Our Musicians
St. Louis native Holly Huelskamp began her solo career with a solo recital in Carnegie Hall, New York in 2005, and has been invited as a soloist, chamber musician and concertmaster across Europe, South America, and the United States. At the age of 30, she won the position of concertmaster of National Philharmonic Orchestra of Santiago, Chile, becoming the first female concertmaster of a major theater in South America. As a member of Chile's premier chamber group, the Philharmonic Ensemble, she recorded and performed chamber repertoire in every major theater in Chile and several in Europe. She is a founding member of the Zafira Quartet, the St. Louis Chamber Soloists, and teaches violin at Washington University.
St. Louis cellist Ranya Iqbal maintains a busy performance schedule and an eclectic mix of musical output. She performs regularly with Union Avenue Opera, Winter Opera, and the Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis. Recently, she performed with Stages St. Louis for world premiere of The Karate Kid the Musical. Additionally, she is a founding member of the Zafira String Quartet, the first and only electric string quartet in St. Louis. She is also the principal cellist and co-founder of the conductorless chamber orchestra, the St. Louis Chamber Soloists.
In addition to orchestral and chamber work, Ranya is often collaborating with great local Jazz, Hip-Hop, World, and Folk musicians in special concerts and on albums. She regularly records as a session cellist in many of the St. Louis recording studios.
Outside of performing, most of Ranya's time is spent working with the St. Louis String Collective, and educational non-profit she co-founded with two other St. Louis string musicians. The St. Louis String Collective promotes creative, multi-genre string instrument playing through educational programming and performance opportunities.
https://linktr.ee/ranyacello
Adam Anello is a freelance musician and teacher in the St. Louis area. He performs regularly with the St. Louis Symphony, as well as the Kansas city and Memphis Symphony Orchestras. He has served as principal for both the Illinois Symphony and the Muny orchestra, as well as performed as guest principal for the Royal Northern Sinfonia. As a chamber musician Adam has performed regularly with Chamber Project St. Louis and the Gesher Music Festival. Adam received his Bachelor’s degree from the New England Conservatory and his Master’s degree from Boston University. Upon graduation Adam was awarded a fellowship with the New World Symphony. Adam currently is on faculty at the University of Missouri- St. Louis. In his free time Adam enjoys spending time with his family, running, and throwing the frisbee to his dog Mister, a border collie mix with lots of energy.
Tova Braitberg is Concertmaster of The Muny Orchestra. She is a frequent chamber musician, having performed and recorded extensively with the Crusell Quartet. The quartet's CD, "Elm", was released on Centaur Records. A sought after concertmaster in the St. Louis region, Tova has led orchestras at the Peabody Opera House, the Fox Theatre, and Schiedegger Center. Most recently, she performed in concert with famed singer and actress Bernadette Peters. Other orchestral appearances include performances with the Illinois Symphony and the Bach Society of St. Louis. Tova studied violin at Oberlin Conservatory and Webster University.
Violinist Rebecca Chung is an accomplished performer and teacher known for her expressive lyricism. She holds a Bachelor of Music in violin performance from Northwestern University and a Master of Music in violin performance from The Juilliard School. She has performed with major recording artists and has been featured on soundtracks for films and television shows. She has also performed in concerts across Europe, South America, and Asia. Rebecca teaches violin at Washington University, Webster University’s Community Music School, and maintains a private studio. She currently performs with Chamber Project St. Louis, Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis, and St. Louis Chamber Soloists.
Amy Greenhalgh has worked as a violist throughout Europe, with ensembles including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Soloists’ Chamber Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, and National Symphony Orchestra of Malta, as well as recording for labels such as Decca, EMI, and Deutsche Grammophon. In 2009, Amy won the position of principal viola of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Santiago, Chile. Amy moved to the USA in 2015 and lives in St. Louis, Missouri. She plays with groups including the Saint Louis Symphony and Zafira, St. Louis' Electric String Quartet. Amy also arranges and transcribes works for musicians, designs and creates education concerts for children and adults, and is Director of Strings at Washington University in St. Louis.
Hannah Frey is a freelance musician and educator in St Louis. She is first violinist of the Perseid Quartet and plays regularly with visiting shows at the Fox Theater and many local groups. She was concertmaster of Winter Opera St. Louis for over a decade, was a member of the Charlotte Symphony and the Promusica Chamber Orchestra, and has played as a substitute with the St Louis Symphony and the Columbus Symphony. She teaches violin at Washington University of St Louis, teaches beginning violin and viola in the Kirkwood School District, and maintains a large private studio at her home. Hannah received her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music with Linda Cerone and William Preucil.
