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Our Generous Donors

The Virginia Symphony Orchestra wishes to thank each contributor to the VSO’s Annual Fund for their outstanding support. The collective vision and generosity of these donors enables the VSO to provide incredible concerts and educational activities year after year. Included are all Annual Fund gifts and pledges received between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019.

Personal Giving
Corporate Support
Foundation & Government Support
Stradivarius Society
Crescendo Society
JoAnn Falletta Society
Symphony Society
Treble Society
Conductor's Circle
Soloist Circle
Concertmaster Circle
Orchestra Circle

Stradivarius Society

($25,000 and up)

Individuals

Anonymous

Connie Jacobson

Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. McClellan

Mrs. Joan Brock

Susan and David Goode

The Estate of Richard Hudgins

Government, Corporate, and Foundation

Anonymous

Arts Alliance

Christian Broadcasting Network

City of Norfolk

City of Virginia Beach

F. Ludwig Diehn Fund of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation

Hampton Roads Community Foundation

Rebuild! VA

Sentara Norfolk General Hospital

The Camp Foundation

TowneBank

United Way of South Hampton Roads

US Small Business Administration

Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission

Virginia Commission for the Arts

Crescendo Society

($15,000 – $24,999)

 

Individuals

Diane and Bob Petterson

F. Blair and Jane S. Wimbush

Mr. and Mrs. Charles N. Cooper

Ms. Christina L. Goode and Ms. Martha M. Goode

Government, Corporate, and Foundation

Caren Kaplan And Richard Seidel Charitable Fund

CBRE

James M. Willcox Memorial Fund

League of American Orchestras

PNC Bank

JoAnn Falletta Society

($10,000-$14,999)

 

Individuals

Bradley Family Fund

Daniel and Ingrid Jones Family Foundation

Garland Tillery and Jim Early

Jane and Win Short

Leslie H. Friedman

Lilly and Bruce Bradley

Mr. James A. Hixon

Mr. Larry J. Kohmescher

Ms. Carole Borjes Boone

Oriana McKinnon

The WatsonWalsh Family Fund

Virginia R. Melin

Government, Corporate, and Foundation

Bank of America Corporation

Newport News Arts Commission

Newport News Shipbuilding

Norfolk Southern Matching Gifts

The Helen G. Gifford Foundation

Wilbanks Smith & Thomas Asset Management, LLC

Williamsburg Area Arts Commission

 

Symphony Society

($5,000-$9,999)

 

Individuals

Anonymous (5)

Aubrey and Peggy Layne

Avraham Ashkenazi

Betty & Jack Shannon Charitable Fund

Brenda Snow and Oliver Portmann

Charla Smith-Worley

David Helfrich

Dr. and Mrs. Robert T. Davis

Dr. and Mrs. T.W. Hubbard

Dr. Jean Major

Leigh and Danny McDaniel

Martha Goode and Blair Mielnik

Mr. Albert L. Harris

Mr. and Mrs. James D. Penny

Mr. and Mrs. James L. Howe III

Mrs. Franklin H. Macgregor

Mrs. James W. Gray Jr.

Ms. Cheryl A. Dronzek

Ms. Christina L. Goode

Rear Adm. and Mr. Louise C. Wilmot

Richard Parise and Dori Iwanowski

Ronald and Celia Adolphi

Steve and Lynne Winter

Government, Corporate, and Foundation

Baldwin Advisory

BayPort Credit Union

Birdsong Peanuts

Canon Virginia, Inc.

Carl’s Wash

Cook Foundation

Franklin Southampton Charities

Portsmouth Museum and Fine Arts Commission

Riverside Performing Arts Medicine

Rona And Erwin Drucker Charitable Trust Fund

Rouse-Bottom Foundation

Shearwater Foundation, Inc.

Southeast Virginia Community Foundation

The Trust Company of Virginia

Treble Society

($3,000 – $4,999)

 

Individuals

Anonymous (2)

Ashlin and Wayne Wilbanks

Bill Martin and Pamela Russell

Bradley and Carolyn Pittman

Caterpillar Foundation

Clay H. Barr

David J. Littley, Jr.

