Hillsdale College | Hillsdale, MI | Class of 2026

B.S in Music Performance, with Departmental Honors

B.S. in Applied Mathematics

Orchestral

NB: Adrian Symphony Orchestra, Adrian, MI

• Offered position as section violinist in Adrian Symphony Orchestra for 2026-2027 season (Declined)

Hillsdale College Symphony Orchestra

Fall 2022-Spring 2026

• Leading violinist in Hillsdale College student orchestra

• Performed as soloist in Fall 2024

• Selected repertoire:

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

  • Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47 (CM)

  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, “Choral” (CM)

  • 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)

  • Dvorak: String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96, “American” (Violin II)

  • 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

• Weddings - solo violin for ceremonies and receptions

• Strolling Musician - ambulatory performer at private and public events

• Dining Entertainment - ambulatory and interactive performer at private and public events

• Hospice Music Therapy - nursing home resident enrichment

• Busking - street musician with over 10 years of experience

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

• Dr. Melissa 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

• Terra String Quartet - Yale University

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

• Amernet String Quartet - Florida International University

• Graduated with Departmental Honors in Music

• 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)

• Hospice Music Therapy (2018-2020)

NB: Non-music related professional, leadership, and volunteer involvement available upon request

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

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

Dr. Daniel Tacke, Associate Professor of Music, Hillsdale College

Dr. David Gaebler, Chairman and Professor of Mathematics, Hillsdale College