John Siliang Chen, born in Beijing, China on August 27, 1993, moved to the United States at the age of five and began piano lessons with Dr. Anna Balakerskaia, a famous Russian pianist and educator.

At 12, John Siliang Chen collaborated with Cincinnati Orchestras for the first time and successfully performed Saint-Saëns' Piano Concerto No.2 in G Minor. At 13,John Chen won long and warm applause and high praise from the Russian audience with 3 curtain calls, after performing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Minor in cooperation with the Glinka National Symphony Orchestra at the Glinka National Concert Hall in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 2006, Chen won the highest scholarship of JKCF, the most prestigious foundation in the United States, and was named as U.S. Outstanding Young Scholars. In 2009, Chen achieved the first place in Juilliard Prep Concerto Competition with Liszt's First Piano Concerto in E Major, which he successfully performed with the Juilliard Symphony Orchestra at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater in Lincoln Center, New York. In the same month he also won the first prize in the U.S. National Symphony Youth Concerto Competition by performing Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor.

At 15,John Siliang Chen performed with The National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. In the same month, he performed the Tchaikovsky Concerto no. 1 with the Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall. In the same year, Chen performed with the China National Symphony Orchestra.

In 2012, invited by the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and the Beijing Municipal Government to participate in the 12th "Meet Beijing" gala, Chen performed a piano recital in the National Center for the Performing Arts.

In 2015, Mr.John Siliang Chen took the stage in Beijing Forbidden City Concert Hall and Shenzhen Concert Hall, In 2016, Chen cooperated with the Harbin Symphony Orchestra, the oldest orchestra in China, to perform Tchaikovsky’s first and Rachmaninoff's third—in one concert. And it caused a sensation in the "City of Music”.

On December 31st 2019 John performed with the Athens Philaharmonia Orchestra for the 24th Beijing New Years Eve Concert at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing China.

He has performed in many concert halls in China such as The National Center for the Performing Arts, Shanghai Concert Hall, Tianjin Performing Arts Center, Beijing Concert Hall, Qingdao concert hall, Shaanxi Opera House, among others.

With his unique playing style and artistic temperament, Chen has been highly praised by piano educators and performers around the world, including Matti Raekallio, Jose Feghali, Yin Chengzong, Paul Badura Skoda, Gary Graffman, Yoheved Kaplinski, and Lang Lang.

June Byun was born in Seoul, South Korea and began piano at the age of five. She was a frequent prize winner in competitions during her formative years and was given an opportunity to perform with Seoul national Orchestra. At the age of fifteen she was accepted into Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Australia. She performed in many concerts, international Music festivals and competitions in Australia, Italy, Austria Germany, Holland, England, Sweden and several cities in the USA including LA, Seattle, Washington D.C and Hawaii.

Ms. Byun received Bachelor of Music Performance degree with Honours and Master of Music Performance degree under Professors Leah Horowitz, Oleg Stepanov, Lev Vlassenko and Natasha Vlassenko. Ms. Byun was one of the last pupils of legendary pianist Lev Vlassenko during his last year of life in Australia.

One of the biggest event for her career was that she presented a recital in the Sydney Opera house sponsored by Queensland government and in the same year she received the Owen Fletcher Postgraduate Scholarship from Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University. Also her performances are frequently broadcasted on 4MBS FM Radio Classical channel in Australia and engaged with ABC Radio recording for Young Performer Award.

Ms. Byun performed at the International Sommerakademic University of Mozarteum in Austria and was awarded a performance diploma by professor and director of International Chopin competition Andrezy Jasinski. In same year she invited to perform at Oxford Piano Festival in England.

Ms. Byun participated in masterclasses with Piers Lane, Christopher Elton, Lamar Crowson, Philip Kawin, James Gibb, Mikhail Voskressenkey, Paul Robert, Christina Ortiz. Also she participated as chamber musician in masterclasses with Lyn Harrell, Tim Hugh, Richard Markson, Florian Kitt, David Pereira, Howard Davis, Yehudi Menuhin, Ralph Kirshbaum, Maxim Vengerov, Ola Carson.

