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.

YESESNIA 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

DANIELLE MENDELSON, FIRST VIOLIN

Danielle Mendelson was born in Israel where she began her formal training at the Jerusalem Academy of Music. Danielle has performed with internationally recognized orchestras which includes The Israel Philharmonic orchestra, Israel Symphony orchestra, Israel chamber orchestra, Raanana symphony orchestra, Jerusalem symphony orchestra and Ashdod symphony orchestra. She has appeared as soloist with the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Raanana Symphony Orchestra and Lithuania Chamber Orchestras and has performed solo concerts in USA, Switzerland, Austria, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Germany, South Africa, Israel, France and Spain. She has also performed on several occasions with the “Voice of Music”, an Israeli broadcast radio. Since 2013 Danielle has joined the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra on tours to Japan and Brazil. Danielle is currently a member of Las-Colinas Symphony Orchestra and Odysseus Chamber Orchestra.

KEYREEL RASKOLENKO. PRINCIPAL 2nd VIOLIN

Uzbekistan born multi-instrumentalist KeyReel Raskolenko has been described as “world class as a violinist and composer.” He has performed and recorded with many musicians across North America and Europe. A virtuoso player on 4-string and 5-string acoustic and electric violins, he is a classically trained musician with experience in classical chamber and orchestra music, fiddle music, improvisation, and music composition. While his fiddling is rooted in the Cape Breton style, he is equally versed in playing classical, Irish, Scottish, and American Folk music. He has taught and performed at prestigious festivals such as the Cape Breton Fiddler’s Association (Canada), Celtic Colours (Canada), and Summer Music Intensives (Texas), and has also toured extensively across Europe and Asia with classical chamber and fiddle music.
In addition to teaching and performing, KeyReel also composes for many instruments, including violin, string quartet and orchestra. His works have been performed at the Great Hall of Gnesin’s Academy, the Moscow House of Composers, and Texas Christian University.
Keyreel graduated from the Gnesin’s Russian Academy of Music with his BM and MM degrees for violin in 2005, and is currently working on his Artist Diploma degree from Texas Christian University, where he is a student of Dr. Elisabeth Adkins. Also he is a member of several orchestras in DFW area TX now. In addition to his classical program and fiddle life, he studies and plays jazz and occasionally performs rock concerts in DFW area on his 5-string electric violin.

NICOLE PAGLIALONGA, 1st Violin. Orchestra Manager and Orchestra Librarian.

Violinist Nicole Paglialonga enjoys a diverse career as a recitalist, orchestral musician, teacher, administrator, and community builder. Currently, she serves on the artistic team at The Cliburn; in performance, she is a member of the McKinney Philharmonic (where she also serves as orchestra manger) and the Waco Symphony, and frequently subs with other area orchestras.

An advocate of new music, her performance of Mark Phillips’ Violin Power at the 2015 Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in America was a highlight of the event and was later selected to be included in a commercial release celebrating the conference. She premiered Immanuel Abraham’s “The Warm Up” Caprice at Spectrum in NYC, and was included in the publication of the set of Caprices. She ran two successful workshops in effective writing for the violin for the composition students at the University of Florida, which concluded with a lecture recital on current compositional trends. Other highlights include solo performances and masterclasses at universities in Thailand, Colombia, Austria, and across the United States.

Ms. Paglialonga has also worked extensively in the commercial music industry across a wide variety of genres. She has appeared alongside legendary performers such as Weird Al Yankovic, Seal, Styx, Clay Aiken, Idina Menzel, and Johnny Mathis (with whom she toured on multiple occasions).

Ms. Paglialonga recently taught in Frisco and Northwest ISDs, and served on the faculty at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, where she was also the Director of the Virginia Tech String Project. She has also been on the string faculty at Bethune-Cookman University, Bluefield College, Patel Conservatory, and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. Ms. Paglialonga is particularly passionate about bringing classical music to traditionally underserved communities. In 2013, in cooperation with the Radford City Schools District, she founded the Radford Youth Strings to expand the musical opportunities for local students. As a board member for the Friends of the Roanoke Symphony, she organized the Smiles Outreach Series, which sponsored performances by nationally recognized professional musicians in area public schools. She also launched an initiative with St. Albans Psychiatric Hospital called “Music for Mental Health,” which provided therapeutic music to patients.

