Welcome to Our Spring Semester

Brian Jones

Brian Jones is a teacher/drummer/composer based in Richmond, VA. Brian received his PhD in American Studies from the College of William and Mary. His doctoral dissertation, Becoming Paul Motian: Identity, Labor, and Musical Invention focuses on the life and music of jazz drummer/composer Paul Motian. Brian recently taught two courses at William and Mary: “New Orleans: Musical and Cultural History” and “Improvising America: The Cultural Politics of Jazz in the Twentieth Century.” Other research interests include Miles Davis’ music in the 1970s, Sun Ra and Afrofuturism, the Meters and the New Orleans funk tradition, and Max Roach’s political aesthetic. As a freelance performer, Brian has played with John Abercrombie, Houston Person, Peter Bernstein, René Marie, Mark Turner, Karrin Allyson, Darius Jones, Randy Brecker, Terell Stafford, and many others. He is currently on the music faculties of University of Richmond, College of William and Mary, and Old Dominion University.

Treesa Gold

Treesa Gold is a vibrant performer in the Richmond area, performing frequently with the Richmond Symphony and recording with Spacebomb Studios. She is in the powerful string quartet, Rosette, a group that strives to make meaningful connections through music to diverse audiences. A great lover of opera and orchestra, she holds the position of concertmaster of the Opera on the James and a titled position with the Williamsburg Symphony. Before moving to Richmond, Mrs. Gold lived in New Orleans and was a member in the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra from 2004 to 2006.

Mrs. Gold is also a passionate Suzuki teacher with a strong belief in children’s potential and its importance for the betterment of the world. She has been given the honor of teaching at many festivals, both nationwide and internationally. Treesa is married to double bass player, Matt Gold. In addition to classical music, they played together in the rock band, Goldrush, for six years. Treesa and Matt are also the happy parents to two children, Kit & Artemis.

Titus Underwood

Titus Underwood is Principal Oboe of the Nashville Symphony. Prior to the Nashville Symphony, he was Acting Associate Principal Oboe of the Utah Symphony. He received his Master of Music from The Juilliard School, where he studied with Elaine Douvas, and additional studies with Nathan Hughes and Pedro Díaz. He earned his Bachelor of Music at the Cleveland Institute of Music as a pupil of John Mack. There he also studied with Frank Rosenwein and Jeffrey Rathbun. In 2013, he received his artist diploma from the Colburn School with Allan Vogel. Additional teachers include Anne Marie Gabriele, Robert Atherholt, and Joseph Robinson. Titus has performed with a wide array of major symphony orchestras across the United States. He has also played principal oboe in Chineke! Orchestra, Gateways Music Festival, and Bellingham Festival of Music.

Titus has been teaching music lessons and classes, and coaching chamber music since he was a student at the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2006. He has maintained a private studio and taught in precollege programs at CIM, Juilliard, and the National Youth Orchestras program at Carnegie Hall. He has taught in the Nashville Symphony’s Accelerando program since 2017, and he teaches and mentors for the National Alliance for Audition Support program maintained by the League of American Orchestras, the Sphinx Organization, and the New World Symphony. Titus has been a regular speaker and participant in the annual SphinxConnect conference since 2017, and in the Gateways Music Festival since 2015.

Titus is a 2021 recipient of the Sphinx Medal of Excellence award.

Ellen Cockerham Riccio

Ellen Cockerham Riccio has served as Principal Second Violin of the Richmond Symphony since 2009. Previously, she served as Principal Second Violin in the Canton (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra and in CityMusic Cleveland. According to the Commercial Appeal, Ellen’s “exquisite” performance of Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben as guest concertmaster of the Memphis Symphony in 2013 exhibited “an extraordinary range of expression.”

In 2012, Ellen founded Classical Revolution RVA, the Richmond chapter of a global movement to bring classical music performances to non-traditional venues. By the time she resigned as Executive Director in 2018, the organization had grown to include over 300 musicians, produced more than 100 unique events, and established the annual Mozart Festival, a free, day-long event that brings live performances of Mozart’s symphonies, operas, and chamber music to bars, coffee shops, and art galleries.

A native of Portland, Oregon, Ellen holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in violin performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she was a student of William Preucil, former concertmaster of the Cleveland Orchestra.