Sun Elliott is a pianist, chamber musician, and teacher. She began piano at the age of 6 in South Korea, and continued her piano studies after moving to Canada in her adolescence. During her years in Canada, she participated in various competitions and festivals, notably as a prizewinner at the Canadian Music Competition, the Pacific Music Festival, and the Kiwanis Music Festival. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of British Columbia, where she studied with Rena Sharon and Alexander Korsantia.

She went on to receive her Master of Music degree from the Royal College of Music in London, where she studied with the late Yonty Solomon. She was one of the top prizewinners for the Beethoven Competition at the RCM. She also had an opportunity to study for some time in Vienna, Austria with Prof. Em. Walter Fleischmann.

Throughout her studies at various institutions and beyond, she had numerous opportunities to perform as a soloist and collaborative pianist at venues across Canada and the U.K., such as The Orpheum, the Chan Centre for the Arts, the Banff Centre, the Royal Albert Hall, and St. Paul’s Cathedral, among others. She also performed in masterclasses by Leon Fleisher, Jane Coop, Henri Brassard, and Heinz Medjimorec of the Haydn Trio Wien, among others.

Dr. Kyungmi Esther Lee studied with Prof. Ellen Mack at the Peabody Institute of Music, Johns Hopkins University, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano performance. After completing a Master of Music Degree from the University of North Texas, she continued her Doctor of Musical Arts studies at the Catholic University of America.

Dr. Lee has taught at the Hansei University in Korea, as well as at the East Field Community College, Brookhaven Community College, and Richland Community College in Dallas, TX. She often served as a lecturer at the Summer School in Christian Colleges in Korea and Korean Summer and Winter Seminars in the United States. She has won the first place at the 9th annual Chopin competition in Kingsville, TX.

Some of Dr. Lee’s performances include recitals in Ebenfurth, Austria, Amalfi Summer Festival, Italy, a piano solo at the Seoul World Cup Olympic Stadium, Se Jong Art Center in Korea, the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C and the Carnegie Hall in New York. She also has performed as a soloist with Montgomery Symphony Orchestra in MD, and ChungJoo DoRip Symphony Orchestra in Korea.
She also participated in outstanding Master Classes with the world class pianists; Joseph Kalichstein at Kennedy Center, Victor Merzachnoff in Moscow, Russia, Valery Stephanovich in St. Petersburg Conservatory, Russia, and Leon Fleisher at the Peabody Conservatory.

Qiuyu Li, Soprano, has performed as a soloist in numerous prestigious concerts across North America, Europe, and Asia. In May, Qiuyu Li earned her Doctorate in Vocal Performance from Shenandoah University. She holds a graduate diploma from the Longy School of Music of Bard College and completed her undergraduate studies at the esteemed Tianjin Conservatory of Music in China. Throughout her studies, she has received guidance from Dana Lynn Varga, Byron Jones, Timothy Steele, Ashley Putman, and Jigang Du. Most recently, Qiuyu Li took on the leading role of Titania in the Main Stage Spring Opera 2023 with the Symphony Orchestra of Shenandoah Conservatory. Her diverse opera roles include the Countess from Le nozze di Figaro with Boston Opera Collaborative, Micaela from Carmen, Antonia in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Mimi from La Bohème, and Yum-Yum from The Mikado. She has also participated in music festivals in North Carolina, working with Gregory Buchalte, Amy Shoremount-Obra, and Kathryn Frady in rehearsals, classes, and masterclasses.

Shanshan Zhang began her vocal training at Capital Normal University in Beijing, China, establishing a strong foundation for her musical journey. After completing her undergraduate studies, she pursued advanced training under soprano Dr. Kathleen Roland-Silverstein, a distinguished specialist in 20th- and 21st-century music. At Syracuse University, Shanshan earned dual Master’s degrees in Voice Pedagogy and Voice Performance, refining her technical and artistic expertise.

Currently, she is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Voice Pedagogy at Shenandoah Conservatory, where she studies with Baritone David Meyer, a leading scholar in the field of vocal science. In addition, Shanshan continues to develop her artistry under the guidance of Grammy-nominated Soprano Fotina Naumenko, further exploring and refining her vocal technique, expanding her artistic expression, and deepening her understanding of vocal performance.

