Artists in Residence

Carl Reiter:

violin
   Carl holds a bachelors degree in music from Arizona State University, a masters degree from Northern Arizona University and did his doctoral work was at Northern Arizona University.  Carl is currently the Executive Director of the Scottsdale Philharmonic.  He  performs with the Phoenix String Quartet, the Scottsdale Philharmonic, Tempe Symphony, and the Arizona Repertoire Orchestra. 

     As an educator he held teaching positions at Grand Canyon University, Phoenix College, and K-12 public schools for over thirty years. 

     Carl's orchestral affiliations include, the Tucson Symphony, Flagstaff Symphony, Tempe Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Scottsdale Philharmonic, Scottsdale Baroque Orchestra, Mesa Symphony and movie soundtracks with Studio Orchestras in California. His received his first contract with a professional orchestra at the age of fourteen and is currently lead violinist with the Phoenix String Quartet.  
 
                                  Phoenix String Quartet Artist in Residence. 
                          Member of the Phoenix String Quartet Association 
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Nancy Reiter: violin
    Received a bachelors in violin performance from Western Michigan University, a bachelors degree in string pedagogy from Arizona State University where she studied viola with Bill Majors.  Nancy received a Masters of Musical Arts Degree from the Wetern Michigan Institute of music, where she studied with David Updegraff, and a Masters of Musical Arts from Western Kentucky University. 

Her accolade includes performances: Emerson String Quartet, Hindemith Violin Concerto, Lexington Philharmonic, Valley of the Sun Symphony, Arizona Opera, and the Scottsdale Baroque Orchestra.  She also performs extensively as a chamber musician and had appeared in Alabama, Michigan, Kentucky, Arizona and New York. 

As an educator Nancy co-founded the Young Strings Academy, and established the concert of soloists for Students in Scottsdale.  Her ensembles have performed at Lincoln Center in New York where she directed both the Chaparral High School Orchestra, and North Canyon High School Orchestra. 

Nancy plays first violin in the Scottsdale Philharmonic, and Tempe Symphony.  She currently teaches orchestra for Mesa Public Schools and accepts a limited number of private students.  For information regarding private lessons, phone 623 582-6031. 
Phoenix String Quartet Artist in Residence.    top

Phoenix String Quartet Artist in Residence
Member of the Phoenix String Quartet Association

   Dan Dumitriu, born in Bucharest, Rumania, began playing the violin at age seven, but was drawn to the viola by its deeper sound and chose to switch instruments at age ten. After earning his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Rumania's top music school, the Ciprian Porumbescu Conservatory, he won a position with the Rumanian Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra. As a member, he toured throughout Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Hungary. He also participated in festivals in Rome, Sorrento, Ravenna, Fontainebleau and Munich.

Seeing the contrast of life between Eastern and Western Europe reinforced a deep-seated longing for political freedom, a longing that was nurtured from childhood by listening to broadcasts of Radio Free Europe and the Voice of America. His determination to free himself from the bonds of communism was reinforced by his own discomfort in performing with an ensemble that acted primarily as a propaganda arm of the repressive government of Nicolae Ceausescu. In addition to presenting standard symphonic repertoire, the orchestra was on call 24 hours a day to rehearse and record military and patriotic music, some of which was composed by the dictator himself. It was this orchestra, however, that provided Dan his gateway to freedom. In 1979, he defected at the end of a month-long tour to Italy. While his colleagues were sight-seeing in Venice, he boarded a train to Rome where he requested and received political asylum. He had only one destination: the U.S.A.

After spending time in two different refugee camps, he was flown to the U.S. with 200 other political refugees on a DC-8 supplied by the American government. For the first time in his life he felt that he was truly home. One year later he was able to bring his wife, Phoenix Symphony violinist Ioana, and three year old daughter Monica to the US. They both won positions in the Phoenix Symphony in 1981 and became citizens in 1986. Their sons, Roger and Robert, were born in 1983 and 1988 as American citizens. 

Dan is a passionate student of world history and current affairs.  He prizes his freedom to read books of his own choosing and particularly enjoys the works of Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Jean Francois Revel and Emanuel Swedenborg. He is also an avid fisherman and currently performs with the Phoenix Symphony.

    Nathan holds a music degree from the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Music and honed his skills as an audio engineer engineering recordings for Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, Dave Brubeck, John Pizzarelli, Andre Previn, Boston Pops, and the Boston Symphony Orhcestra.

He currently owns Vault Mastering, serving musically diverse clients throughout the world. Nathan performas as principal cello for the Symphony of the Southwest, and is artist in residence with The Phoenix String Quartet.

Nathan can now be found mastering records out of his new mastering studio in the Phoenix area. See pictures of the new studio here. Arrangements for attended sessions in New York can be made with two months of notice.

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Phoenix String Quartet Association Artists

Mike Prokes: violin 
   Mike Prokes is perhaps the most recognized freelance violinists in the valley. He is a gifted player known for near flawless performances.  He spent 15 years as a member of the Phoenix Symphony and performed with the Arizona Opera Company. 

   Mikes love of music shows in his performances.  He is a bright spot in any group.  During his career he has delighted audiences with thousands of concerts including, weddings, ballets, opera, rock and roll, live musicals, churches, formal concerts, and even as a strolling violinist.  Mike now performs exclusively as a freelance artist.

