Brent Akins is Principal Second Violin of the Vancouver Symphony and Concertmaster of the National Broadcast Orchestra in Vancouver. Mr. Akins earned his Bachelor of Music/Performance degree at the University of Southern California. As a member of the Vuillaume String Quartet, he has performed and worked with the Tokyo String Quartet and Rapheal Hillier. Before coming to Vancouver, Mr. Akins was a member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra under Sir Neville Mariner, and was Assistant Principal Second Violin of the St. Louis Symphony (Leonard Slatkin, conductor). He has also served as Guest Concertmaster for the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa. Mr. Akins has performed as soloist with orchestras across North America.
As a member of the Vuillaume Duo with Marka Wilcox, he gives numerous recitals and has recorded violin duo repertoire for CBC Radio Orchestra broadcasts as well as CBC Radio's Westcoast Performances. In 2000, the "Orpheum Masters" label released the Vuillaume Duo's first CD, "Sonatas for Two." As a co-founder of Notes of Compassion: Symphony Musicians Reaching Out, he is involved in numerous benefit concerts throughout the Vancouver area.
Brent Akins, Violin