Chicago Musicians

Song-hea Sackrider, Violin, received her Bachelors degree in Violin Performance from the University of Michigan and a Masters degree in Violin Performance from Northwestern University. Her principal teachers include, Lyman and Alan Bodman, Andrew Jennings and Almita Vamos. She has been a member of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and guest principal and soloist with the Kalamazoo Symphony. In 1998, she was chosen as a recipient of the Kapnick Scholar Fellowship with the Civic Orchestra and Northwestern University. Upon graduation, she was awarded the Martha Reid Steinbach award for her achievement in both academic and performing excellence. In 2001, she received the Sigurd Rislov Foundation Grant for her recording of Strauss, Ysaye and Tartini.

Nami Hanson, Violin, was born in Seoul, Korea. She has traveled and studied in Europe, Korea and the United States. Nami has degrees in Violin Performance from the Nice Music Conservatory in France, a Bachleors Degree in Music from Seoul University and a Masters degree from Roosevelt University where she was a student of Yuko Mori, and Joseph Golan. In 1994, Nami was invited to attend the Bareuth Chamber Music Festival in Germany. Her orchestral experience includes the Seoul Orchestral Symphony and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago where she was honored to perform under the direction of Daniel Barenboim at Carnegie Hall. Currently, Nami teaches in the Northbrook School district and her private studio in Evanston, Illinois.

Shiho Toyonaga, Viola, was born in Japan. She obtained her bachelors and Masters degree in Viola Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland. Her Orchestral experience includes the Elgin Symphony, Camerata Chicago and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Shiho is in high demand as a teacher and performer in the Chicago and surrounding areas. She is currently on staff at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, Illinois.

Matthew Agnew, Cello, studied Suzuki cello from age four with Marilyn Kesler in Okemos, Michigan. In high school he had the benefit of orchestra instruction and guidance from Shirley Mullins, a former Janos Starker student, and cello instruction from Jane Katsuyama of the Dayton Philharmonic. He attended DePaul University on scholarship and studied with William Cernota from the Lyric Opera Orchestra. In 2001 he won second place at the Lansing Matinee Musicale Richardson Awards. Matthew has played with several Chicago area orchestras, including the Illinois Philharmonic, Concertante di Chicago, Metropolis Symphony Orchestra, Chicagoland Pops Orchestra, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. He is currently the principal cellist of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. In 2005 he won the assistant principal position with the Lancaster Festival Orchestra.

Anna Park, Cello received her Bachelor of Music degree in Cello Performance fom the Peabody institute of Johns Hopkins University and recently received her Master of Music Degree from Northwestern University. She was a member and principal cellist of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Her teachers include CaroleNeuen-Rabinowitz, Martha Gerschefski, Alan Stepansky and Hans Jergen Jensen.