VIOLIN

Marshall Romanick Baldwin has played violin since he was 10, with most of his musically formative years under the tutelage of Becky Rathbun. He is currently the concertmaster of the University of Oklahoma’s (OU) Civic Orchestra and first violin of the OU Civic Quartet. He is also the winner of the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving’s 2019 Richard Giangiulio Youth Concerto Competition. This summer, Marshall is graduating with an undergraduate degree in meteorology from OU and plans to graduate with a master’s in data science and analytics next year.

Theresa Britt is a professional musician living in the Texas Hill Country. She performs as a violinist, fiddler, guitarist and vocalist. She performs as a fiddler a number of bands in the Texas Hill Country including Allan Hendrickson Band and Jesse Stratton Band. As a classical musician, she performs in Symphony of the Hills in Kerrville, Mid Texas Symphony in Seguin, and in string quartets for weddings and events. Creatively, she arranges music for string orchestra and is a singer/songwriter. Recently, Theresa has been working on her own project, the Dirty Rotten Swing Band that has a rotating cast of players and performs Western Swing, Jazz, and Blues. In 2012, Theresa completed a Master’s degree in Music at Texas Tech University. She received her Bachelor of Music from Texas Tech University in 2007.

A native of Bowling Green, OH, Gina Buzzelli is a freelance musician based in Northwest Ohio. Gina holds degrees in violin performance from Ball State University and the University of Northern Colorado. During the summers she has participated in numerous festivals such as the National Repertory Orchestra, Round Top Festival Institute, Eastern Music Festival, and the International Lyric Academy Opera Festival in Viterbo, Italy. In addition to being classically trained, Gina has pursued other genres participating in jazz ensembles at both BSU and the UNC and is a founding member of the All Angles Orchestra and Dynamix String Quartet.

Iris Church just finished her first year studying for her BM in instrumental performance at Southeast Missouri State University, and she is excited to be participating in the Taneycomo Festival Orchestra for the first time. Other musical ensembles she has been a part of include Lincoln College Preparatory Academy’s Symphonic Orchestra and Concert Band, Southeast Missouri state university Symphony Orchestra, and Marching Band, as well as the DCQ String Quartet.

Natalie Cohen has graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance from Idaho State University, and is planning to attend the University of New Mexico in the Fall to continue onto her Master’s. Aside from playing the violin, she can be found enjoying a good book, walking outdoors, drawing, or working on a crochet project. Although music is her passion, she enjoys many other hobbies, and spending time with good friends.

Nick Curry is a health care regulatory and transactional attorney based in Washington, DC. But before he turned to a life of law, he was a PhD candidate in music theory. In this past life, his research focused on early French Neoclassicism as well as media and technology studies approaches to recent pop music. Now, his research usually focuses on either state health care laws or how to avoid killing his vast number of houseplants. This is his ninth season at TFO.

Tim Daucher has been fortunate to have studied with Carlton Herrett, National Symphony Orchestra, Lynn Priece, Air Force Strings, Jody Gatwood, Catholic University, Laura Boyd and Kenneth Sarch, Shenandoah College and Conservatory, Dennis Powowraski, National Symphony Orchestra (Summer studies) and David Hays, Missouri State University. I began my orchestra career as a sub during the last two years of my undergrad with the Maryland Symphony under the direction of Barry Tuckwell. Performing with the TFO has been on of the best experiences in my music career.

Dana Duncan-Davis holds bachelors and masters degrees in violin performance and has played with orchestras in Georgia, South Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Currently, she is a member of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Musicians Orchestra and the early music ensemble Lauda Musicam Atlanta. She lives in Marietta, GA where she maintains a busy teaching studio. This is her first year at TFO where she is excited to be joining her daughter, violinist Megan Wilson.

Kaydee Gabel is a pianist, and violinist in the Kansas City area. Kaydee earned her Bachelors of Music (BM) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), and went on to study at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) until the pandemic hit in 2020. She currently runs her own private studio teaching piano and violin in KC. After taking time off since college, this past year she has played with the Opus 76 Quartet, Kinnor Philharmonic Orchestra, Westwood Ensemble, and various bands in the KC area. She is happy to return for her 2nd year participating at TFO.

