Metropolitan Washington DC's Premier Ensemble
Metropolitan Washington DC's Premier Ensemble
Meet Irina Desmond
PACO's talented cellist and artist.
Listen & Enjoy!
Paintings available for purchase at www.irinadesmond.com
Camille Saint-Saëns
The Swan
Irina Desmond
Cello and Painting
Edward Elgar
Salute d'Amour
Irina Desmond
Cello and Painting
Ludwig van Beethoven
Fur Elise
Irina Desmond
Cello and Painting
Pro Artè Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington
Metropolitan Washington DC's Premier Ensemble
Dr. Dimitar Nikolov, Music Director
RETURNING TO THE STAGE
STRONGER IN 2021.
We know this has been a challenging year for you as well as many of our musicians who rely on live performances for their income. We miss the interaction with one another as we prepare for our concerts, but most of all we miss seeing you. There is no substitute for performing for a live audience that appreciates what you do.
As 2020 draws to a close, we look forward to a brighter future when we are back on stage, and live music will fill our lives once again. PACO remains committed to sharing traditional and new music with our audiences, and we are especially committed to performing compositions from artists who are underrepresented in classical music - women and people of color.
However, none of this is possible without your support. So please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to PACO so we may return safely and stronger than ever. Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you soon.
The Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington
is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt not-for-profit organization.
Your donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
We hope to see you this Spring!
Please check back, or join our mailing list for updates.
MAESTRO DIMITAR NIKOLOV
Conductor & Music Director
Dimitar Nikolov, a versatile conductor, pianist, and educator, has conducted orchestra and opera performances in the United States and Europe. Audiences have been impressed by his ability to energize the orchestra and to produce a unique sound within a large dynamic range. He has held conducting positions in the US and his native country Bulgaria, including his current position as Music Director/Conductor of Baltimore Philharmonia Orchestra. Dr. Nikolov has appeared as a guest conductor with orchestras in the United States, Austria, Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, Russia, Romania, and Ukraine.
Dimitar began his career as Assistant Conductor of the Burgas State Opera in Bulgaria. Early in his career he won the Vienna Chamber Orchestra competition and had the opportunity to conduct a subscription concert with one of the world's greatest chamber orchestras. This success led to numerous guest conducting opportunities with most of the major Bulgarian symphony orchestra and his appointment as Music Director/Conductor of the Bulgarian National Wind Symphony. After moving to the US in 1996, Dr. Nikolov served as Music Director/Conductor of the Fort Dodge Symphony and Assistant Conductor of Des Moines Metro Opera, before his current appointment as Music Director of the Baltimore Philharmonia Orchestra. He has conducted concerts in some of the most prestigious world concert halls such as The Kennedy Center of Performing Arts, Mozart Hall (Vienna, Austria), and The National Palace of Culture Concert Hall (Sofia, Bulgaria).
Dimitar has studied with many eminent conductors such as Ilya Mousine, Yury Temirkanov, James Levine, and Alan Gilbert. In 1999, as a fellowship recipient, he spent a summer in Aspen, studying with David Zinman and Murry Sidlin. He has a DMA in Orchestral Conducting from The Catholic University of America and MM from the National Academy of Music-Sofia, Bulgaria.
Dr. Nikolov is also active as an educator. He has served on the music faculty of The Catholic University of America, Waldorf University, Simpson College, the International School of Music, and the Bulgarian National Academy of Music.
Dimitar lives in Annapolis, MD with his wife Nicole, Princess (an old but adorable cocker spaniel), and Mecho (hyperactive American Eskimo). For more information about Dr. Nikolov, please visit his website: www.dimitar-nikolov.com.
CONCERTMISTRESS
Dr. Marjory Serrano-Coyer
Loudoun County's own accomplished soloist, orchestral and chamber musician, Marjory Serrano-Coyer began violin studies at the Aragua Symphony Foundation in Venezuela. She has studied with many noted teachers and has earned a Master of Music degree in Violin Performance and Artist Diplomas in String Quartet Studies and Violin Performance from Shenandoah Conservatory under Akemi Takayama.
