STRINGS
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.
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Daphne Waggener
viola & violin
Daphne Waggener is a dedicated and accomplished violist with a Master’s degree in Music
Performance from the University of Toronto. A passionate orchestral musician, she is a core
member of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra and regularly performs as a substitute with the
Sarasota Orchestra. Originally from Sarasota, Florida, Daphne has had the privilege of
collaborating with many of the region’s esteemed orchestral professionals, experiences that
have deeply shaped her musical voice and professional journey.
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.​​
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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.
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Joe Higginbotham
classical guitar
Joe Higginbotham holds a Bachelor of Music from Emporia State University, and a Master of
Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in classical guitar performance from Arizona State University.
Joe’s primary teacher at ASU was Frank Koonce, a renowned scholar on the music of Bach.​
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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.
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