Time-Prov Quartet: Back in Tune

DIANA LEGRAND, from Assisi, Italy, started her music studies at age two and a half, learning from her mother, a teacher of violin and piano. At age 15, she was accepted to  the North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) where she studied under the late Elaine Richey, first violinist of the Razamousky String Quartet.  

​

​She received both her Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Violin Performance and continued her studies at UNCSA with Robert Mann, the founding members of the Juilliard String Quartet, and with Nicholas Mann, second violinist of the Mendelssohn String Quartet. Returning to Italy, Diana continued her music studies at the Conservatory of Modena, receiving with honors her diploma in Violin Performance. Over the years, she has studied with such notable violinists as Vadim Brodski, first prize winner of the Wieniawski and Paganini International competitions, Paola Besutti  from Florence, Italy, and Emanuel Hurwitz, first violinist of the Melos Ensemble and Aeolian String Quartet. Diana is an active performer and teacher. Both have taken her around the  world to Europe, the Americas, and Asia. She was formerly the concertmaster and soloist  of the Pan American Symphony Orchestra, based in Washington DC, and the current violinist of the Tony nominated Broadway show Forever Tango. She is a 2021 Latin Grammy Nominated Artist in the category of Best Tango Album. Her newly released album “Tango without borders” has already received four nominations for the 2023 Gardel Awards in Argentina.

​A review, by the DC Metro Theatre Arts, has said that “Diana LeGrand was able to bring such passion and drive to her performance through her absolutely breathtaking  solos.”

STEPHANIE SIMS FLACK, violinist and teacher, enjoys a busy performing schedule as a freelance chamber and orchestral musician in the Washington DC metro area. Stephanie is excited to be serving as Associate Concertmaster and Co-Founder of Paragon Philharmonia. Formerly a first violinist with the Pan American Symphony Orchestra (PASO), she has had the opportunity to travel to the 2018 International Tango Festival in Medellin, Colombia where PASO was the only US orchestra invited.  Orchestral engagements have included the Cambridge (England) Philharmonic, Ely Sinfonia (Leader), Arizona Opera and Baton Rouge Symphony and she has performed with the American Pops Orchestra, Annapolis Symphony, Alexandria Symphony, Fairfax Symphony, Washington National Cathedral Choral Society and Washington Concert Opera among others. 

In demand nationally and internationally as a workshop clinician and performer, Stephanie is former Co-Director of the Greater Washington Suzuki Institute and has taught at the Bristol Suzuki Workshop in England, Phoenix Phest in Michigan, Inside Music Academy, based in Oregon, and Tamarack Arts in New York.  She has directed and performed on tours to England, Italy, Austria and Germany with Washington Preludio and looks forward to continuing to travel, teach and perform overseas in the coming years. Stephanie received her Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance from Louisiana State University and Master of Arts degree from Indiana University with continuing education at the bi-annual Starling-Delay Juilliard Symposium on violin studies in New York. Stephanie maintains a private violin studio at her home in Alexandria, Virginia where she resides with husband, Sean, daughters, Emily and Shannon and their three dogs, Winnie, Bandit, and Pepper.  

MATTHEW MAFFETT is an active soloist, orchestral and chamber musician throughout the Washington DC area. Since 2011 he has been a section violist in the United States Air Force Band’s String Ensemble, regularly performing at the White House and other high profile government events. After receiving degrees from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and the prestigious Colburn School in Los Angeles, CA, Matthew appeared at numerous festivals around the globe, including the Schleswig-Holstein, Manchester, and Norfolk festivals, among others. Since residing in Washington DC, Matthew has regularly performed with the IBIS Chamber Music Society, Eclipse Chamber Orchestra, Annapolis Symphony, National Philharmonic and the National Symphony Orchestra. His principal teachers include Csaba Erdélyi, Atar Arad, and Paul Coletti.

RACHEL SEXTON has been an active freelance chamber and orchestral musician in Washington D.C. since 2018. She trained under former Principal Cellist of the Cleveland Orchestra Stephen Geber at the Cleveland Institute of Music and Soloist Antonio Lysy at UCLA, working under renown composers John Adams and John Williams, beginning her professional orchestral career with the American Symphony Orchestra. Completing her last year of graduate studies as Cello Teaching Assistant to Julian Schwarz at the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music 2017, she currently holds the position of Assistant Principal Cellist with Fairfax Symphony Orchestra in addition to performing as Principal Cellist of the Paragon Philharmonia. Rachel also performs with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, and Annapolis Symphony Orchestra.