Dr. and Mrs. John R. Stephens

Drs. Susan Lontkowski and David Feldman

Elaine M. Themo

Erwin B. Nachman

Jim and Helene Haluska

Judge Robert W. Stewart

Leroy and Cora Collins

Louis F. and Prudence H. Ryan

Matthew and Priscilla Scanlon

Mr. & Mrs. James P. Naughton

Mr. and Mrs. Bert Aaron

Mr. and Mrs. Carl L. Master, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Donald G. Winchester

Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Sawyer

Mr. and Mrs. James E. Taylor

Mr. and Mrs. William R. Van Buren, lll

Mr. Garrett G. Berger

Mr. Lawrence L. Steingold

Mrs. Eugenia W. Ferrell

Mrs. Fran Pedersen

Mrs. Sandra Armstrong and Mr. Tom Richmond

Ms. Ernestine I. Dole

Ms. Thelma Oser

Page and Virginia Cranford

Parker Councill and Robin Everett

Robert Ake and Joyce Neff

Government, Corporate, and Foundation

Chesapeake Fine Arts Commission

Jo Ann and Buzzy Hofheimer

Suffolk Fine Arts Commission

The Pruden Foundation

York County Arts Commission

Conductor’s Circle

($1,500-$2,999)

 

Individuals

Allan and Susan Donn

Anonymous

Barbara and Pete Vollmer

Carolyn O’Toole

Cindy and Eddie Russell, Jr.

Dianne Epplein and John Patton

Dr. and Mrs. William A. Coulter

Dr. John MacCormack

Drs. Donald R. and Elyse B. Lehman

Drs. Sarah B. Clarkson and John M. Herre

Eleanor and Henry Watts

Elizabeth L. Young

Florence M. Young and Leonard J. Ballback

James M. George

Jane and Sam Webster

Kathleen W. Kane

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Batten, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick B. McDermott

Mr. and Mrs. Richard P. Meredith

Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Drury

Mr. and Mrs. William J. Cashman

Mr. Howard Mandeville and Mrs. Sherill Schneider

Mr. Peter Morford

Mr. Robert F. Amory

Mr. William Drury

Mrs. Ann Farley

Sarah and Bruce Bishop

The Honorable Norman and Susan Olitsky

Tom and Patricia Isenhour

Vanessa Sutherland and Elliot Wolf

W. Lewis and Judith Witt

Government, Corporate, and Foundation

D.B. Ames Charitable Foundation

Eugenia Smith Kennedy Fund

KPMG LLP

The Morningstar Foundation

Tidewater Children’s Foundation

Soloist Circle

($1,000-$1,499)

 

Individuals

Adeline Ungerman

Betty Levin

Cambridge Charitable Gift Fund

Capt. and Mrs. Anthony Brazas

Captain and Mrs. Keith Larson

Carolyn and Paul Gottlieb

Colin and Patt McKinnon

Daniel J. Hunt and Roderick R. Ingram

David and Julia Pezza

Dennis and Paula Lane

Dr. and Mrs. Adolphus Hailstork

Dr. and Mrs. Donald H. Miller

Dr. and Mrs. Edward Lilly

Dr. and Mrs. H. Robert Schappert

Dr. and Mrs. Mayer G. Levy

Dr. and Mrs. Ray C. Otte

Dr. and Mrs. Roger R. Stenlund

Dr. George C. Sakakini

Dr. Nancy Khardori and Dr. Romesh Khardori

Elizabeth Marshall and George DiFerdinando

Father Nick Redmond

Friends of Jewell

Harry and Pat Haynsworth

Jane Nohava and David Paige

John and Nancy Horgan

Julianna G. Stone

Marc and Terri Kirchner

Mark Sorin, DDS and Linda Ferro

Mickey and Stuart Held

Mr. and Mrs. G. Zeb Holt

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Peltz

Mr. and Mrs. James Jiral

Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Guarraia

Mr. and Mrs. Loren M. Evory

Mr. and Mrs. Louis Brenner

Mr. and Mrs. McLemore Birdsong, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Connelly

Mr. and Mrs. William E. Bradley

Mr. Christian Lange

Mr. Conrad M. Shumadine

Mr. Lehan Crane and Dr. Stephanie Eppinger

Mr. Peter Foster

Mr. Stephen Fisher

Mr. Stuart A. Schwartz and Mrs. Sheila V. Jamison-Schwartz

Mr. William K. Stulb

Mrs. Bess Decker

Mrs. E. Beaumont Hodge, Jr.

