Danielle Fagan Larios, owner and founder of 757 Strings, has been playing the violin and viola for over 25 years. She is a Hampton Roads native and graduated from James Madison University with degrees in Music Performance and Education. She has performed all over the world, including California, New England, West Virginia, Austria and Germany. Danielle plays with Symphonicity Orchestra, the Northern Neck Orchestra, Col Vita Strings and Melodious String Ensembles. She has had the opportunity to play with many well-renowned artists, including The Hanson Brothers, Patti LuPone, Kansas, Paul Baloche, Soon Hee Newbold and Brian Balmages. After returning to Hampton Roads, she started 757 Strings to pursue her passion of setting memories to music!
Danielle is currently the Orchestra Director at Princess Anne Middle School and runs a private violin and viola studio.
Danielle is currently the Orchestra Director at Princess Anne Middle School and runs a private violin and viola studio.
Daniel Austin, having called Norfolk home for most of his life, has established himself as a prominent musician and educator in the area. After graduating Old Dominion University with a Bachelors of Music Education, Daniel went on to pursue a Masters of Music at James Madison University where he studied with renowned violist Amadi Azikiwe.
He is passionate about music education, and with over a decade of experience teaching, he has inspired countless students to discover the joys of music and unlock their creative potential. Daniel performs all over Southeast Virginia as a member of 757 Strings and the Symphonicity Orchestra, and is currently the Orchestra Director at Blair Middle School.
He is passionate about music education, and with over a decade of experience teaching, he has inspired countless students to discover the joys of music and unlock their creative potential. Daniel performs all over Southeast Virginia as a member of 757 Strings and the Symphonicity Orchestra, and is currently the Orchestra Director at Blair Middle School.
Puerto Rican cellist Brian Cortes-Bofill is a senior at Old Dominion University's Diehn school of Music, majoring in Cello Performance. He has been playing the cello for 11 years, 9 years under the instruction of Professor Leslie Frittelli. During his high school years, Brian participated in the Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia, the Hampton Roads Chamber Players, and attended the Governor's School for the Arts. At Old Dominion, he has been a member of the scholarship and competition-based "Russell Stanger String Quartet" since his freshman year, as well as the New Music Ensemble since his sophomore year. He has also been a winner of the Young Artists Competition in his sophomore year, performing Elgar's Cello Concerto in E minor, and a finalist in his senior year, performing Schumann's Cello Concerto in A minor and Brahms' Double Concerto in A minor. He is also a permanent member of the Symphonicity Orchestra of Virginia Beach and continues to play a wide spectrum of repertoire with them. Brian enjoys performing in many chamber and orchestral settings, and has a special appreciation for contemporary and modern repertoire.
Shirley Luu Smith has played the viola since 1998. She minored in Music Performance while majoring in Civil Engineering at Old Dominion University. During the day, Shirley is a water/wastewater engineer; at night, she is the principal violist of Symphonicity. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Hampton Roads Chamber Players and performs various types of music, from classical to modern folk, at different venues throughout the Hampton Roads area. Shirley resides in Virginia Beach with her husband, pug, and Australian shepherd and enjoys hiking.
Alexandra Marlins (she/her) grew up in Virginia Beach and began her musical journey at age 5 with piano lessons from her mother. She picked up the violin in 6th grade, and spent many years in the Virginia Children’s Chorus. Alex received her B.M.E. from Lee University, and went on to earn her certification in Suzuki Violin units 1-7 from teacher trainers James Hutchins and Libby Armour. She now serves as a Suzuki strings teacher with the Academy of Music in Norfolk, Strelitz International Academy in Virginia Beach. Additionally, she is in her second year as director of orchestras at Norfolk Collegiate. Alex performs regularly with Symphonicity orchestra, wedding chamber groups via 757 Strings, and at local retirement facilities with the Tidewater Arts Outreach. Her favorite composer is Tchaikovsky, and her favorite chamber piece is Schubert’s 13th string quartet. When (rarely!) not practicing music, Alex loves reading, knitting, watching Gilmore Girls, and adventuring or cuddling with her dog Max.
