Carey Strings

Join our outstanding string program with violin, viola, cello, and bass concentrations. In addition to applied study with active professional performers, Carey strings students have the opportunity to play literature for string ensemble, William Carey University Orchestra, accompany major works, and perform chamber music in a variety of settings. Contact Dr. Jorge Gonzalez at jgonzalez@wmcarey.edu or 601-318-6255 for auditions and information.

Dr. Jorge Ivan Gonzalez, Violin & Viola
Coordinator of String Activities

Violinist and conductor Jorge Ivan Gonzalez is Assistant Professor of Music (Violin and Viola) at William Carey University where he serves as Coordinator of String Activities and conductor of the university orchestra. Among the achievements as a violin player, Mr. González was a finalist at the Canadian Music Competition; winner of the MS Collegiate Artist Strings State Competition; winner of the USM “William T. Gower Concerto Competition”; and recognized as a “New Young Artist” of the Victoria Bach Festival. With the Austin, TX based Conspirare Ensemble, Jorge González toured and recorded a CD, “Threshold of Night”, nominated for two GRAMMY Awards.

Mr. Gonzalez has given solo and chamber music performances in Mexico, Colombia, Canada, Ecuador, Switzerland, Austria and in the U.S. and has had the opportunity to work with great artists such as Jean-Pierre Rampal, Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Alexandre Brussilovsky, Sir James Galway, Glenn Dicterow, Placido Domingo, Joshua Bell, Sarah Chang, Midori, Keith Lockhart and Leonard Slatkin. As a conductor, Jorge Ivan Gonzalez is the artistic director and conductor of the William Carey University String and Symphony Orchestras, founder and artistic director of the Hattiesburg Youth Orchestras and of the FestivalSouth Academy Symphony Orchestra. He has guest conducted the Meridian Symphony Orchestra, the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, the Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, the FestivalSouth Chamber Orchestra, and has been invited numerous times to conduct the Mississippi All-State Orchestra.

Jorge Ivan Gonzalez was the conductor of the Camerata Nuevo Mundo’s tour through Ecuador and Colombia where 5 different compositions were premiered in five different cities. Jorge Gonzalez is a regular faculty member at international music festivals including Music Mountain, FS Orchestral Academy, Festival Internacional de Musica de Ibague, Festival Internacional de Musica Guaranda. Mr. Gonzalez is also the Concertmaster of the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra; Assistant-Concertmaster of the Mobile Symphony Orchestra; Personnel Manager and Principal Second Violin of the Meridian Symphony Orchestra; Conductor and supervisor of the HPSD string orchestras; and Artistic Director of the FestivalSouth Orchestral and Chamber Music Academy.

Dr. José Ottonello, Cello
Adjunct Instructor

Dr. José Romero-Ottonello, is from Uruguay. Jose is the Cello professor at William Carey University, string teacher at N.R. Burger, an active performer, scholar, and researcher. He was the Teaching Assistant of Professor Dennis Parker at LSU Cello studio. He obtained a Doctorate in Musical Arts in 2022 from LSU, major in cello performance and minor jazz studies with Dr. John Bishop and Prof. Dough Stone. Jose won several scholarships in the U.S. for full DMA tuition and AMEXID in 2019 in Mexico to complete a master’s degree with honors under guidance of Professor Vladan Kocí. He also holds a Bachelor’s in Music from the University of the Republic, Uruguay.

Jose worked as cellist for the National Symphonic Orchestra of Uruguay, the National Chamber Orchestra, the Latin American Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, among others. His papers appear in a peer-reviewed journal in the Technologic Institute of Sonora (Mexico) and ANTEC magazine from the National University of Peru, and Louisiana State University. He helps as an active researcher for String of Latin America Project supported by Sphinx Foundation. Jose finished his Doctoral thesis about Héctor Tosar and transcription from his violin sonata in 2022. He presented lectures at University of Houston, Louisiana State University and Southeastern University, Panama University, Funsicnopa Foundation, University of the Republic, Chamber Concerts Association in Uruguay, and UNICACH México. Jose plays a 1927 Cello by Anibal Fulquet.

Dr. Samuel Dahmer,  Bass
Adjunct Instructor

Dr. Samuel Dahmer is one of the most sought-after orchestral bassists in Southern Mississippi. He is currently the Adjunct Professor of String Bass at William Carey University and a Strings Teacher at the Hattiesburg Public School District Strings Program.

With a wide experience as an orchestral musician and music educator, Dr. Dahmer has performed with many orchestras in the United States and abroad, and taught a varied set of string students. He has taught at The University of Southern Mississippi and is an active Bass Coach for summer strings camps in the area, such as the Festival South Orchestral and Chamber Academy and My First Strings Camp at the William Carey University.

Dahmer holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil, a Master of Music from The University of Southern Mississippi, and, at the same institution, he recently completed his Doctor of Musical Arts in String Bass Performance and Pedagogy. His doctoral dissertation is based on the 24 Caprices for Double Bass by the Italian virtuoso bassist Isaia Billè, a work Dr. Dahmer plans to publish soon.

Samuel Dahmer’s orchestral career started in Brazil as the Principal Double Bass of the PUCRS Philharmonic Orchestra and section bass of the University of Caxias do Sul Symphony Orchestra, orchestras that he performed over many years. At the PUCRS Philharmonic, Dahmer had the opportunity to perform with important Brazilian artists such as Milton Nascimento, Caetano Veloso, Zizi Possi, MPB4, and the famous British rock group Jethro Tull. In 2004, after finishing his Bachelor’s studies, Dahmer performed for three years in a major full-time orchestra in Brazil, the Porto Alegre Symphony Orchestra (OSPA). At OSPA, Dahmer developed a vast acquaintance with orchestral repertoire, performing all the most important orchestral works under the baton of many acclaimed conductors such as Isaac Karabchevistky, Kiyotaka Teraoka, Roberto Duarte, etc. He also performed as a guest musician with many other orchestras in Brazil such as the Lutheran University Chamber Orchestra, the São Pedro Chamber Orchestra, and also taught at the Ivoti Institute of Education.

Throughout his orchestra career in United States, Dr. Dahmer had the opportunity to perform with many acclaimed musicians such as Francois Rabbath, Itzhak Perlman, Mark O’Connor, Renee Fleming, Nadia Salerno-Sonnenberg, Antonio Menezes, Sandi Patty, Beach Boys, etc. He is currently the Principal Bass at the Meridian Symphony Orchestra and section bass at the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra, and Pensacola Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, he has performed for many seasons with the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra and as substitute bass for the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra.

Cultivate your musical talent at Carey

Whether you are a budding musician or an aspiring artist looking to excel, the William Carey University School of Music welcomes you with open arms. Our doors are wide open to embrace students of all backgrounds, from beginners to seasoned professionals, who are eager to take their musical journey to new heights.

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