About Us
String Musicians
Current string musicians for Occasional Brass and Strings all hail from New England, and enjoy playing weddings and events in the Boston area and beyond, from Maine to Connecticut. Get to know them here.
Abigale Reisman - Violin
Abigale Reisman is a violinist, composer, improviser, and educator. She earned her Bachelor's degree at The Manhattan School of Music in Classical Violin Performance. In New York, she became involved with the contemporary music scene and Klezmer music. Abigale went on to receive her Master's degree at The New England Conservatory in Contemporary Improvisation. There, she developed her compositional skills while working in a rich collaborative environment. She has toured the world performing Klezmer, classical, rock, and contemporary music. Abigale has had the privilege to share the stage with great musicians such as David Krakauer, Anthony Coleman, Jeffery Zeigler, Amanda Palmer, Sarah Jarosz, Hankus Netsky, and Jherek Bischoff.
abigale@occasionalbrass.com
Amy Ripka - Violin
Amy started playing the violin at age 6, after her parents joined an itinerant bluegrass band. After playing with such banjo greats as Ben Eldridge from The Seldom Scene, she went on to study more classical pursuits. Her teachers have included Blair Milton, Margaret Pardee, and Charlie Castleman from the Eastman School of Music. After attending Northwestern University for violin performance, she took a slight detour and received her Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Finally recovered from this indiscretion, she has once again returned to the violin, and has performed with a variety of groups in the area including the Nashua Symphony, New Bedford Symphony, Granite State Symphony, Portsmouth Symphony, Portland Ballet, PORTopera, North Shore Music Theatre, and the Merrimack Repertory Theatre.
amy@occasionalbrass.com
Angel Hernandez Dominguez - Violin, Viola
Angel Hernandez Dominguez was born in Cuba, where he began his studies on the violin at the Manuel Saumell Conservatory in Havana. At the age of 16, he moved to Mexico. There he held positions in the Aguascalientes Symphony Orchestra; the Queretaro Philharmonic, with whom he also performed as soloist on several occasions; and most recently the OFUNAM Philharmonic in Mexico City. Angel moved to the United States in 2006. He is currently on faculty at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham; Shrewsbury, MA Public Schools; and Indian Hill Music School. He maintains an active performance schedule as a member of the Nashaway Trio, Camerata New England, and the Bangor Symphony Orchestra in Maine. Angel lives in Holden with his family, where he also builds and repairs violins.
angelh@occasionalbrass.com
Annalisa Boerner - Viola
Annalisa Boerner, viola, earned both her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the Cleveland Institute (CIM), under the tutelage of Jeffrey Irvine (CIM) and Lynne Ramsey (Cleveland Orchestra). Annalisa has played with the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra (MA), Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra (CT), CityMusic Cleveland (OH), The National Repertory Orchestra (CO), and The Columbus Bach Ensemble (OH). As a Viola Fellow with Community MusicWorks Players (RI), Annalisa was part of two world premiere performances of music by Gonzalo Grau and Kareem Roustom. She has collaborated with such artists as the Kronos Quartet, the Cavani String Quartet, the Claremont Trio, and members of the Cleveland Orchestra in concert. Annalisa lives and teaches in and around New Haven, CT.
annalisa@occasionalbrass.com
Barbara Zdravesky - Cello
Barbara Zdravesky began playing the cello at the age of eight in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In high school, she moved to Rhode Island, where she played in the Youth Symphony of Rhode Island. Barbara started her studies at the University of New Mexico with Joanna DeKeyser, and finished with George Mack at Rhode Island College (RIC). She received degrees in music and anthropology from RIC and has been performing in New England for more than twenty years. In addition to chamber ensembles, theater groups, and churches, Barbara has played in orchestras such as the Rhode Island Civic Chorale Orchestra, the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra, the New Bedford Symphony, the Thayer Symphony, and held the principal cellist seat in the Rhode Island College Symphony under Edward Markward for two decades.
