Biographies
Marka Young, Violin
Marka serves as Assistant Concertmaster of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic and performs on modern, classical and baroque violin in NYC and the Tri-State area. She was Artist in Residence at Banff and has performed as a soloist at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, Bach Aria Festival, Blossom Festival, Connecticut Early Music Festival, and Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra. Marka holds a Doctorate and Master of Music from SUNY Stony Brook and a BA from Sarah Lawrence College, where she studied with Dorothy Delay and Kurt Sassmanshaus. Marka teaches at Vassar College and has a large class of violin students in the mid-Hudson Valley region. MarkaYoungViolin.com
Lauren Byrne, Viola
Lauren performs with the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra. She previously performed with the Hudson Opera Theater Orchestra and was the principal viola for the Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra. She teaches in the Monroe-Woodbury school district, and has a class of private violin and viola students. Ms Byrne received her Bachelor's degree at Ithaca College and completed Masters studies in chamber music performance at San Francisco Conservatory.
Jeanne Fox, Cello
Jeanne is a sub with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic. She has performed as principal cellist with the Northern Dutchess Symphony, Woodstock Symphony Orchestras, and Hudson Opera Theater. An avid Chamber Music performer, she previously performed with the Arioso Piano Trio. Ms Fox teaches at SUNY Dutchess, and has a large class of private cello students. She is a film music consultant by day with extensive film and television credits, and holds performance degrees from Manhattan School of Music and The Juilliard School. JeanneFoxMusic.com
Marija Ilic, Piano
Pianist Marija Ilić is a dedicated chamber musician and solo performer in New York City. She has been praised as a compelling, poetic, and decisive musician by The New York Times, and noted for her quiet intensity. Marija has performed at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, 92nd Street Y, Trinity Church, the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., and abroad at the Aldeburgh Festival in England, Kolarac Hall, and Parliament Hall in Belgrade in Serbia, among others. Her solo CD with music by J. S. Bach can be heard on MSR Music. Marija is on the faculty at Vassar College and Concordia Conservatory, where she is also the artistic director of the More Than Music concert series. http://www.marijailic.com/index.html
Saikat Karmakar, Violin
We are pleased to announce that Saikat will be joining the Hudson Valley String Quartet for concerts and events starting in the Spring of 2025.
Saikat Karmakar serves as Assistant Principal Violin II for the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra and Lubbock Chamber Orchestra. He has previously performed with the West Texas Symphony, Ohio Light Opera, and Amarillo Symphony. Prior to moving to the Hudson Valley, Saikat was the Lead Audio Engineer for the Texas Tech School of Music. He received his education from University of Georgia, Michigan State, Montclair State, and Texas Tech respectively.