Born in Seoul, Korea, Ms. Choi has performed widely throughout the US and Korea. She has frequently performed in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kodak Eastman Theater, Shanghai Oriental Art Center, Seoul Art Center, and Disney Concert Hall.

A founding member of the Three Strings Ensemble, her trio has had numerous concert series sponsored by the city of Seoul. The ensemble was named a winner of the Manhattan International Music Competition and has been featured in Carnegie Hall for a winner’s concert in 2022; it has been named a special prize winner of Astor Piazzolla International Music Competition for a chamber division.

Recognizing a passion for ensemble playing from an early age, she has performed with Rochester Symphony Orchestra, Korean Symphony Orchestra, Korea National Opera.

Ms. Choi holds a BM degree from Manhattan School of Music and a MM degree from Eastman School of Music, studied with Patinka Kopec, Charles Castleman, and Glenn Dicterow, the former concertmaster of New York Philharmonic for a Graduate Certificate Diploma from the University of Southern California.

In 2019 Ms. Choi joined Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra and New west Symphony Orchestra as a section violinist.

Violinist Chloe Chiu is a vibrant and passionate musical storyteller who brings a compelling blend of sincerity, artistry and technical proficiency to her audiences as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician.
Born in Taiwan, Chloe has traveled around the globe performing as a soloist in Australia, Italy, France, Austria, Bulgaria, Singapore and Israel. She also sparkled as a member in chamber music groups and recording sessions for acclaimed singers and films.

Chloe joined the Santa Barbara Symphony in 2014 and currently, she is also a member in the first violin section of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and Long Beach Symphony. She also performs with the Los Angeles Opera and Orchestra Santa Monica. Additionally, Chloe enjoys teaching and maintains a dedicated roster of violin students.

She holds a Master of Music Degree from Johns Hopkins University where she studied with Victor Danchenko, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the National University of Singapore where she studied with Qian Zhou. She also completed the Graduate Certificate Program at the University of Southern California learning from former concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic, Glenn Dicterow.

As a freelance violinist I have had the opportunity to travel all over the world playing all types of music. From performing solo recitals in Europe to playing electric violin with Gnarls Barkley in sold out arenas across the US, from joining the Pacific Symphony for their European tour to performing shows as a Guest Entertainer on cruise ships all over the world, I feel very lucky to be able to be so versatile. When I’m not traveling I am in Los Angeles playing with many of the regional orchestras, including Santa Monica Symphony, Long Beach Symphony, and Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra, and I have also recorded for film and television, as well as performed on The Voice, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, and many other television shows. I am grateful to have shared the stage with some of the world’s most beloved musicians, including Yo Yo Ma, Paul McCartney, Barbara Streisand, Josh Groban, Ray Charles, Norah Jones, Christina Aguillera, Johnnie Mathis, and many others.

Tenured in 1981

Born and Educated in Russia (Moldavia), Margarita Treger holds a Masters in Performing Arts and Teaching from Kishinev Conservatory of Music. She was a soloist in many festivals in the country and abroad. Coming to the United States in 1977, she was appointed as Assistant Concertmaster of the CETA Orchestra in Los Angeles. She performed with the Pacific Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, New West Symphony, Pasadena Symphony, and the Los Angeles Opera. She has performed in Italy, Taiwan, Israel, and Mexico.
She is a founder of the Hollywood Music Studio for Talented Children. Following the traditions of European Music Salon, she presents and plays solos in private homes throughout Beverly Hills.
She joined the Long Beach Symphony’s team of first violinists in 1980 and has performed under Murry Sidlin, JoAnn Falletta, and with Enrique Arturo Diemecke.

Tenured in 2007

A former member of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Galícia in Spain, Mei Chang was born in Taiwan and grew up in São Paulo, Brazil, where she won her first full-time orchestral job at age 19. She spent six years at Boston University on full scholarship under the guidance of Peter Zazofsky, the Muir String Quartet and Raphael Hillyer.

Before settling in Los Angeles, Mei lived in Portland, Oregon, where she often played with the Oregon Symphony and was the concertmaster of Eugene Symphony for a season. Mei has been a member of the Long Beach Symphony since the 2006-07 season and is also a member of the Pasadena Symphony.

