Violin1
De Ann Letourneau is the Concertmaster of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, one of the few female Concertmasters in the US. In Las Vegas she is also Concertmaster for several other groups including the Nevada Ballet Theater and Opera Las Vegas.
Her unique style and approach to music has appealed to many in the field. She has been active in her guest artist capacity as guest Concertmaster, soloist, master classes at various Universities and performance coaching across the US and Abroad.
This past summer she had fun working with the wonderful friends and colleagues at the New Hampshire Music Festival.
As a performer, she has a unique ability to relate her love of music to all audience members. The Las Vegas Review Journal said, “…She performed not only impeccably but with an exuberant sense of joy.” The Duluth News Tribune said “…her performance was sensationally vibrant from beginning to end.”
Native of Superior Wisconsin, she began studying at age 14, and very quickly became noted as one of the up and coming Young Artists through several National Young Artists Competitions. She has appeared as guest artist with many orchestras including the Milwaukee Symphony, Las Vegas Philharmonic, National Arts Chamber Orchestra (Chicago), Duluth-Superior Symphony, Green Bay Symphony, Contemporary Arts Ensemble of Ohio, St. Martin Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, the Lake Superior Chamber Symphony and the Henderson Symphony. She has also been heard on several TV and Radio interviews and concerts including: KNPR FM, National Public Radio (Las Vegas and Minneapolis), WQXR FM New York, Wisconsin Public Radio, Fox 5, channel 14 “Morning Blend” and PBS stations.
Her career officially began at age 16 with the win of a full-time position with the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra. To date, she is still the youngest full-time member ever to win a position in the organization. She also made her solo debut with the DSSO that same year and from there went on to win many major Competitions and perform recitals throughout the US and Europe, including the first prize at the Starling International Young Artist Competition held in Aspen CO, where Miss Dorothy DeLay heard her and invited her as part of her studio.
Her love of performing went beyond her solo/recital stage experience. She fell in love with the fullness of sound surrounding her within the orchestra. Over many years she has performed in many various ensembles from chamber to major Symphony Orchestras. Through those experiences, she began to hone her leadership ability as Concertmaster. She has been Concertmaster for several orchestras as well as been invited as guest CM.
She has been asked to Guest CM with Duluth-Superior Symphony several times, where she will be Nov 4 as guest CM for a premier of a new work by a local Duluth composer. She has been CM National Arts Chamber Orchestra, CM Nevada Chamber Symphony, Assoc CM for Céline Dion, Assoc CM for Andrea Bocelli Tour, CM Contemporary Arts Ensemble, Co-Concertmaster of the American/Canadian Youth Orchestra under Charles Dutoit, Co-Concertmaster LA Institute at Hollywood Bowl under Sir Simon Rattle
In Las Vegas, she has been instrumental in much of the progression of the Fine Arts culture. Her enthusiasm and dedication to cultivating the Arts and Youth in Las Vegas earned her the honor as the first ever recipient of the “Woman of Distinction Award in the Performing Arts”, the Congressional Certificate of Achievement, a Proclamation from the City of Las Vegas, A Certificate of Achievement from the Senate recognizing all for her work with the Arts and Youth in Las Vegas. In March 2012, she was inducted into the Superior Academic Hall of Fame with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” because of her dedication to working with young people and community arts growth. Next to performing, coaching young artists and inspiring young people through music is a true passion. She regularly visits Various schools across the country to present her personal version of a “Ted Talk” about goals, dreams and possibility (GDP), perseverance through the odds to succeed.
DeAnn trains young players and adults (both professional or recreational ) in her private studio. Her studio consists of young students, college students, professionals and many adult connoisseurs of violin from around multiple States and Abroad. They each set up a weekly or monthly schedule to help prepare their auditions for Competition, College Admissions and Professional Symphonic Jobs.
Her younger school age students, many have gone on to become musicians and have been accepted on scholarship to schools or summer festivals such Juilliard, USC, Colburn, University of Cincinnati- College Conservatory of Music, Meadowmount, Interlochen and Encore. Many of her students have chosen to pursue other careers, but have told her that they have utilized their training with “Miss DeAnn” to help them find success in their non-musical pursuits including Law, Medicine and Entrepreneurship.
The Las Vegas music scene is so diverse, it has also opened up opportunities to explore her other music making abilities. She is sought after in Las Vegas to perform with some of the biggest popular Artists of today. Currently, she is the Concertmaster for Adele at her show “Weekends with the Adele” at Caesar’s Colosseum where she spent over 8 years with Céline and her show. She finished a project during Covid with the Imagine Dragons, recording some string work for their new album and a video for their March 2021 release “Follow You”.
