Jorge Peña has stablished himself as a violist with a reputation for presenting outstanding innovative programs in chamber music. A former member of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra and currently at the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. Honduran born, Jorge Peña graduated from Columbus State University and the Peabody Conservatory of Music with degrees in performance and chamber music. He studied with Curtis Institute President Roberto Diaz, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra principal viola Richard Field, and Julliard quartet member Earl Carlys.

“He expresses himself with courage and security in an instrument that few stand out like him in the international context.” – El Deber newspaper.

Recognized as an impeccable soloist, he has appeared as soloist in North, South and Central America and Europe. Chamber music holds a special place in his career, together with his wife, Korean cellist Jin Kim-Peña they are founders and play in the Movado Quartet, he often collaborates with highly sought out ensembles like the Ritz Chamber Players, the Dover Quartet and the Diaz Trio.

Founder and Artistic Director of the St. Augustine Music Festival, the largest free music festival in the US held in the oldest US city during last two weeks of June. www.staugustinemusicfestival.org. He organizes and travels with the SAMF Chamber Players and has made appearances at the Midwest Clinic, National Gallery of Art, the Virginia Chamber Orchestra, the Atlanta Virtuosi, Tanglewood Music Center, Grand Teton Music Festival, St. Augustine Music Festival (SAMF), Island Concert Ass., the Ritz Chamber Players, Valdosta SU, UNF and JU.

He also serves as the General Manager of the Coastal Symphony of Georgia in Brunswick Ga.

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 given masterclasses and body awareness workshops at universities, music festivals, and Viola Day events throughout the country and abroad in Italy, Austria, France, and China. Dr. Hodges has regularly presented, taught masterclasses, or performed at national American Viola Society Festivals, Primrose International Viola Competition and Festivals, the College Music Society Southern and National Conferences, the 47th International Viola Congress, and FMEA and ASTA conferences. During the summer, she teaches and performs at festivals such as MasterWorks, Varna International Music Festival, and the Saint Augustine Music Festival. Twice elected as a board member at large for the American Viola Society, she was also acting secretary. Passionate about promoting the viola and engaging with the community, she hosts an annual viola day at UF. www.laurenburnshodges.com

Peijun (June) Xu, a violist from Shanghai, began studying violin at age four with Yao Shimei of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. After graduating from Shanghai Normal University and working in tourism management for five years, she pursued music full-time in the U.S., earning a Master’s in Music Education and Graduate Artist Certificates in violin, viola performance (2022) at Azusa Pacific University. In 2025, she completed her Doctoral degree in Viola Performance & Entrepreneurship at the University of Florida, where she won the Graduate Concerto Competition (2022) and served as Principal Viola of the UF Symphony Orchestra, coaching sectionals and teaching studio classes (2022-2025).

Peijun won first prizes at the Charleston and King’s Peak International Music Competitions in 2021. She was awarded the viola apprenticeship at the MasterWorks Festival (2020) and the Tavani Family Orchestra String Fellowship (2022). As co-founder of MAP-ICEC, she organized global music festivals and the MAP International Music Competition (2021–2024). Since 2021, she serves on boards for the Claremont Symphony Orchestra and UFPA. In 2022, her documentary “June’s Destined Path” won the Impact Award, and in 2023, she received The American Prize’s "String Artist & Arts Advocacy Champion" Judges' Special Citation. In 2025, she presented her research "Violin to Viola - Developing an Efficient Padagogy" at the ASTA National Conference and was elected Vice Chair and Chair of ASTACAP (2025–2027).

Ana Galdavadze is a violinist and music educator from Georgia, born in Tbilisi. Ana has been a talented violinist since a young age and turned that talent into a professional artistic career. Her commitment to her craft took her on an international musical education path culminating in a Master Certificate from the Sibelius Academy, a Master of Music from the University of North Dakota, and currently as a doctoral candidate in Violin Performance at the University of Florida.

Ana's orchestral experience includes serving as Concertmaster for the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra, the UF Symphony Orchestra, the Varna Festival orchestra and participation in festivals like the National Music Festival and the Varna Festival to broaden her experience as an international performer on stage.

Ana has always shown deep commitment to teaching and instruction sharing her passion with students of all ages and levels. Ana's music activities include recordings, chamber music, international performances, and instruction. Ana has achieved many awards and scholarships for her artistry including the 1st Prize in the Taktakishvili International Competition, and 3rd Prize in the MAP International Music Competition.

Ana actively participates in the future of classical music around the world and she is widely regarded and appreciated both as a performer and instructor.

Based in Gainesville, cellist Emily Austin Smith is active as a performer and teacher. She joined the cello section of the Orlando Philharmonic in 2022 and has performed with orchestras throughout the Southeast, including the Ocala Symphony, Charleston Symphony, Gainesville Orchestra, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, and North Carolina Symphony. Emily completed her bachelor’s degrees in Cello Performance and English and her master’s degree in Cello Performance and Pedagogy at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where she studied with Alan Stepansky. She has also received Suzuki teacher training from renowned cello pedagogue Tanya Carey. She maintains private teaching studios in Gainesville and at the Ocala Symphony’s Community Music Conservatory at the Reilly Arts Center.

Dr. Alexander Pershounin has performed extensively throughout Europe and United States in both jazz and classical settings, and has been featured as a performer, arranger, and composer on such internationally recognized music events as Montreaux Jazz Festival in

Switzerland, Pori Jazz Festival in Finland, Europe’s Jazz Contest in Belgium, and New Orleans Jazz Fest, among many others. His performing credits include collaboration projects and appearances with world-class artists ranging from Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Golson, Bob Berg and Ray Charles to Itzhac Perlman and Yo Yo Ma.

He also has recorded several commercially released albums as a soloist and
ensemble musician. Dr. Pershounin holds music degrees from Russia’s most
prestigious music institution, Gnessins' State Academy of Music in Moscow, as well as
DMA and MFA degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Starting in the fall of 2024, Dr. Pershounin has joined the music faculty at
University of Florida School of Music, teaching classical, jazz, and commercial double
bass and bass guitar studio. Prior to UF he taught at the University of Northern Iowa,
Columbus State University, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Westfield State
College, and various music institutions in Russia. His students won national and
international competitions, were accepted to prestigious music institutions, and
successfully developed their own professional music careers.