Best Local Musicians for Hire Near Washington DC

Dr. Avner Finberg is an Israeli-American violinist and composer. He teaches traditional and Suzuki violin and viola, composition, and music theory. He enjoys teaching young beginners who are learning an instrument for the first time, as well as advanced students who are performing concertos and preparing for All-State exams. He studied violin at Jerusalem Academy for Music and Dance with Hagai Shaham and Roi Shiloach (B. Mus). He then completed his musical education in New York City at The Mannes Conservatory (M.Mus) and Manhattan School of Music, where he earned his doctorate (DMA) in 2015. He has been teaching violin and viola for over a decade, and many of his students have made their way from beginners to advanced books through the Suzuki repertoire, with some auditioning and advanced to All-State Orchestras. 

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As an orchestra musician, he performed with the Israel Philharmonic, Fairfax Symphony, Annapolis Symphony, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival Orchestra (Germany), The Binghamton Philharmonic, The Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes (for whom he also composed The Miracle of Hanukkah for choir and orchestra), and The Tel-Aviv Soloists Ensemble. Avner is in demand for performing chamber music and premiering works by living composers. He performed at The Jerusalem Music Center (Jerusalem, Israel), Cornell University, ORF Radio Tirol (Innsbruck, Austria), Spectrum NYC, and a special performance of Stravinsky's A Soldier's Tale at The Rockwell Museum.

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Avner is an established composer of contemporary classical music and has written music for symphony orchestras, choirs, solo instruments, chamber ensembles, dance, and two operas to date. He taught music theory and ear training at the Manhattan School of Music and Syracuse. Those interested in composition and music theory lessons can find more information at avnerfinberg.com

Sarah is an active professional orchestra and chamber musician. In 2014, she won the grand prize of the Adrian Boyer Concerto Competition with her performance of the Mozart Violin Concerto No.5 in A Major, K. 219. Sarah is an alumna of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and has been active in the orchestra scene including the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra, Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, and Alexandria Symphony Orchestra. Her recent performances have been showcased in venues such as the Kennedy Center and numerous embassies in Washington D.C. Sarah has a private violin studio in Fairfax where she teaches a wide spectrum of curricula including the Suzuki School, orchestral repertory, and elective genres including but not limited to modern, classic pop, fiddle, and rock.

Dr. Kimia Hesabi is a D.C.-based violist, educator, composer, and the Co-Director of Learning and Engagement at the National Philharmonic. A versatile and multi-faceted artist and creator, Hesabi’s work and self-initiated projects are centered around artistic, educational, and social impact. Passionate about the music and culture of her home country, Iran, Kimia has recorded and published her debut album entitled Nemāno Gaona, featuring commissioned works for viola by composers of the Iranian Diaspora. For more please visit https://www.kimiahesabi.com.

Johnny Walker, Jr is a professional cellist from the Washington, DC metropolitan area. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from the University of Maryland Baltimore
County. After graduating, Johnny has performed and collaborated with Larry Graham and Graham Central Station, Esperanza Spalding, the Lancaster, Mid-Atlantic, Soulful, and McLean
Symphonies, the Baltimore Boom Bap Society, Jessie Reyez, Snoh Aalegra, the Matt Jones Orchestra, the Eagles, Vanessa Williams, Joshua Bell, and Yo-Yo Ma.

Johnny performs with the Go-Go Symphony and the DC Strings Workshop. He is also a freelancer in Washington, D.C. and abroad. His primary cello teachers have been Élise Sharp, Gunnery Sergeant Denna Purdie (Ret.), Gita Ladd, and Dr. Andrea Yun. He participated in masterclasses held by Carlos Prieto, Norman Fischer, Cecylia Barczyk, Emanuel Gruber, Richard Belcher, and Claude Hauri of Trio des Alpes.