Hannie McGarity Masri
Second Violin
Bio
Hannie McGarity Masri grew up in Bellingham, Washington. She started playing violin in her public school’s 5th grade strings program, then studied with Walter Schwede from age 14 to 19.
She went on to receive her Bachelor of Music from St. Olaf College, where she studied with Dr. Francesca Anderegg. With the St. Olaf Orchestra under Maestro Steven Amundson, she toured many parts of the United States, Argentina and Uruguay, and as concertmaster she led the orchestra onstage at Carnegie Hall and on tour in Norway. Hannie moved to New York City to complete her Master’s degree at Manhattan School of Music, where she studied with Sheryl Staples and enjoyed the excitement of freelancing. Before becoming a member of the VSO, she held positions in the Victoria Symphony, Bellingham Festival of Music, and Symphony Tacoma.
Hannie has performed solo recitals for the Bellingham Festival of Music (“Welcome Home” soloist, 2018) and the International Edvard Grieg Society’s conference in Bergen, Norway (as the winner of the 2017 Edvard Grieg Society of Minnesota String Competition). She spent summers performing and studying in the National Repertory Orchestra, Brevard Music Center, Domaine Forget International Music Academy, ENCORE! Chamber Music Festival, and Marrowstone Summer Music Festival. She worked as a fellow at the Perlman Music Program’s Summer Music School, an instructor for the Multicultural Music Group’s Symphonic Youth Program in NYC, and a chamber coach/camp counselor at the St. Olaf College Summer Music Academy.
Hannie joined the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s second violin section in 2026. When not playing violin, she enjoys long walks on the Vancouver Seawall, baking, reading, and listening to her husband practice.
