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

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.

Ana Galdavadze is a violinist and music educator born in Tbilisi, Georgia. Violin was something Ana was talented at since her young age, and she developed that into a professional level. Ana's love of the arts propelled her through diverse and rich musical training: Master's Certificate from Sibelius Academy, a Master of Music from the University of North Dakota, and continuing doctoral studies at the University of Florida.

This has led her to be a concertmaster at such orchestras as The Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra and The UF Symphony Orchestra. She has been highly devoted to teaching the violin and mastered different students of all ages. Her devotion is also reflected in outside music events, sound recording projects, and international performances. Ana has been awarded many scholarships and awards for her art, including an Erasmus+ Exchange Program Scholarship, 1st prize in the Taktakishvili International Competition, among others.

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.