Mrs. George Helfrich

Ms. Barbara Fleming

Ms. Carole L. Rekrut

Steven and Joan Marks

Suzanne and Vince Mastracco

Teresa M. Kraus and Walter T. Camp

Government, Corporate, and Foundation

Colonial Downs Wagering Facility

Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond

East Beach Institute

Japan Virginia Society

McGuire Woods

Warden Family Foundation

Concertmaster Circle

($500 – $999)

 

Individuals

Allan and Harriet Reynolds

Anonymous (5)

Bill and Carole Vogler

Brenda K. Roth

Capt. and Mrs. Robert Swain, USCG

Captain and Mrs. Carl V. Mallett

Cathy and Leroy Williamson

Chris Syllaba

Christopher and Julie Coffing

Clara and William Darden

Dana and Jeff Rosen

David and Celia Jolley

Denise G. Ross

Dorothy P. Grandstaff

Dr. and Mrs. Bishop P. Read

Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Conway

Dr. and Mrs. Ivan R. Schiff

Dr. and Mrs. Reuben D. Rohn

Dr. and Mrs. Robert Seeherman

Dr. and Mrs. Ronald J. Ruszkowski

Dr. and Mrs. S.W. Berg

Dr. Andrea F. Warren

Dr. John and Debora Mosher

Dr. John Brush and Gay Goldsmith Fund

Dr. Ricardo Moscoso

Dr. Robert E. Howard Jr.

Dr. Thomas C. Phelps

Edward and Eleanor Burchianti

Elise Emanuel and David Scherer

Gordon H. Rheinstrom

Grace & Fred Parkinson

Greg Sanford and Eugenie Anderson

John and Deborah Wyld

John Saunders

Kelly and Tim Faulkner

Kurt R. Reisweber

Lawrence and Charlotte Field

Mac McLoughlin

Martha and John Stewart

Mary S. Delaney

Michelle R. Waterman

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Martin

Mr. and Mrs. Arba Williamson, III

Mr. and Mrs. Craig Grube

Mr. and Mrs. David K. Simmons

Mr. and Mrs. George F. Cole, III

Mr. and Mrs. George Hagans

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Kantor

Mr. and Mrs. John C. Allen

Mr. and Mrs. John E. Roberts, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. John Halderman

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth R. Powders

Mr. and Mrs. Larry Shriver

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Delevie

Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Lynch

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Myers

Mr. and Mrs. S. R. McDaniel

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Lucas

Mr. and Mrs. Vince Olivieri

Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Maybery

Mr. and Mrs. Walter T. Judd

Mr. Arthur Fleming

Mr. Burton Bland

Mr. Christopher Hale

Mr. David B Benson

Mr. Joel Clingenpeel

Mr. Michael B. Broadhurst and Mrs. Edna Broadhurst

Mr. Robert A. Baker

Mr. Steven B. Harris

Mr. William R. Schermerhorn

Mr. William Wells

Mrs. Janet Kosidlak

Ms. Anita Moody

Ms. Ann J. Baldwin

Ms. Carolyn Webb

Ms. Elizabeth A. Miklos

Ms. Janie A. Lightbourn

Ms. Marie E Callaham

Ms. Marisa Porto

Nancy Lee Sease

Raymond F. Spencer

Robert and Rose Hill

Robert Hundley Family

S. Catherine Dodson

Stephen A. Davis

Vern and Nancy Barham

Government, Corporate, and Foundation

Bob Spaeth

Creekside Communications, LLC.

Mr. and Mrs. Warren L. Aleck

Sis Nash Memorial Fund Hampton Roads CommunitFoundation

Tidewater Jewish Foundation

Orchestra Circle

($250-$499)

 

 Individuals

Al and Judi Riutort

Alice A. Clarke

Alice and Kent Herring

Allen and Glenis Shaffer

Ann & Phelps Pennington

Ann Prince

Anonymous (3)

Barbara and Keith Byers

Bart and Peg Crews

Blythe and Simon Scott

Bob and Aleene Rose

Brent and Kathy Kornman

Bryan and Susan Lilley

Capt. and Mrs. James G. Burritt

Captain and Mrs. Channing M. Zucker

Charlotte Elia

Christine and Colby Cooper

Col. Chuck B. Kenison

Col. Ralph E. Barrows and Mrs. Barbara Barrows

Dee and Ron Shaw

Donna and Jeffrey Van Keuren

Dorothy Cole

Dr. and Mrs. Albert Konikoff

Dr. and Mrs. David L. Kreger

Dr. and Mrs. Gregory J. Biernacki

Dr. and Mrs. Herbert Brewer

Dr. and Mrs. Lanny Hinson

Dr. and Mrs. T. Winston Gouldin

Dr. and Mrs. William R. Cooper

Dr. Anna Schwarz-Miller and Mr. Manfred Schwarz

Dr. Charles Curran Jr.

