Faculty

For nearly four decades, cellist Christopher Costanza has enjoyed an exciting and varied career as soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. A winner of the Young Concert Artists International Auditions and the recipient of a Solo Recitalists Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, Costanza has performed to critical acclaim throughout the world.

Rainer Eudeikis is the principal cellist of the San Francisco Symphony, holding the Philip S. Boone Chair. Prior to his appointment in 2022, he was Principal Cellist of the Atlanta Symphony and the Utah Symphony. He made an acclaimed solo debut with the San Francisco Symphony in 2024. 

Laura Hamilton is currently Artistic Director and Concertmaster for the summer festival Classical Tahoe and Concertmaster for CityMusic Cleveland. Previously she was Principal Associate Concertmaster for the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, where she led hundreds of performances over 33 years, including many of the MET's popular “Live in HD” videocasts. 

 Frost School of Music, University of Miami
Ross Harbaugh is professor of cello at the University of Miami's Frost School of Music. His distinguished teachers include Janos Starker and Leonard Rose in the United States and Andre Navarra at the Paris Conservatory. As a founding member of the New World String Quartet, he won the Naumburg Prize and a Prix du Disque.

Katherine “Kat” Fong is a violinist, mother, and entrepreneur based on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. She has been a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra since 2000, performing in one of the world’s leading operatic ensembles for more than 25 years.

Yumi Hwang-Williams, concertmaster of the Colorado Symphony since 2000, is an American violinist of exceptional musicianship. Yumi was previously principal second violin of the Cincinnati Symphony and concertmaster of the Cabrillo Music Festival and she currently teaches at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music.

Daniel Krekeler is a section bass member with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, as well as an active chamber musician and educator at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. Concert highlights include performances of Mozart’s “Per Questa Bella Mano” and a conductor-less performance of Stravinsky’s “L’Histoire du Soldat.”

  Frost School of Music, University of Miami
Jodi Levitz, acclaimed violist and passionate educator, has performed as a soloist and chamber  musician across the globe. For twelve years, she was the principal viola and soloist with “I Solisti Veneti.” She is currently Professor of Viola and String Program Director at the Frost School of Music.

Taiwanese violist Pei-Ling Lin enjoys a fulfilling musical life as a chamber musician, educator, and soloist. As a co-founder of the Telegraph Quartet, Lin was the winner of both the Senior String Division Gold Medal and the Grand Prize at the 2014 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition.

As a co-founder of the Telegraph Quartet, violinist Joseph Maile was awarded the 2014 Fischoff Grand Prize and the 2016 Naumburg Chamber Music Award. Maile and the Telegraph Quartet currently teach at the University of Michigan, where they are the Quartet-in-Residence.

  Frost School of Music, University of Miami
Violin soloist, pedagogue, and clinician Bettina Mussumeli enjoys a storied career as a concert artist on the great stages of the world. She was co-concertmaster and soloist for the Italian chamber orchestra “I Solisti Veneti” for nine years and currently serves on the faculty of the Frost School of Music.

  Frost School of Music, University of Miami
Brian Powell is Associate Professor of Double Bass and Music Education at the University of Miami Frost School of Music. Dr. Powell’s work as a clinician and performer of classical music and string pedagogy are equally significant and internationally known. 

Victoria Chung is the principal oboe of the Richmond Symphony, a position she has held since  2022. Prior to her appointment in Richmond, she spent one season as a fellow with the New World Symphony. She is on faculty at the College of William & Mary and the University of Richmond. 

  Frost School of Music, University of Miami
Clarinetist Margaret Donaghue Flavin has performed in more than a dozen countries across three continents. She is Professor of Clarinet and Director of the Woodwind Program at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami and Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Chamber Music Festival.

Blair Francis Paponiu is Associate Principal Flute, Catherine and Russell Clark Chair, of the San Francisco Symphony. She previously held the Assistant Principal/Second Flute, Susan and Tom Brown Chair, with the Naples Philharmonic in Florida and served as acting section flute for the New York Philharmonic.

Érik Gratton is the principal flutist of the Nashville Symphony, and he has performed with many orchestras including the Montreal Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, St Louis Symphony, and San Francisco Symphony. He also served as acting principal flute of the Metropolitan Opera.

  Frost School of Music, University of Miami
Jennifer Grim is currently Professor of Flute at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami and Artistic Administrator for the Frost School at Festival Napa Valley. For over twenty years, she was the flutist of the award-winning Zéphyros Winds and the New York Chamber Soloists. 

Jessica Phillips is an experienced performer, dedicated educator, and innovative leader in the arts. She has been a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra clarinet section since 2001. She serves on the Graduate Studies and MAP faculties and teaches lessons specializing in E-Flat Clarinet at The Juilliard School.

  Frost School of Music, University of Miami
Timothy Conner is an associate professor of trombone at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. In addition to teaching individual studio lessons, he conducts the Frost Trombone Choir, coaches chamber music, teaches trombone pedagogy and literature, and serves as a faculty mentor on multiple doctoral committees. 

Lisa Conway, a native of Philadelphia, is the second horn of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed with the Boston Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Montreal Symphony, and Philadelphia Orchestra. Prior to her appointment in Cincinnati, she was a member of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. 

David Garcia has been solo trombonist of the Orchester der Opera Zürich since 2007.  Previously he was principal trombonist of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence, Italy and of the Hartford Symphony. He performs regularly on alto, tenor, bass trombone, and bass trumpet, as well as on period instruments.

Julia Pilant is currently the acting third horn for the Utah Symphony and Utah Opera and a regular guest with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Previously, she was the assistant principal horn for the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

Christopher Still joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2007. Before coming to California, he was the Principal Trumpet of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. He has also held the positions of Associate Principal Trumpet of the Dallas Symphony and Principal Trumpet of the Charleston Symphony. 

  Frost School of Music, University of Miami
Percussionist Pablo Rieppi is a tenured member of the New York City Ballet Orchestra, as well as Percussion Department Coordinator and faculty member at the Juilliard School's Pre-College Division and Music Advancement Program. He recently joined the faculty at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music.