MEET OUR ENSEMBLE
Beryllium founder Beryl Diamond Chacon is a concert violinist and a graduate of The Juilliard School. Beryl studied Chamber Music with Earl Carlyss of The Juilliard Quartet and with the late legendary Josef Gingold. Early studies began with Eugene Phillips and continued at Juilliard with Sally Thomas. Beryl has played under the baton of Zubin Mehta, Sir George Solti and Bernard Haitink. She performed as concertmistress in Avery Fisher Hall with her small chamber orchestra with James Earl Jones narrating, as well as performing at Lincoln Center's MidSummers Night Series, in Carnegie Recital and at The Treetops Chamber Music Series. ...more
William Hakim, violist, has performed extensively throughout the United States and abroad. Praised for his "warmth of tone and musicality" (Leipziger Volkszeitung), he enjoys playing, writing and arranging music in many styles. He has recorded for Albany Records, Decca, and Nonesuch for various artists including Renee Fleming, served as Billy Joel's violist for his Madison Square Garden residency, had numerous TV appearances with Josh Groban, toured the country with Branford Marsalis and the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. ... more
Cellist Robert Burkhart combines a deep commitment to the existing cello repertoire with what the New Yorker magazine calls "an adventurous spirit in new music". With performance credits at Alice Tully Hall, Bargemusic, Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, Merkin Hall, and The Rose Studio at Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Robert has also appeared as a soloist throughout Japan as a member of the New York Symphonic Ensemble, and been featured in recital on WQXR's Young Artist Showcase. ...more
Nelson Padgett, a pianist known for his poetic and sensitive music making, enjoys a multifaceted career as a soloist and chamber music collaborator. He has appeared with the Houston Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra at The Kennedy Center, and the North Carolina Symphony. Born in North Carolina, Mr. Padgett attended the North Carolina School of the Arts, the Peabody Conservatory of Music, and the Banff Centre School of Fine Arts. ...more
Jazz guitarist Roni Ben-Hur has earned a sterling reputation as both a musician and educator. Roni is renowned for his golden tone, improvisational brilliance, compositional lyricism as well as his ability to charm his audiences. Eminent Jazz critic Gary Giddins of the Village Voice wrote: “A limber and inventive guitarist, Ben-Hur keeps the modernist flame alive and pure, with a low flame burning in every note… a guitarist who knows the changes and his own mind.” ...more
Joe Gianono, Composer, has composed music for all musical genres. Joe is the resident composer of the White Horse Theater Company where he has composed incidental music for numerous productions. Several of these works have been aired on "Exploring Music," hosted by Bill McGlaughlin, on WQXR (105.9 FM). ...more
Rena Isbin has spent many years embracing the varied musical activities the freelance world has offered. After graduating conservatory having studied violin with Erick Friedman and Albert Markov, as well as chamber music with Lillian Fuchs, she performed in a wide range of classical, popular, and commercial venues. ...more