Meet The Musicians

MARINA DICHENKO, CONCERTMASTER

Marina Dichenko studied violin in Kharkov at Central Music School, Ukraine. After graduation, she continued her studies in Gnessin's Acade-my of Music in Moscow, Russia and TCU School of Music, Fort Worth, Texas. As a soloist and member of chamber groups, Marina has performed in concerts and festivals in Ukraine, Russia, Belgium, and Japan. Marina was awarded second prize in Chamber music competition in Do-netsk, Ukraine and fourth prize in the International Competition of Chamber music in Kaluga, Russia. In 2014, she graduated from the Artist Diplo-ma program at TCU School of Music. During the last three years she has been the principal violin in the TCU Symphony Orchestra as well as at Odysseus Chamber Orchestra. Her other performance credits include concerts with San Angelo, Las Colinas, Arlington, Garland and Plano Symphony Orchestras. Marina is currently a teaching artist at B Sharp Youth Music Program.

YESENIA CAMPOS WONG, FIRST VIOLIN

A native of Amarillo, TX, Yesenia Campos completed her graduate studies in Violin Performance at Southern Methodist University and her undergraduate studies in Violin Performance at West Texas A&M University. Her studies included work with world renowned soloist Chee-Yun Kim, mentors Annie Chalex, Tomas Cotik, and Dr. Keith Redpath. While at SMU, Mrs. Campos served as the graduate assistant for the chamber music program and while at WTAMU, Mrs. Campos served as concertmaster of the West Texas A&M Symphony Orchestra for three years. As a chamber music enthusiast, Mrs. Campos was awarded the West Texas String Quartet Scholarship and served as the first violinist of the quartet during her undergraduate studies at West Texas A&M. As a soloist, Mrs. Campos won the concerto competition at West Texas A&M on two separate occasions, awarding her the opportunity to perform movements from the Bruch Violin concerto as well as the Barber Violin Concerto with the WTAMU Symphony Orchestra. Mrs. Campos has also performed at several music festivals including the American Festival for the Arts, the Hot Springs Music Festival, and the Midwest Young Artist Music Festival, as well as served as a first violinist with the Amarillo Symphony for eight years. Mrs. Campos is currently the co-director at Poteet High School in Mesquite, TX

YULIA PETKEVICH, VIOLIN (PRINCIPAL 2nd VIOLIN)

Born in Moscow in 1990. Yulia Petkevich began receiving basic music education as a violinist at the Edvard Grieg Music School. From 2005 to 2009 she studied at the Gnesin College of Music with Professor Vladislav Igolinsky. In 2005 Yulia graduated from the Gnesin Russian Academy of Music in the class of Dean of the string department, Alexander Dogadaev.
During her studies, Yulia received inspiration from first-rate professors such as Dora Schwarzberg, Gerhard Schulz, Krzysztof Wegrzyn, Philippe Graffin, Anna Kandinskaya, Victor Tretyakov, Natalia Lihopoi and Yair Kless. She studied two years with Michael Vaiman, a professor of the Cologne High School of Music. Yulia has participated in many international festivals: Moscow Festival of Youth Soloists (2007), Polish International Festival of Chamber Music (2008), Festival of Romantic Music (2009 Moscow), and the chamber music festival “Musica Classica” (2012).
Yulia also participated in summer orchestra and chamber music courses in Germany (Ochsenhausen 2008-2012), Sweden (Aurora Chamber Music Festival, 2011, 2012, 2013), Italy (Scuola di Musica del Garda, 2015, and Talent Music Master Courses, Brescia 2016), and Berlin (Berlin Music Academy, Deutschland, 2017). Yulia was a prize-winning violinist in International Competitions in Russia: “International Romantic Music Competition for Young Performers” (2009, Moscow); “Musica Classica” (2012 Moscow); and Europe: 11th International Competition “Premio citta di Padova,” Italy, (2012); “1st International Competition for Performing Musicians,” Nottingham, UK (2013), 13th International Competition “Don Vincenzo Vitti” Italy, Castellana Grotte, (2014), 25th International Competition “Citta di Barletta,” Italy, (2015), and 7th International Competition, AMIGDALA Memorial Giuseppe Raciti “Sicilia” (2017).