She was a member of the Aragua Symphony Orchestra in Venezuela from 1995 until 2001, and Principal Second Violin in the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra from 2003 until 2014. She has extensive experience serving as a concertmaster, including with the Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony Orchestra for several years under Venezuelan conductor Jan Wagner, and most recently has served as concertmaster for the Catholic University of America Symphony Orchestra while pursuing her doctoral studies at that institution under the direction of Jody Gatwood.
Dr. Serrano served as principal second violin at the Idyllwild Arts Music Festival under the baton of Larry Livingston, and also performed at the Castleton Festival under the baton of then-New York Philharmonic conductor Lorin Maazel. Dr. Serrano has performed at such renowned venues as Carnegie Hall in New York City, the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, and the Walt Disney Concert hall in Los Angeles. In 2007, she was the only violinist from the Americas invited to compete in the International Violin Competition Citta d'Brescia in Italy.
Dr. Serrano is currently the concertmaster of the National String Symphonia and the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington. She also performs with the Apollo Orchestra in the Washington, DC area, and the Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra in Shepherdstown, WV. Additionally, Ms. Serrano is a founding member of the Loudoun Quartet and Argot String Quartet. Dr. Serrano holds an adjunct faculty position in violin at Frederick (MD) Community College and teaches 5th-grade orchestra at Loudoun Country Day School in Leesburg, VA.
Orchestra Personnel
The Artists of PACO
Strings
Violin
Dr. Marjory Serrano-Coyer, concertmaster
Dr. Jie Hyue Kim, assistant concertmaster
Ji Hyun Bae
Nancy Bovill
Sarah Calderon
Sarah Costales
Thomas Gardner
Eunju Kwak
Margot Mezvinsky
Carla Moussavi
Frank Perrachia
Caroline Peterson
Amy Walder
Heather Wong Voorhees
Viola
Dr. Nora Hamme, principal
Andrew Crane
Jennifer Bockstege
Carla Deniz
Jason Diggs
Catherine Palusci
Adrienn Salazar
Dan Zhang
Violoncello
Camilo Perez-Mejia, principal
Meghan Hickman, assistant principal
Jennene Estes
Irina P. Desmond
Sarah Hover
Dr. Heejung Jung
Contrabass
Michael Rohrer, principal
Erik Cohen
Kenton Hambrick
Naj Qureshi
Harp
Anne Ray †
Cheryl Roeske
Harpsichord
Trystan Bennett †
Guitar
Candice Mowbray
Piano/Organ
Jennifer Quiñones †
Personnel Manager
Woodwind, Brass & Percussion
Flute/Piccolo
William Craig Marlowe †
Ashley Bowen-Sanchez †
Laura Benning
Andrea Diggs
Michelle Adams-Rippey
Oboe/Cor Anglais
Robert D. Huffman, Jr. †
Jane Hughes †
Emily Bentgen †
Adéle-Marie Buis
Mary Padilla
Clarinet
Alisha D. Coleman †
Elizabeth C. Bley †
Angela Murakama
Bassoon
Dr. Walter D. Wynn, III †
Robin Gelman †
Matthew Ogden
Contrabassoon
Dr. Robert Goler †
Horn
Dr. L. Avery Pettigrew †
Bernard Baiden †
Wendy Chinn †
Emilio Colina †
Trumpet
Chieko Matsuyama Reaves †
Paul Florek
Sonja Jewell
David Ottinger †
Trombone
Dr. Huai-En Tsai †
Christopher Reaves †
Adam Stokes †
Steve Ward
Tuba
Jeffrey Jacobsen
Percussion/Timpani
Chris DeChiara †
Carlos Figuieras†
Emilie Mitchell †
Matthew Robotham †
† Core Winds and Percussion
VACANCIES
Audition & join the fun - we've got a top-notch ensemble!
CLICK HERE to request an audition or for more information.
