RSO - Key Persons
Akemi Takayama received first prize in both the Northwest Regional Music Teacher National Association and the Grand Junction Young Artist competitions. She has performed at and served on the faculties of the Chautauqua Institute in New York, the Idyllwild School of the Arts in California, the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina, Shenandoah Performs in Virginia and at Virginia Tech. During her graduate studies, Akemi was a teaching assistant to the renowned Donald Weilerstein at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she earned both an Artist Diploma and a Master of Music degree. Previously, she studied with Toshiya Eto and Ryosaku Kubota at the renowned Toho School of Music in Tokyo, where she earned her bachelor degree in music performance. She also studied with Brian Hanly at the University of Wyoming where she earned her professional studies degree. Ms. Takayama won a position in the prestigious Marlboro Music Festival and the Isaac Stern Music Workshop. The late Isaac Stern said of Ms. Takayama "she is a true musician and will always bring credit to any group that she works with." Akemi indeed brings great credit to the RSO and to our region.
Ms. Takayama plays a J.B. Ceruti violin from Cremona, Italy, made in 1805.
Job Titles:
- Music Director
- Music Director & Conductor
Elise Blake is an experienced violinist based in Washington, DC. She performs with many ensembles including the Baltimore, Richmond, and Virginia Symphonies, the National Philharmonic, the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Eclipse Chamber Orchestra, and Wolf Trap Opera.
She has appeared at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as part of the KC Jukebox Series and the Millennium Stage concerts, and she also recently performed on the faculty recital series at Peabody Conservatory. Each summer Elise travels to Santa Cruz, CA as a member of the Festival Orchestra of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music.
Elise was on string faculty at Mary Baldwin University (Staunton, VA) for five years and has served on adjudication panels for the James Madison University Concerto Competition and the Virginia Music Teachers Association. Currently, Elise runs a violin studio in Rockville, MD, where she resides with her husband David Murray, trombonist with the National Symphony Orchestra.
Born and raised in New England, Elise began piano and violin at age three and went on to earn a Bachelor of Music in violin performance from Boston University's School of Music. She also holds a Master of Music degree from The Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University. Her current violin is made by Denis Cormier and she performs on a Jules Fétique bow
Job Titles:
- Musician Advisory Council
Job Titles:
- Orchestra Personnel Manager
Job Titles:
- Adjunct Professor of Violin / Viola at the University of Richmond
Mr. Stevens is an adjunct professor of Violin/Viola at the University of Richmond and Randolph-Macon College. Previous to this post, he was professor of Viola at Hofstra University and also played in the university's ensemble in residence, the Hofstra String Quartet. For 11 years, Thomas lived in New York City, performing with such groups as the Sonos Chamber Orchestra, Connecticut Grand Opera, DiCapo Opera, the Larchmont Chamber Players and the New Philharmonic of New Jersey. Currently, Mr. Stevens plays with the Williamsburg Symphonia, the Roanoke Symphony, the Oratorio Society of Virginia and substitutes with the Richmond Symphony. Summers, Tom plays with the Lancaster Festival Orchestra and enjoys chamber music at "Loon Lake Live!", a concert series in the Northern Adirondacks.