The Floreo String Quartet: Oberlin College and Conservatory Undergraduate Students
Lucy Hamilton, First Violin
Isabella Duque Moreno, Second Violin
Donald Smith, Viola
Eliza Cockrell, Cello
Program
String Quartet in F Major, M. 35 Maurice Ravel
String Quartet in g minor, No. 1, Op. 27 Edvard Grieg
String Quintet No. 2 in Bb Major, Op. 87 B (two movements) Felix Mendelssohn
Programs are subject to change and additional works will be added.
Group Bios
The Floreo String Quartet, composed of violinists Lucy Hamilton (Houston, Texas) and Isabella Duque Moreno (Canada/Venezuela), violist Donald Smith (Dallas, Texas), and cellist Eliza Cockrell (Kansas City, Missouri), is a budding ensemble currently pursuing their second year of undergraduate studies at Oberlin College and Conservatory. Formed in November of 2024, the Floreo String Quartet is dedicated to inspiring audiences with authentic music making and artistic excellence. They have performed in masterclasses for the Jerusalem, Miró, Verona, and Cassatt Quartets, and have been under the mentorship of Kirsten Docter, the former violist of the Cavani Quartet. In January of 2025, the Floreo String Quartet took part in the Hidden Valley Chamber Music Intensive as part of their Oberlin Winter Term project, and worked intensively under the guidance of the Verona Quartet to further their technical and musical abilities. In August of 2025, the Floreo String Quartet was the youngest quartet chosen to receive a fellowship to the Dalí Quartet International Music Festival, where they were able to share their love of performing and cultivate their individual and collective musicianship with one of the leading quartets of today. This past Fall 2025, the Quartet has been under the mentorship of Jonathan Ong of the Verona Quartet through Oberlin’s Advanced String Quartet Seminar, where they intensively studied all of Beethoven’s String Quartets and performed Beethoven String Quartet Op. 18 No. 1. This January 2026, they look forward to a residency in Uruguay through Oberlin’s Winter term projects, where they will continue to grow their group’s skills and inspire a new audience.
Lucy Hamilton, First Violin
Lucy Hamilton (she/her) is a violinist from Houston, Texas, pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance and a minor in Music Theory at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she studies with Professor William van der Sloot and is the recipient of a Dean’s Scholarship. Lucy began playing violin at the age of five, and shortly after, started studying with Kana Kimura. She was a member of the Michael P. Hammond Preparatory Program at Rice University, where she developed a love for music theory and composition.
Having a passion for chamber music and new music, Lucy has found herself immersed in unique experiences during her time at Oberlin. She became a co-founder and member of the Floreo Quartet, who together had the pleasure of attending a winter term intensive with the Verona Quartet at Hidden Valley Music Seminars, and was selected as a pre-formed fellowship group for the Dalí Quartet International Music Festival. This summer she also attended Orford Musique to study with renowned educators and soloists, where she was selected to perform in a Rising Stars concert and an Orford on the Road concert, and helped put together a recital of solo and duet music. To involve herself in Oberlin’s lively new music scene, Lucy has served as assistant concertmaster for a student composer’s senior recital, played viola on a recital of various student works, and is taking a composition class.
This year, Lucy was selected as an Oberlin ensemble manager and music theory peer tutor. She is currently participating in the Advanced Quartet Seminar, and most recently performed a movement of an early Beethoven quartet in a masterclass for the Miró Quartet.
Isabella Duque Moreno, Second Violin
Isabella Duque Moreno, age 19, is a Canadian-Venezuelan violinist currently beginning her second year at Oberlin Conservatory studying under William van der Sloot. She first discovered her passion for music through the El Sistema Calgary program, where she participated in group technique lessons and ensemble playing under the mentorship of Jose Duque, Eric Auerbach, Maria van der Sloot and Aleksandra Danicic. In 2020, she began her private studies with Maria van der Sloot and was part of the MRU Advanced Performance Program for Young Artists from which she graduated with a performance diploma in 2024. Isabella has also participated in the Meadowmount School of Music and Orford Musique festivals, and has had the opportunity to play for a number of renowned performers and pedagogues such as Gwen Hoebig, Ian Swensen, Timothy Chooi, Andres Cardenes, and members of the New Orford String Quartet. At Oberlin, chamber music has been one of her most central projects and passions. Her string quartet, the Floreo Quartet, has had the opportunity to perform in masterclasses for members of the Verona, Jerusalem, Miro, Cassatt and Cavani Quartets. In August 2025, they were the youngest quartet chosen to receive a fellowship to the Dali Quartet International Music Festival, where they studied intensively under one the world’s leading string quartets and were able to share their love for music making to audiences through recitals and masterclasses.
Isabella is also deeply passionate about community outreach and music education accessibility, as she continues to be an active teacher at El Sistema Calgary whenever she is back at home. When not making and sharing music with others, Isabella enjoys hiking and camping with her dog, cooking, and singing.
Donald Smith, Viola
Donald Smith is a violist from Dallas, Texas, pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he studies with Professor Peter Slowik as a Presidential Scholar. Donald’s musical curiosity began early—he often turned everyday objects into instruments and could recall melodies after a single hearing. That curiosity grew into a lifelong passion, leading him through over fifteen years of classical piano, ten years of voice, and eight years of string training, with a wide range of solo, chamber, and orchestral experiences in his church, community, and schools, as well as at music festivals across the United States.
Growing up in Dallas, Donald helped lead live and broadcast worship reaching over ninety-five countries and has been a member of the First Dallas Orchestra since the age of fourteen. Nearby, he attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where he graduated with Music and Academic Honors in 2024. At Oberlin, Donald is a charter member of the Floreo Quartet, performing regularly in recitals and festivals while continuing to develop his artistry through collaboration and ensemble playing. When he performs, Donald focuses on intention and the story he wants to tell. He believes that playing the right notes is only part of the craft—what truly matters is listening deeply, shaping the sound, and making the music feel alive. With the support of his family, mentors, and friends, he hopes to remain a lifelong student and advocate for the arts.
Eliza Cockrell, Cello
Eliza Cockrell is a 19 year old cellist from Kansas City, Missouri. She is currently in her second year at Oberlin Conservatory under Darrett Adkins, also having studied with Gwen Krosnick during her second semester at Oberlin. She has participated in several festivals including, Heartland Chamber Music Festival, NEC Summer Orchestra Institute, Dalí String Quartet Fellowship, and Orford Musique Academy. She has also had the opportunity to play for multiple renowned performers such as Zlatomir Fung, Norman Fischer, Mike Bloch, Kee-Hyun Kim, Matt Haimovitz, Amit Peled, and Qiang Tu. As an avid chamber musician, Eliza has also had the opportunity to perform with her quartet, the Floreo Quartet, for members of the Verona, Jerusalem, Dalí, Miró, Danish, and Cassatt Quartets.