Jonathan Urizar: Violin
Jonathan Urizar is graduate of Kennesaw Sate University with a Bachelor of Music Performance. Jonathan played as concert master of the symphony orchestra at Kennesaw State University for two seasons. His teachers include violinists Juan and Carol Ramirez of the Atlanta Symphony and Helen Kim, assistant concertmaster of the Atlanta Opera and former assistant concertmaster with the Atlanta Symphony.
Jonathan performed as a soloist on a live television broadcast of The Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards on Georgia Public Broadcasting Television; sharing the stage with Charlie Daniels, Sugarland, Otis Redding III, 38 Special, and Diana DeGarmo at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center. Jonathan performed in a live recording of Beethoven's 9th Symphony that was recently featured on NPR's Atlanta Music Scene. He has also been a winner in the Regional Young Artist Competition with the Buckhead Youth Orchestra for two consecutive years, and performed as a soloist with the orchestra. Jonathan won the Georgia College & State University’s concerto competition in 2009 and was subsequently invited to perform three concerts as a soloist with their orchestra. Jonathan also appeared as a soloist performing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto after winning first place at the Georgia Philharmonic’s 2010-2011 Young Artists Concerto Competition. Jonathan has also been a finalist in the Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra’s 37th annual Ruth Kern Young Artist’s Concerto Competition and in the 2010 and 2013 and 2014 Kennesaw State University annual concerto competition. This past May, Jonathan was invited to solo with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra at the Smoky Mountain center for the performing arts in Franklin, North Carolina.
Jonathan has performed in master classes for distinguished violinists James Ehnes, David Perry, and David Coucheron- Concertmaster of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed for the Grammy award winning group Eighth Blackbird, The Ying Quartet, The Pacifica Quartet, The Aspen String Trio, renowned cellist Alicia Weilerstien, Elias Goldstein and in an orchestral masterclass with Robert Spano- conductor for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra . In addition, as part of the KSU Orchestra Jonathan has performed with legendary rock group KANSAS at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center. Jonathan has been featured as a young artist in the metro Atlanta area by Mun2 a web-based news channel and in Atlanta’s “Mundo Hispanico” newspaper. His musical endeavors have allowed him to enjoy traveling and performing in the Costa Brava International Music Festival in Calella and Barcelona, Spain, as well as in Beijing and Xi’an, China.
Jonathan performed as a soloist on a live television broadcast of The Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards on Georgia Public Broadcasting Television; sharing the stage with Charlie Daniels, Sugarland, Otis Redding III, 38 Special, and Diana DeGarmo at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center. Jonathan performed in a live recording of Beethoven's 9th Symphony that was recently featured on NPR's Atlanta Music Scene. He has also been a winner in the Regional Young Artist Competition with the Buckhead Youth Orchestra for two consecutive years, and performed as a soloist with the orchestra. Jonathan won the Georgia College & State University’s concerto competition in 2009 and was subsequently invited to perform three concerts as a soloist with their orchestra. Jonathan also appeared as a soloist performing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto after winning first place at the Georgia Philharmonic’s 2010-2011 Young Artists Concerto Competition. Jonathan has also been a finalist in the Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra’s 37th annual Ruth Kern Young Artist’s Concerto Competition and in the 2010 and 2013 and 2014 Kennesaw State University annual concerto competition. This past May, Jonathan was invited to solo with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra at the Smoky Mountain center for the performing arts in Franklin, North Carolina.
Jonathan has performed in master classes for distinguished violinists James Ehnes, David Perry, and David Coucheron- Concertmaster of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed for the Grammy award winning group Eighth Blackbird, The Ying Quartet, The Pacifica Quartet, The Aspen String Trio, renowned cellist Alicia Weilerstien, Elias Goldstein and in an orchestral masterclass with Robert Spano- conductor for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra . In addition, as part of the KSU Orchestra Jonathan has performed with legendary rock group KANSAS at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center. Jonathan has been featured as a young artist in the metro Atlanta area by Mun2 a web-based news channel and in Atlanta’s “Mundo Hispanico” newspaper. His musical endeavors have allowed him to enjoy traveling and performing in the Costa Brava International Music Festival in Calella and Barcelona, Spain, as well as in Beijing and Xi’an, China.
Kyle Mayes: Viola
Kyle Mayes is a graduate of Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor in Music Performance. He is also working towards a degree in computer science. During his time at Kennesaw State University, Mr. Mayes studied with Catherine Lynn, Assistant Principal Viola of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Kyle also attended the Brevard Music Center during the summer of 2012 where he studied with Matthew Daline and performed under the baton of Boston Pop's conductor, Keith Lockhart. Kyle has performed in solo masterclasses with Victoria Chang (Aspen Trio), Phillip Ying (Ying Quartet), Lachlan McBane and Jessica Oudin (Atlanta Symphony).
