About the Orchestra

Summerville Orchestra's Mission

To share our love of music, by engaging and enriching our community through the evolution of the orchestral art form.

2021-2025 Vision Statement

We seek to create musical experiences accessible to all and to build community relationships that will transform our cultural dialogue and landscape

Serving Summerville Since 2003

Serving the Lowcountry of South Carolina, the Summerville Orchestra (S.O.  is the epitome of community serving community. Founded in 2003 by a small group of musicians who wanted to play for the pure joy of it, the S.O. has transformed into one of the largest community orchestras in the nation and was named the 2023 Best Performing Community Orchestra in the U.S. by the American Prize.

While offering programming of full-scale orchestral repertoire, the S.O. is also notable for being a “rogue traditionalist.” Each concert features non-classical music and musical surprises. Under the direction of Wojciech Milewski, the S.O. enhances the community it serves by offering five large concert performances, more than 10 chamber performances, a 10-part adult educational series titled “Music Chats with Wojciech,” a podcast, live-streaming opportunities and, as of 2022, a youth philharmonic.

Wojciech Milewski, Music Director​

P1016570-Enhanced-NR

Recently recognized as one of Charleston’s “40 under 40” by the Charleston Regional Business Journal, conductor Wojciech Milewski is a winner of the 2023 American Prize in Conducting and the 2019 HSO Harold Farberman Prize, and was a finalist in the 2019 Los Angeles Conducting Competition. As a conductor, he is passionate about community development, fostering lively and interactive concert experiences, and collaborating with audiences and musicians. The 2025- 2026 season marks his conducting debut with the Long Bay Symphony, following up on recent performances with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and continued performances with Charleston Opera Theater, College of Charleston Opera, and Summerville Orchestra. He has collaborated with global artists such as Michael Chioldi, Jasmine Habersham, Ben Baker, Jonathan Mamora, Yuriy Bekker, Tuffus Zimbabwe, Cassie Pilgrim, Phillip Bush, and more. 

In his tenth season as Music Director of the Summerville Orchestra, the organization has greatly expanded in all facets. The S.O.’s growth – both operationally and artistically – was recently recognized on a national scale. The orchestra was the winner of the 2023 American Prize in Orchestral Performance, and 2 nd place winner of the Vytautas Marijosius award for innovative programming efforts, which include its unique Encore Series chamber series at Coastal Coffee Roasters. Since 2016, the S.O. has also started three separate community outreach series and a youth orchestra program, commissioned new works by composers Rene Orth, Kenyon Wilson, and Chris Pilsner, and collaborated with artists and organizations from around the world. A recent highlight was securing an honorary patronage from the Polish embassy for their May 2024 performance of Mieczysław Karłowicz’s Eternal Songs, showing a commitment to underperformed composers from around the world. 

At home in the opera pit, Wojciech is in his sixth season as Music Director of Charleston Opera Theater (COT). He will be on the podium for COT’s 2025-2026 performances of Carmen and Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Wojciech recently conducted their Serenata Romantica gala concert, and sold-out performances of La Bohème in November 2024. Prior to Bohème, Wojciech appeared onstage in the role of Manny the accompanist in COT’s May 2024 performances of Terrence McNally’s Masterclass. He has music directed all of COT’s Piccolo Spoleto offerings, including Bach’s Coffee Cantata & Menotti’s The Telephone, Joe Illick’s UnShakeable, and more. Prior to his time in Charleston, Wojciech served as Music Director for the world premiere of Joe Illick’s UnShakeable with Santa Fe Opera in 2016, as Assistant Conductor of the Opera NEO festival in San Diego, and Associate Conductor at El Paso Opera. 

Off the podium, he maintains an active performing career as a pianist and clarinetist, regularly appearing on the Summerville Orchestra’s Encore Series, as the main pianist for Charleston Opera Theater, and performing locally throughout the Charleston area. Previous performing experience includes the second clarinet position with the Roswell Symphony (NM), and solo/featured appearances with Opera Southwest, the New Mexico Symphonic Chorus, San Juan Symphony, and as guest pianist in the National Broadway Tours of “Wicked” and “Book of Mormon.” He is currently a staff accompanist at the College of Charleston, where he serves as the vocal coach and diction coach within the Opera Department.

A native of Poland, Wojciech grew up in New York City. He graduated with distinction with his Master’s of Music in Orchestral Conducting from the University of New Mexico, and summa cum laude from the State University of New York at Oswego with a double Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Music. Prior to a career in music, he interned at the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C. He now lives in Summerville, S.C., and enjoys trying cortados at new coffee shops, playing soccer, cycling, being outdoors, cooking, reading, and spending time with his partner Caitlin.

Nina Kahn, Executive Director

Nina brings a deep passion for fostering accessible, engaging and impactful arts experiences throughout the community. She received her undergraduate degree in theater and entrepreneurship from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and later earned her Master of Business Administration from Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas.

