Musicians

Calin Ovidiu Lupanu

Born in Timisoara, Romania, violinist Calin Ovidiu Lupanu is the Concertmaster of the Charlotte Symphony. Mr. Lupanu completed his
undergraduate studies at the Music Academy in Bucharest, where he served as Concertmaster of the conservatory’s Chamber Orchestra. During his summers as a student, Mr. Calin Lupanu performed in festival orchestras in Lanciano, Italy as Assistant Concertmaster and the

Monica Boboc

Born in Romania, violinist Monica Boboc gave her first performance as a soloist with a professional orchestra at the age of 14 and completed her musical studies at the Bucharest Music Conservatory, where she was later appointed Assistant Professor. Mrs. Boboc was a Prize Winner at the London International String Quartet Competition, the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and the D. Shostakovich International String Quartet Competition.

Phillip Bush

Acclaimed as "a pianist of poetry, elegance, and power" (American Record Guide), "a pianist of exceptional, cherishable finesse" (Los Angeles Times), and "one of those rare pianists who combine structural intelligence with a hundred color gradations" (Village Voice), Phillip Bush has established a performing career over the past three decades that is noted for its remarkable versatility and eclecticism.

Peruvian cellist Marlene Ballena began playing the cello at age seven in her hometown of Lima. She served as a member of the Peruvian National Symphony and as principal cellist of the Piura Symphony Orchestra. In 2003 she was awarded a performance scholarship at the University of Louisville where she earned her Bachelors degree. Later on, she continued her studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Stephen Geber.

Benjamin Geller

Benjamin Geller joined the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra as Principal Violist in 2014 where he regularly performs as a soloist in the orchestra and as a chamber musician in the Charlotte Area. Ben began violin lessons at the age of three in the Suzuki tradition at the Music Academy of Rockford. He continued his musical training at Butler University with Larry Shapiro and formally took up viola with Michael Isaac Strauss as well as a Jazz Minor with Mark Buselli.

Allison Drenkow

Allison Drenkow is the Assistant Principal Cellist of the Charlotte Symphony, appointed in 2023. Some of Allison’s most treasured musical memories of recent years include performing chamber music with Roberto Díaz, playing under the baton of Christoph Eschenbach at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg during its opening season, and joining members of the New York Philharmonic, Berlin
Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and more in a tour de force Carnegie Hall concert supporting Music for Life International.

Marcus Pyle

Dr. Marcus R. Pyle is a violist and musicologist. He is currently the inaugural Franco Professor of the Humanities and Assistant Professor of Musicology at Davidson College. He is also the Artistic Director of the Davidson Concert Series, presented by WDAV and President of the American Musicological Society, Southeast. Prior to Davidson College he held positions at Tufts University and MIT.

Andrea Mumm-Trammel

A native of New Jersey, Andrea Mumm holds the Dr. Billy Graham Principal Harp chair of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Andrea has performed with the Colorado Music Festival, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, National Repertory Orchestra, Peninsula Music Festival Orchestra, Mercury Opera Company of Rochester, and the Brevard Music Center Orchestra in addition to having toured extensively throughout North and South America as Principal Harpist with the Youth Orchestra of the Americas.

Sarah Markle

Originally from Buffalo, NY, Sarah has been a member of the Charlotte Symphony since 2014. After receiving her Bachelors from the Peabody Conservatory, where she studied with Alan Stepansky, she completed her Masters in Orchestral Performance at the Manhattan School of Music in 2013. Prior to joining the CSO, Sarah performed frequently with the Buffalo Philharmonic, New Haven Symphony and New World Symphony.

MUSICIANS