Our 2025-26 Artists
MEGAN HOLLAND
Originally from Albuquerque, Megan Holland began studying the violin at age four with Susan Kempter, nationally renowned pedagogue, author and Suzuki teacher trainer. She later studied privately with Leonard Felberg, former Professor of Violin at the University of New Mexico, concertmaster of the Santa Fe Symphony and violinist of the Seraphin Trio. She has received Suzuki teacher training from Susan Kempter. She received a Bachelor of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music studying with David Updegraff, head of the Violin Department. She received a Master of Music degree and an Advanced Studies diploma under the tutelage of Robert Lipsett at the University of Southern California.
Megan has performed throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands. Reviewers have characterized her performances as "poised" and "powerful". She held the position of Principal Second Violin in the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and member of the CSO String Quartet since 2001. In addition to her duties as Principal Second Violin, she also performed as soloist with the CSO on several occasions. She has given critically acclaimed solo and chamber music performances in the Piccolo Spoleto Chamber Music Spotlight Series. She also has been a member of the Breckenridge Music Festival Orchestra, a summer orchestral and chamber music festival under the baton of Gerhardt Zimmermann, since 2002. In 2003 she performed as soloist with that orchestra. She has performed in the Breckenridge Music Festival's Winter Concert Series since it's inception in 2002. She has also appeared as soloist with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and the Albuquerque Philharmonic.
Currently, Megan is co-director of the Strings program at The Montessori Elementary School. She is an active performer in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe area. She performs regularly with Chatter, the Albuquerque Chamber Soloists and Santa Fe Pro-Musica.
Megan has performed throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands. Reviewers have characterized her performances as "poised" and "powerful". She held the position of Principal Second Violin in the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and member of the CSO String Quartet since 2001. In addition to her duties as Principal Second Violin, she also performed as soloist with the CSO on several occasions. She has given critically acclaimed solo and chamber music performances in the Piccolo Spoleto Chamber Music Spotlight Series. She also has been a member of the Breckenridge Music Festival Orchestra, a summer orchestral and chamber music festival under the baton of Gerhardt Zimmermann, since 2002. In 2003 she performed as soloist with that orchestra. She has performed in the Breckenridge Music Festival's Winter Concert Series since it's inception in 2002. She has also appeared as soloist with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and the Albuquerque Philharmonic.
Currently, Megan is co-director of the Strings program at The Montessori Elementary School. She is an active performer in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe area. She performs regularly with Chatter, the Albuquerque Chamber Soloists and Santa Fe Pro-Musica.
JAMES HOLLAND
James Holland began his cello studies at age 9 in his hometown of Pensacola, FL. He earned degrees in cello performance from the University of Alabama and the Eastman School of Music, after which he became a member of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. In 1996, James was appointed Principal Cellist of the Charleston (SC) Symphony Orchestra, a position he held for 11 years. In 2007, James and his wife, violinist Megan Holland, relocated to Albuquerque, NM. In 2014, James became president and artistic director of Albuquerque Chamber Soloists. As a chamber musician, he has performed with Chatter, the Placitas Artists Series, the Taos Chamber Music Series, Chamber Music Amarillo, and the Lake City Arts chamber music series among others. James is Principal Cellist of Santa Fe Pro Musica and a member of the SFPM Baroque Ensemble. He has also been a member of the Santa Fe Symphony since 2007. From 1998-2021, James was Principal Cellist of the Breckenridge Music Festival and appeared as soloist with BMF in 2005 and 2007. His recording activities include an award-winning live concert recording of the music of Duke Ellington with jazz legends Eddie Daniels and Roger Kellaway, and a recording for Smithsonian Folkways with the oud virtuoso Rahim AlHaj. James also maintains a large and active private cello teaching studio and directs orchestras at The Montessori Elementary and Middle School.
