B.M., Ithaca College; M.M., Rice University; Professional Studies, Cleveland Institute of Music; D.M.A, University of Maryland College Park
An enthusiastic chamber musician, Dr. Dana Rokosny has performed at the Swiss and Japanese Embassies, the Lyceum, Dumbarton Oaks, Sydney Harmon Hall, and Anderson House in Washington, DC. Recently, she was a guest violist with the Pacifica Quartet performing Osvaldo Golihov's Last Round at the University of Maryland School of Music. She is a previous member of the Two Rivers String Quartet in Shepherdstown, WV, where she was also principal viola of the Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra and has been a soloist. In addition, she was a member of the River Hawk String Quartet based at Anne Arundel Community College, violist of the DC-based Beau Soir ensemble, and the Mirá String Quartet in Frederick, MD.
New to Portland, OR, Dana is thrilled to be one of the newest members of the Oregon Mozarts Players! As an orchestral violist, Dana has toured with orchestras throughout the United States, Switzerland, Ireland, Russia, and Armenia. She has performed regularly with the Eclipse Chamber Orchestra, Inscape Chamber Orchestra, New Orchestra of Washington, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Maryland Symphony Orchestra, Apollo Chamber Orchestra, and Roanoke Symphony Orchestra.
Dana has performed in the Luzern Festival Academy led by Pierre Boulez, and was a fellow and assistant principal violist in the American Conducting Academy Orchestra at the Aspen Music Festival led by David Zinman. Dana has participated in many distinguished summer festivals with leading roles including the National Orchestral Institute, National Repertory Orchestra, Bowdoin Summer Music Festival, American Russian Young Artists Orchestra, Meadowmount School of Music, and the Indiana String Academy. Currently, she performs in the Pikes Falls Chamber Music Festival in Jamaica, VT.
Dr. Rokosny is also a sought after teacher. She engages her students to pursue excellence in playing while encouraging them to become life long advocates for string playing, music, and the arts. Previously, she was Viola/Violin Faculty at Anne Arundel Community College, Maryland Talent Education Center, and Frederick Community College in MD. Also, she has maintained a private studio of violists and violinists of all ages and levels and has lead Suzuki-based beginning to advanced group classes. Her primary teachers include Dan Foster, Katherine Murdock, Doris Lederer, Karen Ritscher, Lynne Ramsey, Debra Moree, and Phyllis Freeman. She has also worked with Jeff Irvine, Ralph Fielding, Jane Starkman, Roger Myers, Rebecca Henry, Sheri Sinift, and Alan Bodman. Dana performs on a 1954 Michele De Luccia viola and a c.1850 François Peccatte bow.
Dana is married to the wonderful bassoonist, Ben Greanya, and together they are enjoying getting to know PDX! They explore the outdoors, garden, and adore (except in the morning!) their three cats. As an advocate for equity and diversity in the arts, Dana has recently taken on the role of Assistant Executive Director for the nonprofit startup Boulanger Initiative, an organization promoting music of women-identifying composers.