FACULTYRead Full BioLiam Mansfield (b. 1996) had always felt an inexplicable attraction to the violin, but he started his musical career playing the piano. That path came to a halt when his strict, elderly piano teacher insisted he wake up at 4 am to practice scales before elementary school. He picked up the violin at Hyde Park Middle School at the age of 11, and from then on has played with an almost obsessive fervor...Liam Mansfieldviolin, Creative DirectorRead Full BioShakeh Ghoukasian is a violinist, educator, and arts leader based in Las Vegas. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Desert Roots Rising Stars Music Festival & Summer Academy, an initiative dedicated to mentoring young musicians and reconnecting rising professional artists with their Las Vegas roots through performances, masterclasses, and community engagement. Ghoukasian is also the founder of The String Connection and the String Connection Virtual Violin Festival.
A graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and originally trained at Armenia’s Tchaikovsky Music School, she has served as Principal Second Violin of the Las Vegas Philharmonic since 1998. A respected master teacher and adjudicator, her students have earned top honors and gone on to study at leading conservatories and summer programs...FACULTYShakeh Ghoukasianviolin, Executive DirectorRead Full BioFACULTYScott Jackson is a concert violinist that has performed with symphonies across the nation, including the St. Louis and Pittsburgh Symphonies. He was a fellow with the New World Symphony after completing his doctoral studies at the Cincinnati Conservatory from 2018 until 2022, during which time his modern music ensemble, All of the Above, released an album to critical acclaim featuring the music of two contemporary composers with the title “Double Portrait”. Scott JacksonviolinFACULTYRead Full BioAlex Gonzalez, described as a "true virtuoso...that left the audience almost breathless" (Viborg Folkeblad), is a violinist renowned as a soloist, chamber musician, and educator. He has performed at venues like Carnegie Hall and Wigmore Hall, toured internationally with The Knights and Sphinx Virtuosi, and appeared on the 2023 Deutsche Grammophon release Songs of Our Times. Currently Assistant Professor of Violin at the University of Colorado Boulder, Gonzalez teaches at the Sphinx Performance Academy and has collaborated with top orchestras and festivals worldwide. A graduate of Eastman, Rice, and Carnegie Mellon, he plays a 2017 Mario Miralles violin...Alex GonzalezviolinRead Full BioFACULTYOmar Shelly was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV and after graduating from the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts went on to receive his degrees in viola performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the University of Michigan and Bard College as an inaugural member of The Orchestra Now program. He joined the Las Vegas Philharmonic in 2014, and has collaborated as a performer and educator in many local arts organizations since then...Omar ShellyviolaRead Full BioJeremy Russo is passionate educator and versatile performer who has appeared on stages across the United States, notably Carnegie Hall in NYC, Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., the Smith Center in Las Vegas, as well as in Europe and Asia. A native of Las Vegas, he has shared stages as the core string member with world’s all-time favorite pop singers, namely Adele, Andrea Bocelli, and the Eagles...FACULTYJeremy RussocelloFACULTYRead Full BioLas Vegas native, Brycen Ingersoll, is quickly becoming a rising star in the double bass world. At the age of 16, Mr. Ingersoll made his solo debut with the Las Vegas Philharmonic performing Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen. As an orchestral player, he has performed as a substitute with some of the top American orchestras including the Nashville Symphony, Sewanee Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Firelands Symphony, and the Akron Symphony Orchestra...Brycen IngersollbassRead Full BioTyler Gordon is a dynamic musician immersed in the vibrant music scene of Las Vegas, Nevada. His musical journey spans across roles as a bassist, violist, and conductor, where he has become a regular performer in several Nevada ensembles including the Las Vegas Sinfonietta, Las Vegas Philharmonic, and the Reno Philharmonic. Tyler has recently finished guest conducting Vegas City Opera in their production of Prokofiev’s Love for Three Oranges...FACULTYTyler GordonConductorRead Full BioDr. Alexandria Le, a concert pianist, educator, and arts leader from Las Vegas, bridges international performance with a deep commitment to cultivating the next generation of musicians. She made her Carnegie Hall solo recital debut as a laureate of the Pro Musicis International Award and has appeared on international stages including Salle Cortot. The New York Concert Review praised her as “a pianist who is so adept at playing tonal pictures,” describing her as “a passionate and involved player.”...FACULTYDr. Alexandria Le, D.M.A.Classical PianistRead Full BioPraised for her heartfelt musical expression and fearless artistry, violinist Emily S. Richardson is rapidly gaining international recognition for her compelling interpretations and creative versatility across musical styles.FACULTYEmily S. RichardsonviolinRead Full BioPeter is a Las Vegas-based violinist and educator known for his work in jazz, improvisation, and classical music. A graduate of UNLV’s Jazz Studies program, he studied under Dave Loeb and Rick Keller and performed with award-winning ensembles. He began violin at age three and trained at the Nevada School of the Arts and Las Vegas Academy. He now mentors young musicians and performs throughout the Vegas Valley, including with the Las Vegas Philharmonic.FACULTYPeter GoomroyanviolinRising Stars FacultyLiam Mansfield, violin
Creative DirectorOmar Shelly, violaScott Jackson, violinJeremy Russo, celloABOUT US Shakeh Ghoukasian, violin
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