Beth Argiro, Owner of And I Love Her Violins, Viola and Violin
Beth Argiro began her love of the viola at age 12. She is graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory with a Bachelor’s degree in viola performance and a Master’s degree in Music Education. She was a member of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra viola section for 14 years and has performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Beth continues to perform with the VSO during the summer series. Beth has performed with the Toledo Symphony, Orchestra of New York City, Ash Lawn Festival, and the Aspen Music Festival. She currently plays numerous weddings and events throughout the Ocala, Orlando area of Florida, Hampton Roads of Virginia and Outer Banks of North Carolina. And I Love Her Violins are the recipient of the national Weddi Award, 2016, from Wedding Wire. The award is for the most endorsements in the Music Ceremony Category. And I Love Her Violins has received the Couple’s Choice award from Wedding Wire in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Beth loves to “give back” to the community through her participation in the CHKD Make A Wish Foundation and the CHKD Moonlight and Mistletoe Fundraiser.
Anastasia Migliozzi, Viola and Violin
Anastasia Migliozzi is known around here as Stacey. She moved to Virginia in 1990 and is member of the Virginia Symphony. Stacey, a graduate of Julliard, spends her time performing with many of the arts organizations in Hampton Roads. Stacey is on the faculty at Old Dominion University, Norfolk State University and The Governor’s School for the Arts. Stacey really enjoys playing weddings because she gets to share in people’s most special day.
Tracy McDonald, Violin
Tracy McDonald received violin performance degrees from The Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) and Interlochen Arts Academy (IAA). She has been performing professionally for over 20 years in a variety of groups including the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the Grand Rapids Symphony, and the Spoleto Music Festival.
Christina Morton, Violin
Christina Morton began the violin at age 8 and joined her first youth orchestra at the age of 11. She currently conducts the Junior and String Orchestras for the Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia and has recently retired after 30 years as a professional violinist with the Virginia Symphony. Performing with fellow musicians is one of the great joys of her life. (She holds degrees in Music Education from Northwestern University and a Masters in Education from Old Dominion University). She has an active Suzuki Method violin and cello studio as well as violin instructor for two inner city school grant programs through the Academy of Music. Traveling overseas and organizing tour programs for both the youth orchestra and the Suzuki community have given her the opportunity to perform in churches, monasteries and concert halls in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Scotland, England, Czech Republic, Italy and Peru.
Sue Waters, Violin
Sue Waters received her Bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Maryland. While in the DC area she played at the Kennedy Center and Wolf Trap.. She’s been a member of the Maryland, Virginia, Corpus Christi, Brevard and Hendersonville Symphonies. Currently she plays viola and violin for weddings on the Outer Banks and performs with the Trio La Mer.
Cindy Bryan, Violin
Cindy is a native of Buffalo, NY, and graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor and Masters Degree in Music Education. Cindy has a large private violin studio and enjoys teaching at Kingdom Education for Young Scholars, where she also serves as the Director of Fine Arts. Cindy is currently Assistant Concertmaster of Symphonicity-The Symphony of Virginia Beach, she plays in a band called Legacy, and has found great pleasure playing for weddings in the Hampton Roads area for over 20 years.
Shirley Luu Smith, Viola
Shirley Luu has played the viola for over 17 years. She minored in Music Performance while majoring in Civil Engineering at Old Dominion University. During the day, Shirley is a water/wastewater engineer; at night, she is the principal violist of Symphonicity (the symphony orchestra of Virginia Beach). She is also the administrator of the Hampton Roads Chamber Players and performs various types of music, from classical to modern folk, at different venues throughout the Hampton Roads area.
Leslie Frittelli, Cello
Leslie Frittelli performs in numerous concerts, broadway shows and weddings throughout Hampton Roads. She is a former member of the Virginia Symphony. Leslie is the cello professor at Old Dominion University, the cello instructor at The Governor’s School of the Arts and maintains a sought after private studio.
Lui Berz, Cello, Erhu, Horsehead Fiddle
Lui Berz received her Master of Cello Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy from the Cleveland Institute of Music. A member of the Virginia Symphony since 2000, Lui performs cello, erhu and horsehead fiddle for events and concerts. In addition to teaching cello privately, she is the creator of successful “Notes From the Far East” Chinese presentation and “Notes From The Silk Road” multicultural presentation reaching over 4500 kids and adults each year in the Hampton Roads area. Lui enjoys story telling with traditional Chinese shadow puppets and plays Chinese instruments when she is away from her cello.