This year she will be performing for the opening of the new Foutainbleu property performing with Paul Anke, who was the first Artist she worked with when she moved to Vegas in 1995.
This year she will be performing several of the candlight concert series held at the Indistrial where she is performing quartet concerts with some of her colleges from the LVP Jason Bonham and Andy Smith. This year she will also be in concert with Johnny Mathis at his Smith Center Show, Mannheim Steamroller in Dec and Seth McFarland before she is back on stage with Adele in January.
A Highlight this season is her Performance of the Shostakovich violin concerto #1 with the Henderson Symphony on Feb 22 at Ham Hall. It is a highlight because this will be her debut on this amazing concerto with all of her friends at the HSO!
De Ann was a member of the “Showstoppers” orchestra at the Wynn for 2 years. She has performed with various artists for the Grammys and MusiCares show over several years. She has also been seen on TV performing with Céline Dion, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Thomas Rhett, for the AMAs, Billboard Award shows, Country Music Awards, Latin Grammy’s and many other production shows. She helped to form a unique music group “Vertex3” where newly composed music is mixed with electronic/DJ sound with composer/DJ Aaron Ramsey and LVP violinist Rebecca Sabine. It was fun to help this group explore the mix of new music with technology.
A few years ago, she recorded her first non-classical solo-violin pop writing work with her good friend and Las Vegas Headliner, Frankie Moreno on his album “Uku-Latte” available on iTunes.
De Ann has always been fortunate in training and working with some the worlds best coaches and pedagogues over many years. She has brought those experiences into her private studio and as a teacher and coach, where she shares that knowledge and passion with new young performers.
Because of her unusually later age beginning on her instrument, she brings a very unique perspective and style of teaching to her students or in her Master Class. Her approach is unique because of the very fast paced learning she had to do to compete by age 15 with those who had trained at a much younger age. She uses this innate ability to describe that very fast, simple process of mastering the instrument to each individual student and she is able to create a program of success for each individual student using their individual sense of learning style.
She attended the University of Wisconsin-Superior with Diane Balko-former Concertmaster of the Duluth-Superior Symphony, UW-Milwaukee with Efim Boico & the Fine Arts Quartet in their Chamber Program, and finally finishing at the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music to study with Dorothy DeLay (Juilliard, CCM) & Kurt Sassmanshaus (CCM, Aspen). She has also had the opportunity to study with some other great violin pedagogues such as Josef Gingold (Indiana University), Jascha Brodsky (Curtis) & David Cerone (Cleveland Institute).
Besides performing and teaching, De Ann is very active in the arts community of Las Vegas. She has joined the boards of two local important arts groups. She is on the executive board of the Local 369 Musicians Union who helps maintain contracts for all major performance venues and Stars. She has also joined the executive board for Nevada School of the Arts in its growing stages to become even a larger educational center for students of arts for the entire Las Vegas area.
De Ann lives in Summerlin with her husband Scott, The Business Formation Expert. They have 3 unique and diverse children. Lee 22, (UNLV BFA Art major, Art History minor ‘23) Rose 19 UNR Bio major, Honors College ‘26) & Faith 17 (LVA Dance ‘25) and competitive dancer at Studio702
Eric McAllister received his bachelor’s degree in music education and violin performance, and a master’s degree in viola performance, and is pursuing a DMA in Conducting under the direction of Professor Taras Krysa at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He has conducted orchestras in schools since 1999, most recently at the Las Vegas Academy of the Performing Arts since 2006. He has performed with the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theater as a violinist each season since 1995, and with the Las Vegas Philharmonic since moving to Nevada in 2001. He has performed as a violinist with the Nevada Ballet Theater from 2001 to 2023, when he switched from the first violin section to conductor. Conducting many ballet performances such as George Balanchine’s adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” and “Serenade for Strings”, Nicolo Fonte’s adaptation of Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” (with “The Las Vegas MasterSingers” also on stage), and Jerome Robbins adaptation of the comedic ballet “The Concert” which is set to the music of Frédéric Chopin.
McAllister has conducted orchestras and/or performed violin or viola in venues such as the Auditorio de Zaragoza and Barcelona in Spain, Musikverein in Austria, Carnegie Hall, and Avery Fisher Hall in New York City (now David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts). He has also conducted in great venues in Chicago, Indianapolis, Albuquerque, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Hawaii, and Las Vegas’s own world-class Concert Hall in Las Vegas – the Smith Center for the Performing Arts!
