Amy Catron is a dynamic cellist appearing as soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician in the United States, Europe, China, Japan, and Central America. She is an Assistant Teaching Professor and Interim String Area Coordinator at Mississippi State University, where she also facilitates an innovative strings program in the Starkville-Oktibbeha School District. Prior to joining Mississippi State University, Dr. Catron was String Area Coordinator at Millikin University and held collaborative faculty positions at Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University.

Catron’s repertoire spans from the Baroque era to contemporaneity. Her CD, Particles and Prayer, won a Global Music Silver Medal award in 2019. Previous positions include principal cellist at Sinfonia da Camera (IL), associate principal cellist with the Illinois Symphony and Chamber Orchestra, core cellist with the Naples (Florida) Philharmonic, and others. She has collaborated in live concerts with Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Harry Connick Jr., Patti Lupone, and Andrea Bocelli. Dr. Catron has presented her research at the International Symposium for Sociology in Music Education, the International Society for Music Education World Conference, the College Music Society National Conference, and the Music Teachers National Association Conference. Her reviews of new music frequently appear in the National American String Teachers Association journal. Dr. Catron holds a B.M. in cello performance with distinction from the Eastman School of Music, an M.M. in cello performance from the University of Akron, and a Doctorate in Music Education from Boston University.

Dr. Maternik Piret is a graduate of the Royal College of Music in London, UK, the Paris Conservatory of Fresnes, France, and holds a Doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of Alabama. His mentors include Helene Dautry, Jerome Pernoo, and Moises Molina.

In the United States, he has held the position of principal cellist with the Columbus Symphony in Georgia, the Huntsville Symphony in Alabama, and the Classical Concert Orchestra in California. He is frequently invited to perform with the Alabama Symphony, the Charleston Symphony, as well as the Atlanta Ballet and Opera. While in the UK, Maternik-Piret had the privilege of collaborating with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and Joshua Bell.

Presently, Maternik-Piret is a cello instructor at the University of Alabama. He also served as a Cello professor at the University of North Alabama for a span of four years. Beyond his love for the cello, Maternik-Piret is actively learning the viola da Gamba and has a deep interest in scholarships that promote the development of American Cultural Heritage.

Thomas Maternik-Piret, DMA

Cellist Moisés Molina, a native of Honduras, is an active soloist, orchestra and chamber musician, teacher, and clinician. He has performed in the United States, Central and South America, and Europe. He has recorded for Centaur Records, Parma Records, Profil, and New World labels.

Molina was a guest artist and teacher at the 2023 Toradze International Music Festival (Tbilisi, Georgia) and the 2023 Northern Lights Music Festival. He is in the faculty of the Tennessee Valley Music Festival and the Singing River Cello Workshop. Molina is a member of the ensemble for the Chicago Conducting Masterclass and Workshop.

Molina was a guest artist at the St. Augustine Music Festival in Florida for several seasons. He has participated in the International Chamber Music Festival in Lima and Cusco Music Festival in Cusco, Perú. Molina was a guest artist/teacher at the Conservatorio Nacional de Música in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the Tennessee Cello Workshop in Nashville, and the 2011, 2017, and 2021 Biennial Violoncello Festivals in Lima, Peru. He has also given master classes, performances and workshops at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras. In addition, he has recently given online master classes and lessons to students from around the world.

Dr. Molina is Assistant Professor of a Cello at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Molina is Principal Cellist for the Mobile Symphony Orchestra and for the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra. He is currently serving as Interim Principal Cellist for the Columbus (GA) Symphony Orchestra. He has served as Principal Cellist for Abilene (TX) Philharmonic Orchestra, Abilene Opera Orchestra, Quincy (IL) Symphony, and as Assistant Principal for Tallahassee Symphony, Peoria Symphony, and Heartland Festival Orchestras.

Moisés Molina, DMA