Share with us some of your professional accomplishments.

I am a violinist currently based in Phoenix, AZ, where I direct the string program at Glendale Community College. In addition, I perform extensively with the Phoenix Symphony and devote time to several nonprofits dedicated to bringing high-quality music education to underserved parts of the Southwest. Since relocating to Arizona a few years ago I have been a featured soloist with The Women’s Orchestra of Arizona, MusicaNova Orchestra, and the ASU Baroque Ensemble. 

 

I have performed at a variety of summer festivals including the Aspen Music Festival and School, Spoleto Festival USA, Strings Music Festival in Steamboat Springs, and Festival Napa Valley. Chamber music might just be my favorite thing on the planet, and I have been fortunate enough to collaborate with the likes of Brooklyn Rider, the St. Lawrence String Quartet, Alisa Weilerstein, and the late legends Lynn Harrell and Joseph Silverstein.

 

What excites you about Luzerne Music Center?

Some of my best memories were made at music camp, and I am so excited to contribute to an educational and memorable experience for the campers. I know firsthand how much growth and momentum can build over a summer in a place like Luzerne! I am also native of Pennsylvania, and I am so thrilled to be back in the Northeast this summer!

 

What can campers expect to learn while working with you this summer?

I believe in meeting students where they are and growing together by discovering how technique can inform our musicality. I also see it as my role to also help students develop efficient practice strategies as well as good time management. Above all, I approach each lesson as an opportunity to teach both the musician as well as the whole human being.

Share with us some of your professional accomplishments.

As a violinist, I feel very lucky to be the concertmaster of three orchestras, and to have played several concertos as a soloist with them. In addition, for the past 14 years, I have been the first violinist of the Copeland String Quartet, which performs extensively in the tri-state area and beyond. We recorded three CDs. I also teach at the Music School of Delaware and the St. Andrews High School with much success.

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What excites you about Luzerne Music Center?

I love LMC. Everything excites me there. The atmosphere is great, the music-making is amazing and the students are very talented. It's the greatest environment for students to experience music, and for the faculty to perform and to teach.

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What can campers expect to learn while working with you this summer?

I try to gear every student toward achieving their best at their level. Playing violin requires dedication and an understanding of the smart way of practicing. It's not the length of practice, but the way practice is approached. 

Share with us some of your professional accomplishments.

I maintain a very large and active private violin studio in New York City. My students have been prizewinners in numerous competitions, awarded opportunities to perform solos with orchestra, gained acceptance to competitive summer festivals, and held principal positions with various youth orchestras. As a performer, I have performed several times as soloist with various ensembles in NYC, including a performance of Vivaldi's Concerto for Four Violins at Carnegie Hall with the principal 2nd violinist in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Not limited to classical music, I have performed with Michael Buble, Rod Stewart, Josh Groban, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and on NBC's Today Show. 

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What excites you about Luzerne Music Center?

Returning now for a 5th summer at Luzerne Music Center, I can attest that every single student who attends improves his or her musicianship during the course of our camp. I am constantly amazed by the level and talent of the students, and I love having the opportunity to work with students who come from all over the world.

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What can campers expect to learn while working with you this summer?

My goal for my LMC students is to provide the musical and technical skills he or she will need to successfully perform orchestra, chamber and solo repertoire at camp. I know that at the middle and high school level of violin playing, technical limitations can get in the way of musical execution. I aim to provide students with tips, tricks, exercises, and advice to maximize their ability to prepare and master the music they will study over the course of camp, while working within the framework of his or her current level of playing. 

Share with us some of your professional accomplishments.

I serve as a Violin Faculty at the Rensselaer Institute Department of Arts and Humanities in Troy, NY. I have served on faculty at the South Shore Conservatory and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute Violin workshop. Over the years, my students have won competition such Roman Totenberg String Competition in Newton, Russian Music Competition based in NYC and performed in festivals and ensembles nationwide.  As a performer, I am a member of the Albany Symphony Orchestra and Vermont Symphony. I perform extensively with Boston based ensembles such as Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Boston Chamber Orchestra and Boston String Ensemble.  I have recently toured China with the Mirage Violin Duo taking part in the month long World Music Festival based in Beijing. My recent chamber music engagements include performances with Decompression Chamber Players and Virtuoso Soloists of New York. I have shared the stage with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Evanescence, Andrea Bocelli and have recorded for the BMOP sound, Albany label and NAXOS. 

 

What excites you about Luzerne Music Center?

LMC is a truly wonderful place to grow as a young artist. It offers comprehensive curriculum and combines it with great community, passionate about music making. This is going to be my first summer at LMC and I can’t wait to meet the students and collaborate with exceptional faculty! 

