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Imelda Tecson (M.M. ’09) is this week’s featured alum in our new Alumni Spotlight series for the This Week at Meadows e-newsletter. Each week, a different Meadows alum will be highlighted for their accomplishments post-graduation.

Imelda Tecson, who earned both her master’s degree and Artist’s Diploma from Meadows’ Division of Music, is a professional violist and violinist with a wide range of industry experiences under her belt.

During her time in the music program, Tecson was focused on becoming an orchestral player and winning a symphony job after earning her degree. She credits her professors with successfully preparing her for the career outside of the classroom and believes that the dedication and fastidious attention to detail learned during her time at Meadows helped her prepare for the rigors that excerpts and auditions require. Through her training, however, she soon realized that there are many more paths to a successful career than the one that may initially be presented.

“Music will require you to wear multiple hats so to say, especially if you decide to go the non-traditional route, so make sure to diversify your skills and stay flexible,” says Tecson. “As long as you stay curious and focused on creating a career you are proud of, the opportunities present themselves.”

From being a featured soloist on ESPN’s NFL Draft and performing with the Dallas Opera to playing at the 50th Academy of Country Music Awards with country star Dierks Bentley and recorded with pop sensation Elle King, the musical opportunities for Tecson have been greatly diversified. Another such opportunity was joining the national tour of the award-winning hit musical, Hamilton. Tecson played viola and violin in the Hamilton orchestra until the end of 2022.

“It was exciting to be a part of such a seminal, ground-breaking work, and I was enthralled to share that experience with patrons across the country,” Tecson explains of her time in the show. “For most of my career as a classical musician I have be one of the only women of color, and being a part of Hamilton with such a diverse cast was an experience that I will never forget.”

Since retiring from her role in the Hamilton orchestra, Tecson lives and works in the Washington D.C. area where has gone on to join numerous productions. She has performed with Broadway Center Stage’s Sunset Boulevard with Stephanie J. Block and Derek Klena at the Kennedy Center, the Washington Ballet, the Maryland Lyric Opera, and worked with Sondheim collaborators Jonathan Tunick and John Weidman at Signature Theater.

Learn more about Meadows' Division of Music here.