Mathias Tacke – Concert Master, Violin
Mathias Tacke is Concert Master of Camerata Chicago and was the second violinist of the acclaimed Vermeer Quartet, Chicago from 1992 until 2007. He is Professor of Violin and Chamber Music at Northern Illinois University and Guest Lecturer for String Chamber Music at Northwestern University. Mathias was appointed Concertmaster of Camerata Chicago in the summer of 2008. … read more.
Songhea Sackrider – Violin
Songhea Sackrider received her Bachelors degree in Violin Performance from the University of Michigan and a Masters degree in Violin Performance from Northwestern University. She has been a member of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Chicago Arts Orchestra and guest principal and soloist with the Kalamazoo Symphony and is a recipient of the Kapnick Scholar Fellowship with the Civic Orchestra and Northwestern University. Songhea is on faculty at the New Music School, Chicago School of Music, Elmhurst Music Academy and GEMS World Academy and is a longtime member of Camerata Chicago.
Istvan Loga – Viola
Istvan Loga has followed his passion for classical music across borders. At the George Enesco School of Music under the guidance of Professor Alexander Gavaller he won numerous prestigious awards and studied at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. In 2010 he studied with the Cordis Quartet at Nederland’s Strijkkwartet Academie under Stefan Metz (Orlando Quartet) and Marc Danel (Quatuor Danel). Istvan performed alongside world-renowned pianist Martha Argerich … read more.
Christopher Ferrer – Principal Cello, Continuo
Cellist Christopher Ferrer is Principal Cellist of Camerata Chicago and a member of Lakeshore Rush. From 2013-2014 he worked as principal cellist for the West Side Story North American Tour. Christopher attended the Royal College of Music in London and Northern Illinois University. While in high school, he was a member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Encore Chamber Orchestra. … read more.
Dan Carson, Bass
Dan Carson is a freelance bassist and teacher based in Chicago. Dan earned his Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, as well as his Master’s degree from the University of Southern California. Carson served as Principal Bass of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra in Birmingham from 2013-16. He has since performed with many of America’s premier orchestras, including the St. Louis Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, and the Minnesota Orchestra. Carson is currently pursuing a Graduate Certificate at the University of Southern California, studying with David Allen Moore, renowned double bass pedagogue and member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
William Billingham, keyboard
Pianist William Billingham has served as an Assistant Conductor at the Lyric Opera of Chicago since 1995. He has assisted in the preparation of over 75 productions, playing for rehearsals, coaching singers, conducting offstage musicians, and performing on the piano onstage, organ in the loft, and harpsichord in the pit. William has also worked as a coach and accompanist for the Aspen Music Festival and School, the Cleveland Orchestra, Florentine Opera (Milwaukee, WI), Los Angeles Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center. Active as a chamber musician, he is a frequent collaborator with singers and instrumentalists. … read more.