Lucas Miller began playing the cello in the 5th grade as part of the Spartanburg County District 6 program, and now he works alongside former teachers and excellent music educators. His orchestra directors and private instructors Christian Williams, Cortney Dial, Ann Buttimer, Susan Baier, Jennifer Diehn, and Kathy Foster provided him with an excellent musical education and lifelong memories and experiences. Due to these fantastic educators, he chose to continue his studies and pursue music education at the University of South Carolina so that he could provide young students of the next generation with the same quality education and experiences.

While at the University of South Carolina, Columbia Campus, Mr. Miller studied cello privately with Dr. Robert Jesselson and Prof. Claire Bryant. During his time, he performed with the UofSC Symphony alongside graduate and doctoral students. In addition to this, he also performed in string chamber ensembles every semester, where his groups were often selected to perform in masterclasses with the renowned group, the Parker Quartet, at the end of each semester. During his Sophomore year, his unique chamber ensemble consisting of the cello, flute, clarinet, french horn, and marimba became the first undergraduate group to win the Spark Creativity in Music Award due to their work and community outreach in the Columbia area.

Also during his time at UofSC, Mr. Miller was an active private and classroom teacher with the UofSC String Project under the direction of Dr. Gail Barnes. This experience was invaluable for him, especially during his transition from collegiate learning to teaching professionally, and he credits his early success to his Music Education teachers in college, including Dr. Gail Barnes, Dr. Amanda Schlegel, and Dr. Wendy Valerio. During his time here, he was also nominated by his professor, alongside one of his peers, to give a presentation at the national ASTA Conference.

Mr. Miller is currently a Co-Director of Orchestras at Fairforest Middle School in Spartanburg, SC alongside his former MS teacher, Ms. Cortney Dial. Before this, he taught Middle School and High School orchestra simultaneously in Fredericksburg, VA. During his time there, his ensembles performed at State Festivals, earning the highest scores from esteemed judges. He also established a tradition of excellence at these schools, raising the number of students accepted into honors ensembles to a competitive level and increasing the number of accepted students each year.

Outside of music, Mr. Miller has hobbies including pickleball, reading, and spending time with his (almost) 2-year-old niece, Sylvia.

Stephan Fillare is Director of Orchestral Activities at Furman University, where he conducts the Furman Symphony Orchestra and Furman Chamber Orchestra and collaborates regularly with the Furman Oratorio Chorus and the Sarah Reese Lyric Theatre. Under his leadership, the orchestral program has experienced renewed artistic growth, including the restoration of the Furman Chamber Orchestra after a four-year absence and the South Carolina premiere of Jennifer Higdon Erickson’s To Serve With Honor on Veterans Day 2025, a work dedicated to Marine Lance Cpl. Antoine D. Smith.

An active conductor across symphonic and operatic repertoire, Fillare has appeared with ensembles throughout the United States and internationally. He was the inaugural Harmony Conducting Fellow of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, where he led Young People’s Concerts featuring the music of Gabriela Lena Frank and John Williams, and later returned to conduct performances of Arturo Márquez’s Danzón No. 2. His operatic work includes assistant conducting appointments with the International Summer Opera Festival of Morelia, the Berlin Opera Academy, and recent productions with Sarah Reese Lyric Theatre, including Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, with an upcoming production of Kurt Weill’s Street Scene scheduled for 2026.

Deeply committed to music education and community engagement, Fillare has served as a guest clinician and conductor for honor ensembles throughout the Southeast and beyond, including the Nassau Music Educators Association Division 5 String Orchestra and the Orange County Public Schools All-County High School Honors Orchestra. He is honored to serve as Guest Clinician for the 2025–2026 Horry County All-County Orchestra, and is grateful to collaborate with the dedicated students and educators of one of South Carolina’s most distinguished and vibrant music communities.

Fillare is currently completing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Orchestral Conducting at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, where he studies with Mark Gibson. His pedagogical philosophy centers on meeting students where they are, inspiring through example, and illuminating the many ways music can shape lives, communities, and the world.