Alexander Kordzaia, Music Director

"A Conductor with extraordinary enthusiasm and passion, an orchestra under Maestro Kordzaia, transmits the overflowing joy of live classical music performance..." (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Alexander Kordzaia is a distinguished orchestral conductor and accomplished concert pianist with a career spanning North and South America, Europe, and Asia. His journey is a testament to his lifelong passion for music and an unwavering pursuit of excellence. Born and trained in the Republic of Georgia, he began playing the piano at age three and made his debut as a solo pianist at age seven, performing a Mozart Piano Concerto. At age 11, he began rigorous studies in orchestral conducting at the Tbilisi Conservatory, where he won the Gold Medal Diploma. By twenty-four, he became the youngest Music Director of the Tbilisi State Opera and Cappella, the country's premier music organizations.

His dedication and extraordinary gift set him on a path that would eventually lead him across the world. Kordzaia made the courageous decision to leave his homeland as the Soviet Union was approaching dissolution. Arriving in the United States with nothing but his talent and determination, he quickly established himself as a gifted conductor and concert pianist.  Within a few years, he was performing at legendary venues, including Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, while also resuming his international touring. His concert tours have taken him to twenty-two countries and include renowned concert halls such as  St. John’s Smith Square, the National Philharmonic Hall in Kiev, Ukraine, Montreal’s Cathedral de Notre Dame in Canada, St. Petersburg Philharmonic Hall in Russia, the American Cathedral in Paris, on the Queen Mary 2, and notable venues in the United States, including the White House East Room, the United Nations in New York, and the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.

Over the past thirty years, Kordzaia has been the Music Director for orchestras, including the Cartagena Philharmonic Orchestra in Colombia, the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Charlotte Civic Orchestra and Opera. His legacy includes developing the University of Richmond Symphony Orchestra and directing it for fifteen years, as well as establishing the Cartagena Festival of Orchestras, which provides transformative musical opportunities to students in poverty. Beyond the concert hall, his leadership and mentorship for the next generation of musicians shine through in his work. In addition to his performance and conducting career, Kordzaia serves as the Artistic Director of the GreenSpring Academy of Music in Richmond, VA. He also serves as the Director of Music Ministries at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Utica.

Rachel Lee Zhao, Artistic Director

Rachel Lee Zhao is a violinist born and raised in the lush farmland of the Shenandoah Valley, VA. She graduated from Oberlin Conservatory with a Bachelor's degree in Violin Performance, earned her Master of Music in Violin Performance from Roosevelt University, and received an Artist Diploma from Shenandoah University. Rachel is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Violin Performance at Stony Brook University.

Her primary teachers have included Almita Vamos, Jennifer Frautschi, Philip Setzer, Hagai Shaham, Arnaud Sussman, David Bowlin, and Akemi Takayama. As part of the Emerson String Quartet intensive, Rachel received weekly coaching from members of the quartet from 2022 to 2024. Rachel has a passion for teaching and served as an Adjunct Instructor of Applied Violin at Shenandoah University during the 2023-2024 school year. Rachel is currently an undergraduate chamber music coach at Stony Brook University and a faculty member at the Kane Art Studio in Queens. During the summer, Rachel serves on the faculty of GreenSpring Music Festival. 

As an avid chamber and orchestral musician, Rachel often performs in such venues as Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Zankel Hall, Stern Auditorium/ Perelman Stage, Lincoln Center Summer in the City, Kaufman Center’s Merkin Hall, The Kennedy Center, and has on numerous occasions been invited to perform for dignitaries at the Japanese Ambassador’s Residence in DC. Rachel is the Concertmaster of the New York Chamber Players Orchestra, a member of the Chrysalis Chamber Players, and regularly performs with the Fort Greene Orchestra and the New Orchestra of Washington. 

Recent solo in chamber highlights include performing alongside members of the Emerson Quartet at Stony Brook University’s Legacy concert series and the world premiere of Margaret Schedel’s Concerto for Violin and Percussion at the DiMenna Center in NYC. Rachel is inspired by contemporary chamber music and hopes to continue collaborating with young composers to create sustainable art for the future. Rachel performs on a violin by Peter Westerlund, Vasteras, Sweden, 2023, which is on generous loan from the Ryuji Ueno Foundation.

Lynnelle Ediger, Founder

Award-winning harpist and arts educator Lynnelle Ediger has specialized in teaching harp and directing ensembles for over 25 years. Her students have won international competitions, established solo careers, and performed with the world's leading orchestras. She founded the American Youth Harp Ensemble, acclaimed as a "national cultural treasure" by the U.S. Department of State, which performed over 1,000 concerts worldwide and was featured in two PBS specials and Grammy-considered recordings. Ediger is the Associate Professor of Harp at Shenandoah Conservatory and founder/director of GreenSpring International Academy of Music, central Virginia's leading classical music school as well as the Virginia Choristers and GreenSpring Chamber Orchestra. GreenSpring combines professional training with community outreach, music therapy, and tuition-free education for underserved youth, annually serving hundreds of students and reaching over 1 million viewers through broadcasts and performances. She has led ensembles on 44 international tours and sold out prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall (four times), Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and Salle Gaveau (Paris). Other highlights include the Kennedy Center Honors, the White House, and collaborations with former Royal Harpist Claire Jones, including recording at Abbey Road Studios.