Adrian Pintea

Romanian violinist Constantin Adrian Pintea has performed throughout Europe and the United States as a soloist and chamber music player. Adrian won his first national prize at the age of 12 and was a prize recipient at the Jeunesses Musicales and Remember Enescu international competitions. He was accepted at The Juilliard School for his undergraduate studies and, after completing his Bachelor’s Degree, was awarded the Eugenia and David Ames Concertmaster Fellowship at the Mannes School of Music. He has performed regularly as a chamber player in major halls such as Alice Tully Hall, the Morgan Library & Museum, and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.

Adrian has also participated in several music festivals, including the Breckenridge Music Festival, Mozarteum Academy in Salzburg, and the Texas Music Festival, where he was a prize recipient of the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Young Artist Competition. After completing his studies, Adrian joined the New World Symphony where he had the opportunity to serve as concertmaster under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas and Esa-Pekka Salonen, among others. After being named Associate Concertmaster of the Richmond Symphony, Adrian opened a violin studio teaching intermediate to advanced students with a focus on music development and appreciation. He also works frequently with the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program coaching sectionals and ensemble rehearsals.

Christopher Farrell

Composer, violist, and educator, Christopher Farrell has been a member of the Nashville Symphony since 1999. He received a Bachelor of Music from the University of North Texas under the tutelage of Dr. George Papich, and a Master of Music degree from Indiana University as a student of Atar Arad.

In addition to performing with the Nashville Symphony and ALIAS Chamber Ensemble, Christopher is an active studio musician and can be heard on numerous albums by an eclectic range of recording artists.

A veteran teacher of viola, chamber music, and composition, Christopher has taught in the Nashville Symphony Accelerando Program since its inception, where he is actively involved in fostering the growth of talented students from underrepresented ethnicities.

Christopher’s compositions have been performed by ALIAS Chamber Ensemble, musicians of the Nashville Symphony, and Accelerando faculty and students, as well as musicians across the country. His music is frequently broadcast on WPLN (Nashville Public Radio), including performances on WPLN Classical’s Live in Studio C.

In 2015, Christopher was awarded a Bonnaroo Works/Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Grant by the Metro Nashville Arts Commission for the creation and recording of Needle and Thread, Trio for Flute, Viola, and Harp. Tennessee Roads for 6 String Electric Violin and String Quartet, recorded by ALIAS Chamber Ensemble, was made possible through funding from the Tennessee Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts. In 2020, Poem for One for Solo Viola was recognized by the American Viola Society’s Maurice Gardner Composition Competition.

For more information, visit christopherfarrellmusic.com.

Dana McComb

Canadian-born cellist Dana McComb has performed as a chamber musician, recitalist, and orchestral musician in venues across North America.

An avid teacher, Dana has held faculty positions at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and the Eckhardt-Gramatté Conservatory, and is currently on faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University and teaches privately in Richmond. She is the creator of the online theory program, “Theory is Fun RVA.” Her students have represented the state of Virginia in the MTNA Competitions at the regional level for both the Junior and Senior String divisions, and at the Nationals Finals for the Junior level. They have performed at Carnegie Hall, performed as soloists with the Richmond Symphony and the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra, and have attended universities and music festivals around the world. Her students participate in all levels of the YOP program. Dana works regularly with the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program and the Youth Orchestras of Central Virginia, is sought after as a clinician in schools around Virginia, and has been a jury member of the state and regional level MTNA Competitions.

Dana holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where she studied with Irene Sharp and Bonnie Hampton, and an Associate Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music where she studied with David Hetherington.

Daniel Myssyk

Professor Daniel Myssyk is the Assistant Conductor of the Richmond Symphony and Director of the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra. He has been Virginia Commonwealth University’s Director of Orchestral Activities since 2007, and he has a well-honed passion for music education. In addition to his work at VCU, he is a regular collaborator with Senior Regional Orchestras, the All-Virginia State Orchestra, and the Hampton Roads Chamber Players, among others.

Daniel’s approach to working with students combines quick problem-solving techniques with detail-oriented work, oftentimes peppered with a touch of humor. He finds this approach best to maintain the group’s attention and willingness to try their best to accommodate the many challenges young musicians face in the process of making music in an ensemble setting.

Melissa Jones

Melissa Jones is delighted to direct the Sinfonietta String Ensemble with the Richmond Symphony School of Music and its Youth Orchestra Program. She received music degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the University of Tennessee. She taught Strings in Hanover County Public Schools for sixteen years and is currently in her 3rd year as current director of Orchestras at Collegiate School in Richmond, VA. She has guest conducted for honors school programs in Virginia and has served as an adjudicator for state-wide orchestra assessments. Ms. Jones is especially driven to explore and appreciate a diverse set of music styles and genres as applied to our orchestral instruments. 

