Described by Strad Magazine as “Particularly impressive for her surpassing degree of imagination and vibrant sound,” violinist Deborah Buck has built a strong musical career as chamber musician, concertmaster, soloist, professor, and artistic leader.

Ms. Buck is Concertmaster of Orchestra Lumos. She has held concertmaster positions with the Brooklyn Philharmonic, St. Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra (L.A.) and the Los Angeles Opera Guild as well as many other noteworthy ensembles in the New York City area. As recitalist, Ms. Buck has performed at the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., over the airways for the Dame Myra Hess Series in Chicago/WFMT, “Sunday’s Live” in Los Angeles for KKGO, and at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. She has been featured as soloist with Lincoln Center’s Little Orchestra Society, Brooklyn Philharmonic, and most recently, Orchestra Lumos. In 2019, Ms. Buck received two commissions: one for solo violin by John Harbison called DeBut, and another for violin and piano called Fantasia on Beethoven’s Spring Sonata by Bruce Adolphe. In October (2021) Ms. Buck recorded the Suite for Solo Violin by John Harbison with Grammy winning producer, Silas Brown.

As a chamber musician, Ms. Buck enjoyed seventeen years of extensive concertizing, commissioning, and recording as a member of the Lark Quartet. The Lark actively pushed the boundaries of what a traditional string quartet could do by being one of the first quartets to commission new works that feature added percussion, clarinet, voice, and piano. The Lark has an extensive discography that include many of America’s most celebrated and prize-winning composers works.

A native of Los Angeles, Ms. Buck recorded for the motion picture and television industry. Her violin solos for television helped breathe life back into the re-mastered American Silent Film classic, “The Scarlet Letter” (Turner Classic Movies). Her National television debut came by way of a feature guest spot on the Family Channel’s, “It Takes Two” hosted by Dick Clark.

For twenty summers, Ms. Buck has taught at the Kinhaven Music School in Vermont where she and her husband have had the honor of serving as the Co-Executive Directors for the past eleven years. Since 2015, Ms. Buck has served as Assistant Professor of Violin and Head of Chamber Music at SUNY Purchase. Ms. Buck was a Starling Scholarship recipient at the Juilliard School as a student of Dorothy DeLay. She earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Southern California where she studied with Robert Lipsett, and was awarded the Jascha Heifetz Violin Scholarship.

Photo by Aestheticize Media

Violinist and violist Zoë Martin-Doike is a compelling and versatile artist whose career moves fluidly between the intimacy of chamber music and the grandeur of the world’s leading orchestral stages. Equally at home in both roles, she brings a rare combination of precision, warmth, and expressive depth to her playing—qualities that have made her a sought-after collaborator across a wide range of musical settings.

Zoë first came to international attention as a founding violinist of the Aizuri Quartet, an ensemble celebrated for its vibrant interpretations and adventurous programming. During her time with the group, the quartet earned top prizes at the prestigious Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition and held notable residencies at the Curtis Institute of Music and the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia.

A dedicated chamber musician, Zoë is currently a member of the Iris Trio, where she continues to explore the rich and nuanced dialogue of small ensemble playing. Her festival appearances include the Steans Institute at Ravinia as well as the Sarasota, Norfolk, Taos, and Marlboro Music Festivals—each experience contributing to a musical perspective that is both refined and adventurous.

In addition to her achievements as a violinist, Zoë is an accomplished violist, having earned top prizes in both disciplines, including the Primrose International Viola Competition and the Lennox International Young Artist Competition. Her artistry was further recognized when she won the 2019 Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra Competition, leading to a featured solo appearance with the ensemble the following season.

Zoë’s orchestral career is equally distinguished. Since 2018, she has been a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, one of the world’s most esteemed ensembles, where she performs regularly in the uniquely demanding and collaborative environment of opera. She also frequently joins the Philadelphia Orchestra on international tours, contributing to performances that span the core symphonic repertoire and beyond.

Her musical foundation was shaped by extraordinary mentorship. She studied violin with the renowned Pamela Frank at the Curtis Institute of Music, where she served as concertmaster during the 2011–12 season. She later completed her master’s degree at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, pursuing a rare double major in violin and viola under the guidance of Mimi Zweig and Atar Arad.