Las Vegas offers many great opportunities to perform with classical artists and celebrity entertainers. McAllister has performed in Las Vegas with performers such as: Andre Bocelli, Josh Groben, Harry Connick Jr., Itzhak Perlman, Placido Domingo, Benjamin Zander, Johnny Mathis, Smokey Robinson, Donna Summer, Rascal Flatts, Linda Eder, Alan Parcens Project, Dennis DeYoung/Styxx, Air Supply, The Scintas, Danny Gans, Frank Sinatra Jr., Mary J. Blige, Richard Marx, Dave Stewart/Eurythmics, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Martina McBride, Emmylou Harris, Carole King, Mavis Staples, Pat Monahan, Jennifer Hudson, and the legendary rapper “Nas” performing many sold out shows featuring his iconic album “Illmatic”.
McAllister loves to gig here in town with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, and in other states/countries. He also loves spending time with his wife, Juliann, and his extended family.
Ivo Gradev joined the Las Vegas Philharmonic in 2001. A native of Bulgaria, he began playing the violin and piano and studying music theory at the age of four. He comes from a distinguished musical family—both of his parents are violin professors, and his older brother is a professor of harmony at the State Music Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Mr. Gradev earned his Master of Music degree in Violin Performance from the State Music Academy in Sofia. From 1995 to 2000, he was a tenured member of the Sofia Philharmonic, touring extensively throughout Great Britain, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Spain, and Greece.
He is a laureate of the “Svetoslav Obretenov” Competition (violin) and the “Music and Earth” International Competition as a member of a string quartet. Throughout his career, Mr. Gradev has performed with renowned artists including Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Plácido Domingo, Kelly Clarkson, Nas, and many others. Most recently, he performed with Adele during her residency, “Weekends With Adele,” at Caesars Palace.
Mr. Gradev is deeply passionate about both performing and teaching music. Teaching music is close to his heart, and he finds great joy in inspiring students, nurturing their musical growth, and helping them express themselves through music with confidence and artistry.
He lives in Summerlin with his wife Fen, daughter Stephanie, son Nicholas, and their beloved Shih Tzu Coco.
James Harvey is Professor of Music Theory at the College of Southern Nevada, where he also serves as Director of Violin/Viola Studies.
He earned his Bachelor of Music from the University of New Mexico in 2001 and his Master of Music from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in 2005.
Since 2001, James has been a member of the first violin section of the Las Vegas Philharmonic. In Las Vegas, he has performed in several extended-run shows, most notably serving as concertmaster for Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular, which ran for 2,691 performances at The Venetian from 2006 to 2012. He was also a first violinist in Steve Wynn’s Showstoppers, which ran for over two years at the Encore Theater, and performed during the residencies of Celine Dion and Adele at Caesars Colosseum.
James has performed with numerous Broadway touring productions, including The Addams Family, Evita, Porgy and Bess, The Wizard of Oz, Kinky Boots, The Book of Mormon, Fun Home, Something Rotten!, Ain’t Too Proud, Parade, Company, Funny Girl, and Suffs. He has collaborated with many notable artists, such as Justin Timberlake, Michel Legrand, Barbra Streisand, Andrea Bocelli, Plácido Domingo, Alicia Keys, Kelly Clarkson, Mariah Carey, Hugh Jackman, Sarah Brightman, Rascal Flatts, Toby Keith, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, Natalie Merchant, Smokey Robinson, John Legend, David Foster, Clint Holmes, Seth MacFarlane, Jackie Evancho, Il Divo, and Lady Gaga.
Jennifer Eriksson is a violinist and music educator based in Las Vegas. She is an accomplished performer on acoustic and electric violin. She is equally comfortable playing the classics in a traditional orchestral setting as she is playing while executing the choreography of a contemporary Vegas stage show.
A native New Yorker, Jennifer started playing at the age of 5. She’s a graduate of Indiana University’s Jacob School of Music. While visiting relatives in Las Vegas she auditioned for the Nevada Chamber Symphony and that short visit turned into a twenty-year career.
In addition to being a tenured member of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, Jennifer has performed with a long list of Vegas headliners, appearing in most of the major casino showrooms and arenas. Her versatility as a musician and dependability as a performer have led to her being contracted by several Vegas residency shows.