Dr. Fred Crum and Dr. Martha Guyon

Dr. John Rehder and Shirley Rehder

 

Dr. Patrick and Mrs. Erin Gerbus

Dr. Richard Bush

Dr. Susan and Mr. Edward Jones

Drs. Robert and Janet Dingman

Ed Goerge and Karen Pearson

Evelyn Knox

Frank and Gloria Gurdziel

George and Ann Lee

Ira and Jean Steingold

James and Emily McDaniel

Jeffry and Margaret Rosner

Jim and Bunny Neff

Joan Ladd and Jim Hurst

John and Jeanne Bowers

John Page Garrett

Judith Marx

Kay Stovall

L. Clay Beall, III

Larry and Donna Kumjian

Linda and Oliver Todd

Louise Wilcoxon

Marilyn and Ray Gindroz

Michael P. Armstrong and Dawn M. Beam

Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Armfield

Mr. and Mrs. David Wick

Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Lowry

Mr. and Mrs. Gary R. Todd

Mr. and Mrs. James Easton

Mr. and Mrs. John Antoun

Mr. and Mrs. John McAvoy

Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan G. Buck

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Kearney

Mr. and Mrs. Larry Walter

Mr. and Mrs. Mannie Smith

Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Nickerson

Mr. and Mrs. Norman J. Fashing

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Homa

Mr. and Mrs. Randall Corey

Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. O’Hanlon

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Laibstain

Mr. and Mrs. Rodney N. Bencks

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley G. Barr Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Buxbaum

Mr. and Mrs. Stuart E. Katz

Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Swilley

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Zirpoli

Mr. and Mrs. Van Reading

Mr. and Mrs. William Beckstoffer II

Mr. and Mrs. William P. Hunter

Mr. Edward S. Bosko

Mr. James Muir

Mr. Kerry Prewitt

Mr. LJ Richman

Mr. Mark Goldstein

Mr. Moncure Chatfield-Taylor

Mr. Nicholas Wheeler

Mr. Tom Vojtek

Mr. William H. Turner and Mrs. Jennifer Stern

Mrs. Clara Warren

Mrs. Hilah C. Steenrod and Mr. Charles W. Steenrod

Mrs. John Settle

Mrs. Joyce Auchincloss

Mrs. Lana Butler

Ms. Cherie James

Ms. Ina D. Levy and Mr. Richard Staub

Ms. Linda A. Linzey

Ms. Louise Nagourney

Ms. Louise Pesnicak

Ms. Marie J. Laubach

Ms. Sadie Boyer

Ms. Shirley Battaglini

Ms. V.A. Parodi

Ms. Valerie Smith

Ms. Victoria Curtis

Patricia Arant

Polly A. Lasich

Ray and Jane Hanson

Reed and Karen Nester

Rev. Alan and Pat Mead

Richard and Mary Beauchamp

Richard and Susan Wilmoth

Richard W. Hudgins

Robert and Susan Hynick

Sam and Mary Liz Sadler

Stanley and Linda Samuels

Stephen and Kim Hall

Susanne and Jack Wood

The Alan and Esther Fleder Foundation

The Lavier Family

Upstaging Realty

Walter and Marilyn Schmid

William D. and Joy M. Bankart

William Trimble

Wolf and Mimi Koenig

Wolfgang and Carol Wawersik

Government, Corporate and Foundation

Benevity

E.J. Dempsey Fund

Norfolk Southern – Good Government Fund

S. L. Nusbaum Insurance Agency Inc.

While great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this list, mistakes can happen. We sincerely regret any omissions or inaccuracies, and we ask that you please contact the Development Office at 757.213.1417 to report any errors as it is important that our records accurately reflect your giving. Thank you!