Ms. Ediger's honors include the Virginia Governor's Citation for Excellence in the Arts, the American Alliance for Performance Arts Educators Outstanding Arts Educator of the Year at the Kennedy Center, Grammy Teacher of the Year semi-finalist, and the Oberlin Conservatory Distinguished Alumni Award. She holds degrees from Oberlin College Conservatory (BM, MME) and Goucher College (MA in Arts Administration), with additional graduate studies at Juilliard and Boston University.

David Howard

GreenSpring Music Festival is thrilled to welcome David Howard as a GreenSpring Festival Academy Chamber Music coach this summer. Mr. Howard is a professional cellist whose career has included 41 years in the cello section of the National Symphony Orchestra. Throughout those years, he was also a member of the Eclipse Chamber Orchestra, the Foggy Bottom Chamber Ensemble, the Cameron String Quartet, and the Howard/Breth Duo. In 2012, he retired to Frederick, where he maintains a teaching studio in his home and performs with the Frederick Symphony Orchestra.

Taylor Fleshman

Praised by the Pizzicato Magazine as “enchanting,” Taylor Ann Fleshman is an award-winning soloist and active ensemble performer with an extensive and diverse performance background. Taylor performed the world premiere of Mosolov’s Harp Concerto with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra in Russia, followed by a recording of the work with Naxos Records in 2019. She has appeared as a soloist with other orchestras, including the Jakarta Simfonia Orchestra in Indonesia, PRISMA Festival Orchestra in Canada, and The Orchestra Now in New York. Additionally, she has served as principal harpist with The Orchestra Now, associate member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and co-principal harpist with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra.

Taylor currently serves as the harp professor at George Mason University and is the principal harpist with “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in Washington, D.C. As a member upholding the "The President’s Own" revered mission of providing musical support for the President of the United States, She regularly performs at the White House as well as in the Washington D.C. area and across the country during the band’s national concert tour. Most recently, she performed for the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia State Dinners, the UN Gala, and the 75th NATO Summit.

Taylor earned her master’s degree at Indiana University under Florence Sitruk and her bachelor’s degree at the University of Cincinnati under Dr. Gillian Benet Sella.

Colin Davin

Guitarist Colin Davin enjoys a wide-ranging international career as a recital and concerto soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player, new music multi-instrumentalist, and educator. He has been praised as “the real thing, a player with a virtuoso’s technique, a deeply expressive musicianship, and a probing imagination” (American Record Guide) who “has the distinct ability to wring the depths of expressiveness from all that he plays” (Classical Guitar Magazine). Recent highlights include performances with Sharon Isbin at the Shenandoah Guitar Festival, a teaching residency at the Atlas Music Academy in Tunisia with the cultural-diplomacy nonprofit Cultures in Harmony, a solo tour of Australia and New Zealand, and concerto performances across the United States. He has also performed and taught at a wide range of venues, including the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, The Late Show with David Letterman, the Afghanistan National Institute of Music, and the Fridge Fringe in Dubai. He has collaborated with such artists as Jessye Norman, Estelí Gomez, Emily Levin, Edward Arron, and Tessa Lark.

Colin Davin is the Director of Guitar Studio and Associate Professor of Guitar at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia, where he leads a vibrant community of student guitarists. In addition to his teaching role, he serves to further the innovative and collaborative mission of Shenandoah through his work on the ShenCoLAB Task Force and regular contributions to the conservatory’s EDGE Ensemble. He previously served as Co-Head of the guitar department at the Cleveland Institute of Music and has given masterclasses at the Aspen Music Festival, The Juilliard School, Oberlin Conservatory, and more. He holds a Master of Music from The Juilliard School with Sharon Isbin; a Bachelor of Music from the University of Southern California with William Kanengiser; and preparatory studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Jason Vieaux.

Abigail Kent

Harpist Abigail Kent has established a reputation as one of today’s most compelling artists, celebrated for their expressive artistry, technical mastery, and eloquent performances across a broad spectrum of solo, chamber, and orchestral repertoire. Known for thoughtfully curated recital programs and impactful concerto appearances, Kent’s artistry is marked by a distinct ability to forge deep connections with audiences. They first garnered national recognition as winner and “Concert Artist” of the 2017 American Harp Society National Solo Competition, leading to recital tours throughout the United States. This early success was soon followed by international accolades, including finalist honors at the 2020 Young Concert Artist International Auditions and 3rd prize at the 2022 Korea International Harp Competition.

Kent’s devotion to orchestral collaboration is reflected in an impressive roster of appointments and guest performances. In addition to their current role as Principal Harpist of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Kent previously served as Principal Harpist with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra and held the distinguished position of harp fellow at the New World Symphony. They have also appeared with esteemed ensembles such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, earning praise for their flexibility and musical insight.

