Dr. John Irrera - "Violin 101"
2025-04-11 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Apex Piano Showroom, 2134 Colonial Ave SW, Roanoke, VA, 24015, United States
Praised by the Santa Barbara Daily Sound for his “moving” and “hypnotic” performances and Fanfare magazine for his “impeccable precision”, violinist John Irrera is flourishing as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, and pedagogue. Irrera’s Carnegie Hall debut was lauded as a “riveting and dynamic performance’ by the New York Concert Review. His concerto debut was with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra performing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto under the baton of Maestro Jeff Tyzik. Irrera has gone on to be heard in concert halls such as Lincoln Center, a return to Carnegie Hall, the Eastman Theatre, Spivey Hall, and across North America, Latin America and Europe.

As a chamber musician, he has co-founded, with his brother Joseph, the Irrera Brothers Duo, which has concertized around the globe. The duo premiered “Drawn Onward- Fantasy for Violin and Piano” by composer Robert Morris in November of 2014. Since then the duo released Morris’ complete works for violin and piano, on the Centaur label, having received positive reviews, with Fanfare Magazine stating “The Irrera’s are impressive. John negotiates an often demanding, disjunct violin part with subtle finesse, without sacrificing a sense of musical line.”

As an active orchestral musician, Irrera has performed with the New World Symphony under conductors Michael Tilson Thomas and Thomas Adès, with the Grammy-nominated Metropolis Ensemble under the baton of composer Tan Dun and with the Charleston Symphony. Additional collaborations have included appearances with Peter Oundjian, Larry Rachleff, Nicholas McGegan, and Daniel Hege. Currently, he regularly performs in principal positions, with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra.

He received his Bachelor’s degree with High Distinction from the Eastman School of Music in 2007, where he was awarded the Howard Hanson Scholarship, as well as the coveted Performer’s Certificate. He continued at Eastman where he completed his Master’s degree in 2009 as the recipient of the Christakis S. and Agnes C. Modinos Graduate Merit Scholarship, as well as his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 2014. HIs long time teacher and mentor during all three of his Eastman degrees was the late Zvi Zeitlin and Federico Agostini. Additionally John has had supplementary studies with violinists Ilya Kaler, Lewis Kaplan, Sergiu Schwartz, Juliana Athayde, Lynn Blakeslee, and Almita Vamos.

Dedicated to performing and teaching, He has previously taught at the University of Rochester and the Eastman School of Music, being selectively chosen as the Teaching Assistant for Professor Zeitlin, a position he continued to hold with Federico Agostini. Additionally, he has served as a guest teaching artist presenting performances, masterclasses, presentations, and lectures at Virginia Tech, Kennesaw State University, Clayton State University, Lee University, Bridgewater College and the Atlanta Music Project, as well as presenting at the 2015 MTNA National Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Former students have been accepted to continue their studies at major institutions, including The Eastman School of Music. Currently he resides in Blacksburg, VA, is Assistant Professor of Violin at Virginia Tech, and is on the artist roster of Parker Artists Management Group.

Finance Committee Meeting
2025-05-09 13:00 - 14:00 | Apex Piano Showroom, 2134 Colonial Ave SW, Roanoke, VA, 24015, United States

Executive Committee Meeting
2025-05-30 10:00 - 11:00 | VA
Home of Vicky Elliott

Roundtable Discussion: What's New in Your Studio for the 2025-26 Year?
2025-09-12 10:00 - 11:30 | Apex Piano Showroom, 2134 Colonial Ave SW, Roanoke, VA, 24015, United States
Bring ideas to discuss with members in attendance!

Dr. Matthew Cataldi: “So You Want to be a Music Major?”
2025-10-10 10:00 - 11:30 | Apex Piano Showroom, 2134 Colonial Ave SW, Roanoke, VA, 24015, United States
Director of Piano Studies and Associate Professor of Piano at Radford University

Come and hear all about college auditions, admissions, what to look for in a teacher/school, when to start the process, how to prepare ahead of time, how to organize dates, requirements, and decisions! Junior and senior students in high school are welcome to attend!

Bonnie Kellert: Falling in Love with Mendelssohn's Song without Words
2025-11-14 10:00 - 11:30 | Apex Piano Showroom, 2134 Colonial Ave SW, Roanoke, VA, 24015, United States
Come hear Bonnie Kellert, Lecturer and Presenter of programs for state and local affiliates of MTNA and other musical organizations.

Erica Sipes, Pianist: Workshop/Performance – “Let Them Fly! –Stories of Women Composers and Their Music”
2026-01-09 10:00 - 11:30 | Apex Piano Showroom, 2134 Colonial Ave SW, Roanoke, VA, 24015, United States
In the presentation there will be music by Marianna Martines, Florence Price, Margaret Bonds, Germaine Tailleferre, Melanie Bonis, Lili Boulanger, Annavon Schaden, Dora Pejačević, and Madeleine Dring.

Roma Scriven, NCTM, RVMTA Board Member/Lecturer- "Never Stop Learning: The Power of Little Things"
2026-02-13 10:00 - 11:30 | Apex Piano Showroom, 2134 Colonial Ave SW, Roanoke, VA, 24015, United States
Come and hear one of our very own board members speak on how important it is to never stop learning!

Michael Milam, Minister of Music/Organist - Workshop/Performance
2026-03-13 10:00 - 11:30 | St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1 Mountain Ave SW, Roanoke, Virginia, 24016, United States
“Organ Basics for Pianists” at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Roanoke, Virginia

RVMTA Scholarship Winner’s Recital
2026-04-10 10:00 - 11:30 | Apex Piano Showroom, 2134 Colonial Ave SW, Roanoke, VA, 24015, United States
Come and listen to our 2026 Scholarship winner perform! Luncheon to follow.

Roundtable Discussion: “Getting Creative with Summer Lessons!”
2026-05-08 10:00 - 11:30 | Apex Piano Showroom, 2134 Colonial Ave SW, Roanoke, VA, 24015, United States
Bring your ideas to share with members in attendance! Business Meeting/Recognition of Officers will follow.
