STRINGS
Lori Hammel
violin
Lori Hammel began playing the violin at age three. Ms. Hammel earned her Bachelors degree in violin performance and music education at Ithaca College and earned her Master’s degree in performance and Suzuki pedagogy at East Carolina University (ECU). Lori is a strong advocate for the Suzuki approach of learning the violin.
Patrick O'Neil
cello
Patrick O'Neil was accepted at the age of 12 into the pre-college program at the University of South Carolina for cello and attended Governor's School. After graduation he attended USC, where he majored in Music Performance as well as focusing on Music Pedagogy. Since Patrick moved to Asheville 2018, he has performed of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra during their 2021- 2022 season and for special concerts.
Teodora Peeva
violin & viola
Teodora Peeva was born in Sofia, Bulgaria where she began her musical studies at the National Music High School. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in viola performance from the University of California, Santa Cruz, as well a Master and Doctorate degrees from Louisiana State University. Her principal teachers were Roy Malan, Kevork Mardirossian, and Matthew Daline.
Michael DiTrolio
string bass
Michael Di Trolio is a member of Asheville Symphony, Roanoke Symphony and Opera, and Western Piedmont Symphony. He has held the positions of Principal Bass with Paradise Symphony, Associate Principal Bass with the Fayetteville Symphony, and regularly appears with other orchestras throughout the Southeastern United States.
Andrea Pettigrew violin & viola
Andrea Pettigrew began studying the violin at the age of 10 and makes her living as an orchestral and chamber musician throughout the Southeast. She is a member of the Asheville Symphony, the Savannah Philharmonic, and the Greenville Symphony. Andrea maintains a thriving private teaching studio in Asheville and Hendersonville made up of students of all ages.
Frances Duff
cello
With her professional experience, a Master of Music degree, and certification in the Suzuki teaching method, Frances Duff is certainly a talented cello teacher. She holds degrees from prestigious Conservatoire de musique de Quebec in Montreal and then McGill University.