Yiran Yao joined the second violin section of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in 2025. Prior to this position, Yiran has performed with numerous ensembles, including the Pacific Symphony, Fresno Philharmonic, Modesto Symphony, and the Civic Orchestra of Los Angeles. She also held a leading position as the assistant principal second of the Stockton Symphony. Yiran’s … Continued
Violinist Heejeon Ahn has established a diverse and accomplished career as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. A native of Seoul, Korea, she began studying the violin at the age of five and made her debut with the Korean Symphony Orchestra at twelve. She has performed as a soloist with the Romanian Radio Chamber … Continued
Japanese-Korean-American violinist Janis Sakai began studying the violin at the age of 5, winning numerous awards and competitions including the Saint Paul Chamber Music Competition, Rembrandt Chamber Music Competition, Walgreens Concerto Competition, and the Society of American Musicians. Sakai has performed with world-renowned artists such as Amos Lee, Andrea Bocelli, Boyz II Men, Emanuel Ax, … Continued
Violinist Clayton Hancock joined the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in the fall of 2024. Hancock has been featured as a soloist across the United States, France, and Germany, and in 2020, he made his professional solo debut with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. He has a rich love of chamber music, and during his final year of … Continued
Violinist Sheena Lan, recently acclaimed by the Chicago Tribune as having a sound “well-matched and expressive”, joins the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra as an acting member for the 2024-2025 season. Sheena is also a regular substitute violinist for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in addition to her duties as the Associate Concertmaster of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, … Continued
Violinist Ji-Yeon Lee most recently was a member of the Griffon String Quartet, resident quartet of Midsummer’s Music in northeast Wisconsin. As an avid chamber musician, she has received numerous awards and has had opportunities to perform in Carnegie Weill Recital Hall and Seiji Ozawa Hall. Her solo appearances include performances on the Millennium Stage … Continued
Hyewon Kim started playing the violin in her native Seoul, South Korea when she was 6 years-old. At an early age, she was recognized by winning prizes from prestigious competitions in Korea: Eum- Yeon, Chun-chu, and the Music Journal. While attending Ewha Womans University, she earned the opportunities to perform numerous violin concertos with the … Continued
Violinist Paul Hauer joined the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in the fall of 2016. Solo and concerto performances have brought Mr. Hauer to the countries of Germany, Greece, France, the Czech Republic, Vietnam, Mexico, Canada, and the Philippines. Chamber music and orchestral concerts have brought him to Italy, San Marino, Singapore, Mexico, and China. Before moving … Continued
Lisa Johnson Fuller, violinist, has been a member of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra since 1997. Lisa began the violin at age three with Rebecca Sandrok and the Suzuki method. Her continued violin studies included teachers George Perlman, Zvi Zeitlin, Roland & Almita Vamos, and Paul Kantor. Lisa received a Bachelor of Music degree from the … Continued
Jennifer Startt joined the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra 1990 and became the orchestraʼs principal second violin in 2008. She has appeared as soloist with the MSO on numerous occasions in Milwaukee and throughout the state. Ms. Startt is a member of the Peninsula Music Festival Orchestra in Door County and is an active chamber musician, private … Continued