Dr. Tara Planeta ~ Founder/Violin

 

Dr. Planeta holds Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Music Performance and a Doctorate of Education in Leadership. She has been performing professionally since 1997 with orchestras including the Arizona Opera, Flagstaff Symphony, Maryland Symphony, National Philharmonic, Phoenix Symphony, and was a long-time member of the Roanoke Symphony/Opera Roanoke. Dr. Planeta has worked with stars such as Liza Minelli, Wynonna Judd, Natalie Cole, Art Garfunkle, Aaron Neville, and many other renowned classical/contemporary artists. Since establishing Atoka Strings, she has retired from orchestral performance to devote fully to the group. In addition to her work with ASQ, Dr. Planeta is also the Executive Director/Interim Conductor of the nonprofit Piedmont Youth Symphony in Warrenton, and a private violin/viola instructor at The Catoctin School of Music in Leesburg, as well as Foxcroft School in Middleburg.​