Our performing ensembles would be nothing
without our outstanding roster of
highly-credentialed musicians.
Take a moment to get to know us, and feel
confident that you can trust your special day
to our experienced performers.
Marisa Bettina
Violin & Viola
Marisa Bettina is a dynamic violinist, violist, and music teacher in the Hudson Valley. A proponent of the liberal arts, Marisa received Bachelor of Arts degrees in Music and Italian from Vassar College, where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and studied violin under the tutelage of Betty-Jean Hagen. Marisa obtained her Master of Music in Music Education degree at Boston University and is currently an orchestra teacher in the Arlington Central School District. Marisa is passionate about connecting with people through the arts, and in addition to performing with the Woodstock Symphony Orchestra, Marisa regularly performs with the Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra, the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra, Appassionata Players, and the Dorian String Quartet. Marisa has also performed live with singer-songwriter Tim Haufe at the Howland Cultural Center in Beacon, NY, as the violinist on his album What Came Next, and with indie rock band Beirut at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and on The Late Show with David Letterman.
John Bjorkman
Cello
John Bjorkman received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, and his Masters Degree from Long Island University. For the past 25 years, John has been an orchestra Director at North Rockland High School. His orchestras and chamber groups have received many awards at NYSSMA festivals. John is a frequent performer throughout the Hudson Valley, and was the principal cellist of the Rockland Symphony Orchestra for 12 years. In addition to The Dorian String Quartet, he is presently performing with the Newburgh Symphony.
Michele George
Violin
Michele George received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Music Education, with a concentration in violin, from Ithaca College. For the past two decades she has been an string teacher in the Monroe-Woodbury School District, where she currently teaches over 150 string students each year. In addition to performing with The Dorian String Quartet, Michele is a violinist in the Newburgh Symphony, several other string quartets, and maintains a successful private violin studio.
Alexis Koutrouvelis-Tiskowitz
Wedding Coordinator, Violin
Alexis Koutrouvelis received her Master’s Degree in Education from Harvard University, and her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, with a concentration in viola, from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. For the past two decades, she has been an orchestra director at Monroe-Woodbury Middle School. She currently teaches 3 orchestras, including the highly regarded Chamber Orchestra. In addition, Alexis maintains a large private violin and viola studio. Her private students have been accepted at New York Summer School for the Arts, the NYSSMA All-State Orchestra, and the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College division. Alexis is a frequent adjudicator for New York State School Music Association, and has conducted several All-County orchestras throughout New York State. Alexis is the contact person for The Dorian String Quartet and enjoys working with couples to make their wedding music memorable and unique. Alexis lives in Orange County with her husband and fellow music teacher Michael, and their children Abigail and Benjamin.
Guy Thillet
Violin & Viola
Guy Thillet received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, his Master’s Degree in Education from SUNY Stonybrook and his Master’s Degree in Computer Science from SUNY New Paltz. Formerly a public school music educator, a web development quality assurance engineer, and a private music tutor, he is currently a professional Voice Actor, and has been for the past decade. He has been featured in many advertisements for such clients as Nintendo, Amazon, Geico, Comedy Central, and many U.S. Federal and State governmental agencies.
Sarah Tusch
Violin
Sarah Tusch began her musical endeavors on piano at the age of 6, and violin at the age of 9. In her youth, she was an active member in all of her grade school orchestras, and was a member of her High School pit orchestras. She was accepted and attended many summer programs, including the NYSSSA School of Orchestral Studies, the Boston University Tanglewood Institute Summer Program, and The Eastman School of Music Summer Horizons program. She has been a member of the Allegro String Orchestras, the College Youth Symphony at SUNY New Paltz, and is a current member of the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra. She has performed with the MENC All-Eastern Orchestra in 2005, the New York All-State Orchestras twice, and had the privilege of sitting All-State concertmaster in 2006. She has won and performed as a violin soloist with the SUNY Orange OCCC Orchestra in 2003, the Hudson Valley Philharmonic in 2004, and the College Youth Symphony at SUNY New Paltz in 2006. She has a BA from SUNY New Paltz in Communication Disorders, and is currently a local private music instructor and performer in the Hudson Valley.