Four new musicians have joined the Virginia Symphony Orchestra: violist ALEXANDRA TAKASUGI, double bassist ALEC HILLER, principal contrabassoonist ELIZABETH ROBERTS, and trombonist TANNER ANTONETTI. The orchestra has also announced two promotions: horn player JACOB WILDER, in his third season with the orchestra, has been named principal horn, a tenure-track position; and violist LAURA SEAY, also in her third season at the orchestra, has been promoted to tenure-track violist.
Alexandra Takasugi, a native of Pasadena, California, began her viola studies in the Colburn School orchestras, Pasadena Summer Youth Chamber Orchestra, and Suzuki summer camps at Occidental College. She holds a bachelor of music degree from Seattle University, where she won the inaugural Seattle University Concerto Competition in 2010 and 2012, and a graduate performance diploma from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University.
Alec Hiller holds a bachelor’s degree from the Peabody Conservatory and a master’s degree from Canada’s McGill University. A Baltimore native, Hiller currently teaches at Morgan State University and the Bryn Mawr School; maintains a private teaching studio in Baltimore City; and teaches at the Baltimore String Orchestra Camp. In addition to the Virginia Symphony, Hiller is also a member of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra.
Elizabeth Roberts holds a bachelor of science in early childhood education from the University of Illinois, a professional studies diploma and a bachelor of music from Florida’s Harid Conservatory, and a master of music from the University of Southern California. Since 2001, she has served as principal bassoon and director of youth education for the Charlottesville Symphony. She also plays second bassoon in the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra and is on the faculty of the University of Virginia and the New England Music Camp in Sidney, Maine.
Tanner Antonetti, a central Arkansas native, earned his bachelor’s degree in music at Middle Tennessee State University and his master of music degree at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. Before joining the Virginia Symphony, Antonetti performed with the Arkansas, Chattanooga, Huntsville, Albany, San Antonio, and Houston Symphony orchestras on tenor trombone and bass trumpet.
Posted February 21, 2018