Jeffrey Phelps, Cello
Jeffrey Phelps is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music, earning degrees in both cello performance and orchestral conducting. Jeff is cellist of the Alborada Piano Trio and has enjoyed recent performances with the Norfolk Chamber Consort, the Virginia Symphony, the Virginia Ballet Theater and Todd Rosenlieb Dance. Jeff is currently Instrumental Music department Chair at the Governor’s School for the Arts and serves as Music Director of the GSA Orchestra. Together, Jeff and GSA musicians have performed at Carnegie Hall, Davies Symphony Hall and venues throughout Europe and Japan. In the summer, Jeff performs and teaches in Colorado as faculty of the Chamber Music of the Rockies. Jeff is a SURDNA Arts Teacher Fellow and three-time recipient of Stiftung Thyll-Dürr grants. Jeff has what he thinks is a rational fear of bears.
Stephen Carlson, Trumpet
A native of Duluth, Minnesota, trumpeter Stephen Carlson joined the Hampton Roads musical community in 1975. His career with the Virginia Symphony and Virginia Opera spanned thirty-eight years, the first twenty-seven as it’s Principal Trumpet. He has appeared in numerous solo performances with the Virginia Symphony, and with orchestras and concert bands throughout the United States. Carlson’s career also featured numerous recital performances with both piano and with organ accompaniment. Dr. Carlson has taught at the University of Missouri at Kansas City, the College of William and Mary, and the University of Michigan. Currently, Dr. Carlson is Professor of Trumpet (Adjunct) at Old Dominion University, and he maintains a private studio. He has earned degrees from the University of Minnesota, the University of Michigan and the Catholic University of America, and has studied with internationally respected teachers. His former students hold positions at all levels of teaching and performing (including the Canadian Brass!).
John Demas, Classical Guitarist- Greek Bouzouki
John Demas (author, educator, inventor, and performer) is the Program Coordinator for Classical Guitar Studies at The University of Tampa and Classical/Jazz Studies at Hillsborough Community College (Ybor Campus). A native of Baden Pennsylvania, John has been a freelance musician in the state of Florida since 1984. Mr. Demas is an alumnus of Miami-Dade Community College, the University of Miami and earned his Degree with Honors in Classical Guitar Performance from the University of South Florida. https://sites.google.com/site/livemusicintampa/
C. Barry Denham, Guitar and Vocals
Barry Denham is an award-winning romance novelist and playwright (on sabbatical). Barry began his love for music very early in life, purchasing his first guitar at age 12. With high school best friend, he toured Alabama, performing at churches, high schools and many venues. For ten years Barry lived on the island of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, where he was a bassisst/vocalist for a calypso band. More recently, Barry has performed at nursing home, private parties and festival events. Barry is currently studying to be a Certified Therapeutic Musician.
Steve Raisor, Classical Guitar
Dr. Steve Raisor attended the Berklee College of Music, received a Bachelors Degree in Jazz Studies from Barton College, a Masters in Music Performance from Norfolk State University, a Masters in Music Theory from Florida State University and a Ph.D. in Humanities from Florida State University. Dr. Raisor is the Associate Professor of Music at the College of the Albemarle where he teaches music theory, music appreciation, applied music and humanities.
John Boyles, Classical Guitar
John Boyles is a versatile and accomplished guitarist, performing in many styles, and many venues. He began with popular guitar styles, being influenced by the Beatles, James Taylor, Paul Simon, etc., then went on to study classical and jazz guitar, and plays a wide variety of music as a solo performer, as well as in ensembles, like Violin-Guitar Duo, Flute-Guitar duo, Guitar Quartet, and Guitar Orchestra. He also enjoys playing “gigs”, such as weddings, receptions, restaurants, etc., and has played often at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Winery, the Trellis Restaurant, and other venues.
Kim Kalman, Guitar and Vocals
Kim Kalman, Vocals/Guitar is a graduate of the College of William and Mary in Virginia. Kim earned her degree in business management while performing in local venues. After careful consideration, Kim chose to apply her business skills to her own career in the music business. She followed her heart and never looked back! That road took her all the way to Nashville, Tennessee where Kim has recorded all her current CD’s: Moonlight, At Last, Close and her most recent releases, I’m Not Alone, A Christmas to Remember and Let the Door Swing Wide. Visit her online at KimKalman.com
Eldon Sully, Classical Guitar
Eldon Sully is a native of Leonia, New Jersey and currently resides in the Hampton Roads area of southeastern Virginia. With over 30 years of international professional musical experience, he is well-versed in many musical styles including jazz, rock, pop, country, classical, Celtic, traditional and contemporary gospel, and inspirational music. Most notably he has been a featured performer in several shows with Windborne Productions. These shows celebrate the music of iconic artists and bands such as The Eagles, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Pink Floyd. He also has considerable performance experience as a solo guitarist for weddings and social events, as well as in small combos, jazz big bands, wind ensembles, symphony and musical theater orchestras, and Praise and Worship bands.