NMPHIL .
Meet the Musicians We are happy to welcome the newest members of the New Mexico Philharmonic!
Liana Austin violin Liana Austin grew up in a small town just outside of Ann Arbor, Michigan. She began playing the violin in the public school system and quickly developed an interest in the instrument. She was fortunate to study chamber music with Andrew Jennings and violin with Stephen Shipps and Paul Kantor at the University of Michigan during her high school years. Ms. Austin received her Bachelor of Music from Vanderbilt University under the tutelage of Cornelia Heard and Carolyn Huebl. During that time, she focused on string quartets and was first-prize winner of the Music Teacher National Association’s collegiate chamber music division. Liana received her Master of Music degree from Arizona State University as a student of Katie McLin and was a member of the Herberger Graduate String Quartet. Over the last 20 years, Liana has lived in six different states and Canada. These varying locations have allowed her to be a regular musician with many orchestras including the Nashville Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Opera, National Ballet of Canada, Albany Symphony, New World Symphony, Helena Symphony, Idaho Falls Symphony, and Principal Second Violin of the Wyoming Symphony.
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2021/22 Season / Volume 10 / No. 5
In addition to performing, Ms. Austin also teaches violin and viola. She previously served on the faculty of the Suzuki Strings Department at the Levine School of Music in Washington, D.C., and now enjoys teaching a private studio of violin and viola students. In her free time, Liana enjoys getting lost running the trails outside her home in Los Alamos, New Mexico, with her husband and two boys. ●
Amy Huzjak cello Cellist Amy Huzjak lives in Midland, Texas, and is excited to begin serving as Principal Cellist of the New Mexico Philharmonic in January 2022. Amy also serves as the Principal Cellist of the Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale (MOSC) since September 2011. An avid chamber musician, Amy is the cellist for the MOSC resident ensemble Permian Basin String Quartet (PBSQ), performing concerts and educational outreach throughout the area. PBSQ has recently performed in Abilene, San Angelo, Alpine, Seminole, Midland, and Odessa, Texas. Recent solo appearances include Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 with the Midland-Odessa Symphony and the Abilene Christian University Orchestra, the Adagio from the Dvořák Cello Concerto with the University of Texas Permian Basin Philharmonic, and duo recitals in Midland, Abilene, San Angelo, Dallas, and Levelland, Texas. In addition, Amy is the Acting Principal Cellist with the Abilene Philharmonic,
performs with the Big Spring Symphony and the Amarillo Symphony, and freelances throughout West Texas. She is also a founding member of the Chasqui Quartet, touring Colorado in August 2021 and the East Coast in summer 2022. Other upcoming performances include The Santa Fe Symphony in February 2022, Opera Southwest in March 2022, and as soloist with the University of Texas Permian Basin Philharmonic performing Haydn’s C Major Cello Concerto in February 2022. Before moving to Texas, Amy was the Principal Cellist of the Huntington (WV) Symphony Orchestra and played with several D.C.-area orchestras, including the Fairfax (VA) Symphony Orchestra, Apollo Chamber Orchestra (MD), and the Prince William (VA) Symphony. She was a faculty member at the International School of Music in Bethesda, Maryland, and had a private studio in College Park, Maryland. A committed educator, Amy is a member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas, has a studio of more than 30 students in the Midland/Odessa area, and is Adjunct Professor of Cello at the University of Texas Permian Basin and Adjunct Low Strings Instructor at Angelo State University. She is sought after as a clinician and coach for high school orchestras and chamber programs in West Texas. Previous posts include Abilene Christian University, HardinSimmons University, Midland College, and Odessa College. Amy’s mentors include David Teie, Thomas Landschoot, and Jenny Yopp. She holds a Master’s degree in cello performance from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor’s degree (summa cum laude) from Arizona State University. When not playing, Amy loves hiking and skiing in her native Colorado and travels around the world to hike with her dad. She is looking forward to exploring the Sandias and skiing in New Mexico. ●
