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 […]
A Philadelphia native, Elena Kauffman maintains an active career as a performing and teaching artist. She is the cellist and manager of Blue Line Quartet, and she performs frequently with Fairmount String Quartet, Elysium String Quartet, and many other chamber ensembles in the Philadelphia area. She is the principal cellist and personnel manager of the Wayne Oratorio Society and Haverford-Bryn Mawr Chorale Orchestra, and she has performed with the Philadelphia Ballet Orchestra, Reading Symphony, Bay Atlantic Symphony, Riverside Symphonia, and West Jersey