Helen Mendel, a native Californian, studied violin with Sasha Jacobinoff in San Francisco. She played with various chamber and community orchestras in Southern California and performed regularly in chamber music ensembles. As a member of a string quartet for 17 years, she was coached by Gregor Piatagorsky, Mehti Mehta and the Schonfield sisters. Since moving to Camino in the Sierra foothills, she has been a member of the Sierra Symphony in Placerville and Concertmaster of the Orchestra of the Mother Lode Friends of Music, based in Sutter Creek. She is a regular performer with the Friends of Music chamber music series.
KAREN KOVICH, Principal Cellist
Karen Kovich received her earliest musical education in the acclaimed music education program of the Long Beach Unified School District in Southern California. She was principal cellist in regional honors youth orchestras and received private training from Eileen Kelly Strang, Joseph DiTullio, Eleanore Schoenfeld, Charles Baker and Ronald Leonard. She obtained a BA degree in music from the University of Redlands. Ms. Kovich has been a long-standing member of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra. Since moving to Arnold in the Sierra foothills, she also performs with the Stockton Symphony and has served as principal cellist with the Camellia Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Mother Lode Friends of Music. She is a member of Les Trois Papillons Trio in Stockton and the Evergreen Cello-Piano Duo.
RON BRICKMAN, Princiapl Pianist
Ron Brickman received his earliest musical education on the piano from Mrs. Charles Brockman in his home town of West Point in Calaveras County, where he reestablished residence in 1991. Throughout his career as a university professor and government consultant, Dr. Brickman maintained an active musical life, particularly as an accompanist and chamber musician. He has performed in concerts throughout the United States and Europe. Since his return to California, he has been President of the Mother Lode Friends of Music, performing several times a year in that organization's chamber music program, as a recitalist, and twice as soloist with orchestra. He has also performed at the Berkeley City Club, the Sonora Bach Festival, the Crocker Museum, and the South Valley (Gilroy) Chamber Series, among other locales.