Pennsylvania native Valerie Little has often performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, Mill City Summer Opera, Orchestra Iowa, Florestan Chamber Music, at the Schubert Club and with a number of singer/songwriters. She is an artist-in-residence at the annual Apollo Music Festival in Houston, MN, where she also serves as librarian. From 2013-2022, she was the violist for Mill City String Quartet, a five-time MPR Class Notes Artist, and past teaching artist through Schubert Club, Chamber Music Society of St. Cloud, and Britt Festival in Jacksonville, OR.

Valerie holds bachelor’s degrees in viola performance and English from Pennsylvania State University, a Master of Music degree in viola performance from the University of Texas-Austin, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in viola performance from the University of Minnesota.

She became a tenured member of the Minnesota Orchestra in September 2015, after serving six seasons as acting assistant principal librarian. When she's not in the library, she enjoys serving the Orchestra on various committees or participating in a variety of pre-concert events.

Valerie is also a skilled writer whose non-fiction writing was twice-nominated for a 2020 Pushcart Prize. Her debut hybrid chapbook, Little Blue Primer, is available from Toho Publishing.

Cellist Ruth Marshall enjoys a varied career split evenly between teaching and performing. She is the cellist of Artu Duo, a collaborative ensemble with pianist Garret Ross, which has performed extensively across the United States, including a debut at Carnegie Hall in 2016.

Ruth is also active as a soloist, and has played concertos with the Wartburg Community Symphony, Winona Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble Society of New York City, and the Kokomo Symphony Orchestra.

From 2012 to 2016, she performed extensively as an orchestra player, simultaneously playing as principal cello of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, as an associate member of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra in Ohio, and as a permanent sub in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. From 2015-2022, she was the cellist of the Mill City String Quartet, during which time she performed for thousands of students through multiple residencies with Minnesota Public Radio.

Ruth is a committed cello instructor, working with students of all ages and levels at her home studio, and teaching cello students at Winona State University and Hamline University. She holds graduate degrees in cello performance from DePaul University, and undergraduate degrees in the humanities from the University of Washington.

Violinist Zachary Saathoff first moved to the Twin Cities at the age of 16 to study with Sally O’Reilly, in whose studio he very luckily met his lovely wife, Emily. 

He managed to escape two harsh winters while studying in Austria as a Fulbright grantee, but eventually returned to Minnesota to complete graduate degrees in both Violin performance and Music Theory. Zachary spent three seasons as Concertmaster/Frequent Flyer of the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra immediately upon graduation, appearing as a featured soloist and in numerous chamber music performances. 

Currently he and Emily maintain a private studio out of their home in New Brighton while both working as a freelance violinists, part-time gardeners, possibly-enthusiastic dog walkers, and parents to two daughters.

Chi-Chi Lin Bestmann is a multifaceted conductor and violist whose musical journey spans continents and genres. Born in Taiwan, she has forged a remarkable career that seamlessly blends classical artistry with contemporary collaborations.

Ms. Bestmann has performed at prestigious venues from Carnegie Hall to Radio City Music Hall, where she collaborated with hip-hop icon Jay-Z. This versatility exemplifies her ability to traverse diverse musical landscapes with equal finesse.

A committed educator, Ms. Bestmann has held faculty positions at Mannes School of Music, Hoff-Barthelson Music School, Riverdale Country School and the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. Her conducting roles include leading the Philharmonia orchestra at Third Street Music School Settlement and currently directing MacPhail's Northside Youth Orchestra, where she continues to inspire and nurture young musical talents.  Ms. Bestmann's dedication to music education extends beyond the classroom. She is the founder of Petite Concerts, a program that focuses on enriching young children's musical experiences through live performances, thereby cultivating the next generation of classical music enthusiasts.

As a passionate chamber musician, Ms. Bestmann is an active member of the Solace Piano Quartet and has collaborated with players from the Metropolitan Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony and Minnesota Orchestra. Her chamber music performances have been praised for their sensitivity and musical depth.

