Sponsor: Ray & Cathie Staton

Lisa McWhorter has been playing the violin since begging her parents for one at age five. She was fortunate to have studied with Susan Kempter and Leonard Felberg while growing up in Albuquerque, NM, and enjoyed summers at Chautauqua, Tanglewood and Aspen music festivals. She studied with Paul Kantor at the University of Michigan, receiving her Bachelor's Degree in Violin Performance, and worked on her Masters Degree with Bernard Zinck at the University of New Mexico. Back in her hometown, Lisa took her first orchestral job with the New Mexico Symphony, and played with Santa Fe Pro Musica. She later lived and freelanced in New York City and played with the Baton Rouge Symphony.

Lisa has enjoyed touring and exploring Europe with the American Sinfonietta and other orchestras and festivals. Lisa happily landed in Eugene in 2006, and has played as Assistant Concertmaster for the Eugene Symphony ever since. She appreciates sharing music with her friends / colleagues, and audiences, and also plays with OrchestraNext, the Oregon Bach Festival and other musical groups in town. Lisa enjoys teaching and connecting with her private violin students, and loves spending time with her two wonderful kids and dog.