Nina Bishop, Violin, Director                     

Nina Bishop, founder and director of Atlantic Strings, graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy, the premier performing arts boarding school in the US and subsequently attended the University of North Texas. Music festivals include Interlochen Arts Camp, Wethersfield Music Festival, Academie d'Ete de Nice, International School of Musical Arts, Manchester Music Festival and Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute. Nina has studied with Michele Auclair, Roland and Almita Vemos, Atis Bankas, Danwen Jiang, Ben Holland at the Royal Northern School of Music in England, Cynthia Roberts (Baroque violin), Daniel Stepner and Julia Bushkova at the University of North Texas. Her graduate studies were with Dana Mazurkevich and members of the Muir Quartet at Boston University. Notable concerts include performances with Sir David Wilcox, Graeme Jenkins, Hans Zimmer, tenors Placido Domingo and Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé, Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan, Rod Stewart, Kanye West's Touch the Sky tour, Orchestra Sinfonica dell'Europa Unita and the Boston Early Music Festival. Nina performs regionally with the New Bedford Symphony, Vermont Symphony, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Portland Symphony, Plymouth Philharmonic and Marsh Chapel Collegium. Nina maintains a large private studio and teaches in the Public Schools of Brookline. Nina completed her M.Ed in Arts in Education in 2022 at Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Nelli Herskovits, Violin

Born in Russia, her family immigrated to Israel in 1989. Raised in a musical family, Nelli began studying the violin at the age of six with her father. She continued her studies in Israel with Haim Taub, concertmaster of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. A recipient of scholarships and prizes from the American-Israel Cultural Foundation, Nelli has participated in the Jerusalem Music Center, founded by Isaac Stern and Pablo Casals and Keshet Eilon Violin Master Courses, where she also studied with famed violinist Ida Haendel. She is a winner of the Young Talent Competition in Israel and has been a soloist with the Haifa Symphony Orchestra. In the US, she appeared as a soloist with the Lynn University Philharmonia in Florida, Columbus State University in Georgia and the Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra as winner of their Concerto Competition. She holds a bachelor’s in Violin Performance at the Schwob School of Music, where she studied with Turner Distinguished violin professor Sergiu Schwartz. She received her master’s and DMA doctoral degree from Boston University, studying with Dana Mazurkevich. Today, Nelli performs with Emmanuel Music, Marsh Chapel, and Palaver Strings. Nelli performs Baroque violin with early music organizations including Boston Baroque, Ashmont Bach Project, and as a concertmistress of the Big Moose Bach Festival in NH. She is a founding member of the piano trio Amira and H & A duo, and the musical director of Classical Moments concert series at the Hyde Park Presbyterian Church in Boston. Nelli is also a devoted teacher and considers passing on her musical skills a vital and gratifying part of her connection with the community.

Brian Buch, Piano

Pianist and composer Brian Buch received his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Composition with an emphasis in Piano Performance from Indiana University and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in composition from Boston University. His primary teachers have been Alla Cohen, Sam Headrick, Richard Cornell, and Sven-David Sandstrom.
Buch is on faculty at MIT and the New England Conservatory of Music and gives private
instruction in composition, classical and jazz piano, and theory and ear-training. As a composer, Brian writes for all genres of classical and jazz music. Brian is an in-demand pianist performing classical and jazz throughout the US. Many of Brian’s compositions have received national and international recognition (including the MTNA, Robert Helps, Lepo Sumera in Tallinn, Estonia, Moscow Conservatory, and Queen Elisabeth Composition Competitions.) His music has been
performed in the US, Canada, Europe, Russia, Estonia, Bosnia, and Serbia. Broadcasts include
NPR, Russian Television Network, WGBH, WHRB Harvard, and Italy’s Radio Taukay online radio for contemporary music. Buch has released two recordings of original music, Stone of Traveling Winds, a program of chamber works and Poems to Sing at Night, a program of solo works.

