A Portland native, Shawna is a social worker with a passion for violin.  She has played violin in multiple orchestras and chamber ensembles; and is excited to be a part of the Vitula Quartet.  Shawna graduated from Portland State University with a BA in psychology and a minor in music, and has taken this degree to work with students and their families.

 

 

 

LaniJo Kircher  violin

LaniJo began playing the violin at age 5.  Born and raised in Girdwood, Alaska, she then attended Colorado State University where she studied zoology and music. During this time she performed in several symphonies, orchestras, a quartet and taught private lessons.  LaniJo moved to Oregon in 2006 and currently works as a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor at Guide Dogs for the Blind, training dogs and instructing blind and visually impaired clients to use them as mobility tools. LaniJo also plays in the Mt. Hood Pops Orchestra, the Vitula Quartet and spends the rest of her time running, hiking and skiing.

 

 

Monica Belzer  viola

Monica is a local string teacher in Portland and has taught throughout Oregon for ten years. In that time Monica has enjoyed performing violin and viola in various ensembles on the Oregon Coast and around Portland. Some of these groups are Con Amici Players of Astoria, Southwest Washington Symphony of Longview, Portland State Symphony and Operas, and Mt. Hood Community Orchestra. It was through these ensembles that Monica met the members of Vitula. Monica moved to Oregon from Minnesota in 2002 after falling in love with Oregon’s beautiful landscapes and progressive people. She received her Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and her Masters of Education at Portland State University.

 

 

Rebecca Sherman O’Neil  cello

Rebecca started playing the cello in public school when the bass was not available.  What luck!  She enjoys the instrument because of its rich depth, and because its singing register matches the range of the human voice.  Professionally, Rebecca works for the Oregon Department of Energy in support of renewable energy.  Her musical heroes are Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich and bluegrass banjo players.