VIA Academy Team
Christopher Robinson:
Co-Artistic Director
From Louisville, Kentucky, Christopher Robinson is a violinist, educator and Founder of VIA Academy. As a violinist, Christopher is a recent alumnus of the New World Symphony where he regularly served as principal and concertmaster. He has performed with the Pittsburgh, Louisville, Nashville and Jacksonville Symphonies as well as chamber collaborations with Rohan de Silva, Sandra Rivers, and members of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Christopher is also a passionate educator and mentor for young musicians all across the US. In 2020, Christopher founded VIA Academy, a free summer music program for aspiring young musicians from remote and underrepresented communities in classical music. VIA Academy’s curriculum focuses on mentoring students towards the many ways to a passion-filled career in music and reached 161 students from 37 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada in its inaugural program. Christopher has also taught in programs at Carnegie Hall’s NYO/NYO2 Summer Programs, Miami Music Project, Nashville Symphony’s Accelerando Program, Atlanta Symphony’s Talent Development Program, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music's Pre-College Department, and the Iberacademy in Medellín, Colombia. For more information, visit Christopher’s website here.
Corbin Castro:
Co-Artistic Director
Corbin Castro is a Horn Fellow at the New World Symphony. He has performed as an extra/substitute horn with the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, and the Richmond Symphony. He has had the pleasure of spending his summers making music with the Verbier Festival in southern Switzerland, Tanglewood Music Center in the Berkshires and the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina. As a strong advocate for musical education, he is Co-Artistic Director of Virtual Inclusion Artists, an online summer music academy that aims to serve young musicians who might not otherwise have access to quality music education. Corbin received his master’s degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where he studied with William VerMeulen and a bachelor’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music studying with Michelle Baker. Outside of horn playing, he enjoys experiencing new cultures through international travel and backpacking in national parks.
Andrea Beyer:
Program Manager
Double Bassist Andrea Beyer is an avid performer, teacher and advocate for using music as a tool for social growth. As an orchestral musician, Andrea has performed in concerts at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, as well as national halls in Central and South America and Asia, and in 2020 she completed a 3-year fellowship at the New World Symphony. A passionate educator, Andrea teaches in her current city of Austin, Texas and on the faculty of Bass Works, a summer double bass program in Baltimore, Maryland. As a long-time proponent of innovative and socially-driven music programs, Andrea, works for the VIA Music Academy and is the Public Relations Director and a Workshop Coordinator for the MusAid Organization, which supports music programs in under-resourced countries with volunteer music teaching workshops. Andrea holds a Bachelors Degree from Oberlin Conservatory where she studied with Thomas Sperl and a Masters Degree from Yale University where she studied with Don Palma.