Hillsdale College | Hillsdale, MI | Class of 2026

B.S. in Music Performance cum laude

B.S. in Applied Mathematics

Orchestral

First Baptist Dallas Orchestra, Dallas, TX

• Hired first violinist in orchestra that leads two worship services per week

NB: Adrian Symphony Orchestra, Adrian, MI

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

Hillsdale College Symphony Orchestra, Hillsdale, MI

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, Plano, TX

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

• Experience as ambulatory performer at private and public events around the nation, including Texas, California, Connecticut, Tennessee, and Michigan.

• Freelance experience includes:

  • Wedding ceremonies and receptions

  • Busker/street musician - over 10 years of experience

  • Strolling musician at private events

  • Dining entertainment

  • Hospice music therapy - nursing and retirement home enrichment

• Inga Kroll, University of Dallas / Dallas Opera /East Texas Symphony Orchestra - private instructor (Summer 2026 - present)

• Dr. Zola Hightower, University of Michigan /Detroit Symphony Orchestra - auditions and excerpts instructor (Spring 2026)

• Dr. Melissa Knecht, Hillsdale College - private instructor, chamber ensemble director (2022-2026)

• Prof. James A. Holleman, Hillsdale College - orchestra director (2022-2026)

• Dr. Timothy McDonnell Hillsdale College - chamber ensemble, orchestra, and sacred music director (2025-2026)

• Ricardo Cyncynates, National Symphony Orchestra - private instructor (Summer 2025)

• Kirk Toth, Toledo Symphony Orchestra - private instructor (Spring 2024)

• Matthew Moreno, Jasper High School (Plano, TX) - youth orchestra director (2015-2022)

• Lea Marshall, East Texas Symphony Orchestra - private instructor (2013-2022)

• Ale Schneider, Anne Arundel Community College - private violin instructor (2008-2013)

• Rachel Harmatuk Pino, Long Bay Symphony Orchestra - private violin instructor (2007-2008)

Solo

• Boris Kuschnir, Arts & Music Institute of Vienna / University of Music & Performing Arts of Graz

• Danielle Belen, University of Michigan

• Simin Ganatra, 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, Curtis Institute of Music

• Pacifica String Quartet, Indiana University

• Terra String Quartet, Yale University

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

• Amernet String Quartet, Florida International University

InterHarmony International Music Festival, Acqui Terme, Italy

• Attended music festival in summer 2026

• Received masterclass instruction from Boris Kuschnir

• Instructors:

  • Jan Miłosz Zarzycki, Witold Lutosławski Chamber Philharmonic - orchestra conductor

  • Inga Kroll, University of Dallas / Dallas Opera / East Texas Symphony Orchestra - private instructor

  • Kazimierz Skowronek, Szymanowsky Music Academy - chamber music instructor

  • Agustin Muriago, Peabody Institute - chamber music instructor

• Selected repertoire studied:

  • Beethoven - Symphony No. 7, Op. 92 (CM)

  • Borodin - String Quartet No. 2 in D major, I. Allegro moderato (Violin I)

  • Martinu - Madrigal Sonata, H. 291 (Violin)

  • Bach - Partita No. 2 in D minor, II. Corrente

• Graduated cum laude in Music Performance (2026)

• Theta Epsilon Men’s Music Honorary (2024-2026)

• Joy String Quartet Music Scholarship (2023-2026)

• Sies Family Endowed Music Scholarship (2022-2026)

• 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)

• Orchestra librarian (2026)

• Soma Intervarsity Worship Team (2025-2026)

• College Baptist Church Worship Team (2022-2026)

• Frisco Bible Church Worship Team (2015-present)

• Electric violin in student band (2023-2026)

• 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. Derek Stauff, Associate Professor of Music, Hillsdale College

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

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