Firebird Chamber Orchestra
Doyle Armbrust, viola, is an honors graduate of Northwestern University and the University of Southern California where he studied with Donald McInnes. Violist for the Spektral Quartet, Doyle is a core member of the Chicago Symphony’s MusicNOW series and the New Millennium Orchestra and tours internationally with Corky Siegel’s Chamber Blues. An advocate for all sonic endeavors, Doyle writes for TimeOut Chicago magazine’s Opera & Classical and Music sections as well as the Chicago Classical Review.
Brian Howard, cello, is principal cellist of the Firebird Chamber Orchestra and acting assistant principal for the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. He has been featured in performances with Charlotte Chamber Music, New Music Raleigh, Alienor, the Duke New Music Ensemble, and Tableau Baroque. Brian holds degrees from Oberlin College and Conservatory.
Dina Kostic, violin, is a graduate of Southern Methodist University and holds a master’s degree from Northwestern University. She has been a member of the Florida Philharmonic, the New World Symphony and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Dina performs with various ensembles throughout the state of Florida, including the Palm Beach Opera, Boca Symphonia, Naples Philharmonic and Chamber Music Palm Beach. Dina also serves as adjunct faculty at Barry University.
Adda Kridler, violin, made her solo debut with the Knox County Symphony at age 7. After graduating cum laude from Harvard University studying cognitive neuroscience, Adda completed a master in violin performance degree at the New England Conservatory. She was appointed assistant principal second violin of the Charleston Symphony in 2007, is concertmaster of the Firebird Chamber Orchestra in Miami and a member of the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra in Boulder, Colo.
Emilia Mettenbrink, violin, hails from Minneapolis, where she plays regularly with both the Minnesota Orchestra and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. She spends her summers playing opera as concertmaster of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music summer opera program in Spoleto, Italy, and she coaches youth orchestra in Minneapolis during the school year. When not playing, she is a certified yoga instructor specializing in Hot and Vinyasa style practices.
David Riker, viola, graduated cum laude from Northwestern University’s School of Music. He also studied at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and the Leonard Sorkin Institute of Chamber Music in Milwaukee. He has performed with the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Renaissance Chamber Orchestra, and was also co-principal viola of Opus One, the orchestra of the Miami City Ballet. This year begins his fifth season as a member of the orchestra of the Florida Grand Opera.
Svet Stoyanov, timpani, praised by The New York Times for his “understated but unmistakable virtuosity” along with a “winning combination of gentleness and fluidity,” is a noted force in the art of modern concert percussion. Svet is Assistant Professor and head of Percussion Performance at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. As a soloist, he has appeared in Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Orange County Performing Arts Center, Ravinia Festival, Emilia Romagna Festival and Avery Fisher Hall, among many others.
