Violist Michelle Rahn enjoys a career that balances teaching and performing. As an experienced teacher and viola instructor at Central Washington University, Dr. Rahn works to inspire curiosity; form healthy, efficient and musical players; and provide all the tools necessary to continue learning after graduation. She also works with youth, local youth symphonies, and maintains a private teaching studio. As a performer, Dr. Rahn is an active freelancer, soloist and chamber musician. She has performed in China, Italy, Germany, Mexico, Bermuda and across the US.

Dr. Rahn is a native of southern Oregon and studied for her undergrad at the University of Oregon in violin performance until, upon hearing the Walton Viola Concerto, was compelled to switch to the viola. She received a Doctor of Musical Arts, Performance Diploma and Master's degree from Boston University.

While attending Boston University, she received the Dean's Scholarship, the String Department Honor’s Award and won the viola prize at the Boston University Bach Competition. Dr. Rahn was a participant in the National Orchestral Institute (2008), the International Chamber Music Course in Positano, Italy (2008), the Karen Tuttle Coordination Workshop (2007) and the Jascha Heifetz Music Institute for the Development of Personal Style (2003).

“A McNair Scholar, Naomi Ruiz Wickson received a Bachelor of Music from CWU, and both a Master of Music and Performer Diploma from the IU Jacob’s School of Music. A Puccini Soprano, Naomi performed Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly with Tacoma Opera, in addition to a plethora of roles with Minnesota Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, and the Janiec Opera Company. In concert, Naomi’s engagements include appearances with the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, Yakima Symphony Orchestra, Mid-Columbia Mastersingers, Mozarteum, and the Schubert Club in Minnesota.”

Darin Kaschmitter is currently pursuing genres of music that he is proficient in, including, but not limited to, Classical, Early Baroque, Contemporary, Blues, Jazz, Show Tunes, Bluegrass and Country.

He is currently the Accompanist for the Camerata Club of Yakima, which is an all-male vocal choir. He was Musical Director at Ellensburg High School and the Warehouse Theater Company before he started pursuing a career in Musical Theater Production as a Pit Conductor and Concert Pianist.

A faculty member of Central Washington University, since 2011, Dr. Melissa Schiel teaches applied voice, diction and vocal pedagogy. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice Performance from the University of Maryland; a Master of Music in Voice Performance from University of Toronto; and, a Bachelor of Music, Distinction in Voice from McGill University. A passionate and energetic teacher, she received a 2009 Award for Teaching Excellence for her work at the University of Maryland.

Schiel has performed with numerous orchestras in the Pacific Northwest including: Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra, Rainer Symphony Orchestra, Yakima Symphony Orchestra, Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra and Orchestra Seattle. She has performed at Aspen Summer Music Center, Tanglewood Music Center, Boris Brott Festival, Northwest Mahler Festival and Mountain View International Festival of Song.

Her performance highlights include: Berlioz’s Les Nuits d’éte, Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, De Falla’s El Amor Brujo, Luciano Berio’s Folk Songs, Mahler’s Symphony No.2, and Verdi’s Requiem. In 2007, she premiered the role of Estelle Oglethorpe in Later the Same Evening: an opera by American composer John Musto. The opera was inspired by the art work of American painter Edward Hopper which was presented in collaboration with the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. Her recent performances include: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Yakima Symphony and Schubert’s Rosamunde with Orchestra Seattle and Seattle Chamber Singers.

Dr. Melissa Schiel is a continuing member of the Voice Foundation and the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). In 2010, she was a chosen participant of the NATS Internship Program at Stetson University. Currently, she is President of the Inland Empire Regional Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and remains an active recitalist, adjudicator, and clinician throughout the region.