Welcome to this concert presentation by the Music Program in the Department of Performing Arts. We are delighted to have the wonderful support of great families and friends. A very special welcome goes out to our visitors from the community who may not have any affiliation to our students, and simply come to hear spectacular musical performances by these talented student musicians. We hope everyone in our audience is pleased with the musical selections; and proud of the achievement of the students involved.
The students you will hear at this performance are not music majors. They do this for their love of music and dedicate their time and energy to cultivating their passion for this art form. They are as dedicated to their studies and career pursuits as they are to this intrinsic passion they have within them. The program is fortunate to have a bounty of students with this yearning. We would not exist without them!
The Music Program and Department of Performing Arts is dedicated to providing robust opportunities in the performing arts while students are at Drexel. Our goal is to provide a positive and supportive environment for our students. It is our hope that students and audiences alike feel they are represented in the selections being performed. The human connection is most important to us all.
Thank you for attending this performance. Being here is the greatest show of support for the students, the Music Program, and the Department of Performing Arts. Thanks to the dedicated leadership of the faculty ensemble directors and staff, we are pleased to present you with the following program.
Sincerely,
Luke Abruzzo, Music Program Director Miriam Giguere, PhD, Department Head, Performing Arts
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the diligence and persistence of all DUSO members as each term they perform mighty repertoire from the great lexicon of Western orchestral music. In addition, thank yous are extended to Performing Arts Department Head, Dr. Miriam Giguere, Music Program Director, Luke Abruzzo, Performing Arts Ensemble Associate, Lauren Tracy, Performing Arts Department Assistant, Ellie Ebby, Department Administrator, Hannah Burke, and Performing Arts Department Graduate Assistant, Elisha Robinson for their valuable support.
Drexel Performing Arts would like to thank Senior Vice President for Student Success, Dr. Subir Sahu, for his continued support of Performing Arts at Drexel.
The Drexel University Symphony Orchestra is comprised of undergraduate and graduate students from all colleges within the University. Majors represented include but are not limited to engineering, nursing, fashion design, music industry, physics, architecture and TV production. Admission is by audition and Performing Arts Scholarships are available to qualified undergraduate students. Interested in auditioning for DUSO? Contact
Conductor and Music Director Rosalind Erwin: rme49@drexel.edu
About the Concert
Drexel University Symphony Orchestra opens the 2025/2026 academic year with performances of works by the great Russian composer, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The program opens with three excerpts from his beloved seasonal ballet The Nutcracker, followed by the rousing fourth movement of his "Fate" symphony, Symphony no. IV in F minor and concluding with the epic Violin Concerto in D major, performed by DUSO friend and renowned violin soloist, Michael Ludwig.
Program
The Drexel University Symphony Orchestra
Rosalind Erwin, Conductor and Music Director
Peter Ilyich Tchaikvsky
Selections from The Nutcracker Suite, No. 1, Op.71a
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies Danse russe Trepak
Peter Ilyich Tchaikvsky
From Symphony No.4 in F minor, Op.36
IV. Finale: Allegro
Peter Ilyich Tchaikvsky
Concerto for Violin in D major, Op.35
I Allegro moderato
II Canzonetta - Andante
III Allegro vivacissimo
Michael Lugwig, violin
Ensemble Members
Rosalind Erwin
Conductor and Music Director
Violin I
(^ Rotating Concertmaster)
Hailey Mak Ë„
Daniel Oh Ë„
Leeia Stroh Ë„
Sofia Arastu
Donovan Dolan
Tifanny Lin
Ana Namur
Anna Lu
Yewon Hong
Violin II
Jeremy Ashley, Principal
Maya Gonzales
Billy Drgon
Shriya Manek
Catherine Yarrish
Cina Ha
Samantha Waldman
Boglarka Kearny +
Designations Ë„ Rotating Concertmaster
** Guest
# Graduating Members
+ Drexel Graduate
++ Conductors Assistant
Ensemble Members
Viola
Frances Ebner, Principal
Gia Angelo #
Sophia Roscoe
Emma Kallenberg
Adam Brotnitsky **
Violoncello
Gwendolyn Tom, Principal
Raina Brooks
Akari Hunte
Caleb Kang
Esther Lee
Nathanael Goellner
Adriana Criswell
Ava Scholl
Carter Milhollen
Lorenzo Stringfellow
Designations
Double Bass
Seamus Vereline
Jerome Kim
Andre Charpentier
Flute/Piccolo
Dane Gentles
Emma Cintron
Jane Brylewski
Oboe/English horn
Abigail Holmberg
Nicole Lam
Steve Liu
Ensemble Members
Clarinet/Bass Clarinet
Kieran Van Sant + Devin Casas
Thomas Cope
Bassoon
Julienne Cormier +
Rick Barrantes** Horn
Evan Thalheimer +
Natalie Cisneros
Cruz Maria Carreira +
Harley Givler**
Trumpet
Jacob Stratton
Mason Vetter
Brandon Stern
Ethan King
Trombone
Michah Miles
Oliver Jakacki
Bass Trombone
Barry McCommon**
Ensemble Members
Tuba
Jordan Finamore + Piano
Blaze Fogle
Timpani/Percussion
Ezra Smith-Pohl
Loretta St. Andre
Jason Adams
Alexis Reichardt
Designations
Guest
Graduating Members
Drexel Graduate
Conductors Assistant
Taia Harlos DUSO Conductor and Music Director
Taia Harlos received her Bachelors of Music in Violin Performance and Master of Music in Teaching from the Oberlin Conservatory, studying under the renowned Greg Fulkerson. She studied conducting under Bob Spano, Bridget-Michaele Reischl, Priscilla Smith, and Herbert Henke. She has performed with the Philadelphia Opera Company, Salute to Vienna Orchestra, Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Delaware Symphony, Lancaster Symphony, Philadelphia Classical Symphony, Philly Pops, Fairmount String Quartet, Vox Amadeus, Elysian Camerata, and Haddonfield Symphony. She has performed with a wide range of musicians, including Joshua Bell, Natalie Cole, Lindsey Sterling, Evanescence, Roger Daltrey, and more.
