Violinist Karen Lord-Powell enjoys a varied career as soloist, chamber and orchestral musician, and teacher. She teaches violin, chamber music, and orchestral repertoire at the Frost School of Music, and is a member of the leadership team for the Experiential Music Curriculum, Frost’s innovative approach to musicianship training.
Sheena Gutierrez is one of Bolivia’s promising young talents. In 2005, Sheena debuted as a soloist with the Coral Gables Conservatory Young Musician’s Orchestra. She also performed in the annual Superintendent’s Honors Music Festival for six consecutive years. These early successes paved the way to her performances in Carnegie Hall, New World Center, Adrienne Arsht Center, Harris Theater, Studzinski Hall, Benedict Music Tent, KKL Luzerne Concert Hall (Switzerland), and König Albert Theater (Germany).
Born in Coro, Venezuela, Ericmar Perez began her violin studies through “El Sistema,” the internationally renowned music program founded by Jose Antonio Abreu. She continued to study at the Latin American Academy of Violin, Caracas. In 2000 Ericmar immigrated to the United States after winning a scholarship to study at New World School of Art, studying with Thomas Moore and Daniel Andai. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Florida.
Timothy McCollum graduated from the University of Michigan with Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Education degrees in String Instruments. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army as a member of the United States Military Academy Band at West Point, New York, playing piccolo in the marching band and violin in various chamber ensembles. While stationed at West Point, McCollum continued his violin studies with Isidore Cohen. Other studies have been with Carol Glenn, Sidney Harth and Thomas Moore. Mr.
Steve Bjella has performed throughout the United States, appearing both as soloist and in a variety of chamber ensembles. He holds degrees in performance and music education from the University of Iowa, where he studied with Leopold LaFosse and the Stradivari Quartet. He has also studied with the Vermeer, Fine Arts and New Hungarian Quartets.
Zachary Piper is a Pittsburgh area native who currently lives and performs in South Florida. In addition to performing in orchestras and chamber settings, Mr. Piper teaches as the violin director at St. Philip's Episcopal School in Coral Gables. He is also an avid fiddler in American and Celtic styles. Zachary holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY.
A native South Floridian, Anthony Seepersad graduated from the University of Miami with Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees. While in school he served as concertmaster at the Cannon Music Camp and at the Eastern Music Festival. Since graduation he has recorded with several artists such as Cristian Castro, Ricardo Montaner and Barbra Streisand. He has also performed on stage with such artists as Barry Gibb, Josh Groban, and Pavorotti. He can currently be found playing with the Naples Philharmonic and the Florida Grand Opera.
Sarah Schreffler is currently concertmaster of Musica Nova, an ensemble in Phoenix, Arizona, committed to performing and recording diverse and overlooked repertoire. She has performed as a soloist with the Musica Nova Baroque Orchestra, and is an active recitalist and chamber musician. In addition to performance activities, she currently maintains a large private studio, and has also been a teaching assistant at Arizona State University and at the Brevard Music Center. In Fall 2009, she began Doctoral studies as a Graduate Fellow at Arizona State University. Ms.
Since his solo debut with Jovenes Arcos de Caracas at the age of seven, Oscar Soler has been invited to play with the National Repertory Orchestra, Orquesta Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho, Virtuosi de Caracas, and Orquesta Juvenil de Caracas. His playing has been described by the Cleveland Plain Dealer to apply "generous allure" to the violin solos of Richard Strauss's Ein Heldenleben after his performance as concertmaster of the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra at Severance Hall. He has performed with the Akron Symphony Orchestra, Erie Philharmonic, and Canton Symphony.