Pei-yeh Tsai, Piano

Pei-yeh Tsai, a Taiwanese-born pianist, appears frequently as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestra musician. Tsai’s musical education includes receiving her graduate diploma from The Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University under the tutelage of Boris Slutsky, her master’s degree from The Juilliard School with Jerome Lowenthal, and her DMA from Boston University.  Tsai’s awards include first prize in the Aaron Richmond International Piano Competition, The Viardo Prize at the Viardo International Piano Competition in Dallas, the Sergio Fiorentino Memorial Award from the Taipei Philharmonic Foundation in Taiwan, the Rose Marie Milholland Award, and the Marie Miller Award from the Peabody Conservatory in Boston, as well as receiving an award in the Iowa Piano Competition.  She has also performed at Harvard University, Boston University, MIT, Fitchburg State University, Alice Tully Hall, and Carnegie Hall.  Pei-yeh has appeared in concert in Moscow, Vienna, Spain, Austria and Taiwan. In 2012, she was interviewed on BBC Radio 4 ‘Soul Music’ by Rosie Boulton talk about Rachmaninoff 2nd piano concerto. Pei-yeh enjoys collaborating with a variety of musicians and ensembles. This season she subs in with Chicago Symphony Orchestra and also on solo harpsichord with members of Civic Orchestra Chicago performed Bach’s Brandanburg concerto No. 5 in Chicago. She currently holds the position of Principal Pianist with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Peoria Symphony Orchestra and the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra in MA. This season, she soloed with Peoria Symphony will also be heard on WFMT live and WTVP. Tsai works as a staff accompanist for trumpet, tuba and double bass workshops at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. As an advocate for new music, Pei-yeh was a member of the electronic and acoustical ensemble BleepBlop, and has worked with the Alea III ensemble. She performed the premiere of the piano concerto “Thresholds” written by Ketty Nez and performed by the Boston University Wind Ensemble.

Heather Braun, Violin

Violinist Heather Braun is currently studying with Peter Zazofsky for a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Boston University. An avid performer in New England, she performs regularly with Cantata Singers, Back Bay Chorale and the Firebird Ensemble. Heather has additionally appeared as concertmaster and soloist with the Orchestra of Emmanuel Music. Heather regularly performs in the Manchester (VT) Music Festival's chamber music series and has attended the Centrum Chamber Music Festival. As a Tanglewood Music Center fellow she received the Jules C. Reiner Violin Prize and sat concertmaster under Seiji Ozawa and Herbert Bloomstedt. She earnedher bachelor's degree from the Eastman School of Music, receiving the John Celentano Chamber Music Award, and her master's degree from Boston University where she was awarded the String Prize. Heather has appeared in concert with the Ying Quartet, Menahem Pressler, Peter Zazofsky, and Bayla Keyes. She has taught violin at Philips Exeter Academy in NH and is a regular chamber music coach for the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Micah Brightwell, Violin

A native of Hamilton, New Zealand and Vancouver, British Columbia, Micah began playing violin at age 5. Her earliest studies were with Marka Wilcox-Akins. Micah completed her high school education at Interlochen Arts Academy under the tutelage of Paul Sonner. Her bachelor’s studies were at Cleveland Institute of Music with David Updegraff. Micah’s Master’s Degree was completed at Rice University in Houston, TX with Kenneth Goldsmith. Micah has performed with the Erie Philharmonic, Youngstown Symphony Orchestra and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic in Ohio. In New England, Micah has performed with the Vermont Symphony, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Discovery Ensemble, Atlantic Symphony, Callithumpian Consort, Peabody Essex Encounters Ensemble and Boston Philharmonic. Micah has been a fellow at Tanglewood Music Center and has attended Bang on a Can Summer Music Festival. She is currently pursuing a Music Business degree at Boston University.

Zoya Tsvetkova, Violin

A native of St. Petersburg, Russia, Zoya began violin studies at age four with her father and entered music school at age six. In 2001, Zoya moved to the United States and continued her studies with Jan Sloman, associate concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony. While in Texas Zoya won the Ft. Worth Youth Orchestra competition, was a finalist in the Juanita Miller State Youth Competition and a national finalist in the MTNA.  Ms. Tsvetkova was also awarded grand prizes in the Dallas Symphonic Festival, the Hubbard Chamber Music Competition and received the Bayard H. Friedman Outstanding Student Award of Performing Arts. Zoya completed her undergraduate studies at Boston University's College of Fine Arts where she studied with Yuri Mazurkevich. In 2006 and 2008 she won the undergraduate prize of BU's Bach Competition. Master's studies were completed at Boston University with Bayla Keyes. In 2009, Zoya won the BU concerto competition and made her debut with the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall.