Summer festivals include the Orvieto Festival of Strings, the Spoleto Festival Orchestra in the USA and Italy, and the Mt. Gretna Music Festival. She credits her passion for chamber music and classical repertoire to her work with Lius Biava, David Arben, Norman Carol, and the many talented musicians she regularly performs with. She is an active solo and chamber music recitalist and conductor in the tri-state area.
Taia has served as Head of the Music Department and Director of Orchestras at Germantown Friends School, and the Artistic Director & Conductor for the Musicopia String Orchestras. She currently is the Director of Performing Arts at AIM Academy where she directs musical theatre performances. In addition to her performance and school teaching responsibilities, she also enjoys a private studio of violin, viola, piano, and voice students. When she is not involved in musical activities, she enjoys snowboarding and dog sledding in the winter with her husband, Jeff, and dog, Jäger.
Michael Ludwig - Guest Artist
Michael Ludwig’s multi-faceted musical career has taken him across four continents, appearing as solo violinist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Pops, KBS Symphony in Seoul, Korea, Beijing Symphony, and Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra amongst others, joining illustrious conductors such as Sir Georg Solti and John Williams. Michael has recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, Virginia Symphony, and Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra.
As an orchestral musician, Michael served as Associate Concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Concertmaster of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Michael is the Concertmaster of the Philly POPS.
An accomplished conductor, Michael has served as Music Director of the Roxborough Orchestra in Philadelphia since 2015. In 2024, Michael was appointed Director and Conductor of Prysm Strings-New Jersey, a new program of the renowned Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Music Institute serving students in South Jersey. His guest conducting appearances include performances with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra, Delaware County Symphony, and Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra. He also regularly appears as guest conductor of the Orchestra Society of Philadelphia.
As a teacher, Michael has served as Artist-in-Residence Professor of Violin at the John J Cali School of Music at Montclair State University and Adjunct Professor of Music (Violin) at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. Michael and his wife Rachael teach violin sectional classes at Drexel University and maintain a private teaching studio in Cherry Hill, teaching violin and viola lessons in studio as well as online. Michael and Rachael Ludwig are the Founding Artistic Directors of the Stella Schaevitz Concert Series, based in Cherry Hill, NJ. Michael Ludwig is a Thomastic-Infeld artist. For further information, please visit: www.michaelludwig.com
Drexel offers four different music minors:
Music: requires 26 credits, including work in Music Theory, History, private lessons, ensemble performance, and 9 credits of music electives.
Music Theory and Composition: aimed at people who are writing their own music or who would like to begin doing so. You will take courses in Music Theory, Arranging, Composition, and Digital Composition, and end with a portfolio of several completed pieces.
Music Performance: requires two years of private lesson studies with our artist faculty culminating in a recital. The Music Program will provide support for the recital venue and accompanist.
Jazz & African-American Music: includes course work in Jazz History, African-American Music, Jazz Theory, private study in Jazz performance, and ensemble work in several ensembles devoted to jazz.
Support Great Performance
Dance, Music, and Theatre are a vital, central part of the Drexel academia and student life. Donations support performing arts ensembles and programs, as well as the operation of our performing arts venues, including the Mandell Theater and URBN Annex Black Box Theater.
Drexel University Department of Performing Arts Staff
Department Head
Dr. Miriam Giguere
Program Directors Luke Abruzzo
Music
Nick Anselmo Theatre
Jennifer Morley Dance
Administrative Staff
Ellie Ebby Administrative Coordinator
Hannah Burke Department Administrator
Caroline Leipf
Mandell Theater Managing Director
Elisha Robinson
Performing Arts Graduate Assistant
Liv Shoup
Audience Services Coordinator
Lauren Tracy
Ensemble Production Associate
Production Staff
Paul Jerue
Theatre Production Manager/Black Box Theater Technical Director
Asaki Kuruma
Costume Shop Manager
Chris Totora
Mandell Theater Technical Director
Upcoming Performing Arts Events
THEATRE WINTER SHOWCASE
March 14, 2026 | 5:00 PM | URBN Annex Black Box Theater
March 14, 2026 | 8:30 PM | URBN Annex Black Box Theater
GOSPEL CHOIR WINTER CONCERT
March 14, 2026 | 7:00 PM | Mandell Theater
ALL-COLLEGE CHOIR & CHAMBER BRASS & WINDS
March 14, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Main Auditorium
UNIVERSITY CHORUS & CHAMBER SINGERS WINTER CONCERT
March 15, 2026 | 3:00 PM | Great Court
LITTLE WOMEN,
THE MUSICAL
May 8, 2026 | 8:00 PM | URBN Annex Black Box Theater
May 9, 2026 | 8:00 PM | URBN Annex Black Box Theater
May 10, 2026 | 2:00 PM | URBN Annex Black Box Theater
May 14, 2026 | 8:00 PM | URBN Annex Black Box Theater
May 15, 2026 | 8:00 PM | URBN Annex Black Box Theater
May 16, 2026 | 8:00 PM | URBN Annex Black Box Theater
FRESHDANCE SPRING PERFORMANCE
May 20, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Mandell Theater
May 21, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Mandell Theater
Learn more about our upcoming events: drexel edu/performingarts
