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Detroit Musicians
Cecelia Sha, Cello
Cecelia Sha is a versatile performing artist, collaborator, and educator currently based in Detroit. She began studying cello at the age of six and went on to earn her Bachelor of Music and two Master of Music degrees from the University of Michigan, where she studied with Anthony Elliott and Richard Aaron. Cecelia has further refined her artistry at summer festivals including the Blackburn Music Academy where she served as principal cellist, the Bowdoin International Music Festival, and the Orford Music Academy. She has appeared with ensembles across Michigan, including the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, Jackson Symphony Orchestra, and Oakland Symphony.
Cecelia’s collaborative spirit has led her to work across a variety of communities and artistic disciplines. She has performed with Grammy Award–winning artist T-Pain as a member of the Urban Art Orchestra, contributing her voice to large-scale, cross-genre productions. As a recording artist, she appears with saxophonist Dave McMurray on Core375, an immersive audio installation along Detroit’s Dequindre Cut, and on Spaces, the Gifts of Art album recorded at Michigan Medicine. Equally committed to making music accessible and equitable, Cecelia has participated in initiatives such as the Prison Creative Arts Project, performing string quartets for audiences in correctional facilities across Michigan.
As an educator, Cecelia strives to cultivate meaningful musical experiences for students of all ages. She has led elementary and middle school string programs through the Michigan Artist Citizen Program and has served as a volunteer with the El Sistema–modeled Paterson Music Project in New Jersey. A certified Suzuki teacher, she maintains a vibrant private studio and continues to mentor young musicians with the same passion and curiosity that drive her own artistic work.
Cecelia’s collaborative spirit has led her to work across a variety of communities and artistic disciplines. She has performed with Grammy Award–winning artist T-Pain as a member of the Urban Art Orchestra, contributing her voice to large-scale, cross-genre productions. As a recording artist, she appears with saxophonist Dave McMurray on Core375, an immersive audio installation along Detroit’s Dequindre Cut, and on Spaces, the Gifts of Art album recorded at Michigan Medicine. Equally committed to making music accessible and equitable, Cecelia has participated in initiatives such as the Prison Creative Arts Project, performing string quartets for audiences in correctional facilities across Michigan.
As an educator, Cecelia strives to cultivate meaningful musical experiences for students of all ages. She has led elementary and middle school string programs through the Michigan Artist Citizen Program and has served as a volunteer with the El Sistema–modeled Paterson Music Project in New Jersey. A certified Suzuki teacher, she maintains a vibrant private studio and continues to mentor young musicians with the same passion and curiosity that drive her own artistic work.
Sarah Wagner, Violin
Sarah Wagner is a violinist and educator with a varied career including a performance in Buckingham Palace, over 60 theatrical productions across five different countries, and a strings
ensemble with Eminem. Sarah uses cross arts collaborations to make classical music accessible, engaging, and immersive. Her pandemic performance piece “Under the Bridge”
combined Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons with street art beneath Glasgow’s Kingston Bridge overpass to show how artistic collaboration could reinvigorate urban spaces. The project culminated in a sold-out performance at Glasgow Cathedral during the UN Cop 26 Climate
Conference.
A passionate educator, Sarah works regularly with students of all ages in solo, small group, and large ensemble settings. She utilizes a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach to music education by combining technical pedagogy with a diverse repertoire of music. Sarah currently teaches violin and viola through her private studio in Ann Arbor and is a frequent guest clinician in the Saline, Chelsea, and Ann Arbor school districts.
Sarah completed her Bachelor’s of Music at Lawrence University and her Master’s of Music and
Advanced Postgraduate diploma at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. After being awarded a
Global Talent Visa by Arts Council England, Sarah continued working in Scotland for several years. While in Glasgow, Sarah taught at the Conservatoire’s Juniors program and spent two
years as an Ambassador with the Benedetti Foundation. Since returning to Michigan, Sarah has performed with the Lansing, Flint, Jackson, and Adrian Symphony Orchestras, as well as The
Encore Musical Theatre Company and the University of Michigan’s musical theatre department.
ensemble with Eminem. Sarah uses cross arts collaborations to make classical music accessible, engaging, and immersive. Her pandemic performance piece “Under the Bridge”
combined Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons with street art beneath Glasgow’s Kingston Bridge overpass to show how artistic collaboration could reinvigorate urban spaces. The project culminated in a sold-out performance at Glasgow Cathedral during the UN Cop 26 Climate
Conference.
A passionate educator, Sarah works regularly with students of all ages in solo, small group, and large ensemble settings. She utilizes a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach to music education by combining technical pedagogy with a diverse repertoire of music. Sarah currently teaches violin and viola through her private studio in Ann Arbor and is a frequent guest clinician in the Saline, Chelsea, and Ann Arbor school districts.