Tenured in 1988

Julie Metz’s passion for music is evident in its great versatility as well as substance. As a violin and viola performer, Julie has worked with major symphonies and recording artists from around the world. As an educator, she has led pre-concert lectures, created instrumental and music appreciation curriculum, coordinated music programs and taught over 5000 elementary and secondary students and adults.

Julie continues to perform as a recitalist and lecturer as well as provide music for the latest Broadway shows.
While still a student, Julie was the violin soloist and consultant for the CBS-Television Movie of the Week, “Running Out.” As a member of the Motion Picture, Television and Recording Industries, she has played on numerous television shows, cartoons, videos, films and commercials.

Julie was the recipient of the Outstanding Music Educator Award from the Pacific Symphony Orchestra in 2000. She has taught students both privately and within the public and private school systems, in orchestral institutes, chamber ensembles, music camps and training programs. In addition, she has initiated innovative educational programs as well as expanded upon existing ones. Julie has implemented grants and managed programs whereby she was responsible for overseeing up to thirty musicians.

Julie creates and develops educational programs for orchestras. For the last 13 years, she has coordinated and taught instrumental strings and music appreciation to 4th through 6th grade students in the Savanna School District in Anaheim, California in the respected Music Masters Program. In addition, she also coordinates the Gifted and Talented Orchestra of the Anaheim Union High School District. She has contributed her talents by writing music appreciation curriculum for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Long Beach Symphony for use in the elementary, middle, and secondary schools.

Julie has been a pre-concert lecturer with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra in Orange County, California and the Rochester Symphony. She is also the host of the popular “Meet the Musicians” series at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Julie is the owner of Jules Entertainment, which provides musical services for special occasions.

Award-winning violinist Carrie Kennedy has been the featured soloist with orchestras throughout the United States including the San Antonio, Richardson, University of Southern California, Torrance, Suburban, Brevard Festival, Clear Lake, Westchester, Solano and Magic Valley symphonies, and has performed concerts around the world.

She joined the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra in January 2012. Currently, she is also a member of the New West, Long Beach and Pasadena Symphonies, and the Fiato Quartet. She also performs with Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra, Pacific Symphony and the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra. She has toured with the Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra in South America, the Percy Faith Orchestra in Japan, the Fiato Quartet in Costa Rica and with Andrea Bocelli. She has also recorded music for many commercials, motion pictures and records.

Kennedy is an alumnus of intensive chamber music programs at Tanglewood and Amelia Island where her quartet was coached by the American, Guarneri, Emerson, and Takacs quartets. While at Tanglewood, she served as concertmaster under Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos and was broadcast live on New York’s WQXR in Strauss’s Ein Heldenleben. She has also spent summers at the International Holland Music Sessions where she studied with Hermann Krebbers, the Santander Master Courses in Spain with Zakhar Bron, and the London Master Classes where she studied with György Pauk and was chosen to have her lesson filmed by Online Classics for a television documentary on the master classes.

She holds a Master of Music degree from The State University of New York at Stony Brook, where she studied with Pamela Frank and Ani Kavafian, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Southern California with Robert Lipsett.

Carrie resides in Pasadena with her husband and fellow LACO violinist Joel Pargman.

Valerie Geller has a busy career as solo and recording artist, conductor, concertmaster, contractor, orchestral musician, college professor, and master pedagogue. Her role as ‘Maestra’ has her currently serving as Principle Conductor for the Saddleback College Emeritus Institute Symphony and Laguna Woods Village Symphony Orchestras. She also holds the post of Concertmaster for the South Coast Symphony, Disneyland Candlelight Symphony, and ‘J.T. and the California Dreamin’ Symphonic Band.

Maestra Geller made her Carnegie Hall debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra in 1990 and has since performed with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, and served as Concertmaster for several Southern California orchestras and festivals including the Long Beach Mozart Festival and San Diego Chamber Orchestra.

In 2009, Maestra Geller made her international conducting debut in China with two concerts in Beijing, one on ‘The Great Wall’. This year, Maestra Geller will be performing and conducting multiple concerts throughout Eastern Europe and Israel. She returns to the southland to continue her multiple performance posts along with her position on the faculty of Saddleback College.

Valerie welcomes the opportunity of meeting Long Beach Symphony patrons at all performances. Maestra Geller can be reached by phone and email at: (949)813-8861 & [email protected].