Kyle has played in numerous chamber groups at Kennesaw State University, and has performed in chamber masterclasses with the Pacifica Quartet, Ying Quartet, and the Aspen Trio. Kyle also held principal position in the Kennesaw State University Symphony Orchestra for several seasons, and with the orchestra, took part in a three concert tour performing at the Beijing Central Conservatory and the People's Theatre in Xi'an. Kyle has also served as the principal violist of the Georgia Philharmonic and has performed several times with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra.
Kyle has played in numerous chamber groups at Kennesaw State University, and has performed in chamber masterclasses with the Pacifica Quartet, Ying Quartet, and the Aspen Trio. Kyle also held principal position in the Kennesaw State University Symphony Orchestra for several seasons, and with the orchestra, took part in a three concert tour performing at the Beijing Central Conservatory and the People's Theatre in Xi'an. Kyle has also served as the principal violist of the Georgia Philharmonic and has performed several times with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra.
Rachel Halverson: Cello, Violin, & Piano
Rachel Halverson is a graduate of Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor in Music Performance on the cello. Throughout her career, Ms. Halverson has performed with a number of orchestras including the Kennesaw State University Symphony Orchestra, where she has held principal positions as well as with the Transylvania Symphony Orchestra at the Brevard Summer Music Festival. She has also performed with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, and she performs regularly with the Georgia Philharmonic.
Ms. Halverson completed an orchestral tour of China in 2010 where she performed at the Central Conservatory in Beijing and the People's Theatre in Xi'an. She has given solo performances and recitals at Kennesaw State University’s Morgan Concert Hall and University of Georgia’s Hugh Hodgson Hall. She recently appeared as a soloist and performed Vivaldi's double cello concerto with the KSU Philharmonic.
Rachel is also an active chamber musician. Her string trio was featured in an Atlanta Symphony Orchestra “Conversation of Note” presentation, and her quartet has competed and placed in regional competitions around the South East.
With a taste for music outside of the classical realm, Ms. Halverson is credited as a studio musician on 7-Sharp 9's 2008 rock album, 7-Sharp 9 as well as an upcoming album by Quiet Hounds. She also performed with the band KANSAS at the Cobb Energy Centre in 2012.
Ms. Halverson has performed in master classes for cellists David Ying (Eastman School of Music), Jesús Castro-Balbi (Texas Christian University), and Michael Mermegan, as well as performing in chamber ensembles for members of the Biava Quartet, Pacifica Quartet, Ying Quartet, the Aspen Trio, and Eighth Blackbird.
Her teachers include Alistair MacRae, professor of Princeton University, who she studied with at the Brevard Music Festival and her current teacher Charae Krueger, who is a graduate of the New England conservatory.
Believing that music has helped change her positively as an individual, Ms. Halverson shares what she knows about cello to children of all ages around the community. She is a frequent clinician for Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra cellists, as well as a clinician for Prelude to Pope and Atlanta Violins’ "Upbeat!" string camps. She is also the primary private cello instructor for The Harmony House in historic Kennesaw.
Ms. Halverson is also working towards a Bachelor's in Science for Nursing.
Ms. Halverson completed an orchestral tour of China in 2010 where she performed at the Central Conservatory in Beijing and the People's Theatre in Xi'an. She has given solo performances and recitals at Kennesaw State University’s Morgan Concert Hall and University of Georgia’s Hugh Hodgson Hall. She recently appeared as a soloist and performed Vivaldi's double cello concerto with the KSU Philharmonic.
Rachel is also an active chamber musician. Her string trio was featured in an Atlanta Symphony Orchestra “Conversation of Note” presentation, and her quartet has competed and placed in regional competitions around the South East.
With a taste for music outside of the classical realm, Ms. Halverson is credited as a studio musician on 7-Sharp 9's 2008 rock album, 7-Sharp 9 as well as an upcoming album by Quiet Hounds. She also performed with the band KANSAS at the Cobb Energy Centre in 2012.
Ms. Halverson has performed in master classes for cellists David Ying (Eastman School of Music), Jesús Castro-Balbi (Texas Christian University), and Michael Mermegan, as well as performing in chamber ensembles for members of the Biava Quartet, Pacifica Quartet, Ying Quartet, the Aspen Trio, and Eighth Blackbird.
Her teachers include Alistair MacRae, professor of Princeton University, who she studied with at the Brevard Music Festival and her current teacher Charae Krueger, who is a graduate of the New England conservatory.
Believing that music has helped change her positively as an individual, Ms. Halverson shares what she knows about cello to children of all ages around the community. She is a frequent clinician for Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra cellists, as well as a clinician for Prelude to Pope and Atlanta Violins’ "Upbeat!" string camps. She is also the primary private cello instructor for The Harmony House in historic Kennesaw.
Ms. Halverson is also working towards a Bachelor's in Science for Nursing.
