About Us
The Cambridge String Trio was founded by alumni of the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA.
We are excited to share our passion for music by hosting concerts, raising money for charitable foundations, providing educational concerts to children and more!
Jenae Starikov, violin
Jenae performs regularly with orchestras and ensembles throughout the Boston area, recently the Freisinger Chamber Orchestra and the Clafflin Hill Symphony Orchestra. She won scholarships to study at the Longy School of Music, completing her Master of Music degree in Violin Performance with Emphasis in String Pedagogy with Professor Mark Lakirovich, and also earned her Undergraduate Diploma in Violin Performance with Professor Janet Packer. Jenae is a member of the American String Teachers Association and maintains a large teaching studio. She is an affiliate teacher at the Cambridge Music Consortium.
Jessica Valentino, viola
Jessica Valentino is the String Director for the Beverly Public Schools and is currently on faculty at the Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School as well as the String Music Festival at Endicott College. She is a regular freelance musician throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. She has performed with groups such as: Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra, Boston New Music Initiative, La Bella Musica, Symphony Nova, and Southeastern Massachusetts Festival Chorus. Jessica received a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music degree from Longy School of Music, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Rhode Island College.
Chris Welch, cello
Chris grew up in England, spending his collegiate years in the US. He received his undergraduate degree from Stetson University in Florida, then his Masters in Cello Performance from Longy School of Music. Chris has had a wide variety of music experiences, ranging from hillside concerts on an Italian island, playing at The BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, an impromptu concert at Bayeux Cathedral and various jazz concerts in a variety of ensembles. His arrangements and compositions have been performed in both Europe and the United States. In the Boston area, he has worked with a number of chamber ensembles, including Boston New Music Initiative.