About Us
Our mission is to bring together Knoxville’s exceptional musicians with dedicated audience members to create inspirational chamber music experiences.
Meet the May 17th Artists
Sean Claire
Violinist Sean Claire has been a violinist with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra since 1990, has appeared several times as soloist with the Knoxville Symphony Chamber Orchestra, and holds the distinction of being the first of a select group of performers in the KSO’s Music and Wellness program. In 2010 Mr. Claire was appointed to the position of Concertmaster of Symphony of the Mountains (SOTM) with which he has appeared as soloist on several occasions, and he is a very active chamber musician and recitalist in the East Tennessee area. His orchestral credits include the Syracuse Symphony, Nashville Chamber Orchestra, and Asheville Symphony, among others. He is a 15-year veteran of the Crested Butte Music Festival from 2002-2016 which has recently reformed (2024) as Classics at Crested Butte for which he serves as Concertmaster. He recently (2022) joined the faculty of the Mostly Modern Festival in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Raised in California, Mr. Claire began his training at age 11, made his first solo appearance with the North Coast Symphony at 15, and at 16, he as admitted to San Diego State University with a full scholarship under the tutelage of Professor Michael Tseitlin; he later continued studies at the Eastman School of Music with renowned Professor, Zvi Zeitlin. When he’s not in the recording studio or on the stage, he’s putting as many miles on the road bike or mountain bike as possible.
Cherylonda Fitzgerald
Cellist Cherylonda Fitzgerald, a native of Louisville KY, received her Bachelor of Music in Performance and Music Education from the University of Louisville where she studied with Susannah Onwood, and her Master of Music in Performance at S.U.N.Y. at Stony Brook studying with Timothy Eddy. Cherylonda moved to East Tennessee in 2003. She is former adjunct professor of cello at East Tennessee State University and has taught cello and string quartet at Milligan University since 2004. Cherylonda also teaches privately at her home studio, the “Cello Underground” in Johnson City, TN.
As a performer, Cherylonda is principal cellist with the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra, and regularly performs with various groups including the Paramount Chamber Players, the Johnson City Symphony Trio, the Asheville Symphony and the Kingsport Symphony of the Mountains. She has also performed with the Colour of Music Festival Orchestra and Virtuosi Female Chamber Orchestra.
Ryan Fogg
The playing of pianist Ryan Fogg has been described as “brilliant, with a high level of polish, impressive technical command, musical understanding and sensitivity.” Over the past several years, he has performed over 100 solo recitals in 24 different states, and he recently made his Carnegie Hall debut at Weill Recital Hall. In addition to being an active solo recitalist, he is an avid chamber musician, collaborative pianist, and concerto soloist. Dr. Fogg is Professor of Music and Director of Keyboard Studies at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee, where he teaches a wide range of courses, including applied piano, piano literature, piano ensemble, theory, and ear training.
Originally from Houston, Texas, Dr. Fogg holds degrees in piano performance from The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Houston, and East Texas Baptist University.