*Deceased

  • Birdsong Peanuts
  • WHRO
  • Bank of America
  • Seven Venues
  • Norfolk Southern
  • Cape Henry Collegiate
  • VSSGW
  • Carl's Wash
  • Trust and Wealth Management
  • PBMares
  • New Leaf
  • Norfolk Collegiate
  • TowneBank
  • Breeden
  • KPMG
  • Wilbanks Smith and Thomas
  • Rutter Family Art Foundation
  • Sentara
  • NEA
  • PNC Bank
  • Riverside Health
  • Ferguson Center for the Arts
  • Virginia Symphony League
  • Audacy
  • The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
  • Truist
  • Arts Alliance
  • Regent University
  • CBN
  • Wilcox Savage

Emmanual Losa

Emmanuel Losa

Cello

Born in 1998, Emmanuel Losa grew up in Marietta, Georgia to a Nigerian father and Jamaican mother. Starting his cello studies at the age of 12, he began to have an affinity for the orchestral world and later studying with the esteemed cellists of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, his primary instructor was Joel Dallow; in addition, studying with Dona Vellek (Assistant Principal Cello Emeritus) and Karen Freer (Assistant Principal Cello).

Emmanuel heavily enjoys studying various pieces of solo, chamber, and orchestral music, spending his summers at various festivals such as Bowdoin International Music Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, and Aspen Music Festival to name a few.

A student of Alan Stepansky at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, Emmanuel is pursuing an undergraduate cello performance degree in orchestral performance. He continues his studies with a focus on winning a position with a major orchestra.

Zacherie Small

Zacherie Small

Double Bass

After migrating from his native island of Barbados, Zacherie Small began his Double Bass studies the age of 19 with Jonathan Dadurka at Miami-Dade College where he graduated with a Associate of Arts in Music. Afterwards, he went on to study with Luis Gomez-Imbert at Florida International University where he now holds a Bachelor of Music in Double Bass Performance; Cum Laude, and a Masters of Music in Double Bass Performance. Also, recently graduated with his second Masters from Temple University studying with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra such as Nathaniel West, Joseph Conyers, and Robert Kesselman.

Small has performed with various orchestras. He is a member of the Miami Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Eduardo Marturet. He was also the Principal Double Bass of the Miami Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Jorge Vazquez. Small periodically performs with the Colour of Music Festival Orchestra.

Small has attended the Miami Summer Music Festival at Barry University for 3 years. During the festival, he has performed in many concerts with various conductors like Michael Rossi, Yuriy Bekker, Joel Smirnoff, David Efron, Stephanie Rhodes, and Steve Gruman. Also, participated in the Philadelphia International Music Festival to study with Nathaniel West and under the baton of Kensho Watanabe.

As well as being a performer, Small is the secondary music director South-Dade Middle School and does masterclasses at various schools in Miami, FL. He is also a teacher for the Artist of the Miami Music Project where he guides children in troubled neighborhoods to bring about social change, cultivate lessons, and run ensembles.

Tyler McKisson

Tyler McKisson

viola

Tyler McKisson is a 26-year-oldorchestral and freelance violist originally from Arvada, Colorado. He has recently received an Artist Diploma from The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music as a Diversity Fellow where he regularly performed with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. McKisson received a Master’s degree in viola performance at the University of Colorado Boulder and a Bachelor’s degree in Viola Performance at the University of Northern Colorado with honors. McKisson’s musical career started at age ten when he joined his school’s string orchestra program and at age fourteen, he began his studies under his first private instructor, Brian Cook. McKisson has also studied under Christopher Luther, Anne Leilehua Lanzilotti, Erika Eckert, and Catharine Carroll Lees. He has played with several American orchestras including the Cheyenne Symphony with tenure, Atlanta Symphony, Kentucky Symphony, National Repertory Orchestra, and the Aspen Conducting Academy.

Camille Jones

Camille Jones

violin

A passionate collaborator and advocate for diversity in the arts, Camille has worked with various festival orchestras and chamber groups, including the National Orchestral Institute and Festival (NOI + F), Bowdoin International Music Festival, and Next Festival of Emerging Artists.

As a 2019 Sphinx Orchestral Futurist Fellow, she has helped commission works and curate a professional development workshop for K-12 students in Prince George’s County, Maryland.This project piloted what is now the K12 New Music Initiative, a commissioning project to expand the repertoire of K12 orchestras with music by BIPOC composers. In the Fall of 2018, she curated Voices Unheard, a concert series at UMD that celebrated works by women composers and composers of color. In addition, she had the opportunity to collaborate with esteemed cello professor Anthony Elliott for a concert series at the Kerrytown Concerthouse titled Passing the Torch in 2021 and 2022. Camille is establishing herself as a freelance artist in the Michigan area as well, having performed for singer Michael Bublé, rapper Big Sean and Darren Criss. She has also served as a teaching artist for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Youth Ensembles as well as the Sphinx Overture program in Detroit.

