ABOUT Cassia Drake, a native of Southwest Florida, is known for her compelling and captivating performances across ​solo, chamber, and orchestral repertoire. She currently serves as the Assistant Principal Violist of the Naples Philharmonic.

As a soloist, Ms. Drake has received international recognition through competition and concerto appearances. She was awarded First Prize at the Debut International Music Competition, performing at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg in 2021, and was a finalist in the Special Berlin Award at the Berlin Philharmonie in 2020. Concerto performances include Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante with violinist Evan Johanson and the Colburn Conservatory Orchestra under Ross Jamie Collins (2020), and again with the Colburn Zipper Orchestra conducted by Angus Webster (2019). That same year, she performed the work with violinist Kate Ardnt and the Sarasota Festival Orchestra led by Jeffrey Kahane. Other featured performances include Stamitz’s Viola Concerto with both the Southwest Florida Symphony...

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