Meredith Riley, violin
Meredith Riley commands a dynamic presence across orchestral, chamber, jazz and education realms, embodying versatility in today’s evolving musical landscape. Currently dividing her time between prestigious orchestral engagements, Riley recently completed a one year contract with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) in Washington, DC, where she will return for the upcoming season. Her orchestral prowess has been recognized with a newly secured position in the elite Air Force Strolling Strings which she will join upon enlistment next year. Riley maintains an impressive freelance portfolio, performing with renowned ensembles including the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra and Pittsburgh Symphony. Prior to her current endeavors, she served as Associate Principal Second Violin with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra for four years.
A passionate chamber musician, Riley has been a core member of the celebrated Sphinx Virtuosi since 2016, touring nationally and performing in Americas most prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Kimmel Center, and the New World Center. Meredith’s chamber credentials include performances with the Smithsonian Chamber Players on the historic Axelrod Stradivarius violins, and international touring with Collectiv9.
Riley’s accolades include consecutive first place wins in the string division of the Sphinx Orchestra Partners fro Audition (SOPA) competitions in 2022 and 2023. She has received recognition from the Young Texas Artist Awards, Crescendo Music Awards, and the National Sphinx Competition. Her accomplishments have been further supported as a Bank of America Fellow for the National Alliance for Audition Support, recipient of a Sphinx Power Grant, and Young Artist for the Starling Delay Symposium.
As a soloist, Riley has appeared with distinguished ensembles including the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, New England String Orchestra, University of Texas Symphony ensembles, Wintergreen Festival Orchestra, Sunflower Festival Orchestra, and Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic.
Meredith completed graduate studies at the Carnegie Mellon University under the guidance of renowned violinist Andrés Cardenas following her Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Texas. Her commitment to nurturing future violinists includes a small private studio, teaching in the WMPI program and former adjunct status at Virginia Commonwealth University.
