Acceso String Duo Chamber Music Duo from Washington, DC

The Acceso string duo is a Northern Virginia based chamber ensemble comprised of musicians Sarah Haughton (cello) and Anna Kong (violin). They specialize in providing music for a variety of events including wedding ceremonies, private parties, corporate events, and the like. In addition to providing string duo music (Violin/Cello), the Acceso Duo also provides solo cello music and flute/cello duo combinations upon request. Meet our Musicians! SARAH HAUGHTON is an active chamber and orchestral cellist residing in the Northern Virginia area. In 2013, she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in cello performance. Ms. Haughton performs regularly with the American Festival Pops Orchestra, and is a full-time member of the McLean Orchestra based in McLean, Virginia. In November of 2010, she was invited to play alongside George Mason University faculty in the U.S. premiere of Oded Zehavi's five movement chamber work for Soprano, Oboe, Cello, Percussion, and Piano. More recently she participated in the College Music Society's regional conference where she performed the string quartet “Sundown” by Zach Zubow, winner of the society's composition competition. In the summer of 2012, she was selected to and attended the Eastern Music Festival. Most recently, Ms. Haughton made her debut with the George Mason University orchestra as a soloist in the University's annual scholarship concert. Among her most notable teachers are Loran Stephenson of the National Symphony Orchestra, Marcio Botehlo, Principal cello with the U.S. Marine Band orchestra, and currently, Amy Frost Baumgarten principal cellist for the Washington National Opera and the Kennedy Center opera orchestra. A native of northern Virginia, ANNA KONG is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in violin performance at George Mason University. At the age of 12, she started taking private lessons with Julia Sun, and later came under the tutelage of NSO violinist Peter Haase. Throughout high school, she was a section member of the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, and earned the position of associate concertmaster in the regional and all state orchestras. She was also a two-time recipient of the NSOA award and, in her four years of high school, served as concertmaster of the chamber and symphony orchestras there. Currently, Ms. Kong is a member of the Mason Symphony Orchestra, where she has served as associate concertmaster and principle 2nd. As a member of the MSO, she had the honor of playing at the 2011 International Women's Forum in Washington, DC. In addition, she is a regular member of the American Festival Pops Orchestra and has also recently subbed with the McLean Orchestra. Often invited to play as a pit musician, she has participated in numerous productions for professional and non-professional theatre groups alike, and performed the opera Die Zauberflöte this past year at Mason. As a teacher, she has taught at Vienna Summer Strings, and enjoys teaching privately as well as actively freelancing around the area. She has played in master classes for Charles Castleman and Elizabeth Pitcairn, and had the privilege of attending the Quartet Program at SUNY Fredonia this summer. SARAH SHAPIRO (flute) is a recent graduate of George Mason University, where she acquired a bachelor of music (B.M.) in flute performance and minor in psychology. During her collegiate career, Sarah studied with Judith Lapple and Julianna Nickel and was a member of the GMU Symphony Orchestra, the GMU Flute Choir, and GMU Wind Symphony, where she was principal flutist. Sarah has also performed with the Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Brisbane, Australia, where she interned with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. She has auditioned for and won masterclass competitions with flutists including Aaron Goldman, Jean Ferrandis, Goran Marcusson, and Jill Felber through the National Flute Association and the Flute Society of Washington. In addition to her performance activities, Sarah served as librarian for the GMU Wind Symphony and was a member of the Honors College at GMU. Sarah interned under the DeVos Institute at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC and will begin a master of arts in arts management at American University in Fall 2013.