SEAN MAHON is an accomplished pianist, composer, and music educator, with an extensive career rooted in the DMV.  Sean performs a diverse range of musical styles, from classical to jazz, to tango, rock, and contemporary pop music.

Sean earned his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Maryland, where he studied under the distinguished mentors Dr. Cleveland Page, Santiago Rodriguez, and the legendary Andre Watts.  His academic excellence was recognized through numerous accolades, including winning the prestigious Homer Ulrich Piano Competition, being a finalist in the UMSO Concerto Competition, and receiving the coveted Music Director’s Scholarship Award.

As a performer, his talent has taken him to prominent stages across the U.S. and the world.  He has performed at the White House, Madison Square Gardens, Wolftrap, and recently performed Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue for the Centennial celebration at the Kennedy Center with the Pan American Symphony Orchestra.  Sean continues to perform with different orchestras and touring acts around the country and is the musical director for several prominent D.C. event bands.

JEFF WARD currently serves as Paragon Philharmonia's  Executive Director and Principal Bassoonist after having previously served as Secretary of its board. Jeff is a freelance bassoon and contrabassoon player in the DC area and also works as an Educational Technology Coach in Fairfax County Public Schools.

He holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance/Music Education from Ithaca College, a Master of Music in Bassoon Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Administration from Northern Virginia Community College.

From 2014 - 2020 he was Principal Bassoon of the Tysons McLean Orchestra and frequently plays with local musical groups, including the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, Apollo Orchestra, Arlington Philharmonic, Wolf Trap Opera, Washington Ballet, Maryland Symphony Orchestra, National Philharmonic, the US Air Force Band, Cathedral Choral Society, and many others.

 Natasha Parnian is a director, producer, playwright, theatre critic, and lifelong artist recognized for her daring and emotionally fearless work. She attended the School of the Arts at UNC and is protégé of Michael R. Simmons. Natasha founded Dark Horse Theatre Company in 2009. Her diverse background, ranging from classical vocalist and film actress to USA Gymnastics coach and cross-country motorcyclist, informs her immersive, experimental staging and her commitment to productions that defy conventional norms.

​

As an "actor’s director" and practitioner of psychological realism, Natasha leverages her Meisner and improvisation training to foster raw, honest performances. Her approach prioritizes in-depth character development and dynamic ensemble chemistry, consistently challenging audiences to find a deeper connection with the craft. Beyond the stage, she is the creator of Calamity: The Show and IMPROVICON, and she serves as a performance speaking strategist for organizations like TEDx and Toastmasters..

​

When she isn't plotting her next theatrical experiment, Natasha manages a mobile veterinary business, leads corporate workshops, and enjoys life as a homeschooling mother, motorcyclist, and animal lover. She remains perpetually driven by the pursuit of "acting that attains a level of something that we know nothing about."

Katie is a Northern Virginia native who enjoys pretending to be other people for money, but more often than not does it for free. She studied Theatre and Art History at VCU, and has appeared locally with RCP, DHTC, MCP, STC, and the Paragon Philharmonia. She can currently be found writing about herself in the third person.

Trace is from St. Louis, Missouri but was raised in Herndon, Virginia. He thinks the funniest part of improv is getting caught off guard and doing your best to react to what’s unfolding with a strange face. Trace is also a barista and major coffee nerd! Ask him coffee questions he definitely might have an answer!

Tommy was born and raised in Herndon, and has been doing improv since middle school. He’s currently a theatre student at George Mason University, and is always looking for more ways to be involved with theatre.

Aurora "AJ" Farms is very excited to be one of the recording voices for The Entity. She has practiced making interesting character voices since she was 5 years old. When not helping her mom create theatre, she enjoys drawing, reading, and reptiles.

Andy Farms is thrilled to be making his voice acting debut at Capital One Hall. While you won’t see him on stage, Andy has spent weeks perfecting the sounds that bring The Entity to life. In his free time, he enjoys creating his own comics, playing video games, and cuddling his pets.