carr.
Mike Fujito : Michael Fujito is a current senior dual major in Middle Level Education and Theater at Gannon University. There he has studied directing, improvization, sound design, scenic design, costume design, playwriting, and acting. Some of his greatest artistic achievements include: writing and directing an original play for Fringe Fest Erie, writing and performing in an original sketch comedy show for Fringe Fest Erie, and performing in the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh Scotland. He is a proud alumni of Saltworks Theater Company, Wexford Acting Studio, and Spotlight Theater Company.
Italy Summer Camp - Clazz Internation Music Festival
July 13 - July 24, 2017
Italian Summer Camp for Cello Students who are 11-17 years old, great opportunity going to Italy with Pittsburgh Assistant Principal Cello Adam Liu for Clazz Internation Music Festival, $1500 plus airline tickets. For detail information, go to: www.clazzmusicfestival.com
Register contact: manager@lydiamusiccenter.com, tel:412-364-2210
Italian Summer Camp for Cello Students who are 11-17 years old, great opportunity going to Italy with Pittsburgh Assistant Principal Cello Adam Liu for Clazz Internation Music Festival, $1500 plus airline tickets. For detail information, go to: www.clazzmusicfestival.com
Register contact: manager@lydiamusiccenter.com, tel:412-364-2210