MEET OUR 2022/23 FELLOWS

Fairfax Symphony Diversity Fellowship Program

This season, we strengthen our commitment to serving students through high-quality education and mentorship programs, as we launch the FSO Diversity Fellowship program to help accelerate the careers of talented, student musicians from backgrounds that are underrepresented in orchestras today. The program is designed to enhance opportunities for pre-professional musicians, encourage greater diversity in the field, and increase diverse representation in orchestras across the United States.

Carlos Figueroa, cello

Mr. Figueroa is an emerging cellist from Venezuela. His passion for music never stopped and he was always striving to one day share the stage with famous musicians and to be a concert soloist. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in cello performance at George Mason University under the guidance of Dr. Dorotea Racz after successfully earning his bachelor’s degree at Shenandoah University as summa cum laude.

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Carolina Pedroza, violin

She was a permanent member of the Sinfónica Municipal de Caracas (Venezuela) and has been concertmaster of the Catholic University Symphony Orchestra, Penn State Philharmonic, and Colour of Music Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra. She has also been a section member of the West Virginia Symphony and Baton Rouge Symphony, among others. She has participated in festivals including FEMUSC (Brazil), A Tempo (Colombia), Sewanee Summer Music Festival (TN), Academia Internacional Teatro del Lago (Chile), Northern Lights Music Festival (MN), and Colour of Music Festival (SC and CA).

Joshua Rhodes is a double bassist from Fayetteville, North Carolina. He is currently in his first year of pursuing a Master’s of Music degree in Double Bass Performance at the University of Maryland. Prior to his enrollment at UMD, he procured his Bachelor’s Degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

Mr. Rhodes has a severe passion for understanding others and contributing positively to the environment around him. As a musician, this drives him to explore music and new ways of sharing art.

Cristian Contreras is an accomplished Violist from Los Angeles, CA. At the age of 19, he won a three-year tenure with the American Youth Symphony and also attended the National Orchestral Institute. He is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Viola Performance at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University.

Cristian holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Viola Performance from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University Long Beach.

Ms. Proctor graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Music degree concentrating in Music Industry. Breonna is currently in pursuit of a law degree with an intellectual property concentration. With this degree, she hopes to become an advocate for the protection of artists and their creations.