Ms. Bestmann's academic journey includes a Bachelor of Music in Orchestral Conducting, a Master of Music, and Professional Studies Diploma in Viola Performance from the Mannes School of Music. Her musical development was shaped by renowned mentors, including violists Karen Ritscher and Thomas Reibl, violinist Albert Markov, and conductor Michael Charry.

In 2018, Ms. Bestmann relocated to Minnesota with her husband and two daughters, where she has quickly become an integral part of the Twin Cities' vibrant music scene. She currently serves as the conductor for the JCC Symphony of Minnesota and a faculty member at the MacPhail Center for Music, while maintaining an active career as a freelance musician.

Currently based in Minneapolis MN, Jane Cords-O’Hara is a busy freelance cellist who performs with a wide variety of groups. She is a member of The Knights,  Fíora Ensemble and Ladyslipper Ensemble in Minneapolis. She has performed, toured and recorded with numerous other ensembles over the years including the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Argento, Da Capo Chamber Players, MN Opera, Yo Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, String Orchestra of NYC and A Far Cry.  Equally comfortable in many styles, Jane has played a large amount of new and spectral music, as well as baroque cello, and has performed with Lyra Baroque, Bach Society of MN and the WolfGang Ensemble. She is principal cello at the annual Bach Roots Festival, and has played the role of continuo in many large works such as St John’s and St Matthew’s Passion. She recently gave solo recitals at the Cellissimo Festival in Galway, Ireland (May 2024).

As a member of the The Knights, a NYC based chamber orchestra, Jane has been performing since 2004. Nominated for a Grammy in 2017 and 2024, The Knights have collaborated with artists such as Yo Yo Ma, Gil Shaham, Susan Graham, Dawn Upshaw, Chris Thile, Aaron Diehl and Bela Fleck. Recent appearances have been at the Caramoor, Tanglewood, Ravinia, Stillwater and Ojai Festivals, Central Park’s Naumburg concert series, Trinity Wall Street and Carnegie Hall, where they are currently in residence.  Internationally, Jane has appeared with The Knights in Germany, Denmark, Austria (at the Musikverein), Ireland and at the Canary Island’s Music Festival. She can also be heard on several recordings on the Sony Classical label, and also on the album Azul, featuring Yo Yo Ma as soloist. 

Jane has a deep love of chamber music. A founder member of the Fíora Ensemble (formerly Jamison Ensemble)  Jane performs all around the Twin Cities. Fíora is an ensemble flexible in size depending on repertoire. As a member of Ladyslipper Ensemble, Jane performs regularly around the Twin Cities and is featured on the album The World’s Highway, recorded at MPR.  Jane  performed many times at the LOFT Chamber Music series in Minnepolis and has also been a frequent guest artist with Chamber Music Society of MN. As a former member of Syrius Piano Trio, she performed all over Ireland, and internationally at London’s Conway Hall, Carnegie’s Weill Hall and Brazil’s Musica Nova festival in Sao Paulo. Syrius Trio recorded the complete piano trios of Saloman Jadassohn on the Toccata Classics label.  She spent many summers performing at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival in Ireland. She is the core cellist of the Minneapolis quartet for Candlelight Concerts and plays many concerts a year at various venues in the Twin Cities.

Before relocating to the Twin Cities in 2014, Jane lived in NYC. She was Artist-in-Residence at International House from 2004-2005, and made her recital debut at Carnegie’s Weill Hall in 2006 as a winner in the Artist’s International competition. 

Jane is a devoted teacher. She has a private studio in Minneapolis and also teaches at Augsburg University. She was on faculty at the International Cello Institute at St Olaf college in 2017 and 2024 and at the Northern Lights Chamber Music Institute in 2018. She spent several summers mentoring young aspiring composers at the Walden School in New Hampshire. She recently gave a masterclass at the Cellissimo Festival in May 2024.