SABRINA MACKENZIE, PRINCIPAL VIOLA

Sabrina Mackenzie received her Bachelor of Music in viola performance from the University of North Texas, where she studied under the tutelage of Dr. Susan Dubois. She went on to receive a Master of Music in performance from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where she was a student of Elizabeth Freivogel. While at UIUC she also received extensive training in chamber music from the acclaimed Jupiter String Quartet. In high school, Sabrina made it into the Texas All-State Orchestras all four years and was in the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra for three years. She maintains an active teaching career in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and performs in regional orchestras such as the Sherman Symphony, the Odysseus Chamber Orchestra, the Las Colinas Symphony, the Fort Smith Symphony, and the Lyric Stage Orchestra.

EMMANUEL KWOK, ACTING PRINCIPAL CELLO

Native of Hong Kong, Tsun-yuet Emmanuel Kwok has appeared as soloist in Europe, Asia, and the United States, and has also performed over 30 world premieres of contemporary music. Kwok is currently member of the McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra and has previously played with orchestras including the Dallas Chamber Symphony, Plano Symphony, Irving Symphony, Hong Kong New Philharmonic, Collegium Musicum Hong Kong and Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. He played solo and chamber recitals both in Asia and in the States, and solo appearances with orchestras including Mesquite Symphony, Collegium Musicum Hong Kong, Hong Kong Academy of Performing Art Academy Orchestra and Hong Kong Baptist University Symphony Orchestra. He has received numerous 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, recording more than ten CDs as solo cellist; in 2021, he also worked with RedSeaMusic (CA, USA) to produce music videos. Kwok’s future commitment including playing chamber recitals in Dallas-Fort Worth area and solo performances with Mansfield Philharmonic and Coppell Community Orchestra in the season of 2021 to 2022.
Kwok began cello study at the age of 6 in Hong Kong under Ms. Tung Hiu-lo, later he has finished his Master of Music in cello performance with Professor Ray Wang at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. He is currently a doctoral candidate (ABD) at TCU School of Music, majoring in Cello Performance with cognate in Music Theory. In the U.S. his primary teachers included Jesús Castro-Balbi and Eugene Osadchy. He also had the privilege of coaching by Johannes Moser, Lynn Harrell, Steven Isserlis, Bagram Saradjian, Dmitri Atapine, Maja Bogdanovic and Li-Wei Qin. As musician and scholar, Kwok holds memberships of Pi Kappa Lambda International Music Honor Society and Golden Key International Honor Society.
Kwok was appointed as Assistant to Artistic Director of the Texas Cello School in 2021. He was previously served as faculty of Clear Creek Music Festival (OR), TCU Summer Cello Academy and Fort Worth B Sharp Youth Music Program. During his stay at TCU, he also serves as Professor Castro-Balbi’s teaching assistant as well as assistant director of TCU Cello Ensemble. Kwok believes in Authentic Christianity and the philosophy of Authentic Music Performance. Besides cello playing, he loves fishing, reading, trying new foods, enjoying movies, video games and music arranging.

MEHRDAD GHOLAMI, PRINCIPAL FLUTE

Iranian flutist, Mehrdad Gholami, received presidential award and Iran’s National Elites Foundation scholarship to continue his training at the University of Tehran, where he studied with Dr. Azin Movahed.

During his time in Tehran, Mehrdad won numerous solo and chamber music competitions in Iran such as Fadjr International Music Festival, Iran Young Artists Competition, and Tehran Flute Competition. In the U.S., He has won concerto competitions as well as being a finalist in Texas Flute Society’s Myrna Brown Young Artist Competition.

As an orchestral player, he started with Tehran’s ensembles such as Tehran Contemporary Ensemble, Tehran City Hall Orchestra and Tehran Symphony. Later, he came back to work with TSO as their principal flute player under the direction of Maestro Alexander Rahbari for the 2015’s summer season. Other orchestral appearances include Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra (Los Angeles, Disney Hall debut), Fort Worth symphony and McKinney Philharmonic.

A recipient of Susan and Ford Schumann fellowship in 2017, Mehrdad attended Aspen Music Festival, where he served as Aspen Contemporary Ensemble (ACE) flute fellow and studied with Nadine Asin, Mark Sparks and Demarre McGill for three consecutive summers (2017-19). In August 2019, Mehrdad made his solo debut with Aspen Contemporary Ensemble performing Judith Shatin’s Concerto for Flute and Orchestra (Ruah). Other fellowships include Atlantic Music Festival’s contemporary ensemble fellowship served on Summer 2021.

