Hillsdale College | Hillsdale, MI

Bachelor of Science in Music Performance, Violin

Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics

(Expected May 2026)

Orchestral

Hillsdale College Symphony Orchestra

Fall 2022-present

• Leading violinist in Hillsdale College student orchestra

• Performed as soloist in Fall 2024

• Selected repertoire:

  • Bartok: Deux Portraits, Op. 5 (Soloist)

  • Humperdinck: Hänsel und Gretel (CM)

  • Wagner: Lohengrin, Prelude to Act III (CM)

  • Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D major, “Titan” (Assoc. CM)

  • Respighi: Pini di Roma (Assoc. CM)

  • Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 in B minor, “Pathétique” (Prin. Violin II)

  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 in C major (Prin. Violin II)

  • Copland: Appalachian Spring (Prin. Violin II)

  • Debussy: Prélude à l'Après-midi d'un faune (Prin. Violin II)

Dallas Asian American Youth Orchestra

Fall 2015-Spring 2022

• Leading violinist in Dallas area youth orchestra

• Selected repertoire:

  • Dvorak: Symphony No. 8 in G major (CM)

  • Mendelssohn: Hebrides Overture (Fingal’s Cave), Op. 26 (CM)

  • Butterworth: The Banks of Green Willows (CM)

Chamber

Joy String Quartet

Fall 2023-present

• Selected for premier student ensemble after intensive audition process

• Represents Hillsdale College at competitions, donor events, and concerts abroad

• Coached in masterclasses by Dover, Pacifica, Amernet, and Arianna String Quartets

• Selected repertoire:

  • Tchaikovsky, Souvenir de Florence, Op. 70 (Violin I)

  • Beethoven: String Quartet No. 7, Op. 59, “Rasumovsky,” No. 1 (Violin I)

  • Borodin: String Quartet No. 2 in D major (Violin I)

  • Prokofiev: String Quartet No. 2 in F major, Op. 92 (Violin II)

  • Debussy: String Quartet in G minor, Op. 10 (Violin II)

  • Montgomery: Strum (Violin II)

Solo

• Selected recent solo repertoire:

  • Glazunov: Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 82

  • Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K. 291

  • Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26

  • Dvorak: Romance, Op. 11

  • Barber: Violin Concerto, Op. 14

  • Bach: Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004

  • Vieuxtemps: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor, Op. 37

NB: Practice and perform on a violin by Francesco Ruggieri, Cremona, circa 1680

NB: See @michaelaberrymusic on YouTube for selected performance recordings

• Dr. Zola Hightower (2026-present) - auditions and excerpts instructor

• Dr. Melissa Gerber Knecht (2022-present) - private instructor, chamber ensemble director

• Prof. James A. Holleman (2022-present) - orchestra director

• Dr. Timothy McDonnell (2025-present) - chamber ensemble, orchestra, and sacred music director

• Ricardo Cyncynates (Summer 2025) - private instructor

• Kirk Toth (Spring 2024) - private instructor

• Matthew Moreno (2015-2022) - youth orchestra director

• Lea Marshall (2013-2022) - private instructor

Solo

• Danielle Belen - University of Michigan

• Simin Ginatra - Indiana University / Pacifica String Quartet

• Aaron Berofsky - University of Michigan / Ann Arbor Symphony

• Jasper Wood - University of British Colombia

• John McGrosso - Arianna String Quartet

Ensemble

• Dover String Quartet - Cleveland Institute of Music

• Pacifica String Quartet - Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University

• Arianna String Quartet - University of Missouri-St. Louis

• Amernet String Quartet - Florida International University

• Theta Epsilon Men’s Music Honorary (2024-present)

• Joy String Quartet Music Scholarship (2023-present)

• Sies Family Endowed Music Scholarship (2022-present)

• Hillsdale College Concerto Competition Runner-Up (2025)

• TMEA Texas Music Scholar (2020)

• TMEA Texas All-State Violin (2020)

• TMEA Texas Region 25 Orchestra (2015-2020)

• Soma Intervarsity Worship Team (2025-present)

• College Baptist Church Worship Team (2022-present)

• Frisco Bible Church Worship Team (2015-present)

• Electric violin in student band (2023-present)

• Street busker (2015-present)

• Elementary Orchestra Enrichment (2021-2022)

• Nursing Home Resident Enrichment (2018-2020)

NB: Professional, leadership, and volunteer involvement available upon request

Dr. Melissa Gerber Knecht, Chairman and Professor of Music, Hillsdale College

Prof. James A. Holleman, Professor of Music, Choirs, and Orchestra, Hillsdale College