barbara@occasionalbrass.com
Ben Kulp - Cello
Benjamin Kulp is the cello instructor at The Upper Valley Music Center in Lebanon, NH. He graduated from St. Olaf College with a Bachelor's in Music Performance, and a Master of Music from Ball State University, with further studies with Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi and Brant Taylor. Ben is a former member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and the Miami Symphony Orchestra, and he founded the Logan Chamber Players, a not-for-profit chamber music orchestra in Chicago dedicated to bringing accessible classical music to local communities. Ben enjoys playing classical, jazz, pop, and more, all over NH and VT for OB&S and numerous other ensembles.
benk@occasionalbrass.com
Bethany Landby - Violin
Bethany Landby is a faculty member at the Concord Community Music School and holds positions with Albany Symphony, Santo Domingo Music Festival, Orchestra of Indian Hill, and West Virginia Symphony. Her varied performance career has taken her to Iceland, Spain, Central America, and throughout the United States. Bethany earned a Bachelor of Music and Performance Certificate from the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music and a Master of Music degree from Carnegie Mellon University as a full scholarship student of Andres Cardenes. She has performed with artists such as Josh Groban, Ben Folds and the Transiberian Orchestra. When not performing or teaching, Bethany can be found in nature, with a good book, or social dancing.
bethany@occasionalbrass.com
Bozena O'Brien - Violin
Bozena O'Brien was born in Poland and, at age 10, came to the United States. She trained at Tanglewood, Boston University and studied with Marylou Speaker Churchill of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She holds a certificate for Suzuki pedagogy, Suzuki Book 1, and is in her 29th year of teaching at Concord Community Music School, where she is string department chair. Bozena has taught at St. Paul's School, Concord, NH for 20 years, Plymouth State University, Holderness Preparatory School, and Kimball Union Academy. She performs with the New Hampshire Music Festival, Vermont Symphony Orchestra, CCMS Musicians of Wall Street, Brinkler Piano Trio, Handel Society of Dartmouth College, and various other choral and orchestral ensembles. Bozena maintains a home studio and continues to perform as a freelance violinist.
bozena@occasionalbrass.com
Caroline Reiner-Williams - Cello
Caroline Reiner-Williams completed her undergraduate degree in cello performance at the age of 19. Prior to accepting a full scholarship to pursue graduate studies at the Longy School of Music, she toured the U.S. and seven European countries as a member of several chamber ensembles. At 21, she received her master's degree in cello performance. A faculty member at the Joy of Music Program in Worcester since 2009, Caroline is also on the adjunct music faculty at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI); Shrewsbury Public Schools; and Indian Hill Music School. She is active throughout New England as a chamber and orchestral musician, performing regularly with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, where she is contracted associate principal since 2009, and as a founding member of the Nashaway Piano Trio and Trio Nuevo.
caroline@occasionalbrass.com
Celine DuTemple - Violin
Celine DuTemple is a violinist and Suzuki instructor whose training is versatile and dynamic. She holds a BM in violin performance from Belmont University in Nashville, TN, Cum Laude, and a Masters at The Hartt School in Hartford, CT. Her mentors include Teri Einfeldt, Christie Felsing, and Donna Ngai. As a performer, she played with the Hartt Orchestra, their chamber music program, and their 20th/21st century music ensemble, Foot in the Door. She has also performed with the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra. During the summers of 2013 and 2014, she attended the National Music Festival as an apprentice where recordings can be heard on National Public Radio.
celine@occasionalbrass.com
Chris Baum - Violin
Inventive and innovative, classically-trained violinist Chris Baum is rapidly becoming a prominent force in contemporary music circles around the globe. Baum's strength lies in his versatility, consistently pushing the boundaries of the violin while molding his playing to fit ensembles and genres often deemed unsuitable for the instrument. The Berklee College of Music graduate's growing list of credits include collaborations with The Dear Hunter, Dropkick Murphys, Amanda Palmer, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Symmetry, Wheat, Art Decade, Guy Mendilow, Jherek Bischoff, and the Video Game Orchestra, who featured Chris as a soloist at Boston's Symphony Hall and on the ensemble's tour of China.
chrisb@occasionalbrass.com
Diane Guillemette - Viola
A Rhode Island native, Diane Guillemette studied viola at the University of Rhode Island (Bachelor of Applied Music) and McGill University in Montreal. She is a founding member and violist at Musica Dolce, performing in string quartets and trios at venues in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Diane is an active freelance musician who has performed with Chorus of Westerly Festival Orchestra, the RI Civic Chorale & Orchestra, Southeastern Connecticut Symphony, and RI Philharmonic Pops. She has been with Occasional Brass & Strings since 2008, and was one of our first RI-based strings.