CATHERINE BECK (Violin and Viola)

Catherine Beck is a violinist and violist in DFW. She received her Bachelors of Music in Violin Performance at Texas Christian University where she studied with Ronald Houston and Elisabeth Adkins. Catherine is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Viola Performance at Southern Methodist University where she continues to study with Ronald Houston. She currently has a private studio in Arlington, McKinney, and Fort Worth, and is a violist in the McKinney Philharmonic.

Outside of teaching, Catherine performs classical, pop, and jazz music in the DFW metroplex, and enjoys playing celtic and fiddle music with friends.

DANNY JORDAN (Principal Viola)

Violist Danny Jordan is a current resident of McKinney, TX. They recently have returned to the Dallas area after completion of a Master of Music Degree in Viola Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music, under the tutelage of Mark Jackobs. Lauded by audiences as “outstanding,” with a “sound that enraptures,” past awards and accolades include Finalist in the Meadows School of the Arts Concerto Competition, Meadows Scholar Award, Finalist in the 2022 New World Symphony Audition Tour, National Merit Scholar Award, and two-time winner of the Meadows School of the Arts Honors Chamber Music Competition. Prior to their admission to the Cleveland Institute of Music, they completed a Bachelor of Music Degree in Viola Performance from Southern Methodist University, graduating Summa Cum Laude.

Jordan has extensive solo, chamber, and orchestral performance experience in some of the most prestigious concert halls in Texas and Ohio, including Jones Hall in Houston, the Meyerson Symphony Center, Moody Performance Hall, Severance Hall, and Winspear Opera House. Solo performance experience includes multiple public recital performances in and around Cleveland, Dallas, and Houston, including a performance as a featured soloist for Cleveland Repertory Orchestra’s 2022 Benefit Recital. Orchestral experience includes performances with Houston Youth Symphony, Meadows Symphony and Opera Orchestras, San Angelo Symphony, Cleveland Institute of Music Symphony Orchestra, Texas Music Festival Symphony Orchestra, Texarkana Symphony Orchestra, and Cleveland Repertory Orchestra, with experience performing as principal viola in the Meadows School of the Arts Symphony and Opera Orchestras, Cleveland Institute of Music Symphony Orchestra, and Cleveland Repertory Orchestras in addition to their current post as Principal Viola of the McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra. Jordan has performed under the baton of phenomenal conductors such as JoAnn Falletta, Hans Graf, Carlos Kalmar, Sey Ahn, and Phillip Mann. Chamber Music experience includes performances alongside the Escher Quartet and the formation of two full-time string quartets, as well as performances in masterclasses for the Pacifica, Dover, and Elias Quartets.

In addition to their performance experience, Jordan is an avid educator, working with violists and violinists of all ages in individual and group settings for the last decade. Their students have earned entry into a variety of ensembles and programs, including Houston Youth Symphony, Cleveland School of the Arts, the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, and various All-Region Ensembles across the state of Texas. Beyond the classroom, Jordan was recently announced as a member of the American Viola Society’s Youth Advisory Council, in which they advocate for the wants and needs of young violists across the United States. In addition to their work in classical music, Jordan also spends time tutoring in Spanish, as well as various maths and sciences. In their free time, they enjoy cooking, hiking, and making music with their closest friends. Jordan performs on a viola made by Alan and Sarah Balmforth in Seattle, WA in 1999.

