Jacob Szekely (b. 1979) is a Los Angeles–based cellist, composer, and educator. Raised in a musical family in Brooklyn, New York, he studied classical cello at Interlochen Arts Academy, earned his bachelor’s degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and completed graduate studies at the University of Southern California.

A highly sought-after sideman and session player, Jacob has appeared on hundreds of film scores, television shows, and commercials. He has been featured with artists including Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, Ellie Goulding, Avril Lavigne, and Rush, and on television series such as Battlestar Galactica, The Walking Dead, and The Sarah Connor Chronicles. He is also active as a composer and arranger, collaborating with ensembles ranging from string quartets and world-music groups to chamber orchestras and children’s choirs.

In 2007, Jacob co-founded String Project Los Angeles, a Venice-based music school and international resource for alternative string playing, where he serves as artistic director. He has led residencies and master classes across the United States at institutions including UCLA, CalArts, Berklee College of Music, Oklahoma State University, Ithaca College, and the American String Teachers Association’s national conference.

In 2013, Jacob launched The Improvisor’s Guide to the Cello, the first comprehensive video series addressing the challenges classically trained cellists face when exploring creative string playing. His trio’s debut album, released in 2015, received international acclaim from The Strad, Strings Magazine, and the International Review of Music.

Luis Mascaro is a Brazilian violinist and educator from a new generation of creative string players, known for blending a solid classical foundation with jazz, Brazilian music, and contemporary styles.

He gained international attention in 2008 as one of a select few musicians chosen from thousands to perform live at the 50th Grammy Awards with the Foo Fighters and John Paul Jones as part of YouTube’s My Grammy Moment contest.

Luis began studying violin at age nine and became concertmaster of his city’s conservatory youth orchestra at eleven. He holds a double bachelor’s degree in violin performance and popular music from Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), becoming the first string player to graduate from its popular music program. During this period, he immersed himself in jazz and Brazilian traditions, founded Brazil’s only Mahavishnu Orchestra tribute band, toured with the Comboio Big Band, and performed extensively with choro musicians.

In 2005, Luis received a full assistantship and scholarship to study jazz and improvisation at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he also served as a teaching assistant for the jazz program. He later completed his Master of Music in violin performance at the University of New Mexico, studying under Carmelo de los Santos on full scholarship.

As a classical violinist, Luis has performed extensively across South America, the United States, and Italy, appearing with orchestras including Campinas Symphony, São José dos Campos Symphony, Mississippi Symphony, Mobile Symphony, Baton Rouge Symphony, and Santa Fe Pro Musica. He has worked under conductors such as Stefano Miceli, Roberto Minczuk, and Kurt Masur, recording Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 and Barber’s Adagio for Strings under Masur’s direction.

Equally fluent in Brazilian choro, bebop, fusion, and progressive rock, Luis brings a deep understanding of amplification, pickups, electric violins, and effects to his work. His playing reflects a highly personal language—one that bridges classical technique with modern creative expression.

Michael Valerio is one of the most in-demand bassists in the Los Angeles studio scene. In fact, you’ve probably listened to Mike play bass more than just about any bass player. If you’ve ever heard a soundtrack from John Williams, Hans Zimmer, or Danny Elfman in the past couple of decades, you’ve probably heard Mike playing bass on it.

Charlie Bisharat is a Grammy-winning violinist who has toured and/or recorded with numerous notable artists. He was a member ofShadowfax, who won a Best New Age Performance Grammy in 1988 for Folksongs for a Nuclear Village. He has toured with Yanniduring the Reflections of Passion, Revolution in Sound, Dare to Dream and Yanni Live, The Symphony Concerts 1993 concert tours. He is also featured on John Tesh‘s live concert video Live at Red Rocks. Bisharat accompanied Tesh in live shows as his “co-writer” and “co-producer”.^[1]

Bisharat’s work can be heard in more than 200 recordings, including soundtracks such as Swordfish, Texas Rangers and Steal Big Steal Little. He also had cameo performances in Austin Powers in Goldmember and The Drew Carey Show and Friends. Bisharat has written and recorded a jazz improvisational book and CD, “Beyond Classical Violin” for Cherry Lane Music.

Eric Benning began making his first violin under the direction of his violinmaking parents, Hans and Nancy Benning, at the age of 9. Working only Saturdays and vacation days, Eric completed the violin at age 11. This was the beginning of a passionate desire to make instruments and to follow in the proud tradition of his family.

In 1997 Eric began studying with renown craftsman Carl Becker Jr., son of Carl Becker Sr., the celebrated Chicago maker who passed on his tradition of master violinmaking to Paul Toenniges, founder of Studio City Music, and to Hans and Nancy Benning. Eric spent time in Mittenwald, Germany learning the craft of elaborate scroll making, a skill and talent he’s been widely recognized for.

Over the years, Eric continued making violins, violas and cellos and even a few viola d’amores while continuing his studies with Becker perfecting the old world style and working traditions that mark his current work. Eric has made over 100 instruments to date and is constantly working and learning to perfect his art.

Scott Fraser is a legend in the LA recording scene and knows more about sound design for electric strings than anyone around.  In addition to engineering, producing or mastering over 600 albums for a wide variety of artists and genres, Scott Fraser has toured as sound designer with the Kronos Quartet since 1992, & received a Grammy nomination for producing & engineering Kronos’ 2005 CD “You’ve Stolen My Heart”, featuring renowned Bollywood diva Asha Bhosle.

Noah Needleman has been making records for 16 years as an artist, producer, engineer, and mixer. His music has been featured on television, film, and radio, and has worked with grammy award winnings producers and musicians.