An active scholar, Shanshan is a dedicated member of The Voice Foundation and has presented her work at its annual symposium for the past two years. Her research focuses on voice pedagogy, with particular contributions to the study of teacher talk time.

Beyond academia, Shanshan maintains a dynamic career as both a performer and educator in DMV area. As a soloist and voice instructor, she brings a deep passion for vocal artistry and pedagogy to her students and audiences alike.

Russian born soprano Olga Orlovskaya inherited her talent from her great grandfather famous Russian bass Fedor Shalyapin. She graduated with honor from the Russian Academy of Music and attained degree Master of Arts with specialty in voice.
Olga participant and finalist of multiple national and international festivals and competitions such as “Palaces of St. Petersburg”, “Norway Cultural Festival”, “Opera Ischia Festival”, “Roma Opera Festival” and “Great Lake Chamber Music Festival” Ms. Orlovskaya was prize winner of the international competition Operetta Land for best performance of Kalman in 2008 in Moscow. Ms. Orlovskaya is the founder and artistic director of the quartet "The Russian Sopranos”.

Heather Vineyard, soprano, has over 20 years of teaching experience teaching students at the secondary, collegiate and professional levels. She holds a Master of Music Education Degree from Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA. She has been seen on the musical and operatic stage and is a former frequent soloist and assistant conductor with the Master Singers of Virginia. She began her career as a music teacher and choral conductor in the public school system, and has served as Director of Vocal Activities at Northern Virginia Community College in Sterling, VA. She has additionally served the Northern Virginia area as a private voice teacher for over 13 years. Her students have been accepted to multiple prestigious college and university music programs throughout the country including Eastman School of Music, Peabody Conservatory, and Jacobs school of music at Indiana University. Additionally, her students have experienced success at the professional level on the operatic stage, a Broadway touring company, and as singer/songwriters. She is in frequent demand as an adjudicator, voice specialist, and places special emphasis on healthy vocal technique and vocal health. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering with creative teams, mentoring young people in the uses of technology in service of the community, engaging in the culinary arts, and enjoys playing with dogs and children.

Gersh Chervinsky is a professional concert violinist and violin teacher. Gersh is the second-award winner of the Cremona Festival and
Competition (Italy, 2012), and was a participant in the London Purcell School Music Festival
(England, 2013), and the Keshet Eilon Festival (Israel, 2019).

He has performed with star musicians such as Joshua Bell, Norman Kreeger, Sarah
Daneshpour, Amit Peled and others.
Gersh collaborates with the Washington Bach Consort, Alexandria Symphony Orchestra,
and the Apollo Orchestra as the associate concertmaster. Trained at the Moscow Conservatory, Jacobs School of Music, and Peabody Institute of Music, he exhibits the finest traditions of modern and baroque violin playing.

Gersh is an enthusiastic educator. He has extensive teaching experience. He taught college students at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music as an associate instructor of violin. He also taught exceptionally gifted pre-college students at the IU Summer String Academy.

Mr. Munayer graduated from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Instrumental Music, emphasis in Violin and Music Education. He has done one year of graduate studies in violin performance at George Mason University and received a Performance Certificate for violin from the Siena Institute of Music in Italy. Mr. Munayer has played in numerous orchestras and solo recitals in the Northern Virginia area. He has performed with the World Civic Orchestra in Carnegie Hall, and Alice Tully Hall. Mr. Munayer played in Switzerland & Italy, chamber, solo, and orchestral music.

Mr. Munayer has twenty years of private lesson experience and works as an orchestra director in the public schools. In 2008, he was featured in the "Prince William News and Messenger" for his solo performance in the Prince William County faculty recital. In 2010, he was interviewed in the Bull Run Observer about the importance of teaching young children to learn a string instrument.

Mr. Munayer has served as violin Judge for All-State Senior Orchestra Auditions and as an adjudicator for Solo & Ensemble Festival in Maryland and Virginia. He is a member of (ASTA) American Strings Teachers Association, (NAME) Music education organization for music teachers.

