Faculty Category: String Faculty

Jonathan Goren received his D.M.A. from Catholic University of America, where he studied with Jody Gatwood. Before that, he studied with Wanchi Huang at James Madison University, where he earned a Bachelor and a Master of Music, in violin performance.

Even as a student, Dr. Goren taught private violin lessons to students of all ages.  In addition, he won a coveted graduate assistantship in the Theory Department of CUA, working in that capacity for 5 years. He was a teaching fellow at the Interlochen Arts Camp. As a teacher, Dr. Goren draws on this fund of experience to adapt his approach to fit the student’s learning style and overall personality.  He is aware that each person processes information differently, and tailors his delivery to maximize the student’s potential. Pedagogically, his step-by-step method lays a firm foundation to help the student reach their goals.

Dr. Goren was a participant at the Brevard Music Center, the Heifetz International Music Institute, and the BayView Music Festival. Other distinctions include membership in the National Honor Society, the Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society, and the Baltimore Music Teachers Association.

A versatile soloist, ensemble performer and chamber musician, Dr. Goren has played in musicals,  including Fiddler on the Roof, with various theater and ensemble groups since 2016.He has also served as concertmaster with the Baltimore Actor’s Theatre in their annual production of Babes in Toyland from 2012-2018. In 2015-2016, Jonathan\ subbed with the Frostburg Symphony Orchestra and Symphony No. 1.  He currently serves as concertmaster for the Baltimore Philharmonic Orchestra.

Isaiah Thomas holds an M.M. in Violin Performance and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Viola Performance from Towson University, studying primarily with Dr. Jeffrey Howard and Dr. Nina Kiken respectively.

While at Towson, Isaiah performed in the University Symphonic Orchestra under the baton of Dr. Christopher Cicconi and Dr. Joseph Gotoff, serving as their concertmaster from 2024 to 2025. As part of his studies in chamber music, he also studied under Dr. Emmanuel Borowski and Dr. Joseph Gotoff as a violist. Mr. Thomas was awarded a graduate assistantship in Music Technology and a teaching assistantship for Music Theory for his graduate studies.

Mr. Thomas has performed as a violinist for productions of “Beauty and the Beast” and “Hello Dolly,” and is in demand as an interpreter of new music. He has also participated in the National Music Festival at Chestertown, MD every summer since 2023, as well as Brevard Music Center in the summer of 2024. Other distinctions include the National Honor Society, the IB Diploma Programme, Kappa Kappa Psi and Phi Mu Alpha.

Isaiah’s goal in teaching is to help students to achieve their goals and to become versatile musicians. One way he achieves this is by blending the interests of the student with the repertoire idiomatic to the violin and viola. His experience teaching both young and old suits him for students of all ages. In addition, he is prepared to cater to students of all musical backgrounds, with a repertoire that ranges from Bach to Elvis. Outside of music, Isaiah enjoys the occasional video game, going for walks, and reading.

George T. McNally has dedicated his life to the mastery of the viola, building a career defined by extraordinary versatility and technical excellence. A graduate of Florida Atlantic University with a degree in Music Performance, his formal training provided the foundation for a professional journey that spans decades of elite orchestral performance, high-profile recordings, and international collaborations.

George’s career is distinguished by his ability to perform across a vast spectrum of musical genres at the highest level. In the realm of Classical Music, he has performed alongside legendary maestros and soloists, including Vladimir Ashkenazy, Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, Lynn Harrell, Andras Schiff, and Anne-Sophie Mutter. His experience extends deep into the world of Opera, where he has shared the stage with iconic voices such as Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, Beverly Sills, Sherrill Milnes, Kiri Te Kanawa, and Montserrat Caballé.

A notable highlight of his international career includes performing throughout Bavaria with the acclaimed organist Diane Bish. George was featured on her long-running, internationally broadcast television program, “The Joy of Music,”showcasing his artistry in historic European settings.

Beyond the classical stage, George is an accomplished recording artist who has contributed to the sound of some of the most influential popular musicians in history. His recording credits include legendary acts such as The Bee Gees, John Denver, and Julio Iglesias. He has also performed in support of timeless popular icons, including Frank Sinatra and Tom Jones.

George’s orchestral pedigree includes serving as the Assistant Principal Viola of the Fort Lauderdale Symphony Orchestra and as as well as the Miami Opera. As a chamber musician, he was a member of the iClassici String Quartet (which concluded in 1985) and has performed with renowned artists like Ruggiero Ricci. Between 2018 and 2024, George shared his artistry across the Southeast, performing with the Greensboro Symphony, Winston-Salem Symphony, Beaufort Symphony, and the Long Bay and Rock Hill Symphonies.

Throughout his performing career, George has maintained a deep commitment to education. He manages an active private teaching practice, where he mentors students in both violin and viola, drawing upon the rigorous standards he honed while studying with masters such as Walter Trampler and Tomas Tsigaris.

George currently resides in Bel Air, Maryland, where he remains a vital part of the regional music community. He is an active member of the Naptown Philharmonic in Annapolis and the Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra, where he continues to share his vast experience and lifelong love of music with the next generation of musicians.