Archives: Musicians

Cellist Andy Bryenton has been a member of the core ensemble of the Knoxville Symphony since 1986, and Principal Cellist since 2000. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Hartt School of Music, where he studied with David Wells, Leslie Parnas, and Raya Garbusova. His Master in Music is from the University of […]

Stacy Nickell, cellist, has performed with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra since 1998. She has been a full time member since 2001. Helping to create (and perform)educational and interactive programs for the KSO’s award-winning outreach program at schools, libraries, hospitals, and nursing homes has been a  large part of her work with the Knoxville Symphony. The […]

Adam Ayers is a Wisconsin native. He began his study of the cello at a very young age and went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree studying with Uri Vardi. He also completed a Master’s Degree at Indiana University studying with Peter Stumpf. He has attended […]

Sarah Miller Senn is a 2020 graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied under Dr. Melissa Kraut, and won her position with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra in 2021. Sarah obtained her Undergraduate Performance degree and Master’s Performance degree at CIM, as well as a minor in Suzuki Pedagogy and full Suzuki teaching […]

A native of Knoxville, Stuart started her cello playing with Corrine Rhodes at Cedar Bluff elementary school. Her private cello studies in high school were with the late Phyllis Steen who was also a long-time member of the Symphony. She joined the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra in 1982 just after the World’s Fair ended. Additionally, she […]

Steve Benne is principal double bassist with the Knoxville Symphony and Chamber Orchestras. Before coming to Knoxville, he performed with the New American Chamber Orchestra, based first in Detroit and then in Granada, Spain. In Europe, Steve has performed at the Grec Festival, the Korsholm Music Festival, the Priory of Chirens Chamber Music Festival, and […]

Yan Peng has been a member of the string bass section of the Knoxville Symphony since 1995. He was born in Beijing, China, and received a bachelor degree from the Conservatory of Music in Beijing and a Master’s degree from the Mannes College of Music in New York City. In additional to his years of […]

Jon Hamar is a versatile artist whose ability to find a tasteful, unique voice in any musical situation has made him a staple in the music scene. Jon earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Classical Double Bass Performance from Eastern Washington University under the tutelage of Russian bassist Roma Vayspapir. While in Spokane Hamar […]