Met Musicians - The MET Orchestra: First Violins

“The reading of "Don Quixote" that closed the concert was one of the finest orchestral performances I have heard in the last few seasons. It offered the staggering beauty of tone one is accustomed to hear from this ensemble night after night, and it went further into a rich emotional realm that often eludes modern-day Strauss interpreters.”

— The New York Times,
Alex Ross
January 24, 1995

The MET Orchestra

FIRST VIOLINS	Back to Orchestra Roster >>>
Nick Eanet — Concertmaster A native of Brooklyn, Nick Eanet has been the concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra since 1999. He studied at The Juilliard School with Dorothy DeLay and Robert Mann. He has performed as soloist with the New York Philharmonic, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the Minnesota orchestra, Orpheus, and others. He has been on the faculty of Harvard University, The Juilliard School and North Carolina School of the Arts. As former first violinist of The Juilliard String Quartet, Mr. Eanet has performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia, and was the recipient of a 2011 Grammy award for lifetime achievement.
David Chan — Concertmaster David Chan is the concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and an active soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician. Mr. Chan made his Carnegie Hall debut during the 2002-2003 season, performing the Brahms Double Concerto with the Met Orchestra under the baton of James Levine; and his New York debut at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall in 1995, performing Paganini's Concerto No. 2 under the direction of Hugh Wolff. A native of San Diego, Mr. Chan began his musical education at the age of four. A laureate of the prestigious Tchaikovsky and Indianapolis international competitions, he has performed as throughout the United States, Europe, and the Far East. As a chamber musician, he is the founder and artistic director of Musique et Vin au Clos Vougeot in the Burgundy region of France. A graduate of Harvard University and The Juilliard School, he is currently on the faculty of The Juilliard School.
Laura Hamilton — Principal Associate Concertmaster Laura Hamilton is Principal Associate Concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Previously a member of the Chicago Symphony, she appeared with that orchestra as concerto soloist with Sir Georg Solti at the podium. The California native studied with Raphael Bronstein and Burton Kaplan at Manhattan School of Music, where she was the Nathan Milstein Scholarship recipient. Ms. Hamilton has performed in the Marlboro, Tanglewood, Manchester, and Bard Music Festivals, in summer festivals in Norway and Greece, and on the Met Chamber Ensemble series at Carnegie Hall with James Levine and colleagues. She has served as guest concertmaster for the Seattle Symphony, the American Symphony Orchestra, the Welsh National Opera, the Westchester Philharmonic, and the Adelaide Symphony in Australia. In the summers, she has been concertmaster for the New Hampshire Music Festival, the Waterloo Festival, and the Berkshire Opera. She was featured in Musical America as a "Young Artist of the Year" and received numerous awards and competition prizes.
Nancy Wu — Associate Concertmaster Nancy Wu has served as Associate Concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra since 1989. She performs regularly with the MET Chamber Ensemble and has been a guest artist with the Chamber Music Society of Martha's Vineyard and the Fondation Giannada in Martigny, Switzerland. Ms. Wu has been a coach for the Verbier Festival Orchestra since its founding in 2000. She is an exclusive artist for Thomastik-Infeld Strings. A Fulbright grant recipient, Ms. Wu graduated with honors from Stanford University and the Vienna Hochschule für Musik, and lives in Pleasantville, New York, with her husband, double bassist Leigh Mesh and their two children.
Bruno Eicher — Assistant Concertmaster French-born violinist Bruno Eicher is the Assistant Concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, which he joined in 2001, after serving for four years as Associate Concertmaster of the Atlanta Symphony and the previous four years as Assistant Concertmaster of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. His wide-ranging orchestral experience includes playing for the Vienna Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, among others. An avid chamber musician, Mr. Eicher has performed extensively throughout Europe and the U.S., as well as in South Korea. A native of Dijon, France, Mr. Eicher is a graduate of the Paris Conservatoire where he studied with Pierre Amoyal and Jean Hubeau. In the United States, he was a student of Dorothy DeLay and Hyo Kang at the Juilliard School, from which he holds both bachelor's and master's degrees. In 1992, he was the 2nd prize winner of the Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition.