Sarah completed her Bachelor’s of Music at Lawrence University and her Master’s of Music and
Advanced Postgraduate diploma at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. After being awarded a
Global Talent Visa by Arts Council England, Sarah continued working in Scotland for several years. While in Glasgow, Sarah taught at the Conservatoire’s Juniors program and spent two
years as an Ambassador with the Benedetti Foundation. Since returning to Michigan, Sarah has performed with the Lansing, Flint, Jackson, and Adrian Symphony Orchestras, as well as The
Encore Musical Theatre Company and the University of Michigan’s musical theatre department.
Emelyn Bashour, Violin
Detroit-based violinist Dr. Emelyn Bashour has performed across Europe and North and South America. A seasoned orchestral player, Emelyn currently holds positions as Principal 2nd Violin of the Detroit Opera Orchestra and Assistant Concertmaster of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. She is also a member of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music Orchestra, where she served as Acting Principal 2nd Violin in 2025. As a soloist and chamber player, Emelyn is a passionate advocate for contemporary music and has participated in the New Music Workshop at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, the Cortona Sessions for New Music, and the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra Academy. Her recording credits include the world premiere of “The Story of Patient No. 23” by Remi Inari on if you believe in the shadow… (2024), Evan Ware’s The Quietest of Whispers (2023, Neuma Records), and the GRAMMY-nominated John Luther Adams’ Sila: The Breath of the World (2022, Cantaloupe Music).
Emelyn holds degrees from Michigan State University, University of Michigan, the Eastman School of Music, and University of Rochester. She has participated in many selective fellowship programs including Spoleto Festival USA, Orpheus@Mannes, Vermont Mozart Festival, National Orchestral Institute, and the Aspen Music Festival. Currently a member of the Detroit-based Kalkaska String Quartet, she regularly performs as a featured artist on FeverUp’s Candlelight Classical series. In addition to her work as a performer, she writes string quartet arrangements on commission, many of which can be purchased on Sheet Music Plus.
Emelyn holds degrees from Michigan State University, University of Michigan, the Eastman School of Music, and University of Rochester. She has participated in many selective fellowship programs including Spoleto Festival USA, Orpheus@Mannes, Vermont Mozart Festival, National Orchestral Institute, and the Aspen Music Festival. Currently a member of the Detroit-based Kalkaska String Quartet, she regularly performs as a featured artist on FeverUp’s Candlelight Classical series. In addition to her work as a performer, she writes string quartet arrangements on commission, many of which can be purchased on Sheet Music Plus.
Hannah Breyer, Viola
Hannah Breyer is a graduate from the University of Michigan, where she studied under the tutelage of Yizhak Schotten. Hannah concluded her Master of Music degrees in both Viola Performance and Chamber Music in the spring of 2020. Originally from Gilbert, Arizona, Hannah began playing viola at age 10.
As a freshman in high school, Hannah had the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall with the Mesquite High School Symphony. During her time as an undergraduate at the University of Oregon, where she studied with Dr. Leslie Straka and Dr. Arnaud Ghillebaert, she earned a position with Rogue Valley Symphony in Ashland, Oregon and performed with the Eugene Symphony, the Oregon Mozart Players, and the ballet company OrchestraNext. She also taught as a Chamber Instructor for the University of Oregon’s Community Music Institute.
For the entire academic year of 2016-2017, Hannah studied modern and baroque viola at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst (State University for Music and Performing Arts) in Stuttgart, Germany on a full-tuition scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Program. In culmination of her bachelor’s degree, she was awarded the Outstanding Undergraduate Performer in Strings award at the University of Oregon.
Since attending the University of Michigan, Hannah has also won positions in the Traverse Symphony Orchestra, Flint Symphony, Lansing Symphony and Ann Arbor Symphony and performs as a freelance musician throughout the lower peninsula.
As a freshman in high school, Hannah had the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall with the Mesquite High School Symphony. During her time as an undergraduate at the University of Oregon, where she studied with Dr. Leslie Straka and Dr. Arnaud Ghillebaert, she earned a position with Rogue Valley Symphony in Ashland, Oregon and performed with the Eugene Symphony, the Oregon Mozart Players, and the ballet company OrchestraNext. She also taught as a Chamber Instructor for the University of Oregon’s Community Music Institute.
For the entire academic year of 2016-2017, Hannah studied modern and baroque viola at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst (State University for Music and Performing Arts) in Stuttgart, Germany on a full-tuition scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Program. In culmination of her bachelor’s degree, she was awarded the Outstanding Undergraduate Performer in Strings award at the University of Oregon.
Since attending the University of Michigan, Hannah has also won positions in the Traverse Symphony Orchestra, Flint Symphony, Lansing Symphony and Ann Arbor Symphony and performs as a freelance musician throughout the lower peninsula.
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