Camille received her B.M. in Violin Performance at the University of Maryland, College Park and a M.M. in Violin Performance from the University of Michigan, having studied under Danielle Belen.

Daphine Henderson

Daphine Henderson

bass

Daphine Henderson, a double bassist and vocalist in the DC metro area, completed her Master’s Degree in Double Bass Performance at the University of Maryland College Park in Spring 2023, where she also received two Bachelor’s Degrees in Music Performance with concentrations in Double Bass and Soprano Voice in Spring ’20. She was the first black woman to earn a Master’s Degree in Double Bass Performance at University of Maryland and the third black woman to receive a graduate degree in strings. Teaching herself the double bass at age 12, Daphine became extremely involved in music through her high school career, ranging from performing with the Maryland Senior All State Orchestra to being the drum major of her high school marching band. She is actively involved in the University of Maryland School of Music community, performing with numerous classical and wind ensembles.

Throughout her time at UMD, Daphine served as one of the ensemble assistants for the UMD Treble Choir, where she actively engaged with and lead her section. She sat as one of the student chairs and founding members of the School of Music’s IDEA Committee, which focuses on bringing diversity, accessibility, and inclusive engagement to the music community at College Park. Daphine is also a founding member of the PAGE (Project for All Gender Equality) for Bassists, where she spoke on a panel in the 2019 and 2021 International Society of Bassists conventions. Daphine teaches in Prince George’s County and Montgomery County, Maryland, and is an active strings coach for the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra. Additionally, she teaches all string instruments, piano, and voice at Crescendo Studios in Falls Church, Virginia.

Daphine is taking steps in her musical career to create an impact and be an inspiration for younger musicians of color that would otherwise not have ample resources and opportunities to pursue their passion. Following the completion of her graduate degree, Daphine plans to continue establishing herself as an advocate through her performance and an arts administrator for underserved and minority musicians, while continuing to inspire others through her love for music.

Avery Robinson

Omari Imhotep Adbdul-Alim

Violin

Omari Imhotep Abdul-Alim is an accomplished violinist and educator with a Master of Music in Violin Performance from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He is a dedicated instructor with extensive experience teaching violin to a diverse range of students, from young children to adults, in both individual and group settings.

Omari has also contributed significantly as a violin instructor and orchestral strings coach at the Academy for Discovery at Lakewood, as a member of VSO's first inaugural class of African American Fellowship.

In addition to his teaching accomplishments, Omari has an extensive performance background. He has been a substitute with VSO, New World Symphony, Chicago Civic Orchestra, and Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera. For the last year Omari has been an active performer in the San Diego area, playing with Coronado Philharmonia Orchestra, Poway Symphony Orchestra, the City Ballet of San Diego, La Jolla Symphony Orchestra and as resident violinist at First Lutheran Church of San Diego.

Omari is committed to enriching our musical education and performance landscape through his expertise and passion for music.

Avery Robinson

Avery Robinson

Cello

Avery Robinson grew up in Western Massachusetts where he was influenced by his parents’ love for jazz music. At the age of 10 he started playing piano and began learning bass when he was 12 years old. As a young musician, Avery’s passion for jazz persisted however, as he became exposed to the wonderful sounds of the symphony, his musical passion grew to include a second genre: classical music. After joining his high school orchestra, his career path was set.

Avery has studied at many top music schools such as the Eastman School of Music, The Hartt School of Music, and the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and has graduated with honors. His teachers include Rachel Calin, Albert Laszlo, and Robert Black. Avery has been a member of the Kentucky Symphony, and most recently, the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra. He has also worked as a substitute for the Amarillo Symphony and the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas. In addition to his orchestral career, Avery is also an accomplished recitalist, having performed many solo and chamber recitals at various venues such as the Chautauqua Institution and at the “Classical Revolution” Series in Cincinnati. His love for performing with others shows in his expressive and sometimes fervent style of playing.

Avery has other passions in addition to music. Firstly, he is a huge art and history buff and loves to frequent museums and galleries whenever he can. He is also a lover of sports and an avid golfer.