Originally from Connecticut, Cassandra started playing violin at the age of 5, and went on to perform in solo, chamber, and orchestral settings throughout North America and Europe. In her early professional years, Cassandra had the opportunity to perform at such festivals as Thy Chamber Music Festival, Round Top Orchestral Institute, Galluzzo International Chamber Festival, Mendocino Music Festival, Apple Hill, and Hot Springs Music Festival. After graduating from Oberlin Conservatory and College with degrees in both violin performance (both modern and baroque) and English literature, Cassandra moved to San Francisco where she completed her Masters of Music degree at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She studied privately with Marilyn McDonald, Greg Fulkerson, David Bowlin, Ian Swensen, Mark Sokol, and Catherine Von Hoesen.
Cassandra’s love of chamber and orchestral music paved the way for many of her favorite projects in San Francisco, including her work as an original member and concertmaster of the conductorless chamber orchestra, One Found Sound, a group dedicated to reinvigorating performances of classical repertoire, as well as premiering and performing the works of living composers. She was also a founding member of Friction Quartet, an ensemble committed to the performance of new music. In addition, Cassandra enjoyed working with her piano trio, Live Oak, a group whose members brought to life a thriving house concert series in the greater San Francisco area, Bay Area Concerts at Home. During her years in San Francisco, Cassandra served as Assistant Concertmaster of Berkeley Symphony, as well as a tenured member of Symphony Silicon Valley. She also performed regularly with groups such as Magik*Magik Orchestra, Americana Orchestra, Stockton, Marin, and Merced Symphonies. During her San Francisco years, Cassandra enjoyed a full teaching schedule, from her private studio at home, to her ensemble and outreach work in schools. She performed an original educational program for over 120 public schools as part of the San Francisco Symphony’s outreach project, Adventures in Music. During that time, Cassandra also taught privately at the Hamlin School for Girls, and Myriad Music and Dance Academy, while coaching chamber and orchestral groups at the Ruth Asawa School Of The Arts and the Peninsula Youth Orchestra. Cassandra moved to Vancouver, British Columbia in 2016 where she now plays full-time with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. She is an active performer in the Symphony’s Chamber Players series and with the Blueridge Chamber Society, and she continues to enjoy teaching both in outreach and private settings. |