Conductor, Accompanist, Arranger
Gary Fitzgerald is a graduate of The Juilliard School, where he studied cello with Leonard Rose, Channing Robbins, and Lynn Harrell. Chamber music coaches included members of the Juilliard String Quartet, William Lincer and Lillian Fuchs. He was Assistant Principal Cello for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and Principal Cello for the West Australian Symphony Orchestra in Perth. As a freelance musician in New York City, he was a member of various orchestras and chamber music groups including the American Symphony Orchestra, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, and the American Composers’ Orchestra. He also played in the Broadway productions of...
In the Washington DC area, Lauren has performed in the National Philharmonic, Maryland Lyric Opera, American Pops, Annapolis Symphony and others. Lauren has performed in the Kennedy Center, Strathmore, Capital One Arena and the National Cathedral. Previously Lauren resided for nearly a decade in New York City, and as a longtime member of the New York Symphonic Ensemble, made eight tours in Japan. Lauren has performed throughout the United States, as well as Europe and Asia. In New York, she performed in Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Madison Square Garden, and others. She made her solo debut...
Katlyn DeGraw is an inspired performer and teacher. An active orchestral musician, Ms. DeGraw is the Associate Principal Cellist with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and appears frequently with the Richmond and Annapolis Symphonies. Her passion for orchestral playing has also led to performances with the Baltimore and Charleston Symphonies and the National Philharmonic. Aside from performing, Ms. DeGraw is a dedicated and enthusiastic teacher, maintaining a private studio of successful and engaged students. Ms. DeGraw has served on the faculty at the Hochstein School of Music & Dance, the Waldorf School of Baltimore, and the University of...
Irina Tikhonova began playing the cello at the age of six. Her mother, Lydia, loved to sing and selected the instrument for Irina originally because the range of the cello is essentially the same as the range of the singing voice. The choice was obviously a good one as Irina went on to study at the Tchaikovsky Music Conservatory under Vladimir Panteleev. She graduated with her Bachelor of Music degree from the Music College in Kiev, USSR in 1981 and a Master of Music degree from the State Conservatory of Music in Kiev, USSR in 1986. Before coming to...
Daniel Shomper is an active performer and teacher in the Washington DC/Baltimore/Annapolis area. The Baltimore Sun praised his ‘virtuoso playing’ and complimented his ‘masterful performance’ and ‘lyrical expression.’ He is a member of the Annapolis and Alexandria Symphony Orchestras, and has also performed with the National Philharmonic and Fairfax Symphony. In addition to his work as an orchestral performer, he is an active chamber musician and recitalist. He has performed at venues such as the Kennedy Center, the National Art Gallery, and the Washington Arts Club, among others. Additionally, he has performed concerts and in prestigious music festivals in...
Camilo Pérez-Mejía earned a Bachelor of Music from the Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia. At Shenandoah University he earned a Master of Music in Cello Performance, an Artist Diploma in String Quartet Studies and completed all courses in the Doctoral program. He received soloist awards from the Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia, Universidad Javeriana and Shenandoah Conservatory. He has performed as a member of diverse ensembles in Colombia, Italy, Mexico, and Brazil; and throughout Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland. He teaches cello and strings at Saint James School, Barbara Ingram School for the Arts, Ellsworth Music and is adjunct...