Described by the Classical Voices of North Carolina as making playing the violin “seem easy, almost as child’s play,” violinist Sophia Han is the Associate Professor of Violin and Viola at Southeast Missouri State University. A versatile musician, Han has performed as guest soloist with orchestras across the US and appeared on tour with artists such as Michael Bublé, Audra McDonald, and rock band STARSET. Currently serving as the Associate Concertmaster of Paducah Symphony Orchestra, Han has held positions as a guest Concertmaster of Southern Illinois Music Festival Orchestra, Assistant Concertmaster of Tallahassee Symphony, and is in demand as an adjudicator nationally. As a chamber musician, Han is currently a violinist in the Rio Verde Quartet and performs in a duo with her saxophonist husband, Dr. Zach Stern. Prior to her appointment in the RVQ, Han was a member of the Ellen Zwillich sponsored Eppes Quartet during her DM studies at Florida State University. Han also holds degrees from the University of Michigan and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Violinist Erik Hassell resides in Kansas City where he teaches 5-8th grade strings at Oxford Middle, Cottonwood Point Elementary, and Oak Hill Elementary schools in the Blue Valley District and runs a violin studio in the evenings. He is the Associate Concert Master of the Lee’s Summit Symphony orchestra and also subs for the Springfield Symphony and Missouri Symphony (Columbia, MO) as well as performs with the Odyssey Chamber Ensemble. This will be his 7th summer with the Taneycomo Festival. Hassell enjoys spending time with friends, playing videogames, and being with his cats Fred and George.

This is Mary Hubbard’s eighth year at TFO, and as ever she is beyond thankful for the generous spirit of the Branson community and the host families. Mary is a professional dog groomer, but lives for opportunities to play and share music with others who have the passion, and nowhere is that stronger than TFO! A special shout out and eternal gratitude to Pete Marcellus, thank you for welcoming me to your home each year, you’re the best!

Jenna Kramer is a violinist and violin/viola teacher living in Pocatello, Idaho. Originally from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Kramer received her Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Masters of Music in Violin Performance with a Specialization in Violin/Viola Pedagogy from the University of Oregon. She now takes lessons from Madeline Adkins, concertmaster of the Utah Symphony. Kramer performs regularly with the Idaho State-Civic Symphony and the Steamboat Symphony Orchestra. As a soloist, Kramer has performed the Bach E Major Violin Concerto with a group of Steamboat Symphony and Steamboat Youth Symphony members.

Travis Myers is a professional violinist and dedicated teacher from Edmond Oklahoma. Today, Travis teaches violin and fiddle lessons at his own private studio. He also serves as the strings director for Heartland Homeschool Bands and Strings in both Oklahoma City and Shawnee locations. When he isn’t teaching, Travis performs with the Oklahoma Chamber Symphony and attends local bluegrass jam sessions. Although classically trained, Travis also has a deep appreciation and passion for American folk music.

Kelly Rhode is a violinist and orchestra teacher based in the Metro Detroit area. After receiving music performance degrees from Grand Valley State University and Central Michigan University, she discovered a love of teaching and is currently the director of a 3rd-5th grade orchestra at University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe Woods, MI. While not playing or teaching, she enjoys board games with friends, being outdoors, hiking, practicing Feldenkrais and yoga, and traveling. This is Kelly’s eighth season at TFO and she is excited to be back again, creating music with old friends and new.

Kyli Smith is a freshman at Southeast Missouri State University. Majors include violin performance and music education. Kyli attended high school at Eureka High School in Eureka, MO, and participated in activities such as orchestra, cross country, and track. In the future, Kyli plans to teach violin and perform with an orchestra simultaneously.

Megan Wilson studied violin at Central Michigan University before completing a degree in math at Western Michigan University. She is now a lawyer based in Washington, DC where she plays with the Prince George’s Philharmonic. This is her second year at TFO.