Melinda Matthews Ward began playing the 'cello at age 10. She graduated from Floyd E. Kellam High School in 2010 and began studying Music Education at James Madison University that fall. Melinda graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Industry in May 2015, and is now pursuing a Master's Degree in Music Education from Old Dominion University.
Melinda's playing experiences include symphonic orchestras, pit orchestras for musicals and operas, and small chamber string ensembles, including many wedding ensembles!
Melinda's playing experiences include symphonic orchestras, pit orchestras for musicals and operas, and small chamber string ensembles, including many wedding ensembles!
Nikki Nieves is a graduate of the prestigious Berklee College Of Music with a dual major in Film Scoring and Contemporary Writing & Production. She has over 20 years of violin performance experience in various orchestras and ensembles.
Nikki attended the Governor's School For The Arts in Norfolk, VA and since then, she has become involved in various youth orchestras including the Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia and the Hampton Roads Chamber Players. Nikki continued her performance career with ensembles including Boston Civic Symphony, Wellesley Symphony, Harvard Lowell Opera Orchestra, MIT Philharmonic, Santa Monica Symphony, and Symphonicity. She’s had the privilege of performing with notable artists and on various opera productions.
She currently resides in Hampton Roads and serves as Education Manager of the Virginia Arts Festival and Operations Manager of the Norfolk NATO Festival.
Nikki attended the Governor's School For The Arts in Norfolk, VA and since then, she has become involved in various youth orchestras including the Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia and the Hampton Roads Chamber Players. Nikki continued her performance career with ensembles including Boston Civic Symphony, Wellesley Symphony, Harvard Lowell Opera Orchestra, MIT Philharmonic, Santa Monica Symphony, and Symphonicity. She’s had the privilege of performing with notable artists and on various opera productions.
She currently resides in Hampton Roads and serves as Education Manager of the Virginia Arts Festival and Operations Manager of the Norfolk NATO Festival.
Marc Powell originally hails from Norfolk, VA. His instructors include Dr. Carl Donakowski, professor of cello at JMU, Janet Kriner, former principal cellist of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and Maria Baylock, former principal cellist of the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra. Marc received his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education in 2009 from James Madison University.
Currently, Marc performs with Symphonicity. He is also an active musician in the Praise Band of Greenbrier Community Church in Chesapeake, VA, playing piano, bass guitar, and strings. His previous ensemble experience includes playing in the cello section of the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra and musical pit orchestras for local productions.
Marc is the music director for Veritas Collegiate Academy, a private school in Chesapeake, VA.
Currently, Marc performs with Symphonicity. He is also an active musician in the Praise Band of Greenbrier Community Church in Chesapeake, VA, playing piano, bass guitar, and strings. His previous ensemble experience includes playing in the cello section of the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra and musical pit orchestras for local productions.
Marc is the music director for Veritas Collegiate Academy, a private school in Chesapeake, VA.
Déz Ramos-Smiley began playing the cello in 1998 and has been teaching the cello for two decades. They went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from East Carolina University, earning two Bachelor’s degrees in Music Education and Cello Performance in 2010, and recently began a Master's Degree program in Educational Leadership at Old Dominion University, due to graduate in May of 2024. They continue to perform professionally with the Tar River Symphony, Symphonicity of Virginia Beach, and chamber groups such as 757Strings, Col Vita Music, and Club Violin. Déz performs regularly on electric and acoustic cellos in weddings, ballets, musicals, operas, cantatas, and concerts in various styles and repertoires throughout Hampton Roads and Eastern North Carolina.Mx. Ramos-Smiley maintains a private studio and is passionate about equity, diversity, and inclusion practices- allowing music and education to be accessible and relevant to everyone. In addition to a musical career, they are an avid cyclist and group fitness instructor- and hope to create a more beautiful world through movement and the arts. Déz lives in Portsmouth, VA, with wife, Seisha, and four very mischievous cats.
Hailing from Humacao, Puerto Rico, Joshua Sierra Delgado is a Cellist with experience in the Entertainment, Hospitality, and Social Media Industries. Josh began studying Cello when he and his family moved to the United States more than a decade ago. He continued to hone his musical talents in the beautiful city of New Orleans at Loyola University New Orleans, under the instruction of Professor Philip von Maltzahn and the late Dr. Allen Nisbet.
