To play without passion is inexcusable. Beethoven
Meet our dedicated artists
Laura Sacks
Laura Sacks is a NYC based freelance violist who enjoys a multifaceted career spanning many genres. She has performed on various stages- from Carnegie Hall to Madison Square Garden.She joined the Eagles on their North American tour in 2018 and was most recently the violist on the Broadway National Tour of Miss Saigon. Ms. Sacks played violin and viola in the jazz house band for the NBC show Maya and Marty and has appeared performing on Saturday Night Live. She regularly records film scores and can be heard on the Sundance film Indignation and will be heard on the upcoming Billy Crystal film, Here Today.
Susan D. Mandel
Cellist Susan Mandel's diverse interests have led to a career focused in new music and collaboration. Recent highlights include performances at (le) Poisson Rouge, Playstation Theater, Brooklyn Steel, Brooklyn Bowl, Rockwood Music Hall, Webster Hall, and the Highline Ballroom. She has performed with major label artists including Hozier, eminem, Skylar Grey, Pharoahe Monch, Alicia Keys, Amine, gnash, and Tori Kelly on NBC's Today Show, Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Francesca Dardani
Classical and crossover New York based violinist known for the versatility of her playing works as a soloist, session musician, leader and music contractor, performing internationally on some of the world’s most famous concert stages.
She has performed on tours ( Madonna “Madame X” ,Stevie Wonder “Songs in the key of Life”), recorded and shared the stage with some of the most legendary pop artists of our time.
Lavinia Pavlish
Lavinia Pavlish is a New York City-based violinist. She graduated from Northwestern University and Juilliard. As a chamber musician and freelancer, recent exciting projects include Let Me Die written by and starring Joseph Keckler in conjunction with Opera Philadelphia and FringeArts, a duo concert and recording with renowned organist Jared Lamenzo for his “Friends of the Erben Organ” concert series, and recordings on albums of brilliant jazz musicians Bryan Carter, Steven Feifke, Charlie Rosen, Lauren Henderson, Eddie Barbash, and Mike Thurber, and playing in the orchestra for the Radio City Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular. Lavinia enjoys gardening, seeing live shows and concerts, and listening to every kind of music, especially opera and jazz.
Emily Holden
Electric and acoustic violinist Emily Holden is a versatile performer and collaborator. Augmenting her classical background with a steadfast love of pop and dance music, Emily has performed and recorded with many wonderful artists, including Kurtis Blow, Yungblud, Louis Tomlinson and the Who. She has appeared on NBC's the Today Show and The Tonight show with Jimmy Fallon.
Surai Balbeisi
Surai Balbeisi has appeared in Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Radio City Music Hall, and on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, Good Morning America, and Saturday Night Live, with artists and groups including Jay-Z, Beyonce, Kanye West, Katie Perry, and Regina Spektor. She was the viola consultant and instructor for the film, “A Late Quartet,” and performed on ABC’s supernatural drama pilot “666 Park Avenue,” NBC’s “Mysteries Of Laura,” and on the Netflix comedy “Like Father.” She has toured with the Bollywood sensation Arijit Singh and with the U.K based band, Elbow as back-up singer and violist. On Broadway, she was viola chair for the show Sleigh Bells Swing and is currently substitute viola at Phantom of the Opera.
