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Gibbs & Main Chamber Players

Founded in 2002 by Karine Stone and Diego Garcia and formerly known as Quartsemble, Gibbs & Main is an innovative chamber music ensemble based in Rochester, New York. The group, comprised of five professional musicians, performs classical masterpieces side by side with Latin music and more contemporary repertoire in both traditional and unexpected settings. Gibbs & Main is known for its interactive educational concerts for children and adults, often performing in schools, churches, and libraries, as well as restaurants, art galleries, and parks, bringing high-caliber performances to a wide range of audiences.

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About the Artists

Violinist Karine Stone is an active recitalist, chamber musician, teacher, conductor, and arts administrator. An experienced orchestral musician as well, Karine was a member of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, has performed as Acting Concertmaster of the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra, in the first violins of the Santo Domingo Music Festival, the Todi Music Festival, and the Skaneateles Festival, and as Principal Second of the Rochester Oratorio Society. She performs frequently in the second violins of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and was the first violinist of the RPO Educational Quintet from 2002–2005. Karine performed as concertmaster of the Finger Lakes Symphony in the 2010-2011 season, and has enjoyed conducting the FLSO and the New Horizons orchestras as guest conductor. Karine is currently on the conducting faculty of the Eastman Community Music School where she conducts the Eastman Youth String Orchestra. Formerly an adjunct faculty member at RIT, teaching violin and viola, Karine currently teaches both instruments in her private studio in Corn Hill and at the Harley School. Through her freelance work, Karine has provided backup violin for artists such as Josh Groban, The TransSiberian Orchestra, Harry Connick Jr., Johnny Mathis, Wayne Newton, and the Capitol Saxophone Quartet. Karine is also the Executive & Artistic Director of Gibbs & Main, and is committed to keeping chamber music alive in Rochester.

Violinist Sini Virtanen started to play in her native Helsinki, Finland at the age of five at the Käpylä Music Institute. She continued her studies at the Sibelius Academy, first in the youth department, completing her Bachelor’s degree in 2007. Sini received her Masters degree from the Eastman School of Music, where She was also awarded the Performer’s Certificate. Sini won Second Prize in the International Violin Competiton in Bled, Slovenia in 2003, and Second Prize in the Concerto Competition of Summit Music Festival in New York in 2005. She has peformed with the WolfGang String Quartet in Finland, Germany, Ireland, and Japan. Sini is currently pursuing a Doctoral degree at the Eastman School of Music.

Violist Dana Huyge is also an accomplished violinist and singer. He has appeared as an ensemble violist with groups throughout New York State, and is constantly engaged in chamber and solo recitals in Cortland and Rochester. He has also sung with the University of Rochester YellowJackets, and played in masterclasses and coachings with Simon Carrington, Susan Dubois, Edward Parmentier, Carol Rodland, Andrew Jennings, the Takacs Quartet, members of the Ying Quartet, 8th Blackbird, and Time for Three. Dan has spent summers working extensively with children at Camp Casowasco in Moravia, New York, and has been involved with the Eastman Community School, and Eastman's Public School #17 after-school lesson program. He is currently employed as a teacher of viola, violin, orchestra and chamber music at the Kanack School of Music.

Cellist Diego Garcia has been on the cello and conducting faculty of the Eastman Community Music School since 2004. Currently the Music Director of the Eastman Youth Chamber Soloists and of the Finger Lakes Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Garcia is also a frequent guest conductor of both youth orchestras and professional orchestras throughout the United States, Europe, the Carribean, and South America including the Flanders Music Festival (Ghent Belgium), the Parnu City Symphony (Estonia). A prize-winner in the Carolina Oramas Competition, Mr. Garcia has been featured in numerous solo and chamber music performances in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and throughout South America and Europe. He has performed as Assistant Principal Cellist in the Santo Domingo Music Festival in 2001 and 2003, and as Principal Cellist of the Todi Music Festival in 2007. In addition to his work as a cellist and conductor, Mr. Garcia is also active as an arranger and composer. Mr. Garcia composed the original film score for "The Heart of Tango," which was performed by Gibbs & Main. His arrangements for the CD "Quartsemble: Tango" received rave reviews both locally and nationally. Most recently, Mr. Garcia composed Danzas Del Nuevo Mundo for Gibbs & Main. The work represents a fusion of his knowledge of folk and pop music from South America with a classical twist. Mr. Garcia holds a Bachelor's Degree in Cello Performance from the Manhattan School of Music, and has twice received conducting fellowships to the Conductor's Institute at Bard College in 2005 and 2006.

Bassist Eric J. Polenik was drawn to the instrument’s low sound at age 16 after hearing Beethoven for the first time. While studying at Duquesne University, he served as Principal Bass of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra. He received his Masters of Music in Bass Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music. In Rochester, Eric has continued his studies with Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Principal Bassist, Robert Zimmerman, and has since joined the RPO’s bass section. He was a founding member of the NEO Chamber Orchestra, a student operated ensemble based out of Rochester, NY. In addition to serving as principal bassist, Eric was a writer, creating scripts and stories to follow the concerts’ programs. He is also a bass instructor at the Eastman Community Music School and bass coach for the New Horizons Orchestra.