diane@occasionalbrass.com
Emily Halpern Lewis - Harp, Celtic Harp
Emily Halpern Lewis has been a featured soloist with the Bridgeport Symphony, Salem Philharmonic, North Shore Philharmonic, the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, the Portland Chamber Orchestra in Maine, and most recently with the Walden Chamber Players. She is the winner of several awards including a three time winner of the Elizabeth Herbert Hobin Harp Scholarship and a recipient of a fellowship at the Tanglewood Music Center. Emily began her harp studies with Lucile Lawrence, and continued studying with her at Tanglewood and Boston University. A much sought after teacher, Emily Halpern Lewis has served on the faculty at Gordon College, Boston University, and is currently teaching at MIT, the Phillips Academy at Andover, and
Concord Academy.
emily@occasionalbrass.com
Eric Wuest - Violin
Violinist Eric Wuest is a versatile musician, equally accomplished as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. He has performed as a soloist with many orchestras, including the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the University of Michigan Philharmonic Orchestra, and the UCLA Philharmonia. Eric has participated in the Second Benjamin Britten International Violin Competition, the 10th Pablo Sarasate International Violin Competition, and 8th Seoul International Music Competition. He has played under such notable conductors as James Conlon, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Sir Neville Mariner, Nicholas McGegan, David Robertson, Michael Stern, Leonard Slatkin, and David Zinman. Eric was also the principal second violinist on the multi-Grammy Award winning album "Songs of Innocence and of Experience" by William Bolcom, which was recorded at the University of Michigan in 2004.
eric@occasionalbrass.com
Eve Boltax - Violin, Viola
Born in Vermont, violist Eve Boltax is an active performer and teaching artist in the Boston area. She is a founding member of the Cardamom Quartet and the saxophone and viola duo, patchtax, who collaborates frequently with a wide variety of artists across various disciplines. Eve has performed as principal violist with Boston's Symphony Nova, the Banff Festival Orchestra, and the Longy Conservatory Orchestra and in the sections of many local orchestras including the New Bedford Symphony and Cape Ann Symphony. She received her Master of Music degree at the Longy School of Music as a student of Dimitri Murrath and was the recipient of the President's Award for Teaching Artistry. Eve graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Massachusetts Amherst where was a student of Elizabeth Chang and was the 2010 Concerto Competition Winner.
eve@occasionalbrass.com
Jake Pietroniro - Viola
Jake Pietroniro is a violist and New Hampshire native. He began his studies at age nine, participating in ensembles like the Keene Chamber Orchestra and the Boston Youth Symphony during his high school years. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he studied with Helen Callus, graduating with magna cum laude academic honors and a distinction in his Bachelor of Arts degree. In addition to viola performance, Jake is fascinated with the use of metaphor in pedagogy, and has published a paper on the benefits of its use. He is currently pursuing his Master's degree in viola performance on scholarship at The Hartt School, where his chamber group recently won 1st prize in the annual Hartt Chamber Music Competition.
jake@occasionalbrass.com
Jane Kitteredge - Violin
Jane Kittredge began playing the violin at age four. A native Vermonter, she is the youngest of five children and the first to pursue music professionally. Jane is often seen playing with The Vermont Symphony Orchestra along with the Distinguished Concerts International Symphony Orchestra in New York City. Her orchestra engagements have taken her from Canada to Mexico, New Hampshire to California, and rock'n'roll stage to SONY recording studio. Jane's experience, however, is not limited to classical music: most recently, she shared the stage with Sarah McLachlan for a sold-out audience at the Shelburne Museum grounds in Vermont. She toured briefly with Trey Anastasio of the Phish, and now plays with the alternative indie-rock band, Secret Radio, as well as the New York City-based Beatles' band, Bubble.