MICHAEL FANG, Viola

Violist Zefeng (Michael) Fang began to play violin when he was four years old. Later, he studied viola with Wing Ho, who was the President of the Chinese Viola Society and Chairman of the Viola Department of the Central Conservatory of Music. Dr. Fang holds a Doctoral of Musical Arts Degree at Michigan State University. Previously, he holds Bachelor degree at Lynn University, Master degree at Cleveland Institute of Music and studied with Jeffrey Irvine and Lynne Ramsey. Dr. Fang has performed in Severance Hall in Cleveland Ohio, the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Liaoning Grand Theatre, and has been featured on Jining Television. Dr. Fang is the winner of the South Florida Young Artist Solo Competition, attended Primrose Viola Competition in 2008 and Viola Congress in 2012.
Dr. Fang had working experience with many orchestras including Erie Philharmonic, Lansing Symphony Orchestra, Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra, McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra, Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra, and Richardson Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. Fang currently is violin and viola instructor at FCA Frisco and Prosper, Previously He taught the CMS and Warner Elementary School.
Dr. Fang had master classes with Kim Kashkashian, Pinchas Zukerman James Dunham, Wayne Brooks, Robert Vernon, Carol Rodland, Hsinyun Huang. Principal teachers including Jeffrey Irvine, Lynne Ramsey, Wing Ho, Ralph Fielding, Eric Nowlin.

EMMANUEL KWOK, CELLO
Native of Hong Kong, Tsun-yuet Emmanuel Kwok has appeared as a soloist in Europe, Asia, and the United States. He has performed over 30 world premieres of contemporary music and made his Carnegie Hall solo debut in June 2023. Currently, Kwok is a member of the McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra and Dallas Chamber Symphony. He also regularly plays with orchestras and ensembles, including the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, Plano Symphony Orchestra, Irving Symphony Orchestra, and the Texas Cellos. He has previously served as principal cellist of MPO, a member of the Hong Kong New Philharmonic, Collegium Musicum Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. Kwok has received awards, including 1st prize in the Hong Kong Music Festival and 2nd prize in the National Competition of Asia. In addition to his classical performance, he worked with worship ministries and pop singers in Southeast Asia and recorded more than ten albums as a solo cellist; in 2021, he also worked with RedSeaMusic (CA, USA) to produce music videos.
Kwok is currently a teaching artist at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Young Musicians Program and a faculty at Tarrant County College. He also teaches privately and serves as faculty of Prime Music Institute in Plano. Kwok is a registered Suzuki cello teacher and served as full-time cello faculty at Greenville Suzuki Strings from 2021 to 2023, and Fort Worth B Sharp Youth Music Program from 2015 to 2020; during his doctoral student life, he served as a teaching assistant of internationally renowned cellist Jesús Castro-Balbi, where he taught a wide range levels including students from music minor to graduate performance major. He was also the assistant director of TCU Cello Ensemble. Besides, Kwok has also taught as cello faculty at professional music summer institutes, including Texas Cello School, Clear Creek Music Festival (OR), TCU Summer Cello Academy, and Greater North Texas Youth Orchestra Summer Music Intensive.
As a recitalist and soloist, Kwok is invited for solo and chamber recitals frequently in Dallas-Fort Worth area; and solo appearances with orchestras, including Mesquite Symphony Orchestra, The Greater North Texas Youth Orchestra, Mansfield Philharmonic, Flower Mound Symphony Orchestra, Coppell Community Orchestra, Collegium Musicum Hong Kong, Hong Kong Academy of Performing Art Academy Orchestra, and Hong Kong Baptist University Symphony Orchestra. In the season of 2023-24, Kwok's major cello projects included Dvorak Cello Concerto with Mesquite Symphony Orchestra, and Bach Suites at the Art Exhibition by Arts & Music Guild of McKinney.
Kwok believes in Authentic Christianity and the philosophy of Authentic Music Performance. As a musician and scholar, Kwok holds memberships of The National Society of Leadership and Success, Pi Kappa Lambda International Music Honor Society, and Golden Key International Honor Society. Kwok is also a regular Mu Phi Epsilon Concert Series member.
Kwok finished his Master of Music in cello performance at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and Doctor of Musical Arts at Texas Christian University School of Music, majoring in cello performance with a cognate in music theory. He had the privilege of coaching by cellists Johannes Moser, Lynn Harrell, Steven Isserlis, Vagram Saradjian, Dmitri Atapine, Maja Bogdanovic, and Li-Wei Qin.

