RSO QUARTET MEMBERS & BIOS
Jorge Avila, Violin
Hailed as a strong violinist by The New York Times, Honduran-born Jorge Ávila has won attention as an outstanding violinist through numerous appearances as a soloist, recitalist, concertmaster, and chamber musician. A recipient of various awards and honors, Jorge received his “green card” under the “Extraordinary talent” category, later becoming a US Citizen. He was also awarded first prize at the 2001 Mu Phi Epsilon International Music Competition and the “Omar del Carlo” Fellowship at the Tanglewood Music Center. Jorge is the concertmaster of the Ridgefield Symphony, DCINY and Sacred Music in a Sacred Space series, among many others orchestras and choral ensembles. He has also appeared as concertmaster with The Stamford, Westfield and Greenwich Symphony orchestras, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Long Island Masterworks, Grace Church Choral Society and The Tanglewood Music Center, among other orchestras. His concerto highlights include recent performances of the Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev No.1, Mendelssohn, Brahms and Beethoven concertos, as well as Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with David Finckel and Wu Han. He has often performed live on both television and radio. On April 20th of 2008, Jorge appeared as Concertmaster for His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, at a televised Mass held at Yankee Stadium. In September of 2015, he served once again as concertmaster for His Holiness, Pope Francis, at a televised Mass held at Madison Square Garden. Jorge’s solo debut CD of Spanish violin and piano sonatas can be found on the Centaur label.
Mialtin Zhezha, Violin
Hailed by The Hartford Courant for his “expressive and warm sound, and faultless intonation,” Albanian-born Mialtin Zhezha is an accomplished violinist and violist. Since his solo debut with the National Orchestra at the age of 13 in Tirana, Albania, he maintains a broad international performing career.
Mr. Zhezha resides in New York City and concertizes extensively as a soloist and chamber musician. While being a recitalist, he serves as concertmaster of the Mozart Orchestra of New York, New York Classical Symphony Orchestra and Mid-Atlantic Symphony in Baltimore, and principal second violin of the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, as well as being an active member of New York Chamber Soloists, New York Metamorphoses Orchestra, and International Chamber Players. Furthermore, he performs regularly in music series such as Music Kitchen-Food for Soul, a charity series that brings chamber music to homeless shelters, Music Arts Alliance in New York City, Abendmusik series Morristown, NJ among others. In addition, Mr. Zhezha’s performances have taken him to the National Arts Centre Summer Music Institute in Ottawa, Moab Music Festival in Utah, Norfolk Music Festival in Connecticut, Gilmore and Fontana Chamber Arts Festivals in Michigan, Summer Seminar at Western Michigan University, and SummerTrios in Pennsylvania.
Mr. Zhezha is a laureate of awards and top prizes in competitions around the world, including “Kenget e Tokes” and “Islam Petrela” International Violin competition in Tirana, Albania, as well as the “Nicola Piccini” Violin competition in Bari, Italy, Young Artist Competition in Fort Wayne, Western Michigan University Concerto Competition, and MTNA National String Competition. Most recently, he has been featured in an Albanian book titled “Success Story” after receiving “Albanian Excellency” Award, which is only given to notable and successful individuals who have contributed significantly to the country. He has also been a nominee for the “KULT” awards in Albania. In addition, Mr. Zhezha has been awarded the “Hugo Kortschak” Chamber Music Award, “Best Classical Music Performance of the Year” Award by the “Downbeat” Magazine.
As a violin and viola pedagogue, Mr. Zhezha has been a visiting artist at Western Michigan University and the International Academy of the Arts in Tirana, Albania. As a sought after adjudicator, Mr. Zhezha has judged several national and international competitions, such as Vivo International Competition, Sylvia and Jacob Handler Auditions among other. He holds violin/viola and chamber music positions at the Mozart Program at John Jay College, Hunterdon Academy of the Arts, SummerTrios Music Festival, Seminar at Western Michigan University, and Chamber Music Institute in CT. His mentors include Pinchas Zukerman, Patinka Kopec, Lawrence Dutton, and Renata Knific.
Mialtin received a Bachelor’s of Music Magna Cum Laude from Western Michigan University, a Master of Music Degree in the highly acclaimed Pinchas Zukerman Performance Program on Full Scholarship and a Post Graduate Diploma in Viola at Manhattan School of Music. His teachers include Pinchas Zukerman, Lawrence Dutton, Patinka Kopec, Renata Knific, and Roland Xhoxhi.
Suzanne Corey-Sahlin, Viola
Suzanne Corey-Sahlin is principal violist of the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra (RSO) and Norwalk Symphony, where she as performed as soloist. Suzanne has studied with Albert Markov, Jesse Levine, and Robert Glazer, and two years with the Manhattan String Quartet at Music Mountain. Suzanne was a member of the Tourmaline String Quartet for eight years, which had residency with the RSO, and as a highlight performed Ludwig Spohr’s Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra. She has also performed in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess and Phantom of the Opera throughout the United States, Japan and South America. In addition to playing with various symphony orchestras, Suzanne’s recent performances include the Two Songs for Voice, Viola and Piano, Op 91 by Brahms at the new Visual & Performing Arts Center at Western CT State University, as well as solo in J.S. Bach’s Sixth Brandenberg Concert for two solo violas. She teaches viola in her private studio in Ridgefield and at her home.
Nick Hardie, Cello
A third-generation professional musician and second-generation cellist, music has always been an integral part of Nick Hardie’s identity, his wide, winding path taking him from Carnegie Hall to inner city schools, lecturing at Johns Hopkins, performing with Ray Charles, studying Bach manuscripts with Anner Bylsma, researching obscure instruments at the Musikinstrumenten-Museum in Berlin, and recording music from different cultures with members of the Silkroad Ensemble.
An avid chamber musician, Nick was shaped by his apprenticeship with the world-renowned Takacs Quartet, and extensive studies with both current and former members of the Juilliard Quartet, in addition to working with the Guarneri, Tokyo, Fine Arts, Cavani, Vermeer, Muir, and Manhattan quartets. His wide range of professional chamber music engagements have included the Aspen Music Festival’s Winter Series, regular broadcasts on WBUR, Boston’s NPR station, through the Marsh Chapel Cantata Series, and faculty chamber performances at Peabody Conservatory, Boston University, and Baylor University. A resident of Connecticut, Nick performs locally as principal cellist of the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra and the Greater Bridgeport Symphony, and teaches cello, chamber music, and advanced performance techniques exclusively through the Greenwich Suzuki Academy, a program of 125 students he directs hand in hand with his wife, Heather.
Nick holds a Doctorate in cello performance from Boston University, a Master of Music degree from Peabody Conservatory-Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelor of Music from Baylor University. His primary teachers have been George Neikrug, Alan Stepansky, and his father, Gary Hardie, and has done significant cello studies with Joel Krosnick, Darrett Adkins, and Judith Glyde.
The RSO Quartet was originally formed in April 2021 to record a short video for the Ridgefield Library’s Great Expectations Gala. (See video below.)