janek@occasionalbrass.com
Dr. Jeanne Drumm - Violin, Viola, Piano
A native of Seattle, WA, Jeanne received Master of Music degrees in both piano and viola from the University of Washington before moving to Boston to pursue a Doctorate in viola at New England Conservatory with Carol Rodland, Marcus Thompson, and Kim Kashkashian. She frequently performs with many area orchestras, including principal viola with the Cape Ann and Brockton Symphonies. Over the past three decades, Jeanne has been heard in theater pits, as part of a jazz ensemble, playing chamber music in Jordan Hall, as a concerto soloist in Seattle's Meany Hall, performing in Swiss chapels, and at many windy weddings. She hopes to one day be a college professor.
jeanne@occasionalbrass.com
Jessica Helie - Violin, Viola
Jessica Helie holds a bachelor of music degree from Syracuse University and a master of music degree from the Longy Conservatory. She studied with Laura Bossert-King at the Longy Conservatory, Muneko Otani of the Cassatt String Quartet, and James Dickenson of the Degas String Quartet. Jessica has performed with the Granite State and Nashua symphonies, Granite State Opera, and Lyrica Chamber Music in Chatham, NJ. In addition to running a private studio, she teaches strings in the Timberlane Regional School District and Violin/Viola at the Portsmouth (NH) Music & Arts Center.
jessica@occasionalbrass.com
Juli Miller - Harp
Juli Miller is an active freelance harpist in the Boston area. She has worked with many local orchestras and chamber groups, including Alia III, BMOP, the Boston Pops, the New England Philharmonic, the New Hampshire Symphony, and the Springfield Symphony. A graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy and the New England Conservatory, she subsequently studied with Marcel Grandjany, the New York Met's Reinhardt Elster, and the BSO's Ann Pilot. She won the Princeton University Concerto Competition, which led to performances of Ravel's Introduction and Allegro and Debussy's Dances Sacree et Profane with the Princeton University Orchestra. She has also played with the New Jersey Opera and the American Shakespeare Theater, and in Indiana with the South Bend Symphony.
juli@occasionalbrass.com
Junko Fujiwara - Cello
Cellist Junko Fujiwara is a jazz improviser and an active classical musician. Her current performing groups include: Eric Hofbauer Quintet, BOLT: Adventurous Improvised Music, Mimi Rabson's String Theory Trio, a recurring duo with pianist Steve Lantner, the Evocation Trio based out of Milwaukee, and the classical chamber group Kalliope Piano Trio. Junko holds cello faculty positions at Boston College, Governor's Academy, Masconomet Regional School in Topsfield, Ipswich Public Schools, and also maintains a studio of private students. She has a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin.
junko@occasionalbrass.com
Kate Jensik - Cello
Kate Jensik is a graduate of Ithaca College with a bachelor's degree in Music. She received an Artists Diploma from Brandeis University and a master's degree from the Boston Conservatory, studying with renowned teacher and performer Rhonda Rider. She also studied at the Janacek Academy of Music in the Czech Republic and has participated in master classes with Yo-Yo Ma, Benjamin Zander, and Paul Katz. Late has taught at the Powers Music School, the Rivers Music School, Ithaca Talent Education Suzuki School, Ithaca College, and Brandeis University. She is currently on the faculty of the Concord Community Music School, and is an active freelance musician throughout New England.
kate@occasionalbrass.com
Kevin Scollins - Guitar
Kevin Scollins is a Boston-based guitarist, composer, and educator. Some notable artists that Kevin has worked with include Sean Jones, Wycliffe Gordan, Marshall Gilkes, Peter Eldridge, and Marlon Saunders. He is a native of Foxboro, Massachusetts where he also teaches guitar at the local high school. Kevin is a graduate of Berklee College of music and currently works at Berklee as a staff accompanist for the voice department. He has played at venues including Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Symphony Hall, The Regatta Bar Courtyard, The Hanover Theatre, and Boston Common to name a few. Kevin keeps an active performance schedule and plays many styles of music as a freelance musician all over New England.
kevin@occasionalbrass.com
Laura Messina - Cello
Born in New York and raised in Connecticut, Laura Messina earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY and a Master of Science in Music Education from Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, CT. As Education Manager and cello teacher for the nonprofit organization musiConnects, Laura has designed and implemented a comprehensive string curriculum for elementary school students in two Boston Public Schools. She also leads the elementary string program in the Belmont Public Schools, where she teaches group lessons to third and fourth grade string players, and conducts elementary level orchestras. Laura is also an active freelancer in the Boston area, having performed with numerous local orchestras and as the cellist and a founding member of the Sumner Quartet.
