Grossmont Symphony String Quartet

The Grossmont Symphony String Quartet is the resident string quartet of the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra at Grossmont College . It's two-fold mission is to serve San Diego 's East County community through performances of chamber music at local venues, in addition to performing educational concerts at Junior High and High Schools throughout our San Diego ’s East County community. As principal members of the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra's string section, they also assist the music director of the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra in coaching members of its string sections, in addition to mentoring their inside stand partners in rehearsals/ performances. It's varied performing repertoire includes chamber music suitable for serious chamber music concerts, to educational performances, to lighter music for social events.

Mikhail (Michael) Dvoskin, first violinist with the Grossmont Symphony String Quartet, and Friends of Music Endowed Chair Recipient for the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra. Mikhail is a performing violinist & conductor who graduated from the Moscow State College of Music earning a Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance in 2002. He also earned a Master of Music degree in violin performance in 2007 from the Maimonid State Academy of Classical Art (SACA).      Having performed with a number of internationally recognized radio and television orchestras, Michael was a member of the Russian State Symphony Orchestra having performed under such world class conductors as Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Maxim Shostak­ovich, and Valery Polyansky. He also toured with the orchestra throughout England (London Royal Albert Hall), the Czech Republic (Prague Philharmonic Hall), and Spain (for the Royal Family).  As a conductor, Michael has conducted both chamber and symphony orchestras throughout Russia to include local orchestral ensembles in Moscow, in addition to having served as assistant conductor for the Maimonid SACA Symphony Orchestra.   In San Diego, Michael has maintained a private violin studio since 2007 and performs regularly with his pianist wife, Katherine (Ekaterina) Petrosyan.

Elizabeth Valdez, second violinist with the Grossmont Symphony String Quartet, and Principal Second Violinist of the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra, Elizabeth Valdez is passionate about music! The granddaughter of an accomplished pianist and folk harp maker, her musical roots run deep. Through early private study with Lillian Hester and playing with the Helix High School Orchestra, it was seemingly effortless for Elizabeth to create a solid foundation and love for music. Her abilities continued to flourish in local orchestras, including the USD Symphony, Palomar Symphony Orchestra and the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra. Her talents (and eagerness to learn from mentors) have progressed her to the professional level that she now enjoys with the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra and Grossmont Symphony String Quartet. With over 10 years volunteering as Principal 1st Violin for the CCT (Christian Community Theatre) Orchestra, she has performed in hundreds of musical productions. Elizabeth has also taught privately from her home and coached the string department at Valhalla High School. With a strongly developed style of playing she has naturally progressed into a leadership role. Performing with her home church vocal band and in several local church orchestras as well as founding Sunrise Strings (for weddings and parties), Elizabeth continues her quest to grow professionally and is excited to learn new techniques from her classically trained peers in the Chamber Orchestra. In the future, she plans to study with a tutor and improve on her talents and technique. Elizabeth has been married 5 years and is a proud, stay-at-home mother of two young boys.

Annabelle Terbetski, violist with the Grossmont Symphony String Quartet, and Principal Violist of the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra, grew up in Tarrytown, NY and began playing the viola at age eight. She holds a Masters Degree in Chamber Music Performance from Kent State University and a Masters Degree in Viola Performance from Florida State University.  She also received her Bachelors Degree in Music Education and Viola Performance from Ithaca College in New York. Annabelle is a former member of the Aidan String Quartet and the Eppes String Quartet, the graduate string quartet in residence at FSU.  She has worked with the Miami String Quartet and Ellen Zwillich. She was also a member of the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra and played with Sinfonia Gulf Coast. Also a member of the Escalante String Quartet while at Ithaca College, Annabelle received coachings from Jamie Laredo, Ani Kavafian and the Audubon String Quartet. Annabelle has spent two summers at Kent/Blossom Music Festival and has previously attended Texas Music Festival with the Eppes Quartet as Young Artists in Residence. Currently Annabelle is living in San Diego and is excited about teaching and playing more chamber music.

Gordon Grubbs, cellist with the Grossmont Symphony String Quartet and principal cellist with the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra, has performed in chamber music and as soloist throughout Southern California and Mexico. He began studying cello in his home town of Wichita, Kansas, with master teacher Lois Ayres Gordon, and quickly distinguished himself as a soloist, a chamber musician, and orchestral player, winning competitions and scholarships to help further his musical studies at the National Music Camp at Interlochen, Michigan. Mr. Grubbs joined the Wichita Symphony Orchestra while pursuing a degree in music performance at Wichita State University. These years provided many opportunities including founding The Chamber Orchestra of Wichita, and becoming a member of the W.S.U. Faculty 20th Century Ensemble while still an undergraduate. After relocating to Southern California, Mr. Grubbs studied with Los Angeles Philharmonic cellist, Ronald Leonard. He has toured extensively in Mexico with the Camerata de Enseneada de Todos Santos and recorded with the Orquesta Pro Musica Ensenada. Mr. Grubbs stays active in the professional musical life of San Diego appearing frequently in recital.

Next Concert by the GSSQ:

For more information, please call the Grossmont College Music Department Office at: (619) 644-7254.

 

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