TOIYABE CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY

Location: University of Nevada, Reno
Application Fee: $75, with waivers in the case of need.
All applicants will be offered a place in the workshop, with a full “scholarship” (no additional tuition charge.)

Dates: August 10 & 11 and August 17 & 18

The workshop participants will present a final performance starting at 5:00 pm on Sunday August 18, at the Hall Recital Hall. Both performances will be open to the public, with no admission charge.

There will be a faculty recital on Sunday evening, August 11, at 7:00 pm in the Harlan O. and Barbara R. Hall Recital Hall, with Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio, Dustin Budish, and Bryan Chuan.

Application

The Workshop

The TCMS Advanced String Chamber Music Workshop is open to intermediate and advanced players of violin, viola, cello or bass of all ages, with particular focus on school age musicians.

Principal coaches will be Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio and Dustin Budish for the first weekend, and assistant coaches Claire Tatman, violin; Sarah Coyl, violin and viola; and Miguel Pereira Muruchi, cello, on the second weekend, with Stephanie’s oversight.

Participants have the opportunity to:

• Play and rehearse chamber music with other musicians;
• Develop ensemble playing skills, including listening, blending, and balance;
• Learn and perform a selection of repertoire, based on participants’ experience level;
• Receive coaching and feedback from an experienced chamber musician;
• Develop performance techniques and strategies for effective rehearsal and performance preparation;
• Participate in a final performance for friends and family

The Coaches

Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio

Described as a “violinist who most often takes your breath away” by Gramophone Magazine, Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio enjoys a varied performing and recording career as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral leader. Stephanie has performed as a soloist and chamber musician on the foremost stages of the U.S., as well as in Canada, Estonia, Sweden, Ghana, Italy, Peru, Chile and Mexico. In addition to her active performing career, she is devoted to teaching serious string players, many who have won positions in America’s symphony orchestras and universities.

Currently Professor of Violin and Viola at the University of Nevada, Reno, and violinist of the Argenta Trio, she was also the founding Artistic Director of Cactus Pear Music Festival, which she established in 1997 while serving as Concertmaster of the San Antonio Symphony. Former First Assistant Principal Second Violin of The Cleveland Orchestra under Christoph von Dohnányi, Stephanie toured and recorded internationally with this ensemble for eight seasons. Currently Concertmaster of the Fresno Philharmonic (CA) and the Lancaster Festival (OH) orchestras, and Artistic Director of Chamber Music Reno, Stephanie has a discography of over seventy-five orchestral and chamber music CDs. Fanfare Magazine wrote about her Soaring Solo: Unaccompanied Works for Violin & Viola: “she play[s] with immaculate technique, impeccable intonation, lustrous tone, and emotional warmth.”

Dustin Budish

Dustin Budish, hailing from Reno, Nevada, is an accomplished violist whose journey in music education and performance has taken him across prestigious institutions and stages worldwide. Trained at Oberlin College, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and the New England Conservatory, Dustin earned his BM and MM with honors under the tutelage of renowned mentors such as Jeffrey Irvine and Martha Katz. During his collegiate years, Dustin honed his craft alongside esteemed quartets and received accolades like the Russell Award at the Coleman Chamber Music Competition in 2001. His passion for chamber music led him to perform at renowned festivals like Ravinia and Verbier, showcasing his talent across Europe, Asia, and India.

As Principal Viola of the Reno Philharmonic and the Reno Chamber Orchestra, Dustin brings his expertise to the forefront, including a notable performance of the Walton Viola Concerto with the Reno Philharmonic in 2015. His illustrious career also includes significant engagements with the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, where he performed at Carnegie Hall under the baton of luminaries like Michael Tilson Thomas and Yo-Yo Ma. Beyond his orchestral endeavors, Dustin is deeply invested in music education, serving on the faculty of UNR for the past five years and mentoring aspiring musicians in the Reno area. His commitment to nurturing young talent extends to his role as conductor for the Reno Youth Concert Orchestra, where he curates engaging repertoire spanning classical masterpieces to contemporary favorites like The Legend of Zelda video game music.

Sarah Coyl

Heralded by Reno Arts News for her “tender” playing, Sarah Coyl enjoys a diverse musical career playing and teaching viola and violin. She holds the positions of Assistant Principal Viola of the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra and Section Viola in the Reno Chamber Orchestra.

As an instructor at the University of Nevada Reno, she teaches private violin lessons and String Class Methods. Coyl strives to impart excellent fundamental technique to all of her students in both her home and UNR studios, setting them up to play to the best of their ability, no matter what kind of music they wish to pursue. Her students hold principal positions in Reno’s youth orchestras.

José Miguel Pereira Muruchi

Outstanding Bolivian cellist who has more than 20 years of musical career. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in cello performance at the University of Nevada, Reno. Graduate Teaching Assistant to Dr. Dmitri Atapine and he previously earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Central
Arkansas in 2022, while studying with Dr. Stephen Feldman.

He is currently a member of the Nightingale String Quartet and principal cellist of the UNR orchestra. His professional career has been developed for several years participating and collaborating with several Bolivian Orchestras and chamber ensemble
inside and outside the country.

Claire Tomoko Tatman

Claire Tomoko Tatman is a dedicated musician and educator based in Nevada, Arizona, and California. She excels as a violinist, violist, and pianist, serving as a member of esteemed musical organizations such as ASTA and holding certification as a Suzuki Teacher through the SAA. As a performer, Claire showcases her talent in various orchestras across the West Coast, including the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, Fresno Philharmonic, and Vallejo Festival Orchestra. Her prowess extends to solo performances at prestigious festivals like the Piazzolla Festival and engagements as a featured soloist, enriching audiences with her artistry.

In addition to her performance career, Claire is deeply committed to music education. She has held key roles directing youth symphonies, coaching chamber music workshops, and serving as a judge for All-State Orchestras. Recognized for her teaching excellence, she was honored with the 2020 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award from the University of Nevada, Reno. Claire holds a Master of Music from UNR and a Bachelor of Arts from Arizona State University, and she is completing her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Violin Performance at UNR. Beyond music, she finds joy in exploring nature with her partner and their two miniature dachshunds amidst the scenic Sierras.