He's been a featured Soloist in multiple venues across the United States and Mexico, as well as a Studio Cellist for multiple albums around the globe. Although classically trained, Josh is well versed in many other genres including but not limited to: Indie Folk, Jazz and Pop.
His most recent performances include Netflix's "A Queen's Ball: A Bridgerton Experience." "Sarah Brightman: A Christmas Symphony." and subbing for the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and The New Orleans Chamber Orchestra.
He's been a featured Soloist in multiple venues across the United States and Mexico, as well as a Studio Cellist for multiple albums around the globe. Although classically trained, Josh is well versed in many other genres including but not limited to: Indie Folk, Jazz and Pop.
His most recent performances include Netflix's "A Queen's Ball: A Bridgerton Experience." "Sarah Brightman: A Christmas Symphony." and subbing for the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and The New Orleans Chamber Orchestra.
Keara Smith has been playing the violin since age 11. She graduated from Norview High School in 2007 and began studying Music Education at Old Dominion University. Throughout high school, Keara was a member of Norfolk Public School's Strolling Silver Strings, performing approximately 60 times a year in different parts of the region. Upon earning her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from ODU, Keara continued with her education and obtained a Master's Degree in Music Education from James Madison University in 2014. Keara is currently teaching Orchestra in Norfolk, VA and is a member of Symphonicity Orchestra
Justin Stanley has played violin for over 23 years and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Music Education, and a Master’s in Art and Teaching from Christopher Newport University, and a Masters in Music Education from Florida State University. He has studied privately with Dora Mullins, Dr. Joseph White, Yun Zhang, and Eliot Chapo. In Orlando, FL, Justin was the Concertmaster of the Central Florida Community Arts Orchestra for 4 years, and performed with Classern Quartet as 1st Violin for 7 years. Currently he performs with Virginia Beach’s Symphonicity Orchestra, as well as recorded for multiple albums, and has performed with the Trans Siberian Orchestra. He previously worked for the New York Summer Music Festival for 4 summers as a Counselor, Teaching Assistant, and Head Orchestra Librarian. Justin currently teaches Orchestra and General Music for the past 9 years and private lessons for the past 15 years.
Avery Danger Suhay is a cellist from Norfolk, Virginia who has both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in music from Old Dominion University. Avery began his study of cello right before college auditions with the help of his first teacher Jeff Phelps. Avery then studied with primary source of inspiration, Leslie Frittelli. Avery is both a performer and a private lesson teacher with his own studio “Avery Suhay Cello Lessons LLC.” Over time, Avery has taught over 90+ students past and present with currently 24 students. He started out teaching for Angelico Violins, then continued to seek opportunities with the Academy of Music in Norfolk, Virginia Beach School of Music, ODU Community Music Division as well as his own private studio. In addition to teaching, Avery plays for the Col Vita string quartet, Jamestown String Quartet (JSQ), Symphonicity community orchestra in Virginia Beach, and La Primavera Strings. Avery continues to perform with ODU as part of the cello choir, making occasional guest performances with the Russell Stanger Quartet and ODU Symphony. Avery has been the assistant director for the New Music Ensemble at ODU where he coached undergraduate students and worked with ODU current and alumni composers. He also worked as the graduate assistant for strings under Dr. Paul Kim. In 2023 he received the ODU Graduate Outstanding Service Award. Having recently graduated Spring of 2023 Avery is growing his private studio and always finding opportunities to perform in the Hampton Roads area and beyond.
Adam Symborski graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Music and concentration in Music Industry. Since starting violin at age 11 and piano at age 7, he has been passionate about music and all it has to offer. Adam has served in various teaching and tutoring positions, including 4 years of summer camp and chamber camp counselling with the Academy of Music, voice tutoring at JMU, and teaching music at outreach camps for at-risk children in the tidewater area. Adam is also a registered Suzuki teacher and has taught general music as well as private lessons in Suzuki violin and piano at Ghent Montessori School.
Adam is currently pursuing his Doctorate at Boston University.
Adam is currently pursuing his Doctorate at Boston University.