Musicians
Katie Brown, Violin
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As a founding member, Katie Brown has enjoyed playing principal violin for the Orfeo String Quartet since the ensemble’s formation in 2007. She received a bachelor’s degree in music education from Tennessee Technological University in 2011, studying under Wei Tsun Chang. Throughout her college career, Katie was a member of both the Bryan Symphony Orchestra and served as Concertmaster of Tennessee Tech University Orchestra. After graduating, Katie continued to perform with the Bryan Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Oak Ridge Orchestra and Symphony in the Mountains. She also taught violin in the Cookeville area for several years. Katie now lives on a farm in Jackson County with her husband and their two daughters, and when she's not homeschooling, she still enjoys playing with the Orfeo String Quartet, Bryan Symphony Orchestra, and other local musicians, including her husband and his siblings in their family band, Browngrass.
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Lauren Carlton, Violin
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Lauren Carlton has been a violinist in the Orfeo String Quartet since its formation in 2007. In addition to playing with the Orfeo String Quartet, she has performed with many local ensembles including the Bryan Symphony Orchestra and Oak Ridge Symphony, as well as for special events and services. Lauren graduated at Tennessee Tech with a degree in Music Education, and has taught violin privately in the area and currently teaches Music in the public schools.
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Sarah McKelvie, Viola
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Sarah McKelvie joined the Orfeo String Quartet upon her move to Cookeville in 2014. Although she began her musical studies on the violin at the age of five, it wasn’t until high school that her passion for the lush sound of the viola was sparked and it was this instrument that she later received her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from The Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and The University of Memphis. Sarah was a member of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s viola section from 1997-2000. From 2001 through 2014, she served as principal violist of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic under the direction of David Bowden. Currently Sarah collaborates with Cookeville and Nashville area musicians, local churches, and is in the viola section of The Bryan Symphony Orchestra. She was the founding Director and Master Teacher of The String Project at Tech from 2015-2019 and teaches a private string studio. Along with her husband Sean, she currently co-owns a technology company and is Mom to three grown children and two rescue dogs.
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Rachel Salter, Cello
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Rachel Smalling earned her degree in cello performance from Tennessee Technological University and spent over a decade working in operations and arts administration before transitioning into entrepreneurship. She is now the owner and operator of a cocktail bar and two motels near Dale Hollow Lake, blending her background in the arts with a passion for hospitality. In her free time, Rachel and her partner, Alex, enjoy renovating projects, traveling, participating in community events, and Rachel continues to perform with her string quartet.
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