Bios...
Christy Lee Gandy (1st Violin) is the founder of the Magnolia String Quartet. She earned her degree in Music Education through the LSU School of Music in 1990. She has taught with the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. She is a member of the Louisiana Sinfonietta and has played with both the Baton Rouge Symphony, Acadiana Symphony and has done many shows with the Baton Rouge Little Theater. She maintains an active private Suzuki violin studio and also works as a registered nurse. She is an active member of the Baton Rouge Music Club.
Danis Salassi (2nd Violin) did her violin studies at the LSU School of Music. She has served as judge for the Gold Cup Festival, is a certified Kindermusik educator and a member of the American String Teachers Association and the Suzuki Association of the Americas. She performs with the Quartet and has performed with the Baton Rouge Little Theatre Orchestra as well as many other ensembles in the greater Baton Rouge area. Danis is an active Suzuki Method instructor who maintains a studio of budding violinists and has organized a week-long Suzuki festival at the Baton Rouge International School for the Summer of 2007. She is the string instructor for the International School in Baton Rouge.
Lisa McGibney (Viola) earned her music education and viola performance degrees from LSU in 1989 & 1990. She has been a member of the Baton Rouge Symphony, Louisiana Sinfonetta and has played with orchestras through out Louisiana. She taught in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and served as an adjunct instructor at LSU. Currently, she conducts one of the Louisiana Youth Orchestras and manages a private studio. She is in great demand as a clinician for the Suzuki Method teaching both violin and viola.
Kimberly Sands (Cello) earned her cello performance degree from LSU and continued Masters Degree work at University of Denver where she was also the graduate teaching assistant. Kim has been a member of the Louisiana Sinfonietta, Acadiana Symphony, Ohio Light Opera Orchestra, Chattanooga Symphony, and the Boulder Summer Festival Opera Orchestra. Currently, besides her freelance work, Kim is a member of the Baton Rouge Symphony, and is part of the piano/cello ensemble for the Baton Rouge Music Chorus, performing over 25 shows a year. Kim is a mother of four and enjoys performing with her daughter Abigail, also a cellist in various venues including churches and retirement homes.