musicians

We are a group of musicians who have known and played in many local venues throughout the years, and always enjoy getting together to make music for your event. Please have a look at our bios below to get to know us.

Mark Tammes, Violin

 I was born in 1956 in San Francisco, 1 of 5 children in a musical family. I started violin at age 9, studying with several UOP Stockton students. I then studied with Stockton Symphony conductor Kyung-Spp Won, who later referred me to G. Ward Fenley, concertmaster of the Sacramento Symphony.  I soon auditioned for the Sacramento Symphony, and have been a member of for the last 50 years. Other teachers of note include Mark Volkert and Daniel Kobialka of the San Francisco Symphony, and David Abel of the Oakland Symphony.

I have also been a member of the Stockton Symphony and Boise Philharmonic. As a soloist, I have performed with the San Joaquin Youth Orchstra, Yuba College Orchestra, Camillia and Chico Symphonies, and the Bear Valley Music Festival, of which I have been a member of for 38 years.

Awards include the San Joaquin Youth Orchestra competition, the Camellia Young Artist Award, and an audition to participate in the 1973 Congress of Strings at USC Los Angeles.

Steve Millington, cello

I was destined to love cello-playing by virtue of family history.  My family is rich in musical accomplishment, but specifically my paternal grandfather was an amateur cellist. I was lucky enough to obtain the cello that my grandfather owned and played all his life.

My  musical study began in the Sacramento public schools, with my beloved first teacher Ken Harvey in 1962.   Many extraordinary teachers have followed, including Leland Long, Judy Waegell, Wally Rushkin, Lubo Georgiev and Andy Luchansky.  I earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Music in Cello Performance from Sacramento State University.

I have played section and principal cello in numerous regional orchestras. I now run the Millington Strings, and arrange music for the group.

 

Anne Millington, cello and bass

 I started out in music as a wind player (flute, recorder, oboe, clarinet and saxophone), but always loved the cello.  As soon as I  graduated from high school, I acted on a whim and took up serious cello study. 

I studied with teachers in the SF Bay Area and Sacramento, who have included Jean Maguire Mitchell, Burke Schuchmann, Andy Luchansky, and of course Stephen Millington.  I have played section cello in various symphonic and chamber ensembles in the vicinity for years.  I started playing bass so that Steve and I could play together as a quintet.

Veterinary medicine and public health geoinformatics were my day jobs over the years, but I have finally retired to spend more time on music, with our horses and garden,  developing  Millington Strings Music’s web site and music publishing.

Emily Svendsen, Violin and Viola

I am a classically trained violist and violinist based in Northern California, performing and teaching both instruments. I hold a BA in music and professional performance from CSU Sacramento.

In addition to playing with Millington Strings, I currently play in Romanza String Quartet and Tower String Quartet, with local orchestras, including Symphony D’Oro, ARC Orchestra, CSUS symphony orchestra, Camerata California, Solano Symphony and more. I am currently principal violist of Auburn Symphony for the 22-23 and 23-24 seasons.

I deeply enjoy playing chamber music and have been in a trio and quartet that earned first prize in the Watson Chamber Music Competition in 2021 and 2022.

David Thorp, Violin and Viola

David Thorp began the violin at nine in Dorothy Reeves’s string class in Alachua County, Florida and later studied with Verna Nash and Otto Frey in Gainesville.

After High School he played in the Florida Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra of Tampa (affectionately known there as The Florida Golf Course Symphony, due to the presence of retirees from the major symphonies) while studying with Edward Preodor, Geraldine Gee, and Jerzy Kosmala at the University of South Florida.

Proceeding to the Manhattan School of Music, New York City, he attended Lillian Fuch’s corner top floor studio (overlooking Grant’s Tomb). He was privileged to play with the artists in the American Philharmonic Orchestra of Carnegie Hall during its series in the 1980’s. Since 2001, David has played in the Stockton Symphony.

He enjoys offering music (Education of the Spirit) via the Millington Strings ensemble.

Alexandra Sokolov, violin

I earned my degree in Violin Performance and Pedagogy in Ukraine. After graduation, I worked as a principal violinist for the Lviv Theatre Orchestra of Music & Drama for 11 years.

These days, I continue to invest my skills in various outlets. I provide private violin lessons in my home studio and am the founder of Harmony Strings
Quartet in Sacramento.

In addition, I am a member of the American River College Orchestra, where many of my students actively participate.

Chamber music has a special place in my heart and I always enjoy playing with Millington Strings!

Howard Montenegro, Viola

Jessie Nibley, violin


I have been playing the violin for over thirty years. Throughout my training, I have played in numerous ensembles, from quartets to chamber groups to full symphonic orchestras.

As a stay-at-home parent to three young kids, my time is limited, but I have always made music a priority.

It’s a pleasure playing with the other talented musicians of Millington Strings!