The Astrodon Quartet brings together four exceptional musicians dedicated to the art of the string quartet. Unified by their devotion to their craft and their commitment to community service, they strive to bring the highest quality of musical performance and education to communities of every socioeconomic status.
Named for the first dinosaur discovered in their home state of Maryland, the group shares a love for the city of Baltimore almost as deep as their love for the string quartet repertoire. Individually, Astrodon’s musicians represent three states and two countries; but Baltimore is the city which has nurtured their growth as a unit. Its spirit of cooperation, determination, and creativity has inspired them in every moment of their journey, from the local organizations they visit to the students they teach to the three community gardens in their neighborhood.
In performance, the group has been described as “captivating,” “moving,” and “unbelievably beautiful.” Their emotional depth, spontaneity, and gift for audience engagement has created meaningful experiences for audiences of many walks of life across Baltimore and Washington D.C. They believe their role as musicians is not just to entertain or to weave a masterful story, but to create moments of true connection between people, and they carry this principle into their work as both performers and educators.
The Astrodon Quartet is a recipient of Mount Vernon Virtuosi’s string quartet fellowship. Mount Vernon Virtuosi is a nonprofit organization in Baltimore that provides free string orchestra and string quartet concerts to the public and free music education to Baltimore public schools. Astrodon’s first year has been marked by weekly performances for the organization as well as many exciting collaborations, including performances with clarinetist Alexander Fiterstein and projects with local visual artists. The group lives together in the MVV’s Mars Music House, where they rehearse and perform, and they also teach at two Baltimore public schools, KIPP Academy and the Green School. They are honored to have been coached by Amit Peled and members of the Calidore and Cavani String Quartets.
Our Fellowship with Mount Vernon Virtuosi
The Astrodon Quartet is the resident string quartet fellowship of Mount Vernon Virtuosi, a Baltimore nonprofit dedicated to free concerts and music education. Founded by cellist Amit Peled in 2018, MVV supports emerging professional musicians while serving communities throughout the city.
As part of the fellowship, the quartet lives together in the Mars Music House, a space embedded in the community where they teach and perform. The music house is not just home, it is also a place where they teach lessons, conduct rehearsals, and perform house concerts.
Concerts
Sharing the beauty of chamber music through weekly performances with MVV's chamber orchestra and intimate string quartet concerts throughout Baltimore
Education
Providing free music instruction at Baltimore City public schools through MVV's "Every Child Deserves a Voice" program and fostering the next generation of musicians
Community
Bringing live chamber music to underserved communities, including senior centers, libraries, shelters, and neighborhood venues across the Baltimore region
Learn more about Mount Vernon Virtuosi
www.mountvernonvirtuosi.com
Dallas Noble
Violin
Hailing from Hopewell, New Jersey, Dallas Noble is one of the violinists in the Astrodon Quartet, Mount Vernon Virtuosi’s fellowship string quartet for the 2025-26 season. This is Dallas’s first year with MVV, and they are so excited to be working alongside their colleagues to provide free concerts and music education to the Baltimore community.
Dallas is a graduate of the Colburn Conservatory, where they studied with Robert Lipsett, and the University of Delaware, where they studied with Jeffrey Myers and the Calidore String Quartet. They were a member of UD's Graduate String Quartet-in-Residence program from 2023-25, during which time their ensemble (Trellis String Quartet) was a prizewinner at the Saint Paul String Quartet Competition and performed with the Verona Quartet in one of ENCORE Chamber Music Festival's mainstage concerts.
Dallas's primary passion, alongside chamber music, has always been connecting with the people around them. During their time in Los Angeles, they began serving the Skid Row community with two organizations (Urban Voices Project and Street Symphony) that fundamentally changed their life and relationship with music, and since then, their aspiration has been to use music for the healing, empowerment, and liberation of all people.
When they're not being a huge nerd about string quartet music and spamming the Astrodon group chat, Dallas enjoys teaching, writing, making playlists, trying new recipes (most of which are desserts), going on runs, exploring new places, looking up hikes to go on and only going on 25% of them, desperately trying to keep tomato plants alive, working on their spreadsheet of community organizations in the U.S. and Canada, cooking with Baltimore Food not Bombs, and trying to befriend the crows that live in their backyard.
Dallas’s favorite places in Baltimore so far are Wyman Park, the Music House (obvs), the community garden on Maryland Ave, and St. Luke’s Church on the Avenue.