Violin
Tutti
Please prepare a short solo work of your choosing
(or etude, movement of a concerto or sonata) no more than 3-5 minutes in length, plus the following excerpts:
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 3
2nd Mvt. – Measure 117 through measure 145
Felix Mendelssohn
Midsummer Night’s Dream
Scherzo – Beginning thru seven measures after D
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 39
Violoncello
Tutti
Please prepare a short solo work of your choosing
(or etude, movement of a concerto or sonata) no more than 3-5 minutes in length, plus the following excerpts:
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 8
Johannes Brahms
Symphony No. 2
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 40
Board of Directors
President & Managing Artistic Director
William Craig Marlowe
Vice President & Executive Director
Alisha D. Coleman
Secretary and Personnel Manager
Dr. Nora Hamme
Treasurer
Whitney S. Flood Dunton
Directors
Ashley Bowen-Sanchez, Outreach & Development
Jane Hughes, Outreach & Development
Dr. Lois McMahon, Outreach & Development
Dr. Dimitar Nikolov, Conductor & Music Director
Dr. Marjory Serrano-Coyer, Concertmaster
About
HEAR MUSIC DIFFERENTLY...
Our Mission
The mission of the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington (PACO) is to create intimate, inspirational musical experiences throughout the Washington DC area by engaging the community through vibrant music making by the orchestra and chamber ensembles.
Our Vision
PACO will perform traditional classical favorites, rarely heard works by well-known and new composers, and skillfully arranged reductions of larger orchestral masterpieces. We will also provide encouragement to Washington DC area composers by commissioning and performing their new works. Moreover, we seek to make classical music accessible to the entire community. Low income, at-risk, disabled, students, youths and elderly individuals will be encouraged to attend, by receiving discounted admission to our events. PACO will thrive by interactively engaging our audience, and exclusively highlighting our orchestral artists as soloists.
In a nutshell...
The main artistic drive behind PACO is the desire to revitalize the classical music scene from within, by re-imagining & redefining the content and delivery of classical concerts. This means approaching each program or individual work with a fresh mind, searching for ways to make the music more engaging, more inspiring, more profound. Our biggest aim is to fill our audience with the passion we feel about our music, and create truly memorable performances.
The Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington (PACODC) shares in the outrage and sadness over the ongoing violence committed against communities of color across our nation recently and throughout history. We stand in solidarity with all of those who are protesting today and tomorrow.
Please join us in publicly affirming your commitment to speaking out against violence, hatred, and bigotry. PACODC is committed to being an inclusive organization that provides a safe space for all who wish to listen, perform, and study music.
Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington
EIN: 47-1663450
Please donate.
The Pro Artè Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt not-for-profit organization. Your donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
FRIENDS OF PACO
The main artistic drive behind the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington (PACO) is the desire to revitalize the classical music scene from within, by re-imagining & redefining the content and delivery of classical concerts. This means approaching each program or individual work with a fresh mind, searching for ways to make the music more engaging, more inspiring, more profound. Our biggest aim is to fill our audience with the passion we feel about our music and create truly memorable performances.
Your generous gift will help the Pro Artè Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington make music relevant to new generations of audiences through virtuosic performances that combine a diversity of genres with fresh interpretations of classic works.
If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities (chair endowments, concert/full season dedications, underwriting soloist fees, etc.), please contact our Executive Director, Alisha Coleman at (571) 483-8444 or via e-mail at info@PACOdc.org with your inquiry, questions, or comments about Friends of PACO donor benefits.
Pro Artè Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington
612 West Maple Avenue
Sterling, VA 20164
Thank you for your support!
All Checks should be made payable to PACOdc, Inc.
or visit the link below to DONATE securely via paypal
PACO is available for hire and/or collaboration. Our experienced musicians and management team are pleased to cater to the needs of almost any project. Whether you wish to hire an orchestra for a function or event or to accompany your solo project or record your composition. Whatever the event or project, PACO can tailor the orchestra or other associated chamber groups to your musical requirements with excellent quality of performance and management. To discuss your project in more detail and to get a quote, contact Alisha Coleman, Executive Director, at (571) 483-8444 or email at the button below.
Contact Us!
Don't be afraid to reach out. You + us = awesome.
Concert Venue
UNITED CHRISTIAN PARISH OF RESTON
11508 N. Shore Drive, Reston, VA 22190
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