PAGE 2 MUSIC: Barber Violin Concerto Movement 3 At age 14, I began to study with Kurt Sassmannshaus as a Starling Preparatory student. He is founder and director of the Starling Preparatory String Project and Starling Chamber Orchestra. He is Chair of the String Department at UC/CCM - the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. In 2005, Prof. Sassmannshaus founded the Great Wall International Music Academy, where outstanding string soloists and teachers work together for four weeks of musical training. This is located in Beijing, China and takes place every summer. He is also the author of ViolinMasterclass.com, an award-winning comprehensive educational website. Mr. Sassmannshaus is also on the faculty and at the Aspen Music Festival and School. Besides pre-college, I studied with Mr. Sassmannshaus in Aspen for seven summers and through college. Soon after receiving my bachelor's degree, I won an audition for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and shortly after joining, moved up to the fifth chair of the first violin section. Until further notice, I am currently sitting as Acting Second Assistant Concertmaster. In 1990, I performed Mozart's Concerto No. 4 with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. Beside me, in this picture taken after the concert, is Kurt Sassmannshaus. KURT SASSMANNSHAUS VISIT THE STARLING CHAMBER ORCHESTRA The music director emeritus of the CSO is Jesús López-Cobos. He introduced the CSO Soloist's Nights. These concerts were opportunities for members of the CSO to perform full or partial pieces with the orchestra on a subscription concert. My debut with the CSO was in March of 2000. I performed the last two movements of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto. Performing twice, those concerts were very exhilarating for me - not only because they were fun, but because I was working with my friends and colleagues! JESÚS LÓPEZ-COBOS VISIT THE CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA My chair in the CSO, the fifth chair, first violin section, was endowed during the 2001-2002 season. The picture above was taken on the night my chair was officially endowed. Thank you to Peter Courlas and Nick Tsimaras! From left to right: Peter Courlas, Paavo Järvi, Nick Tsimaras, & Kathryn Woolley A PICTURE OF ME IN HIGH SCHOOL ~~ you are on page 2 ~~ PAGE 1 ~ 2 ~ 3 ~ 4 ~ 5 ~ 6