Described by the Classical Voices of North Carolina as making playing the violin “seem easy, almost as child’s play,” violinist Sophia Han is Associate Professor of Violin and Viola at Southeast Missouri State University. A versatile musician, Han has performed as guest soloist with orchestras and artists across the US. Currently serving as the Associate Concertmaster of Paducah Symphony Orchestra, Han was a guest Concertmaster of Southern Illinois Music Festival Orchestra, Assistant Concertmaster of Tallahassee Symphony, and is in demand as an adjudicator and clinician. As a chamber musician, Han is a member of the St. Louis Chamber Soloists, Kingsbury Ensemble, Outburst Chamber Orchestra, and Rio Verde Quartet.
Daniel Henderson began his cello studies at the age of 10 in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. He received his Bachelor’s degree in cello performance from the HARID Conservatory of music where he studied with Johanne Perron. He received his Master of Music degree in cello performance from the University of Florida where he studied with Mark Tanner. Mr. Henderson was twice the recipient of the Cello Fellowship Award for the Banff Centre for the Arts in Alberta, Canada. During his time in Banff, Daniel studied with legendary cellist Aldo Parisot. Mr. Henderson currently serves as the Director of Orchestras for the School District of Clayton. In 2021, he was named the Missouri orchestra teacher of the year by the Missouri chapter of The American String Teachers Association. In addition to his teaching, Mr. Henderson is an active freelance musician, playing frequently in the St. Louis area.
An active and versatile musician, Stephanie Hunt performs on both modern and baroque cello. Her current activities include performances with the Perseid String Quartet and La Petite Brise, an early music ensemble. Stephanie has participated in numerous international music festivals, including the Tafelmusik Winter Institute, Nederlandse Orkest- en Ensemble-Academie, Royaumont Formations Professionnelles (France), the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme, and two summers as a Tanglewood Music Center Fellow. Her studies on modern cello led to a B.Mus. summa cum laude from the University of Miami's Frost School of Music and a M.Mus. from Rice University's Shepherd School of Music. Following her American studies, Stephanie moved to Europe and earned both a B.Mus. Honours and M.Mus. in baroque cello from the Utrecht Conservatory in the Netherlands. After five years studying and performing in the Netherlands, Stephanie returned to the United States, to settle in the St. Louis area. Stephanie maintains a private studio in St. Louis and teaches cello in the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Suzuki program and at Lindenwood University.
Shannon Merciel is a freelance cellist and teacher based in St. Louis. She is a dynamic performer appearing as an orchestral and chamber musician in the US and abroad. She performs with the Saint Louis Symphony and Illinois Symphony and was most recently a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. She is the cellist of Trio Doyenne, an international piano trio founded in Glasgow in 2018, who appears in concert regularly in the UK and Europe and has been broadcasted on the National Radio of Lithuania. Shannon teaches privately at the Community Music School of Webster University and Suzuki Harmony STL. She received her Bachelor of Music from the University of Missouri-Columbia and Master of Music from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Sam Moraes is the founder of GreenHouse Studio, a teaching and event space in Webster Groves. Sam completed an undergraduate degree in violin performance at the Eastman School of Music and graduate degrees in violin performance and pedagogy at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She has spent the last five years teaching, performing, and defining her vision for a space that combines a passion for music making, music education, and community building. When she’s not playing violin Sam is busy chasing around a 60 lb. dog and an 8 lb. house rabbit, both on staff at GreenHouse Studio.
Carolina Neves is a Brazilian-American violinist/violist living in the St. Louis area. She is principal violist of the MUNY, and is thrilled to perform with the St. Louis Chamber Soloists. Carolina regularly performs with the Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Union Avenue Opera, the Missouri Symphony, and Winter Opera St. Louis. Carolina has performed with major recording artists including Michael Bublé, Transiberian Orchestra, David Foster, Video Games Live, The Texas Tenors, and Jennifer Holliday. She holds undergraduate and master degrees in violin performance from the University of Missouri-Columbia under the instruction of professor Eva Szekely. In her free time, Carolina enjoys spending time with her family and experiencing everything St. Louis has to offer.
Grace Eunhey Park, began playing cello at 10 years old. She is associate principal cellist of the Muncie Symphony Orchestra, and holds substitute positions within the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. She is a native of the Republic of Korea where she won the Catholic University of Daegu Competition in 2003, and her ensemble was awarded first prize in the Fringe Festival of the Tongyeong International Music Festival (TIMF) in 2006. She earned an Artist Diploma from Ball State University. Prior to entering Ball State, she completed Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Yeung-nam University in Korea.
