Dr. David Kováč

Dr. David Kováč maintains a varied career as a violist, artistic director, chamber musician, and instructor of violin and viola. He was appointed as assistant professor of violin and viola at East Tennessee State University in 2016. He has collaborated with members of the Miami String Quartet, the Rosamunde Trio, the Appalachia Piano Trio, New Ear Ensemble (a Kansas City based new music ensemble), and members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Czech National Symphony Orchestra, and other orchestras around the United States and Europe. Other chamber music collaborations include performances with faculty at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Stony Brook University, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Park University's International Center for Music, University of Tennessee, University of Kansas, and University of Nevada Las Vegas.

Kováč performed the world premiere of Gabriela Lena Frank's Puntos Suspensivos at the Joyce Theatre in New York City. The work was commissioned in part by the performing arts series, "Works and Process" at the Guggenheim Museum. Dr. Kováč has adjudicated for numerous competitions including, TMTA, KMTA and MTNA.

Kováč performed the world premiere of Gabriela Lena Frank's Puntos Suspensivos at the Joyce Theatre in New York City. The work was commissioned in part by the performing arts series, "Works and Process" at the Guggenheim Museum. Dr. Kováč has adjudicated for numerous competitions including, TMTA, KMTA and MTNA.

Dr. Nathan Jasinski

Cellist Nathan Jasinski has given solo and chamber music performances in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, and throughout the United States. A recent highlight includes a performance of Dvorak’s Cello Concerto with the Keweenaw Symphony in Michigan. He performs regularly with the Appalachia Piano Trio, the Amadeus Chamber Ensemble of Knoxville, as continuo/solo cellist with the Kentucky Bach Choir, and as a solo recitalist.

An enthusiastic educator, Dr. Jasinski frequently gives cello and chamber music master classes at educational venues throughout the country. He joined the music faculty at Eastern Kentucky University in 2006. Prior to this appointment, he taught at Bowling Green State University in Ohio and Snow College in Ephraim, UT.

His love of teaching has led to his working with young musicians at the Interlochen and Steven Foster music camps. Dr. Jasinski was awarded the Kentucky Music Educators’ Association Collegiate Teacher of the Year in 2018. He is currently president of the Kentucky Cello Club, an organization that promotes cello playing and teaching throughout the lower Midwest.

Dr. Jasinski earned degrees in cello performance from Brigham Young University and Arizona State University, and his doctorate from the University of Michigan.