Wen Qian A native of Beijing, China, Ms. Wen Qian came to the US in 1987 to pursue a musical career. As a soloist, Ms. Qian was hailed by China Daily as "one of China's most promising young violinists" after her China concert tour in 1994. She was praised as "a rare thrill" and "enthralling" by the Strad magazine for her 2004 solo recital at the Carnegie Weill Recital Hall. As a chamber musician, she has performed in music festivals such as the Marlboro and Sarasota festivals, and the Young Concert Artist Series presented by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. As an educator, the demand for Ms. Qian's teaching has included master classes and coachings at the New World Symphony in Miami, New York Youth Symphony and conservatories throughout China. She is currently a faculty member at the Mannes College of Music. Ms. Qian joined the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in 1997. She served as Acting Assistant Concertmaster during the 2001-2002 season.
Amy Kauffman (Biography to come)
Ming-Feng Hsin A native of Taiwan, Ming Feng Hsin's musical career began as a violin soloist after winning the Glasgow International Violin Competition at the age of 15. He subsequently soloed with the Scottish National Orchestra and the BBC Orchestra and was hailed by the Scotsman as "destined to be one of the giants of the next generation." A protégé of Yehudi Menuhin, Mr. Hsin has performed throughout Europe, America and Asia as both soloist and chamber musician. Mr. Hsin is also an accomplished conductor. After getting a conducting degree from Juilliard with Otto Werner Mueller, he has worked with numerous orchestras throughout the world, and has led productions of the operas Aida, Flying Dutchman, La Boheme, and Ballo in Maschera. A member of the first violin section of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for the past 18 years, Mr. Hsin is married to his colleague in the orchestra Wen Qian, and together they have two young children, Thomas 5 and Olivia 3.
Ivey Bernhardt (Biography to come)
Sandor Balint Sandor Balint was born in Bridgeport, CT and moved with his family to NYC a month later where he grew up in the South Bronx and east Manhattan. He started violin lessons at the age of seven and subsequently entered Music and Art High School. In his third year at Music and Art, at the age of seventeen, he auditioned and won a position with Leonard Bernstein, who was forming the New York City Symphony. With Bernstein's recommendation, he auditioned for the NYC Opera and Ballet where he stayed until joining the Met in 1956. In 1950 he auditioned for Leopold Stowkowski and was made a permanent member of the RCA Victor Recording Orchestra. Balint made his recital debut at Carnegie Recital Hall in 1956 and concertised until he was invited to audition for the Met Opera Orchestra in December 1956. He was first elected to the Orchestra Committee in 1959, served in contract signings in 1961, '66, and '69. He was elected as chairman for contract negotiations for 1977, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1992, 1995, and 2000.
Samuel Cohen Samuel Cohen, born in Iassi Romania. Began violin & piano studies at the age of 9. At the age of 14 joined the local opera house orchestra out of economic necessity while continuing his studies at the music conservatory. In1961 he emigrated to Israel where he continued musical and high school studies at the RUBIN MUSIC ACADEMY. Violin teacher - Prof. EDEN PARTOS (pupil of Carl Flesh). Served in the Israeli army 1964-1967. 1967-1969 member of Radio Jerusalem Symphony orchestra & member of Ramat Gan Chamber orchestra.1969-74 member of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under Zubin Mehta. In 1974 emigrated to the U.S., joining the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and in Jan. 1979 won an audition for the Met. Opera Orchestra's first violin section where he still works today. Married in1972 to his wife Mona, two sons & two grandkids.US Citizen since 1984.
Kathryn Caswell Kathryn Margo Caswell: I began my violin studies at the age of 7 in Vancouver, British Columbia. During my last four years of high school I was appointed concertmaster of The Canadian National Youth Orchestra and attended the Kelso String Quartet Camp. I enrolled at the University of Toronto where I studied with David Zafer and was winner of the U of T concerto competition, appearing as soloist with the orchestra. I attended the Banff School of Fine Arts where I worked with William Primrose, Lorand Fenyves, the Orford String Quartet and Henri Temianka. While living in Toronto I played with The Toronto Symphony Orchestra. After graduating from The University of Toronto I was awarded a Canada Council Grant to study with Itzhak Perlman in New York. Shortly after moving to New York I became one of the founding members of the Primavera String Quartet, the first all female quartet, which in 1977 won the Naumburg Competition. The quartet made its debut at Alice Tully Hall that same year, and was subsequently invited to play at London's Wigmore Hall while touring the US and England. I joined the first violin section of the Metropolitan Opera in 1979. Along with numerous chamber music performances, and recordings in NY. I have for the last sixteen years been a member of the Grand Teton Music Festival, and have played a number of years with the Windham Music Festival founded by two former Met Opera members, Robert Manno and Magdelena Golzcewski. I have a wonderful daughter Karolyn Canonico and two step-children Erin and Michael Roy. I am married to the violist Kevin Roy.