Matt Pickart is Director and Co-founder of Clazz International Music Festival in Arcidosso, Italy, and Assistant Professor of Music at Webster University in Saint Louis, where he serves as Director of Chamber Music and teaches violin, viola, improvisation, and music entrepreneurship. He has the distinct honor and privilege of having performed at both Jazz at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Music Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. Pickart has performed and recorded in multiple genres internationally as a soloist, chamber musician, and ensemble member. Active in the Saint Louis area, Pickart has performed with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Bach to the Future, Ariel Concert Series, and Chamber Project Saint Louis.
Jane Price, violin, grew up in West Lafayette, Indiana. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University and a Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory. Jane has been a fellow at the Tanglewood Institute, the Norfolk Festival, the Spoleto festival in Italy and the United States. Since 1994 she has been an extra member of the Chicago Symphony and St. Louis Symphony. Ms. Price is an adjunct violin instructor at Washington University in St. Louis, and for the past several years, has been a featured performer at the Festival of Music (FEMUSC) in Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Louis Privitera engages his students and audiences by advocating for music as a tool for inclusivity and creativity. Louis was a founding member of the Tetra String Quartet, an ensemble dedicated to combining performance with public service. During his eleven-year tenure, Louis was at the forefront of creating meaningful musical experiences for underserved communities. Louis’s teaching philosophy stems from the belief that every student can learn an instrument if they are provided with the right tools and a supportive environment. In 2018, Louis was named by The Arizona Republic as one of twenty-four emerging leaders in the arts. Louis Privitera is currently based in St. Louis.
Laura Reycraft received her Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance from The Cleveland Institute of Music in 2003 as a student of Jeffrey Irvine and Lynne Ramsey. In 2005, she completed her studies at the University of Maryland, where she worked with Daniel Foster and Michael Tree. Since moving to St. Louis in 2006, she has played regularly as a substitute musician with the St. Louis Symphony. Laura is one of the Artistic Directors of Chamber Project Saint Louis, an ensemble founded in 2007 with which she also performs chamber music regularly, one of her passions. She also holds the position of Violin Specialist at City Academy.
Tara Santiago Anello is a teacher and freelancer in St. Louis. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in music from New England Conservatory, where she studied with Natasha Brofsky and Cleveland Quartet cellist, Paul Katz. Originally from Wisconsin she has performed as a guest soloist with the Milwaukee, Fox Valley and Sheboygan Symphonies. Prior to moving to St. Louis she was a member of the Florida Grand Opera. She now teaches cello at Webster University’s Community Music School and performs and records regularly with the singer Erin Bode.
Karen Schaberg, violin, earned her BM and MM in performance from Montclair State University in New Jersey, For the last 35 years she has free lanced extensively in the New York City, New Jersey and Pennsylvania area and was string orchestra director for the Mendham Twp. School District. She has performed for many years at Carnegie Hall with The Masterworks and St. Cecilia Orchestras as well as performing with both the New York Philharmonic and New Jersey Symphony Orchestras. Karen enjoys working with touring shows like Johnny Mathis, Mannheim Steamroller, Jackie Evancho and the Irish Tenors. She and her husband, violinist Eric Schaberg, relocated to the St. Louis area in the summer of 2023 and has since performed with the Illinois Symphony, Winter Opera, Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis and St. Louis Chamber Soloists.
Manuela Topalbegovic, native of Rousse, Bulgaria, began her violin studies at the age of five. She emigrated to the States in 1995 with her family. Manuela holds a Bachelor of Music from Webster University and holds a Master of Music degree in Violin Performance from the University of Missouri- Kansas City, where she was awarded the graduate string quartet assistantship for three years. Manuela performs regularly with Union Avenue Opera, Bach Society of St. Louis, Winter Opera, Kingsbury Ensemble, Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis, Rosewood Ensemble, Salem Chamber Orchestra, and many others. Manuela is the second violinist of the Perseid String quartet. In addition to performing Manuela is also holds teaching positions at the Community Music School of Webster University, Webster Groves Elementary Schools Strings Program, Washington University in St. Louis, and maintains a private studio at home. In her free time Manuela enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, and spending time with friends and family and her black lab Sasha.
Victoria Voumard is a native of Greenville, South Carolina. She received her Bachelor’s at Furman University and continued her post graduate viola studies with Victoria Chiang at the Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida. Currently, she plays viola with Union Avenue Opera, St. Louis Ballet, Pop! Pop! Pop! Orchestra and Winter Opera St. Louis. She has performed in orchestras with headliners Jimmy Page & Robert Plant, Josh Groban, Peter Cetera, Mannheim Steamroller, Frank Sinatra Jr., Clay Aiken, Barry Manilow, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Warren Haynes, Idina Menzel, Rod Stewart, 2 Cellos, Michael Buble, The Who, "Weird Al" Yankovic, the Eagles and Beach Boys.