Ars Lyrica Houston

Stephanie Noori is a multi-instrumentalist who has performed nationally and internationally and is fluent in a variety of musical styles. She is an active soloist and chamber musician on violin, viola, and viola da gamba, and a specialist in early music performance. She acquired her Bachelor of Music from the University of North Texas and Master of Music from Indiana University. Stephanie now plays with a diverse array of groups including La Follia, Austin Troubadours, Texas Early Music Project, Ars Lyrica, Mountainside Baroque, Austin Baroque Orchestra (for which she is concertmaster), and is a founding member of the chamber ensemble Les Touches.

Violinist Maria Lin is from Rockland County, New York, and has degrees from the New England Conservatory and the Eastman School of Music.  She has performed in numerous music festivals including Tanglewood, Spoleto, Grand Teton, and has performed as soloist with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic and at Weill Recital Hall.  She has been on the faculty of the Interlochen Arts Center, and taught and free-lanced in the Northeast for many years before moving to Houston. In Houston she plays with the Houston Grand Opera, Mercury, Bach Society, and Ars Lyrica. She plays on a violin made by Giovanni Baptista Gabrieli in 1770.

Praised by critics for his “flawless lightness and grace,” Eric Smith has been called “the very model of an elegant cellist” (Dallas Morning News), and his performances have been described as “nuanced, thoughtful, and technically sound” (Theater Jones). Eric has concertized on Baroque cello and viola da gamba throughout the U.S., Mexico, South America, and Europe, and with some of the nation’s leading period instrument ensembles. In addition to serving as Artistic Director of the American Baroque Opera Co., Eric collaborates with groups including Ars Lyrica Houston, La Follia Austin Baroque, and Bach Society of Houston.

Spanish born percussionist Jesús Pacheco obtained his bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from the Conservatory in Seville. During his time in Europe, he studied with percussionists Pedro Estevan and David Mayoral. He performed in a number of ensembles such as the Real Sinfónica de Sevilla and the Bachakademie in Stuttgart. A versatile percussionist, Jesús moved to Houston ten years ago and is currently Music Director at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory. In addition to teaching, Jesús leads an active life as a performer in Texas, playing with Bach Society, Mercury, and Houston Early Music.

Grammy-nominated Richard Savino has an extensive discography, including the only recordings of Mauro Giuliani’s Op. 30 Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra and Boccherini’s Symphonia a grandé orchestra con chitarra on a period instrument with original orchestrations and no cuts. He has toured internationally and has been a featured guest on numerous national and international television and radio programs. From 1986 to 1998, Richard directed the CSU Summer Arts Guitar and Lute Institute. Presently he is director of El Mundo and Professor of Music at Sacramento State University and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He is also on the faculty of UC Berkeley.