Janis Sakai

Japanese-Korean-American violinist Janis Sakai began studying the violin at the age of 5, winning numerous awards and competitions including the Saint Paul Chamber Music Competition, Rembrandt Chamber Music Competition, Walgreens Concerto Competition, and the Society of American Musicians. Sakai has performed with world-renowned artists such as Amos Lee, Andrea Bocelli, Boyz II Men, Emanuel Ax, … Continued

Clay Hancock

Violinist Clayton Hancock joined the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in the fall of 2024. Hancock has been featured as a soloist across the United States, France, and Germany, and in 2020, he made his professional solo debut with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. He has a rich love of chamber music, and during his final year of … Continued

Ji-Yeon Lee

Violinist Ji-Yeon Lee most recently was a member of the Griffon String Quartet, resident quartet of Midsummer’s Music in northeast Wisconsin.  As an avid chamber musician, she has received numerous awards and has had opportunities to perform in Carnegie Weill Recital Hall and Seiji Ozawa Hall.  Her solo appearances include performances on the Millennium Stage … Continued

Mary Terranova

Violinist Mary Terranova is a native of Los Angeles and received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from California Institute of the Arts, with further study at the University of Michigan. Prior to joining the MSO, she was a private violin instructor, and a freelance artist in the Los Angeles area, frequently performing on the Monday … Continued

Hyewon Kim

Hyewon Kim started playing the violin in her native Seoul, South Korea when she was 6 years-old. At an early age, she was recognized by winning prizes from prestigious competitions in Korea: Eum- Yeon, Chun-chu, and the Music Journal. While attending Ewha Womans University, she earned the opportunities to perform numerous violin concertos with the … Continued

Paul Hauer

Violinist Paul Hauer joined the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in the fall of 2016. Solo and concerto performances have brought Mr. Hauer to the countries of Germany, Greece, France, the Czech Republic, Vietnam, Mexico, Canada, and the Philippines. Chamber music and orchestral concerts have brought him to Italy, San Marino, Singapore, Mexico, and China. Before moving … Continued

Lisa Johnson Fuller

Lisa Johnson Fuller, violinist, has been a member of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra since 1997. Lisa began the violin at age three with Rebecca Sandrok and the Suzuki method. Her continued violin studies included teachers George Perlman, Zvi Zeitlin, Roland & Almita Vamos, and Paul Kantor. Lisa received a Bachelor of Music degree from the … Continued

John Bian

Violinist John Bian, born in St. Paul, Minn., is an active orchestral musician who has studied with many notable concertmasters across the country. He is seen frequently in violin sections of major orchestras such as the Cleveland Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and Detroit Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his large ensemble career, … Continued

Glenn Asch

Violinist Glenn Asch and his wife, Laurie, met playing string quartets at UW Madison. Laurie now teaches orchestra and chorus for Milwaukee Public Schools, and the two are now East-side empty-nesters with three kids in college. Glenn has played violin with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra since 1980 and demonstrates great fluency in various violin performance … Continued

Jennifer Startt

Jennifer Startt joined the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra 1990 and became the orchestraʼs principal second violin in 2008. She has appeared as soloist with the MSO on numerous occasions in Milwaukee and throughout the state. Ms. Startt is a member of the Peninsula Music Festival Orchestra in Door County and is an active chamber musician, private … Continued