Central Ohio / Columbus
Viva la Strings Central Ohio makes it a priority to personally work with each client to make the music for their event special, personal, unique and memorable. We play a wide variety of genres of music, from Harry Potter to Eine Kleine Nacht Musik. The musicians that play for our wedding ceremonies, corporate events, etc. come with not only talent but a professionalism that enhances any event. We love playing together and playing for others!
Central Ohio Featured Musicians
Renee is a gifted and enthusiastic musician who began playing the violin when she was six years old. She has Bachelor of Music Education degree from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music where she studied violin and voice performance as well as strings pedagogy. She serves as the Director of the K-12 orchestra program at Worthington Christian School in Worthington, Ohio and has a large private lesson studio. In her free time, she plays for special events as a part of her church’s worship team.
Central Ohio Manager/Violin
Renee Johnson
Jacqueline Stevanus
Jacquie is a violinist and music educator, and worship musician/coordinator. She is also a member of Central Ohio Symphony and the Marion Messiah Orchestra. She has maintained an active violin and viola studio to nurture and inspire the success of young violinists and violists for over 20 years. She has served as a worship musician for churches in Indiana and in Dublin, Ohio for over 30 years as a pianist, vocalist, and violinist, as well as programming and rehearsing weekly worship sets. Sharing music for many of life’s special moments is her joy and passion!
Violin
Olivia Simons
Olivia graduated in May 2020 with a degree in Violin Performance from The Master’s University. She has played in the American Youth Symphony, as well as in the Ohio All-State orchestra and OMEA Regional Orchestra. She has attended music festivals such as Indiana Summer String Academy, Mountaintop Mastercourse, and Meadowmount School of Music. Currently, she teaches private lessons in Columbus and plays with the New Albany Symphony and in the worship team at Maranatha Baptist Church.
Violin
Matthew R. Hawley
Matthew has a BM, BME, and MA from The Ohio State University. He has been teaching Orchestra in the Dublin City Schools since 1999. He is the founder and co-director of the Dublin Youth String Orchestra, a community youth group, that has performed at the National Orchestra Festival and the Ohio Music Education Association State Conference. Matthew is Principal Cellist of the Central Ohio Symphony in Delaware, Ohio. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, volunteering with Scouts BSA, and traveling to National Parks.
Cello
Daniel Comisky
Daniel received his Bachelor of Music in Performance and Bachelor of Science in Biology from Western Michigan University. He also received a Master of Music in Performance from Miami University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from The Ohio State University. He currently performs as a section member of the Lima Symphony, Southwest Ohio Philharmonic, and Butler Philharmonic.
Cello
Edgar Singleton
Edgar Singleton received his Master of Music degree from Bowling Green State University and now performs and teaches in the Columbus area. He was formerly the grants manager of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and currently serves as acting principal cello of the Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra. Edgar is one half of the Singleton Duo with his wife, pianist Lynn Singleton, and is a member of the Tallis Chamber Orchestra of Wilmington, NC.
Cello
George Schumann
George has been playing guitar around Central Ohio for over 40 years. When not playing for weddings, he performs at restaurants providing relaxing music for guests to listen to while enjoying dinner. George graduated from Five Towns College on Long Island with a degree in Contemporary Music. He studied with several New York area guitarists, including pioneers of the jazz guitar style. He also regularly plays guitar and bass guitar with contemporary Christian church worship teams.
Guitar
Kylynne Johnson
Kylynne does not remember a time in her life when she didn't play violin! Growing up, she participated in group classes, orchestras, camps, and private lessons. She eventually graduated from the Suzuki curriculum and went on to play in the Miami University Orchestra. Now, she plays violin for her own enjoyment through Viva la Strings and occasionally at church. She loves playing with Viva la Strings because she loves being a part of peoples' special days through beautiful music.
Violin
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