About Opus 4 String Quartet
Nancy Francis, cello
After graduating with degrees in Music Composition and Journalism from Indiana State University, Nancy Francis moved to New Orleans, where she became a prominent freelancer. She studied for several years with New Orleans Symphony principal cellist emeritus Kaaren Makas and performed with New Orleans Symphony, New Orleans Pops, New Orleans Opera, New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra, Saenger Theater Orchestra, Charles Neville’s Diversity, Velvet Sounds Orchestra and numerous other groups. Nancy was a founding member of Ecoutez, a chamber orchestra, and the Giorgione String Quartet. She performed six times at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. In Houston she has performed with regional orchestras including Lake Charles Symphony, Galveston Symphony, Baytown Symphony, and was principal cellist of ECHOrchestra.
Don Burell, viola
Don Burell began his musical studies as a 9-year-old while attending public school in St. Louis, Missouri. As a teenager, he studied with Joan Korman, assistant principal violist of the St. Louis Symphony. After moving to Houston, Don continued his studies with Wayne Crouse, Houston Symphony principal violist. He completed his formal musical education with a BA in Music at the University of Houston. For more than 30 years Don has played symphonic and chamber music professionally in the Houston area, and with regional orchestras in Texas and Louisiana. In 2015 he joined the ECHO orchestra as principal violist, and soon after he joined Opus 4 String Quartet.
Janis Garcia, second violin
In addition to Opus 4 String Quartet, Janis Garcia is a member of the ECHOrchestra and Grace Symphony. She has played with the Madison Symphony Orchestra, the Rockford Symphony Orchestra, and numerous theatre troupes in New Orleans. While in Madison, Janis toured with an Irish rock band as the fiddle player. She was featured in several radio broadcasts with The Kissers. Garcia was featured in the 311 Unity Orchestra for the band 311 on “311 Day” in New Orleans, on March 11, 2014. This performance was released in the spring of 2015 as an LP, a CD, and digital download by 311 records. Currently, Janis is the Head Orchestra Director at Arnold Middle School, in Cy-Fair ISD, a position she has held since 2001.
Pablo Donatti, first violin
Growing up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pablo Donatti studied violin under Rafael Wainhaus and Ljerko Spiller. He began his professional career in Mexico, playing with the State of Mexico Symphony. Thirty years ago, Pablo came to the United States and settled in Houston. He has performed with many ensembles in Texas, including the Corpus Christi Symphony, where he was concertmaster for twelve seasons and is now performing his 25th consecutive season. Pablo also played for Theater Under the Stars in Houston. For eight years he performed with the Casarsa Tango Ensemble. Outside of Opus 4 String Quartet, Pablo is Concertmaster of the recently created Energy Corridor of Houston Orchestra (ECHO).