Violin
Charismatic violinist and presenter Casey Bozell offers performances and music experiences which engage and inspire audiences across the Pacific Northwest. Her bold and colorful playing “draws out strong emotions” (The Linfield Review) and casts new light on traditional repertoire. As a presenter, Casey shares a magnetic enthusiasm for music which, when coupled with her approachable and cheerful personality, widens and deepens audiences and their connection to classical music.
In addition to her role as concertmaster of Orchestra Nova Northwest, Casey is the concertmaster of the Newport Symphony and is also a member of the Portland Opera Orchestra and Oregon Ballet Theatre. Recent solo engagements include appearances with the Newport Symphony, Beaverton Symphony, Linfield Chamber Orchestra, and the Central Oregon Chamber Orchestra as well as guest artist recitals at the University of Northern Colorado, Eastern Oregon University, and Linfield College. An adept chamber musician, Casey is a founding member of the Hammers and Bows piano trio and Element String Quartet.
When not on stage or in the pit, Casey finds herself behind a microphone, as host of the podcast Keep Classical Weird, which has had over 15,000 downloads in more than 80 countries. These fascinating shows cover a wide variety of intriguing topics cherry-picked from the world of classical music, and broken down in inventive, relatable ways. As the Newport Symphony News noted, “Her enthusiasm was infectious…(and she) had no difficulty holding my attention.”
Passionate about developing creativity and musical literacy in young people, Casey serves on the faculty of the Young Musicians and Artists summer camp (since 2010), and she was a Violin and Viola Instructor at Concordia University for 10 years, where she directed the Concordia University String Ensemble. Past positions also include teaching at Corban, Pacific and Marylhurst Universities. Her students have participated in the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Pro-Arte Youth Orchestra, and Oregon All-State Orchestra, with many going on to win college scholarships and concerto competitions across the Pacific Northwest region.
Casey’s greatest mentors include Gerardo Ribeiro, Richard Fuchs, and Harold Wippler. She received her Bachelors of Music Performance from the University of Northern Colorado, and her Masters of Music Performance from Northwestern University. She plays on an 1874 Frederic Diehl violin.
Casey Bozell’s chair is sponsored by Romani Lay & Neville Wellman.
The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.
The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.
Alberta Barnes has been a violinist with Orchestra Nova Northwest since 2015. Originally from Boise, Idaho, she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Violin Performance from the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton, Wisconsin. She currently freelances in the Portland area, and is also a core member of the Newport Symphony. Between gigs, she works full time in the ophthalmic field. When she isn’t playing the violin, she enjoys spending time with family and working at various local craft fairs with her sister.
The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.
Orchestra Nova Northwest violinist Brian Bennett plays many musical roles in the Portland area, including concertmaster for Washington Chamber Orchestra (Bravo! Concerts Northwest) and section violinist with the Portland Chamber Orchestra and the Oregon Coast Music Festival Orchestra. In addition to his private violin and guitar studios, he also teaches violin and theory at Portland’s Community Music Center. Holding a great passion for writing music, Brian is President of MusicTools Software, which creates innovative composition applications. He enjoys art and literature, and loves the outdoors, gem hunting, and photography.
Brian Bennett’s chair is sponsored by Laura Spurrell.
The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.
The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.
Erin Ferree, a native of Las Vegas, began her violin studies at the age of eight, and received her Bachelor of Music Education from Loyola University in New Orleans. She has taught string orchestra in the Gwinnett County Public Schools in Georgia, Washoe County School District in Nevada, North Clackamas School District in Oregon, and the Evergreen Public Schools in Washington. As a clinician, she has judged orchestra festivals and Solo and Ensemble festivals in Georgia, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.
Erin’s performance journey has taken her all over the United States, as well as to France and Costa Rica. An Oregon resident since 2001, she has performed with the Portland Chamber Orchestra, Bravo! Vancouver, and Oregon Chamber Players. She also enjoys playing chamber music whenever possible.
When not teaching, practicing, or performing, she can be found perfecting her scone recipe or exploring the Pacific Northwest with her husband and daughter. Erin has been a proud member of Orchestra Nova Northwest since 2002.
The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.
At nine years old, Cherie was seduced by the sound of bluegrass fiddle, and begged her grandparents for a violin. In a hopeful effort to keep her off the streets, they gave in, and soon Cherie was “entertaining” her family with dubious efforts at such favorites as “Hot Cross Buns” and the ever-popular “Twinkle, Twinkle.”
Eventually the family grew weary of these time-tested tunes, so they sent Cherie off for private lessons with Lydia Woods (in Salem) in hopes she could learn something else. Much to their relief, she did.