ABBY EASTERLING, PRINCIPAL FLUTE

Abby Easterling is the Principal Flutist of the Dallas Winds, the Las Colinas Symphony, and the Mckinney Philharmonic, and Associate Principal Flutist of the Helena Symphony. Originally from Grapevine, TX, she holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Rice University; her primary teachers include Bonita Boyd, Leone Buyse, Anne Harrow, and Helen Blackburn.

Abby has won honors in competitions across the country, including first prize in the Philadelphia Flute Society Young Artist Competition, South Carolina Flute Society Young Artist Competition, and the National Flute Association Orchestral Excerpt Competition. In 2018, she was the sole flutist selected as a winner of the Yamaha Young Performing Artist Competition.

Abby teaches privately across the DFW area and enjoys working with students of all ages and abilities. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, rock climbing, cooking healthy meals, and playing with her dog Harper.

KRISTIN PERRY, PRINCIPAL OBOE

Kristin Perry is an oboist originally from Avon, Indiana, who currently lives in Fort Worth. She received her Master’s degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music as a student of Jeff Rathbun and her Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, studying with Roger Roe and Linda Strommen. Kristin also studied with Daniel Stolper at the Interlochen Arts Academy.
Kristin is currently the principal oboist of both the Las Colinas Symphony and the McKinney Philharmonic Orchestras, where she has played since 2017. Before moving to Texas, she was an oboist and Fellow with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Kristin frequently performs as a substitute musician with the Fort Worth Symphony, and is an active freelancer across the DFW metroplex. She has performed with several other orchestras, including the Cleveland Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Shreveport Symphony, Dallas Chamber Symphony, Richardson Symphony, Orchestra Iowa, Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, Firelands Symphony Orchestra, CityMusic Cleveland, Opera Western Reserve, Cleveland Opera Theater, Erie Chamber Orchestra, Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, Warren Philharmonic, Oistrakh Symphony, and the New Philharmonic of
Irving.
Kristin has attended numerous summer festivals including the Tanglewood Music Center, Brevard Music Center, Kent/Blossom Music Festival, Domaine Forget, and the Interlochen Arts Camp. She has been teaching private oboe lessons for over a decade, and has experience teaching in group and classroom settings as well. Before learning the oboe, Kristin began taking piano lessons at the age of four. In grade school, she briefly studied the harp and flute before finally discovering her
true passion for the oboe.

ABIGAIL HAWTHORNE. 2ND OBOE and ENGLISH HORN

Abigail Hawthorne graduated with a Masters degree in Oboe Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music in May 2020. She graduated from Southern Methodist University in May 2018 with a Bachelor of Music in Oboe Performance and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Her primary teachers include Richard Killmer, Erin Hannigan, David Matthews, Megan Blauvelt Heuer, and Geoffrey Burgess (Baroque oboe).
Hawthorne holds the Oboe II / English horn position with the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra (Shreveport, LA) as well as a section oboe position with the Dallas Winds (Dallas, TX) and Oboe II / English horn with the McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra (McKinney, TX) and the Allen Philharmonic Orchestra (Allen, TX). She held the third oboe and English horn position with the Wichita Symphony Orchestra (Wichita, KS) for the 2017-2018 season, performed with the Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra (Durango, CO) in the July 2023, 2022, 2018, and 2016 seasons, and has participated in the American Institute of Musical Studies (Graz, Austria), Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute (Toronto, Canada), Sarasota Music Festival (Sarasota, FL), National Repertory Orchestra (Breckenridge, CO), and Eastern Music Festival (Greensboro, NC).
Hawthorne is also an associate musician with The Dallas Opera (Dallas, TX) and has performed with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (Dallas, TX), Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (Fort Worth, TX), New World Symphony Orchestra (Miami Beach, FL), Symphoria (Syracuse, NY), Orchestra of New Spain (Dallas, TX), Richardson Symphony Orchestra (Richardson, TX), Plano Symphony Orchestra (Plano, TX), and the Dallas Chamber Wind Ensemble (Dallas, TX).
She has performed as a featured soloist with the Nolensville Wind Ensemble, the Meadows Wind Ensemble, and the Meadows Chamber Orchestra.
In addition to performing, Abby enjoys sharing the joy of music with students and maintains a studio of middle to high school oboists. She also works as administrative manager with the Orchestra of New Spain, a Dallas-based ensemble specializing in Spanish baroque and contemporary Hispanic music.
Abby also values the importance of bringing together inventive ideas in science and the arts. She has a personal interest in research concerning music performance anxiety and received a research grant from SMU to interview professional classical musicians about their experiences of music performance anxiety and, specifically, the environments that worsened their feelings of anxiousness. This is a fascinating field that still has much to be explored, and Abby is eager to promote further research about performance psychology that can benefit musicians, professional and amateur alike.

