About Us
Leadership
Peabody String Sinfonia Co-Directors 2024-25:
Isabel Rushall (violin, BM ‘27) and Claire Russell (double bass, BM ‘27)
As the current Co-Directors of Sinfonia, Izzy and Claire are responsible for the administrative elements of Sinfonia, including organizing rehearsal and concert schedules as well as communicating with community partners. They provide student leadership both in and outside rehearsals by leading most rehearsals, fulfilling library tasks, marketing, and working together with our Faculty Mentor to determine the artistic vision of Sinfonia.
Isabel Rushal
Co-Director
Violin
Isabel Rushall is a sophomore from Flagstaff, Arizona pursuing a bachelor’s degree in violin performance from the Peabody Institute. She began learning the violin at the age of five at Northern Arizona University’s Music and Dance Academy. At age 10, she and her family moved to Portugal where she studied at the Academia de Música de Lisboa and played with their touring violin group Os Violinhos. During her high school years, she played with local groups including the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, the Sedona Symphony, and the Orchestra of Northern Arizona. She is a two-time attendee and concerto competition winner of Eastern Music Festival. When she’s not practicing, Isabel spends her time running, reading, and enjoying a cup of black coffee.
Claire Russell
Co-Director
Double Bass
Claire Russell is a sophomore at the Peabody Conservatory, pursuing a B.M. in Double Bass Performance in the studio of Nina DeCesare. She started playing bass in elementary school in her hometown, Ithaca, New York. During high school, Claire performed frequently with area chamber groups and was principal bassist of the CCO Youth Orchestra and NYSSMA All-State Symphony Orchestra. Currently, along with performing in various Peabody ensembles during the semester, she performs annually in the Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival Chamber Orchestra and interns with Bass Works during the summer. Claire has attended several summer festivals, including the Texas Music Festival, DCBass, Domaine Forget Academy, and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. Outside of music, Claire is passionate about social justice work and experimenting in the kitchen.
Judith Ingolfsson
Faulty Mentor
Violin
As Faculty Mentor, Judith Ingolfsson provides artistic mentorship and advice to the ensemble as well as providing guidance for the long term vision of the group. She assists with the choice of programming, auditioning student members, and inviting guests. Ingolfsson regularly coaches the ensemble both as soloist and from inside the group.
Member Bios
Sarah Cummings | Former Co-Director / Viola
Sarah Cummings, originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, is a senior majoring in Viola Performance and Recording Arts at the Peabody Conservatory. She loves playing viola for its beautiful low register and its role as the inner voice in ensemble music. Besides music, she loves poetry, gardening, and math.
Wyatt Johnson | Member / Viola
Wyatt Johnson is a sophomore at the Peabody Conservatory pursuing a B.M. in Viola Performance under Victoria Chiang. He started playing the viola in 6th grade in his hometown of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Throughout his career, Wyatt has performed as principal violist in ensembles including the Long Bay Youth Symphony, All-County, Region, SC State Orchestras, as well as Interlochen’s World Youth Symphony Orchestra. Wyatt has also played as a section violist for the Long Bay Symphony and the Florence Symphony. In high school, he attended Furman University’s Band & Orchestra Camp, Interlochen Arts Camp, and the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival. Wyatt has also performed in masterclasses for Lynn Ramsey, Milan Milisavljević, Nardo Poy, and Norman Fischer. Some of Wyatt’s notable past teachers include Huadong Lu, Stephen Williams, and Clark Spencer. Outside of the viola, Wyatt enjoys playing with his cats and going to the beach.
Anagha Kapsi | Member / Violin
Anagha Kapsi is a second-year undergraduate attending the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, pursuing a Violin Performance degree under the tutelage of renowned violinist, Judith Ingolfsson. Anagha has been named the 2023-2024 recipient of the Attillo R. and Myrtle L. Jackson Endowed Scholarship in memory of Jessye Norman. She performs with the Peabody String Sinfonia, JHU Musicare, and the New Contemporary Tonality Collective. Anagha has been playing the violin for the past 13 years, completing her pre-college studies at both the Settlement Music School and Music School of Delaware. Anagha was the assistant principal of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and the co-concertmaster of the Delaware County Youth Orchestra, as well as a Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth (PMAY) Artist. She is an alumni of the Colburn School’s first national cohort of the Fortissima program of 2021, and is a recipient of the Union League of Philadelphia’s Good Citizenship Award. In November 2020, Anagha was featured on NPR’s ‘From the Top’, Show 392, performing with Peter Dugan.
Matheus Ramos | Member / Viola
Matheus Ramos is a sophomore violist at the Peabody Conservatory. He comes to Peabody from Miami, Florida, but his family is mostly from São Paulo, Brazil. The first instrument Matheus learned to play was the piano, which he picked up very early in life thanks to his family. Because of this, as a kid, music was a big part of his life and he has since dedicated his life to music. Matheus studied at an arts high school, where he got the chance to meet plenty of talented friends who he knows today. Chamber music has been one of Matheus’ newest passions, so joining Sinfonia in his first year of college was a seamless transition into playing with new people.
Katrina Wolfe | Member / Cello
Katrina Wolfe is a sophomore cellist at Peabody Conservatory studying under Alan Stepansky. She has been playing the cello for twelve years. Katrina has won awards for her playing around the South-Central Pennsylvania region from the Lancaster Women’s Symphony Association, the York Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the Dallastown Area High School. She has attended the Boston University Tanglewood Institute and the Interlochen Arts Camp. Around Pennsylvania, Katrina plays in musical pits at the Fulton Theatre, is a featured cellist at local churches, and is a free-lance cellist. In high school, she participated in the Pennsylvania District, Regional, and State Orchestra Festivals. In her free time, she enjoys painting, taking walks, and spending time with her family and friends.