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Mrs. Andrea Barbare is a violinist and string educator originally from Boston, Massachusetts. She left the snowy winters behind and made her big move to the sunny South in 2015 to attend the University of South Carolina. She spent six years at U of SC where she earned a Bachelors in Music Education and Violin Performance, followed by a Masters in Music Education with a concentration on Violin Performance. During her time in Columbia, Mrs. Barbare worked closely with the University of South Carolina String Project as a studio instructor, classroom teacher, and ensemble director. After earning her Bachelors, she accepted a graduate assistantship and enjoyed serving the String Project in an administrative capacity as the Assistant Director.

Mrs. Barbare has extensive violin performance experience with large ensembles including the U of SC Symphony Orchestra, the Aiken Symphony Orchestra, and the Brevard Philharmonic. She has traveled all over the world to perform with groups like Cage the Elephant and 2CELLOS, as well as the Bel Canto Choir in Nassau, Bahamas. On the weekends, you can find Mrs. Barbare performing at wedding ceremonies and private parties with her string quartet. When she’s not teaching, practicing, or performing, Mrs. Barbare is probably cruising the lowcountry waterways with her husband, her son, and their dogs.

Tomas Jakubek started his violin studies at the age of seven in his native country of Slovakia. He holds his Masters Degree in Violin Performance from the Janacek Academy of Music in Brno (Czech Republic). He also studied at the Lithuanian Academy of Music in Vilnius and has participated in master classes in Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria and Germany. He has played in various concerts on four continents with the following European orchestras: Junge Philharminie Wien, Europa Philharmonie Magdeburg, Czech Chamber Orchestra Prague, Czech Philharmony of Brno. 

Mr. Jakubek regularly performs with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, and Chamber Music Charleston. He has performed with Chamber Music Fest and was the concertmaster of the Summerville Symphony as well as Saint James Community Orchestra. Aside from performing, Mr. Jakubek teaches as an adjunct faculty member at the College of Charleston and has a private studio.

Ms. Pa Houa Amber Yang is a dedicated music instructor currently working with the Charleston Academy of Music, and running her own private music studio where she offers both private one-on-one and group lessons.

In addition to her teaching role, she is an active performer, playing regularly with the North Charleston Pops Symphony Orchestra, serving as the principal violist for the Mount Pleasant Symphony, Aiken Civic Orchestra, and providing her talents for special events with the Summerville Symphony. Ms. Yang also contracts and performs at weddings year round in the Charleston and surrounding Areas.

Ms. Yang comes from a musical family that nurtured her early passion for music. She began her journey in violin and viola performance as a child, studying under esteemed educators such as Doctor Janusz Zak and Doctor Matthew Michelic.

After enrolling at the Lawerence Conservatory and the Peck School of the Arts, she further refined her skills under the guidance of Lewis Rosove and Doctor Claudia Lassarof-Mirinof.

Ms. Yang has performed with the Bel Canto Chorus, the Lyric Opera, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Charleston Rush Hour Concert Series, "Arts Strolls" at the Public Works Art Center in Summerville, the Milwaukee Philharmonic, and The Conductor’s Institute of South Carolina. Appearing in notable venues including the National Federation of Music, the New York International Music Festival at Carnegie Hall, Suzuki Program Clinics, the Wisconsin Music Educators Association and the Charlesrton Music Club special events. Over the past two years, she has also actively participated in and performs for the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC.

Beyond performance, Ms. Yang is involved in evaluating music competitions and working music clinics, sharing her expertise and insights with emerging musicians. With extensive experience in teaching young musicians, she conducts private lessons, small group instruction, sectionals, and masterclasses to help her students prepare for recitals, music festivals, and competitions. Her enthusiasm for sharing the gift of music with children of all ages is evident in her educational approach, which encompasses everything from music fundamentals to music appreciation and movement.

As she continues to perform both as a soloist, symphony member and in chamber ensembles upon request, Ms. Yang remains committed to inspiring the next generation of musicians through her teaching in the Charleston area.

Karen Mendes was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and began her musical journey through El Sistema, a renowned music education program that inspires youth through orchestral training. She has performed with ensembles across Venezuela and the United States, sharing the stage with esteemed conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Gustavo Dudamel, and Michael Morgan. In 2013, she performed at the Salzburg Festival with the National Children’s Orchestra of Venezuela.

Karen earned her Bachelor of Music in Performance from Furman University and her Master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, where she studied with Blair Milton. She has received masterclasses from Ilya Kaler, I-Hao Lee, and Violaine Melançon.

She has performed with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra as a guest musician during the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 seasons. Currently, she serves as an adjunct professor at Charleston Southern University and teaches throughout the Lowcountry, where she is passionate about helping students develop strong technique and their own musical voice.

Idris Chandler is a freelance cellist, educator, and worship director with over twenty-five years of experience in performance and the study of bowed string pedagogy. A native of Columbia, SC, he spent more than a decade sharing his passion for strings in Richland County public schools and served as group strings instructor at the Midlands Arts Conservatory.

An active performer, Idris has appeared with numerous orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout the Carolinas, including the Aiken, Augusta, Asheville, Florence, Hendersonville, Long Bay, Charlotte Philharmonic, North Charleston Pops, and South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestras. He also performs regularly with the Resonance String Quartet and Edgewire Music, and has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Ray Charles, Russell Gunn, Josh Groban, and Tasha Cobbs Leonard. In addition to performing, he writes string arrangements and collaborates with local musicians.
Dedicated to education, Idris works with students of all ages—coaching sectionals, adjudicating competitions and auditions, and offering private lessons. A graduate of Eau Claire High School, he earned his Bachelor of Music Education from the University of South Carolina, studying under Dr. Robert Jesselson, noted cellist and former president of the American String Teachers Association.

Idris teaches at Freeway Music Studios in Lexington and Blythewood. He performs on a cherished cello acquired in 1999 through the generosity of donors during a benefit organized by Ms. Patty Russell of Columbia, SC. In addition to string education, he serves as worship director for his church and enjoys creating art.