His goal is to encourage students to have a passion of learning and performing music to the best of their ability.

Earle Perez, cello, grew up in the Northern Virginia area and began his studies at the Prince William County Schools String program. He completed a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from West Virginia University as a student of William Skidmore and a Master of Music in Cello Performance from University of Notre Dame as a student of Karen Buranskas. After graduate school he chose to remain in South Bend, IN, where he established a freelance career, as Principal Cellist with the Southwest Michigan Symphony for 18 years, and performing regularly with South Bend Symphony, Northwest Indiana Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony, and Ft Wayne Philharmonic. While freelancing, he also maintained “day jobs,” which included the Director of Operations for the South Bend Symphony, in charge of Concert Production, Orchestra Personnel and Guest Artist Relations. In 2015 Earle relocated back to the East coast, and spent a year with the Hartford (CT) Symphony as their Production Manager before moving to back to home to Northern VA.

Michael Caracciolo, a native of Woodbridge, Virginia, is a professional classical guitarist who graduated summa cum laude with a Master’s in Music from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (‘19) and a Bachelor’s in Music from George Mason University (‘17).  He studied guitar with Clare Callahan and Larry Snitzler, both students of Andrés Segovia, as well as Matthew Trkula, and has performed in masterclasses for Oscar Ghiglia, Celino & Lito Romero, Carlos Perez, Julian Gray, Matt Palmer, Andrew Zohn, Nigel North, and Colin Davin.  While at CCM, he pursued early music by studying Renaissance lute and vihuela with Rodney Stucky as well as baroque performance practice with Dr. Michael Unger.  Michael also attended Eastern Music Festival in 2016, where he had the opportunity to participate in chamber coachings, lessons, and masterclasses with Kami Rowan, Julian Gray, and Jason Vieaux. 

Jack Dunlap has made a name for himself playing mandolin in the D.C. area. Formerly of the trio Bud's Collective, Jack has worked alongside past and present members of Mountain Heart, Audie Blaylock and Redline, Dailey and Vincent, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen, Blue Highway, Chris Jones and the Night Drivers and Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, to name a few. Though growing up playing bluegrass music, Jack stretches his instrument into other genres such as jazz, swing, blues, rock, classical, country, Eastern Indian folk music, Celtic, polka and many others. He worked as the apprentice to VA based mandolin legend Danny Knicely through the VA Folklife Program. Knicely and Dunlap recorded the album "Chop, Shred & Split - A Mandolin Player's Apprenticeship" together in 2015. The album went on to win Best Bluegrass Album of the Year at the Washington Area Music Awards (WAMMIES).

In January of 2018, he started the Jack Dunlap Band along with his longtime musical partner Jacob Bly and drummer extraordinaire Randall Witherspoon. In September of 2018, the band performed at Watermelon Park Fest in Berryville, VA with saxophonist Justin Eller sitting in. After that performance, Justin joined the band full time.

The Jack Dunlap Band released their debut album, The Adventures of Captain J-LAP & Major Jammage, in February of 2019. The record features 9 original tunes and one blues cover. Guesting are Wendy Dunlap on flute and Mason Wright on fiddle with Jack also playing the electric guitar.

Rebecca Metheny Mason graduated from UMBC as a Linehan Artist Scholar under David LaVorgna, winning various awards and honors including the Alumni Outstanding Student in Music Scholarship and the Music Department’s Outstanding Student Award. She spent a semester in London her senior year to study with famed orchestral flutist, Susan Milan, then earned her Master of Music degree under Tim Day at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Dr. Mason has participated in various music festivals, including the Las Vegas Music Festival, and worked with Michael Parloff, Thomas Robertello, and Renee Siebert, among others in masterclasses. Rebecca received her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree under the world-renowned concert soloist, Carol Wincenc, at SUNY Stony Brook, where she also served as the undergraduate teaching assistant. While in NYC, Rebecca performed at the Kaufmann Center’s Merkin Concert Hall and The Juilliard School’s Peter Jay Sharp Theater, and she played several seasons as principal flute with the Richmond County Orchestra in Staten Island where she was the winner of their Young Musician’s Concerto Competition in 2007.