At an early age, Mehrdad started working with composers and devoted his time to commission, premiere and record new sounds for flute with various ensembles. These collaborations with Iranian composers led to the creation of more than hundreds of new pieces for flute with different ensembles and media. His first solo album was published by his alma mater, University of Tehran, in a joint project with Iran Flute Society. He has appeared in recordings in various genres ranging from contemporary classical music to world music and pop music. Mehrdad’s efforts in presenting, performing and publishing new Iranian music has led to a growth of compositions for flute by Iranian composers and similar projects inspired by his “Iran Flute Project”. His most recent CD was published by Mahoor Publication inside Iran and it is available on all online platforms.

A sought-after pedagogue, Mehrdad has served as an adjudicator on panels for National Flute Association, Texas Flute Society and Texas Music Educators Associations. He has offered masterclasses and workshops on various topics from beginner pedagogy to contemporary techniques across the United States. On high demand as a teacher, Mehrdad’s students have won national awards in addition to students having qualified for the exclusive TMEA all-state band every year.

Mehrdad’s Doctoral dissertation was on the subject of “Iranian contemporary music for flute” where he included an expansive chapter on the history of Western music in Iran. As an advocate of his “Iran Flute Project”, Mehrdad has premiered works by Iranian composers at the National Flute Association and Mid-Atlantic Conventions. He received his MM and DMA in flute performance under the guidance of Dr. Shauna Thompson at Texas Christian University.

Mehrdad has had the opportunity to perform in masterclasses or work with artists such as Nadine Asin, Mark Sparks, Marina Piccinini, Erik Gratton, Lisa Garner Santa, Ransom Wilson, Aralee Dorough, Demarre McGill, Bart Feller, Jim Walker, Alexa Still and Jake Fridkis.

Currently, Mehrdad is based in DFW Metroplex, where he is serving as Adjunct Professor of Flute at Texas A&M - Commerce University and runs his private studio in addition to freelancing with local ensembles and orchestras. In addition to performing and teaching, he enjoys spending time as an audio engineer and the founder of www.canopystudio.net serving his fellow musicians.

EVGENI KARELIN, PRINCIPAL CLARINET

Evgeni Karelin is a Russian-Israeli Clarinetist currently living in Fort-Worth TX. Evgeni received Graduate degrees from Jerusalem academy of music and is currently working on his post graduate degree in TCU.
Evgeni Performed in many prestigious concert halls in Israel, Germany, Netherlands, and USA with Orchestras as Jerusalem Symphony, Wiemar symphony and the Israeli Opera
Evgeni has appeared as a soloist with Ashdod Symphony Orchestra, Jerusalem Academy Symphony Orchestra and Ministry of education youth orchestra.
Evgeni participated in several prestigious music festivals including the Penderecki music festival, Weimar festival, Miami music festival, Duxbury and Crested Butte music festival.
He performed under button of outstanding conductors as Michael Sanderling, Caren Levine, Frederic Chaslin, Bradley Moore, David Effron and many more. Evgeni is currently principal clarinetist of Odysseus Chamber Orchestra and is a dedicated clarinet teacher.

KRISTIN PERRY, PRINCIPAL OBOE

Kristin Perry is an oboist originally from Avon, Indiana, and currently is a Fellow with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. 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’s Jacobs School of Music, studying with Linda Strommen and Roger Roe. Ms. Perry graduated high school from the Interlochen Arts Academy, where she studied with Daniel Stolper and was the recipient of the Oboe Award.
Ms. Perry has performed with several orchestras, including The Cleveland Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, Firelands Symphony Orchestra, CityMusic Cleveland, Opera Western Reserve, Cleveland Opera Theater, Erie Chamber Orchestra, Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, Warren Philharmonic, and the Oistrakh Symphony.
She has attended numerous summer festivals including the Tanglewood Music Center, Brevard Music Center, Kent/Blossom Music Festival, Domaine Forget, and the Interlochen Arts Camp.
In addition to performing, Ms. Perry also enjoys teaching, which she has done in private and group settings for almost ten years.

MARK JANSEN, PRINCIPAL HORN and DIRECTOR OF BRASS AND WOODWIND with the GREATER NORTH TEXAS YOUTH ORCHESTRA

Mark Jansen is a native of Georgetown Texas with strong ties to DFW. After attending Interlochen Arts Academy, he received his education at the Chicago College of Performing Arts as a student of Dale Clevenger. His primary teachers also include William VerMeulen, David Cooper, Alice Clevenger, Pat Hughes, and H Stephen Hager. From 2011-2015 Mr. Jansen joined Austin indie rockers Wild Child, touring the US and performing at festivals such as ACL, Bonnaroo, SXSW, ACL Live at Moody Theater, and many more. Mr. Jansen is an Atkinson performing artist playing exclusively on Atkinson Horns. He is the founder and artistic director of North Texas Brass Week; north Texas’s premier brass training camp.