Ms. Jones maintains a private studio of violin and viola students and is an active musician in the Richmond scene. Her current musical project is performing with the local indie rock band, Timothy Bailey and the Humans; she enjoys being a violin playing human. She has participated in many album recordings and has performed with local and regional orchestras on violin and viola.  

Ms. Jones is a member of The National Association for Music Education, the Virginia Band and Director’s Association, and the American String Teachers Association. Melissa resides in Ashland, VA with her husband, Aaron, and two sons, Charlie (4) and Ezekiel (23), where they enjoy spinning records, making up songs, and building epic lego creations.

Sandy Goldie

Sandy Goldie is Director of Music Education at Virginia Commonwealth University, President of Virginia Music Educators Association Higher Education Division, and serving as immediate Past President of the Virginia Chapter of the American String Teachers Association as the author of two popular books on string teaching and instruments. She is an active guest conductor/adjudicator and orchestra clinician across the United States. She is a frequent presenter at state, national, and international music education conferences such as Midwest, NAfME, ASTA, VMEA, ISAME, and TMEA. She takes great joy in working with the students of the Richmond Symphony Youth Concert Orchestra.

Christopher Moseley

Christopher Moseley is the Education Specialist for Performing Arts at Henrico County Public Schools in Henrico County, VA. He is a graduate of Huguenot High School in Richmond, VA and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education degree from Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, FL. He holds a Masters of Music from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Post-Masters Certificate in Educational Leadership and Administration from The George Washington University.

Christopher has conducted for the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program since 2015 and currently conducts the Wind Ensemble. Additionally, he serves as conductor for the Richmond Police Athletic League Band and music director for the Richmond Nativity Pageant. Christopher has served as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for various school divisions, as well as the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association and the Florida Bandmasters Association. In 2019, Christopher was selected as “Teacher of the Year” for Varina High School and “Music Educator of the Year” for Henrico County Public Schools.

Christopher has performed on the 20th Century Fox movie Drumline, the Ellen DeGeneres Show, ESPN, EA Sports Video Games, MTV, BET, The Word Network, and at Walt Disney World. As trumpeter in the QuintEssential Jazz Ensemble/Trademark Band, he maintains an active performing schedule. Christopher enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife Erika and their children Jordyn and Josiah.

Dana McComb

Canadian-born cellist Dana McComb has performed as a chamber musician, recitalist, and orchestral musician in venues across North America.

An avid teacher, Dana has held faculty positions at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and the Eckhardt-Gramatté Conservatory, and is currently on faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University and teaches privately in Richmond. She is the creator of the online theory program, “Theory is Fun RVA.” Her students have represented the state of Virginia in the MTNA Competitions at the regional level for both the Junior and Senior String divisions, and at the Nationals Finals for the Junior level. They have performed at Carnegie Hall, performed as soloists with the Richmond Symphony and the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra, and have attended universities and music festivals around the world. Her students participate in all levels of the YOP program. Dana works regularly with the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program and the Youth Orchestras of Central Virginia, is sought after as a clinician in schools around Virginia, and has been a jury member of the state and regional level MTNA Competitions.

Dana holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where she studied with Irene Sharp and Bonnie Hampton, and an Associate Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music where she studied with David Hetherington.

Dana McComb

Canadian-born cellist Dana McComb has performed as a chamber musician, recitalist, and orchestral musician in venues across North America.

An avid teacher, Dana has held faculty positions at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and the Eckhardt-Gramatté Conservatory, and is currently on faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University and teaches privately in Richmond. She is the creator of the online theory program, “Theory is Fun RVA.” Her students have represented the state of Virginia in the MTNA Competitions at the regional level for both the Junior and Senior String divisions, and at the Nationals Finals for the Junior level. They have performed at Carnegie Hall, performed as soloists with the Richmond Symphony and the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra, and have attended universities and music festivals around the world. Her students participate in all levels of the YOP program. Dana works regularly with the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program and the Youth Orchestras of Central Virginia, is sought after as a clinician in schools around Virginia, and has been a jury member of the state and regional level MTNA Competitions.

Dana holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where she studied with Irene Sharp and Bonnie Hampton, and an Associate Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music where she studied with David Hetherington.