Dr. Mason has competed as a semi-finalist in the Frank Bowen Competition in New Mexico, won first-place in the San Diego Flute Guild Young Artist Competition while in CA, and has been a prize winner in the Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention’s Young Artist and Collegiate Competitions. She was selected to perform at the 2018 and 2023 Mid-Atlantic Flute Conventions, and as a member of DCFlutes, Rebecca performed as one of their featured soloists in 2018. She has played principal flute with the Monticello Chamber Orchestra in Alexandria and is part of the music ministry at Alexandria Presbyterian Church. An avid music instructor, Dr. Mason works with flute sections of several middle and high school bands throughout Northern VA, and as a woodwind instructor for the Adult Extension Program with the Levine School of Music. Her primary musical endeavor has been her “Benefit Recitals” Concert Series, spanning over a decade to raise thousands of dollars for non-profits that fight against human trafficking.

Appointed in 2015 as an Instructor of Oboe and Saxophone with Opus Community Music School (Opus), Principal Oboe with the Freedom Philharmonic, and Faculty Clinician with the Academy of St. Cecilia Youth Orchestra (ASCYO) in Damascus, Mark Runkles completed his Doctor of Musical Arts in Oboe Performance at UNLV. In 2013, Dr. Runkles published the culmination of his doctoral research, a critical edition of Gustave Vogt’s 4ème Solo de Concert, with TrevCo Music Publishing. Dr. Runkles became the Artistic Director at Opus in 2018. He earned his Master of Fine Arts in Oboe Performance and Master of Arts in Jazz Studies from the University of Iowa and his Bachelor of Arts in Oboe Performance from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Dr. Runkles has been a featured oboe and saxophone soloist with the Clazzical Project, Carroll Concert Band, Carroll County Jazz Band, Carroll Singers, Freedom Philharmonic, ASCYO, and Liberty High School Symphonic and Jazz Bands. He formed the Twin Arch Duo, which plays a mixture of standards and his own contemporary jazz compositions, with guitarist Charlie Trapp in 2013. In 2008, Dr. Runkles performed a series of Jazz Vespers services in Scotland. He served as the Assistant Principal Oboe with the Chesapeake Orchestra from 1999–2004 and performed on 2nd Oboe with the Las Vegas Philharmonic from the winter of 2009 through 2012. Dr. Runkles is an oboe student of Stephen Caplan, Mark Weiger, and Vladimir Lande and a saxophone student of John Rapson and Don Stapleson. Follow Dr. Runkles on his blog, Dr. Mark’s Music Notes (https://drmarksmusicnotes.wordpress.com), and his YouTube channel.

Oboist Lydia Rose Consilvio’s fearless composure has been described as, "making the impossible seem easy." An avid chamber musician, she has appeared on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center with her ensembles, the Fischoff Competition, the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, and the Avaloch Farm Music Institute.

Lydia holds degrees from the Yale (MM) and Eastman (BM) Schools of Music and is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Maryland.

Lydia played on the Naxos recording of Hannah Lash’s Requiem. She performed the Albinoni double-oboe concerto alongside Roger Cole of the Vancouver Symphony at the Pacific Region International Summer Music Academy in British Columbia. Lydia has also played with the Annapolis (MD) Symphony and Rochester (NY) Chamber Orchestras.

Lydia’s positive attitude and creative outlook make her an unconventional musician and an easygoing collaborator in both large and small ensembles, and across musical genres. Her instructing style is equally spirited, open-minded, and accessible.

Adjunct Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Ensemble at Northern Virginia Community College Loudoun Campus (2019-present)

Saxophonist, Maryland Army National Guard Band (2014-present)

Saxophonist, The Marine Corps Band in Quantico (2004-2007)

Doctor of Musical Arts, Candidate at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University (2016-present)

Performed at the Mansion at Strathmore, Johns Hopkins University’s Shriver Hall, the Peabody Institute, Seoul Arts Center, Lotte Hall in South Korea, 2007 Super Bowl XLI, Cherry Blossom Parade and Governor’s Inauguration.