A passionate and committed pedagogue, Kent inspires the next generation of harpists as a faculty member at the College of Charleston. Their commitment to education has extended to guest teaching appointments at renowned programs including the National Orchestral Institute, Brevard Music Center, Young Artist Harp Seminar, and American Harp Academy. Kent has also been invited to present masterclasses and lectures at major institutions and conferences, including The Juilliard School, the American Harp Society National Institute and Conference, and the American Harp Academy, shaping the future of the instrument through thoughtful mentorship.

Kent's academic training is as international as their artistic outlook. Their studies include formative years at the Royal Academy of Music in London, The Curtis Institute of Music, and Mannes School of Music before pursuing further musical and personal development at The Juilliard School, where they completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree, cementing their place among the most rigorously trained harpists of their generation. Abigail Kent’s artistry, versatility, and commitment to musical excellence continue to earn them invitations to perform and teach at the highest level, securing their status as a leading voice in the world of harp today. Kent is equally at home in recital halls, orchestral stages, and classrooms—an artist whose influence is felt both on and beyond the concert stage.

Krista Hagglund

A versatile musician, Krista Hagglund is a harpist and pianist actively involved in performing, teaching, and arts administration. She frequently performs solo, chamber, and orchestral works nationally and internationally. She has worked with conductors such as Richard Kaufmann, Gennady Rozdhestvensky, and Miguel Harth-Bedoya. Krista’s expressive playing has led her to stages and festivals across the continent. She was a concerto winner of the Bob Jones University Concerto and Aria Competition and performed Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro with the BJU Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dr. Michael Moore. Krista’s passion to inspire others through music has led her to teach harp and piano lessons. Since 2024, Krista has been on the harp and piano faculty of GreenSpring International Academy of Music, where she is also the organization's General Manager.

Krista has also served as an Assistant to the Director at InterHarmony® International Music Academy in Acqui Terme, Italy and as an administrative intern with the Waco Symphony Orchestra. During her time there, she worked in event planning and concert preparation and co-organized an outreach program for the Levitt Amp Summer Concert Series. Krista holds a Master of Music in Harp Performance from Baylor University and a Bachelor of Music degree in Harp Performance and Piano Pedagogy from Bob Jones University. Her harp teachers include Dr. Karen Thomas, Emily Waggoner, Marguerite Lynn Williams, and Megan Sesma.

Claire Jones (2026 Virtual Faculty)

Born in Pembrokeshire, Wales, in 1985, Claire Jones began her musical education at the age of seven. After excelling at the violin, piano, and harp, she graduated from the Royal College of Music as a harpist with First Class Honors in 2007 and, in 2009, as an M.A. scholar from the Royal Academy of Music.  Claire Jones was one of the first recipients of the Prince of Wales Advanced Study Awards in 2007 and 2008. This award recognized her as one of Wales' most outstanding young talents. In 2007, Claire was appointed Official Harpist to His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, a role she held until 2011, making her the longest-serving Royal harpist to date. During this appointment, Claire regularly performed for the Royal Family and their distinguished guests at the Royal Palaces. In April 2011, she performed for the newly married Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at their wedding reception at Buckingham Palace.

In 2008, Claire made her concerto debut with the Philharmonia Orchestra and has since performed as a soloist with some of the World's leading orchestras.  Claire is passionate about promoting her instrument and performing, regularly visits schools and communities to speak and demonstrate, and is the director and founder of Studio47, a company specializing in music lessons for children across South West Wales, as well as the Claire Jones International Harp Ensemble.

Chris Marshall (2026 Virtual Faculty)

Cardiff-born Chris Marshall graduated from Trinity College of Music with a BMus(Hons) degree in 2003. Since then, he has traveled extensively performing and composing internationally. Performing credits include the BBC Symphony Orchestra, English National Ballet, London Mozart Players, The Royal Shakespeare Company, and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Chris has also worked on many productions in London's West End and International touring shows, including We Will Rock You, Wizard of Oz, Zorro, West Side Story, Evita, and Elf the Musical. Chris has a passion for playing instruments from around the world, which has led to his performing on recording sessions for TV and film. He also performs as part of the C2 duet with his wife, Claire Jones, former Official Harpist to HRH Prince Charles. This unique duo has traveled extensively throughout the UK and the USA. Chris balances his performance schedule with a flourishing career as a composer and arranger. His growing portfolio of compositions includes the music for Heartstrings, which was recorded for Classic FM/Decca in 2012 and was featured on Claire Jones’ album - Girl With The Golden Harp, which reached number 3 in the classical charts. Recently, Chris has composed Bluestone and arranged many tracks on Claire’s latest chart-topping album Journey. In addition, Chris has composed music for TV adverts, including a track for Clogau, shown internationally, and for ‘Fishermen’s Friends’, currently shown in the USA. At the moment, he is working on his first film and TV series with Capture Studios in the USA, while also producing and arranging a new album with the Portuguese singer Yolanda Soares.

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