laura@occasionalbrass.com
Lauren Nelson - Viola, Violin
Lauren Nelson received her Bachelor's of Music from Eastman School of Music, her Master's of Music from the University of Kentucky, and her Graduate Diploma from New England Conservatory. She has studied with Roger Tapping, Deborah Lander, and John Graham. Lauren maintains a busy performance schedule with the Harvard Baroque Chamber Orchestra (MA), the New World Symphony (FL), the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra (MA), and the Portland Symphony (ME). She won first prize at both the Colorado College Music Festival Solo Competition (CO) and the MaCauley Chamber Music Competition (KY). Lauren maintains a busy teaching schedule as Co-Artistic Director of Youth and Family Enrichment Services, (YOFES) in Hyde Park, MA, and with her own private teaching studio in Jamaica Plain, MA.
lauren@occasionalbrass.com
Dr. Lizary Rodriguez - Harp
Chamber performer and soloist Lizary Rodriguez Rios attended the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico and studied with noted Puerto Rican harpist Maria Rosa Vidal. She earned both Masters and Doctoral degrees from the University of Arizona, where she studied with world renowned harpist Dr. Carrol McLaughlin. She subsequently finished two postgraduate degrees from Madrid's Royal Conservatory of Music, studying under the tutelage of celebrated harpist Dr. Maria Rosa Calvo-Manzano. In addition to her career as a soloist, she has toured with the Grammy nominated international harp ensemble, Harp Fusion, performing in the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Spain and Russia.
lizary@occasionalbrass.com
Lynne Canavan - Violin
Lynne Canavan received her undergraduate degree in violin performance from The University of Lowell, Massachusetts, and master's degree in management from Lesley College. She has studied violin with Alfred Schneider, Joseph McGauley and John Lowry. Lynne has been a freelance violinist in the New England area for over 30 years, performing many with symphony orchestras including The Claflin Hill
Symphony Orchestra in Milford, MA. She is currently in her 17th year as Assistant Director of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Music Coach for WPI's Medwin Honors String Quartet. Among her many past accomplishments, Lynne has taught traditional and Suzuki violin lessons, and she also successfully designed and implemented a pilot string program for the Billerica Public School system.
lynne@occasionalbrass.com
Megan Koch - Cello
Megan Koch has worked and performed throughout the United States, Asia, and Western Europe. She has a Masters in Chamber Music from the San Francisco Conservatory and a Bachelors of Music from the Peabody Institute. Megan plays in the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and the Cape Cod Symphony, and is currently on the faculty of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School. As a founding member of the Rivendell String Quartet, she had the opportunity to travel to Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic, in association with the US State Department and Carnegie Hall. The quartet also traveled to Singapore, where they mentored young musicians at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory and performed several concerts.
megank@occasionalbrass.com
Meghan O'Connor - Violin
Meghan O'Connor began studying the violin at the age of six. A 2002 graduate of Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, Meghan received a BA degree with honors in music and mathematics. She is a private violin instructor and freelances throughout Southern New England. She has performed with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony, the Rhode Island Pops, and the Rhode Island College Symphony Orchestra. Meghan is a member of the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra, Musica Dolce, and is concert master of the Newport County Community Orchestra. In the spring and summer she manages the Box Office for the Newport Music Festival.
meghan@occasionalbrass.com
Rachel Barringer - Cello
Cellist Rachel Barringer, a Los Angeles native, has performed in numerous chamber music festivals including Zephyr (Italy), Bowdoin, and the Summer Institute of Contemporary Performance Practice at the New England Conservatory. She was a core member of Juventas, the ensemble in residence at the Boston Conservatory, from 2010-12. Rachel can also be seen performing with local rock bands Future Carnivores, The Grownup Noise, Guillermo Sexo, Mascara, and Ryan Lee Crosby. Rachel is a graduate of the California Institute of the Arts, where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts, and the Longy School of Music, where she earned her Master of Music. Her principal teachers are Erika Duke-Kirkpatrick and Terry King. Rachel can be heard on the pfMentum, Cold Blue, 7Tangram Records, Afrasia, and Innova record labels.
