ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Anne M. Buxton Chair
Violinist Dara Morales joined The Philadelphia Orchestra as assistant principal second violin at the start of the 2007-08 season. She came to the Orchestra from the Utah Symphony and Opera, where she served as principal second violin. She has previously held the positions of principal second violin and interim associate concertmaster of the Puerto Rico Symphony and concertmaster of the Northern Kentucky Symphony.
As soloist Ms. Morales has performed with the Utah Symphony, the Cincinnati Symphony, the Puerto Rico Symphony, the Bangor Symphony, and the Lancaster Symphony, among others. During the summers she teaches at the Philadelphia International Music Festival and previously had been a regular participant in the Grand Teton Music Festival, the Park City Chamber Music Festival, and the Intermezzo Chamber Series (Salt Lake City).
A native of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, Ms. Morales earned both her bachelor and master’s degrees in music from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she acted as graduate teaching assistant and taught in the Starling Preparatory Program. Her principal teachers include Kurt Sassmannshaus, Helen Kwalwasser, and Dorothy DeLay. Ms. Morales also studied chamber music with Peter Oundjian, Henry Meyer, and members the Tokyo Quartet.
Ms. Morales is married to cellist Jesus Morales, brother of Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Clarinet Ricardo Morales. She and her husband have two daughters, Isabel (6) and Karina (3).
Photo by Jessica Griffin