Anna Griffis, Violin & Viola

Originally from Annapolis, MD and now based in Boston, violist and violinist Anna Griffis performs as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player throughout the United States and abroad. She plays modern viola with New Bedford Symphony (principal), Albany Symphony, Symphony New Hampshire, Rhode Island Philharmonic and Emmanuel Music, and Baroque viola & violin with Grand Harmonie (principal), Boston Baroque, New Trinity Baroque, Les Bostonades, L'Académie, and Arcadia Players. She has premiered works by Elliot Carter, Marco Stroppa, and Robert Carl. Anna performs with and is Executive Director of the Ludovico Ensemble, a group focused on music of the European avant-garde. An avid chamber musician, Anna co-founded Trio Speranza (winner of the Early Music America Baroque Competition Presentation Prize) and was violinist/violist in the Anatolian Trio, with whom she toured Turkey. As a Tanglewood Music Center fellow she played under the baton of Charles Dutoit, John Williams, Stéphane Denève and has collaborated with Andrew Parrott and Alan Gilbert. Anna has been featured as a concerto soloist with the Tufts Symphony Orchestra, New England Repertory Orchestra, the Hartt Contemporary Ensemble, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Anna studied violin performance at Lawrence University and The Hartt School of Music and received her Masters and Diploma in viola performance from Boston University as a student of Michelle LaCourse.

Jacqueline Selby, Cello

Jacqueline Selby, from Duluth, Georgia, leads an active life performing and teaching in the Boston area. She began her musical studies with piano lessons at age three, and has performed on NPR’s “From the Top,” and was a winner of the MTNA Southern Regional Competition. She chose to pursue cello at 16, and since then has appeared as a soloist with the Ludwig Symphony Orchestra in Atlanta, Georgia, performed in the Santa Fe Chamber Music Series, has served as principal cellist with the Marsh Chapel Collegium and Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, and performed regularly with the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, Columbus Symphony Orchestra (Columbus, GA), New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, among others. She has earned fellowships at Round Top Music Festival and Kent/Blossom Music Festival and worked with Judith Gordon, Bernard Greenhouse, Anner Bylsma, Paul Katz, Roger Tapping, Ida Levin, Kaija Saariaho, Alban Gerhardt, and members of the Miami, Kronos, Muir, Vermeer, Takacs, and Borromeo String Quartets in both masterclass and performances. Currently, she is on faculty at Foxboro and Franklin High Schools and is also a certified Kripalu yoga teacher teaching at Boston University. She holds degrees in music performance from Boston University and New England Conservatory.

Patrick Owen, Cello

A native of Michigan, cellist Patrick Owen has performed in recitals and as a soloist with orchestras in Europe, the United States and Japan. Recent engagements include a performance of the Dvorak Cello Concerto with the Brevard Music Center Orchestra, a recital on WCRB’s summer concert series in Boston’s Hatchshell as well as his debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. Local engagements include performances at Jordan Hall with Boston Chamber Music Society, Duxbury Music Festival, Boston Philharmonic and the Boston Modern Orchestra Project.  Mr. Owen received his Bachelor’s degree from the Eastman School of Music. While a student at Eastman, he spent one year of study in Paris at the Paris Conservatory. He received his Master’s degree from the Juilliard School and his Doctor of Musical Arts at Boston University. Mr. Owen has been an honored participant at the summer music festivals of Aspen, Sarasota, Taos and Brevard. Currently Mr. Owen is on the Faculty of the South Shore Conservatory in Hingham, MA. His teachers include Pamela Frame, Alan Harris, Phillipe Muller, Harvey Shapiro and Andres Diaz.

Tudor Dornescu, Violin

A native of Romania, violinist Tudor Dornescu earned his Bachelor of Music in violin performance from National University of Music in Bucharest, Romania, during which time he was an Erasmus International Exchange student at Cork School of Music in Ireland. He received his Master’s degree in violin performance from Rice University, Shepherd School of Music, and in 2013 received his Doctorate of Musical Arts in violin performance from Boston University College of Fine Arts. Tudor has performed as a soloist, recitalist and orchestral musician across the United States, Asia and Europe in venues such as the Shanghai City Theater in China, Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Jordan Hall and Symphony Hall in Boston, Zilkha Hall in Houston, Texas, Concertgebouw Amsterdam in Holland, National Concert Hall in Ireland, and Romanian Athenaeum and National Radio Hall in Romania. Since 2007, Tudor has been actively teaching and performing in the Boston area, performing regularly with ensembles such as Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Boston University Marsh Chapel Collegium, Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra, Harvard Radcliffe Choral Society, to name just a few. As a chamber musician, Tudor performs and tours regularly as a solo recitalist with his wife, violinist Aleksandra Labinska, as member of the Mirage Violin Duo. A prize winner, TudorDornescu has received the highest honors and has participated at prestigious international competitions such as the Bach Competition at Boston University, J.S.Bach International Violin Competition in Leipzig, Germany, Jeunnesses Musicales and G. Avakian competitions in Bucharest, Romania. Tudor performs on a Johann Basta violin from the beginning of the past century. A versatile musician, Tudor often performs across musical genres and has collaborated with pop rock acts such as the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Videogame Orchestra, Jaggery and Evanescence