rachelb@occasionalbrass.com
Rachel Panitch - Violin
Rachel Panitch is a fiddler, teacher, and improviser. In 2009, she founded Rhode Island Fiddle Project, a free music program based in Pawtucket, RI, teaching traditional fiddle and dance music to students ages 7-17. Rachel is a contra dance fiddler with bands French Roast and Pizzazz, she performs classical music with the Cardamom Quartet, tells stories with Thread Ensemble (an improvisatory trio of violins, voices, and vibraphone), and has recorded with The Bourbon Boys, Tallahassee, and Neha Jiwrajka. Rachel's fiddling was part of the Emmy-nominated soundtrack for the 2009 PBS documentary "The Mosque in Morgantown." She has a Bachelors Degree in Anthropology and Music from Vassar College, and a Masters of Music in Contemporary Improvisation from New England Conservatory.
rachel@occasionalbrass.com
Robert Bekkers - Guitar
Born near Eindhoven, Netherlands, Robert Bekkers earned his performing and teaching degrees (Bachelor and Master of Music) at the Conservatory of Maastricht. During the seven years there, he won a scholarship to study contemporary music with Angelo Gilardino in Italy. He has performed in master classes for internationally-known guitarists such as David Russell and Pepe Romero. After his education, Robert developed his career as a soloist and chamber musician, playing with orchestras, choirs, and giving solo recitals. He recently completed his Doctor in Musical Arts (DMA) in classical guitar at the New England Conservatory under Eliot Fisk. He is also instructor of guitar at South Shore Conservatory in Hingham, MA and Gordon College in Wenham, MA.
robert@occasionalbrass.com
Sam Kelder - Viola
Beginning his violin studies at six years of age in Houston, Texas, Sam grew up with an inquisitive mind for expression and collaboration. Sam holds a B.M. from the University of Houston, M.M. from Mannes the New School for Music, and graduated May 2017 from doctoral studies at Boston University as teaching assistant to Michelle LaCourse. Other major teachers and influences include Wayne Brooks, Karen Dreyfus, Kyung Sun Lee, Laurie Smukler, and Bayla Keyes. Described as "dynamic and committed" by the Boston Globe, Sam performs regularly in New England with ensembles A Far Cry, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Guerilla Opera, Callithumpian Consort, Sound Icon, and various regional symphony orchestras.
sam@occasionalbrass.com
Sara Wilkins - Cello
Dr. Sara Wilkins has established herself as a versatile and energetic cellist in the Boston area. An active performer, she has toured and given masterclasses with the Tarab Cello Ensemble, performed with the American Chamber Opera in Chicago, and currently serves as principal cellist of the Rivers Symphony. Recent appearances include Symphony New Hampshire, Symphony-by-the-Sea, and Company Theatre. An experienced teacher, Sara is currently on faculty at All Newton Music School, Sharon Music Academy, the Rivers School, and Beaver Country Day School. She also serves as String Department Coordinator at All Newton. Sara has taught cello, violin, group strings, and general music to students ranging in age from 2 to 73.
sara@occasionalbrass.com
Sassan Haghighi - Cello
Sassan Haghighi completed his M.M. under the tutelage of Astrid Schween, and has also studied and played for well known cellists such as Marcy Rosen, Zvi Plesser, Brooks Whitehouse, Rhonda Rider, Pieter Wispelway, and David Finckel. After attending Ameropa Music Festival in Prague Czech Republic, Sassan was invited to study at the Prague Conservatory under the instruction of Vladan Koci. Sassan has won several awards, scholarships, and competitions including the Music Academy of North Carolina Strings Competition. An active teacher, Sassan is on cello faculty at the Prodigy Program in Westwood and the Four Strings Academy Summer Festival in Boston. He also teaches music theory at Boston's Symphony Hall for Project STEP.
