Kimberly Fisher joined The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1992 and has served as Principal Second Violin since 2002. She has appeared as soloist with numerous orchestras including The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony, and the Victoria Symphony. As recitalist and chamber musician she has performed across the United States and Canada, and in England, Spain, France, Germany, Japan, China, Vietnam, and Argentina. Ms. Fisher has appeared in chamber music settings in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Mogador Theater in Paris, the Kimmel Center, and the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and in collaborations with internationally renowned artists such as Wolfgang Sawallisch, Cristoph Eschenbach, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and many others.
Ms. Fisher has been awarded multiple Canada Council grants and was invited to perform as soloist at the Governor General’s concert in Canada. She has been featured on National Canadian Radio and on Canada’s CBC television. Her teachers included her father, Lawrence Fisher; Yumi Ninomiya-Scott; Aaron Rosand; David Cerone; and Jascha Brodsky.
In 1997 Ms. Fisher co-founded the Philadelphia International Music Festival (PIMF), a highly successful summer music program in residence at Bryn Mawr College, to encourage and inspire musicians of all levels. Originally just for string players, the Festival now includes all symphonic instruments plus piano and vocal programs, and features innovative specialty programs to help students prepare for auditions, improve practice, and address performance issues. PIMF includes students of all ages and all levels who attend from around the world to study privately with musicians of The Philadelphia Orchestra.
Ms. Fisher is an active pedagogue whose students have performed as soloists with major orchestras, attended distinguished music conservatories, performed as members of professional orchestras, and won many awards and competitions. Her energetic, communicative teaching style has led to invitations to present master classes, lessons, and seminars around the world.
Sandy Marcucci is the co-founder of the Philadelphia International Music Festival, as well as Atlantic Cape Camps – the feature of an ESPN special aired throughout the United States and abroad. Through her innovative marketing and media campaigns, Sandy has facilitated sports and music programs and clinics in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; Miami, Florida; Paris, France; London, England; Brussels, Belgium; Reykjavik, Iceland; and Groznjan, Croatia.
Ms. Marcucci, former Assistant Director of Communications for the New Jersey General Assembly and former staff member at the National Defense Council Foundation in Washington, D.C., first acquired an interest in international marketing while studying at the American University of Paris and Paris-Sorbonne University.
Ms. Marcucci is a former member of the Friends Board at The Curtis Institute of Music.
Salvatore joined PIMF in the Summer of 2015 as an intern and continued on to his current role for the Summer of 2016 until today. In 2018, he graduated from Michigan State University with a Masters in Arts & Cultural Management. He is originally from Melbourne, FL, and graduated in May 2016 from the University of Central Florida, where he earned his Bachelors of Music in Music Performance on the flute.
Outside of PIMF, Sal is also the Operations Manager at the Virginia Symphony Orchestra in Norfolk, VA. Ever since beginning to play the flute at 8 years old, Sal has had a passion for music and its performance.
During his 6-year tenure as PIMF Director of Student Information, Shane has overseen the conversion from a paper student record system to a digital student information database. These changes have allowed students more access to customize their camp experience and streamline communications between faculty from all of the different programs offered at PIMF.
In conjunction with his role at PIMF, Shane is a business consultant for Apple and holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Stockton University. In his spare time, he enjoys playing the piano or drums and traveling with his wife, Sophie.
Jake is now in his fifth season with PIMF and has worked in a variety of capacities in his time here. As Operations Director, Jake oversees all of the operational aspects both year round and at summer festivals.
Jake received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Industry from Rowan University. In addition to his work with PIMF, he is the Owner of The Music Barn, an outdoor live music venue based in Mullica Hill, New Jersey. Jake also has experience working to streamline marketing and operational efforts for other music organizations, including the Philly Pops.
In his free time, Jake fosters dogs for a local animal rescue (and has saved over 200 lives through this). Jake is a violist himself and plays in the Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey.
Emily Watkins joined the PIMF staff in January 2018. As Special Programs Director, she oversees all program logistics and management of the Piano Studies, Solo Performance Preparation, Chamber Music Intensive, and College Audition Preparation Programs.
Emily is an arts administrator and pianist in the Philadelphia area. In addition to her work with PIMF, she is a Program Manager and Teaching Artist for Sister Cities Girlchoir, an El Sistema choir program for underserved girls in Philadelphia and Camden. She is a highly sought-after collaborative pianist, regularly accompanying students at West Chester University, Temple University, University of Delaware, and Villanova University. She was a collaborative artist at the Russian Opera Workshop in Philadelphia and has served as the rehearsal pianist for Peach State Summer Theatre, a professional summer theatre company in Valdosta, Georgia. She spent two summers in Skagway, Alaska performing in The Days of ’98 Show, a long running ragtime musical about the history of the Alaskan gold rush. She is currently the Director of Music at St. Martin’s Church in Radnor, PA. Emily earned a B.M. in Piano Performance from the Sunderman Conservatory at Gettysburg College where she was a winner of the conservatory-wide Concerto Competition; she earned a M.M. in Collaborative Piano from Florida State University in May 2015.
Matthew Ruwe, M.M., is currently pursuing his Doctor of Music in Trumpet Performance at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where he studies with Joey Tartell. A graduate of Baylor University in Waco, TX (M.M.) and Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania (B.M.), teachers have included Wiff Rudd, Mark Schubert and Dr. William Stowman. During his formative years growing up in Pittsburgh, PA, Matthew studied under James Rossetti, Dr. Stephen Hawk and Chad Winkler (Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra). Matthew has been privileged to perform with the Baylor Wind Ensemble, Baylor Symphony Orchestra, Messiah College Wind Ensemble, Messiah College Symphony Orchestra, and Messiah’s Jazz One ensemble, in addition to performance affiliations with the Waco Symphony Orchestra and Valley Symphony Orchestra (McAllen, TX), and the Northern Appalachian Wind Symphony (Williamsport, PA). Matthew is a two-time finalist in the Kulhman Competition, and an eight-time semi-finalist in multiple divisions at the National Trumpet Competition. An experienced administrator, he serves as the Director of Social Media and Development for the National Trumpet Competition, and Director of Solo Performance and Competition at the Philadelphia International Music Festival, where he also directs the Chamber Music Intensive program. He has enjoyed traveling and performing abroad in Aruba and Italy, and is actively involved in private teaching and freelance performing engagements. Matthew is forever thankful to the many teachers, mentors, and supporters who have influenced him over the years.
Angela Costigan joined the PIMF staff in 2019. As a Festival Coordinator, Angela works year round to prepare for PIMF’s summer sessions and runs the office at Bryn Mawr College during the festival as the Office Manager.
Angela got her Bachelor’s Degree in Theater from Temple University, focusing on production and management. She has worked in the theater and performing arts community throughout Philadelphia as an administrator, freelance artist, and teaching artist. Angela has been an adjudicator for the Philadelphia Independence Awards, an organization recognizing excellence in high school musical theater productions in Philadelphia and its surrounding area, since its inaugural year in 2017. She also served as a judge on the Design Panel for the Barrymore Awards, the Greater Philadelphia area’s professional theatre awards program. In addition to theater and PIMF, Angela has been working in the wedding planning industry since 2017.