Caroline Broomfield:  violin/viola

   Caroline holds a bachelor's degree in violin performance from Arizona State University.  Locally, she has performed with the Phoenix Symphony, Symphony of the West Valley, and Musica Nova.  Caroline is co-director of the Arizona Repertory Orchestra and teaches orchestra for the Chandler Unified School District. 

     Caroline has appeared with with the Brevard North Carolina Music Center Orchestra, and New College Orchestra in Sarasota Florida.  As an educator and performer she has  and attended the National Music Center in Interlochen Michigan and maintains a private violin/viola studio here in Metro Phoenix.  Phoenix String Quartet Artist in Residence. 

Member of the Phoenix String Quartet Association
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Bob Herzog: (viola)
     Bob performed with  the Phoenix Symphony for 11 years.  He is currently principal Violist in the Chandler Symphony.  Prior to joining the Phoenix Symphony, he served as a member of the Air Force Strolling Strings. 

    During his career he has been a member of, Colorado Springs Symphony, Tempe Symphony, Mesa Symphony, Mesa College Community Orchestra, the Scottsdale Musical Arts Orchestra, the Fine Arts String Orchestra.  He currently performs with the Scottsdale Philharmonic. 

Member of the Phoenix String Quartet Association
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Patricia Cosand: viola
    Violist Patricia Cosand is a native of Phoenix. She has degrees in music from both California State University at Fresno and Arizona State University. She counts ten years as a violist with Phoenix Symphony, and more than fifteen years as principal viola with the Arizona Opera Orchestra. She has an avid interest in pedagogy and chamber music, and runs a successful music studio called Mesa Violin Studios and is director of the summer camp, String Quartet Camp and Bass Workshop. She is married to pianist, Walter Cosand and they reside in Tempe.  

Li Ma: cello
   Li began her cello studies at the age of 9.  Li was an award winner at both the First and Second China National Cello Competitions in 1988 and 1993, respectively.  After receiving a Bachelor's Degree in cello performance from the Central Conservatory of music in Beijing, Li served as Principal Cellist for the Beijing Symphony Orchestra from 1994 to 1999, at the same time serving as principal cellist for the China women's Philharmonic Orchestra.  In those positions, she toured China and Asia, which included participation in the Asia Philharmonic Orchestra in Tokyo and Seoul.  From 1995 to 2000, Li was also a faculty member at her alma mater, the Central COnservatory of Music.  After moving to the United States, Li gave solo recitals in addition to performing with various chamber and orchestra groups.  From 2002 to 2005, Li was a member of the cello faculty at the Arcadia Music Academy in Phoenix.  She has been a substitute cellist for the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra since 2004, and guest cellist with the Scottsdale Philharmonic .  Mrs. Ma joined the Chandler Symphony Orchestra as principal cellist and soloist in 2007.

Jay Good: cello
    Jay has over thirty years experience with orchestra Management, Operations, and Production experience that includes tenures with the American Symphony Orchestra, American Russia Youth Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and the Phoenix Symphony.

    He currently serves as Director of Operations for Arizona Musicfest, Concert Manager for the Phoenix Chorale, and Artist Manager for Steven Moeckel. 

    As a cellist, Jay has performed with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, American Symphony Orchestra, New Amsterdan Symphony, Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, and Principal cellist with the Scottsdale Arts Orchestra and the Four Seasons Orchestra. 

Dr. Joeann Cleland: (cello)
Jo holds a bachelors degree in music education from St.Olaf College and masters and doctorate degrees in education from Northern Arizona University.  Professor Emeritus A.S.U.

Jo currently performs with the Scottsdale Philharmonic Orchestra, North Valley Symphony Orchestra, Fine Arts String Orchestra, Scottsdale Musical Arts Theater Orchestra, Sun City Chamber Orchestra, Cantabile Quartet and ASU Emeritus Ensemble. Previously she was a member of the Phoenix Symphony, Phoenix Symphony Quartet, Phoenix Symphony Harp Trio, West Valley Symphony, and Scottsdale Baroque Orchestra.

Jo has been a church choir director and organist. She teaches private lessons on cello and piano.  Jo taught in public schools for 21 years and at Arizona State University for 12 years. Joeann is a member of the Phoenix String Quartet association and performs with the Phoenix String Quartet.

Member of the Phoenix String Quartet Association 
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Ajay Patel: cello
     Ajay Patel holds a Masters Degree in Cello Performance from Arizona State University. He is the associate conductor of the Scottsdale Philharmonic.  Ajay has performed with the Arizona Opera, has served as substitute principal cello for the Chandler Symphony, and has been a member of the Symphony of the Southwest and Musica Nova orchestras. Ajay is the Musical Director and Conductor of the East Valley Youth Symphony (evysaz.org).

     In addition to performing, he is a full time educator in the Chandler School district, directing the orchestra program at Basha High School. Ajay maintains a high level cello studio from his residence in Gilbert, and his students have participated in Regionals, All State, and high level performance competitions. For more information about studying cello with Mr. Patel, please send an email to cellopatel@gmail.com. Ajay is excited to be affiliated with the Phoenix String Quartet.