Ian Zook is an active orchestral and solo performer, and has appeared in concerts throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. As soloist he has performed with ensembles including the Staunton Music Festival, Charlottesville Symphony, Virginia Baroque Consort, Chamber Orchestra of Charlottesville, and the JMU Symphony, Brass Band, Wind Symphony, Percussion Ensemble, and Madison Singers.

Zook is a frequent substitute musician with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the National Symphony, and the Harrisburg, Richmond and Virginia symphonies. He has performed at the Staunton, Verbier, Pacific, Sarasota, AIMS in Graz, and Aspen music festivals, as well as the National Orchestral Institute.  

His solo CD with pianist Eric Ruple of 20th-century sonatas, Musica Incognita, was released on MSR Classics in 2018. As Associate Professor of Horn at JMU, Zook is active in symposia of the International Horn Society, hosting the 2016 Southeast Workshop. He holds degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill and the University of Michigan. www.ianzook.com

Steinway Artist Eric Ruple joined the piano faculty at JMU in 1987. He enjoys an active career as a solo and chamber musician, which includes performances at The Kennedy Center in D.C and Steinway Hall in New York. Ruple is a pianist for the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, which includes the principal keyboard role in the Harry Potter™ Film Concert Series. He was also featured in Bernstein’s Prelude, Fugue and Riffs with the VSO Jazz Ensemble. His recording Musica Incognito with hornist Ian Zook has earned unanimously positive reviews from several national and international publications. He is an active member of the American Liszt Society and is a regular adjudicator in Hong Kong. He received his doctoral degree from the University of Michigan.

Clarinetist Šarūnas Jankauskas has performed in Europe, Canada and across the U.S. while participating at the International Conservatory Week Festival, Musicalis Daunia, SoundSpace at Blanton, Chamber Music at The BARN, ICA ClarinetFests®, and various new music events. His commissioning project Duos culminated as a digital and CD album in 2020. Jankauskas joined the JMU faculty in 2016 and holds degrees from Grand Valley State University, Rice University and The University of Texas at Austin. www.sarunasjankauskas.com

Sam Suggs is the first solo bassist in 36 years to join the Concert Artists Guild touring roster and received an “Extraordinary Creativity” award at the 2017 Bradetich Foundation International Double Bass Competition. Named “New Artist of the Month” by Musical America after winning the 2015 International Society of Bassists Solo Competition, Suggs has performed collaboratively at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, and in Africa and Europe with his trio Triplepoint. http://samuelssuggs.com