Born and raised in Ireland, Jane Cords-O’Hara began playing the cello at the age of 9. She studied with Hannah Roberts at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, UK, before moving to New York to complete her studies with Timothy Eddy at Mannes College of Music. She has attended the International Musician’s Seminar at Prussia Cove, Holland Music Sessions, London Masterclasses and the Conservatoire Americaine at Fontainebleau, France. She was chosen to play at masterclasses at the World Cello Congress III and the International Cello Festival in Manchester, UK.

Jane lives with her husband, Dan, and daughter Aoife in Minneapolis.

Charles Block studied the double bass at San Francisco State University with Shinji Eshima and at Indiana University with Bruce Bransby. He currently serves as Principal Bass of both the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra. He also can be heard performing as a substitute with groups such as the Minnesota Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony, the Chicago Symphony, the Minnesota Opera, the Grant Park Symphony and the Lakes Area Music Festival. Past positions include Assistant Principal of the Memphis Symphony. Internationally, Charles has worked with the RTE Irish National Symphony Orchestra, the Macau Orchestra, the Hong Kong Philharmonic and as guest Principal of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. Block lives in Minneapolis with his wife Kathryn Nettleman, a member of the Minnesota Orchestra, and their daughter Inez.

Violinist Dr. Elizabeth York lives in St. Paul, MN and is sought after as a performer and teacher across the region. She serves as Associate Concertmaster and Personnel Manager of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, and is on faculty at the UW Eau-Claire and Birch Creek Music Performance Center. Elizabeth also plays baroque violin as a member of Lyra Baroque Orchestra.

She completed a dual Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Stony Brook University (NY) in violin and viola performance in 2013. Elizabeth also holds a BM from East Carolina University and MM from Stony Brook University in violin performance. Her major teachers include violinists Ara Gregorian, Soovin Kim, and Phil Setzer, and violists Dan Panner, Nicholas Cords, and Lawrence Dutton.

Minneapolis native Ian Snyder completed his master's degree in violin performance at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, and pursued undergraduate studies, summa cum laude, at the University of Minnesota and the Salzburg Mozarteum. He has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra, and the Academy Chamber Soloists in Prague, and has been engaged for solo recitals across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, as well as chamber music performances on PBS, the cultural TV series Metropol in Prague, and with principal members of the Minnesota Orchestra and SPCO. He is also on the faculty at the University of Minnesota at the Bravo Institute for Piano and Strings, and is deeply dedicated to his private studio in South Minneapolis.

A versatile performer in the Twin Cities, Lindsey Bordner began studying the violin at age 7. Ms. Bordner has a passion for chamber music, which has led her to endeavors ranging from premieres and recordings of new works to early music and Baroque performance practice. Currently, her main performing outlets are Lyra Baroque Orchestra, the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, Stone Arch String Quartet, and the award-winning Minneapolis bluegrass band No Man's String Band. As a founding member of string quartet Thalia Strings, Lindsey has traveled the world performing on cruise ships.

Lindsey has had the pleasure of performing with such artists as Michael Bublé, Hanson, Michael Bolton, KYGO, 2 Cellos, and the Trans Siberian Orchestra, and her playing can be heard on hip-hop albums by Brother Ali and Heiruspecs. As a fan of varying music styles, she is an avid arranger of her own unique string quartet interpretations of popular songs. In addition, Lindsey maintains a small private teaching studio. Above all, Lindsey enjoys sharing her training and passion for music with audiences and students while continuing to pursue her love of artistic collaboration in any way she finds spontaneous, exciting, and meaningful.

Ms. Bordner holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from the University of Minnesota where she studied with Sally O’Reilly, and Master of Music degrees in Violin Performance and Chamber Music from the University of Michigan, where she studied with Yehonatan Berick. She has had the honor of participating in such music festivals as the American Bach Soloists Academy, Music Academy of the West, the Montecito Music Festival, Bravo!, and the Castleman Quartet Programs.