our players

FLUTES -

Diane Jones is a composer and multi-instrumentalist, as well as Program Manager and mid-day host at WCNY. Her music has been recorded by Trio Casals, trombonist Haim Avitsur, and Samba Laranja, and she is fortunate to have had her music heard in Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall in four separate concerts. Diane is host/producer of Feminine Fusion, the nationally syndicated program highlighting women in classical music.

CLARINETS -

Ryan Sparkes is a music teacher at Jordan-Elbridge Middle School, instructing young students in band, choir, general music, jazz band, and theater. A clarinet student of John Flaver and Raphael Sanders, he holds degrees in Music Education from the Crane School of Music and Ithaca College. Sparkes developed an interest in contemporary music by spending an undergrad semester in Contemporary Music Ensemble as a clarinetist and vocalist, and subsequently taking a course in Electronic Music Composition with Jerod Sommerfeldt.

An avid performer, Sparkes can often be found playing reed instruments in musical theater pit orchestras across central New York. Occasionally, he even sings and dances on stage, which earned him a Syracuse Area Live Theater (SALT) Award in 2019 for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical. Sparkes also operates a small private studio for clarinet and voice. He lives in Liverpool with his wife Frances and their several affectionately-named house plants.

VIOLIN -

Edgar Tumajyan is a native of Yerevan, Armenia. He began his violin study at age 8, at the Tchaikovsky Specialized Music School. His Bachelor’s Degree is from the Yerevan State Conservatory; his Master’s Degree from Syracuse University, where he worked with Symphoria Concertmaster Peter Rovit.

CELLO -

Kristen Kopf is an innovative, veteran music educator, currently celebrating her thirtieth year with the North Syracuse Central School District. She also teaches privately in her studio. Kristen is considered a pioneer in the Alternative Style Strings, and performs professionally on both cello and baritone saxophone. Kristen is the co-founder and cellist of the Opus Black String Quartet and cellist in Monk Rowe's Five Families Ensemble. She has dedicated her life to enthusiastically sharing her love of music and is excited to be performing in the 315 Ensemble.

PIANO -

Though Nick Abelgore studied classical trombone in school, he is also a proficient jazz pianist, pipe organist for St. David’s Episcopal, and self-accompanied singer. He plays in wedding bands, clubs, restaurants, and other freelance venues around CNY doing unique arrangements of classic rock/pop covers, jazz standards, originals, and more. Additionally, Nick has a master's in Music Education and is a yoga instructor at several local studios.

ELECTRIC GUITAR/ELECTRONICS -

A composer, sound artist, and guitarist, Chris Cresswell is a curious musician whose work betrays his affection for sonic wanderlust. His music has been heard in coffee shops, concert halls, and venues around the world, from chic Brooklyn venues like Areté Venue and Gallery and The Firehouse Space, to Birmingham, England’s renown Symphony Hall and the Paleis voor Schone Kunsten in Brussels. He is the founder/Artistic Director of 315 Ensemble, has a private composition studio, and is an instructor at Onondaga Community College.