Dr. EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks, violin, is a freelance musician and educator, passionate about chamber music, orchestral playing, traditional music and improvisation. After receiving her doctoral degree in violin performance from SUNY Stony Brook, EmmaLee moved to Providence to pursue a fellowship with Community MusicWorks, serving as resident musician, teacher and learning about non-profits and social justice. Dr. Holmes-Hicks is on faculty at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and the Birch Creek Summer Performance Center. EmmaLee is principal second violinist of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, a member of the Cape Symphony, performs regularly with the Southcoast Chamber Music Series and is a member of the new music collective, Verdant Vibes. A firm believer that music can move people, quite literally, EmmaLee plays in contra dance bands across New England and in the Midwest where her lively fiddle music drives the spirited old-time dancing. She has played fiddle with the Rusty Pickup String Band since she was ten years old and she has taken many championship prizes at fiddle contests.