Caterina Szepes Violinist Caterina Maria Szepes was born in Berlin, Germany in 1967 into a musical family. Her father was an opera singer and her mother a violinist. She studied at the Karlsruhe Conservatory of Music with Prof. Ulf Hoelscher 1985-1991 and the Cleveland Institute of Music with Donald Weilerstein 1991-1993. Her recital debut on RIAS Berlin Radio in 1987 was followed by concerto performances and recitals throughout Europe, Australia and the U.S. Ms. Szepes has performed at the Taos, Marlboro, Kingston and Aspen Music Festivals and has collaborated with many artists, including members of the Juilliard and American String Quartets, Lynn Harrell, Hillary Hahn and Andres Diaz among others. She was featured on a recording for the Karlsruhe Conservatory performing the Kurt Weill Violin Concerto and in the Marlboro Music festivals 50th Anniversary CD. Since 1997 C. Szepes has been a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.
Yurika Mok Yurika Mok has been a violinist in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra since 1998. She was also a member of the St. Louis Symphony from 1996-1998. A native of Los Angeles, she studied violin with Michael Tseitlin and Stuart Canin. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from University of Oregon and Master of Music Degree from Manhattan School of Music, where she studied with Burton Kaplan.
Catherine Sim Catherine Sim, a graduate of The Juilliard School has performed extensively throughout the United States and Asia. She has appeared as soloist with numerous orchestras. Ms. Sim made her debut in Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall and has also performed solo recitals at many other prestigious venues. Ms. Sim was a founding member of the critically acclaimed International Sejong Soloists. She has been a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra since 2000.
Yoon K. Kwon Violinist Yoon Kwon began her professional career in as a thirteen-year-old, youngest winner in the history of the New Jersey Symphony Young Artists Auditions joining the roster of IMG Artists, alongside such artists as Itzhak Perlman and Joshua Bell. She made her New York debut at age 17 at Avery Fisher Hall, performing the Stravinsky Violin Concerto and became the first Korean artist to record for the RCA/BMG Red Seal label. She has since concertized extensively as soloist with major orchestras such as the Cologne and Warsaw Philharmonics, the California, Cincinnati, Colorado, El Paso, Houston, Honolulu, New Jersey, New Mexico, St. Louis, Wichita, and Vancouver symphonies. A member of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center II from 2006-2009, she has performed as chamber musician at festivals in Switzerland, Italy, Finland, and, in the United States, at Aspen, Santa Fe, Spoleto, Marlboro, and La Jolla, and have performed in recital in over 100 cities. Today, Yoon Kwon is a seasoned artist with a remarkable and excitingly versatile career. In addition to her solo appearances, she is currently a first violinist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.
Daniel Khalikov (Biography to come)
Yang Xu Violinist Yang Xu has garnered prizes in an array of international competitions, including the Yehudi Menuhin, Henryk Szeryng, Irving Klein, Novosibirsk, and the Kloster Schontal International Violin Competitions. Most recently, he was named the grand prizewinner of the Sorantin International Award for young artists. Mr. Xu joined the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra's first violin section in 2008. Mr. Xu studied with Lina YU at the prestigious Shanghai Conservatory of Music in China, and earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the Oberlin Conservatory in 2003 where his teachers included Roland and Almita Vamos, and Kyung Sun Lee. He holds a Masters of Music degree from the Juilliard School, where his principal teacher was Masao Kawasaki. Yang Xu completed the Graduate Certificate program with soloist Midori Goto at University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music, and is continually working privately with the world- renowned concert violinist.
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