About the Artistic Director

Introducing Marcella Schantz

Marcella graduated with honors from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, and has performed in numerous genres: orchestra, opera, ballet, shows, recording, film appearances, pop, rock, backup and more. As a violinist, she performs regularly with many Bay Area orchestras, including the Fremont Symphony, Fremont Opera, West Edge Opera, Oakland Symphony, California Symphony and Symphony Silicon Valley. In Southern California, she performed with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra for 10 years, as well as the Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group, the Los Angeles Mozart Orchestra, Opera Pacific, along with shows and recordings in the music, television and film industries.

In addition to a busy symphonic schedule, Marcella has performed with many recording artists, including Smokey Robinson, Mark O’Connor, Sheryl Crow, Michael McDonald, Randy Travis, Barry Manilow, The Manhattan Transfer, Burt Bacharach and Frank Sinatra, Jr., to name a few. She also performs with several smaller ensembles, including the Siena Music chamber ensembles, which she founded in 1999; and created original arrangements and performed with the electric string trio Cover Girl Strings, and the Craig Hansen Band. Music Festivals include 12 summers performing with the Britt Music & Arts Festival in Southern Oregon, and Music in the Mountains in Grass Valley, California.

  • Marcella has a busy teaching studio, with students in violin, viola, cello and piano. As a conductor, she currently leads the Fremont Youth Symphony Orchestra Melodia Ensemble, and conducted the San Jose Youth Symphony Prelude Ensemble for 8 years, as well as Music for Minors II for five years in Castro Valley, coordinating up to 200 students for Showcase performances at the Center for the Arts. She was also an Artist-in-Residence at California State University East Bay.

    Marcella is the Personnel Manager and Orchestra Librarian for the Fremont Symphony and formerly for the California Symphony and Las Vegas Philharmonic.

    Marcella loves spending time with her wonderful family. She and her husband, Mark, have been married for 30 years and have two adult children. Their household always has many pets, which currently consist of 2 dogs and 2 cats. They have rescued and found homes for many animals in need.

    Marcella’s favorite pastimes in addition to her musical endeavors are tennis, traveling, photography, sewing, gardening, camping, reading, visiting the California Central Coast, and any outdoor activity with her family and pets.

    Marcella performs on an early 1800’s Italian violin, with a W.E. Hill & Sons bow, as well as a Paul Bridgewater Aquila electric violin.

Friendship in the arts

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Siena Music

Quality chamber music for all occasions.

Founded in 1989, Siena Music will enhance your special occasion with the perfect musical ambience.

We also offer private instruction in Violin, Viola, Cello and Piano.

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Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.
— Plato