Viola

Marka Kasker-Simmons, principal viola, has been a member of the Ocean City Pops since 1989. A graduate of Manhattan School of Music, she was a student of Lillian Fuchs, and before that studied with Joseph de Pasquale, of the Philadelphia Orchestra at Temple University. An active freelance musician, she spent three years in Xalapa, Mexico with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Xalapa and later lived in South Texas, where she performed and taught. She currently plays with the Bay-Atlantic, Bucks County, the Pottstown Symphonies, as well as the Newtown Chamber Orchestra. She is a substitute player with the Harrisburg Symphony and the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. Marka is also a member of Kyrah, a string trio and the Danoff String Quartet.

Ms. Kasker-Simmons is on the faculty of the Settlement Music School. She also teaches and also coordinates the Adult Chamber Music Players, a chamber music program for adults.

Viola

Violist Boris Tonkov has performed across both North and South America, as well as in Europe as a soloist, chamber musician, and as orchestra member. Native of Bulgaria, Boris started his music studies on violin at age five in his native town Sofia. Since 1987 Mr. Tonkov has performed mostly on the viola, though he has recorded and appeared in opera productions as mandolinist and violinist. Boris attended the Louisiana State University and the Yale University Schools of Music.

Boris has been a finalist and prizewinner at a number of young artist solo competitions, and has had numerous chamber music performances and long-term collaborations with symphony orchestras around the world. He was a Principal Violist of the Baton Rouge Symphony in Louisiana and The Waterbury Symphony in Connecticut.

Cello

Anthony received musical training at the Philadelphia Musical Academy. His teachers included William de Pasquale, Assistant Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Goerge Harpham, Assistant Principal Cello of the Philadelphia Orchestra. In 1979-80, he toured Europe with the Spring Piano Trio. He was Solo Cellist with the Broadway Show, "The Elephant Man", 1980. He was the Principal Cellist with the Houston Opera for Jose Carreras in 1991. In 1993 he was Solo Cellist in Berlin and Paris for Merideth Monk’s "Atlas".

He was also a composer for Melanie Stewart Dance. Anthony is Assistant Conductor and music director of Bel Canto Opera Company. In addition to being an active freelancer Anthony is now devoting his time to composition for cello, teaching, and developing a system concerning preventative healthcare for musicians.

Cello

Raised in a very musical family, Charles started cello lessons at the age of nine with his uncle, Francis dePasquale. Over his career, Charles has served as a regular substitute with the Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as the Principal Cellist, for both the Ocean City Pops, under the direction of Frank Ruggieri, and the Allentown Symphony. In addition, Charles has performed with several ensembles including: Delaware Symphony, Philly Pops, and the Concerto Soloists. When he is not performing regularly with the Ocean City Pops and the Reading Symphony, he teaches at both Immaculata University and in the West Chester Area School District. For over 10 years, Charles has been bringing the West Chester Senior Strings orchestra to the Music Pier on Mother’s Day, through the efforts of Esther Weil’s organization, Friends of Music. His education includes: Bachelors in Music Performance (New School of Music); PA Teacher Certification (West Chester University); Master’s in Music Therapy (Immaculata University).

Bass

Laura has been with the O.C. Pops since 2002. She has performed with the New World Symphony and the Baltimore Opera Orchestra. She is a substitute for the National Symphony Orchestra. Music credits include the High School of Performing Arts and a Master of Music from The Juilliard School. She has toured for UNICEF with Audrey Hepburn and Michael Tilson Thomas. Her tours included Europe, South America, Japan, and China.