sassan@occasionalbrass.com
Shay Rudolph - Cello
Shay Rudolph serves as Assistant Principal Cellist with the New Bedford Symphony, is a contracted member of the Orchestra of Indian Hill, and performs with the Portland Symphony, Cantata Singers & Ensemble, Springfield Symphony, and Worcester Chorus. Nationally, she performed in the North American tour of Star Wars: In Concert, which featured C3PO actor Anthony Daniels as narrator of a large-scale multi-media production. Other highlights include playing with the Cleveland Orchestra and with the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra in Los Angeles. Abroad, she's enjoyed performing in Sweden, Finland, Spain, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Canada. Shay serves on the cello faculty of Clark University and on the chamber music faculty of the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras.
shay@occasionalbrass.com
Susan Kirchhausen - Viola, Violin
Susan Kirchhausen began her musical studies on piano and violin. A graduate of Florida State University (Music Performance - Viola), she went on to earn her Masters in Music Education at UMass Amherst. Susan played with the Disney All-American College Orchestra and the Tallahassee, Greensboro, and Savannah Symphony Orchestras. She has particularly enjoyed working with Sarah Chang, Jian Wang, Ray Charles, The Moody Blues, Dave Brubeck, Rosemary Clooney, and Mariachi Cobre. Recently, Susan and her viola spent some time acquainting themselves with improvisation and the Great American Songbook. Susan is an experienced youth orchestra conductor, as well as an active chamber music coach, and currently maintains a sizeable studio of viola, violin, and piano students of all ages.
susan@occasionalbrass.com
Tev Stevig - Guitar, Banjo, Ukelele
Tev Stevig is a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, specializing in banjo (tenor and 5 string), ukulele, steel guitar, and a variety of plucked string instruments. He performs with his solo/duo project called Jeni Jol, which incorporates elements of music from the Balkans, Greece, and Turkey in his original compositions and arrangements for clawhammer style fretless guitar. Tev also performs and records with Klezwoods, Orkestra Marhaba, Hickory Strings, and Mr. Ho's Orchestrotica. He has a degree in jazz guitar performance from Berklee College of Music, having studied with Mick Goodrick, Hal Crook, Rick Peckham, Jon Damien, and Brett Willmott. Tev teaches privately in the Boston area and at Berklee College of Music's City Music Program, Passim School of Music, the Lexington Montessori, and is the Guitar Chair at Powers Music School.
tev@occasionalbrass.com
Tony Morales - Violin
A native of St. Louis Missouri, Tony recently relocated to Boston after completing his Masters of Music in performance at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Tony held an assistantship in the MU Graduate String Quartet, served as concertmaster of the MU philharmonic, and served leadership roles in the Columbia Civic Orchestra. Currently, Tony performs with the Boston Civic Symphony, the Cape Anne Symphony, the Missouri Symphony, and the Du Bois Orchestra at Harvard. In addition to performing, Tony also spends many hours teaching privately and with the Boston String Academy. Tony has studied privately with Lucy Kaymakanova, Amy Oshiro, David Gillham, and Eva Szekely.
tony@occasionalbrass.com
Valerie Thompson - Cello
A graduate of the Berklee School of Music, Valerie Thompson is a well-rounded musician that is comfortable in any playing situation. She divides her time between a very active cello studio, performing regularly with Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards, writing music and performing with Goli (a Cello/Marimba/Vocal ensemble), and attending a plethora of weddings and events for Occasional Brass & Strings. Valerie grew up in Kansas City, MO and now resides in Central Square, Cambridge, MA. She has a Masters Degree in Contemporary Improvisation (CI) from New England Conservatory, and has toured with Mary Chapin Carpenter, Laura Cortese, and more. Valerie is a cellist with the Vitamin String Quartet and appeared in the television series Gossip girl as part of that ensemble.
valerie@occasionalbrass.com
Zoia Bologovsky - Violin
Zoia Bologovsky is an active musician in the New England area. A graduate of the Juilliard School, Zoia has had many adventures touring as first violinist with the Arden String Quartet around America and Europe. She has held positions with the Portland and Springfield Symphonies and Rhode Island Philharmonic. Currently, Zoia is Concertmaster of North Shore Philharmonic, MetroWest Symphony, and the Portsmouth Symphony. She is also Principal 2nd violin of Nashua Symphony and PORTopera, and can be found teaching at St Paul's School in Concord, NH, the Cooperative Middle School in Stratham, NH, and her studio in Stoneham, MA.
zoia@occasionalbrass.com
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