STEPHEN ROBINSON, INTERIM PRINCIPAL CLARINET
Steven Robinson (Dallas, TX) serves as interim principal clarinetist for the McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra. Steven teaches with The Greater North Texas Youth Orchestra, DIMATexas, CISD, and CFBISD. Steven graduated from Kansas State University in 2019 (BME) and from University of North Texas in 2021 (MM, clarinet performance). He currently attends Southern Methodist University working on a performers diploma. Steven’s teachers include K. Tod Kerstetter (KSU), Phillip O. Paglialonga (UNT), and Greg Raden (Dallas Symphony Orchestra/SMU).

ANTHONY ADARIO, PRINCIPAL BASSOON

Anthony Adario is a bassoonist and educator based in Dallas, Texas. He currently holds the Principal Bassoon position with the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra and the McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra. He has appeared as a substitute with a number of orchestras throughout Texas, including the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Mid-Texas Symphony Orchestra, Sherman Symphony Orchestra, and the Dallas Opera. In addition to his busy performing schedule, Anthony maintains a large private teaching studio.

Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Anthony earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University. During his undergraduate studies, he spent two seasons as an associate member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. He went on to complete his Master of Music degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where he also worked as the Teaching Assistant for the bassoon studio.

BEN CARROLL, PRINCIPAL HORN

Ben Carroll is a hornist based in Dallas, Texas. He currently serves as Principal Horn of the McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra and the 2nd Horn in the Plano Symphony Orchestra. In addition, Ben has performed with a variety of ensembles across Texas, including the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, and the Dallas Opera Orchestra.

Ben earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music from the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied under Professor Patrick Hughes. He currently works as a Teaching Fellow at the University of North Texas, where he is pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) under the guidance of Dr. Stacie Mickens.

As a dedicated mentor, Ben is the Adjunct Instructor of Music for Horn at Texas Woman's University and is also on the brass instructional staff for the Santa Clara Vanguard, a renowned drum and bugle corps based in Santa Clara, California.

WILL PRATT, PRINCIPAL TRUMPET

A native of Columbus, GA, Will Pratt is an active performer and instructor in the DFW area. In addition to playing principal trumpet with the McKinney Philharmonic, Will plays principal trumpet with the Sherman Symphony and second trumpet with the Abilene Philharmonic. Will has also performed with The Dallas Opera, Louisiana Philharmonic, Wichita Falls Symphony, Las Colinas Symphony, and Richardson Symphony Orchestras. Will is the Adjunct Instructor of Trumpet at Tarrant County College in Arlington, TX, and Austin College in Sherman, TX. Most recently, he served on the faculty for the inaugural North Texas Brass Week in Frisco, TX. Will maintains a large studio of middle and high school students in Frisco and Coppell Independent School Districts. His students have earned placements in the Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas all-state bands, and have been recognized as semi-finalists and quarter-finalists of the National Trumpet Competition solo divisions. Will holds a Bachelor of Music from Columbus State University, a Master of Music from Southeastern Louisiana University, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas. His hobbies include long-distance running and watching the Atlanta Braves.