Before joining the Summerville Orchestra, Nina served as a Program Coordinator II at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she managed the statewide SC LEND program — a federally funded leadership development initiative — overseeing events, educational programming and grant operations.

Kahn, Nina - Headshot

Originally from New Jersey, Nina relocated to South Carolina and quickly became an active member of the Summerville community. She volunteers with the Flowertown Players, where she has performed and directed. Recent directing credits include “Into the Woods” (2024) and “9 to 5” (2023).

Nina lives in Moncks Corner and enjoys game nights, being outdoors and spending time with her husband, Chad, and children, Jane and Jack.

Musicians

1st VIOLIN

Alex Boissonnault, Concertmaster
Brent Price, Associate Concertmaster
Joshua Blauch
Thomas Duong
Darilyn Esterline
Daniel Kapsalis
Ira Lombardi
Natalie Marks
Audra Claire McCall
Taylor McKinley
Alex Nickell
Taylor Norden
Kayleigh Osborne
LaToya Patterson
Evelyn Sanchez
Bethany Waddle
Cecily Wright

2nd VIOLIN

Allison Harvey, Principal
Cecil Avery
Beryl Ayiku
Nathan Blauch
Victoria Frederick
Callie Gillis
Ayuna Gordon
Terry May
Walker Menkus
Leilanie Roberts
Janice Saulters
Betty Settle
Michele Stevens
Logan Webb
Haydee Weddleton
Michael Weeks
Abby Welling

VIOLA

Samantha Clark, Principal
Hazel Edwards
Sofia Graham
Trinity Howell
Sandy Juzups
Savannah Koch
Olivia Morris
Kevaughn Williams

CELLO

Cameron Williams, Principal
Sara Baldwin
Michael Ball
Sandy Collins
Ally Dorsey
Drew Hamrick
Joseph Hutchinson
Kaiden James
Aaron McLaughlin
Haylea Shuman
Robert Stewart
Pearl Wright

DOUBLE BASS

Anneliese Little, Principal
John Fisher
Dearrian Ford
Juvon Gilliard
Benjamin Jhagroo
Eric Landsperger
Joshua Mack
Jeff Marlowe
Alex Morris

FLUTE
Lauren Davies, Principal
Kim Alford
Peggy Bohne
Melanie Campos
Margie Fendley
Charles Ferrante
Carley Lewis
Krista Pack
Jill Sanders

PICCOLO

Melanie Campos

OBOE

Sarah Teuscher, Principal
Jan Coldwell
Frank Miley
Judi Schneider
Lindsay Spear

CLARINET

Niko Stem, Principal
Andrew Collins
Jack Hayes
Joshua Recino
Erikah Rooman
Gretchen Roper
Ray Williard

BASSOON

Abigail Pruett, Principal
Emily Caron
Jan Coldwell
Taylor Collier
Andrew Gossett

FRENCH HORN

Erin Yardley, Principal
Cameron Buskirk
Craig Martin
Henry Merryday
Brent Patteson
Allison Whisnant Pole
Toni Scott
Julie Thornton

TRUMPET

Ethan Pruitt, Principal
Paul Cox
Nathan Robbins
Danny Reardon
Justin Henke

TROMBONE

Patrick Duncan, Principal
Robert Blackwell
Willis Ham
Rob Juzups
Andrew Lllewelyn
Harry Perez

TUBA

Bryan Hatmaker
John Wilson

PERCUSSION

Lillian Garcia, Principal
Haley Cowan Abarbanell
Jacob Abarbanell
Naomi Driskell
Darcie Drymon
Earle Folger
Shawn Graves
Liam Johnson
Suzanne Macarthur
Payden Nichols
Chris Rowe

HARP

Holly Avesian

PIANO

Jack Broderick
John Duong
Michael Lopez
Will Goss

EUPHONIUM

Jacob Smiley-Rodriguez
John Wilson

Board of Directors

Board of Directors 

Advisory Board

 

Susan Kammeraad-Campbell, Board President

Chris Rowe, Vice-President

John Neale, Treasurer

Jessea James, Secretary

Lillian Garcia

Richard Ketcham

Wanda Marshall

Dr. Martin Pressman

Ken Smith

Lee Zimmerman, Esq.


Larry Barnfield

Christopher Nowell, CPA

Diane Rodwell

Betty Settle

Dean Glace

Summerville Orchestra Staff

Artistic Staff

Administrative Staff

Music Director: Wojciech Milewski

Director of Youth Programs: DeAnndra Glenn

Personnel Manager & Librarian: Marlena Davis

Equipment Manager: Earle Folger

Executive Director: Nina Kahn 

Director of Development: Marti Upton

Patron Relations Coordinator: Michelle Bessen

Volunteer Coordinator: Donna Jensen