A native of Central Virginia, cellist Emma Hays Johnson is a performing artist, private instructor, and co-founder of the original concert series, Empath Concerts. Currently residing near the D.C. and Baltimore areas, she performs chamber concerts regularly with Washington Musica Viva and has worked alongside artists such as two time grammy winning violinist from the Attacca Quartet, Domenic Salerni as well as Michael Buble, Il Divo, and the Transiberian Orchestra. During her Quartet Fellowship at UMass Amherst she had the opportunity to be coached by members of world renowned ensembles including the Ying Quartet, the Dover Quartet, and the Juilliard Quartet. Through her invitations to be a Next Generation Alumni Artist at East Carolina University, she has worked alongside Xiao-Dong Wang, Hye-Jin Kim, Ara Gregorian, Colin Carr, Emanuel Gruber, and Raman Ramakrishnan. She has been a member and sub of several notable orchestras including the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Apollo Orchestra, and the American Festival Pops Orchestra. 
     
Prior to receiving her second Masters in Music Performance at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst under the tutelage of Edward Arron, she held the position of adjunct professor at Beaufort County Community College in North Carolina.  Emma Hays studied at Converse College and George Mason University under the tutelage of Kenneth Law where she received her Bachelor's Degree, and she graduated with her first Master’s Degree from East Carolina University under the instruction of Emanuel Gruber. Emma Hays likes to spend her free time outdoors rock climbing, backpacking and backcountry camping.
Armenian- American violinist Hoorig Taline Poochikian has performed at a number of prestigious venues across North America including Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the National Arts Center in Canada. She received her doctoral degree in violin performance in May 2020 from Stony Brook University studying with Hagai Shaham. She also earned degrees from University of Maryland studying with Dr. James Stern, and the University of Ottawa studying with Yehonatan Berick. An avid chamber musician, Hoorig has collaborated with members of the Emerson String Quartet, Avalon String Quartet, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, pianist Christina Dahl and composer Vache Sharafyan. She made her live radio broadcast debut on Classical KING FM in Seattle, performing with pianist Oksana Ejokina. With a special passion for education, Hoorig currently teaches privately and at several music schools in the DC metro area. She also maintains an active career as a freelance chamber musician performing at various concert series around the country. 
A native of Hickory, North Carolina, violist Santiago Vazquez-Loredo has appeared at festivals such as the Four Season Chamber Music Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Winter Workshop – in June!, the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music, and the Potomac Chamber Music Lab. Named as the “Tavola Quartet”, his group was selected as an NEC Honors Ensemble in 2021. In recent events, Santiago has performed at Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage with the 6821 Quintet as part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Santiago graduated from East Carolina University where he studied with Ara Gregorian and Hye-Jin Kim and from The New England Conservatory where he studied with Kim Kashkashian
Originally from Virginia Beach, VA, Jeff Phelps has performed locally with the Virginia Symphony, Virginia Musical Theater, Norfolk Chamber Consort, Stephen Coxe and Friends, and many others. Jeff studied cello and orchestral conducting at the Cleveland Institute of Music and recently shifted to professional arts management working with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. He recently completed postgraduate study in cultural policy and arts management in Dublin, Ireland. Jeff's research involves the blurry intersection of law, morality, intolerance, religion, and ethics for constructive and empathetic application to complex dark-history elements across arts disciplines.  
Praised by the Strad Magazine for “warm sound [and] much joy”, violist Ivan Mendoza began his musical studies at the age of ten in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. He received his degree from John J. Cali School of Music under the tutelage of Honggang Li and Kathryn Lockwood. Recent notable engagements include a recital at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Felix Mendelssohn’s Octet with the Shanghai Quartet, the music of Charles Loeer with soprano Barbara Dever and pianist Ron Levy, and performances at Encore Chamber Music Festival, Intersections Festival, and Bargemusic. A recipient of the Oscar Ravina Talent Grant, Ivan has held chamber music residencies at Montclair State University, Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance, and Shenandoah Conservatory. Ivan is a founding member of the Continuum Chamber Collective—an ensemble dedicated to performing new works from underrepresented groups in classical music. The group has performed and presented recitals extensively throughout the United States and regularly commissioned works from composers belonging in traditionally marginalized populations. In addition to being an avid chamber musician, Ivan regularly appears with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, New Orchestra of Washington, and the Montclair Orchestra. Ivan is currently based in the Greater Washington DC/Baltimore area and is on the viola faculty of the Artsahimsa Chamber Music Festival in Lenox, Massachusetts.
Oswald P. Backus is an accomplished double bassist with an extensive musical background. He graduated with a BA in Classical Bass Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music in 2008 and completed the Double Bass Performance Program at Boston University Tanglewood Institute in 2004. Oswald also holds an MA in Music from the University of Kansas, earned in 2016.

He is an integral part of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, since 2021. With exceptional precision and musicality, he contributes to creating captivating performances, collaborating with fellow musicians during rehearsals and concerts. Oswald actively engages in workshops focused on team-building and leadership, showcasing his abilities in collaboration and inspiring others.

Aside from his role in the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Oswald has held various positions in several other prestigious orchestras, including the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Wichita Grand Opera, and more, showcasing his versatility and expertise as a double bassist.

Throughout his musical journey, Oswald P. Backus has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in his craft, leaving a lasting impact on the world of classical music.

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