 

What can campers expect to learn while working with you this summer?

I offer a highly customized approach to the instrument. My main goal is to offer a new perspective and inspire the students to achieve their artistic potential. Together we will focus on tension free playing, overcoming technical difficulties, posture, and development of practice skills to name a few. Each week the students will receive a private lesson exploring violin repertoire and meet for a studio class addressing issues pertaining to technique, performance preparation, and goal setting. I’m looking forward to working with you all this summer!

Share with us some of your professional accomplishments.

I graduated from Boston University's Doctoral program in 2013 and since then, I have been teaching and performing intensively in the New England area and beyond. I have recently completed a month long tour of China with the Mirage Violin Duo, performing in over 22 cities and spanning the country's main regions. I perform regularly with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, Boston Modern Orchestra Project and Plymouth Philharmonic in the Boston area. I often perform chamber music as member of the Mirage Violin Duo, Trios Primavera and Voyage and have collaborated with artists such as Andrea Bocelli, Chick Corea, Ramin Djawadi, Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Evanescence. As a soloist with orchestra, I have performed violin concertos with ensembles such as the Boston Accompanietta, Cork Baroque Ensemble, Moldova Philharmonic Orchestra and others. As a teacher, I have enjoyed working with wonderful students over the years as an instructor for Boston University's Violin for Non-Majors Course as well as at many other established music programs across the greater Boston Area.

 

What excites you about Luzerne Music Center?

I believe the Luzerne Music Center is a wonderful opportunity for young players and faculty to meet and make music together. The daily chamber music practice is extremely beneficial for the students' overall artistic growth and it is an unique part of this Festival. This summer will be my first time teaching at the LMC and I very much look forward to meeting the students and faculty!

 

What can campers expect to learn while working with you this summer?

I sincerely hope to inspire my students to become the best musicians they can be, by playing chamber music together and listen to one another during the process of collaborating. In the private lessons, the main focus will remain on overcoming any technical challenges and finding the best technical solutions in order to better serve the musical discourse of the pieces studied and thus enjoying the full experience of playing chamber music at a high level.

Share with us some of your professional accomplishments.

I’m a passionate teacher and performer! Currently I am a Resident Musician at Community MusicWorks in Providence, RI where I teach preparatory violin lessons and perform as a chamber musician with the MusicWorks Collective. I am also a Teaching Associate at Brown University where I teach applied violin lessons and coach chamber music to undergraduate and graduate students. During the summers, I am also a faculty member at the Easton Chamber Music Festival in Massachusetts and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Chamber Music Workshop. I have enjoyed giving masterclasses and lectures at the DePauw University School of Music, Virginia Tech, Tonebase Violin, American String Teacher’s Association (ASTA) national conference, and the Paul Rolland String Pedagogy Workshop.

 

I recently earned my Doctorate Degree from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign! My research focused on reimagining 21st century classical music concerts by drawing inspiration from the Berlin cabarets of the Weimar Republic. I’m passionate about community outreach and have performed at hospitals, museums, breweries, and addiction recovery centers to name a few. I was awarded the President’s Commendation for Achievement in the Arts from Johns Hopkins University for my lasting impact on the Baltimore community.

 

I also have an active performing career and especially enjoy playing chamber music. I’ve worked with nearly every major string quartet in the United States such as the Emerson, Orion, Juilliard, Borromeo, Brentano, Ying, and Jupiter Quartets to name a few. Some of my favorite performances have been concerts at Carnegie Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, collaborating with the El Sistema program in Argentina, and playing for the Washington Nationals and Portland Sea Dogs (I love baseball).

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What excites you about Luzerne Music Center?

LMC has an incredible music program and I am thrilled to provide students a high-level music education in a beautiful setting. I love the scenery of the Adirondacks and my goal this summer is to be able to stand on a paddleboard! LMC has students and faculty from all over the world, a wonderful opportunity for everyone to learn from each other. I am also looking forward to collaborating with student and faculty composers in world premieres!

 

What can campers expect to learn while working with you this summer?

My students can expect weekly lessons and studio classes that work on developing musicality and technique in an encouraging and productive setting. Most importantly, I want to cultivate individual musical interpretation and creativity so that each student feels they are effectively communicating through the music. One of the great experiences of attending a summer music festival is learning a lot of orchestra, chamber, and solo repertoire in a relatively short time period. We will work on developing a toolbox for healthy practice habits, tips for tackling sightreading, public speaking and performance preparation, and being a leader in chamber and orchestral settings.