Zach Levin
Violin
Zach Levin is a violinist in the Astrodon Quartet, Mount Vernon Virtuosi’s fellowship string quartet for the 2025-26 season. He is extremely excited for this opportunity, as this fellowship places established musicians in under-served areas of Baltimore to provide free music lessons and performances throughout the community, at venues such as schools and hospitals, in addition to traditional concert appearances.
Zach completed his Master's Degree at the University of Delaware, where he studied with Jeremy Berry and the Calidore String Quartet. He was a member of UD's Graduate String Quartet-in-Residence program from 2023-25 with his ensemble Trellis String Quartet. Zach completed his Bachelor's Degree at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, where he studied with Philippe Djokic, Leo Perez, and Mark Lee.
Zach has performed regularly with Symphony Nova Scotia, as well as in NYO Canada's "Frenergy" collaboration tour (2019) with the European Union Youth Orchestra. In 2023, Zach performed and mentored as a "Rising Star" in Vancouver Academy of Music's Sea to Sky Chamber Festival. Throughout his undergraduate program, Zach performed multiple times as a soloist with Dalhousie's Symphony Orchestra, on both viola and violin. He also developed a love for theatre while at Dalhousie, composing music for two musicals.
Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Zach began his violin pursuit with Nicki Stieda, and the Vancouver Academy of Music; he later studied with Andrew Dawes (of the Orford String Quartet). A major part of Zach’s passion for chamber music stems from his time with Andy, such as discussing string quartets while helping around on Andy’s sailboat. In his free time, Zach enjoys watching baseball, finding new films and shows, and being a foodie. A couple of his favorite places in Baltimore so far are The Coral Wig, Sophomore Coffee, and Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Amelia Eckloff
Viola
Amelia Eckloff is the violist in the Astrodon Quartet and is excited to be starting her second year in the Mount Vernon Virtuosi String Quartet Fellowship. Amelia completed her Master’s Degree at the Peabody Institute studying with Victoria Chiang, and her Bachelor’s Degree at the Eastman School of Music studying with Masumi Rostad. Originally from Fairfax, Virginia, Amelia began her studies with Ramon Scavelli.
Her love for chamber music has taken her across the United States—from the East Coast to Aspen, Colorado—and abroad to Seoul, South Korea. Amelia was honored to be part of the inaugural year of the Mount Vernon Virtuosi String Quartet Fellowship in 2024 and is thrilled to continue another season with Zach, Dallas, and Tim. Together, they perform weekly, engage with the Baltimore community, and teach in Baltimore City Schools. Passionate about music education, Amelia also teaches violin and viola to young students in Maryland and Northern Virginia.
Outside of music, Amelia enjoys reading multiple books at a time, early morning hot yoga, and participating in irrationally competitive card games. She has two adorable cats and regularly has to resist the temptation to adopt any more from the streets of Baltimore. Her favorite places in Baltimore include Orient Express and Federal Hill.
Tim Beccue
Cello
Tim Beccue is the cellist in the Astrodon Quartet and is continuing his second year with the Mount Vernon Virtuosi string quartet fellowship. He completed his master’s degree at the Peabody Institute studying under Amit Peled, following tutelage under Ben Hong, Trevor Handy, and Andrew Cook.
Hailing from sunny Santa Barbara, Tim is an alumnus of the Music Academy of the West, and is a founding member of HEXTET, a string sextet which served as the ensemble in residence at Arcadia University. Tim's musical journey has taken him across Europe and Asia, including performances with the Taipei Music Academy Festival and the Changhua Chamber Music Society. As a soloist, he has been featured in concert with the West Coast Symphony and the Westmont Orchestra.
Tim's passion lies in chamber music and its ability to foster human connection. In 2024, his quartet was selected for the inaugural Mount Vernon Virtuosi string quartet fellowship. This fellowship places established musicians in under-served areas of Baltimore to provide free music lessons and performances throughout the community such as schools and hospitals, in addition to traditional concert appearances. He will continue the MVV fellowship with the Astrodon Quartet through the 2025-26 season.
An enjoyer of big things, Tim couldn’t resist learning the double bass, which he played with his former jazz quartet The Dumpster Cats. Tim holds a degree in physics and writes software for robotic telescopes at Las Cumbres Observatory. His favorite place in Baltimore is the volleyball courts at Baltimore Beach.