Currently, she performs with Celine Dion at Caesars Palace. Previously, Jennifer performed for over two years as part of Shania Twain’s STILL THE ONE show. In addition to the many costume changes and choreography required, Jennifer performed a featured solo as part of every show. She also performed with Shania on her Canadian tour appearing in front of audiences of over 50,000. Recently, Jennifer completed another residency of over two years with SHOWSTOPPERS at The Wynn Casino, performing the greatest songs from Broadway musicals.
She has also made television appearances on major award shows and broadcast specials in both Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Jennifer has a particular love for recording and is an experienced session musician.
Jennifer has a passion for sharing her expertise through music education. She was a teacher for The Nevada School of the Arts and was artist-in-residence at The Meadows School. She maintains a violin studio where she teaches lessons for students of all ages and abilities.
Ukrainian-born violinist Myroslava Khomik is a top prize winner of international competitions and awards, including the Remember Enescu Competition in Romania, and the New Names of Ukraine . She has appeared as a soloist and as a chamber music collaborator in concerts and festivals throughout the US, Europe, South America and Asia, and her performances were broadcast on National TV and Radio in Ukraine, Spain, the US, Japan, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. In May of 2019 she was named a New Artist 2018 by the Classical Music Critics Association of Argentina after her successful debut in Buenos Aires with the Orquesta de Cámara del Congreso de la Nación.
Based in Los Angeles, Ms. Khomik is an avid promoter of contemporary composers, educational outreach, and regularly participates in premieres of new works. Most recent highlights include two new commissions for solo violin and an upcoming release of her debut album; performances with Orquestra Sinfonica EAFIT in Medellin, Colombia, O rquesta Filarmónica de Zacatecas, Sinfonica Orquestra de Barra Mansa, Orquestra de la Societat de Concerts de Barcelona, Kyiv Kamerata, as well as residencies in Brazil and Argentina with music programs for underprivileged children.
A devoted chamber music advocate, Ms. Khomik had the privilege of collaborating and performing alongside many distinguished artists, such as members of the Borromeo, Jerusalem, Ysaye and Tokyo String Quartets, Midori Goto, Oleh Krysa, Carol Wincec, Fred Sherry, Ronald Leonard, Robert Davidovici, Michelle Zukovsky, Antonio Lysy, Guillaume Sutre, Movses Pogossian, among others. She frequently appears in chamber music series in Los Angeles (LACMA Sundays Live, Broad Stage Series, Redcat Series, among others), in New York and throughout Europe.
Ms. Khomik received her Performance Diploma from Lviv Krushelnytska School of Music in Ukraine, and after continuing her education in the US she received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she also held a position of the Teaching Associate of Chamber Music in the string department. Ms. Khomik regularly performs with several orchestras in Los Angeles, including the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra and the New West Symphony, she can be heard on various recordings for film and television, and is a member of the Las Vegas Philharmonic. Ms. Khomik served as an adjunct professor at Fullerton College, as is currently on faculty as a violin and chamber music teaching artist at Biola University and at the Montecito International Music Festival.
Naoko Taniguchi was born and educated in Japan. She studied violin with Louis Graeler and Tsuneo Iso.
She has performed with numerous orchestras in Japan, including the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra, Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, Gunma Symphony Orchestra, and Yamagata Symphony Orchestra. Since 2009, she has been an active member of the LV Philharmonic.
In addition to her orchestral work, Ms.Taniguchi is deeply engaged in chamber music and teaching.
Rebecca Ramsey, violinist and composer, is a first violinist in the Las Vegas Philharmonic and is also currently concertmaster for The Lion King at the Mandalay Bay. She is first chair for the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon each year and has played on many nationally broadcasted television shows such as “American Idol” and the “Billboard Awards.” Throughout her years in Las Vegas, she played first chair for many of the musical giants of our time; including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and Sammy Davis Jr., Johnny Mathis, Natalie Cole, Pavarotti and as concertmaster for Andrea Bocelli’s PBS special at Lake Las Vegas, Under a Desert Sky.
A private teacher, her violin students have been winners of the Bolognini competition, the Silver State, the MTNA at the state level the national Sphinx competition and the Las Vegas Philharmonic Young Artists competition. Rebecca plays several chamber music concerts a year for the Las Vegas Courthouse series and the Reed Whipple Cultural Center as a member of the Glenwillow Trio.Her award-winning recording of The Stone Sanctuary, Silhouettes of Zion, features her own original compositions and has been played frequently on KCNV-FM 89.7 Nevada Public Radio.