KIMBERLY FREDENBURGH
Kimberly Fredenburgh is Associate Professor of Viola at the University of New Mexico where she teaches private viola students, classes in orchestral audition preparation and chamber music ensembles. Ms. Fredenburgh has served as assistant principal viola of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra for the past 10 years.. She performs regularly with the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra and appears as principal viola with the Santa Fe Pro Musica Orchestra. She was previously associate principal viola of the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra and also taught on the faculty at Arizona State University
Ms. Fredenburgh was a co-principal violist with the New World Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas and has appeared in Carnegie Hall with Sir Georg Solti conducting. She has been featured as a concerto soloist with orchestras such as the Phoenix Symphony and the New Mexico Symphony. She has taught master classes and performed in recitals across the US as well as in Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Monaco. Ms. Fredenburgh has delivered pedagogical papers at several National ASTA conferences and has also performed at the 2008 International Viola Congress.
Ms. Fredenburgh was a co-principal violist with the New World Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas and has appeared in Carnegie Hall with Sir Georg Solti conducting. She has been featured as a concerto soloist with orchestras such as the Phoenix Symphony and the New Mexico Symphony. She has taught master classes and performed in recitals across the US as well as in Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Monaco. Ms. Fredenburgh has delivered pedagogical papers at several National ASTA conferences and has also performed at the 2008 International Viola Congress.
RUXANDRA MARQUARDT
LAURA CHANG
JUDITH GORDON
Bio coming soon
GUILLERMO FIGUEROA
One of the most versatile and respected musical artists of his generation - renowned as conductor, violinist, violist, and concertmaster - Guillermo Figueroa is the Music Director of the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra and Music Director of the Lynn Philharmoniain Florida. Formerly, he was Artistic Director of the Music in the Mountains Festival in Colorado and Music Director of both the New Mexico Symphony and the Puerto Rico Symphony.
International appearances, among others, include the Toronto Symphony, Iceland Symphony, Orquesta Sinfonica de Chile and the National Symphony of Mexico. In the US he has appeared with the orchestras of Buffalo, Detroit, New Jersey, Memphis, Phoenix, Tucson and the
New York City Ballet.
As violinist, his recording of Ernesto Cordero’s violin concertos for the Naxos label received a Latin Grammy nomination in 2012. Figueroa was Concertmaster of the New York City Ballet, and a Founding Member and Concertmaster of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, making over fifty recordings for Deutsche Grammophon. Also accomplished on the viola, Figueroa performs frequently as guest of the Emerson, Fine Arts, American, and Orion string quartets.
Figueroa has given the world premieres of four violin concertos written for him: the Concertino by Mario Davidovsky, at Carnegie Hall with Orpheus; the Double Concerto by Harold Farberman, with the American Symphony at Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center; the Violin Concerto by Miguel del Aguila, commissioned by Figueroa and the NMSO and Insula, by Ernesto Cordero with the Solisti di Zagreb in Zagreb.
International appearances, among others, include the Toronto Symphony, Iceland Symphony, Orquesta Sinfonica de Chile and the National Symphony of Mexico. In the US he has appeared with the orchestras of Buffalo, Detroit, New Jersey, Memphis, Phoenix, Tucson and the
New York City Ballet.
As violinist, his recording of Ernesto Cordero’s violin concertos for the Naxos label received a Latin Grammy nomination in 2012. Figueroa was Concertmaster of the New York City Ballet, and a Founding Member and Concertmaster of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, making over fifty recordings for Deutsche Grammophon. Also accomplished on the viola, Figueroa performs frequently as guest of the Emerson, Fine Arts, American, and Orion string quartets.
Figueroa has given the world premieres of four violin concertos written for him: the Concertino by Mario Davidovsky, at Carnegie Hall with Orpheus; the Double Concerto by Harold Farberman, with the American Symphony at Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center; the Violin Concerto by Miguel del Aguila, commissioned by Figueroa and the NMSO and Insula, by Ernesto Cordero with the Solisti di Zagreb in Zagreb.