I believe in allowing the student to develop their skills based upon their natural desire and ability. I will encourage my students to play and learn their instrument to the best of their ability through nurturing guidance and shear love of the violin. I love working with children and students of all levels! I feel as though I have a responsibility to pass on my expertise and knowledge as my teachers have shown and guided me. Disciplining the mind and keeping patient allows the student to stretch their horizons beyond what they might not think is possible. My mission statement is to pass on my own legacy and world-class training that I received to the violinists that enter my studio. I’m very enthusiastic to be a member of Brookline Music School and am blessed to be a teacher!
I began teaching violin almost as soon as I began playing! I learned to use my 4th finger right away and was astonished to see other kids in my small school orchestra not using their 4th fingers. I wanted to show everyone how easy and meaningful it was, so I did! My first official student however, was my 8th grade Social Studies teacher! I had a few private students in high school. I began my teaching career at the Winchester Community School in Winchester, MA where I was a faculty member for six years. I also taught at Indian Hill Arts in Littleton, MA. I was also concertmaster of their orchestra, Indian Hill Symphony for six years where I had many wonderful solo, orchestral and chamber music opportunities. I was a faculty member at the Northshore Conservatory in Beverly, MA and an adjunct instructor at Endicott College. Prior to coming to Brookline Music, I taught on the faculty of Phillips Andover in Andover, MA. I also played chamber music with other faculty members from Andover. There were opportunities there for me to teach violin and viola within the community and later I taught within the Andover After School Music Program. I also coached orchestra and chamber music with Greater Boston Youth Symphony. I’m proud to begin my ninth season at Brookline Music School!
I began my studies first on piano and much to my mother’s dismay, did not pursue real study. My mother is an excellent concert pianist and I listened to her teach her students and found myself learning their pieces. Violin began for me at the age of 8. My first chamber music master class experience was one of the greatest performance thrills of my life! At twelve, I was given the opportunity to play for the legendary 1st violinist, Arnold Steinhardt of the world-renowned “Guarneri Quartet”. As a high school kid, I studied with Professor of Violin, Leonard Felberg at the University of New Mexico. I am a first prize recipient of the National Federation of Music Clubs, National Winner, which I received at the age of 18. I was fortunate to be offered a full-music scholarship to three colleges including: University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and Boston University, Boston, MA, as well as a partial scholarship to study at University of Cincinnati. I chose to study in Boston where I began my studies with Raphael Druian and later Roman Totenberg. Seven years later, again I was awarded a full scholarship for my master’s degree at Boston University and studied with Peter Zazofsky. My first orchestral position was in the Portland Symphony, Portland, ME. I later became Principal Second and Assistant Concertmaster in Portland, ME. I have performed with many orchestras throughout New England and Boston including the Rhode Island Philharmonic, the New Hampshire Symphony, Boston Ballet, the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra and Boston’s Theater District. Some of the shows I have performed include: Showboat, Aida, Beauty and the Beast, Camelot, Peter Pan, the Titanic, and Phantom of the Opera. Currently, I am a member of the Boston Lyric Opera Orchestra. I was a semi-finalist at the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra 2000 audition.