Thomas Barth, Cello

Thomas Barth received his Master’s degree from New England Conservatory of Music in 2019, where he was a recipient of the Gregor Piatagorsky Memorial Fund scholarship. In recent months, he has performed at Carnegie Hall as a member of the New York String Orchestra Seminar and throughout New England with groups such as A Far Cry, The Juventas Ensemble, Palaver Strings, and the Harvard Baroque Chamber Orchestra.  His primary teachers include Richard Aaron and Lluís Claret, and he has performed in masterclasses for leading concert cellists such as Truls Mørk, Anner Bylsma, and Johannes Moser. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in cello performance with highest honors from the University of Michigan with supplementary studies at the Royal Conservatory of The Netherlands. Thomas is passionate about bringing thoughtful musical programming to the widest possible audiences; as a chamber musician, he has performed in diverse venues such as schools, farms, churches, and community centers throughout North America and Europe. In addition to his performance schedule, he maintains a private teaching studio and serves on the faculty at the Brookline Public Schools and El Sistema Somerville. For the past several years, Thomas has maintained regular yoga and meditation practices and is interested in the connection between mindfulness, music, and movement.  

Dilshod Narzillaev, Cello

Cellist Dilshod Narzillaev was born in Navoi, Uzbekistan. He began studying cello under the tutelage of Professor Djakhongir Ibragimov at the R.M. Glier Specialized Lyceum in Music in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He earned his Bachelors with Daniel Veis at the International Center for Music at Park University in Parkville, Missouri. Currently, he is a student at New England Conservatory studying with Laurence Lesser. Narzillaev is the winner of several competitions including the Rovere d’Oro Prize, Alexander Glazunov competition, and the Division Prize of Wichita Symphony Young Artist Competition in 2016. He received 4th prize at the 7th Antonio Janigro International Cello Competition in Zagreb, Croatia. He was awarded the “Nikhol” presidential prize for young artists of Uzbekistan in 2021. Narzillaev has frequently performed concertos of Saint-Saens, Dvorak, and Haydn with the Uzbekistan National Symphony. In 2016, he performed with the Kansas City Chamber orchestra at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. He recently made his debut with the Croatian Radio Television Symphony Orchestra with Shostakovich’s first concerto in February 2020. In the fall of 2021, Narzillaev performed Martinu’s String Sextet with members of the Borromeo String Quartet as part of the Borromeo Guest Artist Award at NEC. In May of 2022, Narzillaev made two main debuts with the Boston Pops Orchestra in Symphony Hall and the State Orchestra of Uzbekistan in the Grand Hall of Tashkent Conservatory. Narzillaev was a featured artist at the iPALPITI festival in Los Angeles this past summer. He also attended the Kronberg Festival and played public performance-masterclasses with Frans Helmerson at Kronberg Academy.

Ariana Falk, Cello

Ariana, a native of Portland, Oregon, received a D.M.A from Boston University and Master of Music and Artist Diploma degrees from Yale University's School of Music, where she was a recipient of the Aldo Parisot Prize. She received her B.A. in English from Yale College and traveled to Germany as a Fulbright Scholar, where she performed with the Heidelberger Symphoniker. She has performed at the Juilliard String Quartet Seminar, Great Lakes, Banff Centre, and Norfolk Music Festivals, and collaborated with Menahem Pressler and Paul Katz. She is passionate about new music and has premiered works for New Music New Haven and as a member of the Norfolk Contemporary Ensemble, among others. Ariana serves on the faculty of the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. Her principal teachers were Aldo Parisot, Michael Reynolds and Ole Akahoshi. She has also performed both contemporary and traditional works at summer festivals including the Carl Flesch Academy, Norfolk Music Festival, Garth Newel Music Center, Nice (France) Academy of Music, and Banff Centre of the Arts. Ariana has performed in masterclasses for Ralph Kirschbaum, Paul Katz and the Juilliard, Guarneri, Muir and Tokyo String Quartets. Ms. Falk has appeared as soloist twice with the Columbia Symphony, including the West Coast premiere of the E.J. Moeran Cello Concerto, and and recently appeared as soloist with orchestras including the Olympia Symphony, Miani University Symphony, Yale Bach Society and Banff Festival Orchestra.