At Southern Oregon State College, Cherie considered her talent as a violinist and decided the most prudent course of action was to major in Business Administration. Music, however, was always plucking at her heartstrings, so she took a minor in music, all the while taking lessons from Dr. Fred Palmer.
Cherie has been a member of Orchestra Nova Northwest since about 1984 and has also subbed for many other local orchestras, playing both violin and viola (but not at the same time). She attends various workshops and camps during the year where she can feed her chamber music habit to her heart’s content.
Cherie Hull’s chair is sponsored by Purple Thunder.
The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.
The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.
The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.
Jody Morrissette joined Orchestra Nova Northwest as principal second violin in 2002. Prior to moving to Portland, she played professionally in Sacramento, Los Angeles, Topeka, and New York. Originally from Buffalo, Ms. Morrissette holds degrees in music and music therapy. As a board certified music therapist, she has worked in pediatric intensive care, oncology, Alzheimer care, special education, and music theater for adults with disabilities. With violin in hand, previous memorable experiences include the honor of a duet performance with Isaac Stern, the eccentric world of studio recording in Hollywood, theater and opera orchestras, chamber groups, radio, schools, movie soundtracks, playing Irish tunes on the roof of the car in traffic jams, and of course family weddings. When not performing, Jody enjoys exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her family.
Jody Morrissette’s chair is sponsored by Joanne Wakeland.
The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.
Originally from Boulder, CO, Nic earned his Bachelor of Music at the University of Colorado, studying under Oswald Lehnert and members of the Takács Quartet. In the summers during his college years, Nic performed with the Colorado Light Opera and other local music festivals. Upon graduation, he played with the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra and Boulder Chamber Orchestra. He then moved to Portland, OR to study with Carol Sindell at Portland State University where he earned his Master of Music. He currently runs a private violin teaching studio and performs with orchestras such as Orchestra Nova Northwest, Portland Opera, Eugene Symphony, and others. On top of his teaching and orchestral playing, Nic enjoys playing chamber music with friends.
Nic Price’s chair is sponsored by Jessica Chou & Tom Chau.
The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.
The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.
Judy Rompa’s chair is sponsored by Laura Spurrell.
The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.
Narae Han joined Orchestra Nova Northwest and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as a section violin member in 2024. Originally from South Korea, She spent four years as a core violinist with the Chung-buk Philharmonic Orchestra. Additionally, she played with the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus in California for two years as a substitute.
Narae began her violin studies at the age of seven and received her Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance at Ewha Womans University in South Korea. Seeking further education, she moved to the United States to earn her Master of Music in Violin Performance from Boston University, where she was honored with a scholarship. Throughout her studies, she received mentorship from principal teachers including Yuri Mazurkevich, Taek Ju Lee, and Dong Hyun Kim.
Throughout her academic and professional journey, Narae has performed numerous solo and chamber music concerts. In addition to her performing career, she runs a private violin teaching studio, where she nurtures the next generation of violinists. She also holds music concerts twice a year for her students, providing them with invaluable performance experience and fostering a love for music.
The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.
The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.
Shion Yamakawa is an active violinist in the Portland area. She serves as a concertmaster at the Jewish Community Orchestra of Portland and principal second violinist with the Willamette Falls Symphony. In addition, Shion plays with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in Washington and is a member of Columbia River Strings. She is also an avid chamber musician, performing regularly with her colleagues.
Shion had the privilege of studying violin with Carrie Rehkopf, Jae-In Shin, Tomás Cotik, Carol Sindell, Scott Flavin, and Vali Phillips. Furthermore, she was fortunate to have masterclasses with Charles Castleman, Bella Hristova, Hamilton Cheifetz, David Salness, William Fedkenheuer, Andréa Tyniec, Melissa White, Takács Quartet, Brentano String Quartet, and Pavel Haas String Quartet.
Aside from performing, Shion is passionate about music education and offers violin lessons at her home studio in downtown Portland. She has also served as a violin instructor with several organizations, including Metropolitan Youth Symphony and Central Washington University Preparatory String Program.
Shion earned her Master’s degree in Music with a specialization in violin performance from Portland State University. Prior to that, she completed her Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a focus on Instrumental Specialization at Central Washington University. In addition to her formal education, Shion has undergone extensive training in the Alexander Technique, studying under the guidance of renowned instructors Eve Bernfeld and Rebecca Robbins.
Shion’s dedication and talent have been recognized through various endowed scholarships she has received. These scholarships serve as a testament to her exceptional abilities and commitment to her musical pursuits.
The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.