The Savannah Philharmonic is pleased to announce the addition of five exceptional musicians to its orchestra, just in time for its highly anticipated 2024-2025 season. The new musicians include Maya Johnson, Xiaodi Liu, Caitlyn Dillard, Elizabeth Crafton, and Samantha Zelnik. These accomplished artists bring a wealth of experience and passion to the Philharmonic, further enriching the ensemble’s sound and its connection to the Savannah community.
Maya Johnson – Deputy Concertmaster, Violin
Maya Johnson is an Atlanta-based violinist pursuing a Master of Musical Arts at the Yale School of Music. She recently earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music. She has held many leadership positions with the CIM Orchestra, including concertmaster under Leonard Slatkin at Severance Hall. She has also performed with Apollo’s Fire and the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, and has attended master classes for the Emerson String Quartet, Sergey Ostrovsky, and Joseph Silverstein.
She has performed as a soloist with the Augusta Symphony Orchestra and the Georgia Philharmonic, and most recently won second prize at the International Mozart Competition in Vienna. She is a graduate of the New York String Orchestra Seminar, the Heifetz Institute, and Keshet Eilon. Her major teachers include Ilya Kaler, Olga Dubossarskaya Kaler, Noriko Clift, Aaron Rosand, and Christina Khimm.
Xiaodi Liu – solo oboe
Xiaodi Liu was recently appointed principal oboe of the Savannah Philharmonic. She has performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and Symphony of Southeast Texas. She has also appeared as guest principal with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and Phoenix Symphony, and has also performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Liu has performed at the Spoleto, Colorado College, and Aspen music festivals. She studied at Rice University, the Oberlin Conservatory, and the Royal Northern College of Music.
Caitlyn Dillard – Violin
Caitlyn Dillard, violin, is an active solo, chamber, symphonic, recording, and teaching artist. She hails from the Washington DC area, where she has performed at the Kennedy Center, the National Theater, and at a private dinner for the U.S. Supreme Court Justices. She is a graduate of Mercer University’s McDuffie Center for Strings and played as a student for the Emmy-winning PBS program “A Night of Georgia Music.” Her international debut will be in Italy at the Rome Chamber Music Festival in the summer of 2023. Dillard has held concertmaster positions in the American Youth Philharmonic and the Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra and performs regularly with orchestras throughout the Southeast. Dillard maintains a vibrant private teaching studio and helps develop the elementary school string program at a private school in Macon.
Elizabeth Crafton, French horn
Elizabeth Crafton – Principal Dancer, French Horn
Elizabeth Crafton of Savannah is a student at the Curtis Institute of Music and is currently studying with Jennifer Montone and Jeffery Lang. Crafton has performed with many orchestras and summer music festivals, including the Curtis Symphony Orchestra, the Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra, and the National Repertory Orchestra.
Samantha Zelnik – Oboe
Originally from Galloway, Ohio, Samantha Zelnik is currently the oboist in the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra in Fort Myers, Florida, where she serves as principal oboist. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Oboe Performance from Ohio State University, where she graduated magna cum laude. As a soloist, she performed the Haydn Oboe Concerto after winning the Ohio State Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. She has performed with numerous orchestras, including the Lakeside Symphony Orchestra, Firelands Symphony Orchestra, and Naples Camerata, and is a fill-in with the New World Symphony. Samantha’s summers have been spent at the Eastern Music Festival, Rocky Ridge Music Festival, and Marrowstone Music Festival. Outside the U.S., she has performed at the International Double Reed Society Conference in Granada, Spain. Her primary teachers include Robert Sorton and Nick Stovall.
“We are very pleased about this
Frank Fortune
Dr. Amy Williams, Executive Director of the Savannah Philharmonic
“We are delighted to welcome two talented musicians to our Philharmonic family,” said Dr. Amy Williams, Executive Director. “Each brings unique talents and experiences that will not only enrich our performances but will also resonate deeply with our audiences. Their addition marks an exciting new chapter for our orchestra and I look forward to the incredible music we will create together this season.”
The addition of these five outstanding musicians is a testament to the Savannah Philharmonic’s commitment to artistic excellence and cultural enrichment. They will make their stage debut in the 16th season’s opening piece, “Romantic Rachmaninoff,” on August 24 at the Lucas Theatre for the Arts. The Savannah Philharmonic invites the public to welcome these new artists and join them in a season of unforgettable musical experiences. Tickets for the 2024-2025 season are on sale now.
For more information, visit www.savannahphilharmonic.org.
