Michael Vaughn, violin, has been performing with Bach in Baltimore since 2015, and has been a free-lance violinist in the Baltimore region since moving here from Indianapolis in 2009. He has performed with a variety of ensembles including the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Delaware Symphony, Reading Symphony, Maryland Symphony, Baltimore Choral Arts, and Baltimore Symphony Musicians. In Indiana he regularly performed with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, and was associate concertmaster and soloist with the Muncie and Richmond (Indiana) Symphony Orchestras. Michael and his wife Nana founded the Fisher Chamber Players in Fishers, IN, and he served as conductor and artistic director. He earned a violin performance degree (with a minor in computer science) and music education degree from Indiana University, studying with Paul Biss and Mimi Zweig. In addition to being active as a musician, Michael works as a technologist, working the past 3 years as the associate director for digital accessibility at Yale University, where he works to help make Yale’s digital campus accessible to people with disabilities. Michael’s wife Nana is an active violist and educator in the area, and his 3 children are also active in the arts, with the youngest two studying viola and percussion at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Michael’s identical twin brother, Matt, is co-principal trombone of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

“J.S. Bach has always been a staple of my development as a classical violinist, and is a constant source of delight and discovery. I treasure the opportunity to more fully explore his repertoire with the other dedicated musicians of Bach in Baltimore, under the capable leadership of Maestro Dimmock.”

Michael Vaughn, Violin

Mateo Mendez is an oboist based in Baltimore who serves as English Hornist of the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra. He has held many other posts around Baltimore and beyond, including second oboe with Mount Vernon Virtuosi, principal oboe with the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra, and interim music director of the Hunt Valley Wind Ensemble.

Rene Shapiro (trumpet), a native of San Diego, California, is a versatile musician known for his roles as Assistant Principal of the Baltimore Symphony orchestra and his work as a soloist, teacher, and chamber musician. Mr. Shapiro’s career has taken him across the globe, performing with prestigious ensembles such as the Boston Symphony, the Philadelphia orchestra, Namdo Festival orchestra, and international orchestras in Spain, Mexico, and Italy. He has worked with renowned conductors including Maestro Yuri Temirkanov, Simon Rattle, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Lorin Maazel.

Sara Nichols enjoys a diverse career as an educator, soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral flutist. She performed as Principal Flute of the Baltimore Opera for twenty two seasons. She has also appeared as a soloist and orchestra musician for numerous ensembles including the National Gallery Orchestra, Wolf Trap Orchestra, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Baltimore Choral Arts Society, Bach Society of Baltimore, Concert Artists of Baltimore, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Pro Musica Rara, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and the New York Opera Society. She has performed with national touring shows and productions at the Hippodrome, Lyric, and Morris Mechanic Theaters in Baltimore, Merriweather Post Pavilion, and the National Theater in Washington, D.C. She is on the faculties of Towson University and the Baltimore School for the Arts. Many of Ms. Nichols’ high school students were awarded music scholarships at prestigious universities and conservatories, and are now prominent music educators–including public and private schools, private studios, and universities— arts administrators, and professional musicians across the country. Numerous additional students also excelled in subjects outside of the music industry, and now hold a multitude of highly successful careers while continuing to play their flutes in a wide array of settings. Every single student has been a source of immense pride on this journey! Ms. Nichols has been published in Flute Talk Magazine; hosted Flute Spa master classes for esteemed flute pedagogue and award winning author, Patricia George; and is Director of the Baltimore Flute Choir, a dedicated group of avid adult enthusiasts who enjoy an active performance schedule in the Baltimore-Washington region.