Andre J. Gaskins enjoys a diverse career as conductor, soloist, and music educator. He currently serves as Director of Orchestral Activities and cello at the University of Oshkosh Wisconsin. Previous conducting positions include the Columbus Ballet Orchestra, the Youth Orchestra of Greater Columbus, the Columbus State University Philharmonic, the Richmond Symphony, the Earlham College Orchestra and the New World Youth Chamber Orchestra.
Maintaining an active schedule as a performing cellist, his recording of Martinu's 'Concertino' for the Summit Records label was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Awards, in the category of 'Best Performance by a small ensemble (with or without conductor)'. Solo appearances with orchestra have included performances with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, the Fort Smith Symphony, the Carmel Symphony Orchestra and the Butler Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Gaskins has appeared as solo cellist from historic venues as the Grand Philharmonic Hall in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation to the cities of Indianapolis, Richmond, Cincinnati, Ann Arbor, Okinawa (Japan) and Beijing (China).
Mr. Gaskins has been a faculty member of the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University, Eastern Illinois University, Earlham College and the Brevard Music Center.
Mr. Gaskins can be heard in the soundtrack for the PBS documentary, "For Gold and Glory" and as a featured soloist for the motion picture soundtrack, "Forgive Me Father." Highlights for the 2009-2010 season include a performance as guest soloist with the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra and a return to the Columbus Ballet for three performances. Mr. Gaskins served as the principal cellist of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra from 2002 - 2009. While pursuing doctoral studies at Indiana University, he studied conducting with David Effron and composition with David Dzubay. He also served as the teaching assistant to world-renowned cellist, Janos Starker.
Annika Jenkins, Violin
Annika has been playing since age two. Now age 15, she is a ninth-grade honor student at Laurel Springs Academy for the Gifted and Talented and a violin major and all-honors student of renowned artist-teacher Shirley Givens at The Juilliard School, Pre-College Division. Her current positions include principal second of the Juilliard Pre-College Symphony Orchestra, and first violinist of a Juilliard Pre-College Quartet, as well as her second year as Concertmaster of the Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia Symphony Orchestra.
Other recognitions include: 2009 MTNA State Winner for Virginia; selection by audition as a Young Soloist for the 2007-2008 Concerts at the Alden classical music series; first place Instrumentalist in the Lions of Virginia District 24D 2010 Local, Regional, and District Bland Music Scholarship Competitions, advancing to the State Competition to be held later this month. She was also first prize winner of the 2010 40th Annual Richmond Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition.
She recently recorded "Winter" from the Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi with orchestra for Traveling Notes, a multi-cultural exchange program. Musicians from the Dominican Republic, Peru, Mexico, and the US collaborated on the project. The CD entitled "Music Mosaic" was released in December 2009. She recently performed in a master class for Irina Muresanu, faculty of Boston Conservatory and MIT Music Department. She has received a merit scholarship for 2010 summer studies at the Heifetz International Institute of Music.
Annika's hobbies include reading, archery, kung-fu, and horseback riding. She enjoys spending time with her two big sisters, Amber and Alyssa; her two mischievous cats, Misty and Wink; and her classical music-loving Siberian Husky, Zorro. She performs on her treasured Italian violin, which was received as a gift at the age of nine for "always playing with such joy," and is named Laetitia Cordis which means, "Joyous Heart."
