2022-2023 Season

Sterling and Strings Terpsichore Trio

Sterling Strings of Shenango was founded In 2007 by Cellist Susanna Reilly and Flutist Melissa Lessure, with Violinist Sharon Nicholas.  With more than 20 years of experience performing for weddings and other special events, we decided to combine our talents. During 2016, we decided to make our name more succint, and changed it to

Sterling and Strings.

Serving the Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio areas, we are professionally trained classical musicians with performing and teaching careers. Each of our ensembles comprises a carefully selected set of musicians from our core group of highly dedicated, experienced artists, which includes:

​Melissa Lessure, Flute

​Susanna Reilly, Cello

​Rebecca Rothermel, Viola

Terpsichore Trio

Our most popular group, Terpsichore Trio combines melodious flute with the sibilant strains of viola, and cello. It has been a favorite among brides since we formed Sterling and Strings, which was then Sterling Strings of Shenango, in 2007.

The group was founded in 2007 as the Sterling Strings of Shenango, it features Cellist Susanna Reilly, Flutist Melissa Lessure, and Violinist Sara Schaft. Together they have more than 20 years of experience performing at concerts, weddings, and other special events. In 2016 the name was changed to Sterling and Strings. Serving the Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio areas, the Terpsichore Trio combines melodious flute with the sibilant strains of viola, and cello. Each member is a professionally trained classical musician with a career in both performing and teaching.

Melissa Lessure, classical flutist in Western Pennsylvania, plays with several local orchestras including the Johnstown, Youngstown and Westmoreland Symphonies and the Orchestra of the Alleghenies (McKeesport Symphony).  A past winner of the Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society Competition, Ms. Lessure’s chamber group, Sterling Strings of Shenango (now Sterling and Strings) performs frequently for local engagements.

Melissa currently teaches at the PYCO School of Music in Wexford.  She has taught flute at Winchester Thurston School, Volkwein’s Music Store, Franklin Regional High School, City Music Center at Duquesne University, and Center for the Musically Talented, Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Ms. Lessure received her Master’s degree in music from Carnegie Mellon University studying with Julius Baker and her bachelor’s degree from Florida State University studying flute with Charles DeLaney.  Robert Langevin guided her musical studies in the Artist Diploma program at Duquesne University.

Ms. Lessure has performed as soloist with the Johnstown Symphony, the Westmoreland Symphony, the Southeastern Music Festival Orchestra and Carnegie Mellon University ensembles.  Ms. Lessure joined the musical cast of the Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theater for The Shaugraun.  She has also appeared onstage with the Pittsburgh Opera for La Boehme.  Ms. Lessure is sought after for weddings and engagements all over Western Pennsylvania.

Please visit her website at: www.ClassicalPgh.com

Susanna Reilly, Cello

A native of Los Angeles, Susanna Reilly was born into a musical family, and played chamber music from an early age. She was principal cellist in the local youth orchestra, winning the concerto competition twice, and founded a string quartet which competed in Southern California chamber music competitions. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance at California State University, Northridge, where she studied with Peter Rejto, was a 7 time Scholarship recipient, and founded an award-winning piano trio. In 1988, her quartet performed on tour in the (then) Soviet Union with the CSUN Master Chorale. Other undergraduate highlights include three years as principal cellist in the CSUN symphony orchestra, finalist in the concerto competition, and participation in the Taos, Blomstedt and Roundtop Summer music festivals.

In 1991 and ’92, Susanna won admission into the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute, working with Lynn Harrell, Sharon Robinson, and Daniel Rothmueller and performing in the LAPI Orchestra under such world-renowned conductors as Leonard Slatkin, Yuri Temirkanov, John Williams, and Simon Rattle. In Fall of 1992, she was Graduate Assistant and member of the Graduate String Quartet at Youngstown State University. Studying with Michael Gelfand, she won the YSU Concerto Competition. In 1993, she was offered a Graduate Fellowship to study with Anne Martindale Williams, Principal Cellist, Pittsburgh Symphony, at Carnegie Mellon University. There, two of her chamber ensembles won the school’s yearly chamber music competition. After being awarded her Master’s Degree in Music Performance from CMU in 1995, Susanna participated in the Chautauqua Summer Music Institute, studying with Jeffrey Solow and performing in the orchestra under the baton of David Effron.

1996-99 found her back in Los Angeles, performing in the Santa Barbara and Antelope Valley Symphonies and serving as Principal Cellist of the Calabasas Chamber Orchestra. Other notable aspects of her time there include being a sideline musician in Disney’s movie sequel, Fantasia 2000, and performing the Shostakovich Concerto.

In 2000, musical opportunities drew her back to Pittsburgh, including an appearance as soloist at the Pittsburgh Playhouse in The Elephant Man, teaching on the adjunct faculty at Mercyhurst College, and performing in the Wheeling Symphony. With pianist Matthew McCright and flutist David Tessmer, she founded the trio Westminster Triptych, which concertized in PA, MN and OH, and served as Fellows at the Hampden-Sydney Music Festival.

Presently, Susanna is on the Adjunct Faculty at Allegheny College, where she was the featured soloist in Tchaikovsky’s Pezzo Capriccioso in concert with the college’s Civic Symphony. She performs in chamber music and solo concerts, as well as in the Wheeling and Greenville symphonies.

Rebecca Rothermel plays in the Pittsburgh Opera and in the Harrisburg and Wheeling Symphony Orchestras. She also teaches classes in chamber music and plays at summer festivals, both in orchestras and with chamber ensembles. Rebecca teaches at Washington and Jefferson College.

 

http://www.sterlingandstrings.com/our-ensembles