February 2026 Cecelia Scholar: Tess Varley
Tess Varley is a Philadelphia based violinist who performs with a number of orchestras and ensembles. She is currently Acting Principal Second Violin of the Opera Philadelphia Orchestra and a member of the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and the Delaware Symphony.
Recent orchestral engagements include performances with the Philly Pops, Symphony in C, the Allentown Symphony, and as guest Principal Second of the Reading Symphony. Previous leadership positions include Concertmaster of the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra with conductor […]
Arlet Tabares
Meghan
Praised by South Florida Classical Review for her “vivacious” playing, harpist Zora Evangeline is a dynamic and multi-faceted musician. She currently studies at Boyer College of Music at Temple University, where she studies with Elizabeth Hainen, Principal Harpist of The Philadelphia Orchestra. In addition to her studies, Zora has a vibrant freelance career. She frequently performs with professional orchestras across the nation including the New World Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, Allentown Symphony, and Maryland Symphony, and has attended several prestigious music festivals including Orford

Tessa Ellis has been preoccupied with the sound of the trumpet since she first heard the instrument as a four-year-old. Inspired by a lifelong drive to create new and nuanced sounds, her work spans orchestral, chamber, and experimental music. Recent highlights include tours with Hans Zimmer Live, Star Trek: The Cruise, and performances with Seraph Brass, the Philadelphia Ballet Orchestra, Kennett Symphony, and the Delaware Symphony. She is a founding member of the Arcana New Music Ensemble and frequently collaborates across
Philadelphia-area native Shannon Merlino began violin lessons at nine years of age. Immediately upon receiving her rental instrument (and before having had a lesson), she declared that she would become a professional musician, and the rest, as they say, was history. Dr. Merlino completed her Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance at Rutgers University as a student of Matthew Reichert and Lenuta Ciulei. She received her Master of Music degree in violin performance as a scholarship student at the Mannes College
Faith Wasson is an international performing artist, having performed throughout Europe and North America as orchestral, chamber musician and soloist. She manages her own chamber music series, Flute with Faith & Friends, featuring an array of diverse repertoire and instrumentation. As classical music artist in residence, Faith presents the classical performance series at the Media Arts Council. She is the piccolo/3rd flutist with the Southeastern PA Symphony of which she is also the chamber music series curator. Faith teaches flute, piccolo and chamber music online