String Quartet of Northern Virginia

Members of the ensemble are active performers at major venues including Wolf Trap, the Kennedy Center, and Washington National Cathedral, and serve as concertmaster, associate concertmaster and section leaders of the professional chamber orchestra, Paragon Philharmonia. In addition to their performance careers, the musicians are dedicated educators who maintain private studios, coach chamber ensembles, and present outreach programs that foster the next generation of string players and audiences.

Instagram: @stringquartetnova
Website: Northern Virginia String Quartet

Diana LeGrand, Violin

Diana LeGrand, originally from Assisi, Italy, began her musical studies at the age of two and a half under the guidance of her mother, a violin and piano teacher. At age 15, she was accepted to the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA), where she studied with the late Elaine Richey, first violinist of the Razumovsky String Quartet.

She earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Violin Performance from UNCSA, continuing her studies with Robert Mann, founding member of the Juilliard String Quartet, and Nicholas Mann of the Mendelssohn String Quartet. Returning to Italy, she completed her diploma in Violin Performance with honors at the Conservatory of Modena. Her additional studies include work with distinguished artists such as Vadim Brodsky, Paola Besutti, and Emanuel Hurwitz.

An active performer and educator, Diana’s career has taken her across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. She has served as concertmaster and soloist of the Pan American Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C., and is currently featured as a solo violinist in the Tony-nominated Broadway show Forever Tango. A 2021 Latin Grammy–nominated artist (Best Tango Album), her recent album Tango Without Borders received four nominations at the 2023 Gardel Awards in Argentina.

Praised by DC Metro Theatre Arts for her “absolutely breathtaking solos,” Diana maintains a vibrant private studio in Springfield, Virginia, where she teaches students of all ages and backgrounds, fostering both confidence and a lifelong love of music.

Instagram: @DianaLeGrandViolin
YouTube: @DianaLeGrand

Stephanie Sims Flack, Violin

Violinist and teacher Stephanie Sims Flack maintains an active performing career as a freelance chamber and orchestral musician in the Washington, D.C. metro area. She is Associate Concertmaster and Co-Founder of Paragon Philharmonia, as well as founder, violinist, and artistic director of the Northern Virginia String Quartet.

Formerly a first violinist with the Pan American Symphony Orchestra, she performed with the ensemble at the 2018 International Tango Festival in Medellín, Colombia, where PASO was the only invited U.S. orchestra. Her orchestral engagements include the Cambridge Philharmonic (UK), Ely Sinfonia (Leader), Arizona Opera, Baton Rouge Symphony, American Pops Orchestra, Annapolis Symphony, Alexandria Symphony, Fairfax Symphony, Washington National Cathedral Choral Society, and Washington Concert Opera, among others.

In demand as both a performer and clinician, Stephanie has taught nationally and internationally, including at the Greater Washington Suzuki Institute (Co-Director), Bristol Suzuki Workshop (UK), Phoenix Phest (MI), Inside Music Academy (OR), and Tamarack Arts (NY). She has also directed and performed on international tours with Washington Preludio across England, Italy, Austria, and Germany.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Louisiana State University and a Master of Arts from Indiana University, with additional study at the Starling-Delay Symposium at The Juilliard School. She maintains a private studio in Alexandria, Virginia, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and their three dogs.

Instagram: @violinsteph
Websites: www.stephanieflackviolin.com | www.northernvirginiastringquartet.com

Stephanie Knutsen, Viola

Violist Stephanie Knutsen is a highly active performer and educator in the Washington, D.C. area, with over two decades of experience in both performance and teaching. Known for her warm presence and professional versatility, she is a sought-after collaborator throughout the region.

Her extensive performance career includes regular appearances with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, National Philharmonic, Richmond Symphony, Harrisburg Symphony, and Wolf Trap Opera Orchestra. She serves as Assistant Principal Viola of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and Associate Principal Viola of the American Pops Orchestra. With the latter, she has appeared on several PBS broadcasts alongside artists such as Cynthia Erivo, Christopher Jackson, André De Shields, Joshua Bell, Midori, and Renée Fleming.

A dedicated educator, Ms. Knutsen maintains a thriving private studio in Sterling, Virginia, and is a member of the faculty at Main Street Music Studio in Fairfax. She is also in demand as a sectional coach and adjudicator for youth orchestras and Solo & Ensemble festivals in Loudoun County.

In 2020, she co-founded the Musician Centric Podcast, an influential platform with over 70 episodes exploring the freelance musician’s career. The podcast has been featured at major events including the International Viola Congress and the American Viola Society Festival.

A native of Montgomery County, Maryland, Ms. Knutsen holds a degree in Music Education from James Madison University. She resides in Sterling with her husband, two daughters, and their bearded dragon.

Diana Flesner, Cello

Cellist Diana Flesner serves as both performer and business manager of the Northern Virginia String Quartet. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Illinois, where she studied with Brandon Vamos. Originally from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, she earned her Master of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory and her Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Middlebury College, with a double major in Music and Russian Language and Literature.

Her principal teachers include Bonnie Hampton, Jean-Michel Fonteneau, and Dieuwke Davydov. She was a member of the Cervantes String Quartet, performing extensively, including a live broadcast on WILL-FM, the American premiere of a work by Edward Top, and a residency with the Strings in the Mountains Festival.

Additional chamber experience includes the Graduate String Quartet at the University of Illinois and the Bravel Piano Trio in San Francisco. She has participated in the Manchester Music Festival and The Quartet Program at Bucknell, and has performed in masterclasses with members of the Pacifica, Miró, Miami, Kocian, Tokyo, Juilliard, Takács, and Kronos Quartets.

An active orchestral musician, she has performed as principal cellist of the University of Illinois Symphony Orchestra and with ensembles including Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana, The Prairie Ensemble, Opera Illinois, Champaign-Urbana Symphony, Peoria Symphony, Illinois Symphony, Annapolis Symphony, and Fairfax Symphony. She currently performs with Paragon Philharmonia and the Apollo Orchestra.