Percussion
Emily Roane
Emily likes to hit things with sticks. (Sometimes she hits things with her hands, too.) She started out hitting things with sticks in Iowa, where she grew up. Now, she hits things with sticks all over the place, but mostly in the greater Philadelphia area. She studied the art of hitting things at the University of Iowa and the University of Minnesota, Duluth.
Jeff Willet
Jeff’s lifelong rhythmic quest has landed him in a great spot with Table for 26. His studies at the Berklee College of Music and Lebanon Valley College helped him craft his sound as a drummer, percussionist, and audio engineer. Having also been involved with a wide range of musical endeavors, he now brings all of that into the arranging and compositions for the group.
Vocals
Ariel Olsher, vocals
Once lovingly called ‘Little Dynamo’ by a stranger, Ariel is an enthusiastic vocalist from Philadelphia, PA. She has been singing in choirs and participating in musical theatre from a young age, forcing her mother to attend far too many shows. In her free time, she plays guitar and hangs out with her bird, Danny.
Strings
Gabriel Miller, violin
Gabe Miller is a violinist, composer/arranger, and multi-instrumentalist based in Philadelphia. He plays regularly with several groups including Dot Gov, Tree Stampede, and the Bismuth Quartet. He’s currently working on a debut solo album dedicated to his late mother. To stay in touch, follow Gabe on IG or FB at @sushifromthefuture.
Thuy Nguyen, violin
Thuy is a graduate of The Hartt School of Music Dance and Theater. She is a classically trained violinist and has studied with Robert DePasquale, Anton Miller, and Emlyn Ngai. In addition to playing with Table for 26, she currently performs with: The Divine Hand Ensemble – Theremin led chamber ensemble, Know Return – Kansas tribute band, Savior Soul – Americana Bluegrass, Yuckmouf – Psychedelic sludge metal, Lástima – Black metal. Thuy also freelances in the Tri-State area and teaches private violin lessons.
Gina Rico, viola
Gina (Rico) has been an active musician and educator in the Philadelphia region and beyond for over 10 years. She performs primarily as a violist and is also an experienced instructor of violin & viola. A Philadelphia native, Gina graduated with a degree in Music & String Pedagogy from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music in 2014. In addition to her work with T426, she has also contributed to the experimental solo-improv project Sonic Multiplicities. On a usual day, Gina can be found in her role managing the office at local violin shop Mount Airy Violins & Bows, teaching from her nearby home studio, or snuggling with her cats!
Hannah Richards, viola
Hannah graduated from The Hartt School of Music with her degree in Viola Performance and Arts Management. Hannah has studied with violists Adriana Linares, Steve Larson, and Rita Profiris. Currently, she works as a Teaching Artist at ArCoNet: The Arts and Community Network. She also freelances in the Philadelphia area and performs with the South Eastern Pennsylvania Orchestra under the direction of Allen Scott.
Jonathan Salmon, cello
Jon is a multi-instrumentalist performer, composer, and producer. Much of his work adapts new sounds and features string writing. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Composition from University of the Arts, he performs a variety of music genres in Philadelphia.
Garrett Semmelink, violin
Garrett Semmelink is a freelance violinist and music educator with a passion for collaboration and creative new music-making. He’s regularly performed with Bloomington, Indiana indie-folk duo Busman’s Holiday as well as the electro-acoustic, classical folk-art-pop ensemble Pantree Owl he co-founded in 2009 while at Indiana University. His decade-long project with Sonic Multiplicities explores a critical intersection between acoustic instruments and computers in live settings, using software and artificial intelligence to empower his often dubbed “neo-romantic, post-punk inspired, abstract and rather unconventional” extended solo compositions and improvised performances. When he’s not making music, Garrett teaches violin and viola lessons at his home studio in Mt. Airy Philadelphia. He is also an orchestral consultant for the music industry and currently US Brand Specialist for Thomastik-Infeld strings at Connolly Music Company in New York.
Guitar
Richie Brown, guitar
Richie, a senior at Boyer College Music & Dance at Temple University, has played and studied guitar for over 10 years and has taken up drums, piano, and audio engineering. He’s currently an assistant for producer Will Yip at Studio 4 in Conshohocken, PA. Richie is also a part of the metal & hardcore punk scene having played throughout the tri-state area. He’s the lead guitarist for the death/thrash band, No Gods from his hometown of Bethlehem, PA, he’s on guitar for hardcore band, Half/Cross, drums for grindcore band, Grieve, and lead member of the black metal musical project, Lástima.
Damian DiFrancesco, guitar
Damian played guitar at the School of Rock (no, not the one with Jack Black), where he joined a thrash metal band with his fellow students. Playing shows in the Philadelphia area, he met and joined the death metal band, Malphas. Having disappointed his very supportive parents with his musical choices since childhood, and determined to get back into the will, has joined a band with acoustic instruments and intelligible vocals.
Matthew Frankl, bass
Once described as “yeah, he’s alright I guess”, Matt Frankl has taken the music scene by storm. Originally part of the powerhouse prog trio Negative Zero, Matt has since been working with several other bands on guitar and vocals, as well as session recordings and video production, and is currently working on a solo album (to be released in 2026).
Brass & Wind
Aaron Buchanan, trombone
Aaron is a Philly based trombonist and music educator. He graduated with a degree in Music Education from the University of Minnesota, Duluth; studying under Dr. Derek Bromme. Along with “leading” the “horn section” in Table for 26, he regularly performs with the Philly Kroc Jazz Orchestra. Previously, Aaron was a member of the Duluth based Owls’s Big Band and band leader of the New Orleans flavoured brass band, Fiasco Brass Co. In his free time, he self-actualizes writing chiptunes.
Gabe Preston, saxophone & flute
Gabe is a woodwind multi-instrumentalist, performer and teacher currently from Philadelphia. They began playing saxophone when they were 9 and eventually picked up several wind instruments: clarinet, flute, piccolo, oboe and bassoon. They joined Table for 26 in 2021 continuing with one of their goals: to grow as a musician through collaboration. Their solo projects, notably GPS, Gabe Preston Sounds/Sessions, and electric trio is ongoing as is their acoustic quartet along with indie projects Stella Ruze and You Do You.