Joseph Edelberg, Concertmaster, David Charles Johnston Chair
Joseph Edelberg, First Violin , Concertmaster, David Charles Johnston Chair
Birth Place: Granby, CT
Grew Up: Northampton, MA
Started Playing: Age 7
Education: Amherst College
Began With SRS: Autumn of 1997
Non-SRS Groups: Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, San Francisco Opera Orchestra, StringCircle, San Francisco Symphony
In My iPod: Henry Purcell, Complete ayers for the Theater,Mozart Piano Quartets, Benjamin Britten violin concerto, JSBach Fantasia and Fugue in c minor, Schumann Piano Quintet
Hobbies: Cooking, hiking, travel, bicycling
Jay Zhong, Associate Concertmaster
Jay Zhong, First Violin , Associate Concertmaster
Birth Place: I was born in Beijing, China
Grew Up: I came to the U.S. at age 13 and grew up in New York City.
Started Playing: I started violin and piano at age 4, and quickly went on with violin only.
Education: MFA, SUNY Purchase (studied with Elmar Oliveira), BM, Manhattan School of Music (studied with Raphael Bronstein
Began With SRS: 2011
Non-SRS Groups: I am also contracted by Monterey Symphony and Fresno Philharmonic, and occasionally other ensembles.
Favorite Music: Music of Bach, Bartok, Beethoven, Brahms, Debussy, Gershwin, Kreisler, Mozart, Paganini, Prokofiev, Ravel, Schubert, Shostakovich, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, Wieniawski, Vieuxtemps, Ysaye, and all the violin and piano showpieces and salon-bon-bons…
In My iPod: I don’t use iPod, but among my car’s cd collection currently is Nathan Milstein playing Bach Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin
Hobbies: Water-coloring, composition, art, history, philosophy
Teaching Info: I work only with selected private students.
Website: jayzhong.yolasite.com
Heather Powell, Assistant Concertmaster
Heather Powell, First Violin , Assistant Concertmaster
Birth Place: San Francisco
Grew Up: Marin County, Boston, New Hampshire
Started Playing: Age 4, violin
Education: Harvard University. New England Conservatory
Began With SRS: 2013
Favorite Music: I really don't even know how to begin to answer this question. Some of my favorite composers are Prokofiev, Bach, Schubert and Beethoven. Ella Fitzgerald makes me happy.
Kathryn Marshall
Kathryn Marshall, First Violin
Marcia Lotter
Marcia Lotter , First Violin
Birth Place: Portland, Oregon
Grew Up: Portland, Oregon
Started Playing: Age of 8 on violin
Education: BA from U of Washington (Seattle), MA from Sacramento State in school psychology.
Began With SRS: 1978
Non-SRS Groups: Sonatina (flute quartet for weddings & events), Mendocino Music Festival, Symphony of the Redwoods.
Favorite Music: Contemporary classical
In My iPod: N/A.
Hobbies: I have a contemporary classical radio program once a week on local NPR station KZYX.
Email: mlotter@mcn.org
Teaching Info: All styles of violin/fiddle (707) 884-4827
Website: sonatina-music.com
Mark Neyshloss
Mark Neyshloss, First Violin
Birth Place: Leningrad Russia
Grew Up: In Leningrad
Started Playing: I was 7 and started on violin
Education: Went to Leningrad Conservatory and Manhattan School of Music in New York.
Began With SRS: 1991
Non-SRS Groups: Most of Bay Area orchestras. I was a member of Sacramento symphony.
Favorite Music: Good music.
Email: Neyshloss@sbcglobal.net
Teaching Info: Teach privately.
Eugenia (Genie) Wie
Eugenia (Genie) Wie, First Violin
Birth Place: Chicago, IL
Grew Up: Schaumburg, IL (NW suburb of Chicago)
Started Playing: Four years old. Violin and piano.
Education: Rice University (Bachelors), The New School--Mannes College of Music (Masters)
Began With SRS: 2010
Non-SRS Groups: I'm also a member of Monterey Symphony, and I substitute quite a bit with Symphony Silicon Valley. I also am a member of two chamber groups: Divisa Ensemble and Quartet Rouge.
Favorite Music: Classical. Of course ;) mainly late-romantic. I love listening to chamber music, and solo cello or piano
In My iPod: I have a wide range of genres, but I'm currently a little obsessed with Beck, Berlin Phil., Johnny Cash, Dawes, and Astor Piazzolla.
Hobbies: I practice yoga daily. I also hike, paddle-board, and ski. If I'm at home, baking, cooking, watching movies or reading.
Teaching Info: Contact through symphony
Website: www.divisaensemble.com
Darren Sagawa
Darren Sagawa, First Violin
Emanuela Nikiforova
Emanuela Nikiforova, First Violin
Birth Place: Varna, Bulgaria
Grew Up: In Varna and Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria
Started Playing: I started playing violin at age 4 and a half, and it was suggested by the piano teacher my parents brought me to!
Education: Music Middle and High schools in Varna and Sofia, respectively, International Menuhin Music Academy-3 year practical training, LSU Baton Rouge for an undergraduate performance degree, and San Francisco Conservatory of Music for a MM in Violin Performance as well.
Began With SRS: 2007
Non-SRS Groups: Oh yes. I am a regular member of Marin, Berkeley, Oakland East Bay and the Silicon Valley Symphonies, occasionally play with Merced and Napa symphonies, Principal player for the San Francisco Choral Society as well. Artistic director and leader for Antika Slavic Strings.
Favorite Music: Classical, Jazz
In My iPod: I prefer listening to the radio!
Email: emanuelanikiforova@gmail.com
Teaching Info: I teach privately in Alameda and Oakland, as well as The Renaissance International School
Tamara Voyles
Tamara Voyles, First Violin
Thomas Yee
Thomas Yee, First Violin
Grew Up: Santa Barbara, CA
Started Playing: At age 9
Education: Bachelor's and Master's of Music, San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Began With SRS: 2005
Non-SRS Groups: Santa Barbara, Marin, Napa, Modesto, and Monterey symphonies
Favorite Music: Classical (yes, I make a living playing it also)
Hobbies: Traveling, basketball, hiking, biking
Email: Thomas@thomasyee.net
Teaching Info: www.thomasyee.net/lessons
Website: www.thomasyee.net
Barbara Schaefer
Barbara Schaefer, First Violin
Natasha Makhijani
Natasha Makhijani , First Violin
Birth Place: Maryland
Grew Up: Maryland
Started Playing: Age 7
Education: BM San Francisco Conservatory of Music; MM Eastman School of Music
Began With SRS: 2013
Non-SRS Groups: Chamber Music Society of San Francisco, Oakland Symphony, Sacramento Philharmonic, Magik*Magik Orchestra
Favorite Music: Brahms, Beethoven, Mendelssohn (Felix and Fanny)
Hobbies: Cooking, hiking, reading
Teaching Info: Faculty at Crowden Music Center, San Francisco Conservatory of Music Pre-College division, Private studio in SF
Website: www.chambermusicsocietysf.org
Aromi Park
Aromi Park, First Violin
Education: San Francisco Academy Orchestra, the University of Memphis, the New England Conservatory and Ewha Womans University
Began With SRS: 2015
Non-SRS Groups: Former musician of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.