About Us
Cloud Gate String Quartet
The Cloud Gate String Quartet is one of the most sought-after Chicago based ensembles for wedding ceremony music, corporate events, and parties. The group performs both classical music as well as original arrangements of popular non-classical songs, bringing a level of artistry and professionalism that your guests are sure to notice.
41
Meet our musicians
Emily Nash
Violin
Violinist Emily Nash, began her violin studies at the age of 7. She finished her MM in violin performance with Almita Vamos at Northwestern University, graduating early and with high honors. She also studied with Roland Vamos and chamber music with Mathias Tacke from the Vermeer String Quartet. She received her BM in violin performance from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign while studying with Simin Ganatra. In 2005 Emily was a solo competition winner with the New Haven Youth Symphony Orchestra, a guest soloist with the Choate Rosemary Hall’s tour to Italy, and a finalist in the Greater Bridgeport competition. Her quartet won first prize in the Greenwich Center for Chamber Music Competition, also in 2005. Growing up, Emily spent her summers attending California Summer Music, Interlochen Arts Camp, and Madeline Island.
Janis Sakai
Violin
Japanese-Korean-American violinist Janis Sakai began studying the violin at the age of 5, winning numerous awards and competitions, including the Saint Paul Chamber Music Competition, Rembrandt Chamber Music Competition, Walgreens Concerto Competition, and the Society of American Musicians. Janis has performed with world-renowned artists such as Amos Lee, Andrea Bocelli, Boyz II Men, Emanuel Ax, Garrick Ohlsson, Har Mar Superstar, Herbie Hancock, James Ehnes, Joshua Bell, Josh Groban, Kristin Chenoweth, Lang Lang, Radu Lupu, Smokey Robinson, Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Vadim Repin, Volkhard Steude, and Wu-Tang Clan.
Janis serves as Concertmaster of the Knox-Galesburg Symphony, Concertmaster of Lakeview Orchestra, Associate Principal Second Violin of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, and Section First Violin with Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and South Bend Symphony Orchestra. Janis was Co-Concertmaster of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago from 2015-2017, and in 2017 moved to Miami, FL to perform with the New World Symphony. Prior to this, she performed with the Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra in Japan for three years.
Janis regularly performs with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, The Joffrey Ballet, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic, Florentine Opera Company, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Music of the Baroque, and Ensemble Dal Niente. Janis holds degrees from the University of Denver and The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where her primary teachers were Yumi-Hwang Williams and Detlef Hahn. Prior to this, she studied with Desiree Ruhstrat, Almita Vamos, and Cyrus Forough.
Janis lives in Highland Park, IL with her husband, Brian Goodwin and their two Shiba Inus.
Bruno Silva
Viola
Violist, Bruno Silva, began studying viola in 2004 in his native Brazil at the Escola de Musica de Brasilia. After one year, he placed in a solo competition and had the opportunity to perform with the Orquestra Sinfonica da Escola de Musica de Brasilia. He graduated from the conservatory in two and a half years, a program which normally takes eight, and then enrolled in the University of Brasilia. As viola principal, he performed with the Renovo String Orchestra, North Park University Symphony Orchestra, Brasilia Philharmonic, University of Brasilia String Orchestra, Art-Brasilia Orchestra, among others. As a soloist, Bruno has won top prizes and has performed with Midwest Young Artists, Orquestra Sinfonica da Escola de Musica de Brasilia, North Park University Symphony Orchestra, Mode Ensemble and the Orquestra Art-Brasilia. Bruno Completed his Bachelor of Music degree at North Park University where he studied with Charles Pikler, Chicago Symphony principal viola and his Masters at DePaul University, studying with Rami Solomonow, Lyric Opera of Chicago former viola principal. Bruno was a regular member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago from 2011-2013 where he got the chance to work with Yo-Yo Ma and the world’s top conductors. Today Bruno is a member of the Chicago Sinfonietta’s Project Inclusion and Principal Violist of Skokie Valley Symphony.
Molly Rife
Cello
A native of Tucson, Arizona, Molly Rife began playing the cello at age 10. Growing up in a family full of musicians, it was no surprise that she developed a passion for music as a youngster. Molly decided to brave the cold and is now an active performer and teacher in Chicago. Molly holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance from Arizona State University where she studied with Thomas Landschoot. She received her Master of Music degree in Performance from DePaul University under the tutelage of Stephen Balderston.
Molly currently holds a position with the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Iowa, the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and the New Philharmonic Orchestra.
Molly is enthusiastic about various genres of music and thrives on adding cello to a wide scope of musical ensembles. Molly is a member of the 30-piece ensemble Mucca Pazza and a local Chicago band, Urban Twang. She has performed live on stage with artists such as Kygo, Whitney, and Noname. She has also performed and recorded with bands and artists including Intoitoverit, Sir the Baptist, Kweku Collins, Joe George, B Forrest, Gia Margaret, Molly Coleman, New Context, Ephraim Bugumba, Da$htone, Inho and the Violet Suns, and Sidewalk Chalk, among others. Molly has performed at festivals including Lollapalooza, Electric Forest, and Summerfest. Molly has also recorded on soundtracks for films including The Dark and the Wicked, Scrooge and Marley, and the Shedd Aquarium Aquatic Show.
In addition to performing, Molly loves to teach aspiring cellists of all ages, both as a Suzuki and traditional instructor. Molly maintains a private cello studio and teaches at the Merit School of Music.
When Molly isn’t playing the cello, she is most likely journaling, taking pictures, drinking coffee, and playing with her dog, Biscuit.