Formed in January 2024 from a group of students and alumni from the University of Maine, the Dirigo Quartet is one of only a handful of permanent string quartets in the State of Maine. Its members have performed as principals in the University of Maine Orchestra and the Downeast Chamber Orchestra and have served as teachers or directors at local studios and schools. The group has also attended coaching sessions and masterclasses with faculty at the University of Maine School of Performing Arts and professional string quartets like the Beo String Quartet.
In addition to giving private concerts around Maine, the Dirigo Quartet has been employed to perform at a number of private events at the University of Maine, including for the University of Maine President at the Buchanan Alumni House. They have also performed at venues around Penobscot County, ME including Minsky Recital Hall, Zillman Art Museum, and Church of Universal Fellowship in Orono, where they helped raise money and awareness for the Maine Multicultural Center as part of the church’s Music With a Mission Series.
The Dirigo Quartet has performed compositions in a range of styles and genres. Their repertoire spans classical to modern contexts with works by Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Villa-Lobos, among others. They have also performed pieces from local contemporary composers like Benjamin Walker and find particular enjoyment in sharing music written by living composers that witness and interpret the joys, challenges, and afflictions of the present day.
The Dirigo Quartet has been shaped by cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity among its members, who hail from three countries and two continents. For the members of the quartet, the process of developing a sound that is both distinct and unified will always be a process of intercultural encounter. The stories and images shared in rehearsals, and all interactions in between, become sources of inspiration for musical interpretation and expression.
The word “Dirigo” (latin for “I lead”) appears on the Maine state seal and on signs and landmarks across the state. It is a reminder to remain rooted in the local context, but it also carries musical meaning that transcends dividing lines. In a string quartet, each member takes a turn leading the group as an equal. There is no permanent hierarchy, no winner or loser—there is only giving and receiving in pursuit of a common goal. Viewed in this way, “Dirigo” is much more than a motto or a name. It is the substance that binds together this unlikely collision of languages, cultures, and backgrounds to form one musical voice—epitomizing the hope of unity for diverse audiences across Maine and beyond.
Melissa Ruiz, Violin
Melissa Ruiz is a Mexican violinist currently pursuing a Master in Music Performance at the University of Maine under Dr. Anatole Wieck, where she is the concertmaster of the University Orchestra. She received a Bachelor’s of Music from Universidad Veracruzana.
Melissa has developed professionally by participating in various national and international ensembles and festivals, including the Orquesta Filarmónica de Xalapa (ORFIX), Ensamble di Bardi, Ensamble Andantino, Orquesta Filarmónica Duchesne Cuzán and Ensamble Tempus del Instituto Superior de las Artes de la Habana, Winter Harbor Music Festival, Downeast Chamber Orchestra, Festival Internacional de Musica Naolinco, and the Monteux Music Festival.
Melissa is passionate about sharing her knowledge of music and violin performance with the next generation of musicians. Over the past two years, she has served as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Maine, where she assists Dr. Wieck in music courses and the orchestra. She also enjoys teaching private lessons. In addition, she has coached students and chamber music groups as a Faculty Member of the Winter Harbor Music Festival as well as being an active member of the Dirigo quartet.
William Somes, Violin
William Somes holds a bachelor’s degree with highest honors in political science and economics from the University of Maine, where he graduated in 2021. He continued his academic studies at George Washington University, where he obtained a graduate certificate in environmental resource policy. He moved back to his home state of Maine in 2022 and began working as a Partnerships Associate with Music Kids, where he helped bring lessons in violin, piano, and guitar to many public and private school systems across the country.
William began learning Suzuki violin at the age of seven and has studied under career performers and educators such as Lynn Brubaker, Sascha Zaburdaeva-Lorimer, and Stewart Kitts. His professional experiences include masterclasses and coaching sessions with faculty at the University of Maine School of Performing Arts and string quartets like the Beo String Quartet. He regularly plays as concertmaster with local community ensembles including the Downeast Chamber Orchestra and the pit orchestra for the Gilbert and Sullivan Society. William has taught instrumental music in public and private schools in Washington, D.C. as a member of the Music Kids Teaching Faculty and has also managed a private studio at Music Junction in Alachua County, FL. He currently teaches violin at RDL Strings in Bangor, ME.
Taylor Clark, Viola
Taylor Clark started her musical training at the age of seven when she began taking private violin lessons at RDL Strings in downtown Bangor, ME. She continued her studies through high school and into college, where she pursued her interests in fashion business, theatre, and music at the State University of New York at Oneonta. Taylor's musical journey continued with orchestra and pit band performances. She also studied music abroad while attending the University of Glasgow in Scotland for one semester. Taylor has participated in many smaller orchestras and ensemble groups since then, including the Augusta Symphony Orchestra and the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra.
After graduating college, Taylor transitioned into education and assumed the role of Director of Performing Arts at a prestigious private school, where she honed her leadership and organizational skills by teaching music theory and theatre studies. Taylor is also an entrepreneur, composer, and arranger, releasing her own music under the artist name “DARKT”. She became a founding member of the Dirigo String Quartet in January of 2024.
Luiz Gonçalves da Silva, Cello
Luiz Gonçalves da Silva is the founding member and cellist of the Dirigo Quartet. He began his music studies at the age of nine. Since then, he has performed nationally and internationally, participating in many music festivals and masterclasses in the United States, South America, and Europe. Luiz has studied at New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he earned his Merit Certificate in Cello Performance. He currently studies at the University of Maine with Noreen Silver, where he is earning his Bachelor of Music degree with a concentration in cello performance. At the University of Maine, Luiz has participated in many chamber music ensembles, including string quartets, piano trios, a variety of duos, musicals, and more.