Lauren Burns Hodges, "a distinguished violist with a refined, mellow tone" (American Record Guide), is currently Associate Professor of Viola at the University of Florida where she also coordinates and teaches Music Appreciation classes.

For six years prior, she was Lecturer in Viola at Valdosta State University, Principal Viola of the Valdosta Symphony, violist of the Azalea String Quartet, and Director of the South Georgia String Project. She has performed and taught abroad in Italy, Austria, and France and recently presented recitals, masterclasses, and a body awareness workshop in Shanghai and WuHan, China. She has given masterclasses, clinics, and performances at universities and music schools throughout the country, including Illinois State University, Western Illinois University, the University of Southern Mississippi, the University of Georgia, the University of South Carolina and at Viola Day events in Morgantown (WV), Birmingham (AL), Valdosta (GA), Atlanta (GA) and Miami (FL). Dr. Hodges has twice been invited to teach masterclasses at the Primrose International Viola Competition and Festival held at the Colburn School, and she has presented at national AVS festivals in Oberlin (OH) and Knoxville (TN). Passionate about promoting the viola and engaging with the community, she hosts an annual viola day at UF and serves as a board member-at-large for the American Viola Society. Originally from South Carolina, Lauren studied at the University of South Carolina, Peabody Conservatory, and the University of Alabama.

Conductor Tiffany Lu is Assistant Professor and Director of Orchestra at the University of Florida, and also serves as Interim Music Director of the Pierre Monteux School and Music Festival in Hancock, Maine.

In the 2022-2023 concert season, she will guest conduct with Symphony New Hampshire and Elgin Symphony Orchestra. From 2020-2022, she was Director of the Sewanee Symphony Orchestra and Assistant Professor of Orchestral Conducting at Sewanee University of the South. Prior to her current appointment, Lu served for five seasons as Associate Conductor of the Pierre Monteux Music Festival. 

Over seven years, Lu developed a diverse portfolio of work in the D.C. region and Delaware. She held the position of Assistant Conductor with the Prince Georges’ Philharmonic (MD) from ‘19-’22, was Music Director of the Wilmington Community Orchestra for five seasons, and also Assistant and then Associate Conductor with Washington, D.C.’s Capital City Symphony from ‘15-’22, creating groundbreaking and creative programming. She was also selected as Conducting Fellow for the Allentown Symphony in 2019 and 2020. Other positions have included Music Director of the University of Maryland Repertoire Orchestra, cover conductor and principal librarian at the 2016 and 2017 National Orchestral Institute, and conductor with the DC Youth Orchestra Program and Annapolis Symphony Academy. Lu has guest-conducted the Symphony New Hampshire as well as the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra; and acted as cover conductor with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Symphony New Hampshire, Princeton Symphony Orchestra, Georgetown University Orchestra, and Cornell University Orchestra. She also served as lead producer on two recordings by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra as well as one with the Smithsonian Chamber Players. 

Lu maintains an active performing profile as an orchestral violinist, chamber music collaborator, and private violin teacher. Her doctoral research focused on new models in the orchestral education of undergraduate string players. Her primary conducting mentors have included Michael Jinbo, Jim Ross, and Jeffery Meyer. Lu grew up in Tampa, FL and holds degrees from Princeton University, Ithaca College, and the University of Maryland.

Born in Shanghai, China, Peijun started her musical education at the age of four by taking violin lessons from Ms. Yao Shimei, a first violin member retired from Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.

In 2018, Peijun earned a master’s degree of Music Education (M.M. Instrumental Emphasis) from Azusa Pacific University (APU) under the guidance of Dr. John Burdett.

With attending violin and viola classes from the studio of Dr. Alex Russell, Peijun received the first Artist Certificate in Combined Violin and Viola Performance in APU’s history and Artist Certificate in Viola Performance in 2022. She was also the principal viola of APU Symphony Orchestra.

Since Fall 2022, Peijun became the first DMA candidate in Viola Performance with a full scholarship and an appointed graduate assistantship position at the University of Florida.

In Summer 2020, Peijun was awarded the Apprenticeship position in viola for the MasterWorks Festival 2020 Program, which is regarded as “the most well-qualified and responsible applicants with significant education, performance and leadership experience.”

During the MasterWorks Festival 2020, under the tutelage of Ms. Lisa Boyko, a violist member of the Cleveland Orchestra, Peijun was selected to perform Dvorak Piano Quintet in A Major for a masterclass lectured by Ken-David Masur, the world-renowned conductor.

In Spring 2021, Peijun won the only one 1st Place of Viola, Group G (age 23 and up), at the King’s Peak International Music Competition, two 1st Prize at the Charleston International Music Competition (age 25 and up). In Spring 2022, Peijun received the Award as the 3rd Place Winner at the American Prize in Instrumental Performance, 2022 (college/university division)

As a co-founder of MAP (a non-profit organization named MARKER AND PIONEER International Culture Exchange Center), Peijun is the executive director of MAP International Music Competition, which received 1100 preliminary round applications and 692 selected finalists represented over 66 countries from the global area.