Cherry Kim, Cello

Recognized for her heartfelt musicianship and artistry, Cherry Kim gave her concerto debut performing the Schumann Cello Concerto with the Plano Symphony Orchestra and other solo appearances with the Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra and Fall River Symphony. She has performed as a recitalist and chamber musician in the United States, Canada, China, and Ukraine. Some performance highlights include collaboration with renowned violinist Cho-Liang Lin and with the Artists of the Royal Conservatory Ensemble which was broadcasted nationwide in Canada. Cherry has participated in prestigious festivals such as the Tanglewood Music Festival, Park City International Music Festival, and Orford Festival. She holds degrees from the New England Conservatory (BM), Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music (PD), Rice University (MM), Longy School of Music of Bard College (GD), and Boston University (DMA). And her principal teachers were world-renowned cellists and pedagogues Laurence Lesser, Bryan Epperson, Norman Fischer, Terry King, and Michael Reynolds. pecializing in both modern classical and baroque playing, she currently performs with the Gioia Duo, Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Symphony New Hampshire, Atlantic Symphony Orchestra and various other groups. As a visual artist her works have won several prizes, and one was exhibited at the Dallas Museum of Art.  

Emily Stewart, Violin

Hailed for her rich, enveloping sound and vibrant stylistic execution, violinist Emily Stewart has distinguished herself as a stand-out artist in the evolving world of violin performance. Classically trained since childhood, Emily holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in violin performance from Boston University and continues to transcend her classical background, crossing the threshold into the world of pop, contemporary, world music, folk, and jazz. She has performed in festivals and concerts across the globe, and has been honored as a Fulbright scholar at the Conservatoire de Musique in Geneva, Switzerland under the tutelage of renowned violinist Jean-Pierre Wallez. In 2017 she completed her jazz studies with famed violinist Didier Lockwood in Paris, France. Emily's live performance credits include Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart, Magma, and she has collaborated on projects with KAIROS Dance Theater, puppeteer Doug Cowell, and photographer Julien Dumas. Emily was featured in a series of music videos by folk/rock group Delta Rae and next year she will appear in the French film "La Garde Alternée". In 2015 she was selected as a participant in the first Global Musicians Workshop with the Silkroad Ensemble and Yo-Yo Ma. 

Sharon Bielik, Viola

Sharon Bielik, a native of New York, did her undergraduate work at Brandeis University, where she graduated magna cum laude studying viola with Mary Ruth Ray of the Lydian String Quartet. Sharon completed her Masters degree at Boston University. Principal studies were with Ed Gazoleas of the Boston Symphony. Sharon performs in numerous regional orchestras throughout New England. Additionally, she has subbed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida. Sharon has spent three summers as a fellow at Tanglewood Music Center, where she was principal viola under the direction of James Levine and Sir Andrew Davis.  She has played in masterclasses for Roberto Diaz, Robert Vernon and Steven Ansell. She has worked with artists such as Donald Weilerstein and Raphael Hillyer in her study of chamber music.

Aleksandra Labinska, Violin

Aleksandra Labinska holds a doctorate in violin performance from Boston University, College of Fine Arts, under the tutelage of Professor Yuri Mazurkevich. She has performed extensively in Canada, France, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Austria, China, Japan and the United States. Aleksandra serves as Violin faculty at the Luzerne Music Center and the Weston Middle School Music Program. Previous appointments have included the Adjunct Faculty position at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Music department, Boston University Tanglewood Institute’s Violin Workshop Faculty and the South Shore Conservatory. She is a member of Virtuoso Soloists of New York with a residency at The Cabot and performs regularly with the Mirage Violin Duo, Voyage Piano Trio and the Hubbard Quartet. She has toured China as a solo recitalist and with her husband, violinist Tudor Dornescu, as member of the Mirage Violin Duo. Aleksandra has received numerous awards, including the Ronald P. Matheson Violin Award (Banff Centre for the Arts), Felix Galimir Chamber Music Award from the University of Toronto and the Russian Music Festival Award in recognition of her contributions to music education. Aleksandra has participated in festivals such as the Banff Centre Music Festival, Toronto Summer Music Academy and Festival, International Bach Festival with Helmuth Rilling at the University of Toronto; Zenon Brzewski International Music Courses in Lancut, Poland; St. Lawrence String Quartet Chamber Music Seminar at Stanford University; Castleton Festival in Virginia under the direction of Maestro Lorin Maazel, and the American Institute of Musical Studies festival in Graz, Austria. She performs and records with the Grammy Award winning ensembles such as Albany Symphony Orchestra and Boston Modern Orchestra Project. She regularly appears as a member of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Vermont Symphony Orchestra and Symphony New Hampshire, among other New England based ensembles. She has appeared as a soloist with the Mooredale Concerto Players in Toronto and Ostinato International Chamber Orchestra in Poland